The meteoric rise of Liverpool's 'place with no name'

Liverpool's Georgian Quarter, as it has become known in recent years, is one of the city's architectural gems.

Whether people call it the Georgian Quarter, Canning, Abercromby or part of Toxteth, most local residents would agree that there is something special about the area.

Filled with period terraces and stunning, unique buildings, it is a popular location for filming and for Liverpool's many tourists, keen to catch a glimpse of the historic aspects of the city.

For the people who live in the area, the transformation of "the place with no name" - as one local resident described it - into the Georgian Quarter has brought with it some changes, most welcome and others that bring new challenges to the area.

While the buildings are undoubtedly one of its central features, what really makes the place special is not just down to the stunning architecture.

We took a walk around the Georgian Quarter to discover why the people there think it is such a great spot.

'There are people here from the world over'

Chris, who has run Eatwells cafe for the past 20 years, on the border of the Georgian Quarter at the corner of Catherine Street and Myrtle Street, talks of the closeness of the universities and City of Liverpool College as a big influence as well as the fact that the area attracts people from all over the world.

He said: "It's the bohemian lifestyles and influences, the internationality of it all. There are people here from the world over - it never used to be as prevalent as it is now.

"Another big influence is the transient population - there is a creativity, talent and professionalism to the area and the creativity comes from the international influences - the same way as the Beatles got their influences from the seamen coming in.

Catherine, who stopped to talk to us on her way to work, agreed. She said: "It's a student area which makes it a hive of activity - it's a campus hub around here."

One of Chris' customers, Hateem, said: "It's the culture - there's everyone here - white, Chinese, Arab, Muslim."

In the Blackburne Pub on Catharine Street, one of the main streets in the area, Stephen and Erin behind the bar say the charm of the area is definitely about more than the buildings.

Stephen said: "It's the people, and it's a lovely supportive neighbourhood." Erin agreed: "It's the people, and of course I'd say this pub too."

Student Brian from St Helens said: "Me and my wife come here all the time. It's nice and there's some great food in the area - I like the way it looks - it's unique round here, it's not modern like the centre but it's not rough either."

'For me, architecture is just the best form of art'

Local resident Kate Diadiani-Taylor, who has lived in the area for20 years said: "Every day I walk along these streets and I am very happy I live in this area. For me architecture is just the best form of art.

"You can see all the wealth and grandeur. It's just so beautiful and there's lots of filming round here, which is very surreal sometimes with the projectors out in the street.

"It's just a great area and it's nice that the council has preserved the lamp posts, the pavements and around the corner they recently restored the cobbles which I believe is a good investment.

"Everything talks to you around here about the past, present and future."

In the recently opened Papillion bar on the corner of Hope Street and Falkner Street, member of staff Alicia said: "Some describe it as a knowledge quarter of Liverpool because of the universities.

"People love Hope Street between the two cathedrals - it gives you the warm and fuzzies.

"It's very creative here - we get a lot of artists and musicians coming in here, it's very eclectic."

"It used to be the village of the damned"

Outside the Quarter on Falkner Street, Steph and Bernie Carroll, and fellow local resident Yusuf, had plenty to say about the area they love.

Yusuf said: "It's a village and every knows one another around here. It's the Bermuda triangle of information.

"It's very friendly. People will talk to you around here and will help you if they need it.

"It used to be the village of the damned."

Artist Bernie, who describes himself as "the most opinionated person in Liverpool" said: "Now it's the village of the undamned."

John Rolfe, who has lived in the area since 1970, said he has seen a lot of changes.

"I've lived all round the area. I've seen lots of changes over the years, not necessarily for the better. Gentrification is a big factor.

"We still have crime, but nobody seems to want to talk about it now. There's a lot of car crime and not much gets done.

"It can be chaotic at night - there are too many students around here now - many are only here for three years and aren't invested in the area.

"It's still a great place to live."

Rachel and Callum, who were out walking their dog, talked about the beauty of the surroundings and the local amenities.

Callum said: "It's the Georgian houses and style of the lampposts. You feel like you're close enough to the city but not too close. It's the cobbled streets and the food round here. We love it."

Andy Turner said: "We are in the place with no name. I sometimes think of it as Canning or Abercromby. The Georgian Quarter, it sounds a bit poncey doesn't it? It's artificial - like let's make it into this thing - but you can't create these things - it's organic and happens by itself.

"What's special about here is hard to say, I've lived here 15 years - it's the people, the culture.

"People are friendly here, but then they are all over Liverpool. I'm very lucky to live here.

"There are nice little shops and pubs, which you don't have everywhere."

Martin and Jay work in the area. Jay said: "We were just talking about how nice it is - the mix of architecture and people.

Martin said: "We've just walked from Granby to here. You wouldn't think the two places were just five minutes away from each other."

Yusuf, who works in Hope Street News, said: "The buildings make people creative. People come to take photographs of the cathedral, and artists are around the area too."

"It's funny to think 100 years ago and earlier these weren't flats round here. They were houses and people used to leave their doors open. The poor people must have lived elsewhere.

James, who has lived in the area for decades said, "It's a kind of urban relic by accident or design which survived the mass cull of period properties - it's very different from the city centre and has thankfully retained its life and character. People are very creative around here."