Cities Of Interest

liverpool * belfast * cherbourg * Southampton

Liverpool

city in northwestern England, administrative center of the metropolitan county of Merseyside, on the Mersey River, near its mouth on the Irish Sea. Liverpool is the commercial focus of a large metropolitan area. Although its exports (largely manufactured goods) have declined, it remains Great Britain's second most important seaport, after London, for traffic other than petroleum. Imports include grain and other foodstuffs, wood, nonferrous metals, and textile fibers. Liverpool is also a passenger port for travel to Ireland. Manufactures include pharmaceuticals, electric equipment, refined sugar and flour, and rubber products. To augment Liverpool's extensive dock areas, important new facilities were constructed in the 1970s outside the city limits. Motor-vehicle manufacturing and oil refining are also located on the periphery of the metropolitan area. Liverpool is connected to the Wirral Peninsula across the river by two motor-vehicle tunnels (1934, 1971) and a railroad tunnel.

Relatively few of the existing buildings in Liverpool predate 1800. A notable exception is the town hall (1754, rebuilt 1795). Other outstanding edifices are the neoclassical Saint George's Hall (1854), housing concert halls, law courts, and exhibition rooms; the Gothic-style Anglican Cathedral (begun 1904, consecrated 1924), one of the largest ecclesiastical structures in the world; and the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Christ the King (consecrated 1967), a striking example of modern architecture. Liverpool's cultural institutions include the Walker Art Gallery (1873), the Liverpool City Libraries (1852), and the Merseyside County Museum (1851). The city also has a symphony orchestra and several theaters. Among the educational institutions here are the University of Liverpool, a polytechnic college, and several research institutes.

In 1207 King John granted the hamlet of Liverpool the privileges of a free borough. It remained an insignificant port town until the late 17th century, when the nearby port of Chester declined as a result of the silting of the Dee River. The growth of manufacturing in surrounding areas and the increase of trade with America and the West Indies caused Liverpool to thrive. Expansion of the harbor was necessary, and in 1715 the first wet dock in Great Britain was constructed here. By the end of the 18th century the city had become a rich metropolis thriving on the slave trade and privateering. In 1830 a railroad was constructed between Liverpool and Manchester, and by the 1860s the city was the hub of an extensive rail network. During this period its population grew rapidly as numerous immigrants, chiefly from Ireland, settled here. Liverpool became the foremost British port for American trade and passenger service in the 19th century.

Because its port was strategic, Liverpool was heavily bombed by the Germans during World War II (1939-1945). By the late 1940s cotton trade and the textile industry had declined dramatically. Extensive slum-clearance and rebuilding projects were undertaken in the city in the 1960s and 1970s. The Beatles began their musical career in Liverpool in the late 1950s. In 1981 and 1982, the Toxteth district of Liverpool was the scene of rioting caused largely by depressed economic conditions. Population (1991 preliminary) 448,300.

liverpool * cherbourg * Southampton

Belfast

city and seaport, capital of Northern Ireland, eastern Northern Ireland, on the Lagan River, at the head of Belfast Lough (an inlet of the North Channel of the Irish Sea). Belfast is a major commercial and industrial city. It is one of the most important shipbuilding and repairing centers of Great Britain and has long been known for its linen textiles. Its manufactures include aircraft, guided weapons, and tobacco and food products. A large petroleum refinery here is supplied by imported petroleum received at the city's deepwater port. Other imports include grain, coal, chemicals, and iron and steel. Among the chief exports are petroleum products, soap, foodstuffs, and textiles. Located in Belfast are the notable Ulster Museum (1890) and the Protestant Cathedral of Saint Anne. An educational center, the city is the seat of Queen's University of Belfast (1845), Belfast College of Technology (1901), and the Union Theological College (1978).

Although the site has yielded evidence of occupation during the Stone and Bronze ages, Belfast's founding dates from 1177, when a Norman castle was erected. Edward Bruce devastated the settlement in 1315, the year he ascended the Irish throne. Taken by the English in the 16th century, it was granted a charter of incorporation in 1613, and the immigration of Protestants (notably Scottish Presbyterians) was encouraged. French Huguenot refugees arriving here in the late 17th century developed the linen industry. The harbor was improved in the late 18th century, and shipbuilding was begun on a large scale. The city was made the capital of Northern Ireland in 1920. During World War II Belfast was heavily damaged by German bombing raids. Beginning in 1969, the city was the scene of Roman Catholic-Protestant disorders involving civil rights agitation and increased violence. Before 1974 Belfast was the county town of the former county of Antrim. Population (1991 preliminary) 279,237.

liverpool * belfast *Southampton

Cherbourg,

city in northern France, in Manche Department, on the English Channel, at the mouth of the Divette River. It is a seaport (notably for transatlantic traffic), a major naval base, and a fishing and manufacturing center; products include ships and marine supplies, electronic and communications equipment, and processed food. A long breakwater protects the port.

Cherbourg is built on the probable site of the Roman camp of Coriallum. By the 11th century the community was known as Carusbar or Carusburc. It was sacked by the English in 1295, but it withstood several English sieges during the following two centuries. Projects for the fortification and improvement of the harbor were initiated in the 17th century. In 1758 Cherbourg was captured by the British, and its port facilities were destroyed; they were restored in a long-term project begun in the 1770s and completed in the mid-19th century. During World War II the city was occupied by the Germans in 1940, and it suffered heavy damage while being recaptured by the Allies in 1944. Population (1990) 28,773.

liverpool * belfast * cherbourg

Southampton

(England), city, Hampshire, southern England, near the head of Southampton Water (an inlet of the English Channel), on the Itchen and Test rivers. Southampton is the major trading port on the southern coast of England. It has passenger traffic to the Continent, but its transatlantic passenger traffic has declined. The principal industries are shipbuilding and the manufacture of motor vehicles. Points of interest include King John's Palace (12th century), the 14th-century gates of the Norman town walls, and Southampton Art Gallery. The city is the seat of the University of Southampton (1862) and a 16th-century grammar school. The Roman settlement of Clausentum and the later Saxon town of Hamwih were located on the site. In the Middle Ages Southampton was an important English port. It became a fashionable resort in the 18th century. During World War II the port was heavily damaged. Population (1991 preliminary) 194,400.

 

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