Edge Lane

The road is so-named given it runs along the edge of West Derby, parallel with the division between Wavertree,{{sfn|Hand|1915|p=4}} whilst Edge Hill takes its name directly from the road. The first records of Edge Lane are from 1539, when it was identified as a packhorse track to Prescot. Heavy traffic of coal resulted in the Prescot section of the road falling into a state of disrepair, as noted by the first Act of Parliament dealing with the highway in 1745.{{sfn|Hoult|1913|p=105}} The oldest surviving house is 115 Edge Lane, also known as Adelaide House, a Grade II listed building.

Many merchant princes of Liverpool were born or resided at Edge Lane or the neighbouring Edge Hill.{{sfn|Hand|1915|p=104}} Gores directory of Liverpool from 1825 and 1827 show houses being occupied by a mixture of merchants and gentry rather than workers of a single predominant trade. The 1881 census further suggests a diverse mixture of residents, including merchants, teachers and journalists, a trend that continued into the side streets. By 1875, many of the houses that adorned Edge Lane had already been constructed and by this time it was considered an attractive suburb, largely due to it being rural, with clean air and a higher quality of housing.{{sfn|Hand|1915|p=108}} Houses built along Edge Lane typically were constructed as three storeys, compared to two storey housing on the streets parallel and off the road.

File:Edge Lane 1912.jpg

In the early 20th century, an eastern section named Edge Lane Drive appeared on maps, although was not a direct extension to Edge Lane as streets of houses split the two into distinctly separate roads.{{cite web |url=https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=17&lat=53.4101&lon=-2.9157 |title=Side by side OS map of Edge Lane, circa 1900 |publisher=National Library of Scotland |access-date=4 November 2018}} A map from 1895 shows the road was built over fields immediately south of Oak Hill Park.{{cite web |url=https://maps.nls.uk/view/102339534 |title=OS 6-inch map, Liverpool, 1895 |publisher=National Library of Scotland |access-date=4 November 2018}} By 1925, the street that had separated the two roads, Springfield Street, ceased to exist on maps and the south half of the street's housing had been demolished to accommodate a direct link between the two roads.{{cite web |url=https://maps.nls.uk/view/102339531 |title=OS 6-inch map, Liverpool, 1925 |publisher=National Library of Scotland |access-date=4 November 2018}} A map from 1938 shows Edge Lane Drive extending further east into Broad Green,{{cite web |url=https://maps.nls.uk/view/101103935 |title=OS 6-inch map, Liverpool, 1938 |publisher=National Library of Scotland |access-date=4 November 2018}} although this section would later become known as Thomas Drive.{{cite web |url=https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=16&lat=53.4098&lon=-2.8975 |title=Side by side OS map of Edge Lane, 1937-61 |publisher=National Library of Scotland |access-date=4 November 2018}}

During construction of the M62 motorway, original plans intended for the motorway to start from Liverpool's City Centre and run along the path of Edge Lane, however economic decline during the 1970s and the cost to demolish significant number of properties meant this plan never came to fruition. The current start of the motorway is known as junction 5, as Edge Lane was planned to form part of the first section and junctions.{{cite news |url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/m62-start-junction-5-12659310 |title=Why does the M62 start at junction 5? |work=Liverpool Echo |date=26 February 2017 |access-date=3 November 2018}}

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| caption1 = Boarded up properties for demolition, August 2009

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| caption3 = Edge Lane, looking west from Rathbone Road

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Edge Lane underwent significant road widening, known as the Edge Lane project, during 2010-2012 estimated to cost £20.4m in 2010. For the widening to be viable, 371 houses were compulsory purchased by Liverpool City Council to be demolished in order for the project to take place, to be replaced with 188 new homes.{{cite news |url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/liverpool-council-saves-edge-lane-3403386 |title=Liverpool council 'saves' Edge Lane project from government cuts |work=Liverpool Echo |date=5 June 2010 |access-date=2 November 2018}} In 2004, there were 131 empty houses in the Edge Lane West area, of which only four properties were owned privately with the rest owned by social landlords, who purposely kept properties empty to encourage tenants to leave the area.{{cite news |url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/2009/04/a-granny-in-the-front-line-against-new-labour/ |title=A granny in the front line against New Labour |work=The Spectator |date=7 April 2009 |access-date=11 November 2018}}

