This year, Liverpool celebrates its 800th year of existence. Next year in 2008, it will become the European Capital of Culture. Laurie Taylor takes a look at the city’s past and asks which regeneration projects have been successful, what lessons have been learnt and can Liverpool spur itself into a future of prosperity?
John Belchem is Professor of History at the University of Liverpool. He has edited the official book celebrating Liverpool’s 800th anniversary, ‘Liverpool 800’. Laurie follows John for a tour of the city as they discuss the architecture of the city particularly along the waterfront, the idea of ‘cultural quarters’ in historical terms and the importance of sugar in Liverpool’s economic development.
Paul Jones is the author of a paper entitled The Iconic Rebranding of Liverpool: A Cloud on the Horizon?which looks at plans to build a fourth iconic structure in Liverpool, a building to stand alongside the Three Graces. Paul explains how this project can inform Liverpool’s plans for regeneration.
Stuart Wilks-Heeg is interested in the role of culture in regeneration and debates its usefulness as an economic driver. Is it possible to encourage a thriving artistic presence in the city? Or are thriving artistic communities by their very nature spontaneous and transient?
Ron Noon has for some years been working with former Tate & Lyle refinery workers, exploring their stories. He is currently undertaking an oral history project, aimed at recording in their words, memories of their working life in the refinery and the process and impact of its closure.
Pat and Albert used to work in the Tate & Lyle refinery and have been helping Ron with his oral history project.; Laurie visits the site, now the Eldonian village, to speak to them.
Liverpool 800: Character, Culture and History Edited by John Belchem Publisher: Liverpool University Press ISBN-10: 1846310350 - ISBN-13: 978-1846310355
Merseypride: Essays in Liverpool Exceptionalism by John Belchem Publisher: Liverpool University Press ISBN-10: 1846310105 - ISBN-13: 978-1846310102
Paul Jones, Lecturer in Sociology, School of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Liverpool
Capitalising Culture: Liverpool 2008 Jones, P. with Wilks-Heeg, S. Local Economy (19) no. 3: (Nov 2004) p341-360
Stuart Wilks-Heeg, Lecturer in Social Policy, School of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Liverpool
Ron Noon, Lecturer in social history, in the Department of Social Sciences at John Moores University
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