Wavertree Town Hall is amongst the 73 properties to be auctioned off by Sutton Kersh at the Hilton Liverpool Hotel on Wednesday 25^th May.

The historic building in South Liverpool was built in 1872 for use as the headquarters for the Wavertree Local Board of Health, an organisation responsible for paving, lighting, providing sewers and cleaning the streets in the Township.

When Wavertree was absorbed by Liverpool City Council in 1895, along with neighbouring townships West Derby and Walton, the Town Hall served as centre for local rate collection and as a Registry Office. A period of disuse almost resulted in the building's demolition, but was prevented when local business man  Eric Rooke refurbished it for use as a public house.

Some of the Victorian decorative features included in the original design, which was created by local architect John Elliot Reeves, still remain today. The two-storey Grade II listed building is situated within a designated conservation area fronting Picton Clock. During its use as a public house and restaurant, the building was extended to the rear. There is a car park to the rear of the premises accessed via Chestnut Grove. Subject to the necessary planning consents being obtained, the building is suitable for a variety of purposes that include licensed trade or for residential or commercial redevelopment. The premises will be offered as lot 2 and are guided at £100,000+.

The catalogue includes over 30 residential investment properties with guide prices starting at just £25,000+. The first lot to be offered will be the freehold of Woolton Wood Lodge. The Grade II listed residential property, located on the junction of High Street and Quarry Street, carries a guide price of £150,000+. The living space is arranged of two floors and the premises benefits from substantial gardens to the side and rear.

So far this year, Sutton Kersh has offered over 167 properties at auction, selling 70% of them for a total of almost £6million. James Kersh, director at Sutton Kersh comments “We have had a positive start to the year. The quality and size of our catalogues has increased as has our selling average. Values have remained steady and investors continue to take advantage of the many good deals available. The availability of finance remains key to a recovery in the market but we must be positive; there is activity and an increasing number of deals are completing.”

The auction will commence at 12noon at the Hilton Liverpool Hotel, 3 Thomas Steers Way, L1.