- My Ancestors
- Elizabeth Bergan
- John Bergan
- William Burgum
- Eileen Conyngham
- Joseph Conyngham
- Nicholas Conyingham
- Stephen Conyngham
- Ann Coyne 1882
- James Coyne
- Patrick Coyne
- Ellen Cutler (nee?)
- Jane Cuttler
- John Donohoe
- Mary Donohoe
- Jane Dunnegan
- Elizabeth Dummigan
- Elizabeth Evans
- Sarah Gordon
- Mary Greenwood
- Dorothy Hanley
- Jane Barton Hanley
- James Hanley 1838b
- James Hanley 1839a
- Patrick Hanley
- Ellen Howarth
- Robert Howarth
- Christopher Lawler
- Annmarie Lawler
- Michael Joseph Paul Lawler
- Michael Lawler
- Oswald Lawler
- Thomas Lawler b1825ish
- Thomas Lawler b1850
- Thomas George Lawler
- Elizabeth Lowry
- James McGinity
- Sarah McGinnity 1863
- Bridget McWalter
- Lucy Georgianna Morgan
- William Morgan
- Francis Murray
- Francis Dominick Murray
- Victoria Murray
- Bridget O'Donnell 1859
- Bridget O'Donnell v2
- Bridget O'Donnell Parents Search
- Stephen O'Donnell
- Frances Ann Parkins
- Sarah Pritchard
- Jack Shallow
- John Shallow
- Thomas Shallow
- Patricia Ann Shallow
- Joseph Shepherd
- Mary Ann Shephard
- Rachael Shepherd
- Charles Alfred Smith (1863)
- Elizabeth Smith
- John Smith 1827
- John Willm Smith 1882
- Margaret Storey
- George Henry Webb
- Zela Webb
- Anthony Westworth
- Margaret Westworth
- Robert Westworth
- Robert John Westworth
- Bridget Williamson
- Tipuna Faces
- Irish Ancestors to Find
- Photos
- 1871
- The Inhabitants of Duke Street 1841
- Irish Research
- Marriages
- TOBUY
- Liverpool in 1939
- Findmypast tips
- Pedigree
- Contact me
- New Page
During the early 1930s, up to a third of Liverpudlians were unemployed, and the council struggled to provide enough housing to clear the slums
Liverpool has been a major British city for centuries, its strategic position on the Mersey estuary helping to establish it as one of the nation's busiest ports. The local area was home to a thriving shipbuilding industry, and the most common jobs in the city in 1939 were in the transport sector.
Right up until the end of the 1930s, Liverpool was subject to a huge social housing building programme as the local government sought to implement the 1919 Housing Act, and later the 1930 Slum Clearance and Rehousing Act. Under this programme, 122,000 people were moved from inner city slum tenements, into newly built social housing in the suburbs with the aim of raising the general standard of living throughout the town.
Despite all of this, Liverpool had been impacted harshly by the Great Depression - during parts of the Depression, a third of Liverpudlians were unemployed - and the measures to restore a decent standard of living were insufficient. Houses could not be built quickly enough, or in enough volume, to resolve Liverpool's housing crisis, and as such the decade was a hard one for many Scousers.
122,000 people were moved from inner city slum tenements, into newly built social housing in the suburbs with the aim of raising the general standard of livingThe city was undergoing a revolution in terms of transport. The opening of a road tunnel linking the city of Liverpool with the Wirral allowed residents to travel quickly and easily under the Mersey, a journey previously only possible on one of the famous, but much slower, Mersey Ferries. As a result, ferry traffic declined and the previously-popular Liverpool to Rock Ferry route was closed permanently in 1939.
Liverpool has been a major British city for centuries, its strategic position on the Mersey estuary helping to establish it as one of the nation's busiest ports. The local area was home to a thriving shipbuilding industry, and the most common jobs in the city in 1939 were in the transport sector.
Right up until the end of the 1930s, Liverpool was subject to a huge social housing building programme as the local government sought to implement the 1919 Housing Act, and later the 1930 Slum Clearance and Rehousing Act. Under this programme, 122,000 people were moved from inner city slum tenements, into newly built social housing in the suburbs with the aim of raising the general standard of living throughout the town.
