Florence was the daughter of
Sir Bernard Hall, (1812-1890), a West Indies merchant, Alderman and
former Mayor of Liverpool (1879/80.) When she died tragically at the
tender age of 22 her father built a boy's club as a memorial to her,
"in the hope that it might prove an acceptable place of recreation
and instruction for the poor and working boys of this district of
the city".
It was a permanent tribute to his daughter, built at his sole expense,
and a focal point for the local youth who lived in a tough dock-side
area of Liverpool, The Dingle.
The Florence Institute was officially opened as a boys' club in Mill
Street, Toxteth, in 1890, four years after the opening of a similar
establishment, the Gordon Working Lads Institute in Kirkdale on the
other side of the city.
For a hundred years The Florence Institute, or the Florrie as it is
affectionally known by locals, served the young working and unemployed
youth of the area.
As a magistrate Bernard Hall saw the victims of poverty in the courts
and he knew that keeping idle hands occupied would find less work
for the devil.
The Florrie was sold in 1987 and its management, The Florence Institute
Incorporated Company, was dissolved in 1988 with the intention that
the charitable work should be continued by another body.
Unfortunately this never happened and the building has been neglected,
a target for vandalism, arsonists and the elements.
The local community have formed a pressure group, 'The Friends of
the Florrie' to work with all the agencies and stakeholders to redevelop
the Florrie into a multi-ethnic community centre for all ages and
abilities.
