Friday, 2nd May
Morning all! A slightly cooler day today than yesterday, but based on the crappy Internet speed here, today’s Post might take a couple of hours to actually post (if at all!)!
To give the Blog the best chance to cope with the appalling internet speeds here, I’ve restricted the number of photographs. If you want to see more, use the link below that will take you to the ‘online album’. Technology ehh!? 🤔😩. If this gets to you, it’s a miracle! 😲
Online Photo Gallery
is HERE.
Today, we’re heading for Port Sunlight by car – just fifteen minutes away.
Breakfast
But before all that intended activity, there’s the legendary ‘Premier Inn Breakfast’. All you can eat (and drink) for £10.99 each.
Well, even if the Internet speed was memorable for all the WRONG reasons, at least their Cooked Brekky was as good as ever! 😋😋
We set off just before 9am. The traffic was jam-free, but we got a sense of how busy the A41 might be if we’d left earlier.
Port Sunlight…
We arrived in good time and on parking just outside the Art Gallery (more detail later), it was all a bit weird. There didn’t seem to be any parking restrictions AT ALL! No yellow lines, no official car-park – essentially, just park where you like! 👍
Port Sunlight is a peaceful Merseyside village founded by a Victorian-era entrepreneur Sir Henry Lever (1851-1925) to house his factory workers. Its Arts and Crafts cottages are surrounded by paths winding through fields and woodland. Port Sunlight Museum details the village’s history, and the neoclassical Lady Lever Art Gallery showcases 19th-century decorative arts – all part of Lord Lever’s personal collection.
Plenty to see here!
With some time on our hands before most attractions were open (10am) we took a wander around the immediate area. Unlike yesterday (very hot!) today was much cooler bordering on freezing – especially when we were out of the Sun. Well, at least it wasn’t raining!) and when the Sun did come out, it was welcomed! Such a change on yesterday!!!
The War Memorial
Our wander around included the rather impressive War Memorial – it’s actually Grade I Listed!
We both agreed that it was an impressive structure – especially ‘up close’ where you could see the very detailed rendering of the soldiers’ uniforms. Ann spotted 21 ‘Jones’ amongst the fallen. 🤔
On a lighter note, who can resist the attraction of these knitted postbox coverings that seem to have appeared all over the UK in recent years! 👍. Even Port Sunlight had succumbed!
Port Sunlight Museum
10.01am: We were really looking forward to this – and it didn’t disappoint! It told the story of Lord Lever and how he realised his ‘vision’ for his workers – by looking after them and providing housing, education and social facilities! Oh! And he built them the village too – using the best Architects of the time! 🤝. Considered a radical by many at the time, he was the first Politician to also suggest the idea of a ‘pension’ for his workers too! 👍. A real ‘man of the people’ who believed like a few others at the time that ‘workers should be looked after’.
Edwardian Worker’s House…
10.44am: The village has also preserved an Edwardian House and decorated it accordingly. Given the generally poor living conditions experienced by many workers of the time, this must have seemed like a palace! We were told that Lever insisted on ensuring that each house had a plumbed-in bath (very rare at the time!). However, in an ironic twist, the workers were NOT allowed to purchase the product they spent the day producing at a reduced price – soap!
Lady Lever Gallery…
11.23am: Time to look around the Lady Lever Art Gallery. This was a collection of Lord Lever’s that he acquired for his Wife. ‘No expense spared’ would be a massive understatement!
I’ve restricted the number of photos here
because of the poor Internet speed.
The Online Photo Gallery
is HERE
It probably didn’t help his bank balance that he was also an obsessive collector of Wedgwood too! – and there was plenty on show to remind us of the Pottery-maker’s passion for high-end crockery! 🤔
To Liverpool…
Given the gorgeous weather, we wanted to make the most of the day and so we took the train into Liverpool. The last time I was there was almost 10 years ago with my Trainer friends. Getting to Scouseland was remarkably easy – and cheap too! We drove to nearby Bromborough, where we took the short train journey right into the city centre. It only cost us £3.45 each, and parking opposite the Station was completely free! I can’t recall the last time where parking my car at a railway station cost nothing! Happy days! 😉
We only waited a few minutes, and the train was super-clean – possibly brand-new stock. 👍
12.45pm: Hello Liverpool! We wandered down to the water. Since I was last here in the city in 2015, everywhere seemed brighter, cleaner (and in the case of the nearby buildings) whiter! It was now warming up a treat and time to locate the Big Red Bus – just a short walk to the waterfront.
There were two routes on offer – the RED or the BLUE Route. From what we could see, the Blue option included locations specific to The Beatles. We’re not massive Beatles fans, so we chose the RED Route. It cost £12 each (concession for the over 60s!). In spite of the improving weather, that biting wind was still occasionally making its presence felt. So, the biggest decision of the day was whether to sit downstairs (and miss any photo opportunities – but at least we’d stay warm) or sit upstairs, risk the biting wind, but at least the photos would be easier.
We chose UPSTAIRS!
Unlike many ‘Big Bus’ tours that rely on a set of headphones and multi-language tracks, today we had a live presenter in the shape of Julie! She was excellent and really knew her stuff! For us, we really only needed the Bus to get us to the City’s two Cathedrals.
Metropolitan Cathedral
2.14pm: The Roman Catholic place of worship was built in 1967 and is known locally as ‘Paddy’s Wigwam. For us, the design, externally and internally is jaw dropping. Read more about it HERE.
After a quick wander around we walked to its neighbour along the appropriately named road: ‘Hope Street’.
Liverpool Cathedral
2.52pm: Opened in 1978, it is the seat of the bishop of Liverpool. Read more about it HERE.
3.30pm: Both were beautiful in their own way but in terms of ‘cool’, the latter was sporting ‘Helios’ – and looking at the number of people taking the opportunity to lie down and ‘chill’ whilst listening to its ‘other worldly’ sounds, it was certainly pulling in the crowds.
3.45pm: Phew! Our early start today was now catching up with us. As we said goodbye to Helios, we walked down the hill to James Street and picked up the Train back to Bomborough.
4.10pm: Back in room! Exhausted (but in a good way!). We have been very impressed with Liverpool. Great shopping, friendly natives and plenty to see and do! If only the internet speed was, err, up-to-speed! 🤔
Tomorrow…
Tomorrow, we’re heading for Chester to look around the city. There’s the Cathedral, the City Walls and Roman Ampitheatre.
I got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong love of technology and communication (in all its forms), together with a fondness for the art of writing seemed to be the perfect combination to contribute a few words to the online community. But I’m no Samuel Pepys! If you’re looking for deep and meaningful comments on a variety of subjects, then you’ve arrived at the wrong site! I only pen for pleasure! On average, my posts appear about twice per month, covering family & friends, cinema visits, eating out, holiday experiences and techy stuff. Oh, and as this is my hobby, there are no sponsored links nor adverts here – it’s all done with love!
I hope you find it enjoyable, interesting and occasionally, even helpful!
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