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unusual facts about William Lever, 2nd Viscount Leverhulme



Antonius Johannes Jurgens

Although initially in fierce competition with another manufacturer from Oss in the Netherlands, Samuel van den Bergh, both competitors joined up in 1927 to form the Margarine Unie, which would merge in 1930 with William Hulme Lever, 2nd Viscount Leverhulme of Lever Brothers to form Unilever.

Christ Church, Port Sunlight

Port Sunlight was a model village built for the workers at the soap factory of Lever Brothers, founded by William Lever.

Great House Barn

By the early 20th century the Rivington Hall, farm and barns were owned by Lord Leverhulme and on his instructions the architect Jonathan Simpson made further substantial alterations to the barn.

Liverpool Castle

In Lever Park, Rivington near Chorley, William Lever built a folly which is a scale replica of Liverpool Castle in ruins.

Port Sunlight War Memorial

The founder of the village and employer of its residents, William Lever, was anxious to have a memorial to commemorate those of his workers who had been lost in the First World War.

Thornton Manor

His son, Sir William Forwood, chairman of Liverpool Overhead Railway, let the house to William Lever (later 1st Viscount Leverhulme), builder of the soap factory and model village at Port Sunlight, in 1888.

William Lever, 2nd Viscount Leverhulme

William Hesketh Lever is interred with his parents at Christ Church, Port Sunlight.

He arranged for a new marble floor and the communion dais was finished with polished Hopton Wood stone.


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