All this began during a conversation with a Liverpool supporter at Hepworth Utd football this morning.
You will recognised the SS Great Eastern, the first great iron ship, built at the Millwall Iron Works on the Thames, designed by the great Isambard Kingdom Brunel in 1858. This great ship was 692 feet long and had space for 4,000 passengers. It sailed from Britain to Australia without refuelling. It originally had 5 funnels and paddle wheels. Before being beached and scrapped at Rock Ferry and New Ferry, on the Mersey, the ship was a cable layer and floating amusement park! It was eventually sold at auction in 1888 for £16,000 and scrapped in 1888-9.
If you know Anfield and look really carefully you will notice the "top section" of the mast either the 2nd or 3rd flag pole (sorry research so far unsure) from the right (bow).
The pole sports the flag of the famous Liver Bird, LFC's emblem and it is sited at a well known supporters' meeting place, on the corner of Walton Breck Road and Kemlyn Rd. This is where the Spion Kop (I hope you know the origins of this stand's history??) and Kenny Dalglish Stand meet.
I have read there is a claim that this flag pole has different origins, from the Royal Yacht Alexandra, so I shall leave that to you to sort out.
The residents of Anfield, where the Liverpool FC ground is sited and which was originally shared with Everton FC, paid for and erected the flag pole before they left Anfield for Goodison.
They purchased the mast when the great boat was being broken up and the mast was floated up the Everton Valley in 1892 and transported to Anfield by a variety of complicated roads and vehicles.
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