The waterfront in Liverpool is full of pleasant surprises, offering plenty to do. And now, a new permanent attraction has been added to its cultural repertoire, with the reopening of the historic Hartley Hut.
Hartley Hut is one of the three huts that were built at the waterfront in 1844, and was originally used by dock workers. After being closed for decades, the new attraction is officially reopening as a micro museum this summer.
The site required careful refurbishment due to its long abandonment, and it is part of the National Museums Liverpool’s Waterfront Transformation Project. The tiny huts are built from granite, taking “inspiration from ancient Greece in the design, using ‘cyclopean’ stonework”.
The micro museum at the Hartley Hut explores the real stories behind the nature of the rough working conditions of Liverpool’s historic waterfront.
Liz Stewart, head of the Museum of Liverpool, said: “We find visitors to Liverpool’s waterfront are impressed not only by the beauty of the place and the wonder of its architecture, but also the strong connection they feel to its fascinating history.”
“The Hartley Hut may not be a grand building in scale, but we believe it’s a real treasure among the architecture of the waterfront and that its stories will resonate with our visitors.”
“Those with their own connection to the dock worker community, along with anyone who has a passion for history and what the built environment can reveal about our past, should make a trip to this wonderful new attraction on our waterfront.”
Hartley Hut is located at the river entrance or exit into the Canning Half Tide Dock, and will be open 10am – 4.30pm between Tuesday and Sunday, with the exact opening date to be announced.