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  1. #1
    Creator & Administrator Kev's Avatar
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    Default Crofton, Aigburth

    IT WAS one of the most elegant mansion houses in south Liverpool, home of Alfred Holt, founder of the famous Blue Funnel Line.

    The shipping magnate had the house built to his own design so that he could be close to his brother George, who lived across the road in Sudley House.

    Today, Crofton, in North Sudley Road, Aigburth, is desperately in need of a facelift with paint peeling from its wall and crumbling masonry giving an air of dereliction.

    Once horse-drawn carriages would have gently journeyed along the driveway to the elegant finely carved entrance pier of the stucco-finished house in grand Italianate style. House servants and stablemen would have been on duty to tend to the needs of the family and their guests.

    From the upper tower, Mr Holt would have had commanding views of the River Mersey, able to watch the arrival of his ships from journeys to the Far East.

    The days when Liverpool was the premier port city of the British Empire have, like Crofton, faded into the annals of history.

    But if housebuilder and developer John Beckett has his way, the main house dating back to the mid-1800s, will be restored to its former glory.

    It will be divided into luxury apartments, some costing as much as £500,000, giving 21st-century citizens a chance to share in the limelight and the history of a bygone age.

    Mr Beckett is passionate about local buildings and their importance to the local landscape, which is why his company, Darby Macy, specialises in breathing new life into old houses.

    If the council planning committee on Tuesday backs his £7m scheme, Crofton will be transformed into 12 flats. Stables on the estate will also be converted, a pig-sty restored and new lodges built in the extensive grounds. In total, there will be 28 new homes created on the site.



    Original plans three years ago would have seen a series of three-storey blocks built in the grounds. After widespread opposition, the scheme was refused.

    Then there were more than 400 objections, but the new applica-tion has been supported and wel-comed by local people. Only 10 letters of objection have been received and planners are recom-mending approval of the plan.

    One objector described Crofton as the jewel in Aigburth’s Con-servation crown. English Heritage has given its endorsement to the scheme.

    City council planning manager Nigel Lee says the scheme will pre-serve the historic character and archi-tectural qualities of the relatively unaltered Crofton mansion. The Crofton estate, which is unlisted, represents some of the last remaining significant historic assets in the Aigburth part of the Mossley Hill Conservation Area.

    Mr Beckett said: “Following our previous planning application, we held public meetings and spoke at length with the planners. We now feel we have come up with a terri-fic scheme to provide quality homes in a stun-ning, historic environ-ment. If we win approval, we hope to start work within three months.”

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  2. #2
    PhilipG
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    Default 2 postcards and a 1990 photo.

    It was used as an Auxiliary Hospital in the First World War and became the Crofton Recovery Hospital in 1922 to relieve the congeston in the General Hospitals.
    These are all views of the rear of the house.

    Courtesy of the "Old Liverpool" flickr group.
    See link below.

    Last edited by PhilipG; 08-30-2007 at 12:34 PM.

  3. #3
    Cadfael
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    As much as I'm happy to see another liverpool buiding 'saved', there are far worse properties out there that need urgent attention, Sandfield Tower in West Derby for one (www.gwalia.moonfruit.com).

    The council should get their priorities right and concentrate on the buildings nearly falling down, rather than buildings that only need a lick of paint.

  4. #4
    PhilipG
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    As far as Liverpool is concerned (and I don't suppose it's alone), we have to be grateful for small mercies.
    On the other hand, it does seem policy to wait until a Listed Building becomes a "Dangerous Structure", so it can be demolished (conscience-free).

  5. #5
    Cadfael
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    I fully agree Philip that anything is better than nothing. But how many people knew about this building before it was highlighted? And how many people are going to flock to it?

    When you look at 2008 next year, you would think that the Council would concentrate on buildings that people/tourists are going to see all the time - the church on Rodney Street would be a start.

    I only wish the Council were as quick to act with places like Thingwall House, rather than leaving them to 'accidently' fall down so they can profit from the land.

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    Senior Member iain's Avatar
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    I agree, while all the new buildings in town are great they can't just let the old buildings like this fall down, they're part of our history and heritage. I've gone past this one especially many times and felt sad that it's in such a tatty state.

  7. #7
    Creator & Administrator Kev's Avatar
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    THE former home of Liverpool shipping magnate Alfred Holt is to be transformed into luxury flats costing up to £500,000 each. The city council’s planning committee yesterday approved a £7m plan by local developers Darby Macy.
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