Liverpool's lost walkways and bridges we used to see…

Liverpool's lost walkways and bridges we used to see above us

Years ago, "walkways in the sky" above the busy streets of Liverpool city centre were a familiar sight.

In the 1960s, the council came up with a plan to create a linked system of walkways over the city, seeing some of the city’s biggest developments of the time - including the ECHO building and Royal Insurance headquarters - built with walkways through and around them and bridges across roads. You can still see some of those walkways today or evidence of where they once were.

But the isolated paths were unpopular and the scheme was soon abandoned, with bridges being pulled down and walkways closed off or forgotten, the Liverpool ECHO previously reported. Now, all that is left of most of them are our memories of what the city centre once looked like, a number of photographs and some remnants that can still be spotted if you look close enough.

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For younger generations, it may be hard to imagine them making up part of what the city looks like today. Here, we take a look back at some of Liverpool's lost walkways and bridges we used to see above us.

This list isn't intended to be comprehensive, we've included a number of lost walkways and bridges in the sky that used to be part of city centre life. But, if you feel there are some we should have included, let us know in the comments section below.

Roe Street

Many will remember the days of crossing the Roe Street walkways in the city centre. In the early 1990s the ECHO campaigned for the demolition of the Roe Street walkway, which spoiled the view of St George’s Hall.

In August 1992 its demolition made the front page of the ECHO, under the headline "It’s Gone." It was once referred to as "black, graffiti-strewn monstrosity."

Old Hall Street

It’s hard to believe now, but two bridges once crossed Old Hall Street as part of the pedestrian network. A bridge once crossed from Moorfields Station to the building opposite, One Old Hall Street.

The other bridge led from the ECHO and Royal Insurance buildings to Ralli House across the road, where the modern St Paul’s Square development now stands.

Do these awaken any memories for you? Let us know in the comments section below.

Rumford Street

In Rumford Street, next to the Mersey Tunnel ventilation tower, there’s a stairway and a sign much higher up saying Empire Bridge. That bridge once led across Fazakerley Street, above the entrance to the car park, and into a building called Richmond House.

That building was flattened in the early 2000s. But other pictures show it had walkways running around it linking to the Atlantic Tower beyond.

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James Street

James Street is a good example of how walkways were included in new developments on an existing street. New office blocks were being built on both sides of the street, as was a car park on Moor Street.

So the council arranged for a walkway to be built through those developments, including a bridge across James Street by the station and a bridge across Moor Street. The bridge has gone but there are still plenty of remnants of these walkways.

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The Strand

From the start, planners were keen that the walkway system should help people cross The Strand, which was then and now a busy road cutting the city centre off from the Pier Head. It was even more important then to have a crossing as the Pier Head was home to a large bus station.

The bridge went across from what’s now Beetham Plaza to a staircase near the Mersey Tunnel ventilation shaft, but it had a bad reputation, sometimes being called "mugger’s alley." It came down in 2007, just before Capital of Culture year.

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