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As a local Historian in Liverpool, I passionately care about our abandoned buildings. I find it of a great interest to understand why the building was built, who the building was built for, where the money came from, and who lived in the building at the time. I have been fortunate to have gained access to abandoned buildings (with permission) to see a building lost in time and been able to record the exterior and interior of the building. Having been campaigning for twenty-five years on the above buildings, Sandfield Tower and Eddesbury, I am delighted that Eddesbury has caught the eye of a developer and is now being restored to its former glory.
 
However, this campaign is about Woolton Hall, and this is how I have conducted myself over the years with regards to ‘my’ campaign on Woolton Hall, what I’ve done personally to highlight this building and how I have fully researched the building to bring this website to life.


LIVERPOOL ECHO
 
Over four years ago, I took a major interest in Woolton Hall, having had absolutely no success (as yet) with Sandfield Tower. I was bored of sending e-mail’s across to the Mayor of Liverpool and getting absolutely no response, so I turned my attention to this building and mugged up on a brief history, and of course I was astounded to learn about the extensive history Woolton Hall had, including the noted Robert Adam designs. I contacted the local newspaper and expressed my concern over this building as a local historian. I asked if they could run an article and contact the owner asking for their side of things. The local newspaper did Woolton Hall no favours by putting across the owner in a really bad light. Perhaps the owners weren’t having a good day on the day of contact by the newspaper, but they gave as good as they got.
 
In short, the City Council blamed the owners, and the owners blamed the City Council for not being allowed to go ahead with a previous planning application to turn Woolton Hall in to a retirement village. It was a poor article and did no one any favours. The owner feeling that they had been backed into a corner, and the City Council’s Mayor of Liverpool clearly out of her depth on our heritage didn’t respond well either. While the article managed to gain some interest in Woolton Hall, it wasn’t the outcome we really wanted.


SAVE BRITAIN'S HERITAGE
 
So I turned my attention to speaking to my lovely contact at Save Britain’s Heritage (Liz Fuller)and I mentioned that Woolton Hall wasn’t showing on the ‘at risk registers’ and asked if this could be included. This was done and they also had the pleasure of including this on their website for the ‘Building of the month’, in which Woolton Hall appeared on the front page of their website for a month, highlighting the issues facing the property. (Thank you Liz!)


HISTORIC ENGLAND 

At the same time, I spoke extensively to Historic England and asked for Woolton Hall to also be added to their At-Risk Register. They agreed that this needed to be added, and at last Woolton Hall made national news when this was added to the register. They listed the condition as ‘poor’ and made it a Class A ‘highest priority’ which meant ‘Immediate risk of further rapid deterioration or loss of fabric, no solution agreed’. I was delighted that the building was gaining interest. 


RADIO MERSEYSIDE

Back in November 2021, Radio Merseyside got in contact with me and asked if I was able to record a brief on Woolton Hall. I said that I would happily do this, and I was interviewed by Paul Salt. He asked for my background and what outcome Woolton Hall would have by being added to the At-Risk Register. It was about 7 mins long and the interview can be found here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0b26h1n

WOOLTON HALL - A WEEK OF DESTRUCTION

In a rather odd and disappointing week back in 2022, Woolton Hall was constantly being broken into. For a while it was every single night. And did it make the newspapers? No. Could you imagine if the same had happened at Liverpool Cathedral (another grade 1 listed building.) There were a couple of guys who are as passionate about Woolton Hall as I am, and they were able to gain access into the boundary of the building and inspect the damage. It was heartbreaking as you can see in the images below. Total destruction of parts of the interior, the paintings being ripped from the walls – one ended up sitting in Woolton Woods!

With this information, I sent over e-mail’s to the following people: Tony Reeves, Mayor of Liverpool, Malcolm Kelly, Kris Brown, Merseyside Fire Service and CC’d in Historic England and Save Britain’s Heritage. Malcolm Kelly got back to me and I thank him for his response. 

