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Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides
Liverpool: Pevsner City Guide
This comprehensive, full-color guidebook describes all the architecturally significant buildings in Liverpool, the city selected as European Capital of Culture for 2008. The book includes suburban areas of interest and excursions to notable sites farther out. Major buildings―such as the Town Hall, St George’s Hall, and the two Cathedrals―receive extended treatment; the streets of the business district are dealt with alphabetically; and the rest of the city―including the docks―is covered in a series of carefully planned walks.
Based on Nikolaus Pevsner’s original text for the Buildings of England, the book is augmented by close study of Liverpool’s buildings themselves and by extensive new research. It is an authoritative work of reference as well as a practical handbook for visitors and residents walking in the city.
Based on Nikolaus Pevsner’s original text for the Buildings of England, the book is augmented by close study of Liverpool’s buildings themselves and by extensive new research. It is an authoritative work of reference as well as a practical handbook for visitors and residents walking in the city.
- GenresHistory
344 pages, Paperback
First published July 11, 2004
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December 9, 2011
I've got my promotional hat on again. Last week Peter Ackroyd was the subject of my peddling affections so what's caught my eye this week? Well this week I'm trying to sell Liverpool to you. Yes, this great city has a lot to offer... more than the tabloid press and the politicians of the 1980s would have you believe but you have to come to the city and see for yourself (note: this is not me suggesting some kind of open house party a la many fools on Facebook).
And if you do make it up/down the M6, across the Irish Sea, down the M62 or to the runway at John Lennon Airport (motto "Above us only sky" oh yes people, it's true where there's a Beatle there's a buck) then the best thing you could be clutching in your paw is this book. Previously people would be making jokes and warning you to hold on to your wallet - see? Times have changed
Liverpool by Joseph Sharples, is the a diamond sharp architectural gem with a word flow to match the Mersey and there is no person better to guide you around the historic highs and some of the architectural lows of the city. Modelled on the Pevsner Architectural Guides series, this well written, well presented and lavishly illustrated guide is divided into handy thematic sections so you can tackle big chunks of the cityscape without choking on the logistics. It's a chunky book too and rightly so as this is a city with a lot of architecture on display and the largest concentration of listed buildings outside of London (some people might say "in your face Manchester" but I'll be more charitable than that).
Churches? Covered. Two Cathedrals; the majesty of the red sandstone Anglican Cathedral and the former quarry, not grave yard site of St James' Mount and at the other end of Hope Street the aspirational and unconventional spires of the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Christ the King (Paddy's Wigwam if you're a local). Plus St James with its unique interior frame, St Andrews with the pyramid grave, St Luke's which was bombed during the war and now serves as a memorial to the blitz (although the Gothic detailing lavishly designed by John Foster Junior survives well enough) and the Church of Our Lady and St Nicholas dominates the waterfront as it has done for the last 400 years, modifications by incendiary bombs not withstanding.
Neoclassical splendour? It's here. Walk out of Lime Street (admire the railway station which was masterpiece of engineering in 1836 but ignore the rest of the road as its unforgivably derelict-looking and down at heel) turn right and head towards St Georges Hall and the William Brown Conservation area; massive neoclassical columns and landscaping are a testament to the sheer amount of money which once washed down these city streets. Alternatively head to Dale Street and Tythebarn street to see the Exchange and the merchant quarter and tread the path of the original H-shaped medieval street plan.
Or head to the dockside to see the River Mersey, the famous Three Graces and the Albert Dock. After all, the view so rigorously promoted by inclusion in the opening credits to Brookside (for those of you who want a taste of one of Brookside Close's most famous episodes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uT5T5m... ) is worth a look. If you're reading this review from America or Canada and are of Dutch, German, Polish, Italian, British or Irish heritage then the chances are that a member of your family set sail from here between 1860 and 1914, when 4,750 000 people left Europe via Liverpool, thereby taking part in one of the biggest voluntary migrations to the New World. The view you will see will be the last thing your ancestors saw as they stood on deck of a Cunard or Inman Liner waving to those who were left behind.
The docks are quieter now and if you do make the trip, you will see many people like you, standing on the reclaimed ground of the water front contemplating migration, slavery and displacement amongst the cobbled streets and red brick warehouses. Liverpool was a transport hub, in the business of moving people. The frigates, sloops and schooners are gone as are the men who sailed them but there is an echo of their legacy in the form of architecture and landscape.
