Living by the Leeds Liverpool Canal in Lydiate leads me to take an interest in this great waterway which meanders its way through the Sefton Borough communities of Bootle, Litherland, Netherton, Aintree Village, Melling, Maghull and Lydiate.

The Litherland Road canal bridge down in Bootle is a fascinating example of Victorian civic pride with its huge cast metal plaque detailing its building and opening together with a cast representation of the former Bootle-cum-Linacre Corporation’s coat of arms.

You can imagine what a sight this bridge would have been when it was constructed in 1888 and how proud the civic leaders would have been of it. A closer look leads you to realise that it would once have had ornamental lights on top of the sandstone parapet wall at a number of locations. Rusting wrought iron lamp stands are all that remain now though.

An engineering gem right in the heart of what was very much industrial Bootle but is referred to as Bootle Village.