Visitors to St George’s Hall are in for a treat as one of Liverpool’s hidden gems goes on rare display this August.
The Hall’s Minton floor, consisting of 30,000 beautifully hand-crafted tiles, will be revealed for the first time in four years from Tuesday 1 to Friday 18 August.
The beautiful Victorian mosaic, has been hidden under wooden flooring since the 19th century and is regarded as one of the city’s most beautifully preserved pieces of art.
This will be only be the tenth time the tiles have been unveiled in the past 16 years.
It will take traditional flooring specialists three days to remove the wooden protective cover, and then a further two days to carefully and thoroughly clean the encaustic tiles.
To celebrate the display, the City Hall’s team has programmed some special tours and events, all income generated will be reinvested in the Hall, with donations also made towards the refurbishment of the Willis Organ and the Mary Seacole Statue Fund. The programme, includes:
Minton Tiles Reveal
Monday to Sunday, 9.30am to 3.30pm. £5.50 per person
This 360 degree walk around the perimeter of the Minton tiled floor also gives access to an ‘Education Corner’, encouraging families, schools, and communities to spend some time soaking up the beauty and the history of the Hall and get involved in some fun activities.
The Minton Tile Experience
Tuesday to Sunday, 11am, 2pm and 4pm. £15 guided tour.
This tour offers the public the rare opportunity to walk on the tiles themselves, and take a closer look at the sea nymphs, dolphins, and tridents beautifully crafted into the Minton tile’s intricate design.
Night on the Tiles
Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays 5-7pm. £20 per person (including a drink on arrival).
A beautiful start to an evening in Liverpool as guests treat their eyes and ears to a sensory feast of live music and a glass of sparkling fizz whilst admiring the remarkable craftsmanship of the Minton tile design.
Music on the Mintons
Thursday 17 August, 6-8pm. £20 per person
The incredibly talented organist Lee Ward will be performing a selection of pieces that will highlight the unique tonal qualities of the encaustic Minton tiles. The powerful and ethereal sounds of the famous Henry Willis organ will resonate through the beautifully restored space and transport visitors through time.
Angie Redhead, Assistant Director, City Asset Operations Assistant Director said:
“St George’s Hall is a beautiful building, both inside and out but its most stunning feature is hidden away for years at a time. I’m delighted that for 18 days in August, the protective wooding flooring that covers this hidden gem will be removed, revealing the ornate mosaic floor beneath. Visitors can amble around the perimeter of the floor at their own pace or for a real up close and personal experience, slip on some special protective shoe covers and tour the floor with one of our fabulous Guides.”
“Special events such as these help to generate much needed income so that St George’s Hall can be preserved and protected for future generations with contributions also being made to St George’s Hall Charitable Trust for the refurbishment of the Willis Organ and the Mary Seacole Statue Fund.”
To find out more about all these events and to buy tickets visit the website here.
READ MORE: History made at St George’s Hall – Marriage on the Mintons
