The 19th century saw Liverpool evolve from its mainly mercantile phase into a city with higher aspirations. That is not to say that convenient access to the latest news was without merit so it was natural that the Athenaeum evolved into a hybrid newsroom-cum-library. Hitherto the need for news had been furnished largely by provision of a room in Bates' Hotel (opposite the location of Bullock's Museum on the corner of Lord Street and Whitechapel) but this was so heavily used by strangers that subscribers were finding access difficult. Coffee-houses would also carry some papers.

At this stage three similar institutions evolved to provide specialist access to news and information, the Union on Duke Street (which in 1852 also accommodated the Free Library), the Lyceum on Bold Street (circulating library and newsroom, next to the Rotunda) and the Athenaeum in Church Street.

When Benjamin Silliman visited the Athenaeum in 1805, he was sufficiently impressed that he encouraged Boston MA to establish its own Athenaeum as, indeed, it did. He reasoned that the involvement of William Roscoe in its foundation was sufficient reason to justify a visit over the other establishments but the history of the Athenaeum makes it clear that it too owed a debt to an existing institution in Newcastle.

Getting started

The founders of the Athenaeum overlapped to some extent with those of the Botanic Gardens with Roscoe and Dr John Rutter (physician to the Dispensary) common to both. The other founder and first president was, however, former mayor and council member George Case whose Church Street residence separated the Athenaeum and Dispensary. This was later replaced by commercial premises in the form of Cash's Buildings.

The architect of the Athenaeum was the ubiquitous John Foster Snr who also designed the Union newsroom. Once plans were drawn up a prospectus was issued and some 250 subscribers enrolled. This figure soon reached 350, however, as the design evolved and became more costly.

The original plan to have shops on the ground floor was dropped with the ground floor becoming the newsroom and the first floor the library. The prospectus suggests that a museum would also be established next to the library for display of donated botanic and mineralogical specimens although whether this happened is unclear. Investment in new materials was to be roughly one third each for newspapers, English language books and non-English language books, including classics.

The newsroom opened on 1st January 1799 but the library's opening was delayed to 1st May the following year. The opening hours were 7am-10pm so it is perhaps unsurprising that two of the staff, the Master and Librarian, lived in the basement. The institution was an immediate success and further subscribers were recruited at a premium despite this being a non-circulating library, i.e. books were not available for loan (there was a later suggestion that loans might be possible if duplicate copies were held).

In the first year the newsroom stocked some 65 copies of 42 newspapers and related items in the newsroom which was also a reference source for maps.

The facility must have been highly valued as the furniture was the bare minimum, illumination was by candle and the floor covered with sand, a far cry from later grandeur! Oil-based lighting was phased in from 1800, gas from 1816 and electricity from 1888.

Initially, tea, coffee and soup (but no alcohol or food) were available in both the newsroom and library but the service did not meet costs and was withdrawn after 9 or so years.

Redesign

While there are no plans or photographs of the original building, there are some engravings both of the exterior and the block including the Dispensary, e.g. those shown here from Muir's Bygone Liverpool.

When compared to later photographs, there are clear differences and these reflect changes made in 1840-43 to improve access and ventilation, to enlarge the library and improve lighting and to provide better accommodation for staff living in the cellar. This latter was accomplished by acquiring and demolishing a chocolate manufactory (a nuisance owned by Case) behind the building and using the space for a house for the Master, the Librarian ultimately being allowed to live out.

The build

While the build is reasonably consistent with the 1797 print, Horwood's 1803 map indicates that the old buildings beyond the Dispensary and Post Office Place had been demolished and probably replaced by the time of Silliman's visit. This print of St Peter's by CW Clennell suggests this area was occupied by a terrace of shops (which would be replaced again before the century was out). The house to the far side of the Dispensary may have belonged to Mr Banning, the postmaster, as according to Samuel Holme the post office was behind his house.

Whether the house to the left of the Athenaeum was present is moot.

St Peter's (tower visible in the distance) itself had a small theological library. The street did not have the dogleg shown above.

The Athenaeum today

The Athenaeum is the only one of the three Liverpool projects to continue its operational existence into the present century, albeit removed to new premises in Church Alley as of 1924.