Old Images of Bootle, Merseyside

old photos and films with Local History Videos .com

Glimpse history through old images of Bootle, Merseyside, in North West England, UK.

May Day Celebrations 1922

The first minute of this silent footage shows us some of the participants about to take part in the procession, standing around in a yard.

Then we see the procession, with a lovely shot of the houses and a large factory in the background.

Bootle May Day Celebrations Aka Bootle May Demonstration (1922) – British Pathé on YouTube


New Smelter 1928

Bootle’s new smelter at the The Penpoll Tin Smelting Works was opened on 13th July 1928 by Lord Derby, who ignited the 8 furnaces.

UK: BUSINESS: Lord Derby open new smelter plant at Bootle (1928) – British Pathé on YouTube


Old Photos of Bootle

Enjoy a wide selection of old photos of Bootle’s past streets, shops, businesses, factories, transport vehicles, homes, and people, across many decades.

https://youtu.be/lmNniPWm3_c

LIVERPOOL throughout Time – BOOTLE – MERSEY LIFE n TIMES on YouTube


Bootle Buses

Back on 23rd June 2008, some film footage was recorded across the road from the Strand. The focus is on the buses, but it also captures the sights and sounds of the time.

Buses in Bootle 23rd June 2008 – Public Transport UK | Catch One Today on YouTube


Historic Book

Extract from “The Coffee public-house news”

Published in 1885

Pages 18 & 19

“The Chairman proposed the next sentiment ,
” Success to the Borough of Bootle . ” The Chairman
said that the most magnificent docks in the world
were to be seen in the borough of Bootle , and the
mightiest steamers afloat were to be seen within those
enclosed docks . Those steamers poured upon these
shores the produce of the world , and this had neces
sitated such enormous railway services as were to be
found nowhere else in Lancashire . In addition to
that there were in the borough large engineering
works necessary for making the repairs required from
time to time by steamers berthed in the docks . On
all sides there were in Bootle the signs of great and
increasing prosperity . It was within the memory of
many present , that , before the docks were made , the
waters washed the shore of Bootle Bay , and he was
not sure that they did not wash over the very site of
the house in which they were now assembled . It
would be a grievance to Liverpool if , in the Redistri
bution Act , which was to be passed in the next session
of Parliament , Bootle were not granted the privilege
of separate representation in Parliament . Bootle was
worthy of the privilege , and they would all unite in
wishing prosperity to the borough , and in joining with
the sentiment the name of his Worship the Mayor ,
who had so kindly graced their proceedings with his
presence .
The Mayor , who was loudly applauded on rising
to respond , said that they would all benefit if Bootle
prospered . He also joined in the wish which had
been so cordially expressed by the chairman , that
Bootle should have a Member of Parliament of its
own . There was no doubt in his mind that the
borough was fully entitled to separate Parliamentary
representation . He had lately been in London as one

The
of a deputation , whose purpose was to urge upon the
Government , and those who had the matter in hand ,
the claims of Bootle to be allowed this privilege .
The deputation represented to the authorities that
there was no other place in the kingdoin which was
progressing so rapidly either in population or in
rateable value . They had in Bootle the largest docks
in the world , the largest steamships in the world ,
they had some of the largest engineering works , and
he believed that the largest warehouses in the king .
dom were now being erected in Bootle .
deputation also pointed out to the authorities that
the borough had already handsome municipal
buildings , and that they were about providing baths
and washhouses , a free public library , and other
public requirements , which would complete their
municipal institutions ; and on all these grounds they
urged that Bootle was entitled to a Member of its
own . If they had thought of the matter in another
light they might also have pointed out that Bootle
had likewise the most commodious Coffee – palace in
the world , and that fact might have had some influence .
He believed that if the matter were properly placed
before the Government and the Boundary Com
missioners the young and plucky borough would be
made complete not only in a municipal but in a
Parliamentary sense .

Mr. T. P. Danson , J.P. , said that he had great
pleasure in proposing the next sentiment , which was
Success to the British Workman Public – House Com
pany , ” as represented by that beautiful building in
which they were now assembled . He considered that
hall to be an ornament to their rising borough , and in
connection with this toast it would be wrong to omit
mention of his respected friend Mr. J. Francis Doyle ,
the architect , under whose auspices that beautiful and
well – adapted building had been erected . Mr. Doyle
seemed fully equal to any task imposed upon him . Not
long ago he ( Mr. Danson ) was in a very beautiful
church , which had been designed by Mr. Doyle . Now
he was present in that handsome workman’s hall ,
designed with the same skill and by the same architect ,
It had been inferred during the proceedings that even .
ing , that the fact of the Company paying dividends was
thought by some persons to be in some way discredit
able to them . On the contrary , nothing could be more
satisfactory than the fact that such institutions as that
in which they were now gathered should be supported
by the pennies of the working men , instead of by those
guinea subscriptions with which many of them were
only too well acquainted . No one could go round the
borough and see the miserable holes in which too many
working men were obliged to collect to get their dinners ,
without recognising the necessity for a house of this
kind . That light and airy and beautiful hall would be
an antidote to this sort of thing , and he was especially
pleased to hear the Chairman state , that even men who
had no money to spend would be welcome to come in
and warm themselves and read the newspapers free of
charge . This would be a great boon to the numbers of
men whom they now saw loitering at the corners of
the streets , or sitting about on baulks of timber . He
also believed that this Coffee – house would prove an
education to workmen as to how to live . The problem
was not so much a question of food .

