The Cunard Building

The Cunard Building was once the Headquarters and main passenger terminal for the world’s most famous shipping company, the Cunard Steamship Company. The building was constructed between 1914 and 1917. The Cunard Steamship Company later merged with the White Star Line, the owners of the fateful Titanic. The Cunard Building acted as the central headquarters for the shipping line providing office accommodation, administration accommodation and ship designing facilities on the upper floors. The lower floors of the building were utilised for passenger facilities both ahead of, and following, their departure/arrival on the Cunard passenger liners in Liverpool. A range of facilities were in place within the building including first, second and third class passenger waiting rooms and canteens, storage facilities for customers luggage and facilities for the Cunard employees based both on land and at sea. The Cunard Line vacated the building in the 1960’s.

There are many fine sculptures around the entrances to the building, some representing Storm, Neptune, Peace, War and Britannia. Elsewhere there are emblems of the Zodiac and coats of arms of those countries whom were allied with Britain during the First World War, providing a level of artistic detail and craftsmanship unattainable in contemporary buildings.

The West Entrance to the building led to the toplit public office (image left) with a 1st Class Passenger lounge adjoining within the area which is now occupied by Government Office North West. The 2nd and 3rd class passengers were accommodated within the Lower Ground Floor area, with the first class and economy baggage handling and storage areas situated within the basement. The upper floors of the building were utilised for passenger and shipping administration by the firms employees and its staff, with the 6th floor, which benefits from high levels of natural light, utilised for the drawing of the designs and plans for the Cunard liners


A we were walking arounnd the Cunard Building it was evident that there was alot of history in the building. Instead of looking at the numerous exhibiton in there, I was looking at the architecture and the building itself, imagining all the people who must of passed through it, the memories and stories of those people, travelling and coming and going. All that is left now is the empty shell with beautiful statues and detail.

The carpet had patches where furniture had been, the carpet wasnt from early 20th century but it still had plenty of years of history in it.

But there was no visible sign of the history within the building, there was no indication as to who had been there, and what they had done. When looking on the website I found written history of what the building had been used for and dates when it was built etc but I didn't find any images of when it had been used as the gateway to travel, that there was once many people waiting for their tickets, to board the great ships like The Titanic. That there were different rooms for the different classes. I found no memories of what it had been like.
All those memories wasted, I would of like to have seen old tickets and photographs of passengers. The only piece of memorabilia was a sign on a door stating that it was once a customs office.