Liverpool - Titanic

  

Even though the ill-fated Titanic never visited Liverpool it has many connections to the City.  First of its owners were the White Star Line whose main office was in this red and white striped building called Albion House or the White Star Building (built 1898).  The ship was registered here which resulted in the words Titanic, Liverpool being painted clearly on its stern. 

Most of the Titanic's crew were from Southampton, but there were Liverpool staff who lost their lives.    These included  John Thompson and Thomas Threlfall as Firemen,  Mr. Pallas as a Greaser,   Henry Ashe, William Carney, Thomas Hewett, Charles Hogg, Thomas Holland, Andrew Latimer, and Thomas Weatherston as stewards,  Elizabeth Leather and Sarah Stap as stewardess,  James Hutchinson as a Vegetable Cook ,  Charles Morgan as a storekeeper, Charles Proctor as a Chef and John Clarke as a Bassist.   Not surprisingly concerned family and friends gathered on the streets outside these offices to hear any news of their loved ones.   Officials read names of the deceased from the balcony.

In 1934 the White Star Line moved over the street to merge with the Cunard Line.  Cunard continued to use the expression White Star Service to highlight their commitment to high levels of customer care.  

   

In 2013 the building was purchased by Signature Living to turn it into a Hotel complete with a Titanic Pool and Spa and a roof top bar and restaurant with World Heritage Views.   You can stay in The Vault Cabin – the very room where the Titanic's plans and documents were stored,  The Lightoller Suite – named after a first class officer, The Molly Brown Quarters – after the unsinkable Molly Brown, The William Hartley Quarters – after the  famous Lancashire bandmaster who played on,  and The Guggenheim Quarters – named after the  Gentleman who returned to his quarters. 

There are many more Titanic connections plus a variety of other rooms named after other White Star Line ships. 

Engineer's Memorial 

When the Titanic struck an iceberg in April 1912 it sank with 1514 souls, and sent shockwaves around the world.  It was the 9/11 of its day, and a century later the tragedy still resonates with horror.  This monument was originally planned as a tribute to the 224 engineers of the Titanic, those often unsung heroes who work deep in the bowels of the ship.  Eventually its scope was broadened as a Memorial to all the Heroes of the Marine Engine Room who are lost at sea.   Admittedly for all those boarding their cruise ships here an Engineer's Memorial sounds less ominous than a Titanic Memorial. 

 When this was unveiled in 1916 it was a pioneering work as there was no British sculpture that recognised the contributions of the working class.

The four nude figures represent Earth, Air, Fire and Water.

Incidentally this was carved by William Goscombe John who also created the equestrian statue of  King Edward VII located in the middle of the Pier Head.

Around the monument you can see World War Two shrapnel damage from exploding bombs.

This is one of the many monuments and buildings to be found in the FREE tour of Liverpool Pier Head found on www.obelisktours.co.uk