Info on bootle, liverpool plz!?

Question

Im currently doing my family tree and have found out that my great great grandfather was buried at a church called st marys that was located on the corner of derby road and church street in bootle, liverpool. The church itself was bombed in the war and partly damaged so before i go down i wondered if anyone knew if the church is still there but more importantly if the graves are still there? And if not do you know where they have been moved? Any other info about this church and graveyard would be greatly appreciated?

Answer 1

I know Bootle very well and still travel past the location you mention on my way to work in Liverpool. The church was demolished decades ago, but I could tell the gardens used to be a grave yard. There used to be an Owen Owens warehouse next to the gardens - I am now talking 25 - 30 years ago - which I think was where the church originally was. The warehouse was rebuilt in the late 80s and became the Quadrant Park nightclub, which was an infamous rave location in Merseyside (it had a massive hole blown in the Derby Road side wall in gales circa 1987 / 88) and eventually closed down.

As far as I can tell the gardens are still there, but as for the graves I wouldn't be able to tell if they have been moved, but there are strict rules governing the removal of graves, because the ground they are in is consecrated so the church / local authority should be a good starting point.

Bootle is a place very close to my heart, but unfortunately it has been neglected in recent years and has declined in many respects.

Good luck

Answer 2

Had a look on google earth and the church is no longer standing but is a park called church gardens. It looks like there are some larger memorials or grave stones standing, but the rest of the grounds are grassed.

Bootle was bombed very heavily during the 2nd world war and much of that area was destroyed.

If you know what denomination the church was you could approach the diocese who would hold any records that may have survived, but they could have been destroyed in the bombing.

Answer 3

The church has long gone but there is a sort of cemetary on the corner of Church st, Derby rd and Irlam rd called the Garden of rest but nobody has been buried there for a long long time, I think this could be the place you are looking for.