Last Updated : 30 Aug 2009
Buildings
Adelphi Hotel
Bibby's Oil Mill
Cunard Building
India Building
Lewis's Store
North Western Hotel
Royal Liver Building
Tower Building
Contact
![Liverpool waterfront from the air showing at the Pier Head (in the bottom right-hand corner), the Liver Building with it's twin towers and the Cunard Building [Photo: Ron P Smith]](photos/070223c92.jpg)
Liverpool has some superb buildings which amazingly were generally unappreciated until only in the last few years. Many interesting building have now been destroyed through a combination of the second world war and neglect. However, there is still more than enough historic buildings to enable Liverpool to be nominated as a world heritage site. In the early 21st century Liverpool is now seeing investment and as a result a number of new buildings have recently been completed or are under construction including the 459 feet high West Tower. Following are examples of some of the well established buildings existing downtown.
Adelphi Bank The building which is situated on Castle Street at Brunswick Street was designed by W.D.Caroe and completed 1892.
Adelphi Hotel The first hotel building on the site was opened in 1826. In 1912, the present hotel was built. It's "Sefton Suite" is a replica of the First Class Smoking Lounge of White Star's "Titanic".
Albany Building Built in 1856 for a wealthy banker, Richard Naylor and situated in Old Hall Street. It was originally used as a meeting place for Cotton Brokers. the architect was J K Colling who went on to design the National Portrait Gallery in London's Trafalgar Square.
Albion House Is the former headquarters of shipping company "White Star" and when built in 1898 for White Star owner, Thomas Ismay it was one of England's biggest buildings.
Anglican Cathedral The cathedral replaced St.Peters in Church Street. It was decided to build the cathedral in 1901, the foundation stone was laid in 1904 and it was consecrated in 1924. In 1942 the tower was completed but the entire building was not completed until much later. On the 25th October 1978 there was a "completion thanksgiving service" attended by Queen Elizabeth. The result is what some people consider to be the largest cathedral in the world while others say second or fifth largest. In any case, it's twice as big as London's "Saint Pauls Cathedral" and with a 331 foot high tower and 619 feet in length is also bigger than New York's "Saint John The Devine".
Bluecoat Chambers This Queen Anne style building was started in 1716 and completed in 1725.
Cunard Building The building was completed in 1916 as the offices of the Cunard Shipping Company. In 1969, the building was bought from Cunard by Prudential for 2,750,000 pounds.
Florence Institute The building is at Wellington Road and Mill Street and was built in the memory of Florence Hall, daughter of Sir Bernard Hall after she died young. It was officially opened as a boys club in 1890.
India Building The present building was completed 1931 for the Blue Funnel Line. The massive building occupies a whole block from Brunswick Street to Water Street.
Lewis's Department Store The present store was built after World War 2, it's predecessor being a victim of the Nazi's. The famous "Liverpool Resurgent" statue (1956) by Sir Jacob Epstein and unofficially known as "Dickie Lewis" is located above the main entrance.
Metropolitan Cathedral The first design by Edward W Pugin was commissioned in 1853. In 1930, the diocese purchased the site of "The "Poor-House". The fourth and final design followed a competition won by Sir Frederick Gibberd. The building was started in 1962 and completed in less than 5 years in 1967.
Port of Liverpool Building The building was completed in 1907 as the Mersey Docks & Harbour Board offices. It was designed by Briggs, Wolstenhome and Thornley following an achitectural competition held in 1901.
Royal Liver Building Designed by Aubrey Thomas and probably the most recognizable building in Liverpool, it was completed in 1911 as the head office of the Royal Liver Friendly Society. It was one of the first multi-story concrete framed buildings in Britain. The two Liver Birds on the top of the building are each 18 feet hight.
Saint Georges Hall The hall was completed in 1854 as a new music hall for the city. The foundation stone was laid by Mayor William Rathbone. The architect was Harvey Lonsdale Elmes who had won a competition for it's design in 1836.
Tower Building The building is built on the site of the Tower of Liverpool which was demolished in 1819. The present building was completed in 1908 and replaced a large office block of the same name built in 1856 by J.A.Picton.
Trials Hotel The building is situated in Castle Street and was completed in 1868 as the Alliance Bank building. It was designed by Lucy and Littler.