The response was absolutely comical from others. The Mayor of Liverpool didn’t respond (to be fair she failed to respond to 7 previous e-mail’s on historical building). Kris Brown told me (as a Woolton Ward Councillor) that the building was nothing to do with him. But perhaps the most eye-opening e-mail response was from Liverpool City Council’s Tony Reeves:

“We will continue to work with the owners to ensure the exterior of the property is secured but must advise that, as a council we must use our resources wisely and, should you make further contact about issues we cannot assist with we will note your comments but will ignore any future e-mail’s”.


URGENT WORKS NOTICES AND COMPULSORY PURCHASE ORDERS 
 
I also run an alternative website called Stop the Rot, and this can be found at www.stoptherot.co.uk – it highlights other abandoned listed buildings in Liverpool. Within this website, it has a feature on Urgent Works Notices and Compulsory Purchase Orders.
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To briefly sum up Building Conservation’s stance on Urgent Works Notices:  

“Historic building and conservation areas legislation provides effective control over development and demolition, but there is no legal requirement for a building to be maintained. There’s a tipping point in neglect where the rate of deterioration begins to accelerate rapidly, and the cost of repairs starts to escalate.

Although there is no requirement for an owner to maintain a listed building, local authorities do have powers at their disposal to enforce repairs under heritage protection legislation. These include urgent works notices, repairs notices and, if all else fails, compulsory purchase orders. The local authority can pay for and carry out the works which are necessary for the preservation of a listed building and recover the cost by serving a notice on the owner. Of course, in either case, owners may not have the resources to pay for the work, so there is always some risk that the cost to the council is far higher than the cost of the work itself, once litigation costs are taken into account."

 
Historic England states: "The owners of listed buildings are under no legal obligation to maintain their property in a good state of repair; even though it is in their interests to do so. When negotiation fails, local authorities have a range of statutory enforcement powers at their disposal including section 215 Notices, Urgent Works Notices, Repairs Notices and other statutory enforcement tools and powers under the various Housing, Planning and Building Acts, to secure the future of historic buildings. At their lightest level they involve no more than the serving of formal warnings of action, but in the last resort they can lead to enforced repairs or compulsory purchase. Deciding which of the available powers to employ and in what combination will always depend on individual circumstances and the professional judgment of the local planning authority. However, there is much that can usefully be learnt from the practical experience gained by other local authorities who have pursued enforcement actions."
 
In short, while Historic England and Save Britain’s Heritage can provide great information on Urgent Works Notices and Compulsory Purchases Orders, it is only down to the local authority to enforce an Urgent Works Notice. Armed with this information, I asked Liverpool City Council whether any recent Urgent Works Notices had been served to the owners at Woolton Hall (having provided them with the above information from Historic England). You couldn’t have made up their response:
 
In response to your enquiry received on 4 July 2022, we would like to reiterate our previous response and advise that Liverpool City Council do not have any funds available to maintain privately owned properties. You should forward any concerns about listed building to Historic England. Yours sincerely, Customer Feedback Team, Liverpool City Council.

In the interim of all of this, a new (to me) contact appeared at Liverpool City Council. I’m sure there will be no issues in mentioning names for this website.
Joanna Morgan who is Liverpool City Council’s Principal Heritage Officer has been a breath of fresh air when I have contacted her over Woolton Hall. She has responded to me straight away with factual information and has advised me on items at Woolton Hall that perhaps the general ‘jo public’ wouldn’t have access to purely because of my campaign on saving the Hall. She has informed me on past visits and I have kept her up to date on any further research I have come across for Woolton Hall.

THE LATEST UPDATE

The latest e-mail from the City Council in response to asking for further clarification over any current Urgent Works Notices, I was given the following information by the Leader of Liverpool’s City Council’s Office, ‘Nick’. It was frustrating that the local councillors for the Woolton Hall ward failed to get back to me at all.
 
