By John Maguire
In the latest instalment of Buried Treasure, ArtsGroupie CIC’s John Maguire explores Bootle’s layered and often overlooked heritage, uncovering the stories, landmarks and community spirit that continue to shape the town today.
For this month’s Buried Treasure, I am in Bootle and have been astounded by the hidden heritage uncovered here. Local landmarks tell a fascinating story, from the historic Bootle Baths, a generational hub for swimming clubs and water polo proudly tied to Bootle-born Olympic swimmer Margaret ‘Maggy’ Kelly MBE, to the town’s oldest house at 1 Merton Road. Built in 1773, this building was originally the kitchen wing of the Earl of Derby’s Hunting Lodge, sitting just across from Christ Church, which has served the community since 1864.
It’s like a labyrinth and you can turn a corner and be struck by a ghost from the past. Take the industrial history on display by Well Lane and Waterworks Street, where the Bootle Tanning Company Factory was built around 1900. This factory, along with several others in the area, was established due to the abundant local water supply.
I also had the pleasure of exploring In Another Place, located right inside the Strand Shopping Centre. Here, a dedicated team of volunteers were busy sewing and crafting world flags to decorate an amazing community showcase, the Bootle International Festival. An event led by the community for the community. A true factory of creativity, and with my own passion for the theatre, having the chance to peep inside their prop cupboard left me feeling like a kid in a candy store. Digging through their collection, I encountered Mr Tumnus from Narnia, a sleeping apostle, and even a couple of dragons.
The festival returns on Saturday, 27 June 2026, from 12pm to 4pm, transforming the Strand Shopping Centre into an international celebration of culture and community roots. The event originally evolved out of the Eurovision celebration in 2023, which served as the foundation for this annual showcase before the official first festival under the ‘International’ name launched at nearby Salt & Tar in April 2024. This canal-side events space is named after Bootle’s historical salt trade and the Hawthorne Road Brotherton Tar Distillery.
The choice to host this year’s festival inside the Strand carries deep historical significance. Opened in 1968 alongside the Netherton Girobank development, marking Bootle’s charter centenary year, the shopping centre sits on the historic site of a demolished Victorian housing estate affectionately known as ‘Little America.’ Where shoppers now walk, once ran old neighbourhood tracks like Delaware Street and Vermont Street.
While the concrete mall was famously home to generations of retailers like Woolworths and originally erected to bring post-war commercial progress to the town, it has like most high street retail areas faced challenges, particularly as the way people shop continues to change. It has evolved from its 1980s transition into an American-style mall to facing the challenges of the recent pandemic. Nearby, the cutting Office Block Triad building, completed in 1974, reminds me of the infamous Nakatomi Plaza building in the great Xmas film Die Hard. It still cuts into the skyline as one of the region’s few remaining brutalist architectural treasures, that you either like or loathe.
Today, the shopping complex integrates not only In Another Place, but community hubs like Strand By Me and Kingsley and Co. In June 2026, as old storefronts are being cleared to make way for a sustainable new Mons Square, hosting the festival here honours the site’s legacy as a monument to community building, bridging Bootle’s retail past with its future as a hub for cultural identity.
Reviving the site’s original goal as an accessible civic hub, this completely free, fully accessible, and family-friendly event eliminates financial barriers. It invites diverse local communities together under one roof to show mutual appreciation for the town’s rich diversity. Visitors are welcome to explore international crafts, play giant games for all ages and enjoy a diverse line up of performers.
Maggi Aslet from Sefton CVS notes that the festival is a brilliant opportunity for the community to come together, looking forward to an exciting and inspiring day shaped by a rich mix of workshops and activities. Annie Spiers, Creative Director at In Another Place, adds that the event offers a wonderful way for families to sample global culture without ever having to get onboard an airplane.
Visitors can expect an exciting lineup of cultural performances, including African drumming, Bollywood dancing, samba, and Ukrainian choirs, side-by-side with a vital spotlight on talented local musicians and dance groups. This harmonious blend celebrates Bootle’s modern identity, reinforcing a collective ‘Made in Bootle’ pride right where generations of local families have walked.
To find out more about Bootle International Festival visit inanotherplace.com/bootle-international-festival-2026.