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CAW News June 2024
CAW Newsletter November 2019
CAW Newsletter January 2017
CAW News September 2017
CAW News November 2018  
CAW newsletter December 2022

WIRRAL HERITAGE OPEN DAYS 2024

HISTORY & HERITAGE FAIR DATE: SATURDAY 23 MARCH, 2024

Once again the Heritage Fair was a huge success with hundreds of visitors during the day, including the Mayor of Wirral, Cllr Jerry Williams. With stalls to appeal to all interests the event really helps to promote the amazing heritage that Wirral has to offer both visitors and residents alike.

AUTUMN 2023 CONFERENCE REPORT

See our Autumn 2023 newsletter for our Conference & AGM report as well as other updates.
Autumn Newsletter

CAW’S ANNUAL REPORT 2021/22

Our latest Annual Report includes reports from many of the Wirral’s Conservation Areas as well as great news about Birkenhead Park’s World Heritage Bid, a discussion on the ‘thorny’ topic of solar panels and the Government’s new planning instructions regarding the concept of “beauty”.  We hope to hold a long delayed Annual General Meeting in the Autumn.   To read more CAW Annual Report 2021-22

THE HISTORY & HERITAGE FAIR, 2023

This year’s Fair, held at Hulme Hall in Port Sunlight on 25 March, was a huge success.  With nearly 100 exhibitors ranging from militaria stalls to those promoting their particular historical figure, place or topic, there really was something to interest everyone.  Visitors coming through the door numbered nearly 1400 which was a new record and all the rooms in Hulme Hall were occupied by the event.

CA HERITAGE TRAIL

If you are looking to find out more about the Wirral’s heritage assets and lovely villages, why not try our Heritage Trail route.  The Trail offers you miles of interesting places and scenery whilst finding out more about Wirral’s 26 Conservation Areas.  The Trail is divided up into four quadrants and these can be downloaded from the Council’s website.  We are now working towards producing updated routes and printed booklets which walkers will be able to pick up from key points around the Wirral and take with them on their rambles.  Of course you can also visit all the Conservation Areas by bicycle or car too.

You can download these from https://www.wirral.gov.uk/planning-and-building/built-conservation/wirral-conservation-area-and-heritage-trail

Thanks to Robin Tutchings, Wirral Council’s Rights of Way officer who worked with officers from CAW’s committee to devise the trail.

CAW ANNUAL REPORT 2019/2020

Due to the difficulties of holding our Spring Forum/AGM during 2020 we decided to put together an Annual Report containing information about our contributions to the new Wirral Local Plan, snippets about what is going on in our Conservation Areas, concerns and triumphs as well as other newsworthy items.  This report has been widely circulated to Council officers, Councillors, Civic Voice, various other society members and people who have an interest in Conservation and Heritage.  The report also contains a wide variety of photographs showing off our heritage assets and Conservation Areas at their best.  We hope you enjoy browsing through it. CAW Annual Report 2019 to 2020

COVID 19 NEWSLETTER

During these difficult times, our newsletter editor thought it appropriate to issue a special edition of CAW’s newsletter!  Entitled “The Sunlit Uplands” (which is a quote from Churchill in WW2) we hope you enjoy reading it.  If you have any information that you would like to share in a future edition, please let us know.  We hope you are all keeping safe and well and look forward to meeting in person after “lockdown”.

The Sunlight Uplands No 1

CLIFTON PARK INTERPRETATION PANELS INSTALLED

We were delighted to be advised this week that our long awaited interpretation panels about the history of Clifton Park and those who had lived there have finally been installed.  Pupils from the Woodlands School had done their research during 2018 prior to our exhibition at the Masonic Hall during the History & Heritage Week in September 2018.  Following that the work had been saved and we worked with Shelley Signs, kindly funded by Wirral Council, to produce two interpretation panels.  One about the general history of the park and one showing the work done by the pupils.  They were finally going to be installed just before lockdown but work was obviously halted.  However, they were top of the list when Wirral’s contractors started work again this week and here they are!  Many thanks to David Ball, Shaun Brady and Wirral Council for their ongoing support for the project.

