St George’s Hall, Liverpool: Where Pals Went to War

Available for over a year

St Georges Hall stands on Lime Street in Liverpool city centre, and since opening its doors to the public in 1854 has been an important central venue in the city. It was originally built as a venue for triennial music festivals, and later a courthouse. Sixty years later, the plateau outside the hall saw thousands of men queuing to sign up to the military after a plea from Lord Derby. These men would form the pals battalions – friends, colleagues or neighbours who would sign up together and fight together. On recruitment, the medicals for the pals regiments took place inside the vast hall. After the soldiers had gone away to war, the plateau was used for fundraising events. These were held to encourage local people to help the effort by buying War Bonds. Tanks and aeroplanes appeared outside the hall, and money was raised as a result. Parades and celebrations also took place here – in 1917, when the American troops joined the war, Independence Day marches centred around St Georges Plateau. Location: St George’s Hall, St George’s Place, Liverpool, Merseyside L1 1JJ Photograph from the book 'Liverpool Pals', published by Pen and Sword Books