Wellington Rooms, Liverpool
| Wellington Rooms | |
|---|---|
 |
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Neo-classical |
| Town or city | Liverpool |
| Country | England |
| Construction started | 1815 |
| Completed | 1816 |
| Client | Wellington Club |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Edmund Aikin |
Coordinates: 53°24′14″N 2°58′14″W / 53.4038°N 2.9706°W
The Wellington Rooms, or as it is often commonly referred to, The Irish Centre, is situated on Mount Pleasant, Liverpool, close to Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral. The building has been closed since 1997 but there are now plans to re-open the building as a science and technology hub.
The building was designed by the architect Edmund Aikin and built between 1815–1816 as a subscription assembly room for the Wellington Club. It was originally used by high society for assemblies, dance balls and parties. Between 1923 and 1940 it was the Embassy Club and was used for tea dances, classes and weddings. During WW2, the building became the first base for the Rodney Youth Centre though bomb damage in 1941 damaged all of the original ceilings with the exception of the ballroom.
The building officially opened as Liverpool Irish Centre on 1 February 1965 hosting ceilis, music, drama performances as well as serving as a base for clubs and societies.
Neo-classical in style the building's façade is Grade II* listed, but it is now blackened and the building is derelict. The building was designed with a central entrance that leads into an octagonal room from which three further rooms can be accessed from. These were originally used as a drawing room, refreshment room and ballroom. The building had three separate entrances which were intend for men, ladies and sedan-chairs & carriages. The building has now been closed for about 20 years.
The building has been derelict since 1997 and was placed on the National Heritage at Risk Register in 1999. The building suffers from dry rot, dampness and loss of plaster from walls and ceilings which has been exacerbated by repeated lead theft from the roof.
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