Merseyside
Explore hidden histories, historic photos, and things you never knew about Merseyside from the collections and archives of Historic England.
Discover your local listed buildings and places
Introducing some of Merseyside's most historic sites, included in the National Heritage List for England. Some of these captions have been summarised by AI. Click through for the official List entry.
Anglican Cathedral Church of Christ
Liverpool
Anglican Cathedral, begun 1904 and completed 1978, by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, brick with red sandstone facings, copper and reinforced concrete roofs, free and eclectic Gothic style.
Former Bootle Borough Hospital, including mortuary chapel…
Bootle
Former borough hospital, now laboratories and offices, 1870-2 with additional wing of 1885-7, both by C.O. Ellison.
The Vines public house
Liverpool
Public house, 1907, by Walter Thomas for Robert Cain & Sons. Neo-Baroque style. Read the official list entry to find out more.
St John's Beacon (Radio City Tower)
Liverpool
Observation tower, constructed in 1965-1969, designed by James A Roberts, converted to a radio broadcasting studio in 1999. Read the official list entry to find out more.
Knowsley Park
Eccleston
Knowsley Park dates back to the 13th century and was influenced by Lancelot Brown's designs in the 18th century. William Sawrey Gilpin advised on its development in the 1830s.
Former Pilkingtons Headquarters complex: including the ca…
St Helens
Purpose-built former Headquarters site for Pilkingtons, 1959-63, by Edwin Maxwell Fry of Fry, Drew and Partners.
8 Brougham Terrace, (Formerly listed as Brougham Terrace)
Liverpool
House forming part of a terrace, approximately 1830, became the Liverpool Muslim Institute in 1889, converted for office use in the early C20. Read the official list entry to find out more.
The Philharmonic Dining Rooms
Liverpool
Public house, 1898-1900, by Walter W Thomas for Robert Cain & Sons. Exuberant Free Style. Read the official list entry to find out more.
Gravestone of Blackie the war horse
Halewood
Gravestone to Blackie the war horse who served during the First World War, c1942. Sandstone. Read the official list entry to find out more.
10, Hockenhall Alley
Liverpool
Modest house, originally formed part of a row, late C18/early C19, brick, irregular bond, slate roof, 3 storeys, 1 bay wide. Read the official list entry to find out more.
Former St Katharine's College
Liverpool
University buildings, originally a women's teacher-training college, 1927-30, by Slater & Moberly.
Reflection Court, the former Pilkington's HQ offices, Gro…
St Helens
Former Pilkington Brothers Limited office building, now converted into flats and business units, 1937-41, designed by Herbert J Rowse and Kenneth Cheeseman.
The Dell, the Diamond and the Causeway, Port Sunlight
Bebington
The Dell, The Diamond, and The Causeway are key public spaces in Port Sunlight Village, a model workers' village designed by William Hesketh Lever in the late 19th century.
Wavertree Botanic Garden and Park
Liverpool
A private, walled botanic garden opened in 1836, taken into the charge of the local authority in 1846 and with the early C19 layout and mid-Victorian geometric beds extant.
No. 57, PARR STREET
Liverpool
Warehouse, built c.1799 for Thomas Parr. Internally remodelled in the late C19 or early C20, and converted to flats in the second half of the 1990s.
Landscape associated with the former Pilkingtons Headquar…
St Helens
Landscaped setting for the former Pilkingtons Headquarters complex, 1959-63, by Edwin Maxwell Fry of Fry, Drew & Partners with Peter Youngman as landscape consultant.
Stanley Park, Liverpool
Liverpool
Public park designed in 1867 by Edward Kemp and opened in 1870, with architectural features by E R Robson. Read the official list entry to find out more.
Former Liverpool Furnishing Company showroom
Liverpool
A bespoke furniture sales showroom later converted to bank and office premises, of 1899 by W Hesketh and Co, of red terracotta in Edwardian Baroque style, with later alterations.
Ince Blundell Park
Ince Blundell
Ince Blundell Park, developed by Henry Blundell from the 1760s to 1786, features historic gardens, parkland, late 18th-century buildings, and sculptures reflecting Blundell's artistic...
India Buildings, including the Water Street entrance to J…
Liverpool
Office building incorporating a bank, post office, shopping arcade, and access to the James Street underground station, 1924-32, by Arnold Thornely and Herbert J. Rowse.
