AN ARCHITECTURAL WALKING TOUR OF LIVERPOOL

The Bluecoat Chambers is the starting point of this architectural walking tour, central Liverpool’s oldest building, this Grade 1 Listed building is described by Quentin Hughes as:

“the ancient gem of Liverpool” and “An extremely elegant building in the heart of the city, its tree lined courtyard and secluded rooms provide a haven for artists and art lovers.”1

Bounded by School Lane and College Lane, the building can be accessed from both sides, the primary entrance opens onto School Lane with a large cobbled courtyard in front of the building.  Over the entrance in latin is an inscription [1] that details the original use of the building: 

“The inscription below the pediment reads - ‘Dedicated to the promotion of Christian Charity and the training of poor boys in the principles of the Anglican Church.  Founded this year of Salvation 1717’.” 2

Sharples explains the origins of the Bluecoat Chambers building:

“Bluecoat Chambers, begun 1716, the oldest surviving building in central Liverpool and, at the time it was erected, by far the largest secular building in the town. built by Bryan Blundell, a sea captain, as a residential charity school for poor children.” 3

The building typology is often described as Queen Anne style architecture, relating to the architecture in the United Kingdom at the time of Queen Anne’s reign, The Bluecoat Chambers is a figurehead of this architectural style described by Liverpool Heritage Bureau:

“The building is in a stately and crisp Queen Anne style showing a Wren influence with three-quarter Ionic columns, dark brickwork, painted stone quoins and dressings.  All windows have cherubs on the keystones.  The ‘listing’ includes the forecourt railings, the gates and gatepiers.” 4 [2]

The architect for this building is unknown but two people known to have been involved with Liverpool around the time of building are possible candidates for its architectural design.  Thomas Ripley, because his design for Custom House had a very similar architectural style.  Alternatively the architect may have been Thomas Steers, a bill from the dock engineer appears in Blundell’s accounts around the time of the building. Sharples explains:

“Thomas Ripley has been suggested largely on the grounds that he is known to have designed the stylistically similar Custom House (demolished) shortly afterwards.  Another candidate is Thomas Steers,  the dock engineer, whose name appears in Blundell’s account book for the school.  However their is no conclusive evidence that either was involved.” 5

Chapter 2 of ‘Liverpool 800’ by Jane Longmore details the bill from Steers to Blundell: 

“Blundell’s accounts offer a detailed summary of the construction of the school and include payments for glass from Bristol, and for a bill of £50-15s from Thomas Steers, who may have acted as the architect drawing on elements of Dutch architectural style.” 6

In 1906 the Bluecoat School moved to a larger building outside of the city centre, were the grammar school is still located today: 

“After nearly 200 years of occupancy, the School having outgrown its original home, moved in 1906 to new, larger premises in suburban Wavertree.” 7

It is noted that in 1910 the Bluecoat building was being used as the home of the Liverpool School of Architecture, this provided by William Lever, the first Lord Leverhulme who had taken an interest in turning the building into a centre for the arts. This interest was disrupted by the war and never took shape afterwards.  It was not until 1927 that the enthusiast group ‘The Bluecoat Society of the Arts’ was formed and bought the building from Lord Leverhulme’s executors, this group are today’s current owners. This is explained by Hughes:

“For a while, from 1910, this splendid building became the home of the Liverpool University School of Architecture through the munificence of William Lever, later first Lord Leverhulme.  Lever wanted to turn the place into a great centre for the arts, with concert room, exhibition gallery and studios for artists, but the 1914-1918 war came and after that he never revived his scheme, the School of Architecture moving up to Brownlow Hill.  The Bluecoat building was extensively damaged during the blitz but has been carefully restored and renovated.” 8

Also and further described by the Liverpool Heritage Bureau:

“In 1913 it was bought by W.H. Lever, the first Lord Leverhulme, with proceeds from a libel action he won, as he intended to promote it as a centre for the arts.  A scheme was drawn up in 1914 but shelved due to the war and his enthusiasm waned.  In 1927 enthusiasts launched an appeal and bought it from Lord Leverhulme’s executors and formed the Bluecoat Society of the Arts, which now owns the building.” 9

Most recently in 2008 a restoration and extension to the Bluecoat Chambers was completed by dutch architects ‘biq architecten’ amongst the developing area of Liverpool One, importance was placed on retaining original features of the building and not degrading the quality of the 300 year old Grade I Listed building with a new build extension, the courtyard here has also been redesigned during the extension and refurbishment [3].  The new materials were carefully considered and do not undermine or overpower the original building, Bayley describes:

“The Bluecoat was keen to preserve its building, the oldest in Liverpool and highly appreciated by its inhabitants, within the new retail district to be formed by Liverpool One.  The existing structure and the extension were treated as one singular building, underlining its somewhat sphinx-like properties in this new world of steel and glass with its obvious solidity of brickwork and stone.” 10

The extension was built in place of an area that was bombed and destroyed during World War II:

“This new wing re-establishes the original Queen Anne H-shape layout that was lost during heavy bombing of the city during World War II.” 11

A key feature of the design is the stack-bonded brickwork [4] , which does not contrast with the existing building’s brickwork because of the various methods and bricks used on different parts of the building, this is further explained by Bayley:

“It did allow the the extension to be defined as a new layer in the rich history of the Bluecoat.  An example is the reading of the brickwork: the type of bricks themselves, the joints and the bonds all different in each part of the building.  The new wing has been constructed with load bearing brickwork in wire-cut stack-bonded orange bricks - thus adding yet another layer to the palette of materials while staying close to overall architectural vocabulary of the Bluecoat.” 12

The success of the Bluecoat is testament to the client and the architects working together throughout the entirety of the project, this is highlighted by the acknowledgements the building has received since re-opening:

“As a result, the Bluecoat is a building that works and is well liked by its users and visitors.  This has been acknowledged by a range of publications and awards, including a nomination for the Mies van der Rohe Award 2008.” 13