Any ex-Copperas Hill , Liverpool posties out there ?

[davidjcolbran]

Hello, I'm David a professional photographer currently working on a documentary project on the old Copperas Hill sorting office site in Liverpool. It's been used temporaily for the Liverpool Biennial art show before Liverpool John Moores University takes over.

I've been taking photos of the interior of the building as it changes and it's been really interesting. I'm looking for anyone who worked there over the years - perhaps to give some quotes about their time in the building - to add a bit of a human factor to the images.

Currently I'm preparing a slide-show for the Biennial itself - so if anyone can help with a few words quickly that'd be great. But I also see this as a longer term project - so please get in contact via david@djcdesign.co.uk

Thanks, David

[davidjcolbran]

I've uploaded a blog post with a slide-show, images and some text about my project here http://www.djcdesign.co.uk/blog/urban-archaeology.htm. Comments welcome !

[Lounge Lizard]

A fascinating five minutes viewing. Let's just hope that someone can make good use of the soon to be redundant Shrewsbury Mail centre just as Liverpool John Moores University will do with Copperas Hill. .

[NWpostie]

Is Copperas Hill open to go inside and look at the exhibition ?

[davidjcolbran]

Is Copperas Hill open to go inside and look at the exhibition ?

It is yes. The Liverpool Biennial http://www.biennial.com/ is using part of the building for two exhibitions until 25th November. Well worth visiting to see inside the building alone - but I can definately recommend the 'City States' series upstairs.

[davidjcolbran]

A fascinating five minutes viewing. Let's just hope that someone can make good use of the soon to be redundant Shrewsbury Mail centre just as Liverpool John Moores University will do with Copperas Hill. .

Many thanks - it was a really interesting project and got me thinking about our postal system and the fact that these large sorting offices are closing. Going to try and contact Shrewsbury I think and find out about the building there.

[Stormproof]

David you may find this interesting http://www.silentuk.com/?p=2792" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; A lot of us who read the blog did

[NWpostie]

Is Copperas Hill open to go inside and look at the exhibition ?

It is yes. The Liverpool Biennial http://www.biennial.com/ is using part of the building for two exhibitions until 25th November. Well worth visiting to see inside the building alone - but I can definately recommend the 'City States' series upstairs.

Interesting, I thought the place might have been demolished by now.

[davidjcolbran]

David you may find this interesting http://www.silentuk.com/?p=2792" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; A lot of us who read the blog did

definately - many thanks for posting the link !

[davidjcolbran]

UPDATE - December 2012

I've had quite a bit of interest about this project, including ex-workers from Copperas Hill. I had a really interesting phone conversation with Andrew, who worked in the building between 1987 and 1999. Andrew explained that the URL to this blog post was circulating amoung current and past staff. He said the images were really interesting, as workers didn't have access to the whole building and were unable to take photographs themselves, for fairly obvious security reasons.

He went on to suggest that the tunnel linking Copperas Hill and Lime Street train station was haunted. Many new members of staff were sent down the tunnel and came back reporting all sorts of strange noises and events. Also mentioned that the building had a pub, canteen and snooker room up on the fifth floor and asked if it was still there. I was unsure as not all of the building was open to me, as some areas were unsafe with large drops and unsecured lift shafts.

Andrew mentioned a particularly memorable time soon after he starting working at the site; a bitter industrial dispute in 1988. Approximately 400 pickets gathered at the rear of the building during a strike, as the Royal Mail bused in casual non-union labour, and there was quite a bit of pushing and shoving.

So if you are reading this and have memories / information about Copperas Hill, please get in touch, I'd love to hear more !