Boys playing football in the street in Kirkby, while the girls are pictured are playing hopscotch.  March 18, 1965(Image: Mirrorpix)

51 photos of children playing out on Merseyside estates from 1930s to 1980s

by · Liverpool Echo

From Kirkby, to Cantril Farm and Speke these pictures show a real sense of community spirit

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It's now been decades since a strong sense of identity and community spirit was first established among those that lived in some of the city's then-new housing estates, as well as tenements which have now been gone for years. In the post-war years in particular, a number of new housing estates were built in our region and with them came new residents, schools, churches and local pubs.

This included the likes of Kirkby, Cantril Farm and Speke. When it comes to tenements, the creation of these self-contained communities started in the 1920s and was driven by a need to tackle slum housing and a provide better standard of living for working class families.

From the mid-to-late 1930s, tenements really took off in the city, with a number known as bullrings also being built, the ECHO previously reported. But by the 1980s, this type of housing began to fall out of favour, requiring renovations or being repurposed or demolished all together.

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Merseyside's estates, tenements and their surrounding areas have seen much change through the decades, but many generations will remember growing up there and what the community was like at different moments in time. These images, courtesy of our archives, Mirrorpix, offer just a glimpse into life in some of our region's estates and tenements where generations grew up.

From St Andrews Gardens and Caryl Gardens to the construction of Cantril Farm and images of in and around estates locally from slightly further afield, like Runcorn and Skelmersdale, these fascinating photos are bound to stir some memories. Our gallery is not intended to be comprehensive, but see who and what you remember in 51 photos below.

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  1. Young girl outside St Andrews Gardens housing. May 13, 1954
    1 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  2. Children playing in Eldon Grove, 1972
    2 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  3. Young revellers enjoy a bonfire at Myrtle Gardens. November 5, 1979
    3 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  4. Mrs Alma Crebbin takes her own children and a neighbour's child for a stroll in one of Kirkby's newest parks - St. Chad's Gardens. May 25, 1962.
    4 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  5. Kirkby's Westvale Estate is in carnival spirit for its first ever summer carnival. August 23, 1977
    5 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  6. The shopping centre in Bewley Drive, Kirkby. June 21, 1956
    6 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  7. Giant inflatables putting a bounce into the summer holidays for children in Kirkby. August 8, 1976
    7 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  8. A typical scene at Kirkby - boys making their way across an old tree tree trunk which straddles the Alt. June 2, 1967
    8 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  9. Children at Myrtle Gardens enjoying a damp bonfire night, Liverpool. November 5, 1979
    9 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  10. New housing estate on the Speke Road between Garston and Speke, Liverpool, with communal playing area. July 1933
    10 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  11. Cantril Farm Estate, Mab Lane, under construction. May 15, 1946
    11 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  12. The maisonettes in Roughsedge Hey, Cantril Farm. February 4, 1981
    12 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  13. Cantril Farm. August 14, 1982.
    13 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  14. Post office at Cantril Farm. February 1978
    14 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  15. A mobile consumer advice caravan in Cantril Farm. April 1977
    15 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  16. Tower Hill Estate, Kirkby. Circa 1982
    16 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  17. The first of eight subways which are being constructed on the Cantril Farm Estate, pictured near completion. December 22, 1966
    17 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  18. Childrem in Cantril Farm. June 28, 1967
    18 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  19. The large unused field which borders the north side of the Cantril Farm estate, which residents suggested could be made into a sports and games area for the children. June 28, 1967
    19 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  20. John Humphries, residents committee chairman (on the wall), with some of the tenants from Speke Estate. July 3, 1988
    20 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  21. Block of tenants flats in Speke Road Gardens. March 14, 1967
    21 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  22. Caryl Gardens, Hill Street, Liverpool. One of Liverpool's latest Corporation tenements in the south end when it was nearing completion. December 11, 1936
    22 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  23. Children playing in Kirkby. March 18, 1965
    23 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  24. Boys playing football in the street in Kirkby, while the girls are pictured are playing hopscotch. March 18, 1965
    24 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  25. People outside St Andrews Gardens housing. May 13, 1954
    25 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  26. Housing units on the Southgate Estate, Runcorn. Circa 1977
    26 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  27. Housing units on the Southgate Estate, Runcorn. Circa 1977
    27 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  28. More views of the Southgate Estate, Runcorn. Circa 1977
    28 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  29. Cantril Farm Estate, Mab Lane, under construction. October 16, 1946
    29 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  30. Cantril Farm post office. April 12, 1979
    30 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  31. Cantril Farm housing estate. Young customers pictured round a mobile shop run by Mr Myers. March 2, 1977
    31 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  1. Playing in the old derelict houses of Eldon Grove. April 20, 1972
    32 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  2. Cleared site of former Speke Gardens Housing Estate, Liverpool. June 24, 1986
    33 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  3. Speke Gardens Housing Estate being demolished. August 16, 1985
    34 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  4. Caryl Gardens Housing Estate. August 15, 1984. Demolition worker Sean Cull looks over the burnt out remains of his caravan.
    35 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  5. Residents of the Dymchurch estate in Speke, Liverpool. July 3, 1988
    36 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  6. Mother pushing a pram outside St Andrews Gardens housing. May 13, 1954
    37 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  7. Young football fans sits on top of the crossbar following the conclusion of the Eldon Grove Cup Final in Liverpool. June 24, 1964
    38 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  8. Shoppers Mrs Doreen Foster (left) and Carol Foster, out shopping with Fine Fare Supermarket behind them, in the Cantril Farm estate. January 7, 1983
    39 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  9. Teddy Boys of the Blue Suede pop group meet the Teddy Boys of the Croxdale Youth Club in Cantril Farm. Circa 1976
    40 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  10. Teddy Boys at the Cantril Farm Youth Centre. April 1977
    41 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  11. Work in progress on the new Speke housing estate, Liverpool. May 30, 1938
    42 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  12. New houses built on Bewley Drive in the town of Kirkby, part of the new estates being built in the town. October 29, 1953
    43 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  13. New houses built on Peawqood Road in Kirkby. October 29, 1953
    44 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  14. Residents of maisonettes in Fallowfield, Tower Hill, in Kirkby. January 7, 1976
    45 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  15. Celebrations for flat dwelling residents of Kirkby, Merseyside, as work begins on their new dream homes which are being built on the Southdene Housing Co-operative site in Winsham Close. July 1986.
    46 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  16. Alice Baxter on her balcony in Cantril Farm .August 1976
    47 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  17. Residents clearing snow on the Cantril Farm housing estate. Circa 1969
    48 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  18. Aerial view of Cantril Farm housing estate .Circa 1969
    49 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  19. Homes being built in Skelmersdale, West Lancashire. Circa 1964
    50 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)
  20. Private development at Skelmersdale, where first class design houses and bungalows are being built. Skelmersdale. October 5, 1963
    51 of 51(Image: Mirrorpix)