Sir Thomas White Gardens

Paul McCartney's parents Jim and Mary McCartney briefly lived in Sir Thomas White Gardens with a young Paul and brother Michael at number 75 before their landmark move to Forthlin Road in south Liverpool. Paul, in his Beatles days, is pictured here with his dad Jim.The more senior McCartneys had lived in other Everton streets nearby. Paul’s grandparents Joe McCartney and wife to be Florrie Clegg were both born in Everton where they married in 1896, the same year that Everton Library was opened to the public. They occupied three other local addresses: Solva Street, Fishguard Street, and Lloyd Street. Paul’s father Jim, was baptised in 1902 at the now demolished St Benedict’s Church on Heyworth Street. Jim was educated at the local Steers Street School. Jim would have always had a little bit of Everton in his heart. St Benedict’s was the subject of a recent successful archaeological dig that unearthed its foundations and reminded locals of the part it played in Everton affairs for over a century before succumbing to a sweeping clearance plan from the 1960s. The site now stands just inside the west boundary of the modern Everton Park. Jim would have been amazed to see the church foundations and the familiar shiny red brick from its walls emerge from the soil.

Brilliant photos, so many happy memories, great neighbours.

A close up of the famous steps that led from St Domingo Road up to Sir Thomas White Gardens. I climbed these steps every day en route to Major Lester School. The steps were almost directly opposite Melbourne Street.

Hey mam, look what we just swapped for a steering cart! An interesting day at Sir Thomas White Gardens

Thanks to Pete Mears for uploading this remarkable image. He says: "This is Major Lester Primary School, taken from the top floor of Sir Tommy White Gardens tenements in the late 60s, a telephoto shot over the rooftops of Calder Street of the back of the school. It shows kids having a great time playing in the yard. What happy memories it brings back. Five plus decades on, just where has the time gone? Perhaps the last word on that should be left to the great Albert Einstein who, when deliberating on the concept of time concluded: ‘The distinction between past, present and future is a persistent illusion.’

Although I lived in Leadenhall Street, 'Tommy Whites' was a magnet for us kids to play in during the late 50s to mid 60s. There were so many places to hide and structures to climb - a favourite of everyone's was running along the ledge on the wall alongside Penrose St (lower left in the photo) without falling - or being pushed, off! The ledge was quite low at the Beacon Lane end, but got higher and higher as you travelled towards St Domingo Road - quite a drop for a 7 or 8- year old. There were plenty of sprains and bruises but I don't recall any serious injuries ever occuring. Another 'game' we played was 'dare you' to climb out of the opening on a top floor turret and dangle your legs over the side for so many (I forget now how long) seconds, before scrambling back inside. I also remember one year we threw our stuffed Guy Fawkes off the top balcony (on the right in this picture) just as it was getting dark, accompanied with a blood-curdling scream. The 'body' fell over the wall into Penrose St. Unfortunately, some adults walking below thought it was a 'jumper', which caused a bit of a rumpus, to say the least! My parents had friends - Mr & Mrs Hill, a lovely couple - who lived on the top floor facing Beacon Lane. I remember visiting as a child and always being fussed over. Tragedy struck - I think around the late 50s, when Mrs Hill was hit by a bin lorry that had collided with a tram and bounced off at the junction of Sleepers Hill/Beacon/Lane/Everton Valley, fatally crushing her against the Bass pub wall on the corner.

An aerial sketch of Sir Thomas Whites Gardens showing the position of the blocks of flats to be built post war where the grounds of the old St Edwards College used to be.

Sir Thomas Whites

The main square inside Sir Thomas Whites. Many a football match was played here.

Sir Thomas Whites Gardens with a boy and his dog on the steps at Penrose Street.

Sir Thomas White Gardens during demolition, alongside the old Our Lady Immaculate church.

Inside Sir Thomas White Gardens

Love this picture. The 'boys' in Sir Thomas White Gardens and the inevitable dog in tow.

Sir Thomas White Gardens in their prime from Brian Rea and his excellent shot of the site now (below) which faced Penrose Street.

Sir Thomas White Gardens site now.

One of the famous squares in Sir Thomas White Gardens, as submitted to the Netherfield Road & Surrounding area Facebook platform by Sylvia Morgan.

The demolition of the once distinctive Sir Thomas White Gardens

A remarkable and sad picture of Sir Thomas White Gardens during demolition looking North towards Walton and Bootle beyond.

Thanks to Ken Rogers for providing the information on Sir Thomas White. It appears that he worked hard for the community and certainly deserved his name being used to commemorate a block of flats. Not sure they were the best example of modern architecture but they housed many families. Would be nice to hear from them what exactly was it like living in them during that era.

Kenneth Farrington asked about Sir Thomas White. He was a Justice of the Peace who was also a Liverpool Councillor. He began his working life as a cabin boy before building his career in the brewing trade. White soon entered local politics and became chairman of the Tramways and Electricity Committee and was later chairman of the Liverpool Housing Committee and Speke Airport Development Committee. Sir Thomas White Gardens were built in 1938 on land previously owned by St Domingo House.

Superb photographs bringing back so many happy memories. I walked through the gardens every weekday to my first job in 1965 as an Office Junior at Wm Rainford Ltd in Everton Valley. I must say I was glad that I didn't live here as they didn't look very attractive even to my juvenile brain and I would be interested to know just how many flats there were. I recall reading the Liverpool footballer, David Fairclough's excellent autobiography and him stating that he knew the Tommy Whites like the back of his hand and often used to run through them to escape the gangs that were about at the time. Another thing, who exactly was Sir Thomas White?

The sweeping frontage of one of the Sir Thomas White tenement blocks. The backs of these all looked down onto a communal square.

A great colour shot showing the distinctive landings of the former Sir Thomas White Gardens with Penrose Street on one side, the main blocks fronting out onto St Domingo Road.

Sir Thomas White Gardens from St Domingo Road.Penrose Street.