From Picture of Liverpool: Starngers Guide written in 1834
Toxteth Park forms the southern boundary to Liverpool, and was a Royal forest until the second year of the reign of James Ist, when it was conferred with a grant of the crown on two citizens of London, Ralph Willey, merchant tailor, and Thomas Dodd grocer, who on the 6th March 1605 bestowed it on Richard Molyneux, an ancestor of the present Earl of Sefton. This mode of conveyance is supposed to have then been adopted in consequnce of the grantee being a Catholic
Toxteth Park is cited in the Doomsday Book as being one virgate of land and half a carracute, then valued at four shillings, and held by Stainulf.
In 1346 it was let to the Molyneux family for £17 per annum. And subsequently, in the year 1593 Queen Elizabeth conferred this park on Henry Earl of Derby, and his heirs male: but it afterwards reverted to the crown , in consequence, it is supposed of a filaure of such heirs.
The old chapelwhich has long been in the possession of the Presbyterians, is metnioned in a survey made by order of the parliament during the Commonwealth: and a Mr Huggin an episcopal minister is stated to have been the incumbent at that time, and that he received the tithes of the park, which were then valued at £45 per annum, besides £10 per year which were allowed him by the rector of Walton
In the year 1815 a church was erected here in the Gothic style of architecture and was dedicated to St Michael. It stands in a delightful situation, and is a pleasing and picturesque object, being seen to advantage from different places on the Cheshire coast as well as from various parts of the river
This district but particularly that part of it called Harrington is now become very populous. Many new buildings have lately been erected and the population according to the last census in 1831 was 24, 067
For more information on Toxteth Park
visit Paul Christian's excellent website Toxteth.net