We parked in the Croxteth Hall Car Park and headed down to the Park Gates in West Derby Village.
We passed St Mary's Church, on our right, before leaving the park.
St Mary’s Anglican Church, designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, is built from local red sandstone with Yorkshire stone pillars.
Just outside the gates was the Village Craft and Country Fair with its arts, crafts, jewellery, food stalls, pet items and more.
We did take time to wander around the stalls but, our interest was the Courthouse and other things in the village.
We couldn't fail to see the "Monument"...
...as we emerged from the stalls.
The Monument features...
- an ornate statue of enthroned Christ under a canopy,
- the Fall of Adam and Eve,
- the Resurrection and
- the four evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
...it also marks the site of the old West Derby Chapel demolished about 1856.
Mrs Pemberton Heywood of Norris Green House, a wealthy banker’s wife, paid for the structure, which was designed by Eden Nesfield.
Her husband paid for the massive 160 ft tower of St Mary's Church.
Beyond the Monument were the Stocks...
...apparently last used in about 1860; up to three offenders each spent a maximum of six hours unable to move their legs, with no shelter from the weather, where passers-by could ridicule and abuse them and also throw rotten fruit and horse dung at them.
To commemorate Queen Victoria’s reign and Edward VII’s coronation, the stocks were placed in the Village pinfold (stray animals’ pen).
On the corner we saw the Yeoman's House (Number10)...
...thought to date from late Tudor times; this sandstone house has long been associated with West Derby Yeomen, prominent farming officials who helped the Molyneux family run their estates.
The house once stood next to the Village school which was demolished in Victorian times.
We came across its replacement as we wandered down the side street...
...another lovely building.
We headed back towards the stalls, as the Courthouse didn't open until 11:00 and noticed the Fountain...
...it had been hidden by the stalls on our way in.
It had been erected in 1894 by Richard Meade-King so that the village people could have a drink of water whenever they liked; Engraved on the fountain are these words...
"Water is Best".Installed at the height of the temperance movement, it is a reminder that water is better than alcohol. (It's important but I don't think I can agree)
I noticed, on the cottages...
...above the windows, the Molyneaux cross is stationed and on the drainpipes; it is the symbol used by Sefton Council.
Nearer to the Croxteth Park Gate, we also took a closer look at the War Memorial...
...before Chris noticed the volunteers had unlocked the Tudor Courthouse.
Built on the orders of Elizabeth I in 1586, when Liverpool apparently had just seven streets, it cost £40 to build; the Manor Court was used by the Molyneux family to administer their estates.
Such courts were the norm for many communities – when individuals could be fined or put in the stocks for...
- drunkenness,
- vagrancy,
- brawling,
- not attending church and/or
- keeping a pig without a ring in its nose.
In those days everyone had to attend an Anglican service on a Sunday, even if they were Catholic and pig-rings were important for controlling the animals as an out-of-control pig could do a lot of damage.The court only had the power to issue fines. If you couldn’t pay the fine then you could be put in the stocks for up for six hours (as mentioned earlier)
The Courthouse replaced a much older building and is Grade II-listed.
It was last used in 1910, this is now the only freestanding post-medieval UK courthouse and contains original Tudor benches...
...a rare three-lock door and 17th century cupboards....
It is normally open to the public between 2pm and 4pm on most Sundays between April and October.
After out visit to the Courthouse we returned, via the Croxteth Hall Café for a drink and comfort break, to the car and headed home.
Take a look at todays slideshow below...
or at https://sharalike.com/s/n3bx
Yet another enjoyable visit to part of Merseyside, finding out more about the local area and its history.
You can find out more about West Derby at http://westderbysociety.wix.com/westderbysociety
