BROMBOROUGH VILLAGE

Bromborough Village was designated as a Conservation Area in July 1982, and is one of the smallest in the Borough. The conservation area is centred on the historic core of the village, which includes the Parish church of St Barnabas. The boundary to the area has been drawn tightly in order to include the core of the old village and remaining vernacular buildings along The Rake and Bromborough Village Road.

The early plan form of Bromborough village settlement is likely to have been a nucleated village, centred on the Saxon church. The settlement grew up around the church in a roughly rectangular form, but with the area to the west remaining as farm land. Throughout the 16th, 17th and 18th century Bromborough remained a rural settlement. Apart from agriculture, seafaring and fishing were other parts of the local economy.

Today, the area has largely been overtaken by more modern development. However enough of the historic centre remains to enable the character of the original settlement to be discerned. This character is principally derived from the historic market cross, the setting and visual dominance of the Church, and the square formed by its associated buildings and those in Church Lane. In general, the character of the conservation area can be described as a formerly rural village of medieval origins enclosed within an urban conurbation. It has a range of housing, including small cottages, semi-detached houses and larger detached houses. The public buildings include a sizeable church, former village school and the Institute also there is a range of shops and commercial premises. To view a map of the Conservation Area click here.

Although long-range views of the Church are limited to sight of its tower and spire, and views of other buildings are generally short-range, there are a number of notable historic buildings within the conservation area:

• Church of St Barnabas • Village Centre (formerly the School) • The School Master’s House • Nos 54/56/56A Bromborough Village Road (formerly Tellet’s Farmhouse) • Pear Tree Cottage (No 6 The Rake) They are identified on the accompanying map as is the well-known Bromborough Market Cross adjacent to the Conservation Area.

Other historic features include:

• A 10th century Cross which was re-erected by The Bromborough Society in 1958 is located outside the south door of St Barnabas’ Church • Sundial (dated 1730) • A number of 19th century gravestones echoing the style of the Church Cross

Buildings and features that are not listed but have historic interest in terms of
the development of the village and which contribute to the character of the area
include:

which form a group. No 18, dated 1868, was formerly used as the Mission
Hall/Lecture Hall and Reading Room

The present Church was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott in 1862-4, with the broached spire added in 1880. Most glass is by Clayton and Bell, c1870 although the east window was designed in 1863 by Ballantine and Son. No further information has yet been identified to suggest other buildings were designed by known architects.