Southport was founded in 1792 when William Sutton had the foresight to open the first hotel here. The hotel was built at the junction of Lord Street and Duke Street and it is in this area that the first houses in Southport also were built. The actual name 'South-port' first appeared around 1798. Records say that a small stream found its way onto the beach near Sutton's Hotel. The sea ran up some distance inland, forming an estuary. Tradition speaks of a 'fine bay of eleven fathoms of water within half a mile from the shore, where vessels occasionally lay securely at anchor.' To the local fishermen and farmers of that time, it was a port. It is not surprising that the new village lying South of the 'Doomsday Book' village of Churchtown should have been re-named 'Southport', a name which it has retained since 1826.
A little piece of mostly forgotten history tells us that before becoming Emperor of France in 1851, Prince Louis Napoleon lived on Lord Street; the main thoroughfare of Southport. Just a year later, he set Baron George Haussman, his prefect of the Seine, to work redesigning Paris. Much of the medieval centre of Paris was replaced with broad tree lined boulevards, covered walkways and arcades, just like Lord Street. Thus the legend of Southport's influence in Paris was begun.
In 1848, Southport became far more accessible as a rail service became available from Liverpool to the town. Visitors had previously had to commute by canal and road. Then, from 1853, Manchester too added a rail link to Southport, attracting thousands of workers from the Lancashire mill towns.
The Victorian era has left an impressive architectural mark on this town with spacious parks and gardens and wide tree-lined streets. Lord Street , one of Britain 's most attractive boulevards, is the main shopping thoroughfare. Along one side are shops with Victorian glass topped canopies and on the opposite sides are gardens, fountains and classical buildings. A perfect balance.
Today, Southport remains a popular destination for visitors of every variety from all corners of the world. They come for the beauty, the history, the modern attractions and the sheer delight. |
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