Founder’s Day celebrations in Port Sunlight will mark 160th anniversary of the birth of village founder William Hesketh Lever

Sep 14 2011 by Lorna Hughes, Bromborough and Bebington News

PORT Sunlight will celebrate the man behind the legacy this week.

The village is holding a day of Founder’s Day events on Sunday (September 18) to mark the 160th anniversary of the birth of village founder, William Hesketh Lever.

William Hesketh Lever was a successful soap manufacturer when, in 1887, he began looking for a new site for his factory as his business had outgrown its original premises on the banks of the River Mersey in Warrington.

The marshy, uninspiring ground he discovered was eventually to be transformed into the village of Port Sunlight, which was named after his famous soap.

Founder’s Day runs from 11am to 4pm and includes a tribute service at Christ Church, model boat races, second hand book stalls and a display of vehicles from Tame Valley Classic Car Club. Admission is free.

The celebrations continue on Monday with a evening talk and lecture on William Hesketh Lever by historian and archivist Gavin Hunter.

He will invite the audience to experience a pictorial history of Port Sunlight and Lever’s efforts to change the lives of its residents.

In line with Lever’s ideas on prosperity-sharing, the building maintenance and upkeep of the village was subsidised with a portion of the profits from Lever Brothers Limited.

With his own money, he financed the church, technical institute and the Lady Lever Art Gallery as well as schools and a library.

He also introduced welfare schemes for workers and built a cottage hospital in 1907.

The talk will take place in the Lyceum Building on Bridge Street and starts at 7pm (doors open at 6.30).

Admission is £7.50 for adults and £6.50 concessions and places must be booked in advance by calling 644 6466.