A public enquiry into the scheme was held in 2006 which resulted in a decision that homes should be demolished to allow the scheme to take place, a decision which was upheld by then Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott in February 2006.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/4717414.stm |title=Prescott backs homes' demolition |work=BBC News |date=15 February 2006 |access-date=4 November 2018}} Work on this part of the development did not commence and instead was delayed when the compulsory purchase order was challenged in the high court on a technical matter by one property owner from Adderley Street,{{cite news |url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/edge-lane-redevelopment-campaigner-elizabeth-3354311 |title=Edge Lane redevelopment campaigner Elizabeth Pascoe says she will never get over home eviction |publisher=Liverpool Echo |date=4 January 2012 |access-date=2 November 2018}} who in 2006 won a High Court injunction to prevent demolition work from continuing.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/6287732.stm |title=Scheme opponents may lose homes |work=BBC News |date=10 July 2007 |access-date=4 November 2018}} Campaigners challenged the compulsory purchase order at the high court in 2006{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/4842686.stm |title=Homes demolition plan challenged |work=BBC News |date=24 March 2006 |access-date=4 November 2018}} and were ultimately successful in having it quashed in November 2006.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/7644757.stm |title=Green light for Edge Lane scheme |work=BBC News |date=30 September 2008 |access-date=4 November 2018}}

Ministers approved a second order in September 2008, following a second public enquiry, to allow the council to acquire the last remaining properties.{{cite news |url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/edge-lane-residents-well-fight-3468596 |title=Edge Lane residents: We'll fight on for our homes |work=Liverpool Echo |date=1 October 2008 |access-date=4 November 2018}} By the time the second order was issued, around 70 residents had yet to reach any agreement for the sale of their property,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/6287732.stm |title=Scheme opponents may lose homes |work=BBC News |date=10 July 2007 |access-date=4 November 2018}} although roughly 90% of the properties affected were already either purchased or were in the process of being purchased.

Former Leader of Liverpool City Council, Warren Bradley, suggested that the scheme to regenerate the Edge Lane area had the overwhelming support of residents. In the lead up to European Capital of Culture 2008, the properties were given a fresher look by being covered in colourful decorated boarding showing images culturally important to the city. The second High Court challenge was dismissed in March 2009, allowing the compulsory purchase of remaining properties and for the scheme to go ahead.{{cite web |url=http://www.landmarkchambers.co.uk/resources/cases/high-court-dismisses-challenge-to-edge-lane-west-liverpool-compulsory-purchase-order/ |title=High Court dismisses challenge to Edge Lane West, Liverpool Compulsory Purchase Order |publisher=Landmark Chambers |date=24 March 2009 |access-date=4 November 2018}}

The widened road, a dual-carriageway to and from the M62 motorway, opened in March 2012 at total cost of £57m including costs to demolish houses along the route.{{cite news |url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/liverpools-edge-lane-widening-finished-3354219 |title=Liverpool's Edge Lane widening to be finished in March |publisher=Liverpool Echo |date=3 January 2012 |access-date=2 November 2018}}

Edge Lane railway station was a former station that operated on the Canada Dock Branch, before it closed in May 1948. Bus route 7 (to Warrington) runs the full length of the road.

Edge Lane has several Grade II listed buildings.{{cite web |url=https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/england/kensington-and-fairfield-ward-liverpool#.W99aoFX7Rpi |title=Listed Buildings in Kensington and Fairfield Ward, Liverpool |publisher=British Listed Buildings |access-date=4 November 2018}}

File:Botanic Garden and Wavertree Park - geograph.org.uk - 64705.jpg

Amongst the more notable places of interest along Edge Lane include Edge Lane Retail Park, Littlewoods Pools building, The Grange and Wavertree Botanic Park and Gardens.

Citations

{{reflist|30em|refs=

{{cite web |url=https://www.academia.edu/7808893 |title=Edge Lane West, Liverpool: Historical Assessment |work=Shane Kelleher |date=July 2007 |access-date=3 November 2018}}

}}

Sources

Sources taken from [https://www.academia.edu/7808893/Edge_Lane_West_Liverpool._Historical_Assessment Edge Lane West, Liverpool: Historical Assessment 2007]

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book |last=Hand |first=C |title=The History of Edge Hill |year=1915 }}
• {{cite book |last=Hoult |first=J |title=West Derby, Old Swan, and Wavertree |year=1913 }}

{{refend}}

{{Roads in Liverpool}}

Category:Streets in Liverpool

{{Commons category|Edge Lane, Liverpool}}

• [http://www.edge-lane.info BEVEL - The Fight for Edge Lane]{{Dead link|date=February 2013}}
• [https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/mcs/lfs/docs/0802%20Edge%20Lane%20Inquiry_A_Sykes.pdf The Urban Regeneration Agency (Edge Lane West, Liverpool) Compulsory Purchase Order - Statement of Evidence]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130114041443/http://www.liverpoolvision.co.uk/A_Changing_City/Edge_Lane_Project.aspx Edge Lane Project] Liverpool Vision

{{Roads in Liverpool}}

Category:Roads in Merseyside