100 years ago today the 1912 equivalent of a multi media press conference was an executive from the White Star Line shouting from this balcony.

 THE QUESTION IS OFTEN ASKED AS TO WHY "TITANIC" HAD LIVERPOOL WRITTEN BELOW IT'S NAME. THE WHITE STAR LINE'S HEADQUARTERS WAS THIS BUILDING IN LIVERPOOL AND AS SUCH ALL WHITE STAR SHIPS WERE REGISTERED IN THE CITY.

"TITANIC" WAS OF COURSE BUILT IN BELFAST BY HARLAND AND WOLFE AND ALTHOUGH H&W DID HAVE A MANUFACTURING UNIT IN BOOTLE WHERE SOME OF THE SMALLER MECHANICAL PRODUCTS WHERE IN FACT MADE. 

THE WHITE STAR LINE HAD ANNOUNCED THAT AFTER RETURNING TO SOUTHAMPTON IT'S NEXT ROUND TRIP CRUISE WOULD BE NEW YORK TO LIVERPOOL.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS TO THE WORLD'S PRESS AND SAID SIMPLY THAT AT 11.45PM LOCAL TIME (14/4) THE TITANIC HAD HIT AN ICEBERG AND HAD SUNK. THERE WAS INITIALLY NO MENTION OF FATALITIES OR INDEED SURVIVORS.

STORY TOLD, IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT PEOPLE THAT HEARD THE ANNOUNCEMENT WERE LAUGHING "THE UNSINKABLE HAS SUNK!!" AND THOUGHT IT WAS AN ELABORATE PUBLICITY STUNT.