Wellington Rooms, Liverpool facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wellington Rooms |
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Neo-classical |
| Town or city | Liverpool |
| Country | England |
| Construction started | 1815 |
| Completed | 1816 |
| Client | Wellington Club |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Edmund Aikin |
The Wellington Rooms, also known as the old Irish Centre, is a beautiful building in Liverpool, England. It was built in the Regency style. This building was designed as a place for people to gather. You can find it on Mount Pleasant, near the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral.
The building has been closed since 1997. Some important repair work happened in 2018. This work was done to help save the building for the future.
Contents
A Look Back: The History of the Wellington Rooms
This amazing building was designed by an architect named Edmund Aikin. It was built between 1815 and 1816. It was first made for the Wellington Club. This club used it as a special place for parties and dances.
Early Days: The Wellington Club
The Wellington Club used the building for many years. It was a place where important people in society would meet. They held big dance balls and fancy parties there. The Wellington Club stopped using the building in 1922.
New Uses Over Time
From 1923 to 1940, the building became the Embassy Club. People came here for tea dances, classes, and even weddings. During World War II, it became the first home for the Rodney Youth Centre. Sadly, bombs damaged most of the original ceilings in 1941. Only the main ballroom ceiling was saved.
On February 1, 1965, the building officially opened as the Liverpool Irish Centre. It became a lively place for Irish music, dance, and drama. Many clubs and groups also used it as their base. In the 1990s, the Irish Centre moved to a new location. After that, the Wellington Rooms building was left empty.
Building Design: How it Looks
The Wellington Rooms has a special design. It has a main entrance in the middle. This entrance leads into a room shaped like an octagon. From this octagonal room, you can go into three other rooms.
Inside the Building
These three rooms were originally used for different things. One was a drawing room, another was a refreshment room, and the third was a large ballroom. The building also had three separate entrances. These were for men, ladies, and for sedan-chairs or carriages.
Outside the Building
The building is made of red brick. It sits on a square corner plot of land. The front of the building, facing Mount Pleasant, is covered in stone. It has special designs called neo-classical motifs. There is a main entrance in the center of this stone front.
The Wellington Rooms was given a special protection status in the 1950s. It became a listed building (Grade II*). This means it is a very important historic building. However, this protection did not stop it from becoming empty and damaged after the Irish Centre left in 1997.
What's Happening Now: Saving the Building
The Wellington Rooms was added to the national Heritage at Risk Register in 1999. This list shows historic places that are in danger. It has also been part of the Liverpool Echo's "Stop the Rot" campaign. This campaign tries to save important buildings.
Problems the Building Faces
The building has several problems. It suffers from dry rot and dampness. Plaster has fallen off the walls and ceilings. Thieves have also stolen lead from the roof many times. This makes the damage even worse because water can get in easily.
Plans for the Future
In 2016, there were plans to turn the building into a Science and Technology Hub. This was part of the Knowledge Quarter project in Liverpool.
Emergency repairs were approved in November 2016. The work was planned to start in February 2017. About £121,000 was to be spent fixing the roof and walls. This was to stop water from getting into the building. Half of the money came from Liverpool City Council and half from Historic England.
In October 2017, the Liverpool Echo newspaper reported that the repair work was delayed. It was hoped to start that month. Finally, £100,000 worth of emergency work began in February 2018. These repairs aimed to check the roof and make the building watertight. This way, more restoration work could happen later. In March 2018, people living nearby were asked for their ideas on how the building could be used in the future.
As of May 2024[update], there are no new plans for the building. Only a survey of its current condition is being done.