Thank you for your email.
 
As you are aware from previous officer correspondence, Council officers have visited site over recent months and engaged with the owners.  It is our understanding that they are preparing new planning and listed building consent applications.  These have not, as yet, been submitted and officers have contacted the owners’ agent for an update and likely timescale for submission.
 
Whilst there are listed building enforcement measures which can be taken, these have significant financial implications for the Council.  With specific reference to the use of Urgent Works Notices, the Council has to be in a position to undertake the works and then reclaim costs should the owner fail to comply.  Such works can only be a short-term solution and are also open to legal challenge. 
 
However, we are currently exploring whether Historic England is able to offer any support in respect of securing the future of the building.


THE FUTURE

Now that we know the background to Woolton Hall’s history, I’d like to move on to the campaign. The Campaign is quite simply two-fold. It is to have the building – in the interim – fully secured from its perimeter, so that no one can gain further access. It is to ‘watertight’ the building so that the building does not suffer from any further water ingress. Secondly, it is to have the building recognised for its rich history, a Grade 1, 300-year-old structure and its future mapped out. The Hall will not survive another few years in its current state and we will start to see the managed decline that we have seen with Sandfield Tower.
 
It is very easy to point the finger at people for the state that Woolton Hall is in. Perhaps people will point the finger at the owners. They are ultimately the keyholder and are responsible for the building after all. Perhaps people will point the finger at Liverpool City Council for letting this building rot on their watch, for failing to act or to task the owner quicker with Urgent Works Notices – or failing to recognise the historical aspect of the building and the noted Robert Adam architecture.
 
For me, I’d like to make something clear. Whenever I have campaigned on a building, I have never personally campaigned against the owner. I have no right to. For all I know, the owner may be in poor health, have no cash, and could well be embarrassed on the shameful state of Woolton Hall, yet unable to ‘put his hand up’ and admit defeat. I hope that the owner reads this website and understand the rich history behind Woolton Hall. I hope you understand that I am not the enemy and that I would very much like to be invited into Woolton Hall so I can photograph every inch of the property myself and have the grand tour. I would very much like to work with you.
 
However, what I cannot understand are two items. If the owner wanted to, he could ask local people to assist him for free in cutting back all the trees and bushes around the perimeter. He could tend to the grass at the front, he could get local businesses in (for free) to assist with removing rubbish from around the perimeter of the Hall. By doing this, the owner can then be seen to doing all he can to beautify the hall’s perimeter. So that while we understand money isn’t there to personally save the hall, we know that he is doing all he can to beautify the surroundings.
 
Secondly, if the owner doesn’t have the funds to maintain the Hall, why has the owner not done the following. Asked for local people and campaigners who want to see inside the Hall to come in and ‘tidy up’ the place as best possible. For the owner to then create a ‘one way’ tour of the interior of Woolton Hall. He could charge £10 per person for people to go in, officially, and take as many photos as they want of the Hall. They have a limited time (1 hour) to take the tour and at the end there is free tea/coffee served in the Grand Hall. The money taken can then be used for basic upkeep and security on the Hall. No one needs to break in to see inside. Remember when the former White Star Line building was opened up in 2014 in Liverpool? There was a queue halfway around town to see inside! Why not do the same with Woolton Hall?
 
I therefore ask the owner directly, to contact me and see how I can help him from a historical point of view and how can we all pitch in for free to help to save this building for future generations.


 

I therefore ask Liverpool City Council the following.
 

  • When was the last time they inspected the property with a surveyor? Was the last visit just to go in and take some photos and take a look around the place or was this to see the further managed decline of the property.

  • Based on the outcome of these images, what Urgent Works Notices have been served? What is the biggest impact that can be served for the Hall? Is it locking the building down completely so that no one can get in? Is it stopping leaks from the roof? What is the City Council’s greatest concern?

  • Can the City Council provide a clear timeline on past Urgent Works Notices? Have they been followed up? Have the work been done correctly?

