The history of Rodney Street really begins in November, 1783 with the leasing of the entire site to Samuel Aspinall, Peter Hope, and William Roscoe before, in 1786, William Roscoe became the sole lessee of the site of No. 35 Rodney Street. The Grade II listed townhouse was the first house to be built on one of Liverpool's oldest streets, built between 1783 and 1784 on the site leased by the slavery abolitionist and former Liverpool MP who was also who was a Banker, Lawyer, Author. Spread out over five floors, the historic property was originally a residential home but later became let out for commercial use, with the German Consulate once being based there. It is believed by historians that Roscoe used a quarry directly to the left of the building hence why the buildings on the left built in 1827 are set back. When it was first built, the property was loaned to host the first art exhibition in Liverpool to try and resuscitate the Academy of Arts whose vice-president was MP William Roscoe, with the likes of Rembrandt being displayed there. This house, number 35, was singled out by Professor Reilly as the most perfect example of the architectural style to which the whole of the street conforms. A directory from January 1787, said Liverpool merchant Pudsey Dawson was the only resident at number 35 Rodney Street. Pudsey Dawson was Mayor of Liverpool in 1779 and 1780 and was also the founding director of the North West Railway. He also commanded the Royal Regiment of Liverpool, and was a colonel of the 5nd Foot Regiment in which two of his sons Henry and Charles served as captains in the Napoleonic War, both being killed in action. He renewed the lease in 1809 and was then the home of Edgerton Smith who founded the Liverpool Mercury newspaper in 1811 and also founded the 'Strangers Friend Society', a local charity which helped the poor at their homes in 1817. At one time, Margaret Smith had a ladies' boarding school there with the school appearing first in 1825 directed by Wilson and Higgin. By 1829 Wilson had dropped out and the school is run by Higgin and Lofthouse before, in 1834, the proprietors are the Misses Smith and Mackenzie. Between In 1924 it was occupied by Alfred Douglas Bigland who was a consultant in Maghull Hospital and later, a specialist in Asthma at the Liverpool Royal Hospital until his passing in 1938.
Before a Mr and Mrs James bought the property in 2020, it was was used for commercial purposes for many years from the mid 1900s being used by different businesses, with a doctor, dentist, orthodontist and a chiropractors based on different floors. Mr James said the previous owner decided to have the property exorcised in an attempt to drive out a supposed evil spirit after they kept encountering problems when trying to sell it. One of the couple's biggest finds during the renovation was discovering the stunning original flooring in the hallway that was hidden under layers upon layers of different materials. Another discovery was made outside in the garden during work on an orangery, when builders found a well with links to the spring at Liverpool Cathedral. A huge piece of slate was unearthed which, when removed, revealed a massive hole forming part of a medieval underground spring, the same as the one from the cathedral.
The couple also believe the house has two hidden rooms, including one upstairs and one in the cellar which have voids and vents leading into them. A black plaque on the property's red brick frontage details the buildings history on one of the city's oldest streets.
see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2024/04/historical-liverpool-dwellings.html
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