Memorandum by Sefton Park Palm House Preservation
Trust (TCP 53)
1. HISTORY OF
SEFTON PARK
AND THE
PALM HOUSE
1.1 Introduction
Sefton Park is the only Paris-style park found
in England. It is one of the country's largest nineteenth century
public parks and the main fabric of the design has survived intact.
English Heritage assess Sefton Park as an "outstanding"
landscape, Grade II*. The Palm House is a Grade II* listed building
and is "the Park's single most important asset" (Land
Use Consultants Report: June 1992).
1.2 The Park
Following the success of Paxton's 1843 design
for Birkenhead Park and the earlier Princes Park (1842) the Liverpool
Corporation Surveyor is reported to have recommended that the
rapidly expanding suburbs of Liverpool be separated by a "sanitary
cordon of grand boulevards and parks". In the 1860s this
vision was largely realised with the construction of a chain of
Victorian parks from the South to the North of the City: Sefton,
Newsham and Stanley Parks.
The 375 acres for Sefton Park and the surrounding
building plots were purchased from the Earl of Sefton and in November
1866 the Corporation announced a public competition for the design
of Sefton Park. Twenty nine entries were received, In May 1867
the first prize was awarded to Messrs. André and Hornblower
for a natural, undulating and varied landscape design much influenced
by Andrés work as Gardener in Chief to the City of Paris.
In many ways the partnership between Louis Hornblower
and Edouard André was a"dream ticket". Hornblower
was a Liverpool Architect and had worked with Paxton on Birkenhead
and Princes Park. André had joined the Paris Parks Service
in 1860 and worked under Alphand who had designed the Paris Parks
after Napoleon's rise to power. André had been involved
in the development of the Bols de Boulogne and the Bols de Vincennes
and the parks of Monceau, Montsouris and Buttes-Chaumont. Andre
brought many features of the Parisian Parks to Sefton Park, most
noticeably the elaborate network of paths in a system of tangential
curves, the broad sweeps of grass and massed tree planting, the
serpentine lake and the mounding of path verges.
The design aroused controversy but was finally
accepted in June 1867 and although work still continued, the park
was officially opened by Prince Arthur in 1872. The evolution
of the park continued with a number of significant additions to
the original scheme including islands in the lakes and streams,
the Palm House, new footpaths and new plantations. Despite the
evolution of the design, influenced by fashion and finances, André's
vision of a Victorian park, which elegantly accommodated large
numbers of people and a variety of facilities and attractions
without conflict, was realised.
1.3 The Palm House
The Palm House was an important early addition
to the Park. The "great conservatory" was a gift to
the City from Henry Yates Thompson, the grand nephew of the founder
of Princes Park. It took the place of the Band Pavilion on the
original design and, with its elevated position, exotic plants
and statuary, soon became the centre piece of the Park. It was
built in 1896 by Messrs. MacKenzie and Moncur Ltd. of Edinburgh
who also designed and built the Stanley Park Conservatory in Liverpool
and the North and South Blocks to the temperate house in Kew.
The Palm House is a three tiered, octagonal
structure of wrought and cast iron on a polished granite base.
The glazing is flat but designed to give a curved appearance.
The Palm House has four entrance porches which have particularly
fine wrought iron gates depicting a swan and seaweed, a lion,
flowers and an eagle with a child in a crib and oak leaves.
Inside the Palm House were sculptures including
Highland Mary and the Angels Whisper by Benjamin Spence (1822-66),
Two Goats by Lombardi (1837-76), Mother and Child by Patrick Park
(1822-55) and a commemorative marble bench. Outside, surrounding
the Palm House, were eight statues by L Chavalliaud (1858-1921),
in bronze and marble of famous naturalists and explores including
Mercator, Linnaeus, Henry the Navigator, Columbus, Darwin and
Captain Cook.
The Palm House was designed as a temperate greenhouse
or Winter Garden and was originally stocked with a collection
of exotic plants that included seventy species of fern, palms,
bamboo, cocoa, Rhododendrons, Acacias and many climbing species.
The Palm House was a popular destination until
the Blitz of May 1941 when a bomb fell nearby, shattering all
the glass, fortunately the structure of the building remained
sound. At the outset of the war the Palm House had been camouflaged
as it was feared that the glass would reflect the moonlight and
act as a guide for war planes. None-shiny matt oil paint was used
on the outside of the building. Grey "paths" were painted
over the dome and the remainder was coloured green to blend in
with the surrounding parkland.
The bomb damage suffered by the Palm House in
the Blitz marked the beginning of the gradual decline for the
City landmark. The shattered glazing was replaced but over the
following decades the combination of differential expansion of
the wrought and cast iron structural elements, coupled with the
shrinkage of the glazing putty, led to the gradual deterioration
of the intricate glass canopy.
