Victoria Building, Liverpool

The Victoria Building, a Grade II listed masterpiece, stands at the corner of Brownlow Hill and Ashton Street in Liverpool. Designed by the renowned architect Alfred Waterhouse and completed in 1892, it was the first purpose-built structure for what would evolve into the University of Liverpool. This iconic red-brick building not only housed administration, teaching spaces, common rooms, and the Tate Library but also inspired the term "red brick university," coined by Professor Edgar Allison Peers.

In the late 19th century, University College Liverpool, initially operating out of a disused lunatic asylum, required a dedicated headquarters. By 1887, plans for the Victoria Building were underway, funded through public donations and contributions from notable philanthropists such as Henry Tate and William Hartley. Officially opened in December 1892 by Lord Spencer, Chancellor of Victoria University, the building became a cornerstone of academic life.

Over time, as the university expanded, departments moved to newer facilities. By 1938, the Harold Cohen Library had opened, and the Victoria Building’s library space transitioned into the Tate Hall, used for exhibitions and events. In 1970, administrative offices vacated the building, and by 2008, in celebration of Liverpool's tenure as European Capital of Culture, it was transformed into the Victoria Gallery & Museum.

The Victoria Building features Ruabon and common brickwork with terracotta details, a slate roof, and a striking L-shaped, three-story design. Highlights include a tower with a four-face clock, royal coat of arms, mosaic panel, and lead spire. Internally fireproof with an iron frame and concrete floors, its entrance hall showcases Burmantofts terracotta in brown and blue, a grand arcaded staircase, and a lecture theatre in the apse. A marble statue by Albert Bruce-Joy, the University war memorial, and plaques enrich its historical significance.

The tower’s clock was crafted by William Potts & Sons of Leeds, and its five bells, inscribed with lines from Tennyson's In Memoriam, were cast by Taylors of Loughborough, adding a poetic chime to this enduring symbol of Liverpool’s academic and architectural heritage.