Editing Port Sunlight

{{Short description|Model village in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, Merseyside, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country                  = England
| official_name            = Port Sunlight
| coordinates              = {{coord|53.353|-2.998|display=inline,title}}
| population               = 1,450
| population_ref           = ([[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 Census]])<ref name=wirral2001census />
| metropolitan_borough     = [[Metropolitan Borough of Wirral|Wirral]]
| metropolitan_county      = [[Merseyside]]
| region                   = North West England
| constituency_westminster = [[Ellesmere Port and Bromborough  (UK Parliament constituency)|Ellesmere Port and Bromborough]]
| post_town                = WIRRAL
| postcode_district        = CH62
| postcode_area            = CH
| dial_code                = 0151
| os_grid_reference        = SJ338847
| static_image_name        = Houses on Greendale Avenue, Port Sunlight.jpg
| static_image_caption     = An example of Port Sunlight village architecture
| london_distance          = {{convert|176|mi|km|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boulter.com/gps/distance/?from=53.355+-2.994&to=51.507+-0.127&units=m|title=Coordinate Distance Calculator|work=boulter.com|access-date=6 March 2016}}</ref>
| london_direction         = SE
| iso_code                 = GB-WRL
}}
'''Port Sunlight''' is a [[model village]] in the [[Metropolitan Borough of Wirral]], [[Merseyside]], England. It is located between Lower [[Bebington]] and [[New Ferry]], on the [[Wirral Peninsula]]. Port Sunlight was built by [[Lever Brothers]] to accommodate workers in its soap factory (now part of [[Unilever]]); work commenced in 1888. The name is derived from Lever Brothers' most popular brand of cleaning agent, [[Sunlight (cleaning product)|Sunlight]].

Port Sunlight contains 900 Grade II [[listed building]]s, and was declared a [[Conservation area (United Kingdom)|conservation area]] in 1978.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.wirral.gov.uk/udp/oneudp1.asp?id=CH9|title=Port Sunlight Conservation Area|publisher=Metropolitan Borough of Wirral|access-date=23 December 2007|archive-date=7 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107030554/http://www.wirral.gov.uk/udp/oneudp1.asp?id=CH9|url-status=dead}}</ref> Port Sunlight has been informally suggested for [[World Heritage Site]] (WHS) status<ref>{{citation|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmhansrd/vo050308/halltext/50308h04.htm|title=Hansard 8 March 2005|publisher=parliament.uk|access-date=8 February 2008}}</ref> to protect it from development and to preserve the unique character for [[future generations]]; however, it is not yet on the current UK "tentative list" for future consideration as a WHS.<ref>{{citation|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/?action=listtentative&state=gb&order=states|title=Current UK World Heritage Site "tentative list"|publisher=ICOMOS UK|access-date=2 January 2024}}</ref> In the [[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 Census]], its population was 1,450.<ref name=wirral2001census>{{citation|url=http://www.wirral.gov.uk/factsandfigures/census2001/oneward2recset.asp?ref=TS31|title=Wirral 2001 Census: Port Sunlight|publisher=Metropolitan Borough of Wirral|access-date=23 December 2007}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==History==
In 1887, [[Lever Brothers]] began looking for a new site on which to expand its soap-making business, which was at that time based in [[Warrington]]. The company bought {{convert|56|acre|ha}} of flat unused marshy land in [[Cheshire]], south of the [[River Mersey]]. It was large enough to allow space for expansion, and had a prime location between the river and a railway line. The site became Port Sunlight, where [[William Lever]] built his works and a [[model village]] to house his employees. William Lever (who was created a [[baronet]] in December 1911, and was raised to the [[Peerage of the United Kingdom]] as the 1st Baron Leverhulme in June 1917, and was further advanced to being the 1st [[Viscount Leverhulme]] in December 1922) personally supervised planning the village, and employed nearly thirty different architects. Between 1899 and 1914, 800 houses were built to house a population of 3,500. The garden village had allotments and public buildings including the [[Lady Lever Art Gallery]], a cottage hospital, schools, a concert hall, an open air swimming pool, a church, and a [[Temperance movement|temperance]] hotel. Lever introduced welfare schemes, and provided for the education and entertainment of his workforce, encouraging recreation and organisations which promoted art, literature, science or music.

