Liverpool's spectacular Victorian terrace you may have driven past without noticing

Liverpool has a huge wealth of beautiful and historic buildings - unique structures such as the Metropolitan Cathedral, or the Georgian grandeur of Gambier Terrace and many many others that help make our city so special.

On the corner of Croxteth Road and Sefton Park Road in Liverpool 8 is one of Britain's most spectacular examples of a Victorian Terrace - although many people may drive past daily and barely notice.

Tucked away behind mature trees and a high wall is an imposing Grade II-listed row of 10 terraces, which are among the largest examples of a Victorian terrace in the country, and cared for by a management committee of owners who treasure the Victorian splendour of Princes Park Mansions.

You can just see Princes Park Mansions peeking above the trees (Liverpool Record Office, Liverpool Libraries)

The mansions were designed by a former sewer worker who went on to help write one of the first dictionaries of architecture.

Wyatt Papworth, who hailed from London, worked for a sewerage firm in the early days of his career.

Princes Park Mansions seen here across the park's lake (Liverpool Record Office, Liverpool Libraries)

He designed Princes Park Mansions in Toxteth in 1848, following a competition.

Papworth was an enthusiast for medieval architecture and was involved in attempts to ensure the preservation and restoration of historic buildings.

For him, this meant finding ways to ensure the unique value of medieval and Georgian buildings were more widely understood and appreciated.

This image shows the splendour and size of the manions (Liverpool Record Office, Liverpool Libraries)

His attempts to highlight the importance of preserving our historic buildings led to him campaigning for a register of historic buildings, which helped pave the way for the current heritage listings system, a system one of his most famous creations has found itself a part of today.

Princes Park Mansions is Grade II-listed and renowned as one of the most spectacular examples of a Victorian terrace in the country - as well as possibly the largest.

The mansions were converted into flats in the early-20th century (Liverpool Record Office, Liverpool Libraries)

Originally built as 10 terraced houses, the mansions were converted into flats in the early 20th century. The mansions were listed in 1975, and major restoration work took place in 2015 to bring the roof and balconies back up to scratch.

Their ongoing status as a fine example of Victorian architecture would no doubt have pleased its designer, who was keen to preserve as many of our historic buildings as possible.