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I mentioned in my recent post about the Queensway Tunnel that Herbert J Rowse was, in my opinion, Liverpool’s greatest architect. His four great Liverpool buildings are: India Buildings (1923) Mersey Tunnel (1925-34) including George’s Dock Building Martins Bank, Water Street (1927-1932) Philharmonic Hall (1933-39) Of these, Martins Bank is probably his masterpiece – a cathedral to commerce which would [...]
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When did Barclay's leave the building ? I always thought I'd gone in a fancy Barclays that was on the other side of Water St
excellent Colin :)
They left about 3 years ago (I am not sure when exactly). Barclays were definitely in the building (I banked there for a while just because I liked the building so much).
Well it would have been there I went in. Was with a mate who banked there about 15 years ago so I couldn't be totally sure.
Out of interest, what was the building on the other side of the road ??
The history of the building is that Martin's Bank was taken over as a company by Barclay's so that all branches that had been Martin's banks in Liverpool became Barclay's.Quote:
Originally Posted by scouse smurf
I put a note on Colin's website to note that I worked in that building on Water Street in the Cash Center in 1968 when it was still Martin's. It must have changed to Barclay's pretty soon after that though because I kept an account at Martin's when I left to go to college in the U.S. and I found that I was dealing with Barclay's Bank very shortly after I re-emigrated to the United States.
Chris
Great photos Colin. Thanks again.
Your claim of Herbert J. Rowse, being "Liverpool's greatest architect" [forgive me, as you did say it's an opinion]. I'd like to throw a challenger into the ring:
John Foster Junior - Custom House; St Luke's Church [part]; St John's market [now demolished]; St Andrew's Scottish Church, Rodney Street; St Michael's Church, Pitt Street; Rebuild of St. George's Church, Derby Square; Public Baths, St George's Dock; The [New Brighton] Rock Lighthouse; Aintree racecourse grandstand; The Moorish Arch; The Necropolis Cemetery [Anglican Cathedral site].
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St Martin's Bank - I wonder if the ceiling sculptural relief was inspired by the Sailor's Home? Anyone notice the elephant in the room? The figure of an African child chosen as subject matter for the sculpture.
Remember the African child reliefs in the entrance vestibule which was covered in a previous thread - Barclay's (Martin's) Bank Doors Linked to Slavery?.
http://i861.photobucket.com/albums/a...77/Mermaid.jpg
Picture credits:
http://www.liverpoolmonuments.co.uk/gates/pooley11.html
http://streetsofliverpool.co.uk/mart...-water-street/
Hi Dazza
You make a good point that the design of the mermaid in Martin's Bank could have been inspired by the mermaids at the Sailors Home. There is an interesting discussion of mermaid lore and art here: "LUSTY LADIES: MERMAIDS IN THE MEDIEVAL IRISH CHURCH" by the late Patricia Radford, Curator/Lecturer Oklahoma State University. The author shows a photograph of a two-tailed mermaid found at Pompeii.
And by the way, John Foster Junior might have built a lot of stuff qualifying him as being "Liverpool's greatest architect" over Herbert J. Rowse, yet did either of them build Liverpool's greatest buildings? Might Harvey Lonsdale Elmes (St. George's Hall) and Sir Giles Gilbert Scott (the Anglican Cathedral) not tower over both of them? Or are we talking about an architect having to be a resident of the city to qualify as "Liverpool's greatest architect"?
Cheers
Chris :PDT_Aliboronz_24:
Quite right Chris, Harvey Lonsdale Elmes and Sir Giles Gilbert Scott are both very worthy suiters to the title of Liverpool's greatest architect, and I liked your "tower over both of them" postscript. I don't think we should limit the title to Liverpool born and bred, nor how many completed or surviving works there are.
Mermaids, those lusty ladies was an interesting link, thanks - although the Martin's bank mermaid looks surprizingly like a boy, and an African boy at that?
Daz
Aye the Martins Bank image looks more like a Merman than a Mermaid. Interesting depiction of the mythical water entity. The African look of the figure is indeed also intriguing.
Chris
Martin's bank sculptured reveal panels in the entrance vestibule.
Attachment 17157
Also covered here - Barclay's (Martin's) Bank Doors Linked to Slavery.
John Foster Jnr is a worthy challenger but the contest is a little bit uneven. Rowse's works are well documented whereas there are many works that have been attributed to Foster, yet cannot be proven because no documentation is extant.
These include:
Lime Street Station (demolished), possibly Liverpool Road Station (Manchester) and Gambier Terrace.
John Foster Jnr was also responsible for illuminating the entire Town Hall, Old Dock and Exchange for the visit of HRH The Prince Regent in 1806.
Saying that, Rowse's work is more in my taste.
My suggestion that Herbert J Rowse is Liverpool's greatest architect is, of course, just a matter of opinion. Certainly there are good competition including John Foster Junior, who has been treated shabbily by succeeding generations. Also Alfred Waterhouse, born in Aigburth in 1830 and one of the great figures of the Gothic Revival. His Manchester Town Hall is one of the great buildings of the nineteenth century - although we are talking about Liverpool here (where he is well represented with his familiar use of terracotta brick).
Elmes I am less sure about - he died too soon for his talent to develop after St George's Hall. Giles Gilbert Scott's Cathedral is to me one of the great buildings of the twentieth century - albeit in an outmoded style. I'll post some more of Rowse's work on Friday to try and convince you.
Great thread.
Isn't this where the Gold was kept during WW2 ?
The Bullion Boys is the film about it
Mart
Herbert J Rowse's firm still survives today under the guise of Bradshaw Rowse Harker.
And thanks Colin, I'm looking forward to seeing some more photos of Rowse's works.
Interesting facts fortinian, so the Prince Regent had paid a visit. The scope of works undertaken by earlier architects always surprises me. Dock surveyor, in the John Foster Jr's case. Not to mention lighting specialists as well.