How residents and developers are working together to preserve the old Hartley’s jam factory site

The site of the old Hartley’s jam factory in Aintree is being preserved thanks to a collaboration between developers and residents.

Victorian factory buildings in Hartley’s Village had declined in the decades since jam production stopped.

xBut now the future of a major part of Liverpool’s industrial heritage is looking bright again after a multi-million pound investment by Centaur Property Group.

It’s been working alongside residents living in the former factory homes to preserve the village’s history and architecture and breathe new life into the site. 

Phase one of the restoration has already been done, with work to secure and restore the original factory chimney.

Stephen Lancaster-Frankland, chairman of the Hartley’s Village Residence Association, explains:

“That was a high priority because it was so structurally damaged it would have been under threat of demolition if it was left. 

“The work began early in New Year and was completed within four months to an incredibly high standard, the difference is unbelievable. 

“Now work has started on Sugar Street, where a lot of the fruits used to come into the village ready for processing. All of the remaining buildings down Sugar Street and the frontage of Hartley Avenue will be rescued and renovated as fully as they can be to their original Victorian look. 

“If that’s not possible then features will be replaced like for like. Externally, everything is being restored including the main factory gates which will have turrets restored, new Victorian style gates and carriage lighting. 

“Even internally, wherever it can be, the original ironwork and architectural details are being saved to make a feature of the history.

“The residents’ association has access to a lot of historic photos and the site contractor has been using those for reference when necessary and studying them carefully to get a feel for it all.”

The entire site of Hartley’s Village, which Stephen describes as a mini Port Sunlight, was used from the late 1800s to produce founder Sir William Hartley’s famous jam. 

Every element of jam production, from the arrival of fruit from the docks by truck or train to its manufacture, storage and distribution, came from there. Workers were housed adjacent to the factory buildings and there was even a central square used for recreation with tennis courts and bowling greens.

Sadly they were demolished in the 1970s, along with three key warehouses that stood on the site, one of which had a distinctive clock tower.

The remaining buildings fell into such a poor state they were put on the English Heritage ‘Heritage At Risk’ register.

But residents were determined not to let them rot. Hartley Village Heritage Council was formed in 2009, followed by the current residents’ association, and they successfully gained conservation status around a decade ago.

“In 2023 the site was cleared of existing tenants, leaving it empty and ripe for some kind of change,” adds Stephen. “I took over as chairman last June, had a site visit and met Centaur managing director, his then site manager and one of the council’s heritage officers. 

“The plan then was to come up with a model to get some of the buildings restored but last November I was introduced to the site contractor engaged by Centaur to undertake a full restoration of the factory site.

“One of the biggest problems they’ve faced is having to remove mountains of vegetation from buildings. Not just cutting it down, but removing brickwork to get at the roots and treating them to stop them coming back. They’ve also had to get rid of all modern paint and restructure the internals for a new purpose.”

With a completion date of the end of the year, the former factory buildings will be used primarily for office space and retail. 

But Stephen says residents are hopeful that is just the beginning of the revival.

“We understand the key to getting anything else achieved for the wider village would be seeing the factory site restored to its former glory.

“Community was always a big thread through the village’s history and it’s still a huge part of what makes it unique today. As a residents’ association we maintain that community aspect, and now more importantly we’re trying to restore lost period features, putting right what remains, and the factory site restoration is the ideal opportunity to do that.

“We have exciting new collaborations and we hope what’s happening with the factory will be the catalyst to push for more improvements in Hartley’s Village as a whole.

“A lot of people in the area have very fond memories of Hartley’s jams, their parents and grandparents worked on the site and there are still a lot of family connections.

“This restoration means not only will a piece of Liverpool’s industrial history be preserved, it will also bring new business and job opportunities, and growth for the area.”

Find out more about Hartley’s Village here.

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