Collegiate provides the perfect home

Jul 12 2007 by Debbie Johnson, Liverpool Daily Post

Debbie Johnson learns about a regeneration success story

MIKE PACKWOOD took six months to choose his city centre apartment – but now feels he got it just right.

Mike, 44, decided to rent while he looked – and always found himself going back to the Collegiate building in Shaw Street.

The Collegiate is one of the city’s most imposing buildings. It was designed by Harvey Lonsdale Elmes and opened its doors as a school in 1843. Its more recent history included a renovation by regeneration firm Urban Splash.

The sense of history that comes with the Collegiate helped Mike make his final decision.

He says: “I went to see lots of places in the city but for some reason I kept coming back to this. I love the Gothic style of it, and the mix of the old architecture with the modern apartment conversion.

"It is a fascinating old place with a lot of history – it’s a miracle it has survived really.”

The Collegiate’s history includes Leonard Rossiter, Holly Johnson, Pete Best and Brian Labone among its former pupils. The connection with its life as an educational institution is still strong.

Mike says: “The developers have managed to retain a lot of the original character of the place, for example the World War One memorial in the hall, as well as the fireplace with its list of all of the school patrons and headmasters. On Remembrance Sunday, old pupils get together in the hall for a service at the war memorial.

“And cabbies have always got a story or two about the place when they drop you off – about friends who used to go there, or about how close it came to ruin when it was virtually destroyed by fire.”

Mike’s apartment is on an open-plan design.

He says: “It’s perfect for one or two people – really easy to use, light and airy. I think it’s brilliant but my parents hate it because it’s not got any proper doors!”

The best feature, he says, is the floor-to-ceiling window – 18ft high. He says: “The window opens up the whole apartment. On a sunny day, it’s like you’re living outside!”

From the balcony, Mike looks out onto a hexagonal building which used to be the hall and kitchens of the school. Now, minus its roof, it is a beautiful walled garden.

The apartment also comes with lots of storage space – something overlooked in many modern flats – and a good quality fitted kitchen and appliances, although Mike admits they don’t get much use!

Mike, a manager in the newspaper industry, has kept the decor and furnishings minimal.

He says: “I’ve tried to keep it as simple as possible. I hate clutter. It is mostly painted white to keep it nice and bright – but red seems to be taking over a bit lately as well!”

Mike is originally from Northampton but lived and worked in Cardiff before moving to Liverpool three years ago. He has now fallen in love with the city.

A keen photographer, he has loved getting to know his new home and capture it on film.

He says: “I’m really interested in the history of places, and try to find out as much as I can about where I live. I’ve taken loads of photos of the city since moving here – it’s amazing to see how much it has changed in such a short period of time. I’ve really enjoyed finding out about Liverpool and am excited about this period of enormous change. I can’t wait for 2008.”