The Hidden Liverpool Conversaton series launches on the 27th November with 'Reusing our Heritage; Communities Leading the Way'. The event explores how local people have led or are leading fantastic schemes that have resulted in empty buildings being brought back into use. 

The first in the three part conversaion series offers an opportunity to engage with discussions about reusing empty buildings, the opportunities and benefits for the city and the challenges faced by those leading on their restoration. 

The event will showcase three examples of local projects that have seen hidden gems brought back into use for local communtities. The panel will comprise of guest speakers from Homebaked, Anfield, The Florrie, Toxteth and Everton Library 'Jewel on the Hill' Project. Speakers will talk about their approaches to bringing buildings back into use, sharing their ideas and experience. There will also be opportunity for questions from the floor to the panel, for further discussion on the presentations and opportunity for the audience to share their own experiences.

The event will be held in the Florrie, itself a wonderful building brought back to life in a campaign led by local people. The Florrie has limited parking and there is free parking on nearby streets.

Registration is at 3.45pm, with speakers and discussion from 4.00pm-6.00pm. There will be opportunity for networking and further informal discussion from 6.00pm-7.30pm. Tea and coffee will be provided before and after the speakers and discussion.

The venue address is 337 Mill Street, Liverpool, L8 4RF.

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Places are strictly limited. To book email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Further details about the projects:

The presenters will be talking about the following fantastic Liverpool projects:

Homebaked, Anfield

Anfield lost its independent bakery in 2010. Mitchell’s was an Anfield institution for a hundred years – a local landmark, and a family business with a strong sense of social responsibility.  Homebaked is an independent Community Land Trust and Bakery established through 2Up 2Down, a Liverpool Biennial project, with support from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Arts Council England and Liverpool City Council. Home baked is a community bakery project, re-opening the historic Mitchells bakery, opposite Liverpool football club.  More than just a bakery business, Homebaked will offer training and job opportunities for people from the area,  Homebaked will house a production and training kitchen, a traditional bakery shop front, a couple of tables to sit and have a coffee with your cake, and a hatch to serve food straight onto the street on match days.

The Florrie, Toxteth

Since the Florrie was first established in 1889 it was to play a vital role in many people’s lives as the first known purpose built boys club in the country. The Florrie was built in memorial to Bernard Hall’s (founder) daughter Florence who died at the untimely age of 22 in Paris. As Bernard was a former Mayor of Liverpool and Magistrate he knew the hardship faced within this tough south dock side area. In particular his focus was to provide a place of recreation and instruction to the poor and working lads of the area.

The Florrie was identified as a Building at Risk and was featured in the Liverpool Echo’s successful Stop The Rot Campaign. It was in 2005 that The Florence Institute Trust was formed. The Trust embarked on the daunting task of restoring The Florrie with strength and dedication and has been able to witness the rewards of their efforts as a stunningly restored Florrie opened her doors once again on 1st April 2012.

Everton Library St Domingo Rd, Everton

Heritage Works Buildings Preservation Trust in partnership with Hope Street Ltd and Liverpool City Council has received initial support including £284,400 development funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for the ‘Jewel on the Hill’  project, to help progress detailed plans towards the application for a full grant.

This funding will allow a development stage to run from July 2012 until Autumn 2013 when the full grant application will be submitted and other matched funding sought towards what will be a £5 million project. If all is successful the building will be fully back in use by Autumn 2016.