Saturday just gone was such a beautiful day that it was easy to take good photographs, especially on such an interesting bus route as the 27. In fact I took nearly 200 photos during a long sunny day. Too many to use in the one blog post. So here are some more. Liverpool street scenes from in and around the 27 bus.
Route map printed out. All ready to go.Starting at Lodge Lane.Just off Lodge Lane.
Following up recent cowhouse finds with this livery stable. Links to a past when large animals shared the city with us. And reflecting on the use of the word ‘livery’ to mean a horse stable but also as elements of heraldry. When owning a horse marked you out as the local warlord or nobility.
This wonderful supermarket with vegetables and fruit, some you won’t find in any Tesco out on the street.
The creative use of an old pub.Astbridge Street, stretching all the way to Granby.On the corner here, you can still see the tiles from the Lodge Lane public baths that used to be here.The wall of it being used for a big display of Liverpool 8 public art.More art on the front wall of the former library next to the baths.Sadly, now a library no more.But a samba school.The bus stopping for us. Opposite a closed pub that hasn’t found an alternative use yet.Passing the church on the formerly crowded Edge Lane crossroad.Something else being worked on and turned into something else?Along at Newsham Park the bus stops for a few minutes and we wonder why?
Then we witness a curious little ceremony. After a while a little white van draws up on the opposite side of the road. A man gets out and crosses over to us. Has a few friendly words with our driver, who then himself gets out and crosses to the little white van. As our new driver takes his seat in our bus.
We have witnessed the driver takeover ceremony.
And before we drive off, another little white van has duly turned up to wait for the next 27 and repeat the ceremony all over again.
How quaint, we thought. But how bleak. I’ve done a fair bit of work with bus crews over the years. Know what a lonely life it can be. And know how they value the occasional camaraderie of the bus depot canteen. Denied them here, whilst back in town there’s a bus station at Liverpool One where you never see any driver exchanges taking place. Efficiency, progress? Hardly.
The new driver drops us off on Oakfield Road, Anfield.Blighted by the demolitions of the last few years. More shutters than shops.Because we are on a hill here, and because so much demolition has been done, you can literally see for miles through the end there.Inside Homebaked it’s busy. They’re getting ready to run an event.Part of the Writing on the Wall festival.
We can’t stay as we know we’ve still got half the city to get around.
Work continuing on Homebaked.While across the road temporary public ‘gardens’ await the extension of the football ground.And what’s left of the ‘V Streets’ is securely fenced in.Back on the bus to Greatie.Then we cross Scotland Road.Where the people love to talk.And Eldon Grove waits in the sunshine to see if it has a future?
Crossing Leeds Street we’re close to the city centre now.
The Library just the other side of this housing estate.And John Moores University, seen from where Fontenoy Gardens used to stand.Fontenoy Gardens as was.Behind Fontenoy, the old parish social club being transformed into something else?
And in this quiet place on the edge of the city centre, gradually being changed into student-land, a curious sculpture.
‘Palanzana’
The name of the quarry in Italy the volcanic stone came from. This sculpture was done by Stephen Cox for the 1984 International Garden Festival down by the South Docks. And through some accidents of history has ended up here in a quiet corner of north Liverpool. I wonder why?
Into town. And just off Dale Street these splendid old flats.Through Sweeting Street.
I’ll be back here someday soon for a close look at all these little alleys that were so much a part of Liverpool’s business district when messenger boys like my Dad would run from office to office, long before faxes or email. Coming soon.
Down by the river. Is that a cruise ship or an advert for the Halifax Building Society?Meanwhile, here at the church yard of St Nicholas…Just married in some nearby hotel, the happy couple are here for the photos.Along the road, one of the remaining bits of Liverpool’s ‘streets in the sky’ planning policy from the 1960s.Liverpool One might think it’s all about retail. But the kids think it’s all about water.Back on the bus at the Bus Station where drivers don’t exchange and this far side seems hardly used at all. Strange place.Off the bus at Park Road, Pickwick Street here.In the car park of the massive Tesco there’s a funfair going on. Daniel Sturridge about to get on one of the rides here.Through to the Welsh Streets. The Magical Mystery bus stops so people can gaze at Madryn Street, where Ringo was born.
‘All the empty houses, where do they all come from?’ as The Beatles almost sang.
And finally, at Princes Avenue, waiting for the 27.
I love your blogs Ronnie and Sarah x they’re an inspiration! X
You’re welcome. Being an inspiration is always good!