Happy Birthday to The Atkinson in Southport, 9 years after stunning £20m transformation

Happy 9th birthday to The Atkinson in Southport! 

The stunning cultural centre on Lord Street in Southport town centre – named after notable Southport benefactor William Atkinson – was officially opened nine years ago today (28th November, 2013) after an impressive £20 million transformation. 

The redevelopment was led by Sefton Council, with funding through the council, the North West Development Agency and the Government’s Sea Change initiative. 

It has allowed some truly remarkable objects to go on display, including: 

• The Crossens Canoe, sometimes known as ‘King Arthur’s Canoe’. Suspended between the library and the main building, four metres off the ground, this ancient artefact was discovered on 22nd April 1899 in a field near Crossens by local farmer Peter Brookfield whilst ploughing his field. Formerly on display at the Botanic Gardens Museum, it dates from the edge of Martin Mere 1,500 years ago. 
• Barnum’s top hat. Legendary circus impresario P.T. Barnum was married to Southport socialite Nancy Fish, and advised on the construction of the Botanic Gardens Museum. His famous top hat (of ‘The Greatest Showman’ fame) is on display in The Atkinson. 
• Egyptology Collection. The stunning Egyptology museum takes visitors on a journey through what life was like in ancient Egypt at the time of the Pharaohs, showcasing Victorian era Egyptologist Anne Goodison’s personal and wide-ranging collection in an interactive display. Visitors can see an intricately decorated coffin lid, the Mummy of Nes-Amun, a wooden Ba-bird and rare paddle dolls, amongst many other artefacts. 

The Crossens Canoe is moved into place at The Atkinson in Southport. Photo by Graham Moreton of Tarleton Photography

There were several dramatic changes in the redevelopment of The Atkinson which took it from a series of separate facilities including Southport Arts Centre, Southport Library and Southport Art Gallery into one single cultural centre which is now capable of housing some world class exhibitions and events. 

They have ranged from displays from artists such as Henri Matisse and Suhail Shaikh to more local events such as Southport Palette Club, Courage and Devotion and Barnum In The Blood. 

An artist’s impression of what The Atkinson in Southport was due to look like before it was opened in 2013

The revamp saw the end of the former Brooks / JJs . Fountains bar which once stood in the building. 

Instead we now have the bustling A Great Little Place Cafe. 

There is a large auditorium and a smaller theatre space, and a nationally-renowned art gallery space. 

The Atkinson theatre in Southport

The Museum on the top floor was opened in 2014 and houses an impressive Egyptology collection, with many exhibits sourced from Mrs Goodison’s collection, which was previously on display in Bootle Museum. 

Other more local exhibits show Sefton’s rich history, with stars including the Red Rum racehorse, polar explorer FJ Hooper and cartoon character Dan Dare, and explains more about shipwrecks off the coast, Southport’s incredible land speed and aviation history and tragedies such as the Bootle Blitz. 

The Grade II-listed Cambridge Hall was built in 1874 to designs by Maxwell & Tuke. It is a grandiose stone building on Southport’s main shopping boulevard, with an imposing clock tower. Inside the foyer is a large stone fireplace inscribed with the date of the hall. A majestic staircase leads up to the old Cambridge Hall. A public hall created at first floor level, the Cambridge Hall was originally flat-floored with a platform stage, with a raised gallery on three sides and large French windows leading onto the balcony.

Emma Anderson, former Director of The Atkinson, Southport with a sarcophagus that went on show for the first time in 40 years in the museum

In 1875, William Atkinson offered Southport Corporation £6,000 to build an art gallery and library for the town.

William Atkinson was a cotton manufacturer from Knaresborough who frequently visited Southport with his sick wife looking for the refreshing sea air. He eventually moved to Southport and generously donated approximately £40,000 to the town during his lifetime and played an active part in its development. The architects Waddington & Son of Burnley designed the Atkinson Art Gallery and Library, which opened in 1878.

The portrait of William Atkinson, currently on display in the local history gallery,  shows the plans for the art gallery being held in his hands.

An artist’s impression of what The Atkinson in Southport was due to look like before it was opened in 2013

In 1974, when the building was converted to Southport Arts Centre, the hall was transformed into the main auditorium. The gallery was removed, and stadium style seating provided in a single rake, facing the improved stage facilities. The smaller Victoria Hall was converted to a rehearsal room and then, in 1990, to a 300-seat studio theatre.

It had been suggested that retail development permitted in the 1980s to the side and rear of the building would limit the opportunity to improve facilities in the arts centre any further. 

Official opening of The Atkinson in Southport, where Sefton Council’s leader Peter Dowd, Cllr Ian Moncur and Atkinson director, Emma Anderson, cut the ribbon to unviel the new attraction

However, funding from Sefton Council, the North West Development Agency and the Government’s Sea Change initiative from 2008 onwards led to a major redevelopment programme for the building.

Closing from 2010 to 2013, it led to a campaign by former Coronation Street star Jean Alexander (who had played Hilda Ogden in the show) to ‘Save Southport Library’ as she called for a temporary library to be set up while three years of building work took place.

A solution was found when the library was moved to the ground floor of the Southport Visiter office on Tulketh Street, with staff moved to the first floor, between 2010 and 2013. 

Southport Library inside The Atkinson in Southport

On 28th November 2013 the building reopened as The Atkinson and is now home to a theatre, studio, cafe, shop, exhibitions spaces, library and museum. 

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