Wednesday 23 December 2009

Everton Brow with the lock up





Hi,
I was looking at your history site and came across  a picture of Everton Brow with the lock up.
The reason I  was browsing through your site was because years ago I purchased an original water colour by an artist I think is called F.Beattie. It was such a fascinating study of early victorian antiquity that I wanted to know more about where and when it was painted.

I purchased the painting in Plymouth Devon, which is where I live, for the frame to use on another picture as the painting is faded and in poor condition. However I became fascinated with the picture as it  was so  old and being original , I had to  know more.

It is of the place you call Brow side and depicts  the little building I now know is called the lock up and Mrs Coopers Toffee shop in a row of 15th century cottages,.

I have found out about the toffee shop and it's connections to your Everton Football Club etc. This is how I traced your site.

I have enclosed a couple of digital images for your interest but I want to know more about the artist.

I love the mix of industrial Revolution England with the remenants of 15th to early 19th century life. All in one picture.

Enjoy
Alan Edwards




Alan`s Water Colour of Everton Lock up and the Toffee Shop


3 comments:

  1. Hello Alan,

    thank you for the copy of your watercolour, I have not seen it before.

    The Everton Lock up or Prince Rupert's Tower appears in Everton FCs logo and was a place that was used to lock up the wayward or drunks etc. The Official Crest of Everton Football Club, arguably one of the best in the English league, features the tower erect (in heraldic parlance), bordered by two wreaths resplendent. Prince Rupert's Tower, or The Roundhouse, that is identified so strongly with Everton, asmentioned is an old Bridewell or lock-up that is still located on Everton Brow, in Netherfield Road, Everton. It was built in 1787, and was used to incarcerate wrong-doers until they could be hauled before the magistrate the following morning.

    An early print of Everton Brow by Liverpool artist Herdman in 1800 shows the small round house with a conical roof in the middle of the penfold (cattle enclosure). Also going by the nicknames "Stewbum's Palace" or the "Stone Jug" in its day. There is a display about the lock-up in the Liverpool Museum.

    Prince Rupert's Tower was situated across the road from the Old Toffee Shoppe, and where Everton Toffee originated. There where two local Toffee Shops

    Ye Anciente Everton Toffee House was located by the Queen's Head Hotel in Village Street, where much of Everton's early development occurred. The Toffee House was the operation of Old Ma Bushell, who was the original Toffee Lady, and actually invented Everton Toffees. This confectionery was sold in huge quantities to the hungry hordes as they journeyed from far and wide to watch Everton play in the new Football League, firstly in Stanley Park, and Priory Road. Then at Anfield, Everton's third ground.

    Mother Nobletts Toffee Shop was located near Goodison Park, and figured prominently after the move from Anfield in 1892. Old Mother Nobletts was placed on the horns of a dilemma when that momentous decision was taken to move the great club from Anfield to the new Goodison Park. But, being the mother of innovation, Mrs Nobletts hit upon a great idea as direct competition for the Everton Toffees patented by her arch rival, Old Ma Bushell. Mother Nobletts invented Everton Mints.

    Everton Mints were a great success with the crowd. The black & white stripes of the new sweets reflected an older strip that Everton had worn some years earlier. Meanwhile, sales of Everton Toffee from Ye Anciente Everton Toffee Shop declined rapidly, mainly due the long distance that now separated Old Ma Bushell's tasty goods from the crowds milling around Goodison Park.

    Not to be out-done by the inventive Mrs Nobletts, Old Ma Bushell pulled a masterstroke of marketing acumen. She gained permission from the leaders of the Club to distribute her Everton Toffees to the crowd inside the ground as they waited patiently for the kick-off. Her beautiful young grand-daughter, Jemima Bushell, was persuaded to perform this honourable task. She dressed in her best finery, and donned a broad hat before carrying around her basket laden with individually wrapped Everton Toffees.

    And so was born the tradition of the Everton Toffee Lady, a pre-match feature at Goodison Park that has lasted remarkably well down the years. In previous years, one Toffee Lady did the job week-in, week-out: Mary Gorry fulfilled this role in the mid-Fifties. Nowadays, for each home match, a different teenage girl is selected from the ranks of Everton's Supporters Club to perform this time-honoured task.

    I have enclosed some photos of the lockup.

    Regards
    Rob Ainsworth
    Liverpool History Society

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  2. Hi I need help - I am trying to find pictures, paintings or sketches of roberts street (robert street North) off grest howard street. My family owned a number of pubs and hotels in the mid 1800's
    crbritton@googlemail.com

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  3. brilliant bit of history to read and digest, i used to live in the block of maisonets just down the road, on netherfield road, they have been demolished now but reading this just makes me even more proud of my beloved Everton Football Club, thank you :)

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