• Sun. Nov 17th, 2024

Spotted UK

Local News Reports

47 brilliant moments from Liverpool’s Christmas past

BySpotted UK

Dec 6, 2023

47 brilliant moments from Liverpool's Christmas past

From how we shopped to festive celebrations

Christmas shoppers browse for the ideal present in revamped City Centre, Liverpool. December 3, 1984
Christmas shoppers browse for the ideal present in revamped City Centre, Liverpool. December 3, 1984

With Christmas fast approaching, many across Merseyside and beyond will be reminiscing about how things used to be in years gone by.

From how we shopped to festive celebrations, many traditions still exist today, whereas others have now been confined to the history books. As we head further into December, we've looked through our vast collection of images to find photos of Christmasses in the city through the decades.

A real trip back in time, these images are courtesy of our archives Mirrorpix and capture everything from city centre streets to familiar faces, local businesses and more. In the 1950s, you can see a teddy boy dressed as Father Christmas handing out presents at Picton Hall.

READ MORE: Old photos capture moments on Lark Lane in the 1980s and 90s

READ MORE: Try Liverpool Echo Premium for 99p with no ads, fun puzzles and brilliant new features

Staff stock up the new Woolworths Store on London Road ahead of Christmas in the 1960s and by the 1970s, you can spot Ken Dodd driving through Liverpool in a 1911 Renault to turn on the Christmas lights. Late night shoppers are captured on film in the 1980s and in the 1990s, one photograph shows inside the famous Lewis's store.

Here, we take a look back at 47 moments captured on camera from Liverpool's Christmas past. You can see our full gallery below.

Join the Liverpool ECHO's memories and history WhatsApp community

Do these awaken any memories for you? Let us know in the comments section below.

Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here

  1. Liverpool's city lighting engineers start putting up decorations, Church Street, Liverpool. October 29, 1976

    Liverpool's city lighting engineers start putting up decorations, Church Street, Liverpool. October 29, 1976

    1 of 47

  2. Staff stock up new Woolworth's Store, London Road, Liverpool. November 14, 1962

    Staff stock up new Woolworth's Store, London Road, Liverpool. November 14, 1962

    2 of 47

  3. Christmas shoppers browse for the ideal present in revamped City Centre, Liverpool. December 3, 1984

    Christmas shoppers browse for the ideal present in revamped City Centre, Liverpool. December 3, 1984

    3 of 47

  4. Late night shoppers, Liverpool City Centre. December 15, 1988

    4 of 47

  5. Christmas Shoppers at Lewis Department Store, Liverpool. December 2, 1966

    5 of 47

  6. Ten Liverpool schools come together for a carol concert in Clayton Square, Liverpool. They were accompanied by the Liverpool Passenger Transport Band. The singers were conducted by Mr Glyn Smith deputy headmaster of Windsor Street Junior School December 22, 1962

    6 of 47

  7. Wonderment in her eyes a young visitor as she gazes up at Santa Claus in Lewis's Liverpool Store. November 20, 1963

    7 of 47

  8. An early start to Christmas for Clare Bartlem, aged three, and her six years old brother, Gerald, from Chester, as they receive presents from Father Christmas at the St Francis Christmas bazaar. October 30, 1965

    8 of 47

  9. Christmas shopping as shimmering Stars hang over Lord Street near the corner of Whitechapel and golden Christmas cracker suspended from lamp standards. December 12, 1962

    9 of 47

  10. A Teddy Boy dressed as Father Christmas hands out presents at the Christians Rendezous held at the Picton Hall Liverpool. December 1954

    10 of 47

  11. Fairyland in Liverpool…. This was the scene as the snow fell on Liverpool and the city's Christmas tree and Santa's grotto. December 20, 1955

    11 of 47

  12. Christmas Lights, Bold Street, Liverpool. November 22, 1962

    12 of 47

  13. Parents and children queue to see Santa in his grotto at Blackers store in Liverpool. November 25, 1986

    13 of 47

  14. Father Christmas accompanied by Snow White and the seven dwarfs, a pantomime horse, Aladdin, and other colourful pantomime characters, seen here ready to leave the Albert Dock. Santa made his way through the city to take up residence in his grotto at Lewis's department store. November 9, 1991

    14 of 47

  15. Christmas Tree with The Beatles statue, in background, The Cavern Mecca, Liverpool. November 24, 1986

    15 of 47

  16. The wonder of Christmas…two year old Chloe only has eyes for the colourful display of lights switched on in Liverpool's, Church Street. Chloe was out with mum Mrs Vanda McDonough of Childwall for some late night shopping. November 22, 1991

