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Public Asked To Help
Crowdsource The North West's Missing History
FROM Liverpool's Philharmonic Pub to
Pear Mill in Stockport, Historic England is asking for the public's help to
chronicle the history of the buildings and places on The List (the National
Heritage List for England). The List identifies the buildings, sites and
landscapes which receive special protection, so they can be enjoyed by current
and future generations. There are 400,000 of England's most valued historic
places with 25,537 listed buildings and 1,459 other protected places on the List
in the North West.
The List holds details of the most significant places that mark the history of
England and tell the story of the North West region. But there are still secrets
to uncover and stories to be shared about many on The List, so for the first
time ever Historic England is asking the public to share their knowledge and
photos of some of our most treasured historic places.
99% of people in England live within a mile of a listed building or place so
Historic England's North West team is calling for your pictures and knowledge,
particularly about places of work and entertainment venues, as these places are
a key reminder of our industrial past.
What is The List?
The List began in 1882, when the first powers of protection were established. It
has almost 400,000 entries: barrows and bunkers, palaces and pigsties, plague
crosses and piers, tower blocks and tombstones, cathedrals, windmills and
rollercoasters. Historic England curates the List for the Department for Culture
Media and Sport. It is a unique record of the country's evolving history and is
searchable online but many entries on it are brief, providing little more than a
short description of a building or place.
Share your knowledge...
This year, for the 1st time in history, we are inviting the public to join us
in keeping The List rich, relevant and up to date. We want people and community
groups in the North West to share their knowledge and pictures, so we can record
important facts about places, and even unlock the secrets of some.
The character of the North West:-
The Industrial Revolution and move to urbanisation have left a lasting legacy on
the character of the North West region. Mills and factories, warehouses and
workshops were places our people toiled... and a number of them are the listed
buildings of today. Historic England would like to hear the memories and
experiences of the people who worked there, along with any more details on the
fabric of the buildings.
Life was not all about work however; on the back of work places came
entertainment venues. Theatres and cinemas, pubs and clubs and the attractions
of the seaside are also important features of our past (and current) life and
many of them are on the List.
From the Mill in Wetherall to the Queen's Hotel in Morecambe, here is a
selection of the sites Historic England would like your contributions on:
Blackpool Tower was built in 1891/4 and includes the famous Tower, Ballroom,
Circus and Roof Gardens.
Victoria Mills, the silk mills built between 1830 and 1840, in Macclesfield. Did
any family members work there and share their memories with you? Do you have any
photos of it when it was a working mill?
Do you have any photos of the Lancashire boilers at Holmes Mill in? They were
removed in recent years and the building has been converted into a warehouse.
The 1853 weaving shed has been largely rebuilt, re-roofed and its north lights
and early machinery removed, and the original 1820s block has gone out of use.
Houldsworth Mill in Stockport is an outstanding example of a mill designed as
the centrepiece of a community and is therefore Grade II* listed. Do you have
any information on this cotton spinning wheel or photos?
Another cotton spinning mill, Stacksteads Mill in Bacup was listed in 1984 and
we would be keen to get more historical information or photos of it on the List.
The Mill in Wetherall was originally a water powered woollen mill that was converted
into steam in 1832. At the height of its production it employed 300 people. Do you
know anything about them?
The warehouse at 6, St Bride Street in Liverpool was listed in 1985 and there
are few details on the List. We'd like to hear of any architectural details or
about what it was used for in the 1830's.
The interior of the Edwardian baroque style pub, the Bridge Inn in Burnley has
been altered since it was built. Do you have any photos of how it used to look?
The Queen's Hotel, Morecambe is a pub dating from around 1840. Do you have any
photos of it when it was built?
The Crown Theatre in Salford has been through many changes: from theatre to
cinema and bingo hall. Can you tell us about how it looked at any of those
times?
Another venue to experience many name changes is The Grand Theatre in Lancaster.
It started out as:- 'The Theatre, Lancaster' in 1782. It was bought by Edmund
Sharpe who altered the building and re-opened it as;- 'The Music Hall'
in
1843. The building was extended in 1857, then altered and renamed 'The
Athenaeum' in 1884.
The Former Grosvenor Picture Place in Chorlton on Medlock wsa said to be the
largest cinema outside London when it was built in. What more can you tell us
about its history?
Director of Listing at Historic England, Roger Bowdler said:- "The history
of our land and its people is marked in the fabric of England's places. The List
is a free resource holding details of the most significant of these, so they can
be understood and protected for the future. Many buildings on the list are
well known and even world famous. But in some cases there is much that remains
unknown. That's why we need your help; so we can share images, insights and
understanding of England's special places, and capture these for future
generations."
To add your contributions to the List, visit:-
HistoricEngland.Org.UK. |
