Our Liverpool Regional Group marks its 60th anniversary

Vic Soc Liverpool regional group marks its 60th anniversary (graphic: Marta Naumova)

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of our Liverpool Regional Group. Our members in Liverpool will be celebrating at their AGM on 18th January, and throughout 2025.

On the 17th December 1964 the Liverpool Echo announced the Victorian Society’s first regional ‘branch’ was to be formed in the northwest city and its initial meeting would be on 11th January 1965 at St George’s Hall. The inaugural meeting was addressed by the Society’s then Chairman, Sir Nikolaus Pevsner, founder of the Buildings of England series. The local media including the Liverpool Daily Post and the Liverpool Echo reported the event.

Peter Fleetwood-Hesketh, one of the first members of the Liverpool Group committee, is quoted in the Echo “If you want to be with it join the Victorian Society and help us hand on to our successors intact the great works of the Victorian and Edwardian years. Once again, as in the case of John, Paul, George and Ringo, Liverpool leads the world.” The Victorian Society helped turn the tide against prevailing negative perceptions about Victorian architecture and art. Victoriana became a fashionable part of the 1960s with Biba taking up Art Nouveau designs, Oz magazine finding inspiration in the work of Beardsley, and the Beatles appearing on the cover of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band in Edwardian military band style uniforms. And people started joining the Victorian Society working to list, and save, their local Victorian and Edwardian buildings and structures.

In Liverpool, and across England and Wales, membership numbers for the Society grew through the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Our Liverpool Group undertook local casework and mounted their own campaigns – one of the highlights being the fight for the Albert Dock which was saved and converted. Manchester was to follow shortly after as the Society’s next regional group. The Society now have seven regional groups, giving the charity its distinctive character.

The Society’s Trustees, staff and members send our warmest congratulations to our friends in the Liverpool Regional Group. If you would like to support the Liverpool Group which works to raise awareness of the Victorian architectural heritage of all of Merseyside and further into Cheshire and South-West Lancashire, through events including visits and talks, do come along to their AGM on Saturday 18th January, or get in touch. Sign up to our free regional mailing list and our free e-newsletter, come along to an event or enjoy an online lecture, and consider joining the Society.

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