Beneath the Precinct, the Precinct
The tireless Steve Marland revists a childhood haunt, his latest mooch see’s him rediscovering the precinct below the precinct…
Opened in 1965 as one of the country’s first pedestrianised shopping developments, Merseyway was for me as child, a thing of great wonder. Combining the varied features of the surrounding Victorian architecture with something new, exciting and vibrant. Its covered walkways had feature lighting, display cabinets and public sculptures. Split levels linked by open stairways and escalators. Following several redevelopments it has lost much of its integrity and even shamefacedly whitewashes its concrete facade with a thin veneer of cream render.
Dig a little deeper though, and you will discover the precinct beneath the precinct. The mosaic and relief of WH Smiths upper entrance, striking articulations of skillfully mixed surface and materials, possibly the most exciting pierced, modular, cast concrete car park screen in the world, and the BHS side wall featuring a history of the town. Above us the sky. Take a walk, hike, and look – access all areas. For further information click here: Archive images click here:
