Please note that, given time, I hope to add images of the buildings and places described here.
Famous Liverpool Places
The Gorree Piazzas:
The Gorree Piazzas were two massive warehouses, rebuilt in 1802 after a fire had destroyed
earlier buildings. An impressive arcade ran the length of the warehouses. Washington Irving,
the author of Rip Van Winkle, managed his brother's business from the Gorree, named after an
island, off Cape Verde, which was used as an entrepot during slaving days.
The Strand:
It is hard to imagine that this stretch of roadway once comfortably fitted in the Overhead
Railway and the Goree Piazzas with roads on either side. Once again, the motor car has
triumphed and the city's heritage has been thrown away for short-term gain.
Strand Street:
The Overhead Railway finally closed in 1956, to the disbelief of the Liverpool public. The
Gorree Warehouses disappeared 2 years later, giving the planners the opportunity to introduce
a more effective road network. The result is a barren stretch of land that separates the city
centre from the river and has none of the romance and excitement of the old street.
Royal Liver Building:
The Royal Liver Friendly Society Building, to give its original title, was completed in 1911 to
the design of Walter A. Thomas. The first large-scale reinforced concrete in the world, it has
become the unforgettable symbol of the city. Next to it, the Cunard Building (completed in 1916)
is a more restrained but equally fine building. Beyond, the white tower of George's Dock Building
hides the main ventilation shaft for the Mersey Tunnel.
George's Dock:
A fascinating photograph showing the filling in of George's Dock prior to the building of the
Royal Liver Building. It is now the location of the Head Offices of the Mersey Docks and
Harbour Company.
Liverpool Landing Stage:
The wooden stage has recently been replaced with a shorter but more permanent concrete
structure. Sadly, liners no longer dominate the waterfront but the ferries continue to ply
their trade to Wallasey and Birkenhead and back. In 1874, the 2,000 foot floating landing stage
was about to open to the public when it was almost destroyed by fire. Rebuilt, it finally opened
in 1876. It was added to over the years until it was nearly half a mile long. The landing stage
was the largest floating structure in the world. The terminal for great ocean liners as well
as ferries, it was the final point of departure for millions of emigrants.
Liverpool Overhead Railway:
Perhaps the most poignant of all scenes. Why was the Overhead Railway demolished? Built in 1893,
it was the first elevated railway in Europe. Running between Seaforth and Dingle, it offered
passengers unrivalled views of the river and docks.
Is Paddy's Wigwam the only Catholic Cathedral in Great Britain?
No, but it's the newest, variations of the building can be found in Rio and Brasilia. The
following are all purpose built as opposed to provisional cathedrals; Westminster, Glasgow,
Belfast, Edinburgh and Derry (Londonderry). The Crypt is the only part of Lutyens design that
was completed. Liverpool is the largest Catholic Diocese in the British Islands. Half of
England's Catholics are in the Liverpool archdiocese. The Isle of Man is within the archdiocese.
Since the Catholic Emancipation act, almost 80% of the Cardinal Archbishops of Westminster have
hailed from the Liverpool Archdiocese. The Anglican Cathedral is the largest gothic cathedral
in the world and the second largest church in Christendom, surpassed only by St. Peter's in Rome.
Contrary to American claims, the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, New York, is not as big
as Liverpool Cathedral.