BLUE PLAQUES

BLONDIN’S VISIT TO EASTHAM

A blue plaque has been unveiled to celebrate the great French tightrope walker’s visit to Eastham in 1883. Known for walking across Niagara on a quarter mile long wire in 1859, Blondin was a household name, world wide, during Victorian times. Years later, in 1883, he visited Eastham Pleasure Gardens for 19 days, attracting over 100,000 visitors from across the North West. Many of them arrived on a fleet of paddle steamers from Liverpool. One resident today still remembers that her grandfather (a mere lad at the time) was carried across a wire, by Blondin, in a wheelbarrow! The plaque was unveiled by Blondin’s great, great grandson, Stephen Scarborough who said that Blondin was obviously a legend within their family. However, sadly, none of the relatives had inherited his talents on the high wire.

Celebrating Agnes Maude Royden

In the first half of the twentieth century, Agnes Maude Royden became internationally famous as a preacher, lecturer, author and suffragist but her family home was in Frankby, on the Wirral.  Born in 1876 as the sixth daughter of Thomas Bland Royden, she lived at Frankby Hall having graduated from Oxford University.  Eternally concerned about the conditions that women endured, she worked at the Victoria Women’s Settlement in Liverpool for some time before throwing herself into the cause of pacifism and Women’s Suffrage.  She began speaking on social and religious issues and became the first women to preach at Liverpool Cathedral, following that in 1936 by embarking on a world lecture tour in such places as the USA, New Zealand, Australia as well as Japan, China and India.

In 1930 she was made a Companion of Honour and in 1931, became Britain’s first woman Doctor of Divinity, awarded by Glasgow University as well as receiving an honorary Doctor of Law degree from Liverpool University in 1935.  She was also a life long pacifist until the rise of Nazism and also appeared on Woman’s Hour and other programmes.  Her picture is one of those on the statue to Millicent Fawcett, suffragist leader and social campaigner, which was unveiled on 24 April 2018.

The Blue Plaque for Maude was unveiled by the Mayor of Wirral, Cllr Tony Smith, on Friday 28 June 2019, with Mike Royden, a family member, giving a short history of Maude’s incredible life.

Thomas Brassey & his Canada Works commemorated

Thomas Brassey was one of Birkenhead’s biggest employers during the mid 1800’s with over 1600 being employed at his Canada Works in the West Float dock area.  Thomas was a civil engineering contractor and built 1 third of the railway system in the UK and 1 in 20 miles of the world’s railway network.  He also built great embankments, sewerage systems (in Rio de Janeiro and Calcutta) and drainage projects amongst others.  The Canada works was so called because he was asked to build the 540 mile Grand Trunk Railway in Canada which required the construction of the Victoria Bridge (the longest in the world at the time) across the St Lawrence River and other infrastructure – all of which was made in Birkenhead. Another major feat was to build a 39 mile railway (in just over six weeks) during the Crimean War to take essential supplies to the troops who were fighting in appalling conditions and this contributed to the French & English allies winning the war and later prompted the formation of the Royal Engineer Corps.

Thomas was born in Buerton, outside Chester, but lived in one of the houses surrounding the new Birkenhead Park after his marriage.  In his early career he managed the Storeton Quarries and had a brick and lime works in Birkenhead before becoming involved in railway construction.  He is considered one of the most prolific railway constructors in the world but has received little recognition from the Wirral until now.

