IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Orphan Drive, LIVERPOOL, L6 7UL

Bootle Branch railway bridge in background

Like many park herons, this individual has become habituated to human presence, allowing much closer approach than birds in wilder habitats.

A riot of dandelions at the northern end of this 121 acre Victorian park with houses on Newsham Drive seen through the trees.

This 121 acre park was opened in 1868. The boating lake seen here, the larger of two lakes in the park, no longer has boats but is evidently well used by fishermen.

Newsham Park Hospital is a grade II listed building previously The Liverpool Seamen's Orphan Institution.

This grade II listed building on Orphan Drive to the east of Newsham Park opened in 1874 as the Liverpool Seamen's Orphan Institution. By 1899 321 children were accommodated here and in 1900 a swimming pool was added. However, numbers declined after World War II and the orphanage closed in 1949. The building was sold to the Ministry of Health in 1951 and served as a general and psychiatric hospital until 1988 since when it has lain boarded up and abandoned, looking very unloved. A proposal to turn it into flats a few years ago fell through and the building faces an uncertain future.

Viewed from the junction of Lower Breck Road.

The Liverpool Seamen’s Orphan Institution was established in order to provide care and education for the many Liverpool children who lost families at sea. A group of Liverpool merchants and shipowners funded the establishment of the orphanage in 1869, in a temporary rented building on Duke Street and in 1870 Liverpool City Council donated land next to Newsham Park and a large building was erected to house and educate the orphans. It was opened in 1874. The building had separate wings for boys and girls but shared dining facilities, hospital and classrooms. All orphans were taught reading and writing, in addition girls learnt knitting and needlework and boys were instructed in carpentry. The Institution also made an agreement with the ‘Indefatigable’ training ship, to train boys after leaving the orphanage. During World War II, the orphans were evacuated to Frankby, Wirral but returned to Newsham Park in 1948. In 1949 the decision was made to close it down and in 1951 the building was sold to the Ministry of Health and turned into a hospital which itself has recently closed. Despite the closure of the orphanage, the institution still exists and continues to provide support for Liverpool families.