Lord Street, Liverpool

Lord Street is a prominent street in central Liverpool, forming part of the city’s main shopping district. Stretching less than 300 meters, it connects Church Street to the east James Street near Derby Square, and the Queen Elizabeth II Law Courts to the west. The southern side is dominated by the Liverpool One complex, while the northern side features landmarks like Cavern Walks.

Historically, Lord Street was known as Lord Molyneux Street in the late 18th century, a time when it was described as narrow and ill-built. Despite its modest appearance, it housed respectable families, shops, and several taverns. It also served as a loading point for wagons traveling to Ormskirk and The Fylde. Bates’ Hotel, established in 1785, played a significant role in the area, hosting a newsroom where newspapers were read before the Athenaeum News-Room and Library opened in 1798.

Significant changes to the street began in 1799 when residents and shopkeepers laid flagstones for pavements. The central road remained rough until later macadamization. During excavations in 1851, workers uncovered remnants of a stone arch and bridge near Lord Street and Whitechapel, confirming 18th-century accounts of the area.

One architectural highlight is the Grade II listed building at 81–89 Lord Street, designed in 1901 by Walter Aubrey Thomas. The four-story structure, inspired by Siena Cathedral, features horizontal layers of orange and white stone. Originally, it housed a galleried shopping arcade beneath a glazed domed roof, later redesigned in 1935 for British Home Stores.

Lord Street contributed to broadcasting history with the BBC's 6LV station operating there from 1924 to 1931. Bombing in World War II led to 1950s rebuilding, with critics calling the south side “drearily rebuilt.” Despite this, it remains a key part of Liverpool’s commercial and historical identity.