Bold Street
History
Bold Street was originally laid out as a ropewalk; a long thin area of land used in the manufacture of rope (the area is now known as 'Rope Walks'). They used to measure the rope from the top of Bold Street to the bottom because it was the standard length needed for sailing ships. It was laid out for residences around 1780 and named after Jonas Bold, a noted sugar trader and banker. In 1802 Bold became Mayor of Liverpool.
Merchants that worked on the docks needed houses close by. Therefore, houses were constructed in Hanover Street first, followed by Duke Street and then Bold Street. The fields that were in the area earlier were also developed quickly into houses. Although there had been port-related industrial activity in the area, with roperies occupying the site of what is now Bold Street to supply the sailing ships, this intensified along with a demand for residential properties so that the merchants could be located close to their business interests.
Physician Jonathan Binns, an 18th-century abolitionist, was among those building a home on the street.
Notable buildings and places of interest
References in popular culture
The street is featured in a song of the same name by Liverpool-based singer-songwriter Eugene McGuinness, included on his debut EP, The Early Learnings of Eugene McGuinness, distributed by Domino Records in 2007. The song peaked at Number 37 in the Official Independent Singles Chart.