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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Lancashire => Topic started by: Pennines on Sunday 02 April 17 14:24 BST (UK)
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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.
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There was a "Dead House" at Prince's Dock.
Stan
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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
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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?
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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
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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.
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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"
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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.
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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
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Have a read of the advice in the extract on this link it will probably help to explain the link between the term Dead House and pubs as they were often temporary places for the bodies of people found senseless:-
https://www.liverpool-genealogy.org.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=15687
Blue
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In the 19th Century, public houses were preferred as Coroner's courts because of their size and other facilities. In the 1840s the county of Warwick magistrates set these fees; To the Keeper of any Inn or other public-house for the use of a room for a dead body until the Inquest is held 20s 0d; To the Keeper of any Inn or other public-house for the use of a room for holding an inquest 5s 0d. The 1902 Licensing Act forbade pub inquests if any reasonable alternative existed.
Stan
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Stan and Blue -- thank you both SO very much for the links you have provided. They are so very interesting.
My goodness - Liverpool seems to have been a really dangerous place to live, especially on a Saturday night!
I just love the advice on how to deal with a dead body or drowned person. I wonder if it ever worked?
Can you imagine being in a pub when suddenly a dead or senseless body was brought in? That would put you off your pint.
St Nicholas Church figures largely in the research I have been doing - and a lady buried in the same grave as the 'Man Unknown' from the 'Dead House' had all her children baptised there.
Regarding Coroner's Inquests and the like being held in pubs -- I have read about that before but never thought about fees being paid (to the Inn Keeper I assume). Presumably paid by the Parish.
Thank you both -- for the fantastic information.
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Have a read of the advice in the extract on this link it will probably help to explain the link between the term Dead House and pubs as they were often temporary places for the bodies of people found senseless:-
https://www.liverpool-genealogy.org.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=15687
Blue
The Directions are from The Merchant, Ship-Owner, and Ship-Master's Import and Export Guide, 1831, there are extra 'General Remarks' added at the bottom.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01juw/
Stan