Lodge Lane ropeworks

[johnmyers2]

In the 19th century there were extensive ropeworks along Lodge Lane. My great grandfather Philip Myers and his father David Myers both worked there. They were either owners or (later) foremen at the works. Philips house still stands on Mill Lane in Old Swan. The Myers clan was extensive throughout the Old Swan/Wavertree area. Any information anyone has on the rope works and/or the Myers involvement would be gratefully received.

[MaryA]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

There are many books available which our members may know that mention the name, also we have various trade/street directories, these will perhaps pinpoint the place where the ropeworks were and we may be able to identify it on maps.

Can you narrow down by date what years they were in that area.

[MaryA]

Came across this.

Taken from Freddy O'Connors fantastic book LIVERPOOL - OUR CITY - OUR HERITAGE (first published 1990 - ISBN 0-9516188-0-6) you can pick up a copy of this quite cheaply on Amazon, although probable not a new copy

page 43

West of Lodge Lane,roperies were established between 1825/35 (see page 18)

page 18

By 1705 beyond the former pool there existed: a salt works, dye house and a number of roperies. "Roperies", were places were rope was made, and the location had to be long and straight for this industry where the rope was inter-twined. A number existed around the town during the 18th century and became more frequent with the increase of the use of rope, particularly in conjunction with shipping.

The site of the old roperies eventually became streets which remained long and straight from their rope making origins. Examples of former roperies are; Bold Street, Wood Street, Great Charlotte Street, Renshaw Street and Gloucester Street in the city centre.

On the outskirts of the town as late as the 1860's roperies were still in business. An example could be found in Lodge Lane, where a few long narrow terraced streets of late 19th century housing still stand indicating the sites of former roperies.

[MaryA]

This question has also come up before on our forum, it seems that the name of the ropeworks was Garnick & Bibby, there's some useful information here
https://www.liverpool-genealogy.org.uk/ ... =2&t=13698

[MaryA]

And a note in the Liverpool Museums site shows a photograph of the damage when it was bombed
http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/kids ... _info.html

[Blue70]

I'm sure you have all the census records and other information about the family with you asking about their work but for the benefit of others wanting to help here is the family in 1851:-

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKVX-4THK


Blue

[Tina]

1881 Philip was a ropemaker bn Oldham (reads Old Swan will send error into Anc) 42 living in Tockie Park, David was 10. Later census bn Liverpool. 1911 Philip was 72 and still working as a foreman ropemaker.

[Blue70]

Did Philip have a beerhouse?

Liverpool Mercury, Friday 25 June 1869




At the Liverpool Quarter Sessions on 13 July 1869 he was sentenced to two months imprisonment for receiving stolen property. The entry is on Ancestry but there doesn't appear to be a mention of the case in the July newspapers.


Liverpool Mercury, Saturday 30 April 1870





Blue

[Blue70]

I can see them on the census records, directories etc they don't appear to be owners, "foreman" is the only detail I can find about Philip Myers' role and that appears to be later in life. Here's a link about Garnock, Bibby & Co:-

http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Garnock,_Bibby_and_Co




Blue

[Blue70]

Here's an 1840s map of the Lodge Lane area:-

http://maps.nls.uk/view/102344123#zoom= ... &layers=BT


Blue

[daggers]

Garnock Bibby had, I think, a rope walk at Olive Mount, beside the railway. It appears on the OS 1905 map [Godfrey Edition, Wavertree and Broadgreen]. It was still there when I played cricket against Crawfords on their adjacent ground in the 1950s & 60s.

D

[Blue70]

c1890s





Blue

[luxor]

Some newspaper stories - apologies if these are not relevant:

The Liverpool Mail of 31st October 1846 reported that James Jarvie, rope manufacturer, had married Janet Pollok from Renfrewshire.

The Liverpool Mercury of 9th April 1847 reported a court case on some young male employees of Jarvie's who had beaten up female fellow employees who had been given jobs previously done by males.

The Liverpool Daily Post of 12th April 1861 had an ad to let land in Lodge Lane for Rope-walks. [Many similar ads.]

The Liverpool Mercury of 30th August 1867 had a story: 'Fatal Accident at Messrs. Hutchinson and Jarvie's Ropewalk, Lodge-Lane' telling of how a Richard Longworth was crushed as a large boiler was moved into place. The story opens by noting that the ropery 'was lately burned down and is now being rebuilt.'

The Liverpool Daily Post of 15th November 1869 reported a bankruptcy hearing on Jones, Gardom and Co., rope-makers of Lodge Lane.

The Liverpool Daily Post of 18th August 1870 reported that Hutchinson's rope works had been badly damaged in a fire. A worker was badly burned.

The Liverpool Daily Post 20 August 1870 reported that the foreman, James Lawrenson, had been attending the christening of his youngest child on the day of the recent fire and had later committed suicide.

The Liverpool Mail of 17th June 1871 reported that the Hutchinson and Jarvie partnership had been dissolved.

The Liverpool Mail of 22nd June 1872 reported that another fire at Hutchinson and Company was confined to a shed.

The Liverpool Mercury of 29th July 1880 reported the coroner's inquest on a fatal accident at Hutchinson and Pollock.

There is plenty of information to be had via the British Newspaper Archive. You can join directly, but BNA access is included with a subscription to findmypast, so that's better value. £1 for 1 month offers come up regularly and are usually reported on this forum.

[Blue70]

I'm thinking that with Philip living at the top of Mill Lane at 4 Buxton Terrace, Mill Lane he may have worked at the Rope Works off St Oswald Street rather than near Olive Mount it was only a short distance away from his probable workplace.



https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.41132 ... 312!8i6656





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