10 Percy Street is now one of Liverpool's most coveted residences, but when Vincent O'Neill bought it in 1974, his friends thought he was "mad" to renovate the dilapidated building.
A Neglected Gem
Most properties along Percy Street were built in the 1830s. The street, slightly set back from more prominent Georgian Quarter roads like Upper Duke Street and Hope Street, has an exterior that has remained almost unchanged since receiving Grade II* listed status in 1952.
Vincent, now 80, was taken aback when he first entered the property. The previous owner lived in one room and rented out others. He told the ECHO: "The previous owner lived in one room and she rented out the others. When I bought this house, the main living room on the first floor had 12 rolled-up palliasses for Norwegian seamen to sleep on. She used to charge seven shillings and sixpence a night for them to doss down in what's now our main living room. The house had been neglected for about 40 years, there was no useful money spent on it at all."
Restoring the Home
Over the next 20 years, Vincent and his wife, Susan, slowly restored 10 Percy Street to its former glory. The home features ornate details, including a stained glass window, a lion's head door knocker, and original bell pulls in the main living room—one to the attic for night service, another to the basement kitchen.
Vincent has witnessed the street change over decades. Despite the area becoming fashionable, he has no plans to move away.
