Built on Sand - Scarisbrick Avenue

Scarisbrick Avenue in the early 1900s offered ladies' fashions at Mesdames Louise on the left, oysters at the Scarisbrick restaurant on the right, as well as boots, cigars and cafes.
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Scarisbrick Avenue in the early 1900s offered ladies' fashions at Mesdames Louise on the left, oysters at the Scarisbrick restaurant on the right, as well as boots, cigars and cafes.
In 1912, a visitor to Southport could find plenty to entertain them on their way up Scarisbrick Avenue. | Seed's Directory, 1912 - Sefton Libraries
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In 1912, a visitor to Southport could find plenty to entertain them on their way up Scarisbrick Avenue.
Seed's Directory, 1912 - Sefton Libraries
This photo of Scarisbrick Avenue shows not only changing styles in clothing, but how buildings keep changing. Contrast the shop front and signage on the left with the earlier and more recent photos.
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This photo of Scarisbrick Avenue shows not only changing styles in clothing, but how buildings keep changing. Contrast the shop front and signage on the left with the earlier and more recent photos.
Even a photo from 2021 is full of historical information. It shows the street rising up the former sand dunes to the Promenade, the reinstated shop fronts on the left, and the paving and street furniture before they were replaced in 2022.
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Even a photo from 2021 is full of historical information. It shows the street rising up the former sand dunes to the Promenade, the reinstated shop fronts on the left, and the paving and street furniture before they were replaced in 2022.
The hotel and apartments at the top of Scarisbrick Avenue were rebuilt around 1900, introducing art nouveau details, and overhanging windows that are now typical of the street. | The Atkinson, Southport
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The hotel and apartments at the top of Scarisbrick Avenue were rebuilt around 1900, introducing art nouveau details, and overhanging windows that are now typical of the street.
The Atkinson, Southport
The new Scarisbrick Avenue was was inserted between Hesketh's tailors and the old Scarisbrick Hotel, part of which was demolished to enable the new street to be built through to the Promenade. Compare this photo from about 1888 with the later ones to see how Southport's earlier domestic-scaled buildings were rebuilt higher to maximise space and rents. | The Atkinson, Southport
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The new Scarisbrick Avenue was was inserted between Hesketh's tailors and the old Scarisbrick Hotel, part of which was demolished to enable the new street to be built through to the Promenade. Compare this photo from about 1888 with the later ones to see how Southport's earlier domestic-scaled buildings were rebuilt higher to maximise space and rents.
The Atkinson, Southport

Scarisbrick Avenue was opened in 1888, along with the lifeboat memorial it leads to on the Promenade. The celebrations marked the 50th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s coronation.

The Scarisbrick Arms was rebuilt immediately after the avenue opened, changing from an old-style coaching inn to a modern hotel – ‘large, lofty and commodious’.

Scarisbrick Avenue has always catered for visitors looking for treats, ‘fancy goods’ and distractions. Madame Nevada offered to reveal your character from the shape of your head.

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

Page last edited
09/05/2023

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