The aims of Lord Leverhulme, as he became, were "to socialise and Christianise business relations and get back to that close family brotherhood that existed in the good old days of hand labour." He claimed that Port Sunlight was an exercise in [[profit sharing]], but rather than share profits directly, he invested them in the village. He said, "It would not do you much good if you send it down your throats in the form of bottles of whisky, bags of sweets, or fat geese at Christmas. On the other hand, if you leave the money with me, I shall use it to provide for you everything that makes life pleasant – nice houses, comfortable homes, and healthy recreation."<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.dta.org.uk/resources/history/historycontentsummary/industrial/|title=William Hesketh Lever: Port Sunlight and Port Fishlight|publisher=Development Trust Association|access-date=17 November 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071209151202/http://www.dta.org.uk/resources/history/historycontentsummary/industrial/|archive-date=9 December 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The historical significance of Port Sunlight lies in its combination of model industrial housing, providing materially decent conditions for working people, with the architectural and landscape values of the [[garden city movement|garden suburb]], influenced by the ideas of [[William Morris]] and the [[Arts and Crafts Movement]]. Each block of houses was designed by a different architect. The backs of any of the houses cannot be seen, and each house is unique. In terms of architectural features, there is half-timbering, carved woodwork and masonry, pargetting (ornamental plaster work) moulded and twisted chimneys and leaded glazed patterns. Some houses were built in [[Flanders|Flemish]] style, with bricks imported from [[Belgium]].

==Geography==
Port Sunlight is on the eastern side of the [[Wirral Peninsula]], at the western side of the [[River Mersey]]. The area is approximately {{convert|10.5|km|mi|abbr=on}} south-south-east of the [[Irish Sea]] at [[New Brighton, Merseyside|New Brighton]] and about {{convert|8|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} east-north-east of the [[Dee Estuary]] at [[Gayton, Merseyside|Gayton]]. The area is between {{convert|10 and 23|m|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.osola.org.uk/elevations/|title=SRTM & Ordnance Survey Elevation Data in PHP|access-date=4 November 2016|archive-date=27 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627005017/http://www.osola.org.uk/elevations/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{{Geographic location
|title = '''Neighbouring places'''
|Northwest = [[Bebington]]
|North = [[New Ferry]]
|Northeast = [[New Ferry]]
|West = [[Bebington]]
|Centre = Port Sunlight
|East = [[Grassendale]]<br />''(across [[River Mersey]])''
|Southwest = [[Bebington]]
|South = [[Spital, Merseyside|Spital]]
|Southeast = [[Bromborough|Bromborough Pool]]
}}

==Community==
[[File:Lady Lever Art Gallery, Port Sunlight - IMG 0915.JPG|thumb|right|Lady Lever Art Gallery]]
One of the great buildings in Port Sunlight is the [[Lady Lever Art Gallery]]. A keen art collector, Lever travelled all over the world and liked to show the villagers the art he collected. Opened in 1922 by Princess [[Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom|Beatrice]], the art gallery shows Lever's collection and modern-day artwork. The collection includes a range of furniture, paintings, sculptures and ceramics.

Other notable buildings include the [[Lyceum, Port Sunlight|Lyceum]], the Gladstone Theatre (which hosts local amateur dramatic productions), Hesketh Hall (which housed the local branch of the [[Royal British Legion]] until 2013, when it was converted into 13 flats)<ref>{{cite web|title=Green light for homes at historic Hesketh Hall|url=http://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/9456975.Green_light_for_homes_at_historic_Hesketh_Hall/|publisher=Wirral Globe|access-date=16 May 2013}}</ref> and the "Bridge Inn" [[public house]].

The village contains [[Christ Church, Port Sunlight|Christ Church]], a [[United Reformed Church]], and opposite is a small primary school. Church Drive Primary School is open to people living outside the village and residents. There is a [[Port Sunlight War Memorial|war memorial]] by [[Goscombe John]] in the village centre in memory of soldiers that died in [[World War I]]. Port Sunlight has a water feature. The open air swimming pool is now a garden centre and cafe.

[[Hulme Hall, Port Sunlight|Hulme Hall]] was built as a women's dining hall, but is now in use as a local community centre and hosts events.

The Cottage Hospital, opened in 1907, was closed for many years but refurbished and reopened in 2008 as the Leverhulme Hotel.

Until the 1980s, all residents were employees of Unilever and their families. During this decade the houses were first sold privately. The former village school is now a [[working men's club]].