On Friday, 21 June 2019, a great crowd gathered near the site of his old Canada Works gateway in Birkenhead and applauded as a blue plaque was unveiled by the Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, Mr Mark Blundell, accompanied by the Mayor of Wirral, Councillor Tony Smith.  Attendees in the picture include Richard Mawdesley (Director, Peel Holdings),Caroline Capel (nee Caroline Brassey, a direct descendant), Roger Croston (dressed as Robert Stephenson..), John Whittingham (dressed as Thomas Brassey …), Ian Parkinson of Parkinson Inc and David Millar, MD of Heap & Partners Ltd who hosted a reception after the unveiling at their Canada Works nearby.  (William Heap, who founded the company in 1866, was Thomas Brassey’s Bridge Master for many years and the company hold much of the early archives and retain a great pride in the Brassey & Heap legacies.)

CAW & the Thomas Brassey Society would like to thank Peel Land & Property Services, Wirral Council and Heap & Partners Ltd for their on-going support for the campaign to get proper recognition for one of Birkenhead’s greatest 19th century entrepreneurs.

William Olaf Stapledon commemorated with a Blue Plaque

A Blue Plaque, commemorating the renowned Wirral born science fiction author, William Olaf Stapledon, was unveiled at Simons Bridge on the Wirral Way on Friday 10th May.  Wirral’s Mayor, Cllr Geoffrey Watt, kindly performed the official unveiling and some family memories were shared with the audience by Olaf’s two grandsons.  Olaf had bought part of a field in Caldy in the 1950’s and built a house for himself and his family which was called Simon’s Field and is adjacent to Simons Bridge.

The Stapledon name was suggested to CAW by Justin McDonald, local actor and film maker, who had achieved the exclusive rights last year to create a short film based upon Olaf’s spellbinding story “A Modern Magician”.  The film has been shot entirely on location in Merseyside and it is hoped to arrange a screening later in the year although it is already being shown at Festivals in America. (Check out Elevator Productions for more information)

CAW’s 2019 Annual General Meeting

Our Annual General Meeting, held at the Lyceum in Port Sunlight, on 4th April 2019 was well attended by members from a variety of Conservation Areas.  After giving a review of the year, which obviously reflected Wirral’s parlous situation regarding the Local Plan, possible Government intervention and the threats to the Green Belt, Chairman Alan Chape, presented Joy Hockey (The Magazines CA) with CAW’s first Award for Services to Conservation on the Wirral.  Joy trained as an architect, ran her own business but has always been at the forefront of the Conservation movement, standing up for Wirral’s heritage assets and ensuring she did all she could to preserve them.  Now in her 90’s, Joy is still a force to be reckoned with and a huge source of inspiration to others in the CA movement.  Following other reports from committee members and the election of committee members for the next year, David Ball, Wirral Council, then took us through the progress that has been made on the Local Plan so far, the time line for submitting it for inspection and how the Council hopes to avoid the Government’s Inspectors taking over the Planning function.

Click here for the Minutes of the AGM: MINUTES OF THE CAW 2019 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

A BLUE PLAQUE TO ROGER LANCELYN GREEN UNVEILED AT POULTON HALL

Friday, 2 November 2018 saw the unveiling of a blue plaque to Roger Lancelyn Green on the front wall of Poulton Hall. Sponsored by his wife, June Lancelyn Green, the plaque commemorates a Writer, Scholar, Biographer and great Storyteller. Roger lived at Poulton Hall in Spital, his ancestral home, but also lived in Oxford after studying English Literature at Merton College. During his time there he became great friends with J R Tolkien, C S Lewis and other writers who became famous in their own right. Roger specialised in writing adventure books for children, based on history and they have been translated into many languages, selling around the world. His ‘Robin Hood’ is particularly popular and the unveiling was enlivened by archers, dressed in traditional costume, from the Wirral Longbow group. The plaque was unveiled by The Mayor of Wirral, Cllr Geoffrey Watt, aided by Mark Blundell, Esq, the Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside in full regalia. His sword later came in very useful to cut the celebration cake! This brought the number of plaques installed/supplied by CAW on Wirral to 13.

