James Philip Reynolds was born on 17th February
1865, the son of a cotton broker. Census records show his place of birth as
Wallasey, but the family’s home at the time of his birth was Hillside House, in
Acrefield Road, Woolton L25. This was an
era when the cotton trade could bring rich rewards and James Reynolds was to
accumulate considerable wealth from the business
which had been founded by his grandfather.
After his marriage to his Dublin born wife Elizabeth Roskell, known as Leila, the couple
lived at Elm House in Halewood Road, and Fernlea in Quarry Street, Woolton,
before buying the Dove Park estate in Woolton in 1907. Following a serious fire
in 1921 the Dove Park mansion remained empty for some years and in 1929 the
estate was bequeathed to the city to become the Reynolds Park we know today.
James Reynolds had a variety of other homes including the prestigious Levens
Hall in Cumbria, and Llanerchydol Hall in Powys. After the fire in Dove Park
his Liverpool home was at 12 Abercromby Square L7, the only one of his residences still standing. James and Leila Reynolds had eleven children.
Like many wealthy Liverpool families of the time Reynolds
was noted for his philanthropic works and his was probably the most prominent
Roman Catholic family in the city. In his autobiography the architect Charles
Reilly recalled his friendship with the Reynolds, begun when “the young and
beautiful wife of Sir James Reynolds” attended his first public lecture. Reilly
described ‘Jimmy’ Reynolds as “healthy, prosperous and golf-playing” and
apparently less than enthusiastic about the intellectual guests his wife
entertained, whom he referred to as her ‘corpses’. Amongst these corpses were
the poet Lascelles Abercrombie, Professor of English Literature Oliver
Elton, and the Irish Linguist John Sampson. Reilly designed the Yew Garden and
outdoor dining area at Dove Park.
Despite being over-age, as a Territorial officer, he chose
to serve in France during the First World War and as commander of the West
Lancashire Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, received the Distinguished
Service Order.
After his retirement from the family business, he turned his
hand to politics and was elected as the Conservative M.P, for Liverpool
Exchange in 1929. He was re-elected in 1931 but died in office a year later. He
was buried in St. Mary’s churchyard in Woolton.
Reynolds was knighted in 1920 and made a Baronet in 1923.
The title being hereditary, the 4th Baronet (his great-grandson),
James Francis Reynolds (b.1971), is a British record producer, mix engineer and
musician who has mixed, produced and written songs for such artistes as Paloma
Faith, Snoop Dogg, Gorillaz and Calvin Harris.
Another musical link to the Reynolds family is via the
Liverpool band the Wombats. They recorded a song called Reynolds Park,
harking back to lead singer Matthew Murphy’s youthful excursions into this
bucolic oasis in the midst of Liverpool’s suburbia