  • What is the next step? Will Liverpool City Council consider a Compulsory Purchase Order on the building?

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I therefore ask the owner the following: 

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  • Are you actually interested in saving the heritage of Woolton Hall?

  • Are you aware of its rich history after reading this website?

  • Are you interested in help from local people who would help you with basic repair work, cleaning and tidying of the Hall?

  • Would you consider opening the building for paid tours?

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MANAGED DECLINE 

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When 'managed decline' is spoken about, it can generally mean that the building is being 'run down' without any work being done. In many cases, having a building sitting there empty for a number of years will reveal some loss of paintwork, or perhaps a window or two will get broken. It is always difficult to prove 'managed decline' but in this building, it can be seen in the images below over a ten year period. Below shows a set of images from the former 'Mrs Ashton's room. This is the front first floor room overlooking the main entrance chamber. In this room, there are original 1774 Robert Adam items. Doors, fireplaces and the elaborate ceiling. One would understand if there were some loss of paintwork from the ceiling over a period of ten years, but the images below are shocking. 

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1 - The first image below left shows the rear wall with the fireplace and the Robert Adam ceiling. At this time, there are damp patches and spores of mould on the wall, although the room is in good order. This is 2015.

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2 - The second image shows the same room and same wall now with serious mould on the back wall. This was taken in 2020 and it seems that nothing has been done to stop the ingress of water. This would have been noted in a City Council visit and should have been addressed correctly. The mould treated and removed, the source of the leak found and the room dried out.

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3 - The third image is heart breaking to see. Taken in 2024, it shows the complete destruction of the original Robert Adam fireplace. One would assume that this would be someone having broken in to the property and given the plinth a tug. But no. On the floor are actual items from the original Robert Adam ceiling that has now collapsed in on itself. There is now serious rot and damp and have now started to lose a portion of this original ceiling. 

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4 - The fourth image shows the destruction of the ceiling. An original Robert Adam ceiling now partly rotted away and on the floor. Serious water ingress has got in to this wall and helped the fireplace on its way. 

One would think that the rot is only ​confined to this room, but sadly not. The entire principal staircase ceilings are now rotten as seen below. 

1 - We see the principal staircase on the first image back in 2014. It appears to be in good order considering the age of the building.

2 - We now see the second image which shows the destruction from water ingress ten years later. Again, this is not something that has just happened over night! 

In further frustrating scenes, we see the grand entrance chamber. The ceiling boasts another Robert Adam design.

1 - We see the ceiling in good order back in 2014 but there are damp patches that have needed addressing.

2 - Fast forward to 2024 and we have now lost another Robert Adam ceiling in Woolton Hall. This has not simply fallen down overnight. How can we just lose these grand ceilings and ignore the issue?

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000

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Back in November 2023, I got a bit frustrated in the complete lack of movement on Woolton Hall. Clearly there was an issue, and I had to get to the bottom of this. Was Woolton Hall on the City Council’s radar? Did they know about its rich history? Were they actually going on site to check up on the condition of the hall?

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I therefore requested under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 various questions of which the full response can be found below. In short, I asked the Council on the number of times that they had visited Woolton Hall. I also requested what Urgent Works Notices had been served on the owner on the back of their visits.​

​​The response from Liverpool City Council floored me completely.

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They had visited the property TWENTY-THREE times (see below) in five years. I was ecstatic that we had this down in black and white. It has proven that Liverpool City Council has had to go out on site to understand the condition of the property. They had been contacted multiple times from the general public who had a right to know what was going on with this Grade 1 listed property.

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I then requested in the last five years, based on the above visits, what Urgent Works Notices were served on the owner. An Urgent Works Notice is something that is served on the owner for urgent works on the property. So this would have been water ingress, damaged ceilings from water ingress, broken windows, missing external doors, the building not being properly secured, tiles missing from the roof etc.

