Saturday, 21 January 2012

Royal Liver Insurance, Liverpool

Ojay/Xan Asmodi/Sim2Lew...

Up with the top 3 things I wanted to see before I retire from all this urbecking bollocks was the Liver...


Meeting up recently in Liverpool with these guy's for a mooch we never expected to end up here!

Despite seeing a good chunk of this place I still didn't 'kiss the bird', for that very reason I will be back sometime soon, as well I know a man who would love to slackline it..

Although not to much about the history for me on this one, it would be rude not to include some (SEE BELOW).. I just wanted to stand next to that bird!

I never for one minute believed I would end up there, but cue some fortunate timing due to the place now being closed and sold off to Royal London for a £50M steal ;)

Some Shizzle:

Designed by Walter Aubrey Thomas, the foundation stone for the building was laid on 11 May 1908.

3 years later on 19 July 1911, the building was officially opened by Lord Sheffield as the purpose-built home of the Royal Liver Assurance group, which had been set up in the city in 1850 to provide locals with assistance related to losing a wage-earning relative.

Today the Royal Liver Building is one of the most recognisable landmarks in the city of Liverpool and is home to two fabled Liver Birds that watch over the city and the sea.

The building is crowned by a pair of clock towers..

As a ship passed along the river, mariners could tell the time from these.

The clock faces are 7.6 m (25 ft) in diameter, larger than those of London's famous landmark, Big Ben, holding the distinction of being the largest electronically driven clocks in the UK.

They were originally named George clocks, because they were started at the precise time that King George V was crowned on 22 June 1911 in 1953.

Electronic chimes were installed to serve as a memorial to the members of the Royal Liver Friendly Society who died during the two World Wars.

Atop each tower stand the mythical Liver Birds, designed by Carl Bernard Bartels.

Popular legend has it that while one giant bird looks out over the city to protect its people, the other bird looks out to sea at the new sailors coming in to port.

Alternatively, local legend states one Liver Bird is male, looking inland to see if the pubs are open, whilst the other is female, looking out to sea to see if there are any handsome sailors coming up the river.

Legend has it that were these two birds to fly away, then the city would cease to exist.


Historical Importants




Internals
















Oh, whats this?


Hitting up the rooftop gives access to meeting rooms and all manner of WIN..





Clock Tower







How do I a Liver Bird






As close as it gets for now ;)



ViewZ


I'll be back ;)


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