The Williamson Art Gallery and Museum

The Williamson Art Gallery and Museum is located in Claughton, Birkenhead, Merseyside, England and houses the Wirral’s art collection. Opened on the 1st December, 1928, the single-storey building is Neo-Georgian in style, and was deliberately designed to blend in with the local surroundings. Financial support for its establishment was done by John Williamson, a Director of the Cunard Steamship Co. Ltd. with his son Patrick Williamson, creates a quiet haven at the heart of the gallery, and great space for wedding photos or a small reception area for business events.

Its collection consist of Victorian oil paintings, including works done by Albert Moore and Philip Steer, English watercolours, Liverpool Porcelain, and the UK’s largest public collection of Della Robbia Pottery. It has a large collection of ship models, that focus on Cammell Laird shipbuilders, the Mersey Ferries, and the vessels that used the River Mersey. Also the gallery hosts regular exhibitions that can include work by nationally and internationally renowned artists. There are also regular musical concerts and the gallery is also a venue for art and crafts workshops.

The Williamson also provides independent book and art supplies shops and a Community Gallery. There is an annual exhibition programme showing changing displays as well as longer exhibitions used in the education programme for schools.

Independent workshop leaders regularly run classes in mixed media, jewellery, drawing, painting and life drawing through the dedicated art room or within the galleries. The gallery has drop in workshops for families twice monthly and a weekly under five’s session in the cafe area with our dedicated artist in residence for little people.

The Williamson Café is independently run and offers food to suit a variety of tastes and budgets, with hearty soups and locally made bread with hot meals on offer for evening events. The Wirral Museum Service had been developing two Thursdays evenings a month at the gallery where different events are held, such as an informal book group, young art group and meeting for local groups like the Wirral Embroiderers Guild and the Western Front Organisations.

Accessibility – Ramped access at front of building and all galleries on one level; accessible toilet available.

Venue Hire

The Williamson is also used for a wide variety of meetings, events and concerts, especially using the excellent Steinway concert grand piano and has become an affordable and unusual venue for weddings in the last couple of years.

Some activities in both museums (Williamson Art Gallery and Birkenhead Priory) are supported by the charity the Williamson & Priory friends organisation, including the private views to exhibitions, purchases for the collections, costs of conservation, Summer Serenades – the popular Sunday afternoon concerts from May to September. The Williamson Talks are monthly meetings relating to the exhibitions with invited speakers.

Admission FREE

Open Wednesday – Sunday 10am – 5pm

Closed Monday & Tuesdays, including Bank Holidays

Further details 0151 666 3537, williamsonartgallery@wirral.gov.uk.

Keep up to date with the Williamson’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/williamsonartgallery

Opening Times

Dates and times marked with a ‘*’ are provisional and may be subject to change