The [[Port Sunlight River Park]], on the banks of the River Mersey between [[Cammell Laird]] Shipyard and [[Bromborough Dock]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://portsunlightriverpark.com/page_details.html?PID=174&sec=2|title=Port Sunlight River Park – How To Find Us|website=portsunlightriverpark.com|access-date=9 March 2016}}</ref> opened to the public in 2014.<ref name="thelandtrust.org.uk">{{Cite web|url=http://thelandtrust.org.uk/space/port-sunlight-river-park/|title=Port Sunlight River Park – The Land Trust|website=The Land Trust|language=en-GB|access-date=9 March 2016}}</ref> The park is opposite Otterspool promenade and offers a view of Liverpool's waterfront, including the [[Liverpool Cathedral|Anglican Cathedral]] and the [[Royal Albert Dock, Liverpool|Royal Albert Dock]]. It is an open, natural space that has been created on the former landfill site at Bromborough Dock.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://portsunlightriverpark.com/page_details.html?PID=181&sec=2|title=Port Sunlight River Park – Facilities|website=portsunlightriverpark.com|access-date=9 March 2016}}</ref> The site has been taken over by [[The Land Trust]], 'a charity that is committed to the long term, sustainable management of open space for community benefit'.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://thelandtrust.org.uk/who-we-are/?doing_wp_cron=1457554248.5476450920104980468750|title=Who we are – The Land Trust|website=The Land Trust|language=en-GB|access-date=9 March 2016}}</ref> Walkways allow the public to appreciate the wildflowers and other wildlife; there is also a wetland area.<ref name="thelandtrust.org.uk"/>

==Transport==
The area is served by both [[Bebington railway station|Bebington]] and [[Port Sunlight railway station|Port Sunlight]] railway stations, on the [[Wirral Line]] of the [[Merseyrail]] network. There are regular train services to [[Chester]], [[Ellesmere Port]] and to [[Liverpool]] via [[Birkenhead]].

==Cultural references==
Port Sunlight was widely celebrated. In 1912, it became the subject of a hit West End musical comedy, ''[[The Sunshine Girl]]'', at the [[Gaiety Theatre, London]]. It starred [[Phyllis Dare]], one of the most popular pin-ups of the Edwardian era, and was written by [[Paul Rubens (composer)|Paul Alfred Rubens]]. The show introduced the [[Tango (dance)|tango]] dance to British audiences. In 1919, Lever Brothers made a 40-minute-long [[sponsored film]], ''Port Sunlight'', to promote the town and factory.

The Sunlight Cottages in [[Glasgow]] are rare surviving relics from the series of Great Exhibitions held in [[Kelvingrove Park]] in 1888, 1901 and 1911. These rambling, asymmetrical cottages were constructed in 1901 as replicas of two of the Port Sunlight houses. Designed in an idealised Elizabethan half-timbered style by Exhibition architect [[James Miller (architect)|James Miller]], the houses are picturesquely sited high above the Kelvin. Donated to the city of Glasgow by Lord Leverhulme after the close of the Exhibition, the cottages have been used as park workers' housing ever since.<ref>[http://www.scotland-guide.co.uk/ALL_AREAS_IN_SCOTLAND/Glasgow/Areas/West_End/Kelvingrove_Park/Kelvingrove_Park_-_Sunlight_Cottages.htm  The Scotland Guide: Glasgow: Sunlight Cottages]. Retrieved 13 October 2014</ref><ref>[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/172186/details/glasgow+2+dumbarton+road+kelvingrove+park+sunlight+cottages/ RCAHMS Site Record, Sunlight Cottages]</ref>

Port Sunlight was also used as a filming location for the British television series ''[[Peaky Blinders (TV series)|Peaky Blinders]]'' numerous times.<ref name="wirr_Port">{{Cite web |title=Port Sunlight transported back in time for Peaky Blinders filming |last=Rigby |first=Emma |work=Wirral Globe |date=29 April 2014 |access-date=5 February 2019 |url= https://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/11178687.port-sunlight-transported-back-in-time-for-peaky-blinders-filming/ }}</ref>

