Port Sunlight holding Founder’s Day celebrations to mark 161st anniversary of the birth of William Hesketh Lever

Sep 19 2012 by Lorna Hughes, Heswall News

PORT Sunlight will hold its annual celebration of the man behind the legacy this weekend.

The village is holding a host of Founder’s Day events this Sunday to mark the 161st anniversary of the birth of village founder William Hesketh Lever.

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.

The celebrations outside Port Sunlight Museum from 11am to 4pm will include a pop-up outdoor tearoom, a display by Tame Valley Vintage and Classic Car Club and a second hand book sale by the Friends of Port Sunlight.

New character-led guided tours around the village are also being launched as part of the event.

The anniversary continues on Thursday, September 27 with an evening lecture at Port Sunlight Museum from Leverhulme family archivist and historian, Gavin Hunter on the development of the village.

Katherine Lynch, manager of Port Sunlight Museum, said: “Without William Hesketh Lever, the beautiful village of Port Sunlight would not be standing today.”

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.

Tickets for the lecture are £6 for adults, £5 concessions and include the talk, museum entry and light refreshments.

Admission to Founder’s Day anniversary celebrations is free but museum admission charges still apply.

Guided tours are £6 for adults/£5 concessions or £3 for children.

For information on all Founder’s Day events visit www.portsunlightvillage.com or call 644 6466.