Exploring Port Sunlight, Model Village on the Wirral, Port Sunlight, England

On the edge of the Wirral Peninsula, just across the Mersey from Liverpool, is one of Britain’s most remarkable villages. Port Sunlight was built in the late 19th century by soap magnate William Hesketh Lever to house his workers, but it was much more than just a housing estate. It was designed to enhance every aspect of the villagers’ lives and wellbeing. And, as I discovered, it is still a very special place, combining the ideals of the past with the aspirations of the 21st century. And with one of the country’s finest art galleries…

The origins of Port Sunlight lie in the entrepreneurial vision of William Hesketh Lever, later Lord Leverhulme. A co-founder of the Lever Brothers company, he set up a new business manufacturing Sunlight soap and in 1888 he laid the foundation stone for a new factory on marshland beside the River Mersey.

However, Lever’s ambitions extended beyond commerce. He wanted to create a model village for his employees that would provide access to nature, education and culture. Unlike earlier industrial settlements such as New Lanark or Saltaire, Port Sunlight reflected the values of the emerging Arts and Crafts movement, and placed a strong emphasis on aesthetics and the physical environment. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).