HILLCLIFF (or West Bank)  - Listed Grade II

Architectural description

Hillcliff (or, earlier, West Bank) was built before 1835. It is Regency in its chaste classicism, and thoroughly Regency in its elegant ironwork. It is instructive to compare the simplicity of its classicism with the more robust and mannered Victorian versions of classicism to be seen on this walk, at Roseleigh in the 60s, and even at Acrefield before 1840.

With the Verandah designed to link the house with the landscape (see Woolton Park Walk) goes the sash window which runs down to floor level to welcome the garden into the house. Note too that the Verandah at its centre bays steps forward with the setting forward of the front door and vestibule; at first floor level the wall of the centre bay recedes a few inches; a subtle modelling of the surface of the facade.

In passing round the right hand end, one is surprised to find an added canted bay on the end of this simple original block. Then we see a further large extension at the rear designed in the robust and mannered Victorian classicism already referred to. The second stage of this extension, with Egyptian capitals to the columns of the side door, and - in a more slender proportion - to the upstairs window, are an echo of the Egyptian revival of the early decades of the 19th century. (The capitals are designed with the Egyptian version of acanthus; the leaf behind is papyrus - though usually this is rendered with a curled over top). The dormer windows suggest a date in the 1860s also.

Owners and Occupiers

c.1835?-1847
"Mr Lynch" appears here on Bennison's map of 1835 at what may well have been his new house. This may have been John Lynch Merchant (John Lynch & Co. 7 James Street) who, 10 years earlier, was living at 21 Rose Place, Everton.

On the 1840 Tithe Map Hillcliff, standing in just over half an acre of grounds, was owned and occupied by Gerard Lynch. Next year the census, shows Gerard Lynch aged about 30 and John Lynch about 20 living here, and from later Liverpool Directories we see they were Corn Merchants. With them was Alice Westhead, age 80 and 'Independent' - Grandma ? - and 3 female servants. We surmise that the 2 young men wore sons of "Mr Lynch", perhaps. By 1847 Gerard Lynch was living in Catharine Street.

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