LOCAL PLAN CONSULTATION

CAW committee members have been very involved with the Wirral Council’s Local Plan Consultation and the proposed Green Belt land releases for development. Detailed objections have been put in for the parcels of land around Saughall Massie, Eastham and Mountwood CA’s which are particularly affected. In depth comments on the Council’s Core Strategy have also been submitted to David Ball. Members also attended the Appeal Hearing for the Storeton Hall development fearing that if this is granted, it could trigger further significant development on the Storeton fields along Lever’s Causeway and Red Hill road. Members have also been attending the Green Alliance meetings which involve such disparate groups as the Wirral Footpath Society, the Barn Owl Trust and the Wirral Society as well as representatives from the various Conservation Areas and Amenity Societies. The date for submission of objections was 26 October so now we wait and see what happens although the Government is set to announce its response to the revised ONS figures in early December which could generate further consultations!

TWO MORE BLUE PLAQUES INSTALLED

On 12 September, the two architects responsible for the amazing Flaybrick chapels, were finally remembered with a blue plaque being installed on the wall of the chapel, facing the graveyard where they are buried. Lucy & Littler were a Liverpool based partnership and they were responsible for many recognisable buildings in the North West. They won a competition to design the chapels at Flaybrick, narrowly beating the architect for Clifton Park, Walter Scott! They also designed the buildings in Anfield cemetery and many others of note including the Alliance Bank building in Derby Square, Liverpool. Sadly both men died within 3 years of each other when they were in their thirties – cutting short careers which have left us with some wonderful buildings. Wirral’s Mayor, Cllr Geoffrey Watt, unveiled the plaque for the Friends of Flaybrick who had lobbied hard for recognition for these little known but talented architects.

On 17 September, CAW facilitated the installation of another blue plaque – this time for a sporting hero. John Ball – who began his golfing career at Liverpool Golf Club (Now the Royal Liverpool) was the first amateur to win the Open at Prestwick in 1890 and also won the Amateur Championship in the same year. He went on to win the Amateur Golf Championship eight times over a period of 24 years. He became extremely well known but had “abiding humility and amiability”. It is said that he embodied the true “ethos of amateurism”, “No-one has inspired greater hero worship – and no-one courted it less”. Although in his thirties, John also insisted on going to fight in the Boer War so the club members collected money to buy him a horse and a pistol to take with him. When he returned home, over 800 people turned out to welcome him back to Hoylake. John is honoured in the Golfing Hall of Fame along with Seve Ballesteros and Sir Nick Faldo. Wirral’s Mayor, Cllr Geoffrey Watt, again did the honours and unveiled the Blue Plaque on the gatepost of the Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake.

OUR CLIFTON PARK HERITAGE OPEN DAY A HUGE SUCCESS

More than 150 people turned up at the Heritage Open Day event held at the Masonic Temple in Clifton Road, Clifton Park, Birkenhead on Sunday 9 September.

As if the Grade II listed building were not attraction enough, pupils from the Woodlands Primary School had done some digging into the history of Clifton Park – one of the first grand Villa developments in Birkenhead, laid out in 1840. Among other things they found out where people had come from to live and work in the Park – and these included such exotic places as Finland, Cuba, Portugal and North America! They also looked at the 1851 Census records and found out the type of jobs that people did in those days. Members of the Beaver group at the Deen Centre had also contributed to the display.

Years 3 & 4 went one step further and built a Victorian house, complete with individual blocks of “stone” and sash windows. They then dressed up in Victorian clothes and made a video – acting out life in a typical household of the time. The displays and the video (which is also on youtube) fascinated many of the residents who visited the Masonic Hall as many of them had no idea about the history of their own houses.

There was also a ‘virtual tour’ of Wirral by Nadia Parsons of Panobia, a professional photographer who lives in Clifton Park. The tour explores some of Wirral’s highlights and was declared “amazing” by the visitors who tried on the goggles and were instantly transported to the Boathouse in Birkenhead Park or down by Woodside Ferry.

Musical entertainment was provided by members of the Birkenhead Operatic Society Trust who came dressed in Victorian clothes and sang numbers from their recent shows.

