THE architectural history of Liverpool 8 is being celebrated with the launch of a new heritage trail funded by, among others, Tesco.
The trail plots a route through the area showing some of the area’s outstanding architecture, including the ancient chapel, the Florence Institute, Toxteth Town Hall, St James in the City Church and the “Welsh Cathedral” - the Welsh Presbyterian Church.
FlorrieIt also takes in the Grade II listed Princes Park, although, not quite yet, Liverpool 8's biggest building - the 5,600, sq foot collossus which is the Tesco development on Park Road.
The total cost of the trail is £12,000 and Tesco's contribution is £3,000. When Tesco was given planning permission for the store there was a section 106 agreement under which they gave the city £600,000 for improvements in the area. It was agreed that £25,000 of that would be used for publicity and marketing the area and their stake comes from that.
The trail will be launched next week by the Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, in a ceremony attended by local community representatives and historians.
Those taking part in the city council-backed trail, which is also being funded by housing association Plus Dane, will be able to learn about some fascinating individuals, organisers promise. They include the man who helped to save 40,000 people from Nazi persecution, the preacher who brought a circus to his services and the gardener who inspired the design of parks throughout the country.
“Even those people who have lived in this area all their lives will almost certainly find things they do not know about their own neighbourhood if they follow the trail, “ said Councillor Steve Munby, cabinet member for neighbourhoods.
Too big to accurately
photograph“There are numerous buildings of outstanding architectural interest and many fascinating tales about people who lived and worked in Toxteth.
“We are building on that heritage to ensure that not only are we celebrating Liverpool 8’s past but that it has a bright future as well. This trail is part of the Love L8 project which is highlighting what this area has to offer.”
Primary sponsors for the trail are St James in the City.
The detail
Princes ParkThe trail is marked by banners and display boards at each of its five distinct areas and there are blue footprints on the pavements marking it out. Brochures describing the trail are available from many of the venues along the route.
It starts at St James’ Church at the junction of Upper Parliament Street and St James Place. The first leg of the trail goes from Upper Parliament Street (the old entrance to the deer park) up Park Road.
The other parts of the trail are Park Road South from Beresford Road to Ullet Road; Princes Park ( from Ullet Road to Lodge Lane) ; Lodge Lane (from Bentley Road to Smithdown Road) and Smithdown Road to Ullet Road.