Exacerbated by winter storm damage and subsequent
vandalism, the building entered a spiral of decline which culminated
in its closure to the public in the 1980s for reasons of public
safety.
2. ARRESTING THE
DECLINE AND
CAMPAIGNING FOR
FUNDS
2.1 Analysis of the problem
In 1989 the City Council, with financial assistance
from English Heritage, appointed the structural engineers Posford
Duvivler to undertake a full condition and feasibility study for
the restoration of the Palm House.
The report concluded that although the main
structure was in fair condition, the glazing system was severely
damaged. They noted that the cast iron elements, though sound,
had started to suffer due to the build up of rust between each
component. The heating system and electrical services were reported
to be in disrepair and remedial painting works had adversely affected
original details.
The engineering consultants concluded that structural
restoration should include:
removal of all existing glass and
glazing bars;
replacement of purlins and reglazing
with toughened glass;
removal, treatment and replacement
of all retained components to their original position;
renewal of the heating system to
the original winter garden specification.
Following consideration of the report, the City
Council's Architecture Service in association with the consulting
engineers, designed and sought tenders for the restoration works.
In 1990 a £2.0 million bid was made for Urban Programme (UP)
funding based upon the report recommendations and lowest tender.
After lengthy consideration, the bid was not approved by the Merseyside
Task Force which requested that further studies be undertaken
in relation to tourism and the local economy in order to justify
the significant expenditure.
2.2 Arresting the decline
Further studies were put in hand in 1992 when
English Heritage offered grant aid to develop a pilot restoration
plan for Sefton Park. Land Use Consultants were commissioned and
prepared a restoration strategy which also explored in outline
the development/tourism potential of the Park. These studies emphasised
the significance of the Palm House and highlighted its value for
tourism, but funds were not available to continue the investigations
through to the preparation of a detailed strategy or business
plan.
Meanwhile, in 1992 the Merseyside Task Force
recognised, even though it had not approved the full restoration
costs, that if the structure was to be saved, remedial action
was urgently required. It was agreed that the City Council could
allocate £250,000 of its available UP monies to enable a
programme of Phase One Restoration works to be carried out pending
further consideration of the total refurbishment proposals and
its long term future. The key objectives of the Phase One scheme
undertaken in February-March 1993 were to make the Palm House
safe, secure and accessible to the public. It comprised:
removal of all glass, all of which
was in a dangerous condition;
emergency repairs to the base of
the main lattice beams and strengthening of the purlins with waxoyl
treatment to the columns;
painting of the main lattice arches,
beams, lower vertical glazing bars and ring beam, porches, decorative
gates and main columns to arrest further deterioration;
refurbishment of one entrance area;
removal of all non original heating
pipes;
reintroduction of outdoor planting
display;
provision of small paved performance
area;
erection of boundary security fence-line
and security alarm.
These essential works were completed and by
enabling public access and limited use they marked the beginning
of the current stage of the restoration campaign.
2.3 The Friends of Sefton Park Palm House Trust's
Campaign
The closure to the public of the City's principle
park attraction had generated a committed "Save the Palm
House Campaign" with support across the City and beyond,
demonstrated by a 5,000 signature petition in September 1992.
The partial restoration injected fresh impetus
to the campaign to fully restore and refurbish the Palm House.
The official reopening by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool in August
1993 was attended by over 800 people who converged on the partly
rejuvenated structure in a carnival atmosphere with jazz band,
period costume and transporteven a celebratory cake!
Fundamental to the relaunch of the campaign
was the increasing collaboration between public and voluntary
sectorsCity Council Officers and Members meeting with the
newly titled "Friends of Sefton Park Palm House" (FSPPH)
at an advisory forum which included the City Heritage Bureau and
National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside (NMGM).
This "Sefton Park Palm House Advisory Group"
met regularly to develop a coordinated approach towards funding
opportunities, new uses and promotional events to increase awareness
about the building. In 1994 the City Council approved the establishment
of the Friends as a fundraising charitable trust focused on the
Palm House. Initiatives such as the "Sponsor-a-Pane"
scheme and imaginative event programming by the Trust have successfully
maintained a high public profile for the Palm House. The broad
spectrum of attractions has developed the role of the building,
establishing a unique location for park based exhibitions, attractions,
concerts and celebrations.
3. PROJECT COSTS
AND FUNDING
3.1 Introduction
The following outline cost break down has been
prepared on the basis of information supplied by the City Council's
Architecture Service (Quantity Surveying Division). The sums for
the restoration of the existing structure are derived from the
tendered prices received in 1990 which did not proceed due to
lack of funding. These sums have been updated for inflation and
to take account of the emergency and preliminary works which were
undertaken in 1993. At this stage the estimates for the new basement
areas and external works have been provisionally priced by the
quantity surveyors on a unit area/cost allowance basis rather
than measured items.
