OXTON VILLAGE

Oxton Village Conservation Area was designated in 1979. The general character of the area reflects its history as an early rural hamlet and subsequent expansion as an early Victorian commuter settlement. A significant part of the land on which Oxton is situated was part of the Estate of the Earl of Shrewsbury. This has been commemorated in many of the road names, which bear the family names and titles of the various Earls. Hence Alton Road, Shrewsbury Road, Talbot Road, Beresford Road, and Ingestre Road. The oldest pub in the village is called “The Shrewsbury Arms” (for the same reason) and the bar now known as “The Oxton Bar and Terrace” was formerly the “Talbot Hotel”.

The boundaries have been drawn to include the “best” and the “ordinary” so that practically the whole of the original hilltop settlement has been included.

This differentiates it from the surrounding housing of a later period. The village includes a variety of housing, ranging from terraces, to stone built cottages and detached stuccoed villas. They give the area a character which is unique in Birkenhead. A substantial number of houses stand on their own or are semi-detached in spacious gardens.

Public spaces tend to be mainly streets and so are linear in character, opening up only at central points and junctions.

A key feature of the conservation area is the strong presence of mature trees. Only four trees in the conservation area are in the public realm and the significant tree cover is all within private gardens. Of these a significant a number of trees within the conservation area boundary are protected by Tree Preservation Orders.

There are 35 listed buildings and structures within the current conservation area boundary. The majority are listed at Grade II, with the Church of St Saviour listed at Grade II*.

The Annual Secret Gardens of Oxton takes place in June and there is also a Christmas lights event starting in November. The Secret Gardens event is a high quality, community organised and charity fundraising, one-day event whose brand is now recognised all over Wirral and further afield. In 2013 it was awarded Wirral’s Tourism Event of the Year. Established in 2001, Secret Gardens has pioneered and continued to develop an annual village fête, at the heart of which over 20 private gardens in the Oxton Conservation Area are opened to the general public. A wide range of entertainment for adults and families from over 20 performers enhances the visitor experience and last year, provided a great day out for Father’s Day. In addition, members of The Oxton Artists, who all live in Oxton, had an opportunity to showcase and sell their work on outdoor stalls. The wide appeal of the Secret Gardens event does much to promote Oxton and its attractions as a place to live, work and do business. Also one of the known outcomes of the event is that it allows an opportunity to advertise to the public the result of the conservation policies of the Society and helps to maintain awareness of the Village as a sustainable business community. To view a map of the Conservation Area click here.