Liverpool Capital of Culture Tour - The Strand

Take a stroll along Liverpool's Strand and, certainly from this angle, you could be fooled in to thinking your had been magically transported to the Med

Certainly today, the main road that runs along Liverpool's historic waterfront could be mistaken for Marbella or Palma

What would give it away, of course, is that you wouldn't be able to miss the sight of the Royal Liver Buildings which are across the road from where this picture was taken

The building in the forefront is the Tower Building, actually designed by the architect of the Royal Liver Buildings, W Aubrey Thomas

Built a couple of years before the Liver Buildings, in 1908, the Tower Building is an example of some of the earliest steel frame buildings in the United Kingdom

So where's the 'tower' of it's title?

Well, the building actually takes it's name from the 'Tower of Liverpool' which stood here before the construction of this fine building. The Tower of Liverpool was a fortified house which overlooked the river, and was home to the Stanley family. Latterly it became a debtor's gaol

In the background of the picture is St Nicholas' Church, (it's full title is, in fact, the Church of Our Lady and St Nicholas). It is often called the Sailor's Church as St Nicholas is, of course, the patron saint of sailors

The church was built in the early part of the 14th century, and in 1361 victims of the plague were laid to rest here. In those days the River Mersey would reach it's walls at high tide

Unfortunately the main body of the church was destroyed by the Luftwaffe in the last war, but the tower remains as one of Liverpool's many historic landmarks, and forms part of the wonderful picture of the city's world famous water front

(This photograph was taken on Easter Sunday 2006 and, for the history books, the crane in the picture is one of a number dotted around the city currently as part of Liverpool's 'Big Dig' in preparation for the city's European Capital of Culture 2008 celebrations)

Whilst you’re in this area of the city you may also like to visit:

The Three Graces
The Albert Dock
Liverpool City Centre
Mersey Ferries
The Cavern Quarter

Can’t wait to see you la!

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