There was another Ladies Walk in Duke-street, which extended from
opposite the present York-street (then called Great George-street) to
Berry-street. This was afterwards converted into a ropery and succeeded
by Parr-street. By the way, Duke-street, which occupies a portion of its
site, has been famous for notable persons residing in it. In the third
house from Colquitt-street Felicia Hemans was born, and she wrote some of
her early poetry there. In the yard of the next house was once a tree,
the last remnant of the Ladies Walk, which had two rows of trees down the
sides and centre as in the other Ladies Walk previously mentioned. Mrs.
Hemans apostrophizes this tree in one of her early poems. I recollect
her very well, for she was intimate with my friends, the Nicholsons, who
lived at the top of Richmond-row some forty years ago. Miss Browne
received much advice and encouragement from Mr. Nicholson, and she was a
most pleasing person. As Mrs. Hemans, her life was not happy. She
resided at one time at Wavertree, in one of those cottages on the left
hand side of the road just beyond Orford-street. The present
"Loggerheads Tavern Revived" was Mr. Nicholson's house. It was a
public-house, called "The Loggerheads" before he converted it into a
private dwelling. Where Soho-street now begins there was a dyer's pond
and yard; over it was a fine weeping-willow. In Duke-street also lodged
at one time Thomas Campbell, the poet. He occupied part of the house now
converted into a cabinet-maker's shop by Messrs. Abbot. I visited Mr.
Campbell several times when he was preparing "The Pleasures of Hope" for
publication. He was a very handsome young man, with a fine face and
bright eyes. Mr. John Howard lodged in Duke-street in the house directly
facing Cornwallis-street, then newly built. At this time his "Report on
Prisons" was passing through the Warrington Press; and he used to journey
backwards and forwards to correct the proofs. The Rev. Gilbert Wakefield
lodged in Duke-street, near the bottom, when he was first appointed
curate to St. Paul's church, then just erected. Dr. Henderson was the
first incumbent of that church. Strangely enough, he seceded from the
Dissenting body, while Mr. Wakefield joined it from the Church. Curious
stories were told of Dr. Henderson's ministration. Mr. Wakefield
complained bitterly of the unkindness and inhospitality of the Liverpool
clergy. He said he never was invited but by one brother clergyman to
visit him during his stay in Liverpool.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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