Opened in 1854, St George’s Hall turns 170 this year and if the Grade I listed building could speak it would certainly have some tales to tell. The Neoclassical landmark has welcomed future kings, had a giant fall asleep in its historic hall, heralded truth and justice for The 97 and been transformed into Gotham City for the filming of Batman.
Standing opposite Lime Street Station, it is the first thing most people see when they arrive in Liverpool. Indeed, one of the reasons construction began back in 1841 was to impress visitors as the merchant city thrived as a global port.
The city will hold the SGH170 Festival from August until September to celebrate the 170-year anniversary, when Culture Liverpool will invite a host of Liverpool’s most talented performers into St George’s Hall's iconic spaces.
Here at LiverpoolWorld we have trawled through the archive to pick out 19 fantastic photos that help bring the long history of St George's Hall to life.
5. 170 years of St George’s Hall
Lime Street in the 1890s, with St. George's Hall on the left and the Great North Western Hotel on the right. Wellington's column is visible in the distance. | Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C
6. 170 years of St George’s Hall
Trams and cabs can be seen travelling past St. George's Hall and Lime Street in 1896. | The Print Collector/Getty Images
7. 170 years of St George’s Hall
The parade of various sections of the New Army of 12,000 men, recruited in Liverpool, south Lancashire and West Cheshire, opposite St George's Hall in 1915. Horatio Herbert Kitchener, secretary for war since 1914, stood for more than an hour taking the salute from those marching past. | Topical Press Agency/Getty Images
8. 170 years of St George’s Hall
The north end of St George's Hall in the foreground has a semi-circular projection with nine bays separated by fluted Corinthian columns. There is also a car park and pedestrians on St George's Plateau, and in the background is a view of Liverpool, looking west. | Heritage Images/Getty Images