Here comes Santa Claus

Liverpool’s festive favourite, Blacker’s Santa, will once again be welcoming visitors to the Museum of Liverpool. With hopes of reopening the museum after lockdown, and in line with government guidelines, our festive favourite will delight and uplift visitors amid what has been a very uncertain time.

Blackler’s Santa is coming to the Museum of Liverpool

Since arriving into National Museums Liverpool’s collection in 2013, Santa has delighted visitors towering over the Museum of Liverpool’s atrium during the festive period and welcoming families in from the cold.

Made in 1957, (which makes him 63 years young), by Peter Blazey and his colleagues in the Blackler's Display Studio. Santa was originally part of the famous Winter Wonderland Grotto experience until the store sadly closed in 1988.

Peter kindly donated his head, hands and boots to the Museum, before faithfully restoring him. The transformation, which was generously funded by former Trustees of National Museums Liverpool, Phil and Alexis Redmond, included a faithful recreation of his body and costume.

Kate Johnson, Head of the Museum of Liverpool said:

‘We are delighted to have Blackler’s Santa back on display for the fifth year running. He brings festive cheer every year to us all.

‘ We love hearing our visitors’ stories about how much they loved seeing Santa on display in the famous Blackler’s department store. It’s wonderful that he is back this Christmas time to bring those memories back for our visitors, whilst creating new ones for the younger generation.’

Santa Stats:
• Height - 18ft / just over five metres
• Chest - circumference 16ft / nearly five metres
• Waist - a little less than five metres (before Christmas lunch)
• Boot size - Size 45
• Head, hands and boots – made of plaster and a little Christmas magic
• Body - cane on a plywood frame

Things might be a little different this year, but Santa is still spending time with us. For all those wondering where Santa is kept the rest of the year, it’s the North Pole of course.

Did you visit Santa when he lived at Blackler’s Department Store or in the Museum of Liverpool when he was on display? If you did, we would love for you to share your photos and stories on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, remember to tag @MuseumLiverpool and @NML_Muse.

While our museums and galleries are currently closed, explore the venues at your own pace with online 3D virtual tours https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/virtual-tours.

Due to current lockdown restrictions, the museum is closed.

Museum of Liverpool
Pier Head
Waterfront, Liverpool, L3 1DG
www.Liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/museum-of-liverpool

liverpoolmuseums.org.uk

Open daily 10am-5pm
Museum of Liverpool
Pier Head, Waterfront,
Liverpool, L3 1DG

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Museum of Liverpool
The Museum of Liverpool is the first national museum devoted to the history of a regional city, it showcases popular culture while tackling social, historical and contemporary issues and demonstrating Liverpool’s unique contribution to the world. It has attracted more than four million visitors since it opened in July 2011. The prestigious Council of Europe Museum Prize for 2013 was awarded to the Museum for its commitment to human rights as well as its work with children and families from all backgrounds. In 2019 the Museum of Liverpool won a public vote in the Kids in Museums’ Family Friendly Awards in the large Museum category.

The Museum has received generous support from several major funders, and grants from trusts and foundations, corporate support and individual donations. Major funders include the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS),Garfield Weston Foundation and the Clore Duffield Foundation.

About National Museums Liverpool
National Museums Liverpool comprises eight venues, including some of the most visited museums in England outside of London. Our collections are among the most important and varied in Europe and contain everything from Impressionist paintings and rare beetles to a lifejacket from the Titanic. We attracted more than 3 million visitors in 2019. Our venues are the Museum of Liverpool, World Museum, the Walker Art Gallery, Merseyside Maritime Museum, International Slavery Museum, Border Force National Museum, Sudley House and the Lady Lever Art Gallery. National Museums Liverpool is regulated by the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Museums and galleries regulated by DCMS are exempt charities under Schedule 3 of the Charities Act 2011. Registered Office: World Museum, William Brown Street, Liverpool L3 8EN.
www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk