World Heritage Status - what has Liverpool lost?

Earlier this week, Liverpool lost its World Heritage Status following a decision of a UNESCO committee in China. The status was awarded back in 2004. The city was said to be significant because –

Liverpool played a leading role in the development of dock construction, port management and international trading systems in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries.

The buildings and structures of the port and the city are an exceptional testimony to mercantile culture.

 Liverpool played a major role in influencing globally significant demographic changes in the 18th and 19th centuries, through its involvement in the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and as the leading port of mass European emigration to the New World.

 https://www.liverpoolworldheritage.com/why-is-liverpool-a-world-heritage-site/

 None of this has changed. The buildings are still there. What has happened is there the city now has more modern buildings and will soon have a world class football stadium on its waterfront – some distance from the famous Liver Building. The committee dislikes the more modern developments, and the status has now gone. Unfortunately, this is the inevitable cost of change.

 Back in the early 1980s Liverpool was a mess. The docklands were derelict and the whole waterfront was a depressing embarrassment. This was highlighted in Alan Bleasdale’s memorable TV series Boys from the Black Stuff. In the episode George’s Last Ride, George is taken to the docks, and looks out across the emptiness saying – ‘I can’t believe there’s no hope’.

 
 Following the Toxteth riots in 1981 Geoffrey Howe famously wrote to Margaret Thatcher –

 "I cannot help feeling that the option of managed decline is one which we should not forget altogether. We must not expend all our limited resources in trying to make water flow uphill."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-16355281

What happened instead was the start of a period of regeneration, unimaginable to those of us who lived and worked here at that time. This was attributable to the vision and energy of a Conservative minister, Michael Heseltine and many others. The UNESCO  decision will not undermine 40 years of progress.

Let’s start with a trip to Peru. Machu Picchu has always been high up on my bucket list. The stunning 15th Century, Inca Citadel really is a wonder to behold – I am told! Why do I want to go there? Because of its stunning location and history. It has world heritage status but that would not appear on my top 20 reasons to visit. I want to go there because it is Machu Pacchu not because it has a badge.

So if we head back to Liverpool we ask what impact did the status have on tourism.

Let’s look at the continuing influence of the Beatles. In My Life (so to speak) they have brought thousands of visitors to Liverpool. In 2016 it was reported that that they contributed £82m to the city’s economy and 2335 jobs.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-35523070

This famous statue graces the cities waterfront

The Albert Dock itself is now a world class centre for tourism and business –

And then there are the two cathedrals!

We've got one to spare!

The stunning three graces are as graceful as they ever were.

Just a few miles away, there is Rimrose Valley Country Park and at Crosby Beach, some of the most breath-taking sunsets in the world!

People come to Liverpool for all of this. Businesses are moving to Liverpool because it is a great place to live and work. One German poll recently placed Liverpool in 10th place among the world’s best cities for mental well-being, the only UK city to appear in the top 20 –

https://www.positive.news/society/the-worlds-best-cities-for-mental-wellbeing/

It is a disappointment that the UNESCO committee has decided to remove the status. The city does have issues to address. Some of the new buildings might not be to everybody's taste. But Liverpool remains a city which is rightly proud of its history and it position as a leading tourist destination in 2021.

Welcome to Lockdown Waterloo

 

Firstly, a big thank you to all of those who have followed this blog on Social Media especially at a time when lockdown is preventing any real chance to welcome anyone to Liverpool. It isn’t easy to update a blog about Liverpool when I am presently only leaving home to do the statutory walk! But it is a beautiful walk near to Crosby Beach, about 5 miles from Liverpool City Centre. 

So in the absence of anything else here are some photo highlights from recent walks!

We are very lucky to live just a short walk from the beach -

And once we get to beach it isn't long before we meet our good old friends from Another Place. The iron men remain a popular sight - especially when there is not much else to do. There are days when the poor guys struggle with the elements!

But on this occasion a well meaning local resident has come to the rescue.

I have written before about the beautiful skies over Crosby Beach at certain times of the day and they never let us down - 

Just behind the beach are the two marinas with their surprising variety of birds

 - https://welcometoliverpool.blogspot.com/2020/09/crosbys-little-marina-lockdown-treasure.html

And we can rest assured that the local guard of honour will keep an eye on us! 

A short detour into the sandhills presents a lovely view of the Marinas and the Terraces that are worth a visit in their own right and include the home of the Captain of the Titanic! 

 

 Keep safe!

 

Crosby's little Marina - a lockdown treasure

 

This is the first time that I have updated the blog for a while!

Lockdown has certainly limited the opportunities to get out and about.  That is what has led to this post about one little place that has been a treasure, especially when we were all limited to walking not far from home. This is the small lake at Waterloo next to the more famous Crosby Marina.

The Marina itself is well worth a visit. But the small lake alongside it attracts a fascinating and beautiful array of birds which makes it popular with walkers and , on occasions, more serious birdwatchers. It is easy to find. You walk down South Road from Waterloo Station, past the  Waterloo Place Café. Keep going in a straight line towards the beach and you will come to a path with the main Marina on your left and the smaller lake on your right. You will see some typical favourites such as Mallards, Coots and mute Swans – no less stunning for being familiar.  

