Sunday 30th September

Mary H in Liverpool

Jim joined us for breakfast but then went off to meet Penny at the Anglican Cathedral while Richard and I went to Ann Summers as I needed to get a couple of special items for my future daughter-in-law’s hen night next weekend!  (I’ve just re-read that bit and it makes Richard and I sound like real heathens!)  We then walked up to the local Tesco Express to stock up – I haven’t had to cook for 4 nights!

 

After lunch we visited the Museum of Liverpool – their website describes it as a “new museum which tells the story of Liverpool with diverse exhibits housed in a stunning building.”  The stunning building is built above the new Liverpool Link Canal which we had gone along on Wednesday.  The museum isn’t large but I reckon you could go every day for a week and still find something new!  I specifically liked the Liverpool Cityscape painted by 

Mandy - a Superlambanana

Ben Johnson in 2008, the Liver bird which is the great symbol of Liverpool - the Liver bird sculptures on top of the Liver building are 18 feet tall and The Liverpool Overhead Railway which opened in 1893 with what was the first electric elevated railway in the world. It was also known as the Docker's Railway. However in 1955 a report into the structure of the viaduct showed major repairs were needed could not be afforded and the railway closed at the end of 1956 and the structure dismantled the following year.  Such a shame as it would have made the most wonderful tourist attraction!  The museum is also home to a Superlambanana. The original one is a bright yellow sculpture and located in Tithebarn Street.  It weighs almost eight tons and standing at 17 feet tall, it is intended to be a cross between a banana and a lamb.  In 2008, as part of Liverpool's year-long position as European Capital of Culture, 125 individually designed miniature replicas were created one of which is Mandy who is now in the Liverpool Museum.

 

It rained while we were in the Museum but it had dried up by the time we walked back to Mary H where Jim joined us for dinner and we prepared for our crossing of the Mersey tomorrow!!!

 

Royal Liver Building

I have added quite a few photos of the Royal Liver Building as I think it is beautiful.  Here are a few facts.  The foundation stone for the building was laid on 11^th May 1908 and just 3 years later on 19^th July 1911, the building was officially opened, The building became the first major structure in Britain, and one of the first buildings in the world, to be constructed using reinforced concrete and given the building's radical design was considered by some to be impossible to build.  It forms one of the 'Three Graces' along with the Port of Liverpool Building and the Cunard Building. This is reflected in the building's Grade I listed building status. It stands at 300 feet tall and has 13 floors.  The building is crowned by a pair of clock towers: as a ship passed along the river, mariners could tell the time from these. The clock faces are 25 feet in diameter, larger than those of London's famous landmark, Big Ben, holding the distinction of being the largest electronically driven clocks in the UK.  On top of each tower stand the mythical Liver Birds. Popular legend has it that while one giant bird looks out over the city to protect its people, the other bird looks out to sea at the new sailors coming in to port. Alternatively, local legend states one Liver Bird is male, looking inland to see if the pubs are open, whilst the other is female, looking out to sea to see if there are any handsome sailors coming up the river. It is also said that, if one of the birds were to fly away the city of Liverpool would cease to exist, thus adding to the mystery of the birds. As a result, both birds are chained to the domes upon which they stand.