Littlewoods Pools building

The Littlewoods Pools building (also known as the Littlewoods Building) is a notable building on Edge Lane in Liverpool. Built in 1938,[1] and probably designed by Scottish architect Gerald de Courcey Fraser,[2][3][4][5] the building is next to the Wavertree Botanic Gardens.[6][7]

Littlewoods Pools Building
A view of the Littlewoods Building from the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral

History

The building has had various uses throughout its life. It was originally the headquarters of Littlewoods, then the country's largest family-owned business empire.

A year after it opened, during World War II, it was requisitioned and became home of the government's postal censorship department, while its printing presses were used to print National Registration cards. Its vast internal spaces were used for manufacturing the floors of Halifax Bombers, barrage balloons and woollen material. In the 1940s the building was also used by Unity Pools (formed from Littlewoods, Zetters and Vernons).[8][4][9]

The building has stood empty since 2003.[10]

On 2 September 2018 a fire broke out at night in part of the complex. The roof and upper floor of one wing were lost, although the main structure was saved.[11]

Regeneration

In June 2018, developers Capital & Centric announced the new site will consist of a film studio complex and adjacent soundstages to become a new base of Twickenham Studios. Slated to become 'Hollywood of The North', the studios will be named Littlewoods Studios as an homage to the building in which the studios will be housed.[12] It was revealed in August 2019 that work transforming the site into two sound stages and offices was due to start towards the end of the year with the facilities finished towards the end of 2021.[13]

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority agreed to contribute £11 million to the project in July 2020.[14] The project intends to have a pop-up studio built on the neighbouring land and ready by the end of 2020, with development of the rest of the project following afterwards.

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References
  1. Marc Waddington (15 May 2012). "Liverpool's iconic Littlewoods building could face demolition". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  2. "Hotel plan for Littlewoods site". BBC News. 5 December 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  3. Pevsner, Nikolaus (11 March 1969). South Lancashire: The Industrial and Commercial South. Yale University Press. p. 220. ISBN 9780300096156.
  4. "Littlewoods Building - Liverpool Art Deco - e-architect". e-architect. 5 February 2010. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  5. "LIVERPOOL'S LITTLEWOODS IS SAVED!". www.savebritainsheritage.org. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  6. "Littlewoods Pools Building, Edge Lane". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  7. Coslett, Paul. "New life for Littlewoods building". BBC News. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  8. Pidd, Helen (6 June 2018). "Twickenham Studios to open Liverpool outpost". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  9. "Nostalgia: Littlewoods Pools Building, Edge Lane, Liverpool". Liverpool Echo. 12 March 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  10. "Littlewoods building engulfed by fire". BBC News. 3 September 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  11. "Littlewoods building engulfed by fire". BBC News. 2 September 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  12. Youngs, Ian (7 June 2018). "Hollywood films find home in Liverpool". BBC News. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  13. Tyrrell, Nick (2 August 2019). "Littlewoods building owners give update on delayed transformation". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  14. "Developer Capital & Centric secures £11m from the Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram to help deliver the £54m Littlewoods Studios film and TV complex in Liverpool". Liverpool Business News. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2020.

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