    16 of 47

  17. Ken Dodd driving through Liverpool in a 1911 Renault, to turn on the Christmas lights. November 27, 1970

    17 of 47

  1. Christmas comes early to Liverpool. The joy of Christmas in the face of 6 year old Paula Clee of Toxteth. As she looks at the Church Street lights with Ken Dodd after he had switched on the Christmas Spectacular. November 28, 1969

    18 of 47

  2. Christmas Shoppers, Church Street, Liverpool. December 12, 1976

    19 of 47

  3. Christmas Shoppers, Liverpool. December 12, 1959

    20 of 47

  4. Picture shows inside Blacklers Department Store, on the corner of Elliot Street and Great Charlotte Street, Liverpool City Centre. December 11, 1987

    21 of 47

  5. Christmas Shopping Trip, November 25, 1986. Young girls examine Gabby Bear Dolls

    22 of 47

  6. Liverpool players Left to right: Phil Neal, Emlyn Hughes and David Johnson celebrate with children at a Christmas Party in Liverpool.December 23, 1976

    23 of 47

  7. Christmas lights in St John's Gardens, Liverpool. December 1960

    24 of 47

  8. The Joystrings, a beat group formed in the Salvation Army, playing on the chancel steps during the Christmas service for you people in Liverpool Cathedral..December 18, 1966

    25 of 47

  9. Queue at Cavern Walks which began on Christmas Eve. December 27, 1985

    26 of 47

  10. Three children only have eyes for the colourful display of Christmas lights in Church Street, Liverpool City Centre. November 19, 1993

    27 of 47

  1. Shop in Liverpool, Merseyside. With Christmas not so far away, many of the counters are laid out with decorations and toys. November 14, 1962

    28 of 47

  2. The scene in Ranelagh Street, Liverpool, Merseyside. Picture taken at 9am and already cars are parked and shoppers crowd the pavement. December 5, 1987

    29 of 47

  3. The Christmas card scene in Clayton Square, Liverpool after yesterday's snowfall. December 31, 1962

    30 of 47

  4. Sunday shoppers, Christmas shopping scenes in Liverpool. December 15, 1991

    31 of 47

  5. Sunday shoppers, Christmas shopping scenes in Liverpool. December 15, 1991

    32 of 47

  6. Christmas shopping scenes in Liverpool. December 23, 1991

    33 of 47

  7. Christmas shopping scenes in Church Street, Liverpool. December 19, 1991

    34 of 47

  8. Crowds gathered in central Liverpool for the switching on of the Christmas lights. November 18, 1994

    35 of 47

  9. The giant Father Christmas who used to visit Blacklers store in Liverpool has turned up a t a new haunt this year, the Royal Albert dock, where he is helping to raise funds for the Marie Curie Sunnybrook House in Woolton, Liverpool. December 1, 1988

    36 of 47

  10. Grandad George Proctor who's his five year old grand-daughter Siobhan the city's Christmas lights being officially being switched on in Church Street, Liverpool City Centre. November 23, 1990

    37 of 47

  1. The Santa Special arrives at Liverpool Central railway station.November 26, 1987

    38 of 47

  2. Picture shows the pupils of Blessed Sacrament Junior School, performing carols in Church Street, Liverpool. December 18, 1993

    39 of 47

  3. Father Christmas, (man in his outfit) finishes his work for the year, and is pictured walking through Lewis's store in Liverpool. December 30, 1996

    40 of 47

  4. Stars of the Liverpool set soap opera Brookside left to right: Jenny Hesketh, Jason Hope, Sunetra Sarker and Danny McCall turn on the Christmas lights in Liverpool city centre. November 23, 1989

    41 of 47

  5. Lewis's department store getting ready for Christmas. Liverpool, Merseyside. Pictured, a man surrounded by soft toys. October 18,1990

    42 of 47

  6. Lewis's department store getting ready for Christmas. Liverpool, Merseyside. Pictured, a woman decorating Christmas trees. October 18, 1990

    43 of 47

  7. St Johns shopping centre, showing Christmas decorations. November 19, 1996

    44 of 47

  8. St Johns shopping centre, showing Christmas decorations. November 19, 1996

    45 of 47

  9. Buzz Lightyear toys at the Disney Store on Christmas Eve, Liverpool. December 24, 1996

    46 of 47

  10. Buzz Lightyear toy queues on Christmas Eve, Liverpool. December 24, 1996

    47 of 47