In addition to the building works these costs
also include a provisional amount of £50,000 to assist with
the purchase of equipment for botanic displays and interpretation.
This will provide for movable planters for the events area, display
screens, special lighting and computer/audio/visual equipment.
A further £4,000 had been allocated for the purchase of equipment
to establish an office base for the Trust and the City Council's
staff located at the Palm House.
3.2 Project Costs
|
Item | Estimated cost (£)
|
|
(A) Feasibility | |
Hillard Ritchie study and Business Plan |
36,000 |
| |
(B) Design and Construction |
|
Structural restoration including new services
| 1,210,000 |
Restoration of statues | 45,000
|
External works (including parking) | 265,000
|
Sub-total restoration | 1,520,000
|
Basement (complete structure and fitting out)
| 345,000 |
Interpretation/display facilities | 50,000
|
Sub total restoration + basement | 1,915,000
|
CCTV and feature lighting | 24,000
|
Contingencies (5 per cent) | 100,000
|
|
Sub total | 2,039,000 |
| |
Design and quantity surveying fees | 275,000
|
Additional contingency related to basement new build inclusive of associated fees
| 16,000 |
Internal charges (lead client) | 49,000
|
Botanic consultant | 10,000
|
|
Part B subtotal | 2,389,000
|
| |
(C) Establishment period |
|
Assistant manager and horticultural officer
| 79,000 |
SPPHPT Development, IT and office set up costs
| 14,000 |
Additional Council revenue over five years |
45,000 |
|
Part C subtotal | 138,000 |
|
Total Project Capital Cost | 2,563,000
|
|
3.3 Project Funding
The search for funding has been actively pursued since 1990.
As outlined earlier in the document, the Trust has pursued a range
of fund raising activities and events. For a voluntary organisation
of its size and resources it is now in a position to make an important
although proportionally limited contribution to the capital costs.
English Heritage have supported the restoration proposals from
the outset and have offered £300,000. The City Council will
be making its contribution "in kind" through the implementation
of various aspects of the project's external works including the
gravelled paths, car parking and planting. This will be undertaken
by its Landscape Construction DSO. Further contributions will
be made through its increased revenue contribution to the upkeep
of the Palm House calculated over five years. A further sum of
£109,540 is being provided by European ERDF funding through
the Objective One Programme for Merseyside. This is in addition
to the £16,000 ERDF granted to the Trust for the Hilland
Ritchie Management Plan Study.
Significant funds are being obtained from a wide range of
sources with the principle financing from the Heritage Lottery's
Urban Parks Programme.
|
| |
Source | Funding (£) |
|
Liverpool City Council (capital) | 127,000
|
Liverpool City Council (revenue) | 11,250
|
SPPHPT | 56,960 |
English Heritage | 300,000 |
ERDF | 109,540 |
Sunk funds | 36,000 |
Heritage Lottery Fund grant award @ 75 per cent
| 1,922,250 |
|
Total2,563,000 | |
|
4. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
The FSPPH became the "Sefton Park Palm House Preservation
Trust" (SPPHPT) on 1st November 1996 to facilitate the joint
application for funding by Liverpool City Council and SPPHPT,
and to enable the Trust to seek additional sponsorship as required.
The securement of the Lottery funding has enabled the project
to proceed. Liverpool City Council has drawn up architectural
plans in consultation with SPPHPT. These are currently out to
tender and the work is due to be completed by summer 2000.
The past few months have been particularly interesting for
SPPHPT involving, working intensively with Liverpool City Council
on the finer details concerning the new build as well as the more
general concerns about the restoration scheme. The £2.563
million funding is only going to meet the cost of the basic restoration
and new build work. SPPHPT is consequently currently in the process
of appointing a sponsorship, PR and marketing consultant to assist
the Trust in this critical time prior to the reopening of the
Palm House. There will be approximately £200,000 required
in addition to funding already secured in order that SPPHPT can
fulfil its events management role (i.e., provision of seating,
tables, kitchen and catering equipment, theatre lighting etc.).
Now is arguably the most exciting point of the project to
date, which will, in little over a year's time, provide a public
asset displaying part of Liverpool's world famous plant collection
as well as providing a multi purpose facility for the local population,
national and international visitors.
REFERENCES
Sefton Park Palm House Restoration Proposalsa submission
for grant aid made by Liverpool City Council in association with
the Friends of Sefton Park Palm House, 1997.
May 1999
|