Liverpool boasts no fewer
than 1,500 listed buildings, a veritable feast for those interested
in architecture.
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Without doubt the most characteristic
image of Liverpool, the Royal Liver Building was completed in 1911
having taken three years to build. Designed by W. Aubrey Thomas the
building supports two sculptural domed clock towers surmounted by
the mythical Liver Birds. The clocks are 2 foot wider in diameter
than that of Big Ben.
click here
to view the panoramic image (left) |
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The origin of the 'Liver' Bird is obscure, however, the most
likely explanation suggests that the ancient corporation seal of
the town bore the representation of a bird with a twig in it's beak,
thought to be the eagle of St. John the devine carrying a broom-sprig.
The bird, whatever it's origin is most definitely a seabird, perhaps
a cormorant. It's beak therefore, is probably holding laver (or
seaweed). When the grant of a new Coat of Arms was made in 1797,
it was the cormorant that was chosen.
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| To the right of the Liver Buildings stands
the Cunard Building. Designed by Willink and Thicknesse and constructed
between 1914 and 1918, during the First World War. It is built in
the style of an Italian palazzo with Greek revival details. |
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| The Offices of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board were
designed by Arnold Thornley and completed in 1907 at a cost of £250,000.
The dome from this magnificent structure is thought to have been inspired
by a Professor Reilly design for the Anglican Cathedral in 1902. Originally,
an identical building was to be built on the site of the Liver Building
to provide symmetry to the waterfront. |
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Giles Gilbert Scott, then only 23- won a competition
to design what turned out to be the largest Anglican church in the
world. Only the Cathedrals of Seville, Milan and St Peter's in Rome
are larger. Generations of families took part in the construction,
started in 1904 and completed in 1978. Scott was knighted after the
consecration ceremony in 1924. Scott died in 1960 and was never to
see the final result of his cathedral designed to last 'a thousand
years'. The great tower rises to a height of 331 feet and offers breathtaking
views of the City. |
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| click here
to visit the official Anglican Cathedral website |
click here
to view the panoramic image |
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Hope Street links the
Anglican Cathedral to the Metropolitan Cathedral which stands on
the site of what was the largest workhouse in England. Had it not
been for World War II, the site would have become the location of
the second largest cathedral in the world. The project was simply
too big to realistically complete and had to be reduced. Sir Frederick
Gibberd's design was eventually chosen and building began in October
1962. The completed Cathedral was consecrated on 14 May 1967.
click here
to visit the official Metropolitan Cathedral website |
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Despite being bombed heavily in 1940, St
Nicholas's Church was repaired because it was such a prominent feature
of the Mersey waterfront. Known also as the "Sailor's Church",
St Nicholas being the patron saint of Sailors. The building, now sadly
swamped with modern buildings, has been rebuilt several times. It
is suggested that it was originally built in 1360. St Nicholas church
was gutted by fire on the 21 December 1940 during the Blitz of Liverpool.
Only the tower, adjoining vestries, and the offices survived. The
building of the new church began in March 1949. It was consecrated
on 18 October 1952. |
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St Lukes Church stands at the top of Bold
Street. Built in 1831 it is a familiar landmark, and often used as
a meeting point. Another casualty of the war, only it's outer wall
and tower remain standing. The building was left as a memorial to
the casualties of the blitz.
The Church is one of many buildings to be illuminated as part of the
£1.2m City of Light project which is being run by Liverpool
City Council and Liverpool Vision and will eventually see 30 buildings
bathed in light by 2006. Prominent landmarks already lit up include
the Port of Liverpool Building, the Town Hall and the Walker Art Gallery.
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London and North Western Hotel,
now John Moores University student accomodation. The North Western
Hotel Opened in 1871, the building was originally a seven floor station
hotel.
The Empire theatre was originally opened as the New Prince Of Wales
and Italian Opera House in 1866. It's name changed to the Royal Alexander
Theatre and Opera House in 1867. It was then renamed the Empire in
1895 but demolished in 1923. Reopening two years later it has since
played host to hundreds of famous acts and shows. In July 1977 Moss
Empires reviewed plans to dispose of the theatre after making a loss
over the previous five years, however, Merseyside County Council saved
the theatre in 1979. Over £700,000 was spent on the back stage
with new lighting facilities, sound systems and dressing rooms. A
second phrase included the stage and orchestra pit being extended.
Today improvements are still being made to the theatre by its present
owners Clear Channel Entertainment. |
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| The Bluecoat School Building was completed in 1725.
The school itself was moved to it's current premises in Wavertree
and the complex is now known as Bluecoat Chambers. The building was
heavily damaged during the blitz, but has since been carefully restored.
A plaque above the entrance reads, 'Struck down from the sky by the
firebrands of the enemy and partly destroyed on the 4th May, 1941,
restored with dutiful affection in the year of 1951' The building
is striking similiar to Croxteth Hall, built 11 years earlier. |
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| The Liverpool Museum was officially opened
in 1860 by its wealthy benefactor, William Brown. It is the first
building in the street named after William Brown. The Museum, the
largest in Merseyside is currently undergoing major reconstruction
and many new features including a six-storey glass-topped central
atrium are promised. |
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| In the early 1870's it was decided that a new purpose
built gallery was required for the city's increasing collection of
art. Lord Mayor, A B Walker decided to finance the building and the
Walker Art Gallery was opened in 1877. The building was designed by
Cornelius Sherlock and H H Vale. The two marble statues at the entrance
to the building are of Renaissance artists, Raphael and Michaelangelo. |
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click here
to visit the Liverpool Museums website |
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Liverpool's third Town Hall was designed
by John Wood and building was completed in 1754. The interior was
destroyed by fire in 1975 and had to be restored. In 1802 the figure
of Minerva, the Godess of Wisdom, was mounted on the newly constructed
dome. Animal sculptures surrounding the building represent the countries
Liverpool has traded with. The building together with it's magnificent
council chamber and ballroom underwent careful restoration in 1993
and took two years to complete. |
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Built in 1854 on the
site of the first Liverpool Infirmary, St Georges Hall has been
described as the finest Greco-Roman building in Erurope. The Grade
I listed building boasts a Great Hall with a Minton tiled floor,
a Willis Organ and vaulted ceiling. The building combines spatial
Roman engineering with intricate Greek detail. Outside, the plateau
of St Georges Hall is used on Rememberance Sunday for the laying
of wreaths at the Cenotaph.
Located at the rear of St Georges Hall are St John's Gardens where
St John's Church and churchyard once stood. The cemetary containing
approximately 27,000 bodies was closed in 1854. The garden was laid
out to improve the appearance of the area and now contains a various
Victorian and Edwarian sculptures. It is rumoured that the gardens
were to form an impressive frontage to St Georges Hall and that
the Hall was actually built the wrong way round.
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