A Victorian mansion in West Derby that was host to many Merseybeat groups is set to reopen after a ?1.2 million refurbishment.

Lowlands, a Grade II listed building, was home to The Pillar Club in the 1960?s, a favourite haunt of many of the Merseybeat groups of the 1960?s.



Up to 400 people would cram into a small room at the back of the building which served as an over 21?s Coffee Bar.

The house, built in 1846, was purchased by the West Derby Community Association in 1957, with the help of a donation from Lord Sefton.

"This is where many of the major bands of the sixties would have had their Cokes and their Pepsi?s," explains West Derby Community Association trustee Stephen Guy.

"Many of the major bands of the day, Gerry and the Pacemakers, The Searchers, Billy J Kramer, also later on The Hollies, The Big Three, Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders, Herman?s Hermits, they all came in here.

"So, it?s historically a very interesting area."

The Italianate building, which served as offices for The Inland Revenue during the war is one of the few survivors of the many mansions that once littered the West Derby area.

"When I was a kid I remember the demolition men would pull three mansions down for the price of two," recalls Stephen Guy.

"The Victorian mansions were not regarded highly in the past."

In The Beatles ?Anthology? George Harrison remembers how he heard of the now famous Casbah Club while at Lowland?s.

Harrison also played the club in the late 1950?s before he joined The Beatles when he was with The Les Stewart Quartet.

The refurbishment, with Heritage Lottery funding, will enable Lowlands to continue as a community centre.

BBC Liverpool