All aboard for a magical heritage tour

Aug 20 2007 by Peter Elson, Liverpool Daily Post

Watch out Stratford, York and Chester, because there’s a new kid on the history block as St Helens stakes out its heritage claim. Peter Elson reports

ST HELENS – home for heritage? A haven for history? How can this be? What has this “dirty old town” got that other more primped and plumped-up places can offer?

The answer is a desire to make the most of what no more than half a lifetime ago was a typical backdrop to northern life and polish up the gems that lay forgotten in its past.

As Andrew Marr graphically showed in his recent History of Britain series, somehow in 60 years the country’s face has irrevocably changed.

Belching factory chimneys, heavy engineering and industry have been swept away to be replaced by a virtual, cleaner but blander Britain.

To be honest, St Helens has done its fair share of sweeping away, too, with some fine Victorian buildings sacrificed for nobody’s quite sure what.

But just in time, before the loss becomes unsustainable, there’s been a realisation in the Town Hall that there’s money in them there Beecham’s pills.

Or to be specific, highlighting the achievements of this honest, old industrial town through its built environment.

What better way to highlight St Helens’s heady charms than to showcase them on the Heritage Open Days, organised annually nationwide by the Civic Trust?

This is an increasingly popular initiative to open up interesting and unusual buildings free of charge to stimulate the public in local architecture and history over a long autumn weekend.

No other northern borough embraces Heritage Open Days like St Helens Borough Council which somehow galvanises owners and volunteers to greater lengths every year.

This is literally true next month when not only are buildings featured for the September 3-9, but every other weekend either side up until September 17.

The council’s tourism development department, led by its redoubtable manager Gary Maddock and Heritage Open Days organising officer Alex Holt, is nothing if not bold.

Would most St Helens residents think there is enough on offer to create a historic buildings walking tour you might ask? Well, there is, and Blue Badge guide Ann Marshall will make sure you see it on the town tour.

This year there will also be a walking tour of Newton-le-Willows, led by SCARS, the Sankey Canal Restoration Society.

There will also be the return of presentations such as Just Mackintosh, featuring the work of the Scottish architect and designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

Once again, vintage buses from St Helens’s newly-refurbished North West Museum of Transport will link the heritage sites.

“There is a real passion for heritage among our council officers, such as Keith Naylor of the libraries who has done fantastic work promoting the railway history of St Helens,” says Gary.

“There is so much to be gained from all local authorities coming together to create a Merseyside focus on heritage to get people involved in promoting what’s all around us.

“So many industrial milestones were reached and ‘firsts’ invented just in St Helens that they should not be forgotten.

“It’s very easy to forget the contribution of the industrial north west not only to British, but to global manufacturing.

“Hopefully, our Heritage Open Days will show what St Helens’s part is in that. We’re very dedicated to this aspect and it attracts visitors.

“Many of the places that we feature are taken care of by passionately-motivated volunteers. It’s important to channel that energy by bringing them all together.

“That’s our job. We rely on these amazing volunteers who take care of buildings probably, but they probably don’t have a strong marketing background so we take on that role.

“That way, the event becomes a lot smarter and successful in terms of publicising it so visitors know what’s going on.

“This has improved year on year and in particular I felt we really reached a new level last year as Alex centrally co-ordinated what was going on.”

Like cultural magpies, the St Helens team are constantly turning their beady eyes on possible jewels to add to their crown. And there are a couple of long-overdue additions.

“I’m very excited that St Mary’s Lowe House is being opened for us this year on September 8,” says Gary.

“This is like the cathedral of St Helens, a stunning building with its copper dome, tower, carillon and gold mosaic clock.”

Another newcomer is Sutton Oak Welsh Chapel, which will not only open its doors but also reveal an insight into the Welsh community of St Helens.

“This is a fascinating building, made from reconstituted industrial waste. Only part is open, but this is an important start,” says Alex.

“The chapel is a great passion for the local people who look after it and it’s so good to have them on board. One of the main volunteers, Paul Jones, is getting married in the chapel.”

A key aspect of it taking so long for the area’s heritage to be highlighted is that it is not represented in councils at the highest levels, believes Gary.

“You only have to look at a sight such as Rainhill station and its 1829 locomotive trials and wonder what it would be like if it was in the US,” says Gary.

“We’re talking about the cradle of the railways. How would it be interpreted by the Americans? We don’t respect heritage as much as we should do.

“Interestingly, we’re bored by St Helens Town Hall as we work in it every day, but most people aren’t aware of its ceremonial and architectural side to which our guides are so dedicated.

“We, too, want people to step back and really appreciate what’s on our doorstep – and then step inside.”

* ST HELENS Heritage Open Days information available on 01744 755150; or from the Tourist Information Centre, World of Glass, Challoner Way, St Helens.

peter.elson@dailypost.co.uk

Open days

ATTRACTING some 850,000 visitors a year across the country, Heritage Open Days celebrates England's richly-endowed architecture and culture.

