Steven Horton, Local Historian and Freelance Writer
Steven Horton has been a freelance writer for 20 years. He is the author of 5 books, with two more due for publication in 2013 and 2014 and has written for the Times, Liverpool Echo and numerous fanzines and websites, and also appeared on Radio Merseyside, ITV News and Sky Sports News.
Steven’s passions are Liverpool Football Club and local history, which is reflected in his current writing portfolio.
The five books published to date, which are available in both paper and e-book format, are as follows:-
- Street Names of the City of Liverpool (Countyvise 2002) – A book that details the origins of over 1,000 Liverpool streets, explaining how naming patterns have changed over time.
- Street Names of Wirral (Countyvise 2003) – This book followed on from the successful Liverpool book, detailing the origins of street names on the other side of the River Mersey in Wirral’s towns and village.
- Street Names of the City of Liverpool Revised/updated edition (Countyvise 2011) – An updated and extended version of the 2002 book, this book contains about 50% more information on Liverpool’s street names and some of the developments that took place in the nine years since the first was published.
- Liverpool Book of Days (History Press 2012) – This book contains a story for every day of the year from Liverpool’s archives. All of the major events in the city’s history are covered, such as the opening of the first dock in 1715 and the May Blitz in 1941. In addition to major events there are some quirky stories, including two actors having a fight on stage at the Royal Court theatre and a housewife writing to the Energy Secretary to tell him he had no common sense.
- Ending The Seven Year Itch (Vertical Editions 2012) – This book was released to commemorate Liverpool FC’s successful 1972-73 season, when they won the league championship and UEFA Cup, their first trophies for seven years. It tells the story behind the season as Bill Shankly completed the rebuilding of his side after breaking up the one that had been so successful in the mid 1960s and the hurdles the Reds faced with travel arrangements, postponements and disciplinary hearings held at the most inconvenient of times.
Steven also has two e-books for sale;
- The Houllier Years is a collection of articles that were submitted to websites and fanzines during Gerard Houllier’s time in charge of Liverpool FC from 1998-2004.
- Liverpool Plaques Volume 1 details the 70 local heritage plaques in Liverpool and the reasons for them.
His local history knowledge is also put to use with City Explorer Tours, for whom he works as a tour guide on open topped buses and he has also done individual walking tours of the city.
Steven also produced 3 walking tour I phone apps, so if you ever are stuck for something to do in the city centre, download the apps and have Steven walk you round this magnificent historical city;
- American Civil War Trail 1 – Self-Guided Walking Tour-This guide takes you round locations in Liverpool city centre connected with the American Civil War. As an importer of cotton, it was in Liverpool’s interest to back the Southern Confederate states and it became a place where Confederate agents sought to raise funds and purchase supplies for their war effort. The guide takes you to where those involved lived and worked during their time in Liverpool.
- Titanic Trail in Liverpool – Self-Guided Walking Tour-Although the Titanic, which sank on 15th April 1912, never sailed into Liverpool, the city, as home of the White star Line, played a major part in her story. This tour takes you round some of the sights connected with the ships construction through to the aftermath of the disaster, which claimed the lives of around 100 people with local connections.
- Football Trail Tour in Liverpool – Self-Guided Walking Tour- Liverpool is the only city in England to have had a team playing top flight football in every season since the league began in 1888. It is also England’s most successful football city, Liverpool and Everton between them have won 46 domestic and 9 European trophies. This trail takes you round the sights connected to the birth of the 2 clubs and their contribution not just to the local game but nationally and internationally as well.
Steven’s future projects include two more books that will be published in the autumn of 2013 and spring 2014. Red All Over the World details all of Liverpool FC’s foreign tours, starting off with the club’s first overseas trip to Scandinavia in 1910. We Love You Yeah Yeah Yeah tells the story of the 1963-64 championship win, Bill Shankly’s first league title which came just two years after the club had been promoted from the 2nd Division.
In addition to his books, Steven regularly writes updates and blog posts for his websites and Facebook fan pages
http://liverpoolmurders.blogspot.co.uk/
As a keen local historian Steven began to investigate his family geneology. He was shocked when he discovered his great, great uncle was hanged for the murder of his three year old daughter. Since then Steven has written regularly about historic Liverpool murders.
If you enjoy this website please click on the share button links to share with your friends.
