About Port Sunlight

Port Sunlight was founded by ‘Soap King’ William Hesketh Lever in 1888 to house ‘Sunlight Soap’ factory workers. It is arguably the finest surviving example of early urban planning in the UK, and has remained largely intact since its foundation.

Today, Port Sunlight is home to a fascinating museum, beautiful architecture, a world-class art gallery, stunning parkland and a thriving community.

The village contains 900 Grade II listed buildings set in 130 acres of parkland and gardens. More than 30 different architects created the buildings, monuments and memorials we still see today, and nearly every period of British architecture is represented through revival design. The village is a good example of the aesthetic movement, which emphasised visual and sensual qualities of art and design, and the Arts and Crafts Movement, with its emphasis on traditional craftsmanship.

Lever built Port Sunlight to house the workers at his soap factory, Lever Brothers, which eventually became the global giant, Unilever. The village represents one man’s vision to provide industrial workers with decent, sanitary housing in a considered architectural and picturesque form.

Key Staff and Trustees:

Port Sunlight Key staff and trustees at the Port Sunlight Village Trust