Let them go into the back slums and see the prevailing squalor and dirt ,
and they would understand that this in itself was an
incentive to drunkenness . Put these same men in clean

places and they would feel some inducement to keep
sober . Only recently they had seen a column in one
of the newspapers under the heading of ” Brutal
Bootle . ” It was their duty to do their best to remedy
such a state of things as that . Drunkenness was an
ancient habit , which extended from the time of Noah
to that of James I. , who , in spite of his love for
ecclesiastical controversy , was said to have been often

carried to bed in a state of insensibility . If his sacred
majesty could have got a good cup of tea or coffee
probably this would never have happened . The social
historian of the eighteenth century – and it was the
social history of a people which was of the most value
informed them that after the introduction of tea and
coffee as beverages towards the close of the seventeenth
century , there was a great diminution of drunkenness .
If it had that effect then , when it was scarce and
dear , how much greater should beits effect now , when
it was so remarkably cheap !
The Chairman said that he would ask Mr. Poulsom
to respond to this sentiment , as one of the best friends
he knew to the working classes , and one whom Bootle
had to thank more than anyone else for the erection
of that building .


Alderman Poulsom , in responding , said that he did
not see why he should be called upon to speak a second
time when there were so many of his co – directors
around him , but he was grateful for the opportunity
under the present circumstances of being able to re
spond on behalf of the British Workman Public – House
Company on this occasion . He had taken an interest
for many years in public and social movements in
Bootle . It was not fifty yards from that place where
himself , Mr. Samuel Smith , Dr. Sprakeling , Mr. Cotton ,
and he did not know how many more , went to look for
wives . In connection with the toast , his friend Mr.
Danson had referred to that building . He believed
that it was a building of which they need not be
ashamed , and he sincerely hoped that it would answer
the purpose for which it was intended . Mr. Doyle had
managed his part of the work with sound judgment and skill.
He had been called upon to utilise every
yard of space , for the site was a peculiar one to deal
with , but they had certainly got the most for their
money . The Bootle Coffee – house had been well and
faithfully built . They had not gone in so much for
ornament , but they had made the building substantial .
Thanks were due to the builders and to the British
public who had encouraged them to build . It was a
fact , a most satisfactory fact , that houses of this kind
were better appreciated by the workmen in that port
than anywhere else in the kingdom . The first sugges
tion for the establishment of such houses was made by
their good friend the Rev. Charles Garrett , at one of
Messrs . Moody and Sankey’s earlier meetings in Liver
pool , where Mr. Garrett pointed out that workmen
along the line of docks had generally to sit down on a
bale of cotton to get their meals . As a consequence of
that , a meeting was called , at which he ( Mr. Poulsom )
was among those who were present . They were asked
the question what they should do to meet such a need .
Their good friend Mr. Lockhart went to Bristol , where ,
they heard something was being done , and he came
back with the idea of establishing Cocoa – rooms . They
tried to meet the public want , and they had now gone
beyond the point of the mere provision of tea and
coffee , and buns and sweets . He believed they had
gone on the right course , for people could not live on
cakes , but required more substantial food . They had
provided for them substantial food , and they had made
these houses as attractive as possible . It had been
mentioned that though they had not started with the
idea of making money , the houses had proved self
supporting , and he thanked God that this was so . By
making them self – supporting they made them per
manent . They had provided for the public want , they
had removed from working men the necessity of going
to the public – houses , and in so doing they had been
well , rewarded . The Company was not only doing a
large business itself , but they were leading others into
the track they had followed , and the public would reap
the benefit . At one time it was a question whether
they should go halfway on the track of philanthropy ,
and accept whatever subscriptions were offered to
them . They determined , however , to establish those

houses on strict business principles , and they had seen
no reason to regret their determination . They had been
careful , however , to gather about them a staff of officials
of reliable and sober principle – total abstainers – who
would go in and out before those with whom they did
business , and show by their own example the value of
the principles they desired to promote . He believed
that by this course these houses had been established
upon a more permanent basis than if they had been
merely conducted as a philanthropic enterprise .”

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