A river runs BEHIND it!

by Chris Johnson. Published Mon 01 Sep 2008 18:03

I have been watching with some trepidation as the new Museum of Liverpool takes shape at Mann Island.

Like many others I remain to be convinced that this "X-BOX" monolith is going to be worthy of its place at the Pier Head, alongside what we have recently been encouraged to call "The Three Graces".

There has been a big row over what kind of stone the new museum should be clad in.

But from what I can tell from the stuff that is going up so far it will, at least, tone-in quite well with the limestone of the magnificent Port of Liverpool Building (undoubtedly the most impressive of the Big Three).

What appalled me today was a sight of the X-Box from a vantage point at the end of Castle Street.

I happened to be walking across by the Victoria Monument.

Looking down James Street I was shocked to note that I could no longer see the River Mersey.

Instead the view down James Street is punctuated by a plain black "wall" - the as yet unfinished X-BOX Museum. Even when it's finished a plain white wall will osbcure the river.

I felt robbed! Talk about you don't know what you've got till it's gone.

I quickly realised that this never-again-to-be-seen view of the Mersey was a relic of my childhood - and something I did not miss, or even imagine that I treasured in my memory, until it had vanished.

I think the sense of loss is deeply rooted because that particular view of the river was indelibly imprinted in my sub-conscious from the age of about five.

It would have been the first sight of the river that I glimpsed from the top deck of a tram as it trundled towards the Pier Head where I was to board a ferry heading for a holiday with relatives in Birkenhead. Magical, adventurous stuff for a young lad from Atherton.

It would have been filed away like other first sights of the sea. Those thrilling moments to confirm "we are nearly there" when heading for bucket-and-spade holidays in places like Morecambe and Scarborough.

All this set me wondering whether we are losing our affinity with the sea as a nation.

I always feel "at home" by the sea. But how many children these days get a chance to play in the waves off our shores?

Not many I should say... they are more likely to go paddling in Majorca than New Brighton.




Comments about A river runs BEHIND it!

There are no comments yet on A river runs BEHIND it!. Be the first to leave one, enter your thoughts below.

Post a comment






Alert me of replies

You have characters left