C O N T E X T 1 3 3 : M A R C H 2 0 1 4 37 from Peter Hesketh-Fleetwood, future architectural correspondent for theDailyTelegraph.He wrote to them in late 1944 asking for help to save what he thought was a great ornament for the city.7 SPAB forwarded his correspondence to the fledgling Georgian Group. The group asked Sir Charles Reilly, former head of the Liverpool School of Architecture, to inspect the damage to the CustomHouse with regard to possible restoration. Unfortunately for the supporters of full restoration, his report was damning. Reilly doubted if the building could be restored for less than the cost of a new building.The local Storeton stone was badly weathered and dentils had been falling since before the bombing. One of the Ionic porticoes and the rear cornice had been pulled down for safety and poorly stored. Reilly was apologetic, but agreed with Holford that all that could be suggested was to display one of the remaining porticoes in a park. It appeared that, although to the untrained eye the building was in good condition, the economics were against it.8 It was after this report that attentions focused on what could be salvaged. In early 1945 Holford had the idea to demolish the two wings of the Custom House, then renovate the central portion to provide assembly rooms for the city.This would still provide a terminus for Lower Castle Street and provide more space for traffic around Canning Place.9 WA Eden, Holford’s deputy at the University of Liverpool, wrote to The Times with the suggestion of turning a portion of the building into a maritime museum or, if this was not possible, for a section to remain as a memorial to the fallen Merchant Navy men of the Battle of the Atlantic.10 By March 1945, the Georgian Group had given up on full restoration, instead forwarding to the Merseyside Civic Society its recommendation to retain at least the porticoes, on site.The group’s cries fell on deaf ears. It was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on 5 July 1946 that Stuart Owler, regional director of the Ministry of Works, had announced that the Custom House was to be demolished to lessen unemployment, providing work for 250 men.11 On hearing this, Angus Acworth of the Georgian Group swiftly wrote to GH Chettle of the Ministry ofWorks to try to salvage something of the CustomHouse. Conceding that it was no longer needed as a Custom House and that it was blocking traffic, he argued for the retention of the central portion. Acworth suggested that the two wings be demolished first, allowing time for the relevant groups to decide on a use for the remaining section.12 Despairingly for the conservationists, the demolition order was given, in spite of there being no concrete proposal to replace the Custom House. As reported by HJ Muir, district surveyor, ‘the building will be demolished to ground level, and the future of the site is indefinite at the moment’.13 As if it were fate all along, 20 August 1947 was the final date for receiving tenders, one day short of a century since the death of Foster.14 References 17 Peter HeskethFleetwood. Letter to Lady Worsley Taylor, 26 Dec 1944, Georgian Group Casework Archive – ‘A’ series, Box 64 (Liverpool), London, 6 Fitzroy Square 8 Sir Charles Reilly, Letter to Alan E Oliver, Hon Sec of Georgian group, 20 Feb 1945, Georgian Group Casework Archive – ‘A’ series, Box 64 (Liverpool), London, 6 Fitzroy Square 9William Holford, Letter to Alan E Oliver, Hon Sec of Georgian group, 28 Feb 1945, Georgian Group Casework Archive - ‘A’ series, Box 64 (Liverpool), London, 6 Fitzroy Square 10 ‘Liverpool Custom House: Proposal for use as maritime museum.’ The Times, 26 August 1946 11 ‘DemolishingWork’ Liverpool Daily Post, 5 July 1946, p3 12 AW Acworth, Letter to GH Chettle, 8 August 1946, Georgian Group Casework Archive – ‘A’ series, Box 64 (Liverpool), London, 6 Fitzroy Square 13 ’Work on Blitzed buildings: Start this month on Customs House’ Liverpool Daily Post, 13 August, 1946 14 ‘Day to Day in Liverpool’ Liverpool Daily Post, 15 August 1946 The south elevation, March 1947, and below at the start of demolition, August 1947 (Photos: Stuart Bale, Liverpool Records Office)
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