The Lyceum, Port Sunlight

The Lyceum was built for William Lever in 1894–96, and was designed by the Chester firm of architects Douglas and Fordham. It was originally built as the school for the developing community of Port Sunlight and was used as a place of worship until the church was built. It later acquired the name of the Lyceum.

The main front of the building faces southeast. It has five bays in an irregular plan, and is mainly in one storey. The walls are constructed in red Ruabon brick with blue brick diapering and stone dressings. The roofs are of slate with tiled ridges. From the left, the first bay projects forwards. It has a three-light window, an elliptical-arched doorway and a plain gable. The second bay is recessed and higher, with three two-light windows and a shaped gable. The third bay is recessed even further, is in two storeys and has a doorway and a shaped gable. The fourth bay is the most substantial, wider and higher than the others, and projecting forwards. It contains three pairs of two-light…