A Liverpool Christmas tradition generations will remember from their childhood still lives on in the city centre.
For years, a trip to town during the festive period wasn't complete without a visit to Blacklers department store. Opened in 1908, Blacklers was once described as "Liverpool's answer to New York's Macy's," it employed almost 1,000 staff – including a young George Harrison.
Founded by business partners Richard John Blackler and A.B. Wallis at the turn of the 20th century, it was located on Great Charlotte Street and boasted six floors and a fantastic basement full of all kinds of stationery
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But by 1988, Blacklers closed its doors for good and the site later became a branch of pub-chain Wetherspoons named The Richard John Blackler, as a nod to its origins. Today, the building still exists and Blacklers is mostly remembered for its Winter Wonderland Grotto – and giant Santa Claus.
The ECHO recently reported how the famous 18ft Santa is back and on display once again in the Museum of Liverpool. Until January, visitors can get reacquainted with this symbol of their childhood, with younger generations having the opportunity to meet the Blacklers Santa for the first time.
Curator Kay Jones told the ECHO: "He was made in 1957 by the design team at Blacklers department store on Great Charlotte Street, led by Peter Blazey. They made all the Christmas decorations for the store from the 1950s up until the store closed in 1988.
"When Peter left the store he acquired quite a lot of the decorations he and his team made over time and he very kindly donated them to the museum in 2013." The 18ft tall 3D Santa was one of two created by artist Peter Blazey while working there and was displayed as a decoration, as well as to advertise the store’s grotto.
Do you remember the Blacklers Father Christmas? Let us know in the comments section below.
But following Blacklers closure in 1988, Santa fell into disrepair. He made occasional appearances around the city to raise money for charity, but in the following years, it had disintegrated and all that was left of him was his plaster head, hands and boots, the ECHO previously reported.
Peter bought many of the props he had designed and made over the years after the store's closure and set up his own display studio. In his retirement, he donated the large Santa Claus, which was displayed inside the store to the Museum of Liverpool.
Kay said: "I was there from the very beginning when Peter first got in touch with the museum, so I went to his warehouse which was in Wavertree at the time and looked at the Santa. It was a big job acquiring him, getting the new body and outfit made for him and then working together as part of a big team to get him on display for the first time. p
Peter still had the head, hands and boots of Santa and very kindly our trustee at the time Phil Redmond personally paid for the body to be remade and the costume to be remade. It's a nice mix of the original and also new – it kind of reflects all those people who remember him from his first time in Blacklers but also new fans today who come and see him.
"It's that sharing between generations, this new kind of tradition of coming to the museum to see giant Santa." In the last few weeks, many have passed through the doors to admire the giant Santa, many forgetting the scale of the model and remembering what it was like from childhood.
Kay said: "When they come in through the front doors, you can see their reaction straight away. It just takes them straight back to childhood – standing there waiting to see Santa in the grotto, seeing all the magical decorations while they were there waiting for their family.
"It takes them back to early Christmases with family and that much needed toy you needed when you were seven-years-old. It's a real kind of nostalgic reaction seeing him for the first time and it's been really lovely to see people's reactions and creating those new memories with their grandchildren."
When he isn't on display, the Blacklers Santa is separated and put into storage, to be rebuilt and welcomed back to the museum the following Christmas. Kay said: "It's a big job to get him installed every year but we've created quite a tradition and people really look forward to coming to see him.
"There's only been two Christmas times that we haven't been able to display him and we know people were disappointed and they were really looking forward to seeing him. it's just really great that people still continue to keep coming to see him for the very first time after that big gap of the first time seeing him at Blacklers. It's just fantastic to be able to be part of the kind of city wide Christmas tradition."
For the last few weeks, visitors have been thrilled to be reacquainted with this symbol of their childhood, with younger generations meeting the Liverpool icon for the first time. On display till January, visitors can visit and see the Blacklers Santa themselves for free.
The Blacklers Santa is on display at the Museum of Liverpool until January 7, 2024. To find out more, click here.
The Museum of Liverpool also has a number of Christmas offers over the next few weeks, including the Happiness! exhibition celebrating the life and career of Ken Dodd and the Little Liverpool gallery.
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