Feature: Blind tour guide who leads guided walks around one of Britain's most stunning buildings

It's one of Britain's cultural secrets, an ornate tiled floor hidden from view for most of its life. And when the mosaic floor makes a rare public appearance Friday, the man leading guided tours will astonish many tourists.

Steve Binns, official historian and tour guide to the City of Liverpool, has been blind since birth.

From Friday thousands of people are expected to take a peek at the amazing Minton-tiled floor in St George's Hall, built in the 1840s to showcase Liverpool to the world.

Tens of thousands of hand-made tiles were used to create a stunning floor, and for just a few days from Friday the covers will be taken off to give the public a chance to view one of the wonders of the Victorian era.

Binns, aged 62, will know every centimeter of the grand hall as he leads people on guided tours, even though he has never seen the tiled floor, or the hall itself, or any of the many architectural gems in the northern England world heritage port city.

"I 'see' things differently," the cheerful guide, white stick in hand, told Xinhua.

"Just because I am blind does not prevent me from appreciating our wonderful buildings and culture. I soak up the histories and events and I convey these as stories during my guided tours.

"As I have always been blind I don't think I am missing out on anything as I have never known any different. It is as though I can 'see' these gems in other ways."

Binns lost his site after he was given oxygen treatment following a premature and low-weight birth.

No expense was spared when the lavish neo-classicial building was being constructed, hailed by the heir to the British throne, Prince Charles, as one of his favorite buildings in the world.

Binns tells how Prince Charles' great great great grandmother Queen Victoria visited St George's Hall in the 1860s and declared it was as worthy of the best of Ancient Greece.

The one time Poet Laureate of Britain, Sir John Betjeman described the hall as a building he would die for.

Binns commented on the social climate of the age, "At the time the hall was being built Liverpool had a massive death rate as a result of deprivation and poverty. Yet the city decided to spend what in today's money would amount of many millions of dollars on this grand hall."

For more than a century the hall was home to the city's main high court, where many murderers were dispatched to the hangman's gallows. The court rooms remain a time warp, earning their keep by being hired out to film makers.

In the 1860s the main hall, with its famous tiled floor, hosted a five day bazaar to raise money for the Confederate side in the American civil war. The event raised what in today's money would amount to more than 3 million U.S. dollars.

Added Binns: "St George's Hall was a wow factor in the 1850s and remains so in the 21st century. Covering up its floor for most of its life ensures that will also survive for future generations."

The last mystery ... why is it covered? Soon after its opening a special all-wood cover was constructed when it was realised the grand balls being held in the hall was causing damage to the ornate tiled floor.

The floor remains open for viewing daily until Aug. 16, after which it goes back into hiding. Endit