Martins Bank Building
Liverpool
Bank building, lying on the north side of Water Street. Built as headquarters for Martins Bank, 1927-32, by Herbert J. Rowse.
Britannia Pavilion and the Colonnades, Albert Dock
Liverpool
The Britannia Pavilion and the Colonnades at Albert Dock are historically significant 19th-century warehouses designed by J Hartley, notable for their iron and brick structure and Doric...
34 Alexandra Drive
Liverpool
Villa, 1860s, extended and altered in the 1880s and 1890s for Richard Robertson Lockett with an interior decorative scheme by S J Waring & Sons, later used as a residential college and a...
Ogden Imperial Tobacco Ltd Office Block
Liverpool
Office block of Ogden Ltd (later Ogden-Imperial Tobacco Ltd) tobacco manufacturers, 1899, probably by Henry Hartley, eclectic Queen Anne style, pressed red brick with sandstone dressings,...
The Miner or The Anderton Mining Monument, St Helens Link…
St Helens
Sculpture. 1964 by Arthur Fleischmann, commissioned by Lord Robens, Chairman of the National Coal Board, bronze cast by John Galizia & Son Ltd, Battersea.
Newsham Park
Liverpool
Newsham Park, designed by Edward Kemp in the 19th century, is a public park in Liverpool featuring historical buildings, spacious gardens, and recreational facilities.
Former Liverpool Sheltering Home, 1 Sugnall Street and 2A…
Liverpool
Sheltering Home for Destitute Children, 1888-9, by C.O. Ellison, C19 Queen Anne style, incorporates house of c.1840. Read the official list entry to find out more.
Former Royal School for the Blind, Liverpool
Liverpool
Former Royal School for the Blind, 1849-51, by Arthur Hill Holme.
St Helens Quaker Meeting House
St Helens
Quaker Meeting House, converted from a former house of late C16 or early C17 date, with later alterations including a rear extension added in 1965-1966.
Church of St Andrew
Bootle
Anglican church, built in 1903-1904 to the design of the Liverpool architectural practice Willink and Thicknesse in Free Perpendicular Gothic style.
Exchange Buildings
Liverpool
Bunker housing World War II military command headquarters, now museum. World War I war memorial. Bunker, 1939-41, incorporated into basement of Walker House (west side) of office complex.
Sefton Park
Liverpool
A public park designed in 1867 which was the first to introduce French influence to the design of parks through the designer Edouard André, who had worked with Jean-Charles-Adolphe Alphand...
Hesketh Park
Southport
A public park opened in 1868 designed by Edward Kemp. Read the official list entry to find out more.
Former Abbey Cinema
Liverpool
Former cinema, 1937-1939, by Sir Alfred Ernest Shennan for the Regal Cinema Co (Liverpool) Ltd, with alterations carried out in 1979 and the early 1980s for conversion into a supermarket,...
St James's Gardens (Formerly St James's Cemetery)
Liverpool
A cemetery developed by a private company and opened in 1829, with architectural features designed by John Foster and landscaping by John Shepherd.
King's Gardens and South Marine Gardens
Southport
King's Gardens and South Marine Gardens are public parks linked by historical seaside leisure facilities, opened between the 19th and 20th centuries, still serving the community.
Allerton Hall
Liverpool
Mansion, the central portion and west wing built after 1736, probably for John Hardman; extended and completed to east c1810-12 for William Roscoe.
Merseyside through time
This timeline shows the first period of use for buildings and places on the National Heritage List for England, just one of the details recorded for every list entry. Click around to see how Merseyside changes over time.
Prehistoric Before AD 43
Prehistory covers a million years of human occupation before the Roman invasion and the introduction of writing. Primarily hunter-gatherers of several human species including Neanderthals, the peoples moved across Europe, hunting animals, exchanging ideas and developing complex culture and belief systems including burial rites and astronomical understanding, as at Stonehenge for example.
Early medieval AD 410 to AD 1066
This period, often associated in England with Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, saw a reduction in urban living from the Roman period and increased migration from northern Europe.
Traces of this period can be found in cemeteries, particularly in artefacts and in some of the very early churches, as this period also saw the growth of Christianity in Britain.
