My photographs of the interior of the Sailors’ Home brought a great response – it would appear that they are the only colour images that anyone has seen. I used to have passionate discussions (in the past rather than now) with photographers who believed that black and white brought out the true ‘sense’ of a place and that colour was a distraction. I was never of that school of thought although I could always appreciate the graphic qualities of a good monochrome image (I could never see Frederick Evan’s famous photograph of the ‘sea of steps’ in Wells Cathedral working as well in colour for example).
That said, today’s photograph is also a rarity. One of the last taken of John Foster’s Theatre Royal in Williamson Square before it was demolished in 1970. By that time, it was owned by the Union Cold Storage Company (a Vestey company – see the post regarding cattle below) who used it to store meat to service St John’s Market. The theatre opened in 1803 and staged both plays and opera. For years it held a monopoly in Liverpool, until a government act of 1843 introduced competition. In the face of new theatres opening (including the Star – now the Playhouse – across the square), the Theatre Royal went into decline and by 1890 it was acquired for use as a cold store.
I rank the loss of the theatre amongst Liverpool’s most preventable. Georgian theatres are extremely rare – as are surviving John Foster buildings. The Council announced back in 2008 that Williamson Square was a ‘world-class square’ following its pointless refurbishment. With a ‘tin-roofed’ shopping block that you can see in any run-down city centre anywhere (in the place where the Theatre Royal once stood) and a insipid open space with a couple of bedraggled market stores, it really makes one wonder whether those responsible had ever been to Rome, Prague, Paris or Barcelona (to name just four places where ‘world-class’ might have some context).
Anyway, I will be at the Local History Show at St George’s Hall this weekend selling a fantastic collection of original maps, photographs and old books on Liverpool (I am thinning out my collection). I look forward to meeting you there.
Hi Herman,
The blog was specially commissioned – I cannot claim any credit – my main concern was a site that was simple to use and looked good on screen.
Yes, this is one of my ‘favourite’ examples (to get me fired up!) when looking at needlessly-lost buildings. Found a copy of Old Liverpool by Eric Midwinter (1971). Chapter One, “The Theatre Royal and after”, is one of the best, with typical passion about the city and its buildings, written with wit and flair. It ends with these words: “And, just a few days ago, the whole building, pictured on page 35, was razed to the ground”. The picture in question is just a slightly wider shot than the one above, taking in the new extension on the Playhouse. To think this building was lost just 11 years before I was born…
I was the Theatre Royal where the Marks and Spencers building is now (i.e. what was the old Stonier’s shop)? From the photo it looks as if the Queens pub is just peeking out from behind it.
Thank you.