The Palm House is a magnificent structure situated in a prominent position within Sefton Park in South Liverpool. Designed by the Edinburgh firm MacKenzie & Moncur, it was a gift to the City of Liverpool by newspaper proprietor Henry Yates Thompson (1838-1928). The history of the Palm House makes for an interesting read; Designed in the tradition of Paxton’s Glass Houses (Sir Joseph Paxton 1803-1865) it was originally filled with a most magnificent collection of exotic plants and marble statues. In total there were 9 marble statues and a marble bench. Outside, one could find additional statues in bronze and marble, all depicting famous explorers and naturalists.
World War 2 was unkind to the Palm House. Fearing that the glass would reflect the moonlight thus acting as a guide for passing warplanes the structure was covered with matt oil paint in grey and green in the hope that it would blend into the surrounding Sefton Park. Whilst this ‘paint job’ may have denied warplanes a guide, it did not save the Palm House. A bomb landing nearby shattered the glass in 1941. It was not re-glazed until 1950 at a then extortionate cost of over £6000.
The Palm House continued to be a focal attraction for locals and visitors alike until it was closed in the 1980’s amid fears for the safety of the structure. However, Liverpudlians were reluctant to say goodbye to their beloved Palm House and in 1992, held a public meeting to plead for the restoration of the formerly magnificent Palm House. This initial meeting resulted in immense public support and Liverpool City Council was presented with a petition aptly named ‘Save the Palm House’ with over 5000 signatures.
The City Council, driven by cross party support for the campaign, commenced the uniquely named ‘Sponsor a Pane’ programme. This fund raising campaign resulted in nearly £40,000 being raised. This money was put to extremely good use. In fact it led directly to the leaders of the ‘Save the Palm House’ petition starting a registered charity known at the time as ‘Friends of Sefton Palm House’. This later became known as the ‘Sefton Park Palm House Preservation Trust’. Following the raising of the money and despite the fact that the panes were still not glazed, a number of events were held at the Palm House in order to test possible uses for it.
By February 2000, a further £2.5 million had been raised from sources including but not limited to Liverpool City Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund. Renovation work started and was finally completed in September 2001 and the Palm House was finally restored to its former glory.
Today, the Palm House is once again a focal point of Sefton Park, a beauty in its own right and a meeting place for many. Once again, a collection of exotic plants are housed there within a tropical heated environment. The future of the Palm House has been secured through its use as a spectacular setting for all sorts of events. It is now home to some of the events of the Summer Pops (a week long music festival held every year in Liverpool), community and private events. The Palm house can even be hired for weddings for a venue with a difference.
I walk past the Palm House every day on my way to feed the ducks with my daughter and its magnificence never fails to impress me. I even hope to get married there in the next few years. So, next time you are in Liverpool, why not pay a visit to the Palm House. It’s free to look around and well worth a visit.