Members of the Masonic Lodge were also on hand to talk to visitors about the charity work carried out by the Lodges and to show people around the lovely rooms in the Temple.

A visit by the Mayor, Cllr Geoffrey Watt, completed a very successful day. The Clifton Park history display is now situated in the entrance to the Birkenhead Central Library for the remainder of the Heritage Open Day fortnight.

A BLUE PLAQUE FOR MARY ANN MERCER

The first woman Mayor of Birkenhead

On Saturday, 12 May 2018 Mary Ann Mercer was finally remembered. Although born in Shropshire, Mary Ann moved to Birkenhead with her husband in 1914 and joined the then local Socialist party. She was elected as Labour Councillor for the Argyle Ward in 1919 and continued to represent the residents until 1945. However, her major political achievement was that she was elected Mayor of Birkenhead in 1924 – the first female Mayor of Birkenhead and at that time, was only the second female Mayor in the country. This was an outstanding achievement at a time when only married women, over the age of 30, were allowed to vote – never mind take high office. Mary Ann was a passionate advocate for state pensions for women, she was the first woman to be elected as an Alderman of the council – a position she held from 1926 to 1932 and she also became a Magistrate in 1929. She also dined with King George when he came to open the Runcorn Bridge. She also never forgot her early childhood difficulties – her father had died when she was three years old and life had been very hard for her mother. So Mary Ann held many events in Birkenhead Town Hall for children – ensuring that they were fed as well as entertained.

The Mayor of Wirral, Cllr Ann McLachlan, had been inspired by the story of Mary Ann and together with Professor Robert Lee, had exhorted members of CAW to include Mary Ann on their Blue Plaque list while Ann was still Mayor herself. Supported by pupils from Portland Primary School and Bidston Avenue Primary School, a photoshoot was held on Friday 11 May outside 103, Norman Street in Birkenhead – where Mary Ann had lived – to show the children the plaque and then it was formally installed on the house and unveiled on Saturday, 12 May with refreshments following at the Birkenhead Park Rugby Club.

Mary Ann died on September 26, 1945 and Mercer Road in Bidston & St James Ward is named after her. She was buried at Flaybrick cemetery and her epitaph reads:

“First woman Mayor and first Socialist Mayor 1924 – 1925, deeply mourned by her children and townspeople.”

CAW ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2018

One of the hottest days of 2018 saw many CA representatives forsake the beach, or a glass of wine in their garden, to attend our 2018 AGM at The Lyceum in Port Sunlight (thanks must go to the Port Sunlight Trust and Lizzie Heywood for facilitating the room and refreshments). Alan Chape, CAW’s Chairman, gave a brief presentation about the year’s activities, having already circulated a very full report prior to the meeting. To read this click here. CAW Chairmans Annual Report 2018

Other members of the committee then gave brief updates: Peter Bolt talking about the Blue Plaque Scheme which has been a huge success so far. Alan Thomson updated the meeting on Rock Park residents aims to market their CA as a “tourist” destination whilst Kay Crook talked about the huge issues with trees and their management across the borough generally. Gillian Bolt then told members about a project for Clifton Park involving the local young people in the history of the area, leading to the installation of interpretation boards and CA signage. The project is being supported by Wirral Council who will undertake the installation of the boards and the Masonic Temple who will display the children’s work during the Heritage Open Days in September. Lizzie Heywood also gave an update on the work being done in Port Sunlight in order to update the Management Plan and assess their very considerable numbers of listed properties.

John Pyke had also circulated the accounts before the meeting and summarised, saying that CAW were in a reasonably healthy financial position but this would all be used up should we need to take “expert advice” at any point to support a significant planning objection.

CAW committee members standing down included Chris Moore and Audrey Platt whilst others were up for re-election with Gillian Bolt being elected as well. To read the full Minutes of the meeting please click here. Minutes of the CAW 2