Royal Liver Building

Royal Liver Building

Infobox building
building_name = Royal Liver Building


caption = Royal Liver Building as viewed from the River Mersey
location = Liverpool
coordinates =
architect = Walter Aubrey Thomas
building_type =
architectural_style =
structural_system =
cost =
owner = Royal Liver Group
current_tenants = Royal Liver Assurance
start_date = 1908
completion_date = 1911
floor_area =
main_contractor =

The Royal Liver Building (pronounced IPA|ˈlaɪvə) is a building in Liverpool, England; part of the city's UNESCO world heritage Maritime Mercantile City. Opened in 1911, the building is the purpose built home of the Royal Liver Assurance group, which had been set up in the city in 1850 to provide locals with assistance related to losing a wage earning relative. One of the first buildings in the world to be built using reinforced concrete, the Royal Liver Building stands at 90m tall and was until the construction of St. John's Beacon in 1965, the tallest building in the city.

Today the Royal Liver Building is one of the most recognisable landmarks in the city of Liverpool and is home to two fabled Liverbirds that watch over the city and the sea. Legend has it that were these two birds to fly away, then the city would cease to exist.

History

In 1907 the Royal Liver Group had over 5000 employees and given the need for larger premises the company gave the go ahead for the construction of a new head office. Designed by Walter Aubrey Thomas, the foundation stone for the building was laid on 11 May 1908 and just 3 years later on 19 July 1911, the building was officially opened by Lord Sheffield. cite web |title=Rapid Growth 1886-1913 |publisher=Royal Liver Group |url=http://history.royalliverassurance.com/ |accessdate=2008-09-29 ] The building became the first major structure in Britain, and one of the first buildings in the world to be constructed using reinforced concrete, [ cite book |last=Hughes |first=Quentin |title=Liverpool: City of Architecture |publisher=The Bluecoat Press |date=1999 |accessdate=2008-- ] and given the buildings radical design was considered by some to be impossible to build.

Since its completion in 1911, it has overlooked the River Mersey from its waterfront location on the Pier Head and 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 90 metres (295 feet) 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 25ft 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. [citeweb|url=http://www.mersey-gateway.org/server.php?show=ConWebDoc.1322|title=Port Cities: The Royal Liver Building|work=E. Chambré Hardman Archive Retrieved 1 February 2008] They were originally named George clocks, due to being started at the precise time that King George V was crowned on 22 June 1911. [citeweb|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool/content/articles/2005/07/20/coast05walks_stage4.shtml|title=Coast Walk: Stage 4|work=BBC Liverpool|date=21 July 2005 Retrieved 1 February 2008] In 1953, electronic chimes were installed to serve as a memorial to the members of the Royal Liver Friendly Society who died during the two World Wars. During hours of darkness, the clock dials are illuminated.

Atop each tower stand the mythical Liver Birds, designed by Carl Bernard Bartels. 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.

The building remains the head office for the Royal Liver Friendly Society.It is reputed to be the Gothic inspiration for both the Manhattan Municipal Building in New York and the Seven Sisters in Moscow.

Gallery

References

External links

* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool/content/webcams/liver_building_webcam.shtml BBC Liverpool: Royal Liver Building webcam]
* [http://www.mersey-gateway.org/server.php?show=conMediaFile.19220 Royal Liver Building clock face being used as a dining table]
*IoE|214151|- Grade I


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Royal Liver Building — Présentation Architecte Walter Aubrey Thomas Date de construction 1908 1911 Destination initiale …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Royal Liver Building — 53.405833333333 2.9958333333333 Koordinaten: 53° 24′ N, 3° 0′ W …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Royal Liver Friendly Society — Royal Liver Assurance is a multi billion pound operation, a friendly society with over 1.7 million members in the Ireland and the UK.Liverpool Burial Society was founded by a group of working men from Liverpool in the Lyver Inn on 24 July 1850 to …   Wikipedia

  • liver bird — [liver bird] noun the name of an imaginary bird, from which the name ‘Liverpool’ is supposed to come. The liver bird is the symbol of Liverpool and can be seen on top of the two towers of the Royal Liver Building in Liverpool. The Liver Birds was …   Useful english dictionary

  • Liver bird — Le Liver bird sur une des tours du Royal Liver Building …   Wikipédia en Français

  • building construction — Techniques and industry involved in the assembly and erection of structures. Early humans built primarily for shelter, using simple methods. Building materials came from the land, and fabrication was dictated by the limits of the materials and… …   Universalium

  • liver bird — n the name of an imaginary bird, from which the name ‘Liverpool’ is supposed to come. The liver bird is the symbol of Liverpool and can be seen on top of the two towers of the Royal Liver Building in Liverpool. The Liver Birds was also the name… …   Universalium

  • Liver bird — The Liver bird (pronEng|ˈlaɪvəbɜːd) is the symbol of the city of Liverpool, England. The word liver in the name of the bird rhymes with diver , rather than with river .What species?The bird s species has long been the subject of confusion and… …   Wikipedia

  • Cunard Building — Not to be confused with the 1921 Cunard Building (New York City) Cunard Building …   Wikipedia

  • Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children — Hospital entrance Geography Location Westmead, Sydney …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”