Dead House, Liverpool

[Pennines]

Hello Everyone.

Amongst the Liverpool Burials on the Ancestry site is an entry on 24 October1871 for 'A Man Unknown' --- and in the Remarks column, where an address or place of death is normally recorded, is 'Dead House'.

I am imagining that this poor person had been found dead in the street or something ---and taken to somewhere like a mortuary, known as the 'Dead House'. I haven't heard of this before and just wondered if anyone else had and where it was.

(I'm just curious really -- some say nosy!)

The burial took place in Walton Cemetery.

[stanmapstone]

There was a "Dead House" at Prince's Dock.

Stan

[stanmapstone]

There was a "Dead House" at Prince's Dock.

Stan

It was officially called the "Receiving House" see the map at https://www.old-maps.co.uk/#/Map/333869/390523/13/100871
According to newspaper reports the Receiving House at Princes Dock was where people recovered from the water, either through accident or suicide, were taken, and attempts made to revive them.
Stan

From the  Liverpool Mercury - Tuesday 21 May 1867

[ShaunJ]

The Liverpool Daily Post (24 October 1871 - "Supposed Suicide of a Seaman" ) reports that a man was found hanging (on 21st) near the Guano Warehouses at the Victoria Wharf, Great Float. Nothing to identify him by. Taken to the dead-house. EDIT - The Great Float was Birkenhead - would he have been buried at Walton?

[suds]

Hello

Stanmapstone has it right but the query brought back a memory for me.

My grandad lived in Wavertree and his watering hole of choice was The Earle, known locally as 'The Dead House'. I believe because it was adjacent to a cemetary. As a young child I was always intrigued when told that grandad was at the dead house.

Suds

[Pennines]

Thank you so much everyone. It does make sense that there would be people pulled out of the water in Liverpool and therefore there would be a building for such people to be taken. I have never thought of such a thing before.

Shaun J --- re the article you found about a suicide on 21st Oct -- if it WAS the same man he was buried on the same day in grave number 38W at the 'Liverpool Parochial Cemetery Walton' -- with 4 others -- a lady and an unrelated child from the Workhouse - and 2 other children.

It's now made me wonder whether people were permanently employed at the 'Receiving House' as there wouldn't be bodies pulled out of the water daily - but when they were, they would need to be taken somewhere fairly quickly.

Thank you again everyone -- very interesting.

[ShaunJ]

A more likely candidate perhaps: there was an inquest in Liverpool on 17 October on the body of a coloured man, unknown, found floating in Canning Dock. "Found Drowned"

[Pennines]

Great detective work Shaun.

Having 'googled' 'Receiving House Liverpool' -- there was a 'Floating Receiving House' for post - withdrawn in 1864.
http://www.tpo-seapost.org.uk/tpo2/spliverpool_frh.html

I can't see anything about the 'Dead' House yet, but I'll keep my eyes open.

[stanmapstone]

From "The Liverpool Underworld: Crime in the City, 1750-1900"
The Church of St. Nicholas contained the 'Dead House' where the corpses of the drowned were kept until claimed by ........ http://www.rootschat.com/links/01juv/

St. Nicholas's Church was just across the road from the Receiving House https://www.old-maps.co.uk/#/Map/333956/390487/13/100871
Stan