The Gregson, Garmoyle Road L15-Worth The Effort To Have It Listed.

It seems after we had it listed under threat of demolition there have been some community ideas and its good to see one coming to fruition. Today's Liverpool Echo sees a good news article from Peter Elson.


We wish them all the best for the future.
Ex Auctioneer and advisor to Liverpool Museums, Dr Eldon Worrell (who is the rat now trying to flog the Ince Blundell marbles) http://www.theartnewspaper.com/articles/Historic-house-in-danger-of-losing-its-marbles/25329 (or should we say advising the Nuns), asked Wayne in his capacity as an art dealer to value the tiles that line the walls and when he was notified of its impending demolition by Florence Gersten he made an application to spotlist it, and English Heritage said that the interior was of such National significance that it was Grade II spotlisted.


http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2012/06/15/acclaimed-liverpool-gregson-institute-to-hold-fund-raising-sunday-markets-100252-31187833/

Peter Elson writes
After years of dereliction, the Gregson Memorial Institute, on Garmoyle Road, Wavertree, with its acclaimed tiled interiors, will hold its first indoor market on Sunday June 24.
It has taken two years for Catherine Odita to restore the rotting Gregson to a usable state and she has worked with her cousin, Natasha Odita, to set up the indoor market.
Already 35 stalls are booked with more likely to be added, selling second-hand goods and handicrafts, from midday to 5pm. Future markets will be on the last Sunday of each month.
The institute was built in 1897 by Isabella Gregson in honour of her family as an art gallery, museum and lecture theatre.
Under threat of demolition in 1994, Liverpool City Council passed the Gregson to a new charitable trust set up by local people for £5.
It was used for activities such as Boy Scout groups, children’s drama school and a polling station. As its condition worsened the trustees put it on sale for £200,000, with demolition most likely.
Heritage campaigner Wayne Colquhoun had it English Heritage Grade 2 listed in 2008 because of its outstanding tiled interior, the day before a planning meeting sealed its fate.
Natasha, who runs Camp Cupcakes, on Smithdown Road, said: “The Gregson Institute was once a pivotal place in Wavertree community life.

“Catherine’s spent a lot of hard work, money and time renovating it, replacing over 100 panes of glass in skylights and sorting out cracks all over the building.
Chat, Make Friends & Play Bingo at Mecca “I thought it would be good to get the community back in and we’ve already got a cafe. We’ve done as much as we can afford, so everything from the indoor markets will be reinvested to keep the renovation going.”
Art dealer Wayne Colquhoun said: “The Sunday indoor markets are an amazing idea.
“This is what I hoped would happen when I had the Gregson listed as the building needs to live and breathe for the community.
“The interior is a surprising gem, with tiled peacock friezes probably made by the famous Minton factory, like the tiles in St George’s Hall.”