On the 16th September we set off on one of longer than normal adventure. We had booked four nights in Liverpool. It was on this day that the weather broke. Rain had been threatening and finally started to fall as we reached our morning stop at Sanbach on the M6. The wind also got up and traffic speed was restricted for the crossing of the Manchester Ship Canal.
The rain began to lessen as we reached the end of the M62 and so we turned off to find the National Wildflower Centre. When we arrived at the entrance there was no one in sight, but then an attendant spotted us and told us that because the weather was so poor and there were few flowers we could enter free of charge.
In the summer this would have been a beautiful place, but we had a wander around. Across the middle of the site was a quite ugly concrete office block. We were able to climb steps at one end and walk on the roof which was itself a garden with good views of the site. At the other end the steps led down through the shops and cafe area.
After lunch in the car park we continued our journey to Liverpool and arrived at the Travelodge. Although we were early we were able to leave the car. The receptionist directed us to nearest bus stop to town and off we set. It was a short walk to the main road crossing the dual carriageway. We crossed over to the nearest bus stop and waited. Fortunately it was the right bus stop for the wrong bus. Although all the buses look the same different number buses use different bus stops. In the morning we found that the bus we really wanted stopped on the other side of the dual carriageway.
However, the 139 that we did not take us straight down to the docks but it did stop outside the catholic cathedral. From the stop we could see the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral http://www.liverpoolmetrocathedral.org.uk/ near to us and the Anglican Cathedral further away in the opposite direction. And so we climbed our way up to the entrance and having read about its history opened the doors and, even though it was not a sunny day we were met with the 'wow' of the colour and splendour that we saw inside. It is essentially a round building with a central dome. Natural light sprays through the colourful glass. The dome changes colour as you walk around. The building is affectionately know as 'Paddy's Wigwam'. (See later picture.)
Having admired this building we made our way along Hope Street. Firstly we came upon statues of Rev David Shepherd (deceased) the last Anglican bishop and the Archbishop the Most Reverend Derek Worlock (deceased). The two men had stood for the poor of Liverpool during the 'Thatcher Years' and had collaborated in writing a book called 'Better Together with Hope in Our Hearts'. It is fitting that the two statues have been placed together on Hope Street.
Further along the street we came to a pile of luggage which was a sculpture.
Soon we came to the Anglican Cathedral known simply as Liverpool Cathedral http://www.liverpoolcathedral.org.uk/. Despite it not being old it was deliberately built in the old style and was not as impressive as its opposite number up the road. However, we were reliably informed that it boasted the best cafe in town and this was true.
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| Cafe and shop |
Braving the gale force winds we set off down hill which we hoped would be in the direction of the docks. The first significant structure was a magnificent Chinese arch at the entrance to Liverpool's China town.
Continuing on we went through a fairly normal housing estate and eventually came to the docks.
After a brief battle against the winds on the river front we made our way back to the central bus bays of the city. Here we found a Yates bar and restaurant to have our first real meal in Liverpool.
Then we found our way back on the bus and to the motel. At the motel we were greeted by a receptionist who decided that it would be best for us to have a downstairs room rather than drag our suitcase up stairs.
The following day we were guided by a local into getting on to the correct bus to the docks but still had quite a walk at the other end. The aim of the day was to visit the Slave museum and the Tate gallery. The day also gave us our first glimpse of the Liver building, other futuristic buildings and Superlambbanana http://www.superlambbanana.com/home.php?/WHAT? We also had our first siting of an old hero of Merseyside.
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| Superlambbanana |
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| Flashing art in the Tate |
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| Albert Dock from the Tate |
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| Billy Fury |
We decided to have our evening meal at the Toby Carvery which was across the car park from the motel.
The final day touring Liverpool was a very wet one and strangely, possibly because it was so wet, the bus was running late and would not take us all the way to the docks.
For our final day we chose to visit the
quite new Museum of Liverpool
It was a good place to learn of the City's history. Like all the Liverpool museums it was free and the cafe food and facilities were excellent.
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| The Empire State Building Made From Bayko |
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Liverpool had an overhead railway -
What a tourist attraction it would be |
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| Museum window |
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayko to see what Bayko is.
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Goodbye Liverpool with Liver building, museum
and Superlambbananas |
We had a last look at this amazing place and had one of the best views of the cathedral as we left. Before getting on to the bus back we called into the big glass building. There was an exhibition of the work of a contemporary war photographer. The images were very moving.
The next task was to collect the car which was already packed and move on to the Devonshire hotel where we would spend the last night before heading home.
For us it was quite a posh hotel and we wondered about where we should go and eat but discovered that the meals at the hotel were reasonably priced. And so we had a rather nice meal in very pleasant surroundings.
After a filling breakfast with regrets that we could not have stayed longer we made our way out of the city.
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The building opposite is the
'Littlewoods' catalogue building |
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| Irene saying goodbye to Liverpool |
Our next destination was Little Moreton Hall. Even as we progressed down the M62 the signs told us that the direct route would not be possible. However we managed to leave the M6 early and navigate, along with many others, to the hall.
We thought that there would be little to see. We were pleasantly surprised and even joined in the free guided tour. It seemed that the main purpose of the hall was to be a display of wealth. Hence its many windows and the showing off of the toilets (garderobes) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garderobe at the front of the building.
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| House with moat for drainage |
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| Look at all my windows |
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| I've got an upstairs and downstairs garderobe |
The next place we visited was also a display of wealth. This time it was a Victorian building a large garden populated with vegetation from the colonies. This place was Biddulph Grange Garden. Here we had lunch at the very crowded tea room before setting off to explore. The garden was a complete with different views around every turn. Some of the buildings were actually tunnel entrances which led to different parts of the garden. Naturally there had to be a obligatory Chinese garden in bright colours.
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| Tunnel entrance |
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| End of the holiday by the lake |
Both these places were National Trust properties. These two visits alone almost paid the annual subscription.
We ended our visit and set off home with many memories and having learned a lot more about our country.
In the summer this would have been a beautiful place, but we had a wander around. Across the middle of the site was a quite ugly concrete office block. We were able to climb steps at one end and walk on the roof which was itself a garden with good views of the site. At the other end the steps led down through the shops and cafe area.
Having admired this building we made our way along Hope Street. Firstly we came upon statues of Rev David Shepherd (deceased) the last Anglican bishop and the Archbishop the Most Reverend Derek Worlock (deceased). The two men had stood for the poor of Liverpool during the 'Thatcher Years' and had collaborated in writing a book called 'Better Together with Hope in Our Hearts'. It is fitting that the two statues have been placed together on Hope Street. 
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