Steven
Dear Mr Horton
Do you know whether one of the original Bodegas Wine Bars (1880s onwards) still exists in physical form in Liverpool. I believe (on the basis of a newspaper cutting remembered from many years ago) that this might be the case? Perhaps in one of the theatres?
Yours,
Graham
the only bodegas I can find in the british newspaper archive were in Castle St, where there are no theatres. The advert I found, number 20 is now the Nat West Bank.
Hi Steve, do any team photographs exist of the Liverpool Caledonians football team circa 1890’s ?
I’m particularly interested in player William Marr Orr who went on to be the Club President of my rugby club in 1936, Sefton RUFC in West Derby.
I have done an article on him but sadly have no photo.
http://www.davidbohl.webspace.virginmedia.com/MarrOrrWm.htm
Dave Bohl
Club Historian Sefton RUFC, Liverpool.
I’m not aware of any Dave, but Tony Onslow is probably your man to ask for absolute certainty I will ask and let you know
I am a granddaughter of Dr Alfred Stewart, murdered in Crosby in 1945 by a patient. I was v interested when your item was drawn to my attention, as I knew the bare outline of his death from my mother, one of his daughters, but not all the details you wrote about.
Can you please let me know where & how you researched all the additional details?
I have been living in Australia for over 40 yrs & as now a wheelchair user am unlikely to be able to access any Liverpool archives. If you could please direct me to where to look, I would be v grateful for any help…!
Hi Hilary thanks for your comment I will send you a private email
Dear Mr. Horton,
I have seen one of the story ‘A Chinese Vendetta’ on your historical blog of Liverpool Murders and I am particularly interested in this incident since I believe the Chinese victim, Mr. Fok in the event might be one of the relatives of my grandfather. I can still remember he told me that Mr. Fok was murdered in Liverpool in the 1940s. I was a little boy when I heard the story and now decided to look into the incident for my grandfather. I felt so lucky that I found some clue on your blog and I appreciate your work as a historian. I still would like to find out more about his murder, and I was wondering if you could please direct me how and where I can do research on this case? I would be very grateful for your time!
Best Regards,
Jason Fok
Hi Jason – it may be worth taking a pay as you go subscription to the British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)- the Liverpool newspapers from 1943 are all uploaded on there and you can search by your grandfathers name.
Hi Steven I am looking for a headline in the Walton times in about 1973 it was ( man caught on floor cutting up lambs) thanks if you can help.e
Dear Mr Horton
I am writing my memoirs, born and bred in Liverpool I know live in OZ but do belong to a Scouse Group’
I need to know the names of the Founding Fathers of Everton FC George Mahon was a founding father 1892 1908 One was a businessman I know.
I also want to get in touch by email please with the Guardian Editor regarding an article that was published .
Hi Steven,
Just hoping you might know something that might help me solve a puzzle: I’ve never been to Liverpool but my two daughters visit often for matches, including the fixture with Bayern last night. They stayed overnight at Cocoon on Hunters Street near The Flute pub. Do you happen to know from your research if that hotel is built on an old cemetary, orphanage or similar? It might help explain an apparition of a boy in Victorian style clothing. Just curious.
Dear Mr Horton,
This is just a ‘Thank You’ comment. I read your article over the weekend on Charles William Wilson The Scouser who mapped Jerusalem.
I am in my mid 80s and ashamed that I am ignorant of fellow scousers who we should be so proud of ( including yourself) without folk like yourself I am sure there would be ‘many stories’ that we would have no knowledge at all. I would love to have met Charles William Wilson.
I know that had I stayed in Liverpool I would have tried to dig into the past of many of the outstanding people who where clever\talented and also those individual people who where less fortunate but became well known character’s.
My deepest sadness is the buildings that have been replaced with shopping centers\car parks, flats etc.
In late 2018 I think; Everton Library was still empty, growing moss, and weeds growing out of the brickwork ! and the royal Iris a ‘rust bucket’ on it’s side with all my happy childhood memories sinking deeper and deeper into murky mud, the fact that the Iris along with other small ferries\boats: played such an important part in WW11 means nothing to Council; or whoever , is not interested in it’s demise.
Meanwhile I shall continue to love your articles and books and try not to think of how much more will be lost from Liverpool: my place of birth and a City that will always be home to me.
Warmest regards,
Norma.
Thanks for the kind words Norma