Mike Royden's History Pages

Publications

Books by Mike Royden

	Tales From the 'Pool - A Collection of Liverpool Stories A fascinating collection of stories about the Merseyside area, including a detailed study of Liverpool Castle, grim accounts of the workhouse and two stories of gruesome murders. Two chapters look at aspects of Liverpool’s role in the First World War, while the story of Titanic survivor Ruth Bowker, unknown until now, appears for the first time. Fully illustrated with over 90 images, this fantastic collection will delight those interested in delving into detailed historical accounts of Merseyside heritage.
	Merseyside at War 1939-45 Merseyside played a unique role during the Second World War, which directly led to the area being a major enemy target in an attempt to put the port completely out of action. Consequently, Merseyside became the most heavily bombed area outside of the capital. A comprehensive study in an attempt to cover the full period of the war on the Home Front across Merseyside, in all its aspects, from the day war was declared, to the wild celebrations on the streets at the cessation of hostilities, plus the immediate post war problems.
	Sailingships, Shipwrecks & Suffragists A History of Thomas Royden & Sons, Shipbuilders of Liverpool This large volume is now completed and is a comprehensive study of the shipbuilding family, the shipbuilding yard (the last to close in Liverpool)and histories of all 262 vessels built at the yard. The yard was operational through much of the nineteenth century and bears witness to the evolution of ship design from wooden construction to iron and steel, and from sail to steam. The immediate family history, is featured plus their family homes and estate, still well known and used by the public in Wirral. Currently undergoing design layout, pre-printing. Publication due early 2020.
	Wirral at War The story of the home front in Wirral through both the First and Second World War. Both wars had a devastating effect on local communities, through the loss of life; the destruction of familiar places through intensive aerial bombing that in large areas destroyed or damaged virtually all of the buildings; the evacuation of children; and the hardships through war shortages experienced at home. Many served on ships keeping the vital routes from the docks open, the anti-aircraft batteries defending the docks in the Mersey, or on the RAF airfields on the Wirral. Wirral at War pays tribute to the people of this region who endured two world wars. In preparation - due late 2020.
	Chester at War The historic city of Chester in Cheshire, in the northwest of England, experienced the tragedies and hardships of war at first hand during the two world wars. On the Home Front, food shortages and the demands of wartime work in manufacturing and other vital wartime industries changed life for all. Communities learned to deal with rationing, air raids and large numbers of evacuees. Both wars had a devastating effect on local communities through the loss of life, the destruction of familiar places, the movement of communities and the hardships experienced at home but both were also a time of courage and fortitude in an effort to continue with everyday life.
	A-Z of Chester People, Places, History The history of Chester goes back to its foundation as a Roman camp, Deva, on the River Dee, close to the Welsh border, and the city has remained an important centre for the last 2000 years. The city is famous for its historical black-and-white timbered buildings which form the Rows, where shoppers can walk along a covered shopping arcade on the first floor. The Victorians continued with this local style, and much of this history is still evident in Chester today. Mike Royden takes the reader on an A-Z tour to reveal the places, people and history that make Chester such a fascinating city.
	Tracing Your Liverpool Ancestors: A Guide For Family Historians Tracing Your Liverpool Ancestors provides a fascinating insight into everyday life in the Liverpool area over the past four centuries. Mike Royden introduces readers to the wealth of material available on the city’s history and it’s people. A series of informative chapters describe Liverpool’s history through shipping, manufacturing, and trade, from the original fishing village to the present cosmopolitan metropolis of today. Living conditions, poverty of the labouring poor, health and disease, the influence of religion and migration, education and the traumatic experience of war are all featured. Click cover for more details or here for book reviews
	Liverpool Then and Now Liverpool Then and Now takes the reader on a journey through a city once considered the 'second city of empire'. Some 70 historic photographs of Liverpool's past are paired with specially commissioned contemporary views taken from the same vantage point. You can see the same streets and buildings as they were 'then' and as they are 'now', along with a detailed commentary. There are also some of Liverpool's closest neighbours, Birkenhead, New Brighton, Port Sunlight and the glorious Victorian promenades of Southport.
	Village at War The Cheshire Village of Farndon During the First World War Village at War gives a fascinating insight into everyday life during the First World War. what it was like for those living through those increasingly dark years of the war; the call for duty, the hardship of families left at home, rationing, the Defence of the Realm Act, conscientious objectors, prisoners of war, and air raids. The second half of the book details the individual stories of all the men who lost their lives from the local communities in the Farndon area of West Cheshire. This book is a useful tool for anyone researching the effects of the First World War on local communities at home, as well as the stories of the men who left them to fight abroad.
	Caring For Women and Babies in Liverpool A History of Liverpool Maternity Hospital and the Women's Hospital Early in 1995, the new Liverpool Women's Hospital opened, replacing the Oxford Street Maternity Hospital, the Women's Catharine Street Hospital, plus Mill Road Maternity Hospital. It also incorporated the Department of Reproductive Medicine from the Royal Liverpool University Hospital and the University Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. To mark the opening of the new hospital, the Liverpool Women's Hospital Trust invited historian and writer, Michael Royden to tell the remarkable story of the history of the city's much-loved hospitals.
	Mill Road - The People's Hospital In November 1993, the last wards closed at Mill Road Maternity Hospital, Liverpool, as part of the opening of the new Liverpool Women's Hospital. It was close to the end for a hospital that began life as a workhouse in 1838, had been a general infirmary, and was devastated by bombs in the Second World War. In 1947, it reopened as a maternity hospital and was the place where thousands of Liverpool people came into the world. This has been out of print for some time, but copies do become available from time time with online sellers. Click image for a free PDF.
	Pioneers and Perseverance A History of the Royal School for the Blind, Liverpool 1791-1991 In 1989, the History Department at the University of Liverpool was approached by The Royal School for the Blind, Liverpool, to compile a pamphlet detailing the history of the school which was to celebrate its 1991 Bi-centennial. After producing a detailed catalogue of the 200 year old archive, which was still held at the school, it was realised that there was much to be told about this unique school. The pamphlet became a book of 100,000 words on the oldest blind school of its kind in the world and published in 1991. A special leather bound edition of the book was presented to the Queen in 1991 as momento of her visit to the school as part of their Bi-centennial celebrations.

