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The Atkinson is Southport’s home for
music, theatre, art, literature and history

The Atkinson offers an exciting and versatile destination for families, cultural tourists, and arts enthusiasts alike, with a wide-ranging day to night programme. Following extensive investment, our beautifully refurbished 19th-century building hosts a welcoming, accessible, and contemporary arts centre.

Our traditional Theatre and dynamic Studio space feature an outstanding lineup of music, comedy, and performing arts from some of the UK’s leading artists and companies.

The Atkinson houses a remarkable collection, including over 3,500 artworks and more than 25,000 pieces of social history, displayed on rotation in our museum and galleries. Our regularly changing exhibitions showcase pieces from our collection alongside contemporary art, family-friendly displays, and thematic exhibitions delivered in partnership with cultural organisations.

Our visitors can explore life in ancient Egypt through the Goodison Egyptology Collection, brought to life in an interactive gallery funded by the Heritage Lottery. In our Between Land and Sea museum, discover the rich history of Sefton’s coast, from prehistoric times to the present day.

Enjoy handmade items by local artists in the shop or relax at our award-winning café, A Great Little Place, for artisan coffee and fresh, imaginative food. With Southport Library and tourist information onsite, we welcome you year-round for a creative, memorable visit.

Timeline

A black and white image of Cambridge Hall dated to 1874

1874

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.

Painted portrait of William Atkinson on display in The Atkinson art gallery, 1878

1878

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.

Entrance gates to Victoria Science & Art School

1887

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.

Lord Street with working electricity

1894

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.

1912

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.

An old photograph of Southport Library

1923

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.

1925

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.

1939

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.

1940

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.

Southport ration book

1949

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.

1962

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.

The foyer space of Southport Arts Centre

1974

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.

2013

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 Atkinson's Discover Ancient Egypt museum's sarcophagus

2014

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.

In November 2023, we celebrated 10 years of The Atkinson. We decorated our foyer space with number 10 balloons. Our fireplace was simultaneously dressed for christmas - which is also shown here.

2023

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.

Our Mission

To be a regional centre for excellence and enjoyment of arts, culture and heritage. A destination where residents, visitors and communities can be entertained, develop inspiration, learning and wellbeing.

To safeguard Sefton’s art and heritage collections, providing an engaging programme of permanent displays, temporary exhibitions and related activities and events.

 

Our Core Values

• To work with integrity and commitment when bringing you our arts and cultural programme

• To always strive to be the best at what we do

• To listen to our audiences and visitors to help us improve the service we offer

• To keep learning and developing our skills

Management Team

David Eddy

Localities Team Manager

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Emma Harrison

Principal Manager: Access, Engagement & Enterprise

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Marie Kenny

Theatre Programme Manager

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Si Grainger

Technical Manager

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Charlotte Buckingham

Marketing Manager

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The Atkinson, 19th Century.