The village where Hartley's made their world-famous jam is to be preserved as the city's newest conservation area.
The industrial estate in Fazakerley was given the status at a city council cabinet meeting and the character and appearance of Hartley's Village will be protected.
The city’s heritage team carried out a full appraisal of the village, home of the famous Hartley’s jam from the 1880s until the mid-1900s.
The request for conservation came from residents and Hartley Village Heritage Council, who were supported by Warbreck ward councillors.
Hartley’s Village is now a designated conservation area because of its past important function as Victorian manufacturing philanthropy, comprising of a purpose-built factory and model village for employees and land for recreation.
Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport, Councillor Malcolm Kennedy, said: “Hartley’s Village is an area with a special architectural and historic character, and it’s really important that this is protected.
“We would hope to protect this important part of Liverpool’s history for future generations, as well as identifying opportunities to improve the area.”
William Pickles Hartley founded the factory complex in 1886. A staunch Methodist, he advocated the highest standards of workers’ welfare as well as jam production.
The factory was located so that fresh fruit could be transported into it and processed as quickly as possible, while the workers’ housing and recreational facilities were built immediately adjacent to it.
Since the factory’s closure in the mid 1900’s, there have been major losses in the area’s original character, including loss of factory roofs, removal of soft landscaping in the recreational areas and the alteration of architectural details on many surviving buildings in the wider area.
The site of William Hartley’s own villa is now a commercial complex on Long Lane.
Becoming a Conservation Area will halt further losses, help enhance sites where losses have occurred and continue to preserve the character and appearance of the village where possible.
Councillor Ann O’Byrne, Cabinet Member for Housing and Community Safety, and Warbreck ward councillor, said: “We see Hartley’s Village as a real gem in North Liverpool. And given the passion and determination of local residents, we really believe that the village will eventually rival Port Sunlight."
Hartley’s Village will be designated as a Conservation Area immediately, and the Secretary of State and English Heritage will be notified.
Liverpool currently has 35 conservation areas, covering 1,005 hectares (about nine per cent of the city area) and protecting some 19,000 properties.
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