William McKenzie’s Tomb

A pyramidal grave. How could you not make a ghost story about it?
William McKenzie’s tomb is a fine example of history that never fails to catch your eye. Its a curious hunk of mystery sitting amidst weeds and dereliction on Rodney Street. According to legend (ie– it’s bullshit), infamous gambler McKenzie sold his soul to the Devil in exchange for a poker win. On becoming ill, he feared he might have made a rash decision and so requested that upon his demise, instead of being buried, he be entombed sat at a table holding his winning cards.
Now of course I don’t believe in ghosts but the temptation to smash open this tomb to see if he really is sat there can be almost overwhelming.
I also love how rubbish the Devil is in these kinds of stories. Gone is the calculating and ambitious Supreme Lord of Darkness and instead we have a sneaky trickster getting caught out by an unwritten technicality, in this case the wording of the deal. McKenzie only agreed his soul would be Lucifer’s upon ‘his burial’.
In the story, he wasn’t actually buried. Ergo, no soul for you Satan. Tee hee!

Strangely, William McKenzies Tomb can represent everything you wish to find about Liverpool. It is an eccentric and flamboyantly designed tomb going against the grain of convention that holds a macabre presence on Rodney Street with many great stories surrounding it. Now surrounded by weeds and construction sights it does not have the dignified surroundings that it deserves but through local interest and the love of a good yarn it has begun to once again attract interest largely due to the larger than life character that inhabits it.
Shabby and rough around the edges, you can’t help but stop and look when walking past and find yourself being drawn in by its odd charm.

This is a great little spot to visit if you’re passing through Liverpool as a tourist or traveller. The story behind this pyramid type tomb is that of William McKenzie.
Over a hundred years ago, McKenzie was a wealthy business man who resided in Liverpool and was well known for treating his staff terribly and gambling compulsively.
Legend has it that McKenzie played poker down to his last penny with a hooded character one night, deciding at that point, to gamble his soul.
He then turned cards and had lost his soul to his mysterious opponent. Due to this he requested that upon his death, he be entombed above ground, his corpse sitting at a card table, a winning hand of poker in his hand!
He believed that being buried this way would save his soul from being stolen for eternity.
That’s how he sits within the pyramid tomb on Rodney Street, and his ghost is said to stalk the streets late at night!