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We booked tickets online yesterday for the 10:30 visit to the Liver Building, just a short distance along the waterfront from Salthouse Dock.
We has to be there 15 minutes ahead of the start time so set off in good time - first passing the particular shapes of the offices on Mann Island.
On the next building we were taken aback by this memorial to those men who died during the construction of the first Mersey Tunnel. This facility, today used by thousands going about their daily work probably without a thought that 17 lost their lives.
We had to walk almost all around the Liver Building before we found the right entrance! Down some steps via an unassuming gate in some railings and we checked in with time to look at the small exhibition about the origins of the building. For many people the building is all about the two liver birds that sit atop the clock towers at either end. They are probably mythical but have been named Bella and Bertie - one looks out to sea and the other towards the city. The original design was by Carl Bernard Bartels, a sculptor born in Stuttgart who mover to London when he was 21. He won the competition for the design. Just 3 years after the design was completed war broke out and he was interned before being set back to Germany. Only recently has his contribution to the history - even identity - of the city been once again properly recognised.
A model of the building gave us a good idea of its overall shape. It was one of the first to be built in reinforced concrete although the outside is clad in granite blocks.
The first part of the tour took us up to the 10th floor where there is a viewing platform just below the huge clock faces. This was the easy part of the ascent as we were whisked up in a lift, four at a time. We had time to start to take in the very varied skyline with so many well-known buildings to be spotted.
Immediately below, a Mersey ferry making a turn to come alongside the terminal facility
Necks craned we could look up at one of the flour clock faces - three on this tower and one one the other.
Now came the hard part - climbing up the 124 steps of the service staircase. Initially we went up as far as the inside of the clock faces. Although they are illuminated to make them look transparent in fact they are not. We had a 10 minute audio-visual show that gives an impression of the history of the building and the area around it.
The stairs became narrower as we completed the climb to the 15th floor and out onto the gallery that is the 360 view of the city. Here are some images:
The above is the way we came in along the Link on Wednesday
We were given a good amount of time to take it all in and then just a couple of backward glimpses before going back down to the 10th floor and the lift down to the bottom. We were quite impressed with the ay in which the tour, especially going up, was paced with several stages to allow us to regain our breath (quite a few of the party appreciated that!)
Back at ground level we wandered across to the riverside and took in some more of the significant views and features, including the Liverpool Museum.
The Isle of Man Ferry setting off on its journey across to . . . the Isle of Man!
All three Graces.
The Titanic memorial is especially dedicated to the men in the engine room who died on that fateful day.
Liverpool is now a regular port of call for giant cruise ships - the next is due in tomorrow. The terminal has been created to allow passengers to disembark straight onto the coaches taking to their local tours.
When we were looking down from the Liver Building we were indicated St Nicks, the now the parish church of Liverpool.
When built, it was one the edge of the river and only later were the docks created by reclaiming space out from the banks. This picture was on display inside the church.
Much of the then church was destroyed by war time bombing leaving little but the tower. The present structure was built very soon after peace was restored and opened in 1952.
In the side chapel there is at the moment a small exhibition of 30 icons by Fr Justin Venn, an Orthodox priest.
Finally we walked back to the boat for lunch. This chap had created his sand sculpture since first thing this morning - he was not here yesterday.
Mike had tried to renew his passport when we were at home last time. However, he now received an email saying that the photo had been rejected- this is an automated system and the reason was not obvious. It did not seem to be very different from what he had submitted last time. To save further difficulty he discovered a shop offering to take an acceptable photo for just £7.99. They were not too far away. close to Liverpool Central station. So he walked up and the picture was taken straight away (no smiling allowed!) and emailed to him.
Whilst still in the shop was able to upload it the passport website and was rewarded by and immediate report that it was 'very good'. Just after leaving the shop an email arrived saying that the application had been approved and the new passport was being set to be printed!
After he returned, Christine went out to visit the nearby branch of John Lewis and picked up a few items, including a black denim jacket much reduced in a sale.
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