Medieval AD 1066 to AD 1540
This period, sometimes known as the Middle Ages, began with the Norman invasion in AD 1066. It saw a significant rise in military and defensive buildings such as castles and earthworks, as well as religious houses dominating a largely agricultural landscape.
The monarchy and Church dominated the period, which also saw the break with the Roman Catholic Church and the English reformation.
Post medieval AD 1540 to AD 1901
The Post-Medieval period brought seismic changes to life in England, with religious reformation leading to the democratization of worship and the destruction of hundreds of religious houses.
In parallel, there was a huge expansion of scientific study and enlightenment that permanently altered the nation's social structure and landscape. Industrialization and mass production lead to wider global trade, emigration, and immigration.
20th century AD 1901 to AD 2000
The 20th century saw an incredible expansion of England's transport networks, with suburban growth shadowing rapid infrastructural expansion. The establishment of state schools, hospitals, and modern technical colleges, with new architectural styles, radically changed the appearance of towns and cities.
Two catastrophic world wars and the 1918 pandemic also brought unprecedented change, altering England's built environment and social structures forever.
Prehistoric Before AD 43
Prehistory covers a million years of human occupation before the Roman invasion and the introduction of writing. Primarily hunter-gatherers of several human species including Neanderthals, the peoples moved across Europe, hunting animals, exchanging ideas and developing complex culture and belief systems including burial rites and astronomical understanding, as at Stonehenge for example.
Early medieval AD 410 to AD 1066
This period, often associated in England with Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, saw a reduction in urban living from the Roman period and increased migration from northern Europe.
Traces of this period can be found in cemeteries, particularly in artefacts and in some of the very early churches, as this period also saw the growth of Christianity in Britain.
Medieval AD 1066 to AD 1540
This period, sometimes known as the Middle Ages, began with the Norman invasion in AD 1066. It saw a significant rise in military and defensive buildings such as castles and earthworks, as well as religious houses dominating a largely agricultural landscape.
The monarchy and Church dominated the period, which also saw the break with the Roman Catholic Church and the English reformation.
Post medieval AD 1540 to AD 1901
The Post-Medieval period brought seismic changes to life in England, with religious reformation leading to the democratization of worship and the destruction of hundreds of religious houses.
In parallel, there was a huge expansion of scientific study and enlightenment that permanently altered the nation's social structure and landscape. Industrialization and mass production lead to wider global trade, emigration, and immigration.
20th century AD 1901 to AD 2000
The 20th century saw an incredible expansion of England's transport networks, with suburban growth shadowing rapid infrastructural expansion. The establishment of state schools, hospitals, and modern technical colleges, with new architectural styles, radically changed the appearance of towns and cities.
Two catastrophic world wars and the 1918 pandemic also brought unprecedented change, altering England's built environment and social structures forever.
Aerial photos of Merseyside
Aerial photography helps reveal secrets of England's changing landscapes that are impossible to see from the ground.
Liverpool
Liverpool Cathedral and environs, Liverpool, 1924
Liverpool
The Anglican Cathedral Church of Christ and surrounding area, Liverpool, 1963
Liverpool
The site of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral on Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, 1934
Liverpool
Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, Liverpool, 1967
Bootle
The Littlewoods Building on Irlam Road and environs, Bootle, 1947
Bootle
The Littlewoods Building on Irlam Road, the ruins of St Mary's Church and environs, Bootle, 1947
Liverpool
George's Stage and the Three Graces, Liverpool, 1920
Liverpool
The Royal Liver Building, Cunard Building and Port of Liverpool Building, Liverpool, 1997
Liverpool
St John's Garden and the city centre, Liverpool, 1924
Liverpool
St Georges Hall, St Johns Gardens and Lime Street Railway Station, Liverpool, 1980
Merseyside in the Historic England Archive
The Historic England Archive cares for over 15 million images, dating from the 1850s to the present day. Discover stunning images of Merseyside's past.
Eric de Mare
Speke, Liverpool, Liverpool
Date created: 1945 - 1980
General view of the garden at Speke Hall showing a stone head on a garden wall.
John Laing Collection
Haydock, St. Helens
Date created: May 1984
A view from beside the East Lancashire Road (A580) showing the installation of the Haydock pipeline in the background
London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company
West Kirby, Wirral
Date created: 22 Aug 1933
Figures walking towards West Kirby Swimming Baths on South Parade
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Claughton, Birkenhead, Wirral
Date created: 1900 - 1920
GENERAL VIEW SHOWING SWANS ON THE LAKE
Eric de Mare
Speke, Liverpool, Liverpool
Date created: 1945 - 1980
General view of Speke Hall in Liverpool showing the garden entrance front. It dates from between 1490 and 1612.
