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Tithebarn Street

Coordinates: 53°24′33″N 2°59′25″W / 53.4092°N 2.9904°W / 53.4092; -2.9904
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Tithebarn Street, Liverpool
Tithebarn Street in 2019, the old Exchange Station can be seen on the left
Tithebarn Street is located in Liverpool
Tithebarn Street
LocationLiverpool city centre
Postal codeL2
Coordinates53°24′33″N 2°59′25″W / 53.4092°N 2.9904°W / 53.4092; -2.9904
Other
Known forOffices, shops, pubs

Tithebarn Street is a road in Liverpool, England. Situated in the city centre, it runs between Chapel Street and the junction of Great Crosshall Street and Vauxhall Road is part of Liverpool's Knowledge Quarter.

History[edit]

The street was one of the original seven streets that made up the medieval borough founded by King John in 1207, together with Water Street, Castle Street, Chapel Street, Old Hall Street, High Street and Dale Street.[1] Originally, the street was known as Moor (or Moore) Street before its name was changed to the present day name.[2] Records show a barn being built in 1523 by Sir William Molyneux on the corner of the street where it meets Cheapside.[3] The barn was used to store tithes. Parts of the barn survived into the early 1900s.

May 1850 saw the opening of a railway station, which would come to be known as Liverpool Exchange.[4] Jointly owned by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway and the East Lancashire Railway, the station had ten platforms at its peak. However, the Beeching cuts proved to be the death knell of the station and, with mainline services moved to Liverpool Lime Street, it closed in April 1977.[5] Local services were moved to the nearby Moorfields railway station with the creation of Merseyrail. The frontage of the station was preserved and turned into office space, known as Mercury Court.

The street was the scene of a brutal murder in 1874, known as the 'Tithebarn Street Outrage' when Robert Morgan, a dock worker, was kicked to death in front of his wife and brother.[6] Morgan was killed by members of Liverpool's notorious Cornermen gang when he refused to hand over ale money to 17 year old gang member, John McCrave.[7]

During World War 2, Tithebarn Street and the area around it suffered extensive damage from the Blitz and required considerable rebuilding.[8] The rail route to Exchange railway station was damaged by the bombing and parts of the roof of the station had to be demolished.[9]

In 1970, the Churchill Way Flyovers were opened, linking Tithebarn Street and Dale Street to Lime Street.[10] Built as part of an inner-city ring road project that was never fully completed, the flyovers were demolished in 2019 having been deemed unsafe.

In April 2005, popular Liverpool sculpture Superlambanana was moved to the street.[11]

Knowledge Quarter[edit]

Tithebarn Street is home to several university buildings and along with the surrounding streets is a popular site for student accommodation.[12] Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), has facilities on the road dating back from when it was Liverpool Polytechnic.[13] LJMU's library, Avril Robarts Library, is situated on the street.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Bona, Emilia (3 November 2019). "How Liverpool went from seven streets to global superpower". Liverpool Echo. Archived from the original on 28 December 2023. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  2. ^ Grimsditch, Lee (7 August 2021). "12 original Liverpool street names and reasons why they changed". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  3. ^ "BBC - Liverpool Local History -". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  4. ^ Welbourn 2003, p. 79
  5. ^ Butt 1995, p. 144
  6. ^ Koncienzcy, Rebecca; Clements, Max; Grimsditch, Lee (4 July 2020). "The historic gangs that terrorised Liverpool's streets". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  7. ^ Williams, Olivia (3 December 2023). "Liverpool's notorious gangs who reigned terror on the city". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  8. ^ Hadfield, Charlotte (8 November 2020). "Liverpool's hidden history that will change how you see the city". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  9. ^ "Disused Stations: Liverpool Exchange Station". www.disused-stations.org.uk. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  10. ^ Thorp, Liam (27 June 2021). "After the flyovers: What next for Churchill Way demolition site". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  11. ^ "Superlambanana moves to new home". 13 April 2005. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  12. ^ "Liverpool City Council - Local Plan 2013-2033" (PDF). Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  13. ^ "The growth in vocational education". www.ljmu.ac.uk. Retrieved 24 May 2024.

Bibliography[edit]