Register Office, Liverpool

[erika]

During my housekeeping of Family History it occurred to me that I haven't a clue where the Register Office would have been.

On two of my marriage certs the couples got married at the Register Office, Liverpool.
One was in 1892 Groom's address - Gt Homer Street, Bride's - Islington
2nd was in 1902 Groom's address - Russell Street, Bride's - Rosalind Street.

I am also reading a novel at the moment, where the couple got married at Register Office, Brougham Terrace. Is this likely to be the place?

Hope someone can enlighten me, please

Cheers
Erika

[MaryA]

Unless anybody knows of another that would have catered for the town centre of Liverpool, but I don't think there is another, then Brougham Terrace, West Derby Road is where it would be. Up until a few years ago when it closed the wedding party still used to cross over and use the gardens for the photographs - what used to be the Necropolis. I wonder how many of the brides knew!

[erika]

Thank you Mary, thought you would come up with an answer

Also just googled it and came up with this photo from another forum

http://www.yoliverpool.com/forum/showth ... try-Office

Looks quite an impressive place, I wonder what it was like inside at the beginning of the 20century?

Thanks again
Cheers
Erika

[MaryA]

I suspect much as it was of recent years as they did keep it nice, well polished dark wood and fancy tiddly bits, rather grand as would suit a bride.

Have been looking but can't find any photographs of the interior.

Apparently there was another up Mount Pleasant I think, but nobody I heard of married there, so not sure of the details.

There is a picture here, doesn't look it would have been anywhere near as glamorous.

[colette]

Hi

was the reg office for the Bootle area at the Town Hall as i am sure my Gran said it was were she married first as she was Catholic she remarried at St Alexanders.. after he came back from sea LOL.

XX

[MaryA]

When somebody raises a subject it's surprising how it continues on.

Daggers has asked me to post these pictures for you to see, he took them when he was last there, I wonder if he remembers what date that would have been?

"One is quite clear - a mosaic of, I think, the West Derby Hundred or Poor Law Guardians insignia. The same or very similar emblem was on a carved wooden plaque in the entrance lobby, along with a Toxteth Park Guardians emblem.
These photos did not emerge so well. I wonder if they have survived under the new occupants, whoever they are."







Image updated MA

[Katie]

Before being taken over by the West Derby Union Brougham Terrace was actually a Mosque. Carole Codd when she came to give us a talk, gave us a brief history. If you google brougham Terrace you may find out more

[MaryA]

I've made an enquiry with the Estates Department of the Liverpool Council and they are looking at the photographs and will advise me if they can, whether the items are still there in the building, although the mosaic flooring, if it isn't in the entrance, may well be covered by carpet as the offices have been carpetted throughout.

If the plaques aren't there, they will have no idea what has happened to them as "they" haven't removed anything into storage.

Meantime, I wonder if anybody knows anything about the heraldry or origin of the insignia.

[MaryA]

Before being taken over by the West Derby Union Brougham Terrace was actually a Mosque.

Yes you can find out quite a bit about Abdullah Quilliam and even the building next door remains a monument to the Islam faith. The building that was the Register Office is now apparently occupied by Social Services and no admittance is allowed.

[erika]

Thank you ladies and daggers for this latest information and the photos.

I think it's important in Family History to try and find out as much as possible about places and how our ancestors lived, rather than just have a long list of names.

I love being able to visit areas when time and money permits just to get a feel of things. Last summer hubby and I went off in search of where his mum was born, in a place near Maldon in Essex. We found a lot of his ancestors burial grounds and the house where his mum was living when she got married. But alas, no sign of the house where she was born, such a beautiful area though, we pictured her growing up and playing in the fields

Definitely Liverpool again this year, it's about 5 years since my last trip and I need a "fix"

Thanks again for the interest in this thread
Cheers
Erika

[MaryA]

Update from the Council. The mosaic floor is still there although sadly the condition has deteriorated even more since Dagger's photograph was taken and there doesn't appear to be any plans for restoration.

The wooden plaque is part of a commemorative list of names - about 40'ish - of past Chairmen of the West Derby Union between 1837 and 1930.

These two items are in fact just in between the outer front door and the inner, so they can be seen by casual visitors who don't need to go inside the building.

Unfortunately nobody appears to have any ideas or recollection of the Toxteth plaque.

[daggers]

Thanks for posting my photos, Mary. I had tried to get them reduced, without success. Ac to when I took them, I would guess at more than ten years ago - the register office was still there, but I do not know when they moved to the Cotton Exchange [one of my old stamping grounds!].
Daggers

[Tina]

Hi folks
Ed & I married at Brougham Terrace in 1966, we managed to get the top room which was lovely.
I believe John Lennon married Cynthia there??

tina

[MaryA]

I had an idea I'd spotted this recently, seems they married in the Mount Pleasant Register Office, not Brougham Terrace.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynthia_Lennon

[MaryA]

Daggers found a better copy of the mosaic floor so I've replaced the picture posted above. He's also making further enquiries about the badges and will let us know if he finds out anything.

[ZED]

Hi

was the reg office for the Bootle area at the Town Hall as i am sure my Gran said it was were she married first as she was Catholic she remarried at St Alexanders.. after he came back from sea LOL.

XX

Yes, Sefton reg offices marriages took place at Bootle Town Hall ... and what a dismal place it was too! I was married there in 1976 (lived in Melling at the time) ... the photos make me cringe: it looks as though we're in someone's rather shabby front room!

[ZED]

Update from the Council. The mosaic floor is still there although sadly the condition has deteriorated even more since Dagger's photograph was taken and there doesn't appear to be any plans for restoration.

The wooden plaque is part of a commemorative list of names - about 40'ish - of past Chairmen of the West Derby Union between 1837 and 1930.

These two items are in fact just in between the outer front door and the inner, so they can be seen by casual visitors who don't need to go inside the building.

Unfortunately nobody appears to have any ideas or recollection of the Toxteth plaque.

That's such a shame ... I wonder whether the museum would be interested in conserving the mosaic and putting it on display?

[MaryA]

Ever tried getting the museum interested in accepting an artefact? I went a little way down that line once and all the applications were so long winded and the response time so long that the idea was abandoned. I don't know if the process would be different as the item is already Liverpool Council's property.

[Droid1]

hi peeps

Like tina I was married thier at Brougham Terrace Aug. 1966, I rem my brother didnt turn up as a witnees and the Photograher called a soldier in Uniform off the street to be a witness, now thats the gods truth.