Back to home page

Magical Mystery Tour ~ Page 3
 

Another shot of Jesse Hartley's Albert Dock and its warehouses.

 

The offices at HM Customs and Excise, North Queens Dock.

 

On reflection...another view of the old warehouses, now apartments.

 

Roman numerals depicting the height of water in one of the docks

 

Liverpool has one of the oldest established Chinese communities in Europe. The trade links between China and Britain via the ports of Shanghai and Liverpool were instrumental in the establishment of a Chinese community in the city. The main trading goods were silk and cotton wool, with the first vessel arriving in Liverpool direct from China in 1834.

 

In the late 1980's the Chinese Community raised the idea of a Ceremonial Archway in Chinatown, the Chinatown Business Association worked with Liverpool City Council and other partnerships to start work on the project in November 1999. The structure was imported piece by piece from Shanghai and re-built by craftsmen from China, work was completed in January 2000 in time to celebrate the Chinese New Year of the Dragon. At 15m high this archway is the largest in Europe, protecting and bringing good luck to the oldest European Chinese Community.


There's no doubt you're in China town.
 

Back at Albert Dock and a view of the Roman Catholic Cathedral - known locally as "Paddy's Wigwam".

 

This building is the third attempt by the City to establish a Roman Catholic Cathedral. The first in 1850 was designed by Pugin but only the Lady Chapel was completed before lack of funds brought work to a standstill. In 1930 Archbishop Downey purchased the present site with Sir Edwin Lutyens chosen as architect, the foundation stone being laid in June 1933. The outbreak of war interrupted the building work, by its end the costs had escalated so much that Lutyens' plans were abandoned with the exception of the Crypt which was completed in 1958. The completion of the building was due to Archbishop Heenan launching a world-wide design competition in 1960, with Frederick Gibberd's design bring chosen for the Cathedral. Building began in 1962 and in May 1967 the completed Cathedral was consecrated.
It's interesting to note that both cathedrals are at either end of "Hope Street".

 

Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral which dominates the skyline took 74 years to build. The foundation stone was laid by King Edward VII in July 1904, in October 1978 Queen Elizabeth II attended a service to mark the completion of Britain's largest cathedral. The construction had not been without difficulties, two World Wars, the Great Depression of 1929-1934, and ever spiralling costs. The Lady Chapel was dedicated in 1910, the main part of the Cathedral - the Sanctuary, Chapter House, Chancel and Eastern Transepts - were consecrated in 1924. The bells were first rung in November 1951 and the whole project completed 17 years later.
The cathedral's architect was Sir Giles Gilbert Scott (1880-1960) who at the age of 22 won a competition for its design. Scott who came from a distinguished family of architects went on to design many other churches and well known buildings, including the design of the new Waterloo Bridge, London in 1937. Scott was also responsible for the repair of bomb damage to the House of Commons and London's Guildhall. In the 1920s Scott had entered another competition which he won, and went on to design the Post Office's famous red telephone kiosk.

 

The cathedral is absolutely huge, nothing can prepare you for the height and size of the area called the Central Space. This photograph cannot do it justice, just look at the size of the people with the building towering over them and you may gain some idea.

 

In the War Memorial Chapel is a Book of Remembrance to the men and women of the Merchant Marine and Allied Navies who fought and died in the Battle of the Atlantic. Liverpool was the allied headquarters for the Battle of the Atlantic during Second World War.


Back to Travels Index                     Back to Hampshire Cam

Caption details are based on the latest available  information and are accurate to the best of my knowledge. Although the images are very heavily compressed you are welcome to use them for your own non-commercial use. If you do please credit HampshireCam or add a link  to these pages.

All Photographs copyright David Packman © 2002 - 2009 (All Rights Reserved)