Lots of large Victorian houses disappeared after the war. Plenty of reasons - some had indeed been structurally damaged by nearby bombs but the reality is people didn't need and couldn't afford to keep up such big establishments. These would have been 10+ bedroom houses depending on a team of staff to keep them up, the architecture was (then) unfashionable, and most were in need of comprehensive modernisation. Add to that that there was simply less money in the area from the 20s onwards and the pool of prospective buyers was pretty small. So values were not high - you'd get a lot more money knocking down and building apartments on the site. It's how New Brighton (and places like Rock Ferry and to a lesser extent Claughton and Noctorum) lost a lot of fantastic buildings.
Lots of large Victorian houses disappeared after the war. Plenty of reasons - some had indeed been structurally damaged by nearby bombs but the reality is people didn't need and couldn't afford to keep up such big establishments. These would have been 10+ bedroom houses depending on a team of staff to keep them up, the architecture was (then) unfashionable, and most were in need of comprehensive modernisation. Add to that that there was simply less money in the area from the 20s onwards and the pool of prospective buyers was pretty small. So values were not high - you'd get a lot more money knocking down and building apartments on the site. It's how New Brighton (and places like Rock Ferry and to a lesser extent Claughton and Noctorum) lost a lot of fantastic buildings.
Thank you, another site I'll no doubt lose hours of my life to
A little more. First, a 1913 ad showing the accommodation as it then was.
Then a bit of later history. In 1917 Ivy Lodge was converted into two flats, and by 1950 it is described as a "semi detached house divided into four self contained flats", with frontage to Alexandra Road and Wellington Road. It was being sold at auction with a gross rental of £284 18/4 - strong money at the time. It was definitely occupied in 1963 when one of the tenants was jailed for repeated drink driving. Tudor Lodge was also for auction in 1950, and also four flats with a rental of £276. The ground floor flat alone had two entertaining rooms, kitchen, pantry, two bedrooms, WC and bathroom, which gives an idea of the size of the property. It was withdrawn at £1000 (the same as two new Austins), but still being lived in in 1960.
A little more. First, a 1913 ad showing the accommodation as it then was.
Then a bit of later history. In 1917 Ivy Lodge was converted into two flats, and by 1950 it is described as a "semi detached house divided into four self contained flats", with frontage to Alexandra Road and Wellington Road. It was being sold at auction with a gross rental of £284 18/4 - strong money at the time. It was definitely occupied in 1963 when one of the tenants was jailed for repeated drink driving. Tudor Lodge was also for auction in 1950, and also four flats with a rental of £276. The ground floor flat alone had two entertaining rooms, kitchen, pantry, two bedrooms, WC and bathroom, which gives an idea of the size of the property. It was withdrawn at £1000 (the same as two new Austins), but still being lived in in 1960.
This is great, thank you for finding this additional information.
I was very interested to read this as Thomas Steuart Gladstone is my great great grand uncle. The 1841 census lists him and his family living there with some of his wife's family, I can't see that Eliza Colquit is listed anywhere though. The writing can be tough to decipher in these censuses. I can't see any of the photographs attached to this topic either which is sad. I don't seem to be able to access them. Had not come across the name Tudor Villas before so that is interesting. Thomas Gladstone was no longer there in 1851. Did you find anything in the Wirral Archives at all?
