July 2017
The Visit
Explored this hidden gem with @stranton and @coolboyslim, another one from my list of forgot to post threads (possibly because of its short lived time on the tourbus). During our Merseyside expedition, we decided to pay a visit to this place and ended up spending a delightful hour exploring its wonders. Despite being abandoned since the 90s, the building has managed to retain its charm. The once lively spaces, now empty and covered in a thick layer of dust, still exude a sense of grandeur. Surprisingly, there were no broken windows or graffiti, and considering its proximity to the city center, I was astounded by its remarkable condition.
The History
This magnificent neo-classical structure, designed by the talented architect Edmund Aikin, was constructed around 1815-16 as a subscription assembly room for the esteemed Wellington Club. It served as a gathering place for the elite, hosting elegant assemblies, dance balls, and extravagant parties until the Wellington Club disbanded in 1922.
In 1923, the building underwent a transformation and became the Embassy Club, where it was utilized for delightful tea dances, educational classes, and joyous wedding celebrations until its closure in 1940. During World War II, the building took on a new purpose as the Rodney Youth Centre, but unfortunately, bomb damage in 1941 resulted in the destruction of all the original ceilings, except for the magnificent ballroom.On the 1st of February 1965, the building was officially reopened as the Liverpool Irish Centre, becoming a vibrant hub for ceilis, music, dramatic performances, and a gathering place for local clubs and societies. However, in the 1990s, the Irish Centre relocated to a different location within the city, leaving this historic building vacant and longing for a new purpose.
In 1999, the building was recognized as a national Heritage at Risk and has since become a prominent symbol in the Liverpool Echo's Stop the Rot campaign. Tragically, the building suffers from dry rot, dampness, and the loss of plaster from its walls and ceilings, worsened by repeated theft of lead from the roof. In 2016, plans were unveiled to transform the building into a Science and Technology Hub as part of the Knowledge Quarter initiative proposed by the Liverpool City Council. Emergency repairs were subsequently approved in November 2016, with the intention of commencing the work in February 2017. A total of £121,000 was allocated for repairing the roof and walls, with equal contributions from the City Council and Historic England.
However, in October 2017, the Liverpool Echo reported that the restoration work tender had been delayed and was anticipated to be awarded that month. Finally, in February 2018, an additional £100,000 was allocated for emergency repairs, along with a comprehensive roof survey to ensure the building becomes watertight, enabling future restoration work to take place. A public consultation was launched in March 2018 to hear suggestions from local people for future uses for the building with no solid plan appearing as a result of this. As of early 2023, there are no active plans in place for the building and Liverpool City Council are still looking for ways to bring it back into use.
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Cheers for looking
Canon EOS 70D, 10-18mm EFS
