The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-06-05 00:00:00

BOOTLE ;

a place, including the hamlet oi Linacre, of considerable maz-
nitude, in the parish of Walton. Situated in the bay to which
it gives name, it was until of recent years the principal bath-
ing, place in the neighbourhood of the town, and its shore is
still much frequented by bathers in the summer months,
for whose accommodation numerous machines are pro-
vided at a moderate cost. It is principally composed of
modern villas surrounded by trees, shrubberies, grass-plats,
and gardens, most of which command a line view of the es-
tuary of, and entrances to, the river. The greater part of the
site was, about fifteen or eighteen years ago, sand-hills and
sandy commons, covered with wiry grass and (urge—the
abodes of rabbits The houses are, for the most part, de-
tached in enclosed grounds, and are neatly built in various
styles. Much pains has been taken by the proprietors to rear
such trees and shrubs as are of speedy growth, and can with-
stand the saline sea breeze. Here, on the sandy shore are con-
spicuous two landmarks a short distance from each other and
parallel with the line of the river. They are built of stone, on
handsome basements, and are of a tapering square form resem-
bling monumental pillars: They are both alike, are about
IGO feet in height, and are rendered more distinguishable by
being painted black and white. Behind the village (if it may
be so called), and between it and Walton church, on an emi-
nence, is another landmark built of sparred woodwork, of a
pyramidal form with a diamond shaped top. By noticing
the several bearings of these and other similar objects, the
mariner safely guides his vessel through the intricacies of
the channel.
Bootle church (dedicated to St. Mary) is a brick building,
with little of internal beauty, It was opened in 1827. At
the time of its erection there were •comparatively but few
houses on this part of the shore, and'as it was supposed that
it would be much exposed to the winter's gales, (which,
however, have not been so formidable as was anticipated,) it
has no windows to the west end, and has consequently a rather
dull appearance. The church is crusiform with two square
towers also of brick, one at each corner of the west end.
The style is plain Gothic with pointed arched windows, and
an embattled red stone parapet or blocking. At each corner
of the transept there rises a Gothic octagonal shaft, which
gives some relief to the general plainness of the structure.
The interior is comfortably fitted up, and the surrounding
church-yard is of considerable extent. There are two good
inns in Bootle, one near the shore and another a short dis-
tance to the east of the high road: to the last there is a good
bowling-green. The omnibuses, which keep up a lively in-
tercourse with the town and neighbourhood as far as Great
Crosby, frequently diverge to take- up and set down passen-
gers. At the north end of Bottle are some " natty" little
cottages, each (as is not uncommon in the vicinity) inscribed
with fanciful names,—as Rose Cottage, May Cottage, and
the like. Several new detached houses and villas here, as
well as along the whole coast as far as Crosby, and we may
add, Formby, are in course of erection, demonstrating the
growing popularity and increasing importance of this part of
the neighbourhood. It is probable, indeed, that at no very
distant period the whole will form a continuous line, giving
a warmth of appearance to many miles of our northern shore.
The visitor, as he proceeds onward, will turn a frequent
eye to the marine scenery that constantly invites his atten-
tion on the left. The view westwards expands, as he pro-
ceeds, until the Irish sea, thick with vessels, and the northern
• high land of Wales are stretched before him.