Walking with the Georgian tourists

Dec 3 2007 by Peter Elson, Liverpool Daily Post

As Georgian Liverpool exploded into life, one commercially-minded citizen quickly cashed in with guide books for visitors. Peter Elson reports

WHEN it was suggested about 30 years ago that tourism could be Liverpool’s economic saviour, the idea was greeted as another prime example of Scouse wit.

That these visitors could be lured to the city by attractions based on The Beatles was the cue for another round of hysterical derision.

In fact, up until the war, tourism had always played a part in Liverpool’s history, mostly piggy-backing on wealthy business travellers and their families passing through.

Unfortunately, it never revived in the 1950s. Blitzed Liverpool compounded by austerity Britain was no draw, until the economy picked up in recent years.

Yet, even before the dawn of the railway age, the Georgian well-to-do gadded about Britain, encouraged to explore their own country after the curtailment of the Grand Tour itineraries by Napoleonic wars in Europe.

Liverpool’s inexorable rise as a merchant port was as much a cause of curiosity as historic monuments to the informed tourists of the day.

Where tourists go, commerce soon follows, not least in the form of guide books to tell newcomers where to visit and what to do.

More than two centuries ago, Liverpool was already experienc-ing a through-put of visitors to hither and yon. The seaport’s self-confidence demanded that visitors, even if staying for a single night while in transit, took notice.

Step forward into this marketing gap Dr William Moss, surgeon and man-midwife, with his 1797 Guide Book to Liverpool and its efforts to inform, feed and entertain the interested stranger.

To coincide with 2008, enterprising local author David Brazendale and Lancaster publisher Palatine Books have reprinted this fascinating book, plus modern explanations as “the first Liverpool guide book”.

“The guide book appeared at a very significant time,” says David, born and bred in the city and, although now resident in Crosby, a churchwarden at Liverpool parish church of Our Lady & St Nicholas.

“The end of the 1790s was the end of the first act of Liverpool’s great expansion, when the infrastructure was in place and the docks were inaugurated.

“Trade was expanding and the port developing into being a world player. Everything was poised to go into the huge technical and commercial expansion of Liverpool.

“This first stage had started in 1660. Up until then, Liverpool was an insignificant Irish Sea port and market town.

“It had recovered from the Civil War and new political structures were in place, allowing everyone to breathe a sigh of relief and get back to business, with the expansion of the North American colonies.

“Although it’s hard to put your finger on why, the population could feel they were on the up – literally and metaphorically. The town was prospering and the number of citizens more than tripled in about 30 years.”

Liverpool has attracted interest, praise and condem-nation in almost equal measure over the last 300 years, but Dr Moss was unequivocally proud of his hometown.

This first guide book to Liverpool was so successful that it started a stampede of similar publications.