Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

Hi All ~

Does anyone happen to know whether any records of the residents of Bevington House were kept c.1901?

I have located an Andrew McQuinn living there at the time of the 1901 census ... I'm fairly sure that he's one of 'my' McQuinns (my 2nd great grand uncle in fact), but it would be useful if I could check the records to be sure.

NB: Bevington House was originally: "... provided by Liverpool Housing to ease overcrowding." It consisted of 500 'sleeping rooms' for sober men. (I believe it was a Salvation Army hostel in more recent times).

Sorry I can't find anything in the Liverpool RO archives, not that they are the easiest search but just entering "Bevington" doesn't prove lucky. I get the feeling that those staying in the hotel/hostel would have been transient and probably there would have been only sketchy records.

I did find a postcard of what it would have looked like http://www.flickr.com/photos/54996985@N00/7180531184/

Many thanks MaryA. It does look rather grand!

The Times reported on the opening of Bevington House:
"Yesterday afternoon the Earl of Derby opened at Liverpool a people's home something after the style of the Rowton house in London. It is calculated that about 14,000 persons seek single lodgings in Liverpool every night, while a great many of the lodgings which private adventure supplies are hardly worthy the name. The new building, "Bevington-house," is situate in Bevington-bush, and near the west side of St. Martin's Market, Scotland-road.
Its accommodation is for single men, and comprises 500 cubicles, or sleeping apartments. There are two large kitchens, with a number of cooking stoves, and the lodgers may bring in their own victuals and cook them or may purchase them at cost price. Close by is a large dining-room, as well as reading and recreation rooms. In the basement are large apartments, which, like the staircase, are lined with vari-coloured glazed bricks. Here are the resources for washing and the repairing of clothes, which may be done by the men themselves or by tailors and shoemakers. Each sleeping apartment is 7ft. 6in. by 5ft., and in each is an iron bedstead, with copper wire mattress, a hair mattress, two hair bolsters, two sheets, pillow, under blanket, three over blankets, and a counterpane. There is a chair by the bedside, and a small window to light the room. There is an outdoor promenade, with pot plants and seats. The nightly charge for a cubicle, with the use of the other resources of the home, is 6d.
The whole cost of the building is stated at £25,000. At the rear is about 800 yards of land which may be utilized for extension. The home was built by a company, the directors of which are Lord Mayor Cohen, Colonel G. H. Morrison, Mr. Archibald Williamson, Mr. George Banner, Mr. John Henderson, and Mr. A. A. Paton, all prominent local men interested in the problem of housing the poor and providing lodgings for the unmarried work-people and doing what they can to make this experiment a success."

No records apart from census exist for this Lodging House. Plenty of the occupants would go to the Brownlow Hill Workhouse Infirmary who resided there.

If you look at this photo of Seth Davy at Bevington Bush you can see Bevington House Hotel in the distance:-

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0oNFnmvZcsI/T ... 2BDavy.jpg


Blue

Thanks Katie.

Actually, I've searched high and low for the death of this particular Andrew without success.
He was born in Liverpool on 5th April 1857; maried Jane Hough in Runcorn in 1875 and the couple had 8 children.
However in the 1901 census he is missing from Jane's household in Stretford. (Jane was described as 'head of household' although she was a 'wife' not a 'widow' ... so presumably Andrew was still alive). Coincidentally perhaps, a man called Andrew McQuinn born in 1857, was recorded in the 1901 census return for Bevington House! (Did the couple split up, with Andrew returning to Liverpool as a 'single' man?)

A son of Jane and Andrew (Wallace McQuinn) was married the following year (1902) ... Wallace's father is described as 'deceased' on the marriage cert. Also ... Wallace was a WWI war hero. He received the Military Cross, and is described as "the late son of Andrew McQuinn" in De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour
• McQuinn, Wallace. M.C (Military Cross) 2nd Lieut 16th (Service) Battn. The Manchester Regt.
Son of the late Andrew McQuinn, by his wife Jane (Nesbitt Street, Stretford Road, Hulme).

I've checked passenger lists to see whether Andrew went abroad and died elsewhere ... but ther's no sign of him there either!

Blue70 wrote:If you look at this photo of Seth Davy at Bevington Bush you can see Bevington House Hotel in the distance:-

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0oNFnmvZcsI/T ... 2BDavy.jpg


Blue

WOW that's a fabulous photo! Very atmospheric. Thanks Blue!

http://inacityliving.piczo.com/


Blue