A Day of Interesting Places

Posted byRonnie 2 Comments on A Day of Interesting Places

One day in Liverpool, in the springtime of 2016. A day of several interesting places.

This day.
This day.

I’ve been in the Royal. Not the current Royal Hospital, or the new and still being built Royal.

But this one.
But this one.
Liverpool's original Royal.
Liverpool’s original Royal.
Replaced in the 1970s by a brutalist structure you've seen many times on here.
Replaced in the 1970s by a brutalist structure you’ve seen many times on here.

This brutalist structure.
This brutalist structure.
This beautiful place being no longer 'fit for purpose'
Such a beautiful place being no longer ‘fit for purpose.’

So then it stood mostly empty and unused for many years. A G.P’s in a bit of it. A conference centre in a bit of it.

But mostly empty.
But mostly empty.
No footsteps on the stairs.
No footsteps on the stairs.
Or quiet conversations in the sunlit corridors.
Or quiet conversations in the sunlit corridors.
No activity at all.
No activity at all.
Just silence.
Just silence.
And stillness.
And stillness.
And waiting.
And waiting.
A building of memories.
A building of memories.

Royal,Infirmary,1911

That might not have come to the future.
A building that might not have come to the future.

As you can see, it did though. Brought back into use by the University of Liverpool in recent years.

Which is why I'm here.
Which is why I’m here.

Talking change and well-being and adventures in Liverpool with others interested in creating our future. It’s what I do.

Next it's Anfield.
Next it’s Anfield.

The day of what will turn out to be the historic Dortmund game. Over in Homebaked they’re already having a record takings day as welcome German visitors come for the specially baked Klopp Pies.

The games another 6 hours away but the streets are already filling up.
The games another 6 hours away but the streets are already filling up.

DSC02187

Never forget the 96.
Never forgetting the 96. 27 years campaigning for justice.
The new stand gets bigger every week.
The new stand gets bigger every week.
Broadcast vehicles outside.
Broadcast vehicles outside.
At the end of all the local streets that survived is the ground.
At the end of all the local streets that survived is the ground.
And art.
And art.
I'm off to a meeting in Stanley Park.
I’m off to a meeting in Stanley Park.
Just past the King Harry.
Just past the King Harry.
where many will actually watch the match tonight.
Where many will actually watch the match on this night.

‘Great atmosphere and free food at half time.’ Priced out of our own ground.

Just along the road there.
Just along the road there.

My Beautiful Ideas meeting done, the streets are even busier. DSC02198

This day.
This day.

DSC02200DSC02201I call in to see my friends at Homebaked. They’ve briefly closed the shop to restock for the evening on this fantastic day.DSC02202Old Swan next.

Where the lovely library is closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays now.
Where the lovely library is closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays now.
But something wonderful has opened further along Prescot Road.
But something wonderful has opened further along Prescot Road.
Create, one of Liverpool's greatest and original social enterprises.
Create, one of Liverpool’s greatest and original social enterprises.

Trading again thanks to the efforts of my great friend Greg Walker. I’ll be back soon to Old Swan for a longer visit to Create and the library.

And finally on this interesting day?

To another of Liverpool's original social enterprises, Blackburne House.
To another of Liverpool’s original social enterprises, Blackburne House.

DSC02208 DSC02210And the graduation of everyone on the School for Social Entrepreneurs ‘Power Up’ programme. Specifically for people affected by gang culture and gun and knife crime. I’m very proud to have worked with these people during their programme.

Because in the end it’s not simply our interesting places and buildings that shape how we live, but our interesting people. Well done all of you.

Published by Ronnie

Writing about life, Liverpool and anything else that interests me. As well as working with others to make the world a fairer and kinder place: http://asenseofplace.com.

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2 Comments

  1. Reply

    1. Gorgeous isn’t it Janet? The idea that some time in the 1960s some people though the design for its replacement was in some way better is staggering. I’m sure they needed better operating theatres, but the fact that this place was simply abandoned rather than added to is woeful.

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