WHERE'S WAVERTREE?
It's in north-west England, a former Lancashire village that since 1895 has been part of the City of Liverpool. The maps included here show Wavertree in relation to Liverpool city centre (which is just 3 miles away) and also Liverpool and Wavertree in their wider context.

WHAT'S THE LOCK-UP?
It was a place in which petty criminals and drunks could be incarcerated overnight. The drunks were left to sober up, the criminals were kept there until they could be taken before the local magistrate to face charges.

WHY IS IT OF INTEREST?
Wavertree Lock-up is one of the few survivors of this type of building. Its octagonal shape makes it even rarer. The only other village lock-up within the Liverpool city boundary is at Everton - the round structure which is depicted on the badge of Everton Football Club. Wavertree Lock-up has been a Grade 2 Listed Building since 1952.

WHEN WAS IT BUILT?
In 1796. This was at a time when the village of Wavertree was beginning to expand (the church of Holy Trinity was built in 1794) and was attracting growing numbers of both residents and visitors from Liverpool and elsewhere.

Above: Wavertree Lock-up as it appeared prior to 1869.

Below: Wavertree Lock-up as it is today

Continued . . .

Photo (Top of page): Wavertree Village Green and Lock-up, viewed from the roof of the Abbey Cinema in 1979.