Take a look inside Liverpool’s smallest museum

Hartley Hut is now open as a new attraction on Liverpool’s iconic waterfront, the latest milestone in National Museum Liverpool’s Waterfront Transformation Project.

Following a period of research and public consultation, the sensitive refurbishment of the hut by Liverpool architectural firm, Harrison Stringfellow, will support its new function as a fascinating micro-museum.

Using the real accounts and experience of Liverpool Dock Gatemen, an audio installation will immerse visitors in the memories of those who worked there. Visitors will be able to step into the hut and take in panoramas across the docks and River Mersey, and consider how those views have changed over nearly two centuries. The hut also features a new artwork called, Ebb and Flow by mosaic artist, Caroline Jariwala. Inspired by its waterfront location, the piece has been created with fragments found during the 2007 excavation in Manchester Dock, now the site of Museum of Liverpool, and forms a legacy to the rich heritage of the site.

Positioned near the river entrance/exit into the Canning Half Tide Dock, all three huts were part of civil engineer Jesse Hartley’s dock development and served an important role as a shelter and watching point for Dock Gatemen who operated the lock gates.

The robust structure, with its wide overhanging eaves to protect from rain, and equipped with gas lighting and heating, would have been an oasis of warmth on cold windy nights, and equally a cool shaded space on hot days for Liverpool’s hard working dockers.

The construction of this diminutive dock building was no less thoughtful than the other larger waterfront buildings designed by Jesse Hartley. The use of granite, shipped to Liverpool from Kirkcudbrightshire in Scotland, made this a strong and insulated structure. Hartley took inspiration from ancient Greece in the design, using ‘cyclopean’ stonework, like that built in limestone at Mycenae. The name comes from the huge scale of the stone blocks, which it was thought would have been best handled by the mythical giants, the Cyclops.

Liz Stewart, Head of 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.”

The Waterfront Transformation Project spans the area between Royal Albert Dock and Mann Island, taking in key landmarks and revitalising all National Museums Liverpool’s waterfront facilities.

The landmark project links storytelling, heritage, community, connectivity, and commercial income to create a cohesive visitor experience and catalyst for social and environmental improvements in the area.

It comprises four main areas:

• International Slavery Museum and Maritime Museum major redevelopment
• Canning quaysides and dry docks major redevelopment
• Museum of Liverpool reconfiguration – completed in 2023
• Historic dockside buildings refurbishment (including Hartley Hut)

Hartley Hut will be open Tuesday to Sunday. Like all National Museums Liverpool’s venues, the building will also be open on Mondays during school holidays and follow seasonal opening hours.

Find out more about the Hartley Hut on the Liverpool Museums website.

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