About Us

The Grade II-listed Cambridge Hall was built in 1874 to designs by Maxwell & Tuke. It is a grandiose stone building on Southport’s main shopping boulevard, with an imposing clock tower. Entrance is through the ornamented porte-cochère. Inside the foyer has a large stone fireplace inscribed with the date of the hall.

William Atkinson, a cotton manufacturer from Knaresborough, offered Southport Corporation £6,000 to build an art gallery and library for the town.

He eventually moved to Southport and generously donated approximately £40,000 to the town during his lifetime.

The Victoria Science and Arts School opened around the back of the Cambridge Hall in 1887 and was the first provision for higher education in the municipality. It opened as part of a “great Jubilee fete and Gala” celebrating 50th year of the reign of Queen Victoria, hence the name.

Electricity works were completed on Lord Street and therefore Southport Town Hall, Cambridge Hall and the library were lit by electricity for the very first time. This technological advancement transformed these historic buildings and enhanced the overall experience for visitors.

Street records from this period indicate that Cambridge Hall housed the Atkinson Art Gallery, the Atkinson Free Library, Manchester & Liverpool District Banking Co., the Victoria Schools of Science and Art and Technology, and the Central Police Station.

The Atkinson library acquired the premises of the adjacent former bank known as “Manchester & Liverpool District Banking Co. Limited”. These rooms comprise the present-day children’s section of the library.

The Palette Club’s inaugural invitational exhibition, which invited amateur artists to showcase their work, marked the beginning of what would become the annual Sefton Open. This esteemed exhibition continues to thrive today, providing a platform for emerging artists to share their talent with the community.

The Atkinson remained as Southport’s principal library throughout the 20th century. During WW2, although events such as the Sefton Open were halted, borrowing from the library itself increased as blackouts forced people to stay at home.

The first bombing raid of the Second World War on Southport took place on 4 September 1940, tragically resulting in the deaths of five people. Bombs were dropped in a line stretching from Lord Street to Warren Road. Despite the devastation, Cambridge Hall remained standing, serving as a symbol of resilience.

his ration book from our archives highlights the frugal life of Southport’s residents during difficult times. Amidst the hardship, our art gallery offered a peaceful refuge, providing solace and inspiration for the community.

The Beatles performed at Cambridge Hall in July 1962. John, Paul, George, and Pete Best performed only once at this venue. Brian Epstein’s strategy to elevate The Beatles from rock ‘n’ roll clubs included removing them from such venues and into theatres, such as ours.

Major changes were made to Cambridge Hall and works were completed to transform the space into Southport Arts Centre. The Atkinson art gallery and library operated separately next door, separated by Victoria passage. Southport Arts Centre was at the heart of the community for many years.

Following the closure of Southport Arts Centre in 2010, the building reopened as The Atkinson and is now home to a theatre, studio, cafe, shop, exhibitions spaces, library and museum.

The following year, we were thrilled to finally unveil our Discover Ancient Egypt museum to the public. This highly anticipated permanent exhibition proudly showcases the remarkable Egyptology collection of local enthusiast Mrs Goodison, bringing history to life for all to explore.

28 November 2023 marked a decade since The Atkinson reopened its doors after undergoing a multi-million-pound restoration. Over the years, Cambridge Hall has evolved in many ways, and we are honoured to be its custodians. This milestone was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate with the community and reflect on the rich history of this remarkable building.