Press kit
Press contact
Michael Doran
Tel: +44 (0) 151 225 2227
Mob: +44 (0) 780 145 3918
Newscentre Out of Hours 0151 233 3040
Fax: +44 (0) 151 225 5510
Email: mike.doran@liverpool.gov.uk
Images
Images on our Flickr site are subject to licence agreements.
Fact and figures
- Designed by Harvey Lonsdale Elmes and completed by Charles Robert Cockerell St George’s Hall was built between 1842 and 1854 and was both a law court and venues for music festivals. Queen Victoria described it as "worthy of ancient Athens" and Nickolaus Pevsner called it "the finest example of neo-classical architecture in the world".
- Fitted with the world’s first modern-air conditioning system and largest piped organ at the time, it hosted famous cultural events such as Charles Dickens’ world premiere reading of The Christmas Carol, as well as famous murder trials.
- The Great Hall has one of the largest barrel vaulted ceilings in the country plus a thirty thousand piece encaustic Minton tile floor. The Small Concert Room is considered the finest example of early Victorian design.
- The Small Concert Room ceased to be fully operational after World War II and the courts closed in 1984.
- The re-opening on Monday 23rd April, 2007, marked the end of ten years of planning and five years of restoration. The £23m restoration of St George's Hall was led by the architects Purcell, Miller and Tritton. The project was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, European Regional Development Fund, The Trustees of St George's Hall and Liverpool City Council.
- A Grade I listed building, St George’s Hall lies within Liverpool’s World Heritage site.
