A six-bedroom Grade II-listed house on Hornby Road in Walton, which once served as the North West Training and Recruitment Centre for the prison service, has been listed for sale at £325,000.
The mid-19th-century mid-terraced home sits in the shadow of HMP Liverpool, a prison holding more than 1,100 men jailed for drug offences, violent crimes, robberies and other offences. Its period exterior and traditional sash windows set it apart from the red-brick terraces common across the city.
Property details and layout
According to estate agent Whitegates, the property spans three floors and includes six bedrooms, two bathrooms and two reception rooms. The ground floor has an entrance hall, main lounge, study, kitchen, WC and utility room, with the kitchen featuring a breakfast bar and pantry. The upper floors contain the bedrooms and bathrooms.
Outside, the house has a front lawn and a pathway to the entrance, while a large rear garden offers space for entertaining and off-road parking. The listing describes the property as suitable for either commercial or residential use. It is close to Walton Vale's shopping area and Rice Lane railway station, which provides transport links into Liverpool city centre.
History and local memories
The ECHO previously spoke with residents about life on the street. Jed Woods, 44, who has lived there for over 15 years, said the homes were once used to house prison officers who worked next door. He recalled rumours about a pub at the rear of the property that served the workers, which has been a talking point for residents for over a decade.
Woods said: "I’ve heard that they were the old prison officers' houses, but I’ve also heard rumours they were built before that. I’ve lived here for just over 15 years, and before I lived here there was supposed to be a prison officer’s pub in the back and a car park, but that’s gone now, before I moved in."
He added: "We used to joke about it and say all you had to do was open your gate, and you were at the pub. Inside, they all have archways on the walls, and the walls are so thick. I remember trying to put a picture up, and it bent the nail when I was hammering."