London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company
West Kirby, Wirral
Date created: 22 Aug 1933
Players on the bowling green in Victoria Gardens, with the putting green beyond
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Claughton, Birkenhead, Wirral
Date created: 1900 - 1913
GENERAL VIEW SHOWING THE LAKE
Eric de Mare
Speke, Liverpool, Liverpool
Date created: 1945 - 1980
Exterior view of Speke Hall in Liverpool showing part of the garden entrance front. It dates from 1490-1612.
London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company
Hoylake, Wirral
Date created: 24 Aug 1933
A view looking along the promenade running beside North Parade, showing figures on the seafront and beach
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Claughton, Birkenhead, Wirral
Date created: 1900 - 1910
GENERAL VIEW ACROSS LAKE
London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company
Hoylake, Wirral
Date created: 24 Aug 1933
People walking past the front of the Hoylake Baths on North Parade
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Claughton, Birkenhead, Wirral
Date created: 01 Jan 1900 - 23 Sep 1905
VIEW ACROSS THE LAKE WITH SWAN
Stories about heritage in your local area
Historic England publishes news, blogs, research, videos, and podcasts celebrating England's rich heritage. Discover the stories we have about Merseyside.
A Brief Introduction to Semi-Detached Housing
Mentions 9-15, Wood Street
Semi-detached housing is the most prevalent type of housing in England today, making up one third of the housing stock.
A History of Bradford in 10 Places
Mentions St George's Hall
Discover the history of Bradford's buildings including Cartwright Hall, Lister Mills, UNESCO site Saltaire, Bradford Cathedral and Brontë Parsonage...
The History of Brick Building in England
Mentions 45-51, Seel Street
Discover 7 examples of how brick building in England has changed over the centuries.
7 Serene Cemeteries to Visit in England
Mentions St James's Gardens (Formerly St James's Cemetery)
These graveyards can offer space for quiet reflection or a peaceful walk.
Celebrating Liverpool’s Musical Heritage: The Beatles and Beyond
Mentions The Casbah Club
Explore some of the venues that have helped to make Liverpool famous for its music over the decades.
10 Accessible Historic Places to Visit
Mentions William Brown Library and Museum, Merseyside Maritime Museum and the International Slavery Museum
Here we look at some listed places that have creatively improved their accessibility.
A Brief History of Reinforced Concrete Buildings
Mentions Royal Liver Building, Iron Railings and Stone Piers Surrounding Royal Liver Building
Reinforcing concrete made highly complex large-scale structures possible.
The History of the English Mosque
Mentions 8 Brougham Terrace, (Formerly listed as Brougham Terrace)
Discover the architectural evolution of the mosque in Britain, from the conversion of houses to contemporary expressions of mosque architecture.
Secret Worlds Hidden Beneath Surface Structures
Mentions Mersey Tunnel Entrance
Unusual and often puzzling surface structures can be found in our cities, towns and countryside.
7 Historic Urban Parks and Gardens To Improve Your Wellbeing
Mentions Birkenhead Park
Parks and green spaces are vital for our mental and physical health.
7 of the Best Post-war Parks, Gardens and Landscapes in England
Mentions Jellicoe watercourse,
Here are seven of the amazing post-war parks, gardens and landscapes that exist all over England.
5 Post-war Churches That Broke the Mould
Mentions Roman Catholic Church of St Monica, Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King
Here are five post-war churches that paved the way for how they are built.
30 New Projects Explore England’s Rural and CoastalWorking-Class Heritage
Mentions Merseyside
Funded by Historic England's Everyday Heritage grants programme, these projects will explore untold stories and celebrate the heart of our history.
17 Remarkable Historic Places Listed in 2024
Mentions Wallasey Central Library,
Celebrating 17 historic gems that were examined, protected and added to the National Heritage List for England in 2024.
Southend-on-Sea Civic Fountain Listed
Mentions Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King
The Civic Fountain in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, has been listed at Grade II by DCMS on the advice of Historic England.
