Liverpool in Architectural Details

[Awayo]

A Liverpolitan gentleman dines at the Phil, Martin, not stays.

[Gutterfighter]

I had a rubber Yorkshire pudding upstairs in the Phil once

[Martin S]

Originally Posted by Gutterfighter

I had a rubber Yorkshire pudding upstairs in the Phil once

[the golden vision]

The former Lister Drive Baths,built in 1904 to a design by Thomas Shelmerdine. The building is now a pet shop but the interior has survived, if needing a little restoration. The tile designs on the arcades were done by the famous Arts and Crafts architect/designer, Charles Voysey.





The old first class pool with its viewing balconies.





The arcade piers with their tile designs by Charles Voysey.

[openlyJane]

Gosh, I remember those baths well; along with those at Norris Green & Dovecot - and, occasionally, Huyton Leisure centre.

[the golden vision]

Originally Posted by openlyJane

Gosh, I remember those baths well; along with those at Norris Green & Dovecot - and, occasionally, Huyton Leisure centre.

Great. You'll have to visit, it's retained all of its original features. I felt a bit guilty not buying anything, it's a family business and if it wasn't in use it would quickly deteriorate. You will be aware just down the road on the corner of Green Lane, is the library, another Thomas Shelmerdine building(what an asset to the city he was) derelict, hopefully this can be brought back into use sooner rather than later.

The library

[the golden vision]

The Royal, Smithdown Rd. Pre-1960's there would've been dozens of pubs in the city with tile-work like this, today only a handful remain.

[the golden vision]

Another rare survival, an Art Nouveau shop front on Cheapside.

[the golden vision]

Castle St

A gable like this,which is capped by a pediment, is called a Dutch Gable. This one is adorned with what look like acanthus leaves.

[the golden vision]

St Bride's, Percy St













The original Regency staircase

[the golden vision]

Ye Hole in Ye Wall, Hackins Hey

Many people in the city are under the impression this is the city centre's oldest pub. It isn't. There have probably been several buildings on the site stretching back centuries but the present building dates from the mid Victorian period, despite the date displayed on the gable. It's an ugly little building imo.

[Dingle All The Way]

The swimming baths pet shop has been going a long time. My auntie took me there to see to have a look once and I was only a kid. It must have been about 20 years ago. Great to see they're still going.

[the golden vision]

Wooden doorcase on Duke St. Most Georgian/Regency doorcases are stone or brick and stucco. This particular example is around 220 years old and is just about still restorable. It's made of a softwood but one of the harder types, probably Pitch Pine. Oak was only used for doors and doorcases on the grander townhouses in the Georgian period, and Mahogany(imported from Cuba from the early 18thc) was almost exclusively used for furniture.

[the golden vision]

Window on Colquitt St

This type of window- head or lintel is called a gauged brick arch. This is a fine example. Often the bricks are crudely shaped to fit and are quite thick, here they are slender and fit well. The building is the Liverpool Royal Instution and was originally built as a private residence for Thomas Parr , a local merchant in 1799. This house, unlike many in the late Georgian period wasn't a speculative effort,it was well built and designed.

[the golden vision]

Seel St Modernism

I like this. It's an easy building to overlook surrounded by Georgian houses but it's definitely worth an inspection. The bricks are long and thin and the pointing deep. It was built in the 1930's and is a good Modernist building(not the catch all term for the 20's and 30's, Art Deco ! )

[the golden vision]

Bronze Street Furniture ?

This is a nice touch, in front of the building just featured on Seel St. I'm pretty sure this seating is bronze or at least bronzed. I gave it a rigorous inspection and it will withstand antyhing even the most determined vandal will throw at it Excellent.
The streets in the city centre are looking much cleaner these days with the clampdown on litter-bugs, now we just need to get the chewy fiends sorted out(pavements covered in it)

[openlyJane]

There must be lots of people who chew gum. It is horrible to see it spat out like this. Yuk!

Great pictures and commentary GV. You are a well of knowledge.

[the golden vision]

Originally Posted by openlyJane

There must be lots of people who chew gum. It is horrible to see it spat out like this. Yuk!

Great pictures and commentary GV. You are a well of knowledge.

Thanks Jane. I'm sure the council were talking about issuing on the spot fines, as for litter. If they haven't, they should.

[openlyJane]

Details from houses on Percy Street:

[the golden vision]

Excellent Jane. The close-up of the column on Gambier Terrace is a good example of why the Greeks carved the capitals(column tops) the way they did. You can see in your pic the play of light and shade on the mouldings, although they are not as accentuated as they would be under a bright mediterranean sky.