Historic Liverpool Dwellings - Bank Hall

An1857 Lithograph by Herdman of the Hall in 1754 showing the Moat Bridge

James Picton, historian and architect, could write in the 19th century that Kirkdale consisted of two hills, with a road (the 'dale') running between. The Blackfield Terrace area was one hill, whilst the second hill can be found in the area formerly occupied by the Liverpool Industrial School. A stream ran between the two hills, from the suburb of Walton to the place where Canada Dock now sits. This route can now probably be identified with the rough direction of Bank Hall Street, which runs south west towards the River Mersey from Stanley Road. The stream entered the Mersey at Bank Hall, an important building in the history of Kirkdale. 

Kirkdale became home to the Moore family from the 13th century onwards. Up until that time John de la More had owned a house – Moore Hall, first mentioned in 1236 – in the north part of the town of Liverpool. Then the family began to acquire lands in Kirkdale, and eventually built a new home out there. This was called Bank Hall, and the 'Old Hall', which gave its name to Old Hall Street, was left to the family’s Lady Dowager to live in. The Moore family were the principal landholders in Liverpool from the thirteenth century, owning many burgages and large parts of the town field, which they progressively enclosed, and they also operated the royal horse mill. Edward Moore was the son of Colonel John Moore, who was MP for Liverpool in the Long Parliament and one of the signatories of the death warrant for Charles I. The Old Hall continued in use until the 19th century, although it passed into the hands of the Stanley family as the fortunes of the Moore family waned. The Perry map of 1768 shows the Old Hall as a large house with wings and gardens to one side. In the hundred years which followed this, the house was gradually altered and eventually demolished

An antique lithograph by William Gawin Herdman

 

From c.1280, Bank Hall was the residence of the Moore family, a moated house, with a causeway between two lakes giving access to the building itself. It stood on the corner of what are now Bankhall Lane and Juniper Street, although the roads have seen some reshaping in the intervening years. The west front of Bank Hall faced the Mersey and the moat was divided by a bridge and the road leading from the shore. Lord Derby bought Bank Hall in January, 1724–5. The purchase included the manors of Kirkdale, Bootle, and Linacre, and all Sir Cleave Moore's estates in Kirkby, West Derby, Fazakerley, Litherland, Little Crosby, Ellel, Horsam, Walton, and Liverpool; Knowsley Muniments. There are references to Lord Derby at Bank Hall in Nicholas Blundell's Diary. William Enfield, writing about 1773, in the appendix to his Essay towards the History of Leverpool, says of Bankhal. 'It was a curious model of the ancient architecture such as prevailed 500 years ago, and doubtless in those days was esteemed a very grand structure. The front of it was moated with water, over which was a passage by a bridge, between two obelisks, to the gateway, whereon was a tower, on which were many shields of arms carved in stone; of which the most remarkable was that within the court, being undoubtedly the achievement of the founder. The great hall was a curious piece of antiquity, much ornamented with carvings, busts, and shields. It had no ceiling, but was open quite up to the roof, with various projections of the carved parts, whereon trophies of war and military habiliments were formerly suspended. On a wall between the court and garden was a grand arrangement of all the armorial acquisitions of the family. The shields were carved on circular stones, elevated and placed at equal distances like an embattlement. But this venerable pile has lately been demolished, and will probably soon be forgotten'. Unfortunately owing, it is said, to the officiousness of Lord Derby's agent. Bankhall was pulled down about the year 1773 and the stones dispersed. Bank Hall was demolished in the 1770s and is remembered locally through Bankhall station. A small farm was built on the site which remained until c.1870s. The coast to the west of Kirkdale was, before the arrival of the docks, popular as a destination for bathers and those seeking the fresh air. Later, when the Wellington, Huskisson and Sandon Docks were built, Southport replaced Kirkdale as the preferred holiday destination for discerning Liverpudlians. The site of the hall is remebered also by the street names as it was approximately on the corner of Bankhall Lane and Bankhall Street. 

see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2023/01/historic-liverpool-dwellings-woolton.html