Select Committee on Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Memoranda


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 transport—even a celebratory cake!

  Fundamental to the relaunch of the campaign was the increasing collaboration between public and voluntary sectors—City 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

ItemEstimated 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 statues45,000
External works (including parking)265,000
Sub-total restoration1,520,000
Basement (complete structure and fitting out) 345,000
Interpretation/display facilities50,000
Sub total restoration + basement1,915,000
CCTV and feature lighting24,000
Contingencies (5 per cent)100,000

Sub total2,039,000
Design and quantity surveying fees275,000
Additional contingency related to basement new build inclusive of associated fees 16,000
Internal charges (lead client)49,000
Botanic consultant10,000

Part B subtotal2,389,000
(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 subtotal138,000

Total Project Capital Cost2,563,000


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.

SourceFunding (£)

Liverpool City Council (capital)127,000
Liverpool City Council (revenue)11,250
SPPHPT56,960
English Heritage300,000
ERDF109,540
Sunk funds36,000
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 Proposals—a submission for grant aid made by Liverpool City Council in association with the Friends of Sefton Park Palm House, 1997.

May 1999


 
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Prepared 8 June 1999