At the heart of our community
FREE copy
GRANGE LANE STORES
Friendly Staff Lottery • Paypoint • Newspapers • Groceries • Frozen Foods • Wines & Spirits • ATM Machine Gateacre Village ,Grange Lane, L25 5JY
28,000 Copies - 23,000 into Homes + 5,000 into Businesses
Issue 131 – March 2018
GOTHIC REVIVAL
By Stephen Guy
THE enthusiastic student of architecture travelled hundreds of miles visiting ancient buildings including 3,000 churches. Thomas Rickman was born at Maidenhead in 1776 and had several jobs before moving to Liverpool where he became a pioneer of Gothic Revival in architecture. This movement resulted in the creation 19th century masterpieces from the Houses of Parliament to countless public and private buildings. He was a man with several hobbies including making an army of 5,000 model soldiers which he designed and painted. Rickman created an improved system of book-keeping which enabled him to get employment. He was soon involved in Liverpool’s growing cultural scene and was an early member of the Literary and Philosophical Society founded in 1812. His lecture on Grecian and Gothic architecture at the first session made a big impression. Rickman also became a lecturer in architecture at the Liverpool Academy attended by other enthusiasts.
0151 345 0501 OPEN Mon to Sat 6.30 am to 8pm Sun 6.30am to 6pm
INSIDE
WIN, WIN, WIN
Win tickets to The Salon at The Epstein Theatre
page 19
Strange Tales by Anton Valdemart
page 14
His talks were published and were read by other fans of Gothic, a style popular in Western Europe from the 12th to the 16th centuries. Gothic Revival began slowly as it was taken up by architects and others who liked the medieval style. More and more people
followed the trend and in started to become fashionable. Rickman wrote about all styles of architecture and was influential because he classified different varieties making them simple and easy to understand. He was particularly supportive of Gothic architecture, believing it more suitable for Britain than Greek or Roman designs. Rickman teamed up with Liverpool iron founder John Cragg – the result was St George’s Church in Everton. This pioneering Gothic building was designed by Rickman and built mainly from Cragg’s iron. St Michael’s-in-theHamlet, pictured when it was surrounded by countryside, was opened in 1815.
Designed by Rickman, it is similar to St George’s and the iron again came from Cragg’s foundry. The two men designed and built a third church – St Philip’s in Hardman Street. Demolished in 1882, it was similar to the other two but had no tower. Although he began as an amateur with no formal training, Rickman went on to professionally design more buildings including churches in other parts of the country. He submitted designs for the new Parliament buildings but Sir Charles Barry’s were chosen. Rickman died in Birmingham in 1841, aged 64. n Learn more about the history of Liverpool at the Museum of Liverpool, Pier Head, open 10am to 5pm every day, admission free.
An interview with Tom Cotcher
page 8
Car review – Mitsubishi L200 Barbarian
page 23
LIFE ‘n’ STYLE with Jade Ainsworth
pages 12 & 13