Recollections of Old Liverpool | Page 6

at her for spoiling their sport.
This was not seventy years ago!
To return to the Ranelagh Gardens. There was, at the close of the gala
nights, as they were called, a display of fireworks. They were let off on
the terrace. I went to see the last exhibition which took place in 1780.
There was, on that occasion, a concert in which Miss Brent, (who was,
by the way, a great favourite) appeared. Jugglers used to exhibit in the
concert-room, which was very capacious, as it would hold at least 800
to 1000 persons. This concert-room was also used as a dinner-room on
great occasions, and also as a town ball-room. Stephens gave his lecture
on "Heads" in it very frequently.
G. A. Stephens was an actor, who, after playing about in the provincial
highways and bye-ways of the dramatic world, went to London, where
he was engaged at Covent Garden in second and third rate parts. He
was a man of dissipated habits, but a jovial and merry companion. He
wrote a great many very clever songs, which he sang with great humour.
He got the idea of the lectures on "Heads" from a working man about
one of the theatres, whom he saw imitating some of the members of the
corporation of the town in which he met with him. Stephens, who was
quick and ready with his pen, in a short time got up his lecture, which
he delivered all through England, Scotland, Ireland, and America. He
realised upwards of 10,000 pounds, which he took care of, as he left
that sum behind him at his death, in 1784. He was at the time, a
completely worn-out, imbecile old man. Many of the leading actors of
his day followed up the lecture on "Heads," in which they signally
failed to convey the meaning of the author. I saw him, and was very
much amused; but I do not think he would be tolerated in the present
day. The elder Mathews evidently caught the idea of his "At Homes"
from Stephens's lecture.
Brownlow-hill was so called after Mr. Lawrence Brownlow, a
gentleman who held much property thereabout. Brownlow-hill was a
very pleasant walk. There were gardens on it, as, also, on Mount

Pleasant, then called Martindale's-hill, of which our friend Mr. Roscoe
has sung so sweetly. Martindale's-hill was quite a country walk when I
was a little boy. There was also a pleasant walk over the Moss Lake
Fields to Edge Hill. Where the Eye and Ear Infirmary stands there was
a stile and a foot-path to the Moss Lake Brook, across it was a wooden
foot bridge. The path afterwards diverged to Smithdown-lane. The
path-road also went on to Pembroke-place, along the present course of
Crown-street. I have heard my father speak of an attempt being made to
rob him on passing over the stile which stood where now you find the
King William Tavern. He drew his sword (a weapon commonly worn
by gentlemen of the time) which so frightened the thieves that they ran
away, and, in their flight, went into a pit of water, into which my father
also ran in the darkness which prevailed. The thieves roared loudly for
help, which my father did not stop to accord them. He, being a good
swimmer, soon got out, leaving the thieves to extricate themselves as
they could. There were several very pleasant country walks which went
up to Low-hill through Brownlow-street, and by Love-lane (now
Fairclough-lane). I recollect going along Love-lane many a time with
my dear wife, when we were sweethearting. We used to go to Low-hill
and thence along Everton-road (then called Everton-lane), on each side
of which was a row of large trees, and we returned by
Loggerhead's-lane (now Everton Crescent), and so home by
Richmond-row, (called after Dr. Sylvester Richmond, a physician
greatly esteemed and respected.) I recollect very well the brook that ran
along the present Byrom-street, whence the tannery on the right-hand
side was supplied with water. At the bottom of Richmond-row used to
be the kennels of the Liverpool Hunt Club. They were at one time kept
on the North-shore.
CHAPTER II.
I was very sorry when the Ranelagh Gardens were broken up. The
owner, Mr. Gibson, was the brother of the Mr. Gibson who kept the
Folly Gardens at the bottom of Folly-lane (now Islington) and top of
Shaw's Brow (called after Mr. Alderman Shaw, the great potter, who
lived in Dale-street, at the corner of Fontenoy-street--whose house is
still standing). Many a time have I played in the Folly Tea Gardens. It

was a pretty place, and great was the regret of the inhabitants of
Liverpool when it was resolved to build upon it. The Folly was closed
in 1785. Mr. Philip Christian built his house,