Merseyside Centre for the Deaf - Liverpool - JacobKellyPhotography.co.uk

“Merseyside Centre for the Deaf, Liverpool (Grade II, 1887, E.H. Banner) Initially built as a chapel for the Merseyside deaf community, this once grand gothic structure is in a terrible state. For twenty years after its closure in 1986 it was run as a successful community centre for the Igbo community, but rising costs and an aging membership forced them out in 2007 and it has been closed ever since. The community are full of ideas for its transformation, but its current severe condition means urgent works are desperately needed first for its repair and to secure it from further damage.” - The Victorian Society

This place is one from my bucket list, I’ve had an eye on it for a while but hadn’t been able to gain access. We were there to explore the abandoned Saint Margaret of Antioth Primary School but decided to check out this place anyway, glad we did!

Access was simple, as it seems people are squatting there as we found a newspaper inside dated from the day before we visited. On exiting a car pulled up asking why we were taking photos and If we were squatting there. Turns out this was the building’s current owner. We had a chat about the place. He stated they’re having issues securing the building and squatters keep breaking back in. Their group igbo Liverpool are proactively trying to restore the building but cannot afford the over £5 million they’ve been quoted to restore it. Really nice chap and was more than happy to let us photograph the building.