Comments on: Sandwell wants to get shut of historic gates. http://www.birminghamconservationtrust.org/2008/11/sandwell-wants-to-get-shut-of-historic-gates/ New futures for Birmingham's historic buildings Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:38:20 +0100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Nick Booth http://www.birminghamconservationtrust.org/2008/11/sandwell-wants-to-get-shut-of-historic-gates/comment-page-1/#comment-930 Nick Booth Sun, 03 Jan 2010 12:37:39 +0000 http://www.birminghamconservationtrust.org/?p=671#comment-930 Thanks for the information Stephen. Thanks for the information Stephen.

]]> By: Stephen Mckay http://www.birminghamconservationtrust.org/2008/11/sandwell-wants-to-get-shut-of-historic-gates/comment-page-1/#comment-929 Stephen Mckay Sun, 03 Jan 2010 12:26:47 +0000 http://www.birminghamconservationtrust.org/?p=671#comment-929 I have been researching the history of the Liverpool Sailors’ Home for nearly 20 years. It should be remembered that the gates were removed to Birmingham in 1951 so very few people in Liverpool can remember them. It should also be pointed out that that during their time at the Home the main doors of the gates regularly fell off their rails, damaging the ironwork and killing the wife of the doorkeeper in the 1850s and a policeman in the early1900s. As for copying the gates, sections of the ironwork from the Sailors’ Home have been displayed at the Ironbridge Museum and I have made enquiries about having cast made at their own foundry. It would be possible to produce replica gates from the original (The result would be slightly smaller than the original due to the casting process) or from newly-made patterns but this would be expensive and require sponsorship as Liverpool City Council will not pay for this project out of public funds. Note also that the statue of the Liverbird, that stood above the gates was rescued from the Sailors’ Home site before the construction of the new John Lewis HQ, has still not found a permanent home in the city and is presumably in storage, like the tonnes of ironwork rescued from the Home before its’ destruction in 1974 and which is unlikely ever to go on public display. My point here is that there is a great deal to be taken into consideration about these gates and the status quo might not be as bad as it appears. It should also be remembered The Liverpool Sailors’ Home is still a registered charity operating in Liverpool and they might have an opinion on the matter. I have been researching the history of the Liverpool Sailors’ Home for nearly 20 years. It should be remembered that the gates were removed to Birmingham in 1951 so very few people in Liverpool can remember them. It should also be pointed out that that during their time at the Home the main doors of the gates regularly fell off their rails, damaging the ironwork and killing the wife of the doorkeeper in the 1850s and a policeman in the early1900s.
As for copying the gates, sections of the ironwork from the Sailors’ Home have been displayed at the Ironbridge Museum and I have made enquiries about having cast made at their own foundry. It would be possible to produce replica gates from the original (The result would be slightly smaller than the original due to the casting process) or from newly-made patterns but this would be expensive and require sponsorship as Liverpool City Council will not pay for this project out of public funds.
Note also that the statue of the Liverbird, that stood above the gates was rescued from the Sailors’ Home site before the construction of the new John Lewis HQ, has still not found a permanent home in the city and is presumably in storage, like the tonnes of ironwork rescued from the Home before its’ destruction in 1974 and which is unlikely ever to go on public display.
My point here is that there is a great deal to be taken into consideration about these gates and the status quo might not be as bad as it appears. It should also be remembered The Liverpool Sailors’ Home is still a registered charity operating in Liverpool and they might have an opinion on the matter.

]]> By: Nick Booth http://www.birminghamconservationtrust.org/2008/11/sandwell-wants-to-get-shut-of-historic-gates/comment-page-1/#comment-870 Nick Booth Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:54:53 +0000 http://www.birminghamconservationtrust.org/?p=671#comment-870 Stunningly simple! (wonder why not - any ideas folks?) Stunningly simple! (wonder why not – any ideas folks?)

]]> By: dominic gauden http://www.birminghamconservationtrust.org/2008/11/sandwell-wants-to-get-shut-of-historic-gates/comment-page-1/#comment-869 dominic gauden Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:26:15 +0000 http://www.birminghamconservationtrust.org/?p=671#comment-869 why not from the existing gates make a mould from them and have another pair cast?Keep both parties happy? why not from the existing gates make a mould from them and have another pair cast?Keep both parties happy?

