Port of Liverpool Building Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK

One of the “Three Graces” on Liverpool's iconic riverfront, the Port of Liverpool Building is a Baroque-style Grade II* listed building completed in 1907.

Port of Liverpool Building by Night with Full Moon, Liverpool, England — Night view, with a full moon behind clouds, of the Port of Liverpool Building, one of the "Three Graces" on Pier Head. Liverpool, England, UK. Image credit: Holly Hayes

Listed Building Description

Text courtesy of Historic England. © Crown Copyright, reprinted under the Open Government License.

SJ 3390 GEORGES PIER HEAD L3

27/501 Port of Liverpool Building and stone balustrade,iron gates and piers(formerly 12.7.66. listed as Offices at Mersey Docks and Harbour Board)

G.V. II*

Office building. 1907. Arnold Thornely. Portland tone. Basement and 5 storeys, 13 bays wide with canted corner bays, ll-bay returns. Rusticated basement ground and 1st floor window round-headed, 1st floors, and corner bays. 2nd, central and 12th bays break forward. Ground floor window round-headed, 1st floor windows in eared architraves. 2nd and 3rd floors recessed behind attached Ionic colonnade with entablature and central open pediment containing bulls eye and dolphins, at ends round open pediments containing attic window. 3rd floor window of 3 lights, with colonnettes supporting open segmental pediments, and balustraded balconies. 4th floor window of 3 lights with colonnettes, centre and end bays have Diocletian windows. Attic has round-headed window with projecting panelled blocks between. Entrance in tunnel-vaulted recess with keystone and pediment, flanked by statues on plinths with ships in cornucopias over. End octagonal towers with tall glazed drums and coupled Ionic columns supporting domes. Central dome on 2-stage drum. 1st stage with Ionic colonnade and 4 projecting aedicules containing niches, 2nd stage recessed behind balustrade. Copper dome surmounted by lantern with 4 aedicules and obelisk. Interior has full height octagonal hall with coffered dome. Round-arched openings to galleries with iron railings and solid balconies with lamp standards to alternate floors. Mosaic paving. 2 square stone piers opposite the entrance, with dentilled cornices and globes with gilded continents; 4 iron gates and gate piers. Also stone balustrade across whole front, curving from entrance piers, with stone lamp holders on ends, and continuing round the whole building with stone lamp holders at intervals, in the form of naval monuments with draped urns on top. Also iron gates and piers at each end of forecourt.

Listing NGR: SJ3392290208