Everton Lock-Up

Everton Lock-Up, sometimes referenced by one of its nicknames such as Prince Rupert's Tower or Prince Rupert's Castle is a village lock-up located on Everton Brow in Everton, Liverpool. The 18th-century structure is one of two Georgian lock-ups that still survive in Liverpool; the other is in Wavertree. It is famous for being the centre-piece of the crest of Everton F.C.[1][2]

Everton Lock-Up
Alternative namesPrince Rupert's Tower
Prince Rupert's Castle
The Roundhouse
The Hut
Stewbum's Palace
General information
LocationEverton
AddressBrow Side Gardens, Liverpool, L3
Coordinates53°25′2.64″N 2°58′11.66″W
Inaugurated1787
Renovated1997
Renovation cost£15,000
OwnerLiverpool City Council
Dimensions
Diameter8m
Technical details
Floor count1

The Grade II-listed building, which was opened in 1787, was originally an overnight holding place where local drunks and criminals were taken by parish constables. Prisoners would then be brought before local Justices of the Peace for trial. Punishments would usually be similar to community service such as clearing ditches, unblocking drains or removing rubbish.

The Friends of Everton Park have included the lock-up in their Everton Park Heritage Trail with information boards displayed near the building. It is sometimes called Prince Rupert's Tower, though it was in fact erected 143 years after Prince Rupert's Royalist Army camped in the area during the English Civil War Siege of Liverpool in 1644.[3]

It is likely the name arose because Everton Brow was historically where preparations were made to attack the Parliamentarian garrison holding Liverpool Castle. Prince Rupert, as commander of the Royalist cavalry of Charles I is said to have looked down on the fortress and dismissed it with the words: "It is a crow’s nest that any party of schoolboys could take!" It eventually fell after a week of heavy fighting and the loss of 1,500 of his men.[4]

Use by Everton F.C.

A depiction of the Everton Lock-Up has appeared on the crest of professional football club Everton F.C. since 1938.[1][5] In 2003, a plaque was added to the building stating the importance of its sporting association.[6] In May 1997 Everton gave £15,000 for renovating the structure and in February 2014 Everton Lock-Up was permanently illuminated blue. [7]

References
  1. "History of Everton crest from official site". Everton F.C. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2006.
  2. Liverpool History Society.
  3. "The Siege of Liverpool". History of Liverpool. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  4. Halley, Robert (1872). Lancashire: Its Puritanism and Nonconformity. Tubbs and Brook. p. 225.
  5. "Everton fans protest against new club badge design". BBC News. 27 May 2013.
  6. "Planning Application Details". liverpool.gov.uk.
  7. "Martinez To Light Up Tower". 3 February 2014. Archived from the original on 29 March 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
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