Music in a Liverpool Park - from Salthouse Dock

Sunday, 12 July 2009 11:05

Sefton Park is a little way out of the City. We took a bus and after a bit of walk we found it! Why were we going to Sefton Park? To see it of course!

Actually there was another reason - we were going to a live concert at the Palm House there. However (my favourite blog word!) we arrived a bit early and had time to wander in the park.

Sefton Park is undergoing a bit of a regeneration so some parts are still rather shabby. There are some lovely parts too and some notable statues!

Is this one familiar?

It is a replica of the one in Piccadilly Circus. George Audley of Liverpool was so impressed by the Eros statue in London that he commissioned one for Sefton Park. It has been restored recently. Sir Alfred Gilbert (the creator of London's Eros) is said to have preferred Liverpool's one because the jets of water in the fountain were closer to his original plan!

Here is another one

A replica again - the original is in Kensington Gardens. The Sefton Park on was again presented by George Audley in 1928. J.M. Barrie (the Author of Peter Pan) sent a telegram to "Peter Pan, Sefton Park, Liverpool". It said

"Behave to-day, if for the only time.
Take care the Lord Mayor does not find you out.
For heaven's sake don't grow when they remove your swathing sheet."

This took a bit of working out!

The Bandstand is said to be the inspiration for the song "Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band". It is looking a little sad but still has shades of glory!

Bandstand

So to the Palm House, possible the piece de resistance in the park

It was designed after the tradition of Joseph Paxton's glass houses. Here I can claim some personal memories. As a child I lived very near to Crystal Palace near Sydenham. This was the location of the Crystal Palace after the Great Exhibition (1851)in Hyde Park.

Sadly it burned down in 1936 and the flames could be seen all over London. My mother remembered seeing the flames from her home in the SW outskirts of London.

All that remains are the grounds where I spent many a happy childhood day exploring the paths, children's zoo and marvelling at the dinosaurs.

Iguanadon in "The Palace" grounds

The BBC TV mast was erected on the site just above the terrace that led up to the Crystal Palace and I caught a bus from the "Palace Parade" to school most days.

But I digress. We went to the Park to hear Juan Martin - a renowned guitarist and Flamenco player from Andalucia. He was amazing!

Juan Martin

The Palm House is a brilliant venue for small intimate concerts and the audience were enthralled by his playing. He is what I think must be called a "virtuoso" and we thoroughly enjoyed the evening.

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