Rumford Place, Livepool
19 Abercomby Square
Many years ago I remember a old guy pointing out to me a Lone Star carved above the doorway of a Georgian period house somewhere in central or south Liverpool.
He was a local history buff and he told me of a link that property had to the history of Texas.
He claimed that when Texas first gained independence from Mexico and proclaimed itself a Republic , 1836 I think, it established a consulate in Liverpool to serve the trading links between Liverpool and Texas, and that this house was it's home for approx 10 years before Texas became part of the United States.
I have searched often amongst the many streets of the central/south Liverpool area with georgian properties but never relocated this house. Does anyone have any clue as to where it may be if it's still standing, that is if anyone else has ever heard the same tale.
Dave
Hello Dave,
ReplyDeleteThe building you are probably referring is 10 Rumford Place of Castle Street that was the " Confederate Embassy" now a "listed" building. Number 6 Rumford Place was the office of the Confederate Navy agent in Liverpool, Commander James Dunwoody Bulloch.
Another property with ACW links is 19 Abercromby Square, built for Charles K Prioleau in1863. Permission was given for the building to be 2 feet taller than the existing buildings either side of it. The house has many features which show the original owner was from South Carolina.
The ceiling foyer in Charles Kuhn Prioleau's house in Abercromby Square displays a palmetto tree & crescent moon both symbols of his native South Carolina, the serpent wrapped at the base of the tree signified war and defiance). Prioleau was senior partner of Fraser, Trenholm & Co. and the leading Confederate financier in Britain during the war, providing the funding necessary to build ships such as the Alabama, Florida, & Shenandoah, and numerous blockade runners.
Regards
Rob Ainsworth
Web Administrator
Liverpool History Society
Web Site:http://liverpoolhistorysociety.org.uk
Liverpool History Society Questions: http://liverpoolhistorysocietyquestions.wordpress.com/
Thanks for the quick reply Rob but, it was neither of the buildings or persons you suggest of that much I am certain.As you mention both of these buildings were used by the Confederate States of America and their representatives. The building and representation I am in search of, is soley for the short lived Republic of Texas.
ReplyDeleteThank You
Dave