Then, cross under the Mersey to the
Wirral Peninsula for a visit to the quaint village of
Port Sunlight. This attractive Victorian garden village
was built in 1888 by William Hesketh Lever, later Lord
Leverhulme, for the workers in his soap factory. Every
house is built to a different design, and even today,
they are still mainly occupied by descendants of the
workers or their families. Visit the Heritage Centre
which explains the unusual history of the village, and
enjoy free time to explore the centre at leisure.
Your guide will continue your tour of this fascinating
village and it’s history. Progress past the social
club, the Hall where the Beatles first performed together,
the pub, and church (where Lever and his wife are buried).
Lever aimed to provide for every aspect of his worker’s
needs.
Next, arrive at the glorious Lady Lever Gallery. William
Hesketh Lever established the gallery to enrich the
cultural and educational aspects of the lives of his
workforce and the public at large. The Lady Lever Art
Gallery was opened in 1922 by Princess Beatrice (youngest
daughter of Queen Victoria). It is probably the best
surviving example of late Victorian and Edwardian taste
and remains the only major public urban gallery built
by its founder to house the collection he had assembled
for it. Its collection is simply glorious – enjoy
plenty of time to explore at your own pace, with your
guide on hand to help answer any questions. The Gallery
also has a very good cafeteria and gift shop.
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