Central Station, Liverpool and other Reminiscences

[leigh]

Hi everyone

Does anyone know of websites with photographs of the interior of the old Central Station, Liverpool - pre 1960's (before the escalators)?

I can't recall very well the layout of the station with its upper and underground platforms. Once you entered the station did you turn left passed the ticket counters to go to the underground platforms?
I have found a few photos on Flickr.

Thanks.

P.S. In the early 1950's my sister (aged 4) encountered Prince Monolulu - dressed in full feather regalia - at the entrance to Central Station. He gave her a penny for good luck.
Does anyone else remember him?

[Hilary]

Try this site

www.disused-stations.org.uk/sites.shtml

search under Liverpool Central High and Low Level

[daggers]

Never got a penny but saw Monolulu on a bombed site opposite Lewis's on a Grand National morning. The same site used to have the man who tied himself in chains and took ages to escape, once his mate had taken enough lolly.

[dickiesam]

Prince Monolulu! I remember him... "I gotta horse, I gotta horse". My dad took me to Aintree for the Grand National in 1948. He won a small bundle on Sheila's Cottage.

And as for Central Station, I used it daily throughout the week to and from work in the mid 1950s. I can remember the two platforms clearly and the long flight of stairs down to them but for the life of me can't confirm a small notion of a memory that I used to turn left to access the stairs.

[erika]

Try this site

http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/sites.shtml

search under Liverpool Central High and Low Level

Thanks for that link Hilary.
Just been like a trip down memory lane looking at Central Station. Used to use the train daily from Mersey Road in the 60's and I always remember standing on the bridge at Mersey Road Station in the 50's and being covered in smoke from the old steam trains, aahhh can almost smell it now

Yes I remember Prince Monolulu too, my dad took me to Aintree once and he was there.
Sorry this is really off topic, but it's nice to reminisce

[daggers]

I think the access to Low Level was at the Bold Street end of the station, with an entrance near the end of the Lyceum building as well as one inside the main station.

As a deviation I can remember thinking that the station master at 'Cressington & G' had a twin brother doing the same job at Mersey Road, until I saw that he hopped onto the train at one and off at the other.
Ah, the steam days!
D

[leigh]

Thanks Hilary for the website I will check it out.

Thanks Daggers, Dickiesam and Erika for your responses. I am glad my questions brought back some happy memories on this rather miserable dull October day.

Leigh

[garstonite]

I used Garston station to Central in the 1960`s and Bold Street was the way out ....and I remember Prince Monolulu very well .....a character at the National every year....
allan

[Tina]

I never saw the Prince, my Dad (a punter) would carry his bags at Lime St Station and he always gave a money tip and a horse tip.
I remember my Dad saying he was a Scotsman in disguise, which I thought was really funny as a kid.
Here's a photo of the Prince who was born Peter Carl MacKay in St Croix 1881 and died in Middlesex 1965.

[Bertieone]

First few seconds

http://www.britishpathe.com/video/selec ... he-derby-6

[leigh]

Thanks everyone for your extra info and memories.

Just on the right as you entered the station was a restaurant of long standing, does anyone remember the name of it? The waitresses wore black and white uniforms with a long chain attached to their waist on the end of which was a note pad for the orders. Apparently they served a good value lunch and were still in business in the mid 1960's

[daggers]

One of the many Reece's. Try search for another thread about them.

[leigh]

Gosh Daggers, that was quick. Thanks

Leigh

[leigh]

Took your suggestion Daggers and found an advertisement for Reeces. It listed numerous cafes in Liverpool city centre, one being the Lyceum Cafeat 1 Bold Street. So if the numbering of Bold Street started from the city centre and went up Bold Street, then 'that's the one'>.

Thanks

Leigh

[dickiesam]

One of the many Reece's. Try search for another thread about them.

Oh yes! And Reece's cream cakes.... A treat when out with my mum shopping in and around Church Street before we got the train back to Hamilton Square. Bold Street tended to be a little 'up-market' if I recall correctly. I do remember there was a Jaeger ladies undies shop there!

[erika]

. I do remember there was a Jaeger ladies undies shop there!

I'm shocked DS.

Gosh this is turning into a Memory Lane thread.

We used to go in Reeces for toasted teacakes before we went home. Or if we had more time a selection of cakes, yummy!!

[daggers]

Did I say that? I never knew about that line of goods!
Before Mary kills this off, what about the Kardomah, where men played chess at lunch time, Fullers on the corner of Church St and Ranelagh St, not forgetting the station's refreshment room, not unlike the one in Brief Encounter. Even earlier, Troxlers, up Bold Street, perhaps a victim of the war.
D

[dickiesam]

Did I say that? I never knew about that line of goods!
Before Mary kills this off, what about the Kardomah, where men played chess at lunch time, Fullers on the corner of Church St and Ranelagh St, not forgetting the station's refreshment room, not unlike the one in Brief Encounter. Even earlier, Troxlers, up Bold Street, perhaps a victim of the war.
D

Mum used to drag me past Jaeger's by the collar so I wouldn't stand and stare at the wondrous and mysterious articles in the window!

As for eateries and food, who remembers Thoroughgood's Pie Shop in, I think, Parker Street which ran from directly opposite the main Station entrance through to Clayton Square. Their pies were out of this world!

[MaryA]

Why not Mary just shift it over to Off Topic and you keep on going with your reminiscences, loving them!

[daggers]

That is Cases Street, once running through to Clayton Square, now only a fragment where the fruit barrow is or was.