Friday 28 January 2011

Thomas De Quincey Dérive Number 1: “To the resounding shore!”


Sunday, May 1, 1803.

“-went to the woodlands after return to Everton and thence to the resounding shore”.


Saturday 22nd January 2011

De Quincey’s entry of visiting the “resounding shore” was the inspiration to a group of “drifters” to embark on a similar walk to follow in his footsteps. A cold, murky and dank day did not deter us from taking a walk to the “resounding shore”

The question arose amongst the “drifters”: which route would De Quincey have taken from Everton to the shore on the banks of the River Mersey?” His route from Everton Terrace to the North Shore, Liverpool could have been achieved in an almost straight line back in 1803 across fields down to the river as Liverpool had no reached much further than Richmond Row ( See map below - click to enlarge).



The only major obstacle on his potential route was the Leeds to Liverpool Canal, which could only be crossed at the bridge at Chisenhale Street. If he continued in a straight line then he would have reached the shore by Vandries House on the North Shore.

Our derive took a few hours following this route:

Village Street – Brow Side – Across Netherfield Road South – Everton Brow – Richmond Row - St Anne Street - Cazneau Street - Juvenal Street - Across Scotland Road - Wellington Street - Over Kingsway via walkway - Limekiln Lane - Bevington Street - Eldon Grove - track back down Ennerdale Street - Burroughs Gardens - Limekiln Lane - Bond Street - Tichfield Street Summer Seat - Eldon Street - Across Vauxhall Road - Chisenhale Street - Little Howard Street - Across Great Howard Street - Vandries Street - Waterloo Road - Bath Street - Brook Street - Old Hall Street.

We reached the former North Shore at Vandries Street making our way along the former docks to Old Hall Street were we stopped outside the former Leeds and Liverpool Canal Offices - the only edifice beside the Lock Up in Everton which De Quincey would have recognised on our route.

See North Shore Liverpool Early 1800's

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