1891-2018. The facade of 118 Duke Street, Liverpool city centre. Situated in an area south of the city more recently renamed the 'ropewalks', the growth of Duke Street commenced following the opening of the old docks in 1715, resulting in a demand for premises that directly led to the customs house and the dock itself. As shipping intensified, so did the need for roperies and the gentleman pictured, Mr Roberts at number 118 supplied the demand for many decades as it passed through the family until the ports eventually died down in the late victorian era. A little known fact that I only found out through some archive digging was that the house is infact the birthplace and childhood home of Felicia Hemans, poetess and writer of 'Casabianca', but the more recent history of 118 is unclear, as it has remained derelict for the past decade, and with black faux windows it has almost faded from sight along the road. It was most likely boarded up and used as warehouse storage like many of these buildings following the post war era, however records show that the premises were sold at auction at the beginning of this year and on my most recent visit the sale signs had been taken down. Many of these Georgian townhouses have been redundant for the best part of half a century due to their protected listed status and required maintenance, and now that the regeneration of the city is finally taking shape - their time has eventually come to shine again.