The new Victoria Building was erected for Liverpool
University College and was opened by Earle Spencer, Chancellor of the Victoria
University on Tuesday December 13th 1892. The College was begun in 1871 with funds from donors of £10,000
each and by public subscription and it obtained a charter of incorporation in
1881 and was admitted in 1884 as a college in the Victoria University, on equal
terms with Owens College, Manchester. Further large donations made by Sir A.B
Walker, Mr Henry Tate, Mr W Rathbone Mr George Holt, Mt T Harrison and Mr J.T
Brunner added to the specific teaching faculties of the institution, with
professorships of engineering, chemistry, botany and physiology, as well as of
mathematics and physics along with complete laboratories for the study of the
subjects.
A new west wing
of the buildings in Brownlow Hill, adjacent to the engineering department,
which was the gift of Sir A.B Walker was erected in the Queens jubilee year in
1887, at a cost of £16,000, thanks to the generosity of Mr Henry Tate, the wing
comprised a lecture theatre, art rooms and a library. The central section of
the college building featured a tower 173 feet high with a clock, below which
was the noble great hall.

The clock and
the bells for the tower were donated by W.P Hartley and other benefactors
included Mr Ismay, W.P Sinclair, and Rev Canon Hume who donated valuable gifts
of books.
A brass tablet
at the entrance to the Tate library was inscribed with Mr Tates Motto and
monogram, the college motto “Haec otia studia fovent” (These days of peace
foster learning) then Mr Tates “Thincke and Thancke” followed by
“Henry Tate
merchant and freeman of the city of Liverpool, counting the gain of wisdom
better than fine gold, built and furnished this library as a treasure house of
learning and for goodly fellowship of students. A.D 1892”

Victoria
Building is a Grade II listed building which was designed by Alfred Waterhouse
and completed in 1892. It was the first purpose-built building for what was to
become the University of Liverpool. Victoria Building is constructed in Ruabon
brick and common brick with terracotta dressings under a slate roof. It is an
L-shaped building in three stories with 13 bays. The southerly eight bays have
alternate gables and gabled dormers. The ninth bay forms the tower. It has an
arched entrance over which is an oriel window and, above this, a three-light
window. Over this are the royal coat of arms, a mosaic panel with an
inscription and machicolation. The top stage has a four-face clock. At each
angle of the tower are buttresses which rise to form pinnacles with lead
spirelets. The end bays curve around behind an octagonal tower with a spire.
Internally the entrance hall is faced in Burmantofts terracotta. An arcaded
staircase leads to the first floor.
This acclaimed
historical building has been redeveloped into the University of Liverpool’s
museum and art gallery, displaying the university’s collection of art and early
medical equipment.
This photograph
was taken just prior to the new museum in the Victoria Building Liverpool,
being opened. The building had previously been the dental and medical faculty
at Liverpool University but had been refurbished and been adapted into being a
medical museum.
“Raised by men
of Liverpool
in the year of
our Lord 1892
for the
advancement of learning
and the
ennoblement of life”
Links
Sources:
Liverpool Central Library
London Illustrated News
Liverpool University
Robert F Edwards