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Considering Woolton Hall is ALL over the internet with constant break-ins, it was obvious to everyone that there was serious deterioration in the property. We could prove ‘managed decline’ on images from the last ten years. Imagine my surprise when they responded with a simple:

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No Urgent Works Notices have been served on the owners.

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It was sobering to read. We weren’t asking what Urgent Works Notices had been complied with, but what Urgent Works Notices had been served given proven managed decline on the property. (Not forgetting this is a Grade 1 listed building – the same category as Liverpool Cathedral). NONE. It beggars belief.

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The full e-mail can be seen below in full. This e-mail was sent over to the Secretary of State for them to review why this has been the case. Why the City Council have visited the property twenty-three times, seen proven managed decline for themselves, and not served the owners with Urgent Works Notices. Subsequently, the original Robert Adam ceilings are now collapsing on the floors below. That’s the outcome.

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The City Council can confirm the following:

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1. In the last five years, how many times have Liverpool City Council visited the property, gained access and taken a detailed description of the interior including the taking of any photographs to show the condition of the building. Please can you submit dates and what the visit was for – i.e. a general inspection or to see if works have been done:

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2024

· 24.10.24 Open to Access Complaint - no further action by City Council Building Control Services.

· 03.10.24 Spontaneous external site visit by City Council Enforcement.

· 12.09.24 Spontaneous external site visit by City Council Enforcement.

· 15.07.24 Dangerous Building Complaint - no further action by City Council Building Control Services.

· 25.06.24 Dangerous Building Complaint - no further action by City Council Building Control Services.

· 23.05.24 General Inspection - ground floor photographs taken.

· 23.05.24 Spontaneous external site visit by City Council Enforcement.

· 21.03.24 General Inspection - photographs taken of interior and exterior.

· 26.02.24 Dangerous Building Complaint - no further action by City Council Building Control Services.

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2023

· 13.04.23 Safety Inspection - photographs of grounds;

· 28.02.23 Open to Access Complaint - no further action by City Council Building Control Services.

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2022

· 06.09.22 Security Inspection - ground floor and boundary photographs taken;

· 02.08.22 Security Inspection - boundary photographs taken;

· 11.07.22 Open to Access Complaint - no further action by City Council Building Control Services;

· 04.03.22 General Inspection - photographs taken of roof repairs;

· 03.02.22 Security Inspection - photographs taken;

· 02.02.22 Open to Access Complaint - Communication with owner and site secured - no further action by City Council Building Control Services.

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2021

· 18.05.21 Dangerous Building Complaint - No action by City Council Building Control Services required;

· 16.06.21 Dangerous Building Complaint - no further action by City Council Building Control Services;

· 23.06.21 General Inspection - interior and exterior photographs taken.

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2020

· 10.03.20 General Inspection - no photographs taken.

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2019

· 31.05.19 Dangerous Building Complaint - Regarding fire damaged club (since demolished) - no further action by City Council Building Control Services;

· 31.05.19 Safety Inspection - exterior photographs taken.

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2. In the last five years, how many Urgent Works Notices have been served on the owner giving the obvious deterioration of the property? Please can you list what areas in the building these Urgent Works Notices applied to.

No Urgent Works Notices have been served on the owners.

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3. Further to the above question, of all of these Urgent Works Notices, how many of them were met and signed off as being completed having inspected the work and confirmed that the work had been correctly undertaken?

No Urgent Works Notices have been served on the owners.

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4. Of all the Urgent Works Notices, how many have not been responded to? Out of these, how many of these have been followed up with further notices? What timescale was offered for these Urgent Works Notices to be completed? If these Urgent Works Notices were not complied to, was the owner taken to court? If not, why not? If they were, what was the outcome?

No Urgent Works Notices have been served on the owners.

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5. Given the state of the interior at present, when was the last Urgent Works Notice served on the owner and have their either responded or completed the work?

No Urgent Works Notices have been served on the owners.

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