Birkenhead’s Hidden Gem of Outsider Art "Ron’s Place" Newly Listed
Mentions 8 Silverdale Road, Oxton, Merseyside
Ron’s Place, located at 8 Silverdale Road in Birkenhead, Merseyside, has been granted Grade II listing by DCMS on the advice of Historic England.
New Funding to Uncover and Celebrate Working Class Heritage
Mentions Merseyside
Historic England's Everyday Heritage Grant programme is funding 56 new projects across the nation, telling the stories of working class heritage.
The Seafront: Exploring the Seaside's Shop Window
Mentions Merseyside
Explore the seafront heritage of England's seaside resorts, a space that is both familiar and surprising.
16 Remarkable Historic Places Listed in 2023
Mentions Former Liverpool Furnishing Company showroom
Take a closer look at the historic gems that were examined, protected and added to the National Heritage List for England in 2023.
Wallasey Town Hall Upgraded from Grade II to Grade II*
Mentions Wallasey Town Hall
Wallasey Town Hall has been upgraded from Grade II to Grade II* by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport following Historic England's advice
Liverpool Cricket Club Listed at Grade II
Mentions Merseyside
The Club's main pavilion has been listed at Grade II by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) following advice from Historic England.
Historic England Reveals its Heritage at Risk Register 2022
Mentions Merseyside
Historic England publishes its annual Heritage at Risk Register, the yearly health-check of England’s most valued historic places.
Historic England Highlights Captivating Heritage Sites Listed in 2021
Mentions Former Picture Palace Cinema, Prescot, Merseyside
Highlights from over 400 historic places which have been added to or amended on the National Heritage List for England in 2021.
Captivating Sites Across England Listed During 2020
Mentions St John's Beacon (Radio City Tower)
Highlights from over 400 historic places which have been added to the National Heritage List for England in 2020.
Merseyside's social history through photos
Over 10,000 images from the Historic England Archive have been specially selected and re-captioned for teachers, students, and anyone who wants to learn more about their local area.
Worker's housing, Port Sunlight, Merseyside
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
Children outside a half-timbered worker's housing built as part of the model village for the Tudor Company in Port Sunlight.
Worker's housing, Port Sunlight, Merseyside
Wilton Grange, Meols Drive, West Kirby, Merseyside
Period: Edwardian (1902 - 1913)
The house was built circa 1905.
Wilton Grange, Meols Drive, West Kirby, Merseyside
Wavertree Garden Suburb, Liverpool, Merseyside
Period: Edwardian (1902 - 1913)
These two semi-detached houses in Fieldway were built in 1913 and designed by G. L. Sutcliffe.
Wavertree Garden Suburb, Liverpool, Merseyside
Waterloo Hotel, Clayton Square, Liverpool, Merseyside
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
Exterior of the Waterloo Hotel, Liverpool
Waterloo Hotel, Clayton Square, Liverpool, Merseyside
Watch Making Workshop, Prescot, Merseyside
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
This detached workshop is at the rear of houses in Grosvenor Road. It dates from the late 19th century and was used for watch making.
Watch Making Workshop, Prescot, Merseyside
Warehouse D, Albert Dock, Canning Place, Liverpool, Merseyside
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
Many Victorians became rich by trading goods from all over the world.
Warehouse D, Albert Dock, Canning Place, Liverpool, Merseyside
Walton Hospital, Rice Lane, Liverpool, Merseyside
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
West Derby was a large poor law union which surrounded the city of Liverpool.
Walton Hospital, Rice Lane, Liverpool, Merseyside
Wallasey Grammar School, Wallasey, Merseyside
Period: Georgian (1714 - 1836)
This building in Breck Road was used as Wallasey Grammar school from 1799 until 1884.
Wallasey Grammar School, Wallasey, Merseyside
Visit grant-aided places near you
These places and buildings have been helped by Historic England's financial grants. Find historic places in your neighbourhood that you never knew existed! Please note that opening times may vary.
Flaybrick Memorial Gardens, Bidston
A Grade II registered cemetery*, designed by Edward Kemp, with buildings by Lucy and Littler.
St James Church, Upper Parliament Street
Grade II* listed church built in 1775 of red brick and sandstone.
Anfield Cemetery North and South Catacombs, Anfield
This pair of Grade II listed catacombs, flanking a former Anglican chapel, were built as part of the original cemetery design, constructed from local...
Discover more
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