There are holes in this landscape; whole areas reduced to burning rubble during the blitz of World War II but in their place, new structures are finally appearing - Liverpool One (worship at the shrine of commerce, media, mass marketing and a flagship John Lewis store... the only "boat" now occupying that part of the city) or argue with your friends about whether or not your like the Three Wedges which now stand next to the Three Graces. Modernist monstrosity or the march of shiny progress? You decide... they've not made it into an updated guide yet but keep in mind that when the Liver Building was first constructed people weren't so keen on it either!
If you're in the city on your own you needn't worry. You've got a constant companion in your copy of Liverpool by Joseph Sharples and if you're only an armchair traveller then this book is so detailed it is almost as good as being here.
And if you do make it up/down the M6, across the Irish Sea, down the M62 or to the runway at John Lennon Airport (motto "Above us only sky" oh yes people, it's true where there's a Beatle there's a buck) then the best thing you could be clutching in your paw is this book. Previously people would be making jokes and warning you to hold on to your wallet - see? Times have changed
Liverpool by Joseph Sharples, is the a diamond sharp architectural gem with a word flow to match the Mersey and there is no person better to guide you around the historic highs and some of the architectural lows of the city. Modelled on the Pevsner Architectural Guides series, this well written, well presented and lavishly illustrated guide is divided into handy thematic sections so you can tackle big chunks of the cityscape without choking on the logistics. It's a chunky book too and rightly so as this is a city with a lot of architecture on display and the largest concentration of listed buildings outside of London (some people might say "in your face Manchester" but I'll be more charitable than that).
Churches? Covered. Two Cathedrals; the majesty of the red sandstone Anglican Cathedral and the former quarry, not grave yard site of St James' Mount and at the other end of Hope Street the aspirational and unconventional spires of the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Christ the King (Paddy's Wigwam if you're a local). Plus St James with its unique interior frame, St Andrews with the pyramid grave, St Luke's which was bombed during the war and now serves as a memorial to the blitz (although the Gothic detailing lavishly designed by John Foster Junior survives well enough) and the Church of Our Lady and St Nicholas dominates the waterfront as it has done for the last 400 years, modifications by incendiary bombs not withstanding.
Neoclassical splendour? It's here. Walk out of Lime Street (admire the railway station which was masterpiece of engineering in 1836 but ignore the rest of the road as its unforgivably derelict-looking and down at heel) turn right and head towards St Georges Hall and the William Brown Conservation area; massive neoclassical columns and landscaping are a testament to the sheer amount of money which once washed down these city streets. Alternatively head to Dale Street and Tythebarn street to see the Exchange and the merchant quarter and tread the path of the original H-shaped medieval street plan.
Or head to the dockside to see the River Mersey, the famous Three Graces and the Albert Dock. After all, the view so rigorously promoted by inclusion in the opening credits to Brookside (for those of you who want a taste of one of Brookside Close's most famous episodes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uT5T5m... ) is worth a look. If you're reading this review from America or Canada and are of Dutch, German, Polish, Italian, British or Irish heritage then the chances are that a member of your family set sail from here between 1860 and 1914, when 4,750 000 people left Europe via Liverpool, thereby taking part in one of the biggest voluntary migrations to the New World. The view you will see will be the last thing your ancestors saw as they stood on deck of a Cunard or Inman Liner waving to those who were left behind.
The docks are quieter now and if you do make the trip, you will see many people like you, standing on the reclaimed ground of the water front contemplating migration, slavery and displacement amongst the cobbled streets and red brick warehouses. Liverpool was a transport hub, in the business of moving people. The frigates, sloops and schooners are gone as are the men who sailed them but there is an echo of their legacy in the form of architecture and landscape.
There are holes in this landscape; whole areas reduced to burning rubble during the blitz of World War II but in their place, new structures are finally appearing - Liverpool One (worship at the shrine of commerce, media, mass marketing and a flagship John Lewis store... the only "boat" now occupying that part of the city) or argue with your friends about whether or not your like the Three Wedges which now stand next to the Three Graces. Modernist monstrosity or the march of shiny progress? You decide... they've not made it into an updated guide yet but keep in mind that when the Liver Building was first constructed people weren't so keen on it either!
If you're in the city on your own you needn't worry. You've got a constant companion in your copy of Liverpool by Joseph Sharples and if you're only an armchair traveller then this book is so detailed it is almost as good as being here.
Displaying 1 of 1 review