Situated near Birkenhead Wirral, sits the pretty village of Port Sunlight. It has some 900 semi-detached houses along with community and welfare facilities and is set in 130 acres of parkland. It was the brain child of William Hesketh Lever (1851-1925) an industrialist who, along with his brother, owned the Sunlight Soap Factory. William was also a philanthropist who cared about his workforce and believed they deserved decent living conditions. In the late 1880s he commissioned over 30 architects to create dwellings with a mixture of styles to add character. The village remains in tact with highly sought-after Grade II listed homes available to buy or rent.
We visited Port Sunlight Museum but didn’t book the guided walking tour as the weather was drizzly when we arrived.
After we watched the introductory film and viewed the interesting exhibits in the museum, we ventured outside to find the rain had stopped. Firstly, we went to a worker’s cottage which gave an insight into the home life of a factory employee.
On our way to the church, past the primary school, a local resident stopped for a chat. I admired the houses and he told me repairs can prove expensive as they must be in keeping with the heritage of the properties. Specialist contractors are needed to replace wooden window frames, cast iron pipework and gutters (no plastic in Port Sunlight!) Stringent planning permission also needs to be sought for any alterations, both inside and out. The front lawns are kept tidy by the Port Sunlight Village Trust. He also told that there were many benefits of living in the village, not least the community spirit and events which take place regularly.
We also briefly visited the Lady Lever Art Gallery and definitely plan to return to see some more of the collection. Admission is free with visitors encouraged to give a small donation.
This is an inexpensive day out and I even found time to pop into the well-stocked garden centre – built on the site of the old open air swimming pool. Tickets for the Port Sunlight Experience can be purchased on line in advance or bought on the day and are valid for a year. Wandering around the village is free, as is parking on the wide roads.
Below is Christ Church, final resting place of both William Hesketh Lever (1st Viscount Leverhulme) and his wife, Elizabeth Ellen Hulme. I hear on bank holidays, the church produces a banging cream tea which sees locals and visitors alike sitting along the greens and verges all enjoying a cuppa! We definitely need to return to sample that.
Julie Haiselden 