I cannot begin to tell you how much I enjoyed looking around the Conservation Centre ( not Conversation as in the product category title ! ) in Liverpool. We found it by chance on a Bank Holiday trip. We hadn't intended to go to Liverpool, but ended up doing so because our actual trip out took ... Read review
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Advantages: Fascinating insight into the art of restoration and conservation Disadvantages: None
I cannot begin to tell you how much I enjoyed looking around the Conservation Centre ( not Conversation as in the product category title ! ) in Liverpool. We found it by chance on a Bank Holiday trip. We hadn't intended to go to Liverpool, but ended up doing so because our actual trip out took less time than we expected. A review on that will follow soon !
We go to Liverpool quite often as there is so much to see and do, and it is ... ...a couple of the Liverpool museums, but had never heard of the Conservation Centre. We were looking for somewhere to park and saw the sign for this and the words ' Free Entrance '. Needless to say, we decided it might be worth a visit ! I can tell you now that it was.
Where is the Conservation Centre ?
============================
It can be found in the centre of Liverpool on Whitechapel. There are plenty of carparks ... more
I cannot begin to tell you how much I enjoyed looking around the Conservation Centre ( not Conversation as in the product category title ! ) in Liverpool. We found it by chance on a Bank Holiday trip. We hadn't intended to go to Liverpool, but ended up doing so because our actual trip out took less time than we expected. A review on that will follow soon !
We go to Liverpool quite often as there is so much to see and do, and it is less than an hour's drive from Manchester. We've been to a couple of the Liverpool museums, but had never heard of the Conservation Centre. We were looking for somewhere to park and saw the sign for this and the words ' Free Entrance '. Needless to say, we decided it might be worth a visit ! I can tell you now that it was.
Where is the Conservation Centre ? ============================
It can be found in the centre of Liverpool on Whitechapel. There are plenty of carparks nearby, and if you fancy a walk, there are hundreds of spaces at the Albert Dock, which is about a 10-minute walk away. You will have to pay to park, as you would expect in a city centre.
How Much Does It Cost & When Is It Open ? ==================================
The Conservation Centre is part of National Museums Liverpool and like all of them, admission is free. When you enter, you can get a free guide to all of the museums at the reception desk.
The opening times are -
Mon - Sat 10 AM - 5 PM Sunday Noon - 5 PM
What Is There To See At The Centre ? =============================
The Conservation Centre is responsible for the care, restoration and conservation of all the collections and objects that form part of National Museums Liverpool. That covers over a million items in museums such as the Customs and Excise Museum, the Merseyside Maritime Museum and the Liverpool Museum.
Although the Conservation Centre is large and contains workshops and studios where the actual conservation work is done, the part that is open to the public is quite small. In fact, if you were to walk around it at a normal walking pace without stopping to look at anything, then it would probably only take about 30 seconds ! The permanent bit is in just one room that is filled with information about how all the different work is carried out. It also contains many examples of work that have been restored, and various interactive exhibits that will especially interest the younger visitors.
Even though there are interactive bits and one or two things for children to do, I don't think it is a place that will hold their interest for too long. Restoration and conservation will not be at the top of the interest list for most kids ! However, if you do have children, don't let this put you off visiting. It won't take too long to have a good look round. In fact, an hour or so should do it, and as I said, there are things to occupy them. My 7-year old enjoyed it and actually wanted to have another look around after we had eaten in the Cafe.
Within the Centre, there are several departments, each of which is concerned with a particular area. These include ceramics, frames, metals, glass, organics, paintings, paper, sculpture, shipkeeping and textiles. In the public exhibition, you will find examples of all of these, and are shown how certain objects have been restored, cleaned or conserved to prevent deterioration. Under the glass case where an object is on display, there are drawers which can be opened to reveal all the things that have been used to treat that particular item.
Throughout the displays, there is text to explain things. However what I really enjoyed was listening to the actual conservators explain how they actually did their amazing work. This was done by way of a complimentary audio guide which you are given to use during your visit. This looks like a telephone and enables you hear about the things that interest you. As you walk around, there are some displays that have a number next to them indicating that they have an audio link. You simply press in the number, press play and listen. You can go at your own pace and even listen to something again if you want to. I'm sure having this to play with will interest the kids.
Some examples of objects that have been restored or conserved that are on public display include a sculpture, various paintings, a child's dress, a mummified Egyptian crocodile, a 16th century copy of the Mona Lisa, and two of Liverpool's most famous statues, Eros and The Spirit of Liverpool. There are many, many more examples.
One thing that I found very interesting was an oil painting on show. There was a large screen next to it, and if you pressed a button, an X Ray of the painting appeared. This revealed how the artist had changed his final work by painting over things or by simply altering them. Other interactive features include piecing together pottery that had broken into small bits, and trying to copy a picture where some of it was missing. My daughter liked the microscope under which you could examine various objects. One piece of advice is don't put your fingertips under the microscope as it shows every single bit of dirt on even the cleanest of nails !
Other Things To Do ================ As well as this permanent display, there are temporary exhibitions regularly on show as well. If you fancy yourself as a bit of an artist, there are creative workshops that you can book to go on. The Centre also holds Family Fun Saturdays which are full of creative things to do as well as puzzles and quizzes. These are free and sound like great fun for children as well as being educational. Finally, on Saturdays and Wednesdays, you can actually take a tour behind the scenes and see the conservators at work in the studios. Again this is free and is something I would definitely do if I ever get the chance to go alone !
What Are The Facilities Like At The Centre ? ==================================
The facilities are first rate. I honestly can't think of anything that has been missed out for disabled visitors. There is a lift, a drop off point outside, a wheelchair available for visitor use, portable stools, a waterbowl for guide and hearing dogs, braille menus, and various other schemes to help the visually and hearing impaired. There are toilets including disabled and baby-changing facilities.
The Cafe Eros serves sandwiches, salads, soups and some very tempting cakes, as well as soft and licensed drinks. There isn't a chip in sight ! I had a delicious Lancashire cheese and plum chutney open sandwich which I would definitely recommend.
The shop sells the usual things such as gifts, books, pictures and toys, and is well worth a visit after looking round the Centre.
As with all free museums, there is the opportunity to give a donation and this place was definitely worthy of our money !
Conclusion =========
If you are in Liverpool and would like to pass an hour or so in a very interesting and fascinating place, then I would recommend the Conservation Centre. Both its contents and facilities are excellent as is shown by it being awarded the European Museum of the Year title in 1998. It is unique in that it is the only conservation centre in the UK that is open to the public. That alone makes it worthy of a visit. Even though a temporary exhibition had just ended when we visited, it sounds as though these are also interesting and of high quality.
All in all, you have nothing to lose in taking a look at the Liverpool Conservation Centre, and a lot to gain.