Maps

Great British Cities: Liverpool (1840 -1947) (Historical Notes on the Historical Map of Liverpool 1850-51 by Mike Royden) An excellent boxed set of Liverpool historical maps covering; Old Series (1840-43), Revised New Series (1902-03), Popular Edition (1923-24), New Popular Edition (1947) and the County Series 1:10,000 (1850-51). As consultant on the coverage and selection of the maps, I wrote the historical notes for the County Series 1:10,000 (1850-51). This map covers Liverpool from Bootle Castle in the north to Otterspool in the south, detailed enough to have all street names recorded throughout.

Articles/Papers

	The Fallen of Everton Football Club WWI and WW2 Remembrance Booklet by Mike Royden (Written by Mike Royden & Peter Jones)
	Rise of the Port of Liverpool Short article on the rise of Liverpool, published in Planet Liverpool Magazine
	The World in One City Article by Mike Royden published in the BBC's Who Do You Think You Are Magazine
	Henry Bowen - fireman on the Lusitania The sinking of the Lusitania in May 1915 remains one of the most controversial events of the First World War, or indeed any war. On board among many of crew from Liverpool was Henry Bowen, helping to keep the engines going on her crossing from New York to Liverpool. This is a full account of the events and the aftermath, and what became of Henry Bowen. (Published in Village at War: A Cheshire Village During the First World War)
	The early medical care of women and babies in the late 18th/early 19th century Following the April Conference at Liverpool University for the Liverpool Medical History Society ('Wives and Whores in Victorian Liverpool'), where I participated in the programme, the paper I gave was published in the Autumn 1999 Journal of the Liverpool Medical History Society (vol 10).
	An Overview of the 19th Century Poor Law in Liverpool and its Hinterland - Roots of the Workhouse Infirmaries A conference took place in April 1999 at the Liverpool Medical Institution, run jointly by the Liverpool Medical History Society and the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire. The subject of the conference was 'The Poor Law, Workhouses and Public Welfare in Liverpool', including my paper on 'An Overview of the 19th Century Poor Law in Liverpool and its Hinterland - Roots of the Workhouse Infirmaries'. The paper I gave was published in the 2000 Journal of the Liverpool Medical History Society (vol 11).
	Halewood by the Nineteenth Century The Effects of the Coming of the Railway on Nineteenth Century Halewood
	Halewood by the Nineteenth Century The Effects of Enclosure on Nineteenth Century Halewood
	Liverpool - The Book; The Wirral In 1988 I was asked by Bernie Carroll to contribute to his forthcoming book on Liverpool (a guide to all aspects of the city, cultural, historical, musical etc.). I covered the Wirral area
	The Roydens of Frankby My first publication. Ken Burnley, owner and publisher of 'The Wirral Journal' contacted me about the Royden's in the Wirral and asked me if I would contribute an article. This appeared in Autumn 1986.

Everton F.C. Heritage

As a member of EFC Heritage Society, Mike Royden has written several articles about the club's history, including matchday programme articles and the WW1/WW2 Player's Remembrance Booklet.

Articles by Mike Royden

Collected articles and papers researched and written by Mike Royden, mainly covering the Liverpool, Merseyside, S.W.Lancs, and Cheshire area.

First World War

Articles relating to the Home Front and battlefield experience, including numerous soldier's biographies from various war memorial projects.

Second World War

Articles relating to the Home Front across Merseyside, Wirral and Chester, including the Blitz, evacuation and other wartime experiences.

Students

History papers submitted on past degree accredited courses at the University of Liverpool Centre for Continuing Education (Tutor: Mike Royden)

Contributions

Articles and papers researched and written by various contributors. (If you would like your work to appear here please submit by email. All work gratefully received.)