For centuries, Bootle was a village of fishermen and farm workers
surrounded by marsh land and sandy shore. In the nineteenth century, the
wealth created by the docks, and the generosity of the residents in
their grand houses, resulted in the creation of many fine churches,
amenities and open spaces. An imposing complex of civic buildings was
built. Local societies thrived and carnivals, such as the Bootle May
Day, were highlights of the social calendar. In the Second World War,
Bootle, for its size, suffered more war damage than any other area of
the country. Regeneration has altered the face of the area further, most
notably in the Stanley Precinct office quarter, the Strand shopping
centre and along the banks of the Leeds Liverpool canal. But spacious
parks, grand civic buildings, tantalising survivals of the old village
and grand Victorian houses remind us of a glorious bygone age.