But there will also be surprises. One sign of an unusual visitor is a group of twitchers with their serious cameras and backpacks. That was certainly the case earlier this year when a Long Tailed Duck dropped in for a few days. It is known as a sea duck and so is a rare sight in a lake, albeit one that is near the sea! He tended to keep his distance so a good photo was challenging but it was still a treat to see him

Another treat this year has been the pair of black swans that have been around for most of the summer and early autumn. I have previously only seen them in Australia. They are stunning. They are heavily outnumbered by the Mute Swans but still manage to bully their bigger cousins when there is food around.

There is also no shortage of diving ducks, Canada Geese and the occasional Pink Footed Goose.

It costs nothing to visit the lake, which is a pleasant diversion on the way to, or from the beach. Late afternoon is possible the best. 

If your eyes are fast enough you may even catch the occasional swift or swallow.

In Another Place

I have always felt very fortunate to live near the waterfront at Waterloo just north of Liverpool. The River Mersey passes by the bottom of the road before opening out into the Irish Sea. There is nothing quite like the sound of the sea and the wonderful sunsets that I have mentioned before.

All of this was taken to a different level in 2005 when 100 iron men appeared along the length of Crosby Beach. They are the work of renowned sculptor Anthony Gormley – creator of the Angel of the North in Gateshead. In fact, each of the Iron men is moulded from casts of the artist’s body. In effect they are 100 replica Gormleys. They all appear to be looking out to sea towards the same distant point – to another place.

The original plan was for them to pay a short visit before heading off to the USA. But they have stayed with us ever since and are now a permanent feature.

They have certainly led to an increase in visitor numbers. On any weekend, especially in the summer, tourists can be seen admiring them, photographing them or even dressing them up!

Their effect on the beach itself is stunning. They are spread out over 3 km between the beginning of the beach at Waterloo and the Coast Guard Station at Burbo Bank. You might want to focus on just one of them as he looks longingly into the distance. Or you might want to stand back and watch many - all with that same longing. Any photograph of the beach seems to come alive with their presence.

You can access them at any point along the promenade that follows the length of the beach. The most popular places get to them is from the bottom of South Road, 5 minutes from Waterloo Station, near Crosby Baths or from Burbo Bank itself. If you use the South Road route be sure to stop for a drink at the remarkable Waterloo Place Café and Gallery that has been created from the remains of what were once unused and rather nasty public toilets!

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/trainspotting-horror-toilet-transformed-cafe-12027383

If you can mange to walk the length of the promenade then it is an experience not to be missed - although the walkway is regularly inaccessible to wheelchairs, buggies and wheelchairs if the sand has been blowing from the dunes and not been cleared away – something that happens all too often. But even with that warning, a visit to the now famous Iron Men is an essential part of any visit to Liverpool! 

The one and only Albert Dock

You cannot write a series of blogs about Liverpool without mentioning the Albert Dock, which is the biggest tourist attraction in the city and also one of the most popular in the UK outside of London with over 4m visitors a year. This is even more remarkable to those of us who remember the early 1980s when the Dock was closed, run down and a depressing example of urban decay. To be honest I have little memory of what it was like back then because, like everyone else, I never went!

So here is a quick history lesson. The docks were opened in 1846 by….yes you guessed it…Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria. It was built of iron, brick and stone making it the first fire proof warehouse in the world. 

Its dockland hey day was in the late 19^th and early 20^th Century by which time the demands of modern trade and gradual decline of Liverpool took its toll. By the Second World War there was little by of shipping although the warehouses remained very active. Extensive damage in the May Blitz of 1941 did not help. The docks never really recovered. In the early 1960s demolition was considered. The dock finally closed in 1972 and remained in a derelict state until the revival which began in the 1980s.

http://welcometoliverpool.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/welcome-to-welcome-to-liverpool.html

It is now impossible to visit the dock without encountering hundreds of visitors from across the world. The attractions are varied and fascinating.

The first port of call for many is the Beatles Story. This a must for any Beatles fan – or anyone else who wonders what the fuss is about – 

http://www.beatlesstory.com/schools-and-colleges

The current highlight is a set of Sgt Pepper suits!

A short walk around the old docks brings you to the Tate Gallery. 

Its historic setting merits the visit and a coffee on the dockside is an essential experience. But the gallery itself has hosted some great exhibitions. I have been to Dali and Klimt  presentations and you can currently see Tracy Emin’s memorable unmade bed.

You can also take in the Maritime Museum which merits a blog post of its own. There are endless places to eat and drink including Revolucion de Cuba and  Liverpool Comedy Central –

http://www.albertdock.com/food-drink/restaurants-and-bars/

But I have to say that my favourite activity is simply walking around the area taking in the vibe, the nostalgia and the sheer beauty of the old and modern beautifully reflected in the still water.

I drive past the Albert on my way to and fro work everyday and have begun to take it for granted. But for anyone visiting for the first time or old timers like me who take a moment to stop and look, it is a world class attaraction which can still take the breath away ..