Liverpool

Over the past two decades, Liverpool has enjoyed a real resurgence, including being designated as the European City of Culture in 2008. The history of the area has helped to shape the unique city that we see today, and has had a very profound effect on its culture.

History of Liverpool

Excluding prehistoric settlements in the area, the earliest records of Liverpool are normally dated back to the late twelfth century. At this time, a settlement existed which was known as Liuerpool.

The area became more populated in 1207, when King John issued a royal decree inviting citizens to move to the borough and set up holdings there. It is believed that he was seeking to establish a strong port, trading post and military base in the area which was free from the control of the Earl of Chester. Although it was briefly used as a departure point for soldiers travelling to Ireland, the settlement still remained small throughout the first part of the thirteenth century.

Once a marketplace had been established in the village, the settlement began to grow more quickly. A small farming and fishing community sprang up in the area, but the town still lacked any major trading influence. Following a peak of around 1000, the population of Liverpool ended up going into decline until the Elizabethan period. Much of Liverpool’s misfortune came from the warring ruling classes. The town also failed to build on trade opportunities because of the strength of nearby Chester.

In the mid-Elizabethan period, good fortune favoured Liverpool. The River Dee, on which Chester sat, became clogged with silt. This hampered Chester’s ability to trade at its previous high levels. Liverpool took advantage of a gap in the market and began to grow again, taking advantage of strong trade links with Ireland, the Isle of Man and places further afield.

Liverpool rapidly expanded in the late seventeenth Century, when it became a major trade port for transatlantic cargos. The first shipment from America is recorded as arriving in 1648, and soon after that regular shipments began arriving from North America and the West Indies. The city’s proximity to the industrial Northern areas of the UK helped to give the city further strength as an industrial hub.

In the early seventeenth century, Liverpool became a major port for the slave trade. By the end of the eighteenth century, almost 40% of the world’s slave trade was being orchestrated through Liverpool and the city had become an important financial centre. The slave trade also helped to bring a range of different diaspora communities to the city and create a very unique cultural landscape. Despite the wealth that Liverpool accrued during this period, Liverpool politician William Roscoe was one of the leading figures calling for the banning of the slave trade.

During the industrial revolution, Liverpool maintained its dominance of the North. The opening of the Leeds-Liverpool canal and the Liverpool and Manchester railway further enhanced the trade connections of the city. These trade connections also helped to build the immigrant community of Liverpool. By the 1850’s, almost 25% of the city were of Irish descent. This was, in part, due to the great famine which had afflicted Ireland over the same time period.

The first half of the twentieth century saw a fall in Liverpool’s fortunes. The city was particularly badly affected by the global economic downturn, and the Great Depression affected the population. These economic circumstances helped to exacerbate some of the ethnic and sectarian tensions which had been quietly developing over time. However, due to its continued industrial significance, the city was regularly targeted by air raids during WWII. These raids sought to disable the docks and crush important factory operations.

By the 1960’s, Liverpool became famous for the Merseybeat music scene. The most well-known product of the Merseybeat scene was The Beatles. Even 50 years later, the Beatles still command the respect of the music industry, with many artists still citing them as a real influence. It is hard to visit the city today without seeing memories of the Beatles.

In the twenty-first century, Liverpool has fought hard to create a new relevance. The city has built an important tourist trade and has managed to create a vibrant Northern economy. It is hoped that the city will continue to grow.