Former Liverpool Sheltering Home, 1 Sugnall Street And 2A Myrtle Street (Including Boundary Wall, Railings And Gate Piers)

FORMER LIVERPOOL SHELTERING HOME, 1 SUGNALL STREET AND 2A MYRTLE STREET (INCLUDING BOUNDARY WALL, RAILINGS AND GATE PIERS)

This former sheltering home for destitute children was built in 1888-9 to designs by C. O. Ellison in 19th-century Queen Anne style. It incorporates an earlier house of circa 1840, which served as the girls' home before the larger institution was constructed. The complex played a significant role in the emigration of over 7000 poor children to Canada between 1873 and 1925.

MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION The buildings are constructed of brown brick with slate roofs and substantial chimneystacks. Number 1 Sugnall Street features an eaves cornice and red ashlar sandstone dressings, whilst number 2a Myrtle Street displays red sandstone, pressed red brick, blue brick and gauged brick dressings. Both buildings rise three storeys above a basement. Number 2a incorporates a steel frame structure.

PLAN The complex has an irregular I-shaped plan. Number 2a Myrtle Street consists of a main front block facing Myrtle Street with two dormitory ranges flanking a single-storey dining block to the rear. Number 1 stands to the west of number 2a with its entrance and main frontage on Sugnall Street and a shorter north end elevation facing Myrtle Street.

EXTERIOR: NUMBER 2A MYRTLE STREET (1888-9) The entire building features pressed red brick and blue brick banding to all elevations, with original sash windows displaying geometrical patterned multipaned glazing and sandstone sills and lintels throughout.

The front (north) elevation comprises a main block of ten bays. The ground floor is rusticated red brick with 8-over-12 sashes. Bays 1-3 project slightly forward beneath a gable, with a narrow moulding above the ground floor windows (mirrored in bays 4-6 and 8-10). A plain frieze below the first floor windows contains small square decorative terracotta relief panels. The first floor has 8-over-12 sashes matching the ground floor style. The second floor centre features a wide 6-over-10 sash window flanked by narrower 6-over-10 sashes, with three narrow vertical niches at the gable apex.

Bays 4-6 and 8-10 each have a central raised corbelled gable containing a 6-over-10 window below flanked by 6-over-7 sash windows. The first floor centres have 8-over-12 sashes flanked by 6-over-10 sashes, with plain sandstone bands below. The right return of bay 10 bears gilded numbering reading '1888'.

The main entrance occupies the ground floor of wide gabled bay 7, which projects slightly forward. The entrance consists of a wide segmental gauged brick arched opening with scrolled keystone and anthemion reliefs, flanked by two sandstone war memorial plaques commemorating the home's old boys who died during the First World War whilst fighting with Canadian divisions. Behind lies a porch with replaced entrance doors and modern tiled floor. An inscribed foundation stone is set into the west side, with a decorative leaded light window incorporating stained glass to the east side (a later vent has been inserted to the upper part), both with gauged brick surrounds. Above the entrance runs a narrow dentillated gauged brick band and small square decorative terracotta relief panels. The first floor is rusticated red brick with a large oriel window featuring small paned upper lights and a ribbed lead roof. Paired 6-over-10 sash windows occupy the second floor above, with two narrow vertical niches at the gable apex.

The three-bay north elevation of number 1 Sugnall Street is set back to the far right. At the far left of the front elevation stands a small square single-storey projection with a pyramidal roof capped by a lantern, containing three small 4-light windows to the front and a single window in the same style to the right return. A stone plinth surmounted by decorative cast-iron railings with fleur-de-lys style points is attached to the right return and continues in front of the front elevation (including number 1 Sugnall Street). Octagonal stone piers with polygonal caps and cast-iron gates stand in front of the main entrance.

A four-bay range is set back to the left (east) end with gables to bays 1 and 2, containing 6-over-10 and 3-over-7 sash windows matching the main front elevation style. A fire escape is located on the left (east) return.

