Historical liverpool Dwellings - Everton House

Gregson's Well can be seen in the foreground guarded by iron railings

Brunswick Road was originally called Mill Lane, then Folly Lane, then Brunswick Place, before given its current title. In the early 19th century, Caroline of Brunswick was the popular wife of the rather less popular King George IV. Folklore has it that Brunswick Road came by its name when a painter repainting street signs left his work, only to return and find Brunswick Place chalked on by a supporter of the Queen. Thinking it was official, he copied it. 'Place', it later became 'Road'.

In 1827 there were only two houses on its north side, Brunswick House, where the Rev James Formby lived and later the merchant James Rowden, and Everton House at the corner of Everton Road. This was built by Dr Daniel Fabious, a well known Baptist of that time who held services at the house in 1700. Gregson's villa was erected on the site of the Fabious' house, which was built long prior to 1700. It was in this year that the Fabiouses' (alias Beans) procured a license for a room in their dwelling for prayer meetings of the Baptists. They appear to have been influential members of a then small community. In 1707 Daniel and Hannah Fabious gave the Baptists a piece of their ground for a cemetery. In 1714 a Baptist chapel was erected near the burying ground, then about 1722 the congregation moved to the new chapel in Byrom Street. Later the Gregson family bought the house and after almost pulling it down rebuilt it on a magnificent scale with the interior said to be so fine that there was nothing like it outside London. Close to the house was an excellent well, from which the neighbourhood took the name of Gregson's Well. 

 

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William Gregson was born on the 12th of January 1721 in Liverpool and worked as a rope maker in his youth. In 1762 he became Lord Mayor and in 1784 so did his son and fellow slaver, John Gregson. William's life is an example of a rags to riches story and demonstrates how an individual born into a working family would rise to the top of society by careful investments in the slave trade. It is also possible from his investments, as well as his actions in the wake of the Zong massacre, to discern what type of man Gregson must have been. He was clearly a man of tireless character to have climbed so high in Liverpool society from humble origins and also must have been a shrewd businessman to have been in the trade so long, and to have branched out into other financially orientated fields. On the other hand, he must have been an incredibly callous individual to have profited at the expense of so many lives; this is especially clear in his ruthless pursuit of compensation in the wake of the Zong tragedy where over 130 enslaved people died. The massacre was a landmark in the abolition movement because it galvanised public opinion against slavery. Gregson also appears to have been an extravagant man, who often held lavish parties for the members of his company, the Gregson syndicate. This also demonstrates the callousness that clearly pervaded his nature – the fact that he was able to enjoy the monetary rewards that came with success as a slaver, whilst the victims of his trade suffered immensely. By the time he retired, Gregson had been a slave trader for half a century, and had branched out into banking and insurance. He died in 1800.

Gregson's Well

The singular bend that the road took at the house was originated by the owner diverting the throughfare to its present shape in consequence of the dust incommoding him and his family. It is said that he was so influential that, "Mr Gregson fancied the public road outside his property came too near the front of his house. The overseer of highways, willing to oblige so magnificent a personage, consented to alter it so as to give adequate space in front of the mansion. Hence the awkward curve that now exists, which would cost thousands of pounds to straighten." That unusual kink remains at Everton Road’s junction with West Derby Road. Gregson’s Well was taken down in 1842 although two local pubs kept the name alive. The villa no longer remains, nor do the two public houses nearby that were called Gregson's Well. Gregson Street in Everton is named after him but Gregson's villa and gardens have disappeared and are covered by multitudes of small houses.

see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2023/06/historic-liverpool-dwellings-no8.html