FALLING SOMEWHERE AS RAIN

I recently reported on a photographic dérive around Liverpool and my visit to St James Cemetery which sits in the shadow of the Anglican Cathedral. St James is situated in an abandoned 15th century quarry, which provided much of the construction stone for the old docks and Town Hall. Converted into a mausoleum and graveyard to house the manifold dead, especially following the Victorian Cholera epidemic, which ran through the city due to improper housing and unsanitary conditions, leaving thousands dead and the main necropolis in north Liverpool literally overflowing. In the shadow of the huge gothic cathedral, the peaceful gardens have now had many of the original internments removed and the statuary and monuments left to decay. However, the site is now maintained and secured by a working group and it has become a popular tourist destination. Naturally, any ancient site such as this will engender myths and stories and a wealth of historical detail. Many of the cities luminaries, as wel...

 Liverpool has an extensive history and is replete with many fine examples of period architecture. Its backstory is visible on every corner and in some places, it remains almost unchanged from past centuries. A particular favourite spot for me is St James Cemetery , behind the Anglican Cathedral. Liverpool is blessed with two outstanding cathedrals an the older sandstone gothic monument overlooks the cemetery, providing a wonderful backdrop to the place. The cemetery itself was begun in 1827, after a new public site was identified for the burgeoning population, after the Necropolis at Everton began to fill. An old quarry at Mount Zion, was chosen, which had been the source of the raw material used to build the old docks. Quarrying had been ongoing since the 16th century and the area had been one of three major sites, which provided building materials for the growing city. 1810 Map of the area St James Cemetery 1896 In 1901, the site was identified as the location of the new Liverpo...