This annual event offers free access to 3,000 properties usually closed to the public or which normally charge admission. It will be staged from September 6-9 this year.

Buildings of every age, style and function are involved. The idea is to promote the public’s discovery and learning about hidden architectural treasures, through a wide range of tours, events and activities based on local history and culture.

Co-ordinated nationally by the Civic Trust in partnership with English Heritage, the event depends heavily on the enthusiasm and expertise of local people.

This is England’s largest voluntary event with thousands of volunteers from all backgrounds share their knowledge and memories with some 850,000 visitors every year, making Heritage Open Days England’s largest voluntary cultural event.

More information about Heritage Open Days is available in leaflets available from libraries and tourist information centres; or for Merseyside events, tel: 0151 233 1359; Cheshire events, tel: 01244 402110.

For postal enquiries, please contact The Civic Trust, Essex Hall, 1-6 Essex Street, London, WC2R 3HU; or tel: 0870 240 5251; email: hods@civictrust.org.uk

Highlights and quirky properties

AMONG the numerous Mersey- side, Cheshire, Wirral and Lan- cashire properties accessible for Heritage Open Days, here’s a taster of what is on offer:

Between two cathedrals – Liverpool’s Georgian and Victorian Heritage, Liverpool L1.

Local residents are the guides on a two-hour walking tour that includes much of Liverpool’s Georgian heritage. Directions: start and finish outside the Oratory, Anglican Cathedral Piazza (adj to Anglican Cathedral). Parking £3 per vehicle at Cathedral.

Opening times: Thurs Sep 6 to Sun Sep 9, 14.00-16.00

Additional information: Refreshments en route at Philharmonic Hotel, Hope Street.

Organised by: Rodney Street Association

Greek Orthodox Church of St Nicholas, 3 Berkley Street, Toxteth, Liverpool, L8 1XB.

Striking 1870 Greek Orthodox church in classic four-domed Byzantine style.

Directions: Off Princes Road, next to NatWest Bank.

Opening times: Sat, Sep 8, 10.00-15.00

Organised by: Greek Orthodox Church of St Nicholas

Ince Blundell Hall, Back o'the Town Lane, Ince Blundell, Liverpool, Merseyside, L38 6JL.

Georgian ancestral home of the Blundell family, who settled here in the 13th century. The Grade II-listed hall built in 1720-50 was designed by fashionable Liverpool architect Henry Sephton and is now an Augustinian Sisters’ nursing home.

Tour includes: Hall ground floor, Pantheon, Temple and parish church.

Opening times: Thurs, Sep 6, 11.00-16.00

Booking required: Sister Laura, tel: 0151 929 2596

Additional information: Children must be with an adult and of 12 years and over.

Organised by: Liverpool Culture Company

Poulton Hall, Bebington, Merseyside.

The 17th-century home and gardens of the Lancelyn Green family, whose ancestry dates back to the Norman Conquest, and who are long time patrons of arts.

Directions: Pick up by minibus (max cap 15) only from Woodside Ferry Terminal at 10.30

Opening times: Sat, Sep 8; tour at 10.30

Booking required: Tel: 0151 233 2459

Additional information: Duration three hours. Stairs to the upper floor, gravelled paths in the garden.

Organised by: Liverpool Culture Company

Hilbre Island Telegraph Station, River Dee, Hilbre Island, off West Kirby, Merseyside.

Grade II-listed Hilbre Island Telegraph Station, the best- preserved of survivor of the Holyhead to Liverpool optical signalling system, is now a visitor centre about history and wildlife.

Hilbre Islands are one mile offshore, a two-mile walk from Dee Lane, West Kirby.

The islands are cut off by tides twice daily and safe crossing times must be strictly observed. Earliest crossing time from the mainland on Sun, Sept 9 at 13.40, and visitors must depart by 19.50.

Opening times: Sun Sept 9, 14.00-16.00

Additional information: Not suitable for people with mobility problems. Max 10 people

Organised by: Liverpool Culture Company

Prescot Masonic Hall, High Street, Prescot, Merseyside.

Formerly Fazakerley House and sold in 1926 to Prescot Oddfellows and then Prescot Masonic Hall Co, in 1948.

Directions: High Street (A57), opposite from Prescot Museum and car park.

Opening times: Sat, Sep 8, 1000-1300 & 1400-1600

Chester General Railway Station, City Road, Chester, CH1 3AH

Guided tours covering history and improvement plans following 200th anniversary of the birth of leading railway engineer Thomas Brassey, of Birkenhead, and 160th anniversary since construction began in 1847 of this great Italianate station.

Directions: at north end of City Road

Opening times: Thurs/Fri, Sep, 6/7, tours at 14.00 (max 30 per tour); booking required on tel: 01244 402110

Organised by: Chester City Council & Chester Civic Trust