As one of the UK’s most historic cities, Liverpool offers a huge variety of interesting older buildings visitors can enjoy. Many of these buildings have fascinating stories that we can discover by taking a look around them and seeing how they’ve changed over the years.
Speke Hall
Dating from the 16th century, this stunning Tudor mansion is one of the finest historic buildings in the country. It was owned by the Norris family for more than two centuries, before changing hands to the Watt family and then going into a trust. The National Trust finally took over its running in 1986 and it is now open for the public to visit.
Among the attractions, visitors can enjoy the amazing gardens and woodland surrounding Speke Hall. It’s closed Mondays and Tuesdays but open the rest of the week, from 12.30pm to 5pm. Inside, you can discover details such as the Priest Hole where local priests hid, and a collection of more than 200 pieces of wonderfully carved oak furniture. It’s worth remembering that Liverpool also has a number of historic properties used as family homes, such as Tue Brook House, which is thought to be the city’s oldest surviving house.
These properties add character to Liverpool and the owners go to great lengths to preserve them. Essential maintenance tasks such as sealing the windows and fixing broken window frames are made easier thanks to modern materials such as flexible sealants, but making sure that the appearance of the property remains unchanged can make other repairs expensive and time-consuming.
Toxteth Unitarian Chapel
With a history that stretches back to 1611, this chapel on Park Road used to go by the name of The Ancient Chapel of Toxteth. It was built over a period of seven years by a group of Puritan farmers and was then extended to allow more worshippers to enter. After a period where it fell into disuse, the chapel was modernised and enlarged in the mid-19th century.
Toxteth Unitarian Chapel is a Grade I listed building and it can be visited during services or on Heritage Open Days. Some of the highlights include the box pews and galleries, while the exterior contains a graveyard where graves dating back to the start of the 18th century can be seen.
Bluecoat Chambers
Building of this charity school began in 1717, but Bluecoat Chambers was extended shortly after construction began so that it could be used as a boarding school, with space for over 150 students. It was close to being demolished in the 1920s but a local campaign saved it from this fate and led to the Bluecoat Society of Arts being formed.
The building suffered damage during WWII but it was restored in the 1950s and then received Grade I listed status. Known as the Bluecoat Display Centre and the Bluecoat Arts Centre in different periods, it’s now the oldest building remaining in the centre of the city and arguably the UK’s oldest arts centre. It’s currently operating as a home to exhibitions, events and concerts, which are often among the fascinating events running in Liverpool.
Liverpool Town Hall
One of the best surviving examples of an 18th century town hall, this building was constructed in the 1750s and has witnessed many historic moments over the years since then. It’s been improved since it was initially built and part of it had to be restored following WWII. Its central location makes it a part of Liverpool that almost all visitors see, but not everyone realises that there’s more than one way to see inside.
While it’s currently used by Liverpool City Council for their meetings, Liverpool Town Hall can be hired for weddings as well as other events. For example, you can join a guided tour or attend one of the regular Tea Dances offered by Ballroom Blitz, held in the Town Hall’s wonderful ballroom.
These are just a few of the eye-catching historic buildings you can find in Liverpool. Others include the likes of the iconic St George’s Hall, the Royal Liver Building and Woolton Hall, all of which help to add a sense of history and grandeur to the city.
