In 1804, Dr Solomon with his wealth and reputation increasing, purchased himself this noble mansion in Kensington Fields, and called it Gilead House. Gilead House, or Dr. Solomon's, as it was familiarly called, was for many years the first house in approaching Liverpool from the eastward, and attracted great attention from the beauty of the grounds, and the trim style in which they were kept. The estate with its smooth shaven emerald green lawns surrounded by beautiful shrubberies, flower beds and perfumed rose gardens would attract many sightseers. It was indeed the first elegant structure that that passengers would observe as they neared Liverpool on their dusty London coach. Having made it his family residence he lived regally, carried a gold handled cane, and entertained guests here as he cut a fine figure in local society. The doctor would drive a handsome team of four horses, which, of course, attracted a good deal of attention whenever he made his appearance in the streets.
Samuel Solomon was an unsuccessful boot polish salesman from Newcastle who had made his way to Liverpool and in 1803, published a newspaper, the Mercantile Gazette, the first English provincial daily. The content was broad, 'pro rege, lege, grege' (for the King, the law, the people), but dwindled into a twice weekly, and struggled. He then commenced his medical career in a very modest way at 12 Marybone, off Tithebarn Street, some time before 1796 deciding to seek his fortune in quack medicine. The precise period when the 'Balm of Gilead' first diffused its soothing influences over the ills of humanity is hard to determine, but by the end of the century it had become very popular. This concocted mixture, its full name being 'Cordial Balm of Gilead' would, he claimed, cure you of hypochondria, intemperance, sexual debility, horrors of the mind, debauchery and ulcers of the lung, kidneys and liver ! A story is recounted of the doctor once entertaining a party of gentlemen at Gilead House (as was often his custom), and towards the close of the evening, someone began joking to the doctor about his 'Balm of Gilead'. The doctor bore the jesting very well, and on being told he ought to let those present taste it, readily consented to open a few bottles. Now this Balm, it was told, was very good, and was made, it was said, of strong alcohol or brandy, and the richest spices. The bottles of Balm were passed round and duly appreciated. On the guests preparing to leave, they were presented with 'a little bill' amounting to about a guinea each for the Balm of Gilead which had been consumed. The doctor telling them that it was by means of the 'Balm' he lived, and through the 'Balm' he was enabled to invite them to partake of his really bountiful hospitality. Each guest paid his bill, admitting that the doctor was right, and that they had merited the reproof so properly administered to them.
At his peak he had 400 agencies in Britain, 16 in America and others in Canada, Spain, India, Jamaica, France, Austria and Barbados. In January 1799 he announced that he was leaving Marybone for Solomon's Place, Brownlow Hill, and here he erected his own mausoleum, where six members of his family and himself were eventually laid to rest. Dr. Solomon died in 1819 and was interred here, alongside other family members. Many years after his decease the estate was sold by his representatives and purchased by the London and North Western Railway Company and his, and the family, remains removed to the Necropolis on West Derby Road, ( now Grant Gardens ). In Kensington, on the site of Dr. Solomon’s property, we have streets named after celebrated lawyers, and this locality is jocosely called 'Judge’s Land', with streets around bearing the names of Gilead and a Solomon-street to remind us of him.
For an alternative slant on the good Doctor, visit this excellent site - https://www.thecornpoppy.com/2022/06/wisdom-of-solomon-streat.html
see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2023/04/historic-liverpool-dwellings-78-duke.html
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