Mount Pleasant · north end of Hope Street
Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral
The cathedral stands on the site of the Brownlow Hill workhouse, built in 1769–72 and at one time among the largest in England, which closed in 1928. Lutyens's planned cathedral got no further than its crypt; Frederick Gibberd's circular cathedral above it was consecrated in 1967.
- Architect
- Sir Frederick Gibberd (crypt: Sir Edwin Lutyens)
- Consecrated
- 14 May 1967
- Heritage
- Grade I listed (2025)
- Before
- Brownlow Hill workhouse, 1769–1928
Liverpool’s workhouse on Brownlow Hill was built between 1769 and 1772 for 600 inmates. By 1790 it held more than 1,200, and after enlargement in 1842–43 its official capacity was 3,000, though at times it housed 5,000. It closed in 1928, the site was sold in 1930 and the buildings were demolished in 1931.
The Catholic Church bought the nine-acre site for a new cathedral and commissioned Sir Edwin Lutyens, whose design would have been one of the largest churches in the world. Work began on Whit Monday, 5 June 1933, stopped in 1941, and resumed only to finish the crypt, completed in 1958.
A competition in 1959 was won by Frederick Gibberd, whose circular cathedral, with its lantern tower of stained glass, was built over the crypt from 1962 and consecrated on 14 May 1967. The whole cathedral, crypt included, was upgraded to Grade I in 2025.
- 1769–72
The Brownlow Hill workhouse is built for 600 inmates.
- 1842–43
The workhouse is enlarged to an official capacity of 3,000.
- 1928
The workhouse closes; it is demolished in 1931.
- 1933
Work starts on Lutyens's cathedral on 5 June.
- 1958
The Lutyens crypt is completed.
- 1967
Frederick Gibberd's cathedral is consecrated on 14 May.
- 2025
The cathedral is upgraded to Grade I.
How much history this place holds
The Old Town Time Meter
Old Town Time Meter
76/100
Landmark
- Time on this spot257 years, since 1769 (Brownlow Hill workhouse)34/40
- Age of the present building59 years, built 19676/20
- Layers of history7 documented chapters15/15
- Heritage protectionGrade I listed15/15
- Continuity93 years in the same use (cathedral site)6/10
Part of the historic district of Georgian Quarter · district meter 77/100, Landmark
An index of the documented time and history held by this place, part of Old Town Liverpool's Quantum Energy Mapping. How it is measured.
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Around Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral
Sources: Wikipedia: Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral; Liverpool Irish Festival: The Brownlow Hill workhouse; Food Standards Agency food hygiene rating data (Open Government Licence v3.0), updated 16 October 2026.