Stanley Park, Liverpool. Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment.

Following a proposal by Liverpool Football Club and Athletic Grounds Plc to
redevelop the area of the Anfield football stadium and relocate across Anfield Road to
Stanley Park (SJ 3648 9351), an archaeological desk-based assessment of the area was
undertaken by Oxford Archaeology North (OA North) at the request of Turley
Associates. This was part of a wider Environmental Impact Assessment and was
intended to examine the potential for archaeological remains to survive within the
development area, their nature, and the likely impact that such a development would
have on them. A study area of ½km around the proposed development area at Stanley
Park was examined in order to provide an archaeological background and context.
The historical background showed that the area was rural until the later nineteenth
century. There is little evidence for activity prior to the medieval period, although
prehistoric sites are known elsewhere on Merseyside. The nearest habitations of any
significance, the villages of Everton and Walton, have early medieval origins and
certainly existed by the time of the Norman Conquest. A number of large houses were
built within the study area as the wealthy inhabitants of Liverpool moved out of the
overcrowded city centre. By the later nineteenth century Liverpool was expanding
rapidly in this direction and large numbers of terraced houses were constructed. At the
same time (1867-70) Stanley Park was constructed and associated with this was the
creation of the Everton Football Club. Initially, Everton used Stanley Park for its
games, but eventually the club developed its own ground. A later split within the club
lead to the creation of Liverpool Football Club, which took up permanent residency at
what became Anfield.
The results of the assessment fit well with the historical background. Many of the sites