IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
North John Street, LIVERPOOL, L2 5QY

This one is a bit higher up than the one I spotted earlier http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3074554 Mind you I was on an open topped bus! Whatever you do, don't tell Richard.

The ground floor is late-C20th, but above is an attractive Edwardian or perhaps late Victorian facade. Canted windows with very slender mullions (which makes the building look ahead of its time), carved heads above and small inset carved figures between them. At the time of the photo none of the building's office space was used.

Pevsner calls it a "windowless cliff", but there is a bit more to it than that. There is an Art Deco-ish zigzag frieze at the top of the main block, whose facade is broken up by panels of slanting verticals. What a lot of trouble to go to for such a utilitarian building. Architects, in this case Herbert Rowse, 1931-34, and engineers have interestingly exploited the opportunities presented by the Mersey Tunnel. Grade II listed.

A cluttered front, but not without charm in its exuberance. By J.A. Picton, 1865-69. Tightly-packed windows, with granite columns to the ground floor, and curious hoods on the first floor. Grade II* listed. At the time of the photo there was a club called Heaven, a pub called the Officers' Mess, and flats above.

Concrete with a distinctive motif of windows set between projecting ribs and below arched sections. Rather Seifertian, but I have not unearthed the identity of the architect. The ground floor had been snaffled by anodyne pub chain, Slug and Lettuce, and the offices above were occupied by, amongst others, the Citizens Advice Bureau. David Hughes tells me that the building was once home to Watson Prickard, "a large high class retailer for ladies'/gentlemen's and children's clothing". Penny Mayes has found a website on which Tim Topping states the architect was his father, John.

Currently occupied by a Turkish restaurant, the original building and restoration dates are given in the inscription "MELBOURNE BUILDINGS/1975/MDCCCLIV" (i.e. 1854). The attic extension is not exactly sympathetic. Grade II listed.

Distinctive in its coat of grey brick and Portland stone. Built for Lloyds Bank, 1926-28, to the designs of Grayson & Barnish. It is relatively restrained, but with the requisite sturdiness and dignity for a bank. Also known as Pacific Chambers, the upper floors were advertising office space and below a bar/club called Destination was advertised.

The one time home of Queen insurance hidden away in Elbow Lane, which was the first insurance company to pay out to the San Francisco earthquake victims

Pub/restaurant/bar at the corner of North John Street and Cook Street, Liverpool.