==Notable people==

[[Hulme Hall, Port Sunlight|Hulme Hall]] was the venue for drummer [[Ringo Starr]]'s official debut as a member of [[The Beatles]] on 18 August 1962.<ref>{{citation|url=http://home.att.net/~chuckayoub/1962_year.htm|title=The Beatles Timeline 1962|first=Chuck|last=Ayoub|access-date=28 January 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080128131141/http://home.att.net/~chuckayoub/1962_year.htm|archive-date=28 January 2008}}</ref><ref>{{citation|url=http://magicalbeatletours.com/tour_wirral.htm|title=A Beatle Tour to Wirral|publisher=Magical Beatle Tours|access-date=28 January 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117235953/http://magicalbeatletours.com/tour_wirral.htm|archive-date=17 January 2008}}</ref> It is also the site of the band's first ever broadcast interview. The interview was with local [[disc jockey]] Monty Lister and recorded for [[Radio Clatterbridge]] on 27 October 1962.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.radioclatterbridge.co.uk/beatles.htm|title=Beatles|publisher=Radio Clatterbridge|access-date=2 April 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511162226/http://www.radioclatterbridge.co.uk/beatles.htm|archive-date=11 May 2008}}</ref>

[[Fiona Bruce]], host (2008 to present) of the long-running British television show ''[[Antiques Roadshow]]'', grew up in Port Sunlight. In her introduction to an episode of the programme (Series 35 Episode 2)<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01nj00pth|title=Antiques Roadshow|access-date=5 August 2015}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> set in the village, she stood in front of her childhood home and explained that her father was a managing director of a division of Unilever.

===Others===
*[[William Owen (architect, born 1846)|William Owen]] (1846–1910), architect, collaborated in the construction of Port Sunlight
*[[Thomas Bartley (footballer)|Thomas Bartley]] (1874–1951), footballer, played at Port Sunlight
*[[James Wootton-Davies]] (1884–1964), politician, worked as a chemist in Port Sunlight
*[[Arthur Herbert Procter]] (1890–1973), [[Victoria Cross]] recipient, educated in Port Sunlight
*[[Arthur Charles Evans]] (1916–2011), author, employed at Lever Brothers
*[[Mary Wilson, Baroness Wilson of Rievaulx]] (1916–2018), wife of Prime Minister [[Harold Wilson]], employed at Lever Brothers
*[[Sean Hughes (politician)|Sean Hughes]] (1946–1990), politician, employed at Unilever
*[[Jim Molyneux]] (1895-1950), footballer, born in Port Sunlight
*[[Pete Burns]] (1959–2016), singer-songwriter, television personality, born in Port Sunlight<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/14820817.wirral-born-pop-icon-pete-burns-dies-after-cardiac-arrest-aged-57/ | title=Wirral-born pop icon Pete Burns dies after cardiac arrest, aged 57 }}</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery class="center">
File:Port Sunlight buildings 1.jpg|The Bridge Inn
File:Port Sunlight buildings 3.jpg|Church Drive school
File:Port Sunlight war memorial 1.jpg|The [[Port Sunlight War Memorial|war memorial]] by Goscombe John
File:Port Sunlight buildings 8.jpg|
File:Port Sunlight buildings 7.jpg|
File:Port Sunlight buildings 6.jpg|
File:Port Sunlight buildings 4.jpg|
File:8 – 12 The Causeway & 1 – 4 King George's Drive, Port Sunlight.jpg|
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Listed buildings in Port Sunlight]]
*[[Hartley's#Hartley Village|Hartley Village]]
*[[Sunlight Chambers, Dublin|Sunlight Chambers]], Lever Brothers' former offices on [[Parliament Street, Dublin]], constructed between 1900 and 1910.
*[[Sunlight Chambers, Newcastle|Sunlight Chambers]], Lever Brothers' former offices on [[Bigg Market]], [[Newcastle upon Tyne]], constructed between 1901 and 1902.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
{{Refbegin}}
*{{cite book|last=Beeson|first=Edward William|url=https://archive.org/details/portsunlightmode00bees|title=Port Sunlight; the model village of England, a collection of photographs|publisher=The Architectural book publishing company|year=1911}}
*{{cite book|last=Macqueen|first=Adam |title=The King of Sunlight: How William Lever Cleaned Up The World|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7mqj9HnfmdwC|year=2011|publisher=Transworld|isbn=978-1-4464-8845-4}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Port Sunlight}}
{{Commons category|Port Sunlight}}
*[http://www.portsunlight.org.uk Port Sunlight Village Community]

{{Populated Places in Wirral Borough}}
{{Unilever}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Company towns]]
[[Category:Grade II listed buildings in Merseyside]]
[[Category:Model villages]]
[[Category:Planned communities in England]]
[[Category:Towns and villages in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral]]
[[Category:Unilever]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 1880s]]
[[Category:Lever family]]