Below is a photograph of the home of my Great Grandfather, Alexander John Pickering [1857-1927], and his family before he emigrated to the United States. He was born in this home and the photograph has been in my family for many years. When I "found" another branch of our family just recently I sent them a copy of this photo -- and lo! and behold -- they also had a copy!

I decided it would be fun to learn more about this home since the family obviously were well enough off to support this seemingly huge house and, according to the 1881 Census, a considerable number of servants.

David Eckersley-Maslin of the U.K., a descendant of Edith Paulina Pickering Myers, sent the site map and description of the properties our ancestors lived.

Read letters from folks who lived nearby Montebello by clicking here.

This house, which stood at the north corner of St. George's Mount and Atherton Street, was built about 1860 for a Liverpool merchant, Mr. Charles William Harrison Pickering. Prior to moving here, Mr. Pickering lived first at "Withenfield House", Withen Lane, and later at "Springfield House", the site of which is now occupied roughly by Vicarage Grove. In those days the new house must have commanded unsurpassed views out to sea, and it is not surprising that Mr. Pickering named the property "Monte Bello". The grounds ran down to St. Jame's Road, where there was a lodge, while the stables, still standing and used residentially, were situated opposite on the south side of St. George's Mount.

Mr. Pickering, after whom Pickering Road was presumably named, died in 1881 at the age of 65 and was buried in St. Hilary's Churchyard, although he worshipped at St. James's Church, where there is, or was, a stained glass window to his memory. His widow continued to live at "Monte Bello" until her own death in 1895, and the following year the Trustees of her late husband's Will sold the whole of the property, consisting of the house, the stables and over 6,000 sq. yds. lf land to a Liverpool Shipowner, Mr. John Karran, for #3,010. Four years later he, too, died, but his widow remained in residence for some years, finally dying at Douglas, Isle of Man, in 1907. Round about 1910, the house was leased from the Karran Trustees by Mrs. Isobel Robinson, who converted it inot a private hotel, still known as "Monte Bello", as as such it continued until World War II.

In 1944 the Trustees sold off the coach-house and stables separately to a Mr. Wood, who died in 1979 and the following year disposed of the remainder of the property to an Estate Company for #3,500. Ten years later it was acquired by Thomas & Caley Ltd., a local building company, the house having been demolished in the meantime, and they developed the area with the attractive smaller residences which are to be seen there to-day.

NOTES: According to an interview on Jan. 24 1979 of a descendant of Henry Alfred: "CWHP lived in Springfield Estate, now Vicarrage Grove while Montebello was being built. On the corner of Rice Land and Spring Lane was Vicarrage for St. John's Church, and by 1840 was called Locust House."

David Eckersley-Maslin confirms this information in Aug 2001 with the above article and add the following descriptions of other residences of the Pickering family.

SPRINGFIELD HOUSE.
At the corner of Rice Land and Green Lane (later Greenwood Lane) was a house called SPRINGFIELD, with a garden running down to the top of Trafalgar Road. For some years the house was used as the vicarage of St. John's Church, hence the street called Vicarage Grove on its site. It was built about 1829-30 by Mr. William Maury an East-Indian mercant, and originally called The Locusts. Up to 1840 it appears on maps as Locust House and after that at SPRINGFIELD. At one time it was the residence of the Rev. W.E.B. Gunn.

WITHENSFIELD HOUSE
Until Seabank Road was cut through the fileds, King Street (formally Barn Lane but now called after Ellen King, who owned the land) ended at Green Lane (now Greenwood Lane) and the first houses in Seabank Road, one of which was pulled down to widen the corner, had only fields in front. King Street was at first purely residential; with the exception of a few shops in Tobin Street the nearest shops were in Seacombe. Manor Lane was another of the private roads of the Parish guarded with large stone pillars, and it is believed at one time also gates, at the junction with Withens Lane. Withens Lane was probably given its name because it led into a field called The Withens. There is now a cul-de-sac off it called Withensfield, on the site of the old WITHENSFIELD HOUSE which for many years was a school.

ST. JOHN'S CHURCH & SPRINGFIELD HOUSE
The first vicar of St. John's Church was Sir John Tobin's son, the Rev. John Tobin, M.A. who lived in Liscard House, where Chasworth Avenue is now. There used to be an old house called SPRINGFIELDS at the corner of Rice Lane, where it meets Greenwood Lane (formally Green Lane). This was used as the Vicarage Grove is on the site. The Rev. W.E.B. Gunn was vicar at the time. The famous "Woodbine Willie" preached at St. John's after the First World War and caused much interest amongst the parisioners who discussed his powerful sermons. In 1932 came the Rev. Colin Roger Montgomery as vicar. His brother was the famouns World War Two Field Marshal.

WITHENSFIELD HOUSE
WITHENSFIELD HOUSE was at one time used as a sort of boarding school for young ladies in 1870. At a later date, the house was used as a Y.W.C.A., whre young ladies could spend a holiday. For 28 shgillings a week they were provided with a room and meals. In the twenties, the Christian Alliance for Women and Girls took over as a hostel where young women could find good lodgings.

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