Western Approaches
celebrates successful re-launch
FOLLOWING on from our report in our
previous
edition, Big Heritage about the re-launched, on
Thursday, 26 October 2017, of Western Approaches, Liverpool's hidden WWII
bunker, Big Heritage founder, Dean Paton, said of the opening:- "It's been
a real challenge restoring a neglected military fortress to its former glory,
but it's been incredibly rewarding too. The launch was a wonderful celebration
of the team's hard work for this initial phase, but also, an acknowledgement to
the courageous women and men who worked here during WWII. Their stories have
been central to this redevelopment and, over the coming months and years, we're
hoping to learn even more whilst we continue to renovate previously hidden areas
of the building. It will some time before the other key phases of this extensive
project are fully completed, but over the coming months we're hoping that we can
gain feedback and real life recollections from visitors and incorporate their
thoughts into the other stages of the renovation. This building and the military
personnel who worked here, have sadly been forgotten for far too long. What we
want more than anything is to restore the gravitas to this bunker and put its
fascinating history on the global map as a leading WWII attraction."
Following the re-launch the renowned heritage site, on Rumford Street, is now
opened to the public who can now explore some of the labyrinth of rooms, within
the former bunker, under the City's Exchange Flags. Western Approaches will open
10am to 5pm, 6 a week, (except Wednesdays), all year round. Tickets are priced
at ₮6.75 for an adult and ₮4 for a child. Concession prices are also available.
As part of the initial Phase of the re-launch; with lots more to follow over the
coming years; the Big Heritage team of archaeologists, project managers and
builders have recreated an entire underground 1940's street, complete with
stocked sweet shop and dress shop. Also community classroom facility is
currently being installed and a range of interactive exhibits and attractions
have been installed within the building to provide accurate details on the
buildings former uses.
Western Approaches is now taking group bookings and will be implementing a
School programme, designed to meet the needs of Key Stage 2 and 3 history
students, within the near future.
