Harland & Wolff, Liverpool

Harland & Wolff, Shipbuilding and Engineering Works

Harland & Wolff, Head Quarters | Harland & Wolff, Engineering & Foundry

It was around 1913 when Harland & Wolff Ltd, expanded their existing shipbuilding business into Liverpool. Opening a further engineering Works and foundry on Strand Road, along with a new head quarters and works on Regent Road. The Belfast company built many grand ocean liners, including the famously ill-fated RMS Titanic. Titanic had a close connection with Liverpool, with Titanic’s registered operator being the White Star Line, who had their head quarters in the city. Around 90 of Titanic’s main crew, along with it’s chief engineer and ships Lookout, were also either based in, or called Liverpool their home. Even Titanic’s captain, Edward John Smith, whilst not originaly from Liverpool, also famously lived in Liverpool’s Marine Crescent, Waterloo, Crosby, between 1891-1907. Also, Titanic famously carried the ‘Liverpool’ port of registry plate on her stern, below her Titanic name plate.

Harland & Wolff Shipbuilding in Liverpool, mainly carried out refits, repairs and maintenance to a wide variety of vessels. However, the engineering works and foundry, was known to also produce engines and components for ships at their other shipyards. Most of Harland & Wolff’s ships, were constructed at their main Belfast yard, whilst only small working boats such as lighters and canal vessels were built in Liverpool.

Harland & Wolff, Head Office

The former Harland & Wolff head quarters which stood on Regent Road, until finally being demolished in 2013. The yellow sign for the White Star Café is still in place above the large arch.

Harland & Wolff finally closed and abandoned their Liverpool operation in 1962/63. Their head quarters finally being demolished in 2013, whilst the former engineering & foundry building still survives as a storage facility. It is said that an original Harland & Wolff, 25ton overhead crane, built in 1913, still stands in situ within the original foundry. Quite a few years after Liverpool’s Harland & Wolff closure, a Café opened its doors within the former head quarters. The White Star Café, a popular choice for dock workers, for it’s excellent breakfast menu, included the large ‘Titanic’ and even larger, ‘White Star’ breakfasts. It’s said, nostalgic former Harland & Wolff employees often returned to the Café, as well as those interested in the history of the company. Sadly, the Café had to close when the building was demolished in 2013, to make way for additional storage space for containers.

Harland & Wolff, Engineering & Foundry

The former Harland & Wolff, Engineering Works & Foundry building, still survives on Strand Road. The main wide image is a Panorama, showing the entire width of the building and can be viewed at full size for max detail. Also, closeups of the nicely created brick, ‘Harland & Wolff Ltd’ and ‘Foundry’ building signage.

A map showing the location of both Harland & Wolff buildings in Liverpool. The Foundry & engineering works, Strand Road, and the Liverpool Head Quarters & engineering Works, Strand Road. This map, shows how large the Shipbuilding Works in Liverpool were. The Map: OS 1:1,250/1:2500, 1944-1974 Map (curtesy of National Library of Scotland).