Liverpool, pari, and mun. bor., city, seaport, and
par., SW. Lancashire, on estuary of river Mersey, 31 m.
W. of Manchester and 201 m. NW. of London by rail—
par., 1715 ac. land and 755 water, pop. 210,164 ; mun.
bor., 5210 ac., pop. 552,508; pari, bor., pop. 601,050.
Markets, daily. Lyrpoole and Lithcrpoole were ancient
names ef this celebrated seaport, these designations
being supposed to be derived from the Celtic Llerpwll,
the “place on the pool.” It is very doubtful whether
the town existed at the time of the Conquest. Camden
(1551-1623) refers to it as being more famous for its
beauty and populousness than for its antiquity. In
1172 the military operations in Ireland gave it great
importance as a convenient point of embarkation for
troops. With this exception the early history' of
Liverpool contains little that is interesting or im-
portant. The first charter was granted in 1173 by
Henry II. ; in 1207 the charter was confirmed by King
John, and 20 years later the town was constituted a free
borough by Henry III. During the reign of Elizabeth
a quay and breakwater were erected, the latter being
intended to act as a winter protection for shipping. In
1561 the merchants of the port had only 12 ships. The
ship-money levied by Charles I. amounted to £25. At
the time of the Civil War Liverpool was held by the
Parliamentarians, and in 1644 was besieged and taken
by Prince Rupert; but in a brief time it again fell into
the hands of the Parliament. It is modern enterprise,
however, that has literally created and expanded the
historical distinction of the city. From the latter part
of the 18th century its progress in mercantile and
maritime affairs is without a parallel, and justly
entitles it to its position in the first rank of British
seaports. Commercial intercourse is maintained with
every part of the world. Several lines of splendid
steamships keep up regular communication with New
York ; others with Boston, Philadelphia, New Orleans,
Halifax, the Canadian ports, and the East and West
Indies. (For shipping statistics, see Appendix.) Ex-
tending along both shores of the Mersey are immense
lines of docks, which form the principal feature of
the city. On the Liverpool shore they cover fully
6 miles, and on the Cheshire shore, at Birkenhead,
2 miles ; the water area of the docks on the Liverpool
side being 333% ac., with nearly 23 miles of quay
space ; on the Cheshire side the water area is 164% ac.,
with 9% miles of quay space; total water area 498 ac.,
quay space 30% miles. There are also 22 graving docks,
and in connection with the docks generally there is a
double line of railway over 5 miles in length N. to S.
The famous landing stage of Liverpool is an immense
structure, 2063 ft. long and 80 ft. broad, supported by
floating pontoons, which rise and fall with the tide.
Large vessels may proceed up the Mersey as far as the
mouth of the Irwell, 35 miles above Liverpool; 5 great
lines of railway now enter the city; but by the comple-
tion of the Mersey Tunnel, a formidable undertaking,
begun in 1872, these facilities have been very materially
increased,. Inland water communication is kept up
with Yorkshire and all parts of Lancashire, chiefly by
the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. The city is justly cele-
brated for its fine buildings. The Town Hall (1754) is
the oldest and the most interesting; but the finest
building, from an architectural point of view, is St
George’s Hall (1854), a superb edifice, which cost
£250,000. The Exchange and the Free Library and
Museum are likewise worthy of notice. Of the public
parks the largest is Sefton Park (400 ac.), the others
being Princess Park, Wavertree Park, Newsham Park,
Sheil Park, and Stanley Park. There arc 11 cemeteries.
At the head of the educational institutions stands
University College (affiliated to the YictoriaUniversity),
opened by Lord Derby in 1882 ; and among middle-class
schools are the Royal Institution School, Collegiate In-
stitution, and Liverpool Institute High School. Cotton
is the staple of the imports of Liverpool, which other-
wise include goods from all parts of the world. Recently
an enormous trade has arisen through the importation
of provisions, including live stock, from America and
the colonies. The port, too, is the principal place in
the kingdom for the departure of emigrants. Mfrs.
are not extensive. Shipbuilding has fallen off greatly
owing to the competition at the Clyde and in the north
of England. The mfrs. of engines for marine naviga-
tion, however, have a world-wide renown. Sugar refin-
ing, iron and brass founding, ropemaking, brewing,
chemical works, iron chain cable and anchor making,
and the distilling of tar and turpentine, form other
leading industries. A large source of trade exists in the
produce of neighbouring collieries. Liverpool was
created a diocese in 1880, at which time it was trans-
formed into a city by royal charter. Liverpool returns
9 members to Parliament (9 divisions—viz., Kirkdale,
Walton, Everton, West Derby, Scotland, Exchange,
Abercromby, East Toxteth, and West Toxteth, 1
member for each division); its representation was
increased from 3 to 9 members in 1885, when its
parliamentary limits were extended so as to include the
remainder of Toxteth Park par., additional parts of
Walton on the Hill and West Derby pars., and part of
Wavertree township, Childwall par.