Despite all of this, Liverpool had been impacted harshly by the Great Depression - during parts of the Depression, a third of Liverpudlians were unemployed - and the measures to restore a decent standard of living were insufficient. Houses could not be built quickly enough, or in enough volume, to resolve Liverpool's housing crisis, and as such the decade was a hard one for many Scousers.
122,000 people were moved from inner city slum tenements, into newly built social housing in the suburbs with the aim of raising the general standard of livingThe city was undergoing a revolution in terms of transport. The opening of a road tunnel linking the city of Liverpool with the Wirral allowed residents to travel quickly and easily under the Mersey, a journey previously only possible on one of the famous, but much slower, Mersey Ferries. As a result, ferry traffic declined and the previously-popular Liverpool to Rock Ferry route was closed permanently in 1939.
The maritime connection remained strong elsewhere, however. The Camell Laird Shipyard, a major employer of local men, built five new ships for the navy, and a privately-owned oil tanker. Among the new ships was HMS Prince of Wales, which went on to play a major role in sinking the German battleship Bismarck. These successes were tempered by tragedy however, when HMS Thetis, a recently completed submarine, sank during tests. Of the 105 people on board, 99 died of carbon monoxide poisoning.
These successes were tempered by tragedy however, when HMS Thetis, a recently completed submarine, sank during testsAs war with Germany loomed, Liverpool was gripped by a different bombing campaign in the early months of 1939. After British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain failed to withdraw troops from Irish soil, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) separatist group began a mainland bombing campaign, successfully attacking targets in Liverpool. Shops, offices and even electricity pylons were bombed, and two cinemas were attacked with tear gas, creating an air of fear across the city, and leading to waves of anti-Irish sentiment.
These successes were tempered by tragedy however, when HMS Thetis, a recently completed submarine, sank during testsAs war with Germany loomed, Liverpool was gripped by a different bombing campaign in the early months of 1939. After British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain failed to withdraw troops from Irish soil, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) separatist group began a mainland bombing campaign, successfully attacking targets in Liverpool. Shops, offices and even electricity pylons were bombed, and two cinemas were attacked with tear gas, creating an air of fear across the city, and leading to waves of anti-Irish sentiment.
In the run up to the war, considerable effort was expended on building air raid shelters and improving protective measures across the city, and the evacuation of schoolchildren from the city to limit loss of life and damage to vital infrastructure in the event of attack. Despite this, Liverpool was very heavily bombed from 1940 onwards as the Luftwaffe attempted to destroy the docks. Over 3000 people were killed in the raids, including 22 prisoners at Walton Gaol who died as the result of a direct airstrike.
The rear of St. George's Hall, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, with St. John's Gardens in the foreground of the photograph. Mary Evans Picture Library
Away from the War, the Philharmonic Hall reopened in June, following a rebuilding project. The previous hall had burned down in 1933, leaving the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra without a permanent home for many years.
In sport, Everton F.C. recorded their fifth Division 1 title, much to the disappointment of local rivals Liverpool F.C. who finished 11th. The route to the title was not simple however; Everton suffered a heavy 7-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers in February (Wolves went on to finish second).
The Grand National held at Aintree Racecourse was another major crowd pleaser. Thousands attended the meeting, lining the course barriers and grandstands as they cheered Irish 100/8 runner Workman to victory.
Away from the War, the Philharmonic Hall reopened in June, following a rebuilding project. The previous hall had burned down in 1933, leaving the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra without a permanent home for many years.
In sport, Everton F.C. recorded their fifth Division 1 title, much to the disappointment of local rivals Liverpool F.C. who finished 11th. The route to the title was not simple however; Everton suffered a heavy 7-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers in February (Wolves went on to finish second).
The Grand National held at Aintree Racecourse was another major crowd pleaser. Thousands attended the meeting, lining the course barriers and grandstands as they cheered Irish 100/8 runner Workman to victory.