Leverhulme Collection

Port Sunlight - a workers utopia
Page from The Illustrated London News with photographs reporting on the model factory village of Port Sunlight on the Wirral, near Birkenhead

The Post Office and Library, Greendale Road, Port Sunlight. Date: circa 1910

Lord Leverhulme
WILLIAM HESKETH LEVER, baron LEVERHULME Popular Irish Influential industrialist

David Lloyd-George at the Welsh National Eisteddfod, Birkenh
Photograph of David Lloyd-George (1863-1945), 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor, the Welsh Liberal statesman, taken during a speech at the Welsh National Eisteddfod, Birkenhead, 6th September 1917

Art students protest about Lord Leverhulme
Art students in London protest against Lord Leverhulme who had returned a portrait of himself by Augustus John to the artist with the head cut out

The Arbour, c1900. Inverforth House (formally known as The Hill) is a large detached house at North End Way on the outskirts of Hampstead, London

The Pergola, c1900. Artist: Horatio Nelson King
The Pergola, c1900. Inverforth House (formally known as The Hill) is a large detached house at North End Way on the outskirts of Hampstead, London

The Lounge, c1900. Artist: Horatio Nelson King
The Lounge, c1900. Inverforth House (formally known as The Hill) is a large detached house at North End Way on the outskirts of Hampstead, London

Lily Basin and West Front; The Hill, Hampstead Heath, c1900. Inverforth House (formally known as The Hill) is a large detached house at North End Way on the outskirts of Hampstead, London

William Hesketh Lever, Lord Leverhulme
William Hesketh Lever (1851-1925), later Lord Leverhulme, soap manufacturer and philanthropist. Founder of Port Sunlight, the model community built on the Wirral to accommodate his employees

Royal visit to Port Sunlight, April 1914
Double page spread from the Illustrated London News covering the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to Port Sunlight, the famous model village

Port Sunlight - where work and pleasure go hand in hand
Double page spread from The Illustrated London News showing scenes at Port Sunlight, the model village built by William Lever (Lord Leverhulme) to house workers at his soap factory

The Lever Memorial, outside the Lady Lever Art Gallery, Port Sunlight, Merseyside, England, in memory of William Hesketh Lever, 1st Viscount Leverhulme and his wife. Date: 1851 - 1925

Thornton House Sundial
An ancient sundial in the grounds of Thornton House, the Wirral, Merseyside, the residence of Lord Leverhulme

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Port Sunlight, a workers utopia created by Lord Leverhulme, is a testament to his vision of harmonizing work and pleasure. The Post Office and Library on Greendale Road stand as symbols of the community's commitment to education and communication. Lord Leverhulme, an influential figure in British industry, believed in providing his workers with more than just employment. He aimed to create an environment where they could thrive both professionally and personally. In 1900, David Lloyd-George attended the Welsh National Eisteddfod held in Birkenhead at the invitation of Lord Leverhulme himself. This event showcased not only their shared love for culture but also their dedication to promoting Welsh heritage. William Hesketh Lever, later known as Lord Leverhulme, faced opposition from art students who protested against him during his time as a patron of the arts. Despite this controversy, he continued to support artists and commissioned stunning pieces like "The Arbour" and "The Pergola, " painted by Horatio Nelson King. "The Lounge, " another masterpiece by King depicting Port Sunlight's grandeur around 1900 showcases the opulence that was prevalent throughout this unique community. Lily Basin and West Front; The Hill in Hampstead Heath further exemplify Lord Leverhulme's passion for creating beautiful spaces within Port Sunlight. In April 1914, Port Sunlight welcomed a royal visit which highlighted its significance as a model village that successfully integrated work-life balance. Port Sunlight remains an enduring legacy where work and pleasure go hand in hand. It stands as a reminder of Lord Leverhulme's pioneering spirit in creating an idyllic haven for workers - one that continues to inspire communities worldwide today.