Built on Sand - Bold Street

509-515 Lord Street is on the corner of Bold Street and is the first building to be refurbished using grant-aid from the National Lottery Heritage Fund via the Southport Townscape Heritage Project. The work included re-slating the roof, restoring and reinstating the stained-glass windows, and new shop fronts. The building now houses two shop units and nine new apartments on the upper floors.
zoom
509-515 Lord Street is on the corner of Bold Street and is the first building to be refurbished using grant-aid from the National Lottery Heritage Fund via the Southport Townscape Heritage Project. The work included re-slating the roof, restoring and reinstating the stained-glass windows, and new shop fronts. The building now houses two shop units and nine new apartments on the upper floors.
The building on the corner of Bold Street and Lord Street is one of the few in Southport with a suspended verandah - supported by lions. You'll see a similar arrangement on Nevill Street. This photo dates from 1999. | Historic England
zoom
The building on the corner of Bold Street and Lord Street is one of the few in Southport with a suspended verandah - supported by lions. You'll see a similar arrangement on Nevill Street. This photo dates from 1999.
Historic England
On the other corner of Bold Street is an earlier building, dating from the late 1800s. It has the more usual verandah supported on posts. The photo also shows the original small houses on Bold Street, later converted to shops, behind the taller, purpose-built retail and office buildings on Lord Street. | Historic England
zoom
On the other corner of Bold Street is an earlier building, dating from the late 1800s. It has the more usual verandah supported on posts. The photo also shows the original small houses on Bold Street, later converted to shops, behind the taller, purpose-built retail and office buildings on Lord Street.
Historic England
This directory for Bold Street in 1876 clearly demonstrates how the street changes from shops at the Lord Street end to apartments closer to the Promenade. In both cases, businesses benefited from the trade nearby but had lower costs. | Johnson's Directory, 1876 - Sefton Libraries
zoom
This directory for Bold Street in 1876 clearly demonstrates how the street changes from shops at the Lord Street end to apartments closer to the Promenade. In both cases, businesses benefited from the trade nearby but had lower costs.
Johnson's Directory, 1876 - Sefton Libraries
Kenworthy's Hydropathic Hotel was established in 1876 in the building on the corner of Bold and Bath Streets, known as The Limes. It expanded into the buildings next door - a mark of the success of the water treatments offered to visitors. | Slater's Directory, 1890 - Sefton Libraries
zoom
Kenworthy's Hydropathic Hotel was established in 1876 in the building on the corner of Bold and Bath Streets, known as The Limes. It expanded into the buildings next door - a mark of the success of the water treatments offered to visitors.
Slater's Directory, 1890 - Sefton Libraries
Kenworthy's success continued and they rebuilt the row of buildings on Bath Street in the 1890s. Eventually the appeal of hydropathic treatments dwindled and the buildings are now divided into privately owned flats. | Sefton Digital Archive
zoom
Kenworthy's success continued and they rebuilt the row of buildings on Bath Street in the 1890s. Eventually the appeal of hydropathic treatments dwindled and the buildings are now divided into privately owned flats.
Sefton Digital Archive

The buildings on Bold Street near Lord Street are the original two-storey houses. You had to apply to the Scarisbrick Estate to convert the front door and bay window into a shop front.

There are tall three-storey buildings just off the Promenade. They were built as holiday apartments – no sea view, but a bit cheaper than those on the Promenade.

On the corner of Bath Street is The Limes, once part of Kenworthy’s Hydropathic Establishment. Southport’s reputation for healthy sea air attracted visitors seeking ‘water cures’.

This text and images – with added captions – are from the exhibition held at The Atkinson, Southport, 18 June – 17 September 2022.

Page last edited
23/01/2023

No Comments

Start the ball rolling by posting a comment on this page!

Add a comment about this page

Your email address will not be published.