I used to cycle past this when it was still in use and always though it a rather pretty church. In fact its only a church from the first floor up - the rest of the building is halls, rooms and office space, originally built (1886 - 1887) for Deaf and Dumb Benevolent Society. More history here http://www.msdp.org.uk/MSDP/history.
In 1988 the society moved elsewhere and the building was acquired by a Nigerian social organisation, IGBO. The place then closed in 2007 and has remained vacant and increasingly derelict ever since. In fact I noticed about six months ago that metal thieves had stripped lead from some of the lower roofs, leaving piles of shingles and ridge tiles on the ground.
The Liverpool Echo did a good piece on this a while ago as part of their stop the rot campaign https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/stop-rot-amazing-pictures-inside-10398267 and there is a also a more recent permission visit on here https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/merseyside-deaf-and-dumb-benevolent-society-november-17.110800/#post-1188404.
The building itself has a fairly complex octagonal shape with two later ground level extensions and sits on a triangular plot. View of the front door on the left - check out the “pointed entrances of 3 orders with hoodmoulds on angel corbels, and diapered spandrels with blind quatrefoils” on this baby (https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1072964). On the right a view of the rear and the entrance to the social club.
Then and now - the red brick extension partly visible on the right must have been added slightly later.
Plaque, currently on the floor of the chapel, which says “Institute for the Adult Deaf and Dumb. This building was declared open by HRH The Princess Louise 16 May 1887 Jubilee Year Of The Reign of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria”
Ugly recent extension in one corner of the plot with the older one in the background.
Pictures start on the ground floor with a hall underneath the chapel.
Heading past some stairs into the modern extension, which contains a kitchen (plus piano) and bar with soggy offices above.
Still on the ground floor the older red brick extension, which is just a large hall with loos at the end.
Going past the front door and up some stairs we come to the chapel. The chapel had tiered pews (now gone) so the congregation could see the minister’s sign language.
In 1988 the society moved elsewhere and the building was acquired by a Nigerian social organisation, IGBO. The place then closed in 2007 and has remained vacant and increasingly derelict ever since. In fact I noticed about six months ago that metal thieves had stripped lead from some of the lower roofs, leaving piles of shingles and ridge tiles on the ground.
The Liverpool Echo did a good piece on this a while ago as part of their stop the rot campaign https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/stop-rot-amazing-pictures-inside-10398267 and there is a also a more recent permission visit on here https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/merseyside-deaf-and-dumb-benevolent-society-november-17.110800/#post-1188404.
The building itself has a fairly complex octagonal shape with two later ground level extensions and sits on a triangular plot. View of the front door on the left - check out the “pointed entrances of 3 orders with hoodmoulds on angel corbels, and diapered spandrels with blind quatrefoils” on this baby (https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1072964). On the right a view of the rear and the entrance to the social club.
Then and now - the red brick extension partly visible on the right must have been added slightly later.
Plaque, currently on the floor of the chapel, which says “Institute for the Adult Deaf and Dumb. This building was declared open by HRH The Princess Louise 16 May 1887 Jubilee Year Of The Reign of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria”
Ugly recent extension in one corner of the plot with the older one in the background.
Pictures start on the ground floor with a hall underneath the chapel.
Heading past some stairs into the modern extension, which contains a kitchen (plus piano) and bar with soggy offices above.
Still on the ground floor the older red brick extension, which is just a large hall with loos at the end.
Going past the front door and up some stairs we come to the chapel. The chapel had tiered pews (now gone) so the congregation could see the minister’s sign language.
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