SAVE THE ABBEY: A campaign to save Iconic Liverpool cinema!

For nearly 90 years, the Grade-II listed The Abbey has been an iconic cultural landmark in Wavertree, Liverpool. 

Opening in 1939 with a showing of ‘The Joy of Living’, The Abbey survived as a cinema for 40 years, at one point being the only cinema in the city to screen three strip Cinerama. Since its final screening of ‘The Towering Inferno’ in 1979, the space has been used as squash courts, a snooker club and a bingo hall run by Liverpool legend Ken Dodd, always playing a role in the local cultural community. 

However, since the turn of the millennium it has sat dormant with Lidl now owning the property. Local resident Lydia Jane Alice has started a campaign to save The Abbey and protect the building’s cultural history. We spoke with Lydia about what inspired the campaign and why she feels it’s such an important landmark...

Q. What first sparked the idea for this campaign?

A. “I did my degree in History at King’s College London and I’ve always believed buildings, street names and small quirks about our towns / cities are important relics of our past. Our own time on this planet is so small really… whereas buildings and the way we keep our spaces can (hopefully) outlive us and teach future generations about the past. 

I think it’s really amazing to have such fantastic variety of architecture still standing in Liverpool - especially if you consider it was the second most bombed city in the Blitz outside of London. I have always found The Abbey itself striking and so grand. I have an image of it in my head as the heart of the community again and I think it could give Wavertree a real buzz”.

Q. Why do you feel it's important to preserve The Abbey cinema?

A. “It’s not necessarily the ‘cinema’ element I’m hoping to preserve (though, I do love the idea of it coming back), but more the building. We can be such a throwaway society these days and I think it’s massively key to preserve our heritage for generations to come. 

How the space is used I don’t think should be determined by any one person - but if the building and some of its internal original features can survive, I’ll be happy”.

Q. What would you ideally like to be done to it?

A. “Ideally, I’d love to see the Abbey serve the community again, and I think there are so many possibilities for how it could do that. A supermarket could certainly work, and I know there are many people who would welcome one locally. However, I think we’re increasingly yearning for a sense of community. Loneliness is an epidemic, and having a space where people can come together, socialise and participate in different activities would be hugely valuable for Wavertree. The Abbey is such a large and unique building that I think it could accommodate so much - cafés, bars, study spaces, music, art, events and community activities. Ultimately, I think it needs a vision, the community behind it, and a lot of effort from everyone involved to make that vision a reality”.

Q. How can people support your project? 

A. “Right now, the easiest way to support us is by following @savetheabbeyliverpool on Instagram and TikTok, sharing our posts, and helping us raise the profile of the campaign. You can also tag relevant accounts, such as Liverpool City Council or potential investors and grant-giving organisations, to help get the Abbey in front of the right people”.