The rear elevation features a pressed brick eaves cornice and windows in the same style as the front elevation in various sizes. Taller stair windows occur at half-landing levels to the centre right. Two full-height buttresses stand at the eastern end, with a part-corbelled wall stack at the western end. Paired sash windows (some glazing bars removed) are set within a shared surround with column-style mullion to the ground floor left.

A short three-storey link building at the centre rear connects the front block to the rear ranges at right angles, with a series of slender multipaned windows to each floor (shorter to the second floor) on both west and east sides.

The rear ranges are arranged at right angles to the front block. A single-storey pitched-roof range occupies the centre with three large multipaned segmental arched windows to the south gable wall, the centre window being raised, and three narrow vertical niches to the gable apex (the centre one raised). This is flanked by two parallel three-storey dormitory/classroom ranges with shallow half-hipped slate roofs. The south end walls contain 8-over-13 sash windows (two with inserted vents to the upper sashes). The east and west sides mainly have 8-over-13 sashes to the first floor and 4-over-8 sashes to the second floor, with two wide arched openings to the ground floor on both sides (originally open, now windows and doors). Fire escapes are attached.

EXTERIOR: NUMBER 1 SUGNALL STREET (circa 1840) This originally private residence displays Classical styling. It is built of brick set upon a sandstone plinth, with an eaves cornice and cast-iron downpipes. All elevations have 6-over-6 sash windows with eared architraves (slightly smaller to the second floor), with sill bands between each floor.

The front (west) elevation facing Sugnall Street has five bays, with blind windows to bay 5 and a chimneystack to the roof above. The ground floor windows have pedimented and eared architraves (painted grey). The main entrance occupies the ground floor of bay 4 with single-step access bearing later tiled coverings. The 4-panel door has a moulded arched head and consoles, with the fanlight boarded up, all set within a large classical ashlar doorcase (painted grey) incorporating pilasters and entablature.

The north elevation facing Myrtle Street has moulded cornices supported by decorative carved consoles above the ground floor windows. The first floor centre window has a relief pediment supported on carved consoles.

The rear (south) elevation features a large two-storey segmental bow window to the centre with cornice and plain ashlar band, with a plain parapet above. It has recessed glazing with tall 2-over-4 sashes, with slender fluted Corinthian-style columns separating the window lights. The glazing has been removed to the ground floor (columns retained) to provide access into the 1888-9 single-storey lantern-roofed extension in the former rear garden. The second floor windows match the north and west elevations style, with paired windows to the centre.

The east elevation facing the former playground has two small ground floor windows with sandstone sills and lintels, two small later inserted windows to the first and second floors, and a small mid to late 20th-century flat-roofed single-storey extension attached towards the rear.

INTERIOR: NUMBER 2A MYRTLE STREET Some alteration has occurred, but the original plan layouts to both buildings remain largely intact. Most doors have been replaced (some originals survive under later plyboard), with later floor coverings over floorboard floors. Chimneybreasts survive throughout both buildings. Most fireplaces are believed to have been removed, although some possibly survive behind later partition walls.

Suspended ceilings have been inserted to some areas, with roll mouldings to some ceilings. Brown glazed tiled dados (mostly painted over) are present. Offices and classrooms occupy the front block, with large dormitories, classrooms and the former dining hall in the rear ranges (now studios and workshops).

The original main timber dog-leg stair stands at the centre rear of the front block, with an open-well stair at the centre of the annexe linking the rear ranges with the front block. Both have stick balusters and carved newel posts and pendants, with later coverings to the treads.

A room to the rear ground floor left of the front block has a chimneybreast incorporating a moulded arched alcove with original timber mantelpiece and decorative green tiling to the top part of the flanking dado depicting past English kings and queens (observed behind later partition, possibly continuing around the entire room).

The large open-plan former dormitories and classrooms in the rear ranges have inserted late 20th-century free-standing partition walls, with timber and steel roof structure visible.

The partly modernised basement has whitewashed walls and later floor coverings. An opening has been knocked through to the north-west corner to create access into the basement of number 1. Multipaned internal windows (boarded/painted over) are present, with short stairs to the rear right featuring solid brick balustrade accessing rear doors (replaced) leading into the rear yard.

