123 – Looking for the Hoylake School Part 3: 17 December 2024

Richard Rees Roberts and Eleanor Edwards married on 29 June 1887 in Mount Zion Chapel, Princes Avenue, Toxteth Park.  Mount Zion Chapel no longer exists.

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This is the Wesleyan Methodist Siloh Chapel in Cwm Penmachno where Richard Roberts used to worship in Cwm Penmachno when he was growing up.  The chapel still exists but it does not seem to be in regular use.

I took this photo on 19 September 2024.  The chapel is within walking distance of the residences in Cwm Penmachno hamlet.

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Although Mount Zion Chapel no longer exists on Princes Road, it has not been completely forgotten.  It and 8 other places of worship which once existed on Princes Road are remembered by this Plaque.

The Plaque gives some insight into the rich texture of the religious communities which once flourished on Princes Avenue.  The plaque says this about Mount Zion.

Mount Zion Wesleyan Methodist Church was situated on Princes Road between Eversley and Mulgrave Streets.  It was erected in 1880.  It later became a Chinese Methodist Church but was demolished in 1973 after a fire.

 

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Richard and Eleanor were married under the rites and ceremonies of the Wesleyan Methodist Church.  Although their marriage took place by licence rather than by reading of the banns. Eleanor was definitely not pregnant.

When he married, Richard Roberts was recorded as being an “Accountant” who lived in Northbrook Street and his father Rees Roberts was supposedly a “Coal Merchant”.  Eleanor had no occupation recorded, but she was definitely a trained teacher by then.  Eleanor lived at 136 Tunnel Road and her father William was a “Foreman”.

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When he married Eleanor, Richard lived at 142 Northbrook Street, Toxteth Park.  

Although Northbrook Street still exists, it has been cut short.  It was in easy walking distance of Mount Zion on Princes Avenue.  As Princes Road splits into Princes Avenue and Princes Road, the first street on the left (north east) as you enter Princes Avenue, is Selborne Street.  The next street on the left (east) is Park Way.  Turn left (east) into Park Way and the first street on the right (south east) is Northbrook Street.  Northbrook Street used to run through to Mulgrave Street, but it now finishes in a dead end.

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Eleanor Roberts lived at 136 Tunnel Road when she married Richard.  She had a longer walk to reach Mount Zion Chapel in Princes Avenue.  

Follow Mulgrave Street north to the intersection of Mulgrave Street and Upper Parliament Street.  Turn right (east) at Upper Parliament Street and follow Upper Parliament Street to the intersection of Upper Parliament Street and Tunnel Road/ Lodge Lane.  Turn left (north) into Tunnel Road and number 136 is a short distance from the intersection.

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When the marriage took place, Richard Roberts was an “Accountant” and his Robert Rees supposedly was a “Coal Merchant”.  The fabrication that his father was a “Coal Merchant” reveals how much Richard had risen from his lowly position as the son of a slate quarry labourer.

Richard had educated himself and used his education to gain a better life.   In 1887 Liverpool, an Accountant” could never be the son of a slate quarry labourer, so his father’s occupation was enhanced on the marriage record.  Those who used Richard’s accountancy services would be comfortable because he supposedly came from the same social circle as they did - so they could trust him.  It might would have been disastrous if it became known that his father was an uneducated, poverty stricken quarry labourer and not a "Coal Merchant".

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Richard Roberts and Eleanor Edwards had three children.

• William Rees Roberts was born on 21 July 1888 at 68 Kingsley Road, Liverpool.  His birth was registered in the Toxteth Park sub district of the Toxteth Park registration district on 1 September 1888 by Richard Roberts of 68 Kingsley Road, Liverpool.  Richard’s “Rank or Profession” was “Accountant”.
• Alice May Roberts was born on 5 May 1890 at 68 Kingsley Road, Liverpool.  Her birth was registered in the Toxteth Park sub district of the Toxteth Park registration district on 11 June 1890 by Eleanor Roberts.  Eleanor’s address was 68 Kingsley Road, Liverpool and the “Rank or Profession” of Alice’s father was no longer “Accountant” but “Estate Agent”.
• Eric Rees Roberts was born on 25 October 1901 at 71 Temple Road, Tranmere.  His birth was registered in the Tranmere sub district of the Birkenhead registration district on 19 November 1901 by Richard Roberts.  The “Rank or Profession” for Richard when Eric was born was “Estate Agent’s Accountant” and Richard lived at 71 Temple Road, Tranmere.

This Table summarises the children of Richard Rees Roberts and Eleanor Edwards.

 

Richard Rees Roberts + Eleanor Edwards

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William Rees Roberts   Born 21 July 1888

Alice May Roberts   Born 5 May 1890

Eric Rees Roberts   Born 25 October 1901

 

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Kingsley Road, where the family lived when William and Alice were born, still exists and it is close to 142 Northbrook Street where Richard lived when he married Eleanor.  

Travelling to Mulgrave Street along what used to be Northbrook Street, turn left (north) into Mulgrave Street from Northbrook Street and then turn right (east) at Selborne Road - the first street which crosses Mulgrave Street.  Travel along Selborne Road to the intersection of Selborne Road and Kingsley Road.  Turn right (south) into Kingsley Road; number 68 is on the right hand side of Kingsley Road just before Eversley Street which is the first street on the right.

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By the time their son Eric Rees Roberts was born in 1901, Richard and Eleanor no longer lived in Liverpool on the north side of the River Mersey.  They now lived on the south side of the River Mersey in Birkenhead.

Tranmere is a suburb of Birkenhead and Temple Road still exists.  Crossing underneath the River Mersey using the Queensway Tunnel, travel to Borough Road (A 552) when the Tunnel emerges above ground.  Borough Road ceases to be part of the A 552 and diverges from the A 552 to the left (south east).  The A 552 continues as Singleton Avenue.  Diverge from the A 552 and continue along Borough Road; the fifth street on the right (west) is Temple Road.  Number 71 Temple Road is on the left (south) about 2/3^rd of the length of Temple Road.