]]> By: Dave Wood http://www.birminghamconservationtrust.org/2008/11/sandwell-wants-to-get-shut-of-historic-gates/comment-page-1/#comment-833 Dave Wood Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:56:57 +0000 http://www.birminghamconservationtrust.org/?p=671#comment-833 Sandwell Council claim they're "not at risk". This is not true. The gates are rusting away. http://www.flickr.com/photos/liverpoolpictorial/sets/72157622252902097/ Sandwell Council claim they’re “not at risk”. This is not true. The gates are rusting away.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/liverpoolpictorial/sets/72157622252902097/

]]> By: phil griffiths http://www.birminghamconservationtrust.org/2008/11/sandwell-wants-to-get-shut-of-historic-gates/comment-page-1/#comment-689 phil griffiths Fri, 07 Nov 2008 09:02:02 +0000 http://www.birminghamconservationtrust.org/?p=671#comment-689 Henry Pooley cast these Gates in Liverpool, John Cunningham designed them. These Gates are the last remnant of the Liverpool Sailors Home built circa 1846. The Gates have a real nautical theme including dolphins, sextants and ships wheels, they are crowned by the famous Liverpool Liver Bird, 70 years older than the two which stand on the Liver Buildings. It is without doubt, due to the diligence and generousity of Avery, that these Gates would have been lost forever, because Liverpool has been rather careless with its historical artefacts. However Liverpool is now appreciating what it is and what it was, and for Sandwell to return these Sailors Gates, to be installed into a memorial garden in the heart of Liverpool for all to admire, would be seen as a grand gesture. Henry Pooley cast these Gates in Liverpool, John Cunningham designed them.

These Gates are the last remnant of the Liverpool Sailors Home built circa 1846. The Gates have a real nautical theme including dolphins, sextants and ships wheels, they are crowned by the famous Liverpool Liver Bird, 70 years older than the two which stand on the Liver Buildings.

It is without doubt, due to the diligence and generousity of Avery, that these Gates would have been lost forever, because Liverpool has been rather careless with its historical artefacts.

However Liverpool is now appreciating what it is and what it was, and for Sandwell to return these Sailors Gates, to be installed into a memorial garden in the heart of Liverpool for all to admire, would be seen as a grand gesture.

]]> By: Simon Baddeley http://www.birminghamconservationtrust.org/2008/11/sandwell-wants-to-get-shut-of-historic-gates/comment-page-1/#comment-677 Simon Baddeley Wed, 05 Nov 2008 22:53:45 +0000 http://www.birminghamconservationtrust.org/?p=671#comment-677 Liverpool wants the gates back. Sandwell wants them to stay at the Foundry with a plan to apply to Lottery for major site restoration. V.much long term. Liverpool wants the gates back. Sandwell wants them to stay at the Foundry with a plan to apply to Lottery for major site restoration. V.much long term.

]]> By: dp http://www.birminghamconservationtrust.org/2008/11/sandwell-wants-to-get-shut-of-historic-gates/comment-page-1/#comment-676 dp Wed, 05 Nov 2008 21:26:10 +0000 http://www.birminghamconservationtrust.org/?p=671#comment-676 In that case, <a href="http://www.liverpoolmonuments.co.uk/gates/images/pooley02.jpg" rel="nofollow">this photo</a> is more apt. They are somewhere within the Foundry, probably to the left at the end of the row of worker's houses. At a guess, I'd say they were salvaged by Avery when it closed down the Poole foundry in 1931. Postdating the Boulton era by some decades. We can be thankful they weren't melted down for wartime use, and it does seem fitting that they go back home. With an acknowledgement to the industrialists and ironworkers of Smethwick who recognised their beauty and cared for them all these years. In that case, this photo is more apt. They are somewhere within the Foundry, probably to the left at the end of the row of worker’s houses. At a guess, I’d say they were salvaged by Avery when it closed down the Poole foundry in 1931. Postdating the Boulton era by some decades. We can be thankful they weren’t melted down for wartime use, and it does seem fitting that they go back home. With an acknowledgement to the industrialists and ironworkers of Smethwick who recognised their beauty and cared for them all these years.

]]> By: Nick Booth http://www.birminghamconservationtrust.org/2008/11/sandwell-wants-to-get-shut-of-historic-gates/comment-page-1/#comment-675 Nick Booth Wed, 05 Nov 2008 21:06:33 +0000 http://www.birminghamconservationtrust.org/?p=671#comment-675 I thinks this explains things a bot better, plus images of the actual gates: http://www.liverpoolmonuments.co.uk/gates/pooley12.html I thinks this explains things a bot better, plus images of the actual gates:

http://www.liverpoolmonuments.co.uk/gates/pooley12.html

]]> By: Nick Booth http://www.birminghamconservationtrust.org/2008/11/sandwell-wants-to-get-shut-of-historic-gates/comment-page-1/#comment-674 Nick Booth Wed, 05 Nov 2008 20:48:05 +0000 http://www.birminghamconservationtrust.org/?p=671#comment-674 Thanks for the comment and the questions. I was looking for those answers myself, but couldn't be sure. I have a vague memory from a visit that the gates are inside the main complex - beyond the gates show above. I used that image because it was the closest I could find. It may however be misleading (or maybe not) The blue plaque refers to the gates. Sorry I can't help anymore than that. Thanks for the comment and the questions. I was looking for those answers myself, but couldn’t be sure. I have a vague memory from a visit that the gates are inside the main complex – beyond the gates show above.

I used that image because it was the closest I could find. It may however be misleading (or maybe not) The blue plaque refers to the gates.

Sorry I can’t help anymore than that.

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