University Hostel and Greenbank House

GREENBANK HOUSE, GREENBANK LANE

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II*
List Entry Number:
1356362
Date first listed:
28-Jun-1952
List Entry Name:
University Hostel and Greenbank House
Statutory Address:
GREENBANK HOUSE, GREENBANK LANE
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Date:
2007-05-15
Reference:
IOE01/16492/19
Rights:
© Mr Ronald May. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II*
List Entry Number:
1356362
Date first listed:
28-Jun-1952
List Entry Name:
University Hostel and Greenbank House
Statutory Address 1:
GREENBANK HOUSE, GREENBANK LANE
Statutory Address 2:
UNIVERSITY HOSTEL, GREENBANK LANE

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
GREENBANK HOUSE, GREENBANK LANE
Statutory Address:
UNIVERSITY HOSTEL, GREENBANK LANE

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:
Liverpool (Metropolitan Authority)
Parish:
Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:
SJ 38443 87979

Details

392/38/561

GREENBANK LANE
UNIVERSITY HOSTEL

28-JUN-52

II*

Includes: GREENBANK HOUSE, GREENBANK LANE

House. c.1787 or earlier, remodelled and extended 1812-1816,further extended late C19 and altered again to the designs of Quentin Hughes for the University of Liverpool in 1963. Regularly coursed sandstone blocks, horizontally channelled, with ashlar sandstone dressings, cast iron verandah and canopy, all beneath a hipped slate roof.

EXTERIOR: 2 storeys, 3 x 4 bays. Cornice over ground floor; 1st floor string course; top cornice. Projecting central bay flanked by ground floor canted bay windows with stepped parapets and pointed lights, with diamond panes throughout. 1st floor has 3-light pointed windows with cornices. Central bay has pointed chamfered arch with flanking niche, with panels over. Traceried balcony to 1st floor.loggia with triple arches, traceried spandrels. Arched entrances to both floors. Left return has 2-storey
iron verandah, c.1815; the windows behind have label moulds, casements to ground floor, sashes to lst floor, all with pointed lights. Later brick service wings to street with bow windows and sashes (windows renewed). Round stair turret at rear (facing road), with belfry and spirelet. Long stone corridor/porch with pointed arched windows.

INTERIOR: Much original fabric survives, including a plaster vaulted entrance passage with muchette wheel traceried boss, and gothic staircase with cast-iron balusters and a moulded handrail. In the principal rooms, gothic and classical chimneypieces have been retained, together with gothic shutter boxes and decorative plaster cornices.

HISTORY: The house was leased by the Earl of Sefton to William Rathbone, merchant and ship owner, who subsequently purchased the property c.1787. Hannah Rathbone, grandaughter of Abraham Darby of Coalbrookdale had the house altered and extended c.1812-1816, a remodelling which included both external and internal cast-iron components. The property was given to Liverpool University in 1936.


Listing NGR: SJ3844387979

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:
214209
Legacy System:
LBS

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Ordnance survey map of University Hostel and Greenbank House

Map

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 06-Jun-2026 at 23:08:41.

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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