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.
17. 170 years of St George’s Hall
Actors and film crew workers work on The Batman movie set as St George's Hall is transformed into Gotham City in October 2020. | AFP via Getty Images
18. 170 years of St George’s Hall
St George's Hall and St John's Beacon is lit up by blue lights during COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, as a sign of admiration for the National Health Service. | PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images
19. 170 years of St George’s Hall
The Vivienne performs onstage during the Big Eurovision Welcome event outside St George's Hall in May, ahead of the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest in the Liverpool | Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images for The National Lottery