Liverpool (city)

I

Introduction

Liverpool (city), city in north-western England, administrative centre of the metropolitan county of Merseyside, on the River Mersey, near its mouth on the Irish Sea. Liverpool is the commercial focus of a large metropolitan area. Although its exports (largely manufactured goods) have declined, it remains one of Britain's major ports. Liverpool is connected to the Wirral peninsula across the river by two motor-vehicle tunnels (1934, 1971) and a railway tunnel. Population 439,476 (2001).

II

Economy

Imports include grain and other foodstuffs, wood, non-ferrous metals, and textile fibres. Manufactured goods include pharmaceuticals, electrical equipment, food and flour, and rubber products. To augment Liverpool's extensive dock areas, important new facilities were constructed in the 1970s outside the city limits. Motor-vehicle manufacturing and oil refining are also located on the periphery of the metropolitan area. There has been considerable industrial redevelopment: a number of industrial estates, including Knowsley Industrial Park, which is one of Europe's largest, has been established.

III

Places of Interest

Relatively few of the existing buildings in Liverpool pre-date 1800. A notable exception is the town hall (1754, rebuilt 1795). The Albert Dock, containing the largest group of “Grade I” listed buildings in Britain, was built in the 1840s. The waterfront site underwent major redevelopment and restoration in the early 1980s and is now home to the Liverpool Tate Gallery, Granada television studios, and several museums, including the Merseyside Maritime Museum and the Museum of Liverpool Life. The renovated Albert Dock ranks among Britain’s most popular heritage attractions, with around 5 million visitors per year. Six sites in the city centre, including the docklands, the waterfront, the cultural quarter, and the commercial district, were collectively inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004. Other outstanding buildings are the Neo-Classical St George's Hall (1854), housing concert halls, law courts, and exhibition rooms; the Gothic-style Anglican Cathedral (begun 1904, consecrated 1924), one of the largest ecclesiastical structures in the world; and the Roman Catholic cathedral of Christ the King (consecrated 1967), a striking example of modern architecture (see Liverpool Cathedrals).

Liverpool's cultural institutions include the Walker Art Gallery (1873), the Liverpool City Libraries (1852), and the Liverpool Museum (1851). The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra is based in the city, and there are several theatres, including the Everyman Theatre and the Liverpool Playhouse—the oldest repertory theatre still operating in Britain. Among the city's educational institutions are the University of Liverpool (founded 1881), John Moores University (Liverpool Polytechnic until 1992), and several research institutes.

IV

History

In 1207 King John granted the hamlet of Liverpool the privileges of a free borough. It remained an insignificant port town until the late 17th century, when the nearby port of Chester declined as a result of the silting of the River Dee. The growth of manufacturing in surrounding areas and the increase of trade with America and the West Indies caused Liverpool to thrive. Expansion of the harbour was necessary, and in 1715 the first wet dock in Great Britain was constructed here. By the end of the 18th century the city had become a rich metropolis thriving on the slave trade and privateering. In 1830 a railway was opened between Liverpool and Manchester, and by the 1860s the city was the centre of an extensive rail network. During this period its population grew rapidly as numerous immigrants, chiefly from Ireland, settled here. Liverpool became the foremost British port for American trade and passenger service in the 19th century.

Because its port was strategic, Liverpool was heavily bombed by the Germans during World War II. The Allied naval headquarters for the Battle of the Atlantic between Allied convoys and German U-boats may be visited here. By the late 1940s cotton trade and the textile industry had declined dramatically. However, Liverpool is still the city from which the world's cotton markets are regulated, using the original “Cotton Rules”. Extensive slum-clearance and rebuilding projects were undertaken in the city in the 1960s and 1970s.

Liverpool's links with arts and entertainment are legendary. George Stubbs, the 18th-century painter, was born and worked there. The Beatles and other rock groups began their careers in the late 1950s; other famous Liverpudlians include the writers Alan Bleasdale and Carla Lane, the actress Patricia Routledge, and many comedians including Tommy Handley, Arthur Askey, and Ken Dodd. In 1996 the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA) was opened: it was specifically designed for students in the arts and entertainment industry. Liverpool also has strong sporting connections. The Grand National steeplechase is held at Aintree racecourse annually, and Liverpool FC and Everton FC are two of the country's major football teams. In 2003 Liverpool was named as the European Capital of Culture for 2008.