Built in 1844 to designs by Dock Engineer Jesse Hartley, the octagonal hut was one of three designed to shelter those operating the lock gates. The hut is built in a ‘Cyclopean’ design with irregular-shaped stones fitted closely together, which Hartley took inspiration from the ancient Greek stonework technique.

Following a series of open days and engagement sessions, we’ve been working with National Museum Liverpool to sensitively restore the hut as part of their wider Waterfront Transformation Project. We were first appointed by NML to explore turning the hut into a café kiosk, but our early studies showed it would be too invasive for the listed structure. Instead, we helped rethink the brief and we found a new home for the café hatch in an unused corner of the neighbouring Pilotage Building- which is now open and serving ice cream!

Inside the Hartley Hut, a new exhibition installation will share real stories from Liverpool’s dock gatemen, immersing visitors in the history and daily realities of life on the docks. You’ll be able to step inside, look out across the River Mersey, and imagine how different the view might have been almost 200 years ago.

We can’t wait to see it come to life in the next few months!