Between 1830 and 1930
9 million people travelled through Liverpool to the new worlds
such as Australia, Canada, or in our case America
Many people travelled from all over Europe. Russians Norwegians, Swedes and Danish.
All travelled to Hull, then by the new steam railroad to Liverpool.
Liverpool was the centre of immigration for many many years, but many, many people stayed here in Liverpool.
This is the story of two emigrants who travelled to Liverpool looking to go to the new world and what happened when they arrived there.
Excuse me miss, are you alright?
No, no, I don't think I am really.
Is there anything I can do for you?
Well I arrived here in Liverpool with such dreams, you know. A new life in America, that's all I wanted.
It's like the stories I've always heard, streets in America paved with gold. Well I'm not so stupid to believe that but
you know, I really did just hope just for a chance to escape the life that I had here.
You've no idea, such a small house, so cold damp, and my father, well,
least said about in the better.
I managed to get a little bit of money saved, don't know how and I got myself a lift down here.
Because I heard the docks in Liverpool are full of ships, you can have your pick.
Then when I got here, I just couldn't believe it. So busy.
I'd never seen anything like it, I mean
I'm from this little town called Preston, and it's so different here.
I mean the crowds here, the noise, the bustle, everybody rushing and pushing and shoving.
It took a bit of getting used to.
There are so many different people all crowded together, I know.
Yeah, but then to get on the ship, I mean, you need a ticket, don't you? So I found the ticket office and
then I realised how much it was going to cost me.
It sounds stupid don't it but
I had no idea how expensive this was gonna be - three pounds!
How was I going to afford that? I've never seen that much money in my life.
I didn't know what to do.
I know. I, I had the same thoughts myself. I am, my name is Evan Kosloff. I am from Russia.
Well, pleased to meet you. Mary, Mary. Fowler. Pleased to meet you Mary.
Well, I must admit. I travelled a long way to come to Liverpool.
I come from a very small town called Lvov. It took me about a week to get to Port of Bremen.
While I was there, I was similar to yourself. I had to stay in a lodging house.
The lodging house was very, very expensive.
I had saved a great deal of my money. Everything I owned I brought to Liverpool
but for two weeks, I was in the lodging house. My money was getting smaller and smaller and smaller.
The lodging house was filthy.
The saying was even the rats used to laugh at you.
But finally I boarded my ship from Bremen to Hull.
I got the new steam railroad down to Liverpool and then I made my way down to the docks.
I was told that my money was no good.
I had gold sovereigns. I had seven of them.
I thought this was plenty for a new life.
I was hoping to make a new life for my young sister
but unfortunately I
never left Liverpool.
A woman, I think she was a woman, she may have been dressed as a man, I cannot remember,
she said that the money I had was no good,
that the gold sovereigns were useless.
I needed something called a
Californian piece or something like that.
It was small, about the same size as your nail, and black in colour.
She persuaded me to change my gold sovereigns for this American money.
I've heard of these. They call them runners.
I found out it was useless in the end.
So I like you, I ended up here in Liverpool
but I have a trade. I am a boot and shoemaker. I have tools in here
and so, very slowly but surely, I got somewhere to live. I found good friends.
Maybe not everybody in Liverpool is like that woman or man, I do not know.
But now I've got a small business. Not much I admit, but
well I am hoping to open a small shop in a place called, is it Castle? Castle Street.
A very well-to-do place, so I have seen there are many rich people around there.
Maybe if I can get some sort of a cellar down there, there's a place called Union Court. You may have stayed there?
No I've not heard of it. No it's just off Castle Street I believe.
I believe there is a cellar there
which can be rented
and if I can find good clientele to come there, many rich people will need their shoes and boots, cleaned and heeled,
a man with skills like mine,
I may be able to do well in this town.
Maybe you could do also?
I have no idea, I mean,
when I found I didn't have enough money I actually got so desperate I tried to stow away. Sorry, that means hide.
Hide in a box. On board a ship? Yes.
I know it was stupid, but one of the sailors caught me and threw me off.
But then I thought my luck had changed, I came across this really well dressed gentleman, a rich gent.
And he said that he can actually sponsor my passage, pay for my ticket.
I didn't know whether to believe him at first, but I mean what else could I do?
I turned up at dawn the next day, like he said and everything was in place. I thought this is it.
And then I had to go to the medical inspector
and get a medical health test.
And he said that I had this disease, I mean I feel fine. I don't think it's right but
he wouldn't let me go
and I thought that's it. What else can I do?
I saw it all just
vanish
in front of my eyes.
I know the feeling.
I have a little sister in Lvov, and my idea was to go to America and
make a successful business and bring her over there.
But, like you, I am now in Liverpool.
But if this Union Court cellar takes off and hopefully I shall make some good business,
I cannot do everything in this business. I make and repair the shoes,
I might need somebody to help me in the shop,
If you would be
so kindly be interested?
Me?
Me? Do you mean it? I'm no good with money but
it would be a great help.
Really?
Oh thank you sir.
Thank you, I'm so grateful.
Oh I can't believe it. Thank you so much.
Well I have to go,
I have to see this cellar.
What was your name again?
Mary, Mary Fowler.
Good luck to you Mary Fowler.
Hopefully, I will see you again soon? Yes.
Good luck to you. Thank you.
Mary Fowler.
Thank you so much.