Southport Arts Centre

Southport Arts Centre stands on Lord Street in Southport, a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton. It was built between 1873 and 1874 and originally served as an assembly hall. The building was designed by Maxwell and Tuke and was initially named Cambridge Hall after Princess Mary of Cambridge, who laid its foundation stone. In the 20th century, the assembly hall was converted into a theatre. Today, the arts centre is part of a larger complex called The Atkinson, which also includes the Atkinson Art Gallery and Library. The arts centre is a Grade II listed building, recognised for its national importance and special interest. Its architecture blends Italian Gothic and French Renaissance styles with Victorian ornamentation. The building features a symmetrical front with nine bays, a loggia with a porte cochère, and three towers, including a prominent clock tower. The clock tower, standing at 40 metres, houses five bells and a Cambridge-chiming clock by J. B. Joyce & Co. Inside, visitors find an entrance hall with a coffered ceiling and a stone staircase with Gothic columns. The upper floors contain a theatre seating 440 people and a performance space called the Studio. The ground floor includes a shop selling craft items and a café known as the Bakery. The building’s exterior features a dentilled cornice and a pierced parapet, adding to its architectural charm.