About
On one of the ventilation towers of the Mersey Tunnels, there is an Art Deco statue depicting an Egyptian Pharaoh who is wearing racing goggles and gloves.
The tower, built in the mid-1920s, combines three distinctive styles and elements. First, the Art Deco style, popular in the 1920s and 1930s. Second, the fascination with Egyptian culture, which was sparked by British archeologist Howard Carter’s 1922 discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb. Third, the growth and spread of the automobile, and the use of driving goggles and gloves. All three elements are combined into one glorious statue.
The Mersey Tunnels run under the Mersey river, connecting Liverpool and Wirral. Originally a train tunnel built in the 1880s, the tunnel was expanded to accommodate automobiles; the statue is on one of the ventilation towers on the Liverpool side.
Published
January 29, 2025
