Interiors: Georgian Quarter that doesn’t do things by half

May 1 2008 by Debbie Johnson, Liverpool Daily Post

Debbie Johnson considers the massive appeal of Liverpool’s splendid, historic Georgian heart

LIVERPOOL’S Georgian Quarter has never exactly gone out of fashion – but it most definitely experienced something of a reversal of fortunes in the 20th century.

The stunning terraces of Percy Street, Rodney Street, Hope Street, Canning Street and the like were founded by wealthy merchant families in the late 18th and 19th centuries.

But, as mass transport allowed the wealth and power to move to the suburbs, few families could afford to keep on an entire house and an era of chaotic conversions began – many with a lack of sympathy for original features that are now highly prized.

Phil Lawton, director of Sutton Kersh, says: "Many of the properties became very run- down, neglected. They weren’t apartments in the sense we think of today, they were bed-sits. That began to change in the late 90s, when people began to see these beautiful houses for their potential. The first conversions into high-quality luxury apartments took place around 2000. I sold my first, in Canning Street, for £120,000, and people drew breath at how high that figure was then.

"The whole area is now very much sought after, not only by people in the city but people from London and the South – they can’t believe how much property you can get for your money here. Although we might think of half a million for a house in the Georgian Quarter as a lot, they are delighted that you can pick up a large Grade II-listed building with original features for that."

The Georgian Quarter is one of the jewels in Liverpool’s crown. Its beauty and elegance are well- recognised by film and TV makers the world over, and the area has been used as a backdrop for many a cinematic moment.

Many of the properties have now also been bought by people who love and cherish them, and have spent a great deal of time, money and effort on restoring them. Long-term residents have seen not only a great change in the appearance of the buildings and the people inhabiting them, but also in property prices. It is not uncommon for a well- maintained property in the area to be on the market for £700,000- plus, although smaller houses and apartments obviously fetch much less.

Gambier Terrace, on Hope Street, is one of the city’s most beautiful rows of houses, with previous tenants including Stuart Sutcliffe, John Lennon and Sam Walsh. Artist Peter Corbett, (pictured top), says: "When I moved here in the late 70s, it was a bit run-down, to say the least. It was black with dirt, there were potholes, and nobody cared. But there is a real creative energy here, something very special."

Musician Hannah Peel also lives in Gambier Terrace – in a beautifully restored property that has been converted into apartments, but with a real eye for quality and in complete sympathy with its origins.

Company director Mark Cole bought his Hope Street apartment about eight years ago. He’s seen a lot of changes in the area since then: "Hope Street was not quite the place it is now," he says, "it still had a certain shady side to it! But I loved the location and I still do – it’s the perfect combination of being near the action of the city centre, but quite peaceful. I have lovely views of the Cathedral and on Sunday you can hear the bells peeling."

Its ideal location near to the cultural landmarks, bars and restaurants is always highlighted as one of the advantages of the Georgian Quarter.

Richard Skelton, who restored his Rodney Street building, (right) after decades of use as offices, loves the fact that you can walk to the heart of the city but still feel like you have a peaceful haven of your own.

Barrister Mark Mulrooney bought his house on Pilgrim Street after returning to Liverpool in the late 80s. He says: "It was a very different place then, LIPA was still the Institute, the maternity hospital was still the maternity hospital and the Tea Factory still made tea." At the time, it was considered odd to buy a house in such a street – but Mark and his wife have since completely refurbished this Grade II-listed building and put it on the market.

Jon Barraclough lives in a beautiful home in Hope Place, around the corner from his design agency, Nonconform, on Hope Street. As well as the grandeur of the terrace and the spaciousness of the building, he also points out the sense of community that a lot of the Georgian Quarter streets have: "This is a street of old homes, with a well-established mix of people, some of whom have been here forever, some more recent, but it has a real neighbourhood feel to it."

Teacher and writer Martin Malone has lived in his Percy Street flat for more than a decade and has seen a lot of changes – the "gentrification" of nearby properties among them. But, he says, one thing has tended to stay the same: "There’s a real community here, the neighbours are brilliant. People really look out for each other, it’s quite old- fashioned."