Liverpool

Liverpool cathedral, now in course of construction, is designed to be the largest church in the country. The architect, Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, has planned an impressive mass of buildings in a new and romantic Gothic style, most distinctive of the archi tect himself. The site is an excellent one and overlooks the whole city. The foundation stone was laid by Edward VII. in 19o4, and in 1928 the completed portion comprised the Lady Chapel, full of wealth of detail and with an atrium decorated with windows commemorating noble women, the Chapter House, the chancel and the first transepts, and the chapel of the Holy Spirit. The great square tower is to be buttressed by transepts, north-east and north west, south-east and south-west and there is here a large area for seating accommodation without trenching upon either nave or choir. The Lady Chapel is almost a separate church, and on a different level. The ultimate length will be 619 feet of which zoo feet is built. The interior height is 116 feet and Westminster Abbey, the next highest in England, is 102 ft.

Railways.

There are three terminal passenger stations in Liverpool, all on the L.M.S. railway. They are :—Lime Street, Exchange, and Central. The L.N.E. railway also has running powers into Central Station. Connection with the Wirral is ef fected by the old Mersey tunnel (opened 1886), and by the new road tunnel completed in 1928, the largest of its kind in use. The Liverpool electric overhead railway running along the line of docks from Seaforth to Dingle was opened in 1893, and in 2905 a junction was made with the L.M.S. railway by which through passenger traffic between Southport and the Dingle has been established. In 1895 the Riverside station at the Prince's dock was completed, giving direct access from the landing stage to the L.M.S. system.

Water Supply.

The original supply of water was from wells in the Triassic sandstone, but in 1847 an act was passed, under which extensive works were constructed and extended later at Riv ington, about 25 m. distant. The vast increase of population led to further requirements, and in 188o another act gave power to im pound the waters of the Vyrnwy, one of the affluents of the Severn. These works were completed in 1892, when one pipe line was laid. A second pipe line was opened in 1905. The catchment area was increased in 1910 by the diversion into the lake of two other rivers, the Conway and the Marchnant. Work was begun on a third pipe line in 1925.

Ecclesiastical.

The see of Liverpool was created in 188o, an endowment fund of about .1 ioo,000 having been subscribed for the purpose. The parish, which was separated from Walton-on the-Hill in 1699, contained two churches, St. Nicholas, the ancient chapel, and St. Peter's. There were two rectors, the living being held in medieties. The living is now held by a single incumbent,

and a large number of the churches which have since been built have been formed into parishes by the ecclesiastical commission ers. St. Peter's was constituted the pro-cathedral, pending the erection of the cathedral. The Roman Catholics form a very numerous and powerful body in the city, and it is estimated that a third of the entire population is Roman Catholic. Large numbers of these are of Irish descent, but this district has always been a stronghold of Roman Catholicism, some of the landed gentry belonging to old Roman Catholic families.

Charities.—The earliest charitable foundation is the Blue Coat hospital, established in 1708, for orphans and fatherless children born within the borough. The original building was opened in 1718, and the hospital now maintains two hundred and fifty boys and one hundred girls. In 1906 the school was removed to new buildings at Wavertree. The Liverpool dispensaries (founded 1778) were among the pioneers of medical charity. The Royal Infirmary now situated in Pembroke place (opened had a school of medicine attached, which has become world famous and is now merged in the university. The sailors' home (opened 1852), de signed to provide board, lodging and medical attendance for the seamen frequenting the port, is one of Liverpool's best-known charities. Numerous other charities, homes, clubs and institutions have arisen.

The free library, museum and gallery of arts, established and managed by the city council, was originated in 1850. The first library building was erected by Sir William Brown. The Derby museum, containing the collections of Edward, the 13th earl, was presented by his son. The Mayer museum of historical antiquities and art was contributed by Joseph Mayer, F.S.A. (1803-86), who presented his collections to Liverpool in 1867. The Museum was enlarged in 1906. Sir Andrew Walker (d. 1893) erected in 1877 the art gallery which bears his name. Large additions were made in 1884, the cost being again defrayed by Sir Andrew Walker. The valuable permanent collection of over 2,000 paintings includes the Roscoe collection of old masters and the bequest (1923) of James Smith of Blundellsands of 18 pic tures of Watts, 4 sculptures by Rodin, many etchings and engrav ings by Diirer, Seymour Haden, and Whistler, together with a large number of modern works, British and foreign. An annual loan exhibition is held in the autumn. The Picton circular reading room, and the rotunda lecture-room were built by the corporation and opened in 1879. The literary and philosophical society was established in 1812. The Royal Institution, established in 1817, is the centre of the literary institutions of the town.