Station refurb reveals journey into the past

BUILDERS working on the refurbishment of a Liverpool station were shocked to reveal its hidden secrets.,

In 2013, workers for contractor Morgan Sindall were re-tiling part of James Street station as part of £40m improvements made by Network Rail across the Merseyrail network when they stumbled across a glimpse into the past life of Liverpool’s commuters.

Advertising posters, dating back more than 50 years, were uncovered by the men working on the refurbishment of the tunnel to the station, accessible from Water Street. The discovery offered a window into a past life that seems so different from today.

In one of the posters, commuters are encouraged to enjoy the “perfection of cigarette luxury,” while other, promoted plays and a ballet performance at the Royal Court theatre.

Among the plays advertised on the posters was Silent Witness starring Z Cars actors James Ellis and John Collin and a show from the Orchestra of the New London Ballet.

At the time, Tommy Ainscough, a concrete finisher for contractor Morgan Sindall, said: “We expected to find something down here but we were surprised to find so many that we could actually read.

“Some of them are covered in very thick layers of other posters so it’s very hard to guess how old they are. We got a proper shock when we pulled all of the rotting paper back and saw a picture of Ken Dodd and his Diddy Men.”

The Grade II listed pedestrian tunnel - which dates back to the 1880s - where the posters were originally uncovered, is still not known by many due to its understated entrance situated at the front of the India Buildings.

The tunnel runs the equivalent length of Castle Street. Inside the tile-lined underground walkway is a central handrail, which comes in handy as walking back up the incline from the underground station takes some effort. It was refurbished in 2014, but in 1982, plans were made to scrap the historic passageway after a century of use as part of cost cutting plans.

A spokesperson for British Rail told the ECHO in June 1982 that it was too costly and not enough people were using it to justify keeping it open.

They added: “It is unlikely that the closure will cause any hardship to passengers. The subway, if anything, provides a longer and more strenuous walk than if you walk through the streets.”

However, a campaign to save the walkway was successful after many of its regular users objected to its closure.