Liverpool Case Study - perception of place & far place

Historical Context

• Began as a small fishing port on the Mersey estuary, but grew rapidly from 1700 as a result of the Atlantic Slave Trade

• Port industries based on imports from the slave trade grew e.g Tate & Lyle sugar refinery

• City continued to grow after abolition of slave trade as a major port for trading with the Americas

• Was an important emigration gateway for people wishing to leave to other countries (USA, Canada, Australia)

• Large influxes of Irish people into Liverpool as a result of the 19th century potato famine (influenced culture and demographics of Liverpool)

• Migration from China, The Caribbean & Indian sub-continent

Cultural Context

• Liverpool has a rich history of music & poetry (The Beatles & Roger McGough) , as well as two Premier League football teams (Liverpool & Everton)

• Awarded the European capital of culture in 2008, hence transformation with major investment

• Over 15 million visitors for the 7,000 cultural events that were being held in just one year (Albert Docks seeing a 30% increase)

• Seen as a radical left leaning city

Causes of the decline since the 1930s

• Decline of 19th century industries in hinterland (the docks) ; less exports

• Modern industries were clustered in the south east of the UK and greenfield sites

• Decline in shipping movements to the Americas and the Old Empire.

• Port-based industries using imported raw materials such as sugar refining also declined.

• Increased trade with Europe meant that ports in the East and South of the UK were better located.

• The 19th century docks were too small and shallow to take modern general and container shipping

Containerisation

• Goods were becoming containerised which meant the older docks were unsuitable; a port was established at Seaforth further along the mersey estuary.

• Unemployment grew due to containerisation; fewer dockers were required and a reduction in industrial employment, large impact on the cityscape; certain areas were now derelict and run down (such as Toxteth)

Results of the decline

• The city was in serious decline by 1981; evidenced by the abandoned, derelict docks which were silted up and unusable

• Most housing that remained consisted of 19th century back-to-back terraces in poor conditions

• The clearance of bomb-damaged areas after WWII was replaced with poorly built tower blocks which soon needed full refurbishment

• By the 1970s many factories and businesses were starting to close. Even the docks, which had been the area that provided Liverpool with much wealth om the past, were in rapid decline.

• Thousands of people were let out of work, as the countries unemployment record reached its worst level in 50 years.

• Liverpool's population continued to decline in the 70's so less housing was needed; hence many of the tower blocks were demolished in the 80's

• Unemployment grew as work in the docks dried up, as did jobs in the port industries; led to feelings of alienation and hopelessness between locals

• The UK was again in recession by the early 1980s; feelings of resentment from locals blew up in the 1981 summer which lead to the Toxteth Riots

1981 Toxteth Riots

• The 1980s started with arguable Liverpool’s lowest point when (along with others) riots broke out in Toxteth. The area saw huge unemployment in the city and the population halved as people left for work elsewhere.

• Had been as a result of tensions between the black community and the police

• The UK’s view of Liverpool suffered badly through the inaccurate portrayal of its people in TV programmes like Bread, Brookside and Harry’s Enfield’s ‘The Scousers’ not helped by the poor reputation of the city’s militant council.

• Liverpudlians, of mainly West Indian descent, fought running battles with the police

• Liverpool was now considered one of the poorest cities in Europe at this time , along with Naples in Italy

• The riots highlighted the problems of inner city Liverpool and was a large catalyst for urban redevelopment in the city

Evidence that directly addresses the negative perceptions from the 1980s

• Liverpool’s docklands were no longer international shipping and commercial hum it once was. There were multiple factory closures meaning that the UK saw some of the highest unemployment rates.

• People were leaving the city due to a lack of employment at the dock (Liverpool’s main economic income) leaving 15% of the land vacant or derelict.

• The militant crisis saw the left-wing movement got to war with a tory government and labour leadership. The city was plunged into deep political turmoil when it suffered Toxteth riots a few years prior.

• It wasn’t until the late 1980s the city started to bounce back, spurred by new growth and redevelopment.

• At the end of the 1980s Liverpool was handed another huge blow, when on the 15th April 1989 whilst watching the FA Cup Semi Final, 96 Liverpool fans were crushed to death at Hillsborough. An event largely due to mismanagement by the police and ground staff.

Early Regeneration - top down approach

Top down approach:

• The Merseyside Development Corporation was created in 1981 following the riots and pioneered the renovation of the central dockland area

• 1988 Redevelopment of the Albert Docks ; the flagship development for the MDC; important tourist attraction

• 1993 New office developments for the littlewoods chain of stores

• 1984 International Garden Festival; provided the money to clear derelict and contaminated land and offered a high-profile event to attract new investors

Early Regeneration - Bottom up approach

Bottom up approach:

• 1989 Eldonian Village - a new-build housing co-operative for the less well off; situated in Vauxhall near the city centre, was an area of poor housing conditions

• Cathedral Development; situated in Toxteth, small-scale housing development in the late 80's for cathedral staff, as well as low-rent social housing.

Recent Regeneration Plans

• Liverpool's Waterfront was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004 - historic importance; over 4 million tourists each year

• £19 million liner terminal has been built in the Princes Dock area as Liverpool has become popular for cruise liners

• The re-building of the Museum of Liverpool Life which costed over £70 million

• Liverpool One Project; cost over £1 billion, all of which was raised in the private sector

• Overall, nearly £4 billion has been invested into the regeneration of the city

• The local arts and music scene may have originally been used for the re-imaging scheme; bringing either street art or public installations; and the football and fan culture that the cities community brings.

• More modern ideas may include heritage initiatives, to bring awareness of the cities history. Social media and local influencers, making the area more appealing, and festivals and events, bringing the a younger community and audience together in the city.

Liverpool post war

After the war the Liverpool city council decided that a clean start was needed. bombed houses and huge parts of the old Victorian city were bulldozed and thousands of families moved out of the city to live in Kirby and Skelmersdale.