St. George’s Hall – Liverpool’s Symbol of Greatness & Beauty
One of the most distinctive civic icons of Liverpool, St. George’s Hall represents a true symbol of prosperity. Located on Lime Street, in the centre of Liverpool opposite Lime Street Railway Station, St. George’s Hall is one of the main points of attraction for tourists interested in fine architecture and local cultural events.
The history of St. George’s Hall goes back to 1838, when the foundation stone was laid in order to celebrate the coronation of Queen Victoria.
Liverpool was in need of a hall to be used for festivals, meetings and concerts, so a competition in 1839 was run and architect Harvey Lonsdale Elmes won as the designer of the hall. Harvey Lonsdale was also chosen to design a law edifice for the city of Liverpool, and he came with the idea of creating one impressive hall which would combine both of his projects.
Thirteen years later in 1854, the building was opened, but unfortunately Elmes didn’t have a chance to enjoy his creation, as he died in 1847. Other minds continued the work on St. George’s Hall to its completion: surveyor John Weightman, engineer Robert Rawlinson and architect Sir Charles Cockerell.
The hall consists of the Concert Hall (the largest area), The Civil Court and the elliptical Small Concert Room. To the south of the Concert Hall you will find the Crown Court and the Grand jury room.
The interior decor (largely due to Cockerell’s designs) will definitely take you back in time with features such as the highly decorated floor made from Minton tiles, niches for statues and perfectly symmetrical Grecian-style columns. The edifice was designed according to the neoclassical style, sheltering both the concert halls and law courts.
St . George’s Hall Today
In 2000, the new millennium brought in a major restoration for St. George’s Hall. £23million was invested in bringing back the charm of the hall, which was officially re-opened on St. George’s Day, the 23 April 2007, by HRH Prince Charles.
The restoration included the creation of a new Heritage Centre that includes:
The opportunity for visitors to see the cells used by prisoners awaiting court trial,
The Learning Suite for School Parties,
The Community Room named “World heritage – Your Heritage” where local artists and groups can display exhibitions,
A chance to see the unique ventilation system designed by Dr. David Boswell Reid.
A variety of concerts and cultural events are held at St. George’s Hall throughout the year, and the Hall itself is available to groups and individuals to host dinners, conference, meetings and civic weddings.
Visiting St. George’s Hall
The Hall is open seven days a week, from 10.00am to 5.00pm (it is closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day).
For further information on special events being held at St. Georges Hall, visit their website.
Address:
St George’s Hall
William Brown Street
Liverpool
Merseyside
L1 1JJ
Tel: 0151 225 6911