INTERIOR: NUMBER 1 SUGNALL STREET The interior features moulded door and window architraves, decorative moulded cornicing and shutterboxes to some ground floor rooms, plain moulded cornicing to some rooms, and deep skirtings.

The entrance vestibule has a moulded architrave to the recessed main door and bracketed cornice. A panelled screen with three glazed panels to the top part and two glazed panels to the lower part flanking a central doorway (replaced door) is present. A moulded flat arch beyond, supported by paired carved consoles, leads into the stair hall.

The stair hall has diapered hexagonal black and white tiles with moulded skirtings. The open-well stair has decorative cast-iron splat balusters and carved bracketed open string with wreathed timber handrail. Later metal handrails have been added above, with a later vertical support inserted between ground and first floor flight. It is top-lit by a pitched roof skylight with relief decoration.

A room to the ground floor rear has a shallow-arched alcove with moulded head. The open bow window leads into the 1888-9 extension with timber and iron roof trusses and replaced glazing to the lantern roof. The dividing wall has been knocked through to the first floor rear rooms.

The original stone basement stair leads to a series of basement rooms, with the original pantry retaining brick and stone shelving.

SUBSIDIARY FEATURE The eastern end of the site is enclosed by a high red brick wall with square piers, rounded copings and studding detailing. A gateway with late 20th-century gate and short section of railing stands to the south side.

HISTORY In the late 1860s Annie Macpherson established a number of homes for poor children in the East End of London. Annie believed that emigration was the answer to help the large numbers of children in need, and along with her sister, Louisa Birt, they persuaded the Canadian authorities to allow English children in. The children departed for Canada from Liverpool, with the first group of children leaving in 1870.

In 1872, after hearing Annie Macpherson speak about her work, the founders of the Seamens' Orphanage in Liverpool invited her to start a home for destitute children in Liverpool. Annie's commitments were in London so her sister Louisa Birt went to Liverpool to explain their work. A committee of 14 men was established who invited Mrs Birt to head the new institution. Mr Stephen Williamson, one of the committee members, became the first President of the Sheltering Home. Funds were raised locally for the Sheltering Home and its management was kept separate from the London Home.

The Sheltering Home was established to provide immediate shelter to children without a home, or those cruelly treated, deserted or neglected, who were not normally eligible for most orphanages due to their strict admission rules. The intention was to provide the children with approximately six months training before sending them to families in Canada. Through the programme children were sent to Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and Nova Scotia.

The first Liverpool Sheltering Home was opened on 1 May 1873 at a property on Byrom Street where Mrs Birt also lived. By 1883 the building was no longer suitable for their needs and number 1 Sugnall Street was rented as a home for girls. Number 1 Sugnall Street was constructed in circa 1840 as a private residence, although it is not known who lived there. In 1888 it was purchased through private donations, along with a neighbouring plot of land on which to extend and form a new and much larger home designed by C. O. Ellison of Liverpool.

The foundation stone for the new building was laid in 1888 by Mrs Stephen Williamson, wife of the President, and the home was opened on 16 November 1889 by Mrs Alexander Balfour. In 1895 a further plot of land to the east side was presented to the home by an anonymous donor for use as a playground and garden, and for the construction of an enclosing wall.

The sheltering home was used as an auxiliary hospital during the First World War, and following Louisa Birt's death in 1915 it was reopened by her daughter, Lilian, in 1919. During its lifetime the Liverpool Sheltering Home took in children from both Liverpool and elsewhere around the country, and sent over 7000 children (ranging in age from 2-17 years old) to families in Canada.

The home was amalgamated with Dr Barnardo's in 1925 and used as a migration and training centre for boys. In the late 1920s the building was used as a home for schoolboys, which closed in 1935. In 1936 the building was acquired by the Education Committee and was converted into a Juvenile Employment Centre. It has most recently been used as teaching and office facilities for Liverpool John Moores University.