Historic Liverpool Dwellings - The Royal Institution

The House and Warehouse on Parr Street

Thomas Parr was born on the 4th of November, 1769, the 4th son of John Parr and Hannah Anderton of Elm House, West Derby, Liverpool. The original property, built c 1770 by John Parr, the Liverpool merchant, whose family was involved in 72 slave voyages between 1727 and 1804, has since been demolished. Thomas became a successful merchant and banker, also specializing in the slave trade and had a 700 berth massive slave ship called 'Parr' which made at least 30 voyages. The vessel is reported to have exploded off the west coast of Africa in 1798, which may indicate that it was carrying gunpowder to exchange for enslaved Africans. He had built in 1799 a much admired house and warehouse ( a Grade 11- listed building) on the corner of Parr Street and Colquitt Street. Parr Street was named after him, and his house still stands today being described magnificent'. Indeed James Allanson Picton referred to the complex of buildings that includes a five-storey Georgian warehouse to the rear of the property, as "one of the best examples extant of the establishment of a first-class Liverpool merchant of the period". Thomas boasted that he had the handsomest house, wife and horse in Liverpool. Evidence relating to Parr's business interests suggests that the warehouse behind his house may have been used to store iron. Iron goods were taken to Africa, where they were used to purchase the slaves with whom the ships were then filled. Other iron goods, such as the shackles with which slave ships were fitted, were also necessary to the slave trade. The south wing of the house was a counting house. The house is flanked by pavilions, with one of them being used as a coach house, and there was also a courtyard with, across Colquitt Street, a pleasure garden, a pond, and walks. 

A 19th century watercolour drawing of the Liverpool Royal Institution building on Colquitt Street. Image by courtesy of the Liverpool Records Office.

During his time in Liverpool, Thomas had 3 daughters before he was 21. Hannah was born in 1787, when he was only 17. She died on the 26th of May, 1823. May was his 2nd daughter, born in 1788 or 89. She died on May 10, 1816. Elizabeth, was born in 1790. However the name of the mother is unsure as it was some 14 years later that the boys arrived born to Katherine Walton; Thomas in 1805, Frederick in 1806, Robert in 1810, and Henry in 1815. In between, Matilda Elizabeth was born in 1808, though she died on the 26th of June 26,1826. Walter Parr was born in 1817, but died on the 5th of July the same year. As Thomas became a very wealthy man, he had sold his Liverpool home in 1805, the year his first boy was born, to the Royal Institution and, owning three shares, was one of its founder members, with many of the people who set it up being involved in some way with the slave trade. It was not uncommon for merchants who made fortunes through the slave trade to use their wealth to establish or support philanthropic organisations, such as the Liverpool Dispensary for the Sick, that provided medicine to the poor. So it was that The Liverpool Royal Institution, the forerunner of the University of Liverpool, was established in a meeting on the 31st of March, 1814 by a group of Liverpool merchants and professional men, associates of William Roscoe, "for promoting the increase and diffusion of Literature, Science and the Arts". Money was raised by subscription, and in July 1817 the Colquitt Street house became its home, and from this time the warehouse was let separately. Thomas then retired at the age of 35 to Lythwood Hall, Shropshire where he lived the life of a country gentleman. Ironically, his most treasured possession was his coin collection, Charles Darwin met him in 1840, and described him as "an old miserly squire." A Royal Charter was granted in 1821 and a lecture program was started. The building also included an art gallery and which hosted John James Audubon's first European exhibition, in 1826. a new building to host the gallery was built in 1841 and its director was William John Swainson. As a grammar school for boys, the Royal Institution School, ran until 1892. Sadly the Royal Institution began to decline at the end of the 19th century when newer establishments including the Walker Art Gallery were founded. The art gallery and museum closed in 1892, and soon after in 1894, the library and archives of the LRI were transferred to University College Liverpool. Much later, in 1941, the Institution briefly served as a Services Quiet Club for those serving in the armed forces. By 1948, the LRI was formally dissolved and the remaining property was transferred to the University.

It has now been transformed into meeting spaces, a restaurant and bar and an independent spirits wine and beer merchant.There was also a room to display paintings from William Roscoe’s private collection and books which featured colour lithograph prints of birds and insects by famous New York painter and ornithologist John James Audubon. A selection of those have now been reproduced in striking artwork on the walls of the new club, and the owners have also managed to track down one of only 50 original gilt-edged books presented to invited guests at the opening event to feature in the club’s archives. Owners Gracious Development Group have spent the past eight months revamping the Royal Institution to bring it back to its former elegance to create a private club where members can work, eat, drink and relax. True to its 19th century roots, the club on Colquitt Street will retain many of its original features. With an all-day menu and meeting spaces, Gracious Development Group hope it will become a place for Liverpool’s professionals and creatives to get together for work or take a break and enjoy bringing guests.

see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2023/03/historic-liverpool-dwellings-dove-park.html