A stunning early 20th century community hall has finally been restored to its original splendour thanks to lottery funding.
The Albert Walker Hall, on Linacre Road, in Litherland, was built in 1909 and conceived as a grand extension to accommodate the growing number of worshipers using Linacre Methodist Mission.
Originally, it was a galleried hall until a false floor was installed in the 1950s dividing it into both a lower and upper hall.
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The hall is named after Albert James Walker who, together with his mother, Elizabeth Walker, founded the mission in 1898.
For over 100 years, the church and hall have been at the heart of the Litherland community, hosting groups, children and family events, classes, as well as serving as a place of worship.
As the years went by the once grand hall fell into disrepair due to a lack money to pay for its upkeep.
But now, thanks to a £900,000 Lottery Fund Heritage Grant, the hall has been faithfully restored to its former glory.
John Williams, project manager on the Albert Walker Hall restoration, said when he was asked to manage the hall's revamp it was "derelict" and "unusable".
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He said: "The roof needed a load of work on it and the windows were rotted and the weather was coming in. There were things growing out of the roof.
"Part of the ceiling had fallen in and it had been subdivided into smaller spaces. It wasn't like it was originally conceived and built.
"It wasn't unloved but they'd not had the money to do it up and it was showing its one hundred and something years of wear."
Over a period of 18-months, working through the pandemic, the building's structure was made sound and the original decorative features painstakingly restored.
Mr Williams said: "We used experienced conservation and restoration specialists and, so where possible, we restored it to how it was.
"We've restored the stained glass, the tile work and the plasterwork. The hall has new surfaces and a new floor but essentially it's a faithful restoration."
The project manager explained why the hall is architecturally significant and worth conserving as a piece of cultural heritage, unlike much else in the city.
He said: "It was built at a time when architects were copying bits of different periods - so if anything it has an almost Elizabethan architecture.
"But then it has this Art Nouveau stuff going on as well which is in the tile work and quite naturalistic flowers and stained glass.
"That's what they were doing at that time, they were mixing up their styles, it would be a bit of this and a bit of that.
"But It's an unbelievable transformation. Having seen it in its derelict state, seeing it now is like is just a joyful experience really as it's so beautiful.
"It's going to be a real asset for people around the community."
The plan is to complete the restoration of the hall and bring it back into use as a multi-purpose cultural and heritage space.
From community projects to heritage events that will attract visitors to learn more about the mission and its history and for those who want to come and admire the beauty of the Art Nouveau architecture of the hall itself.
Reverend of the Lincacre Methodist Mission, Luke Smith, spoke to the ECHO about the plans for the hall when the work is complete.
Reverend Smith said: "We had a whole range of activities pre-lockdown at Linacre Mission.
"We had church services but also ran a parent and toddler group, a place of welcome, children's and family events, all sorts of things.
"But lots of external groups called it their home as well.
"It's an outlet for South Sefton Food Bank and it was used by the Reach men's centre.
"The restoration is going to add to the range of rooms available for community use.
"There's a theatre school going to use it for performances in the late spring early summer. There will be local history talks as well.
"This is an exciting project for both Linacre mission and Litherland.
"The mission has been a support for local people since it was built.
"People come through the door because they know they're going to be helped."
The Friends of Albert Walker Hall Facebook group was set up to keep people up-to-date with the Hall's conservation.
Over the next few months they will be announcing events and dates for open days when people will be able to visit the hall and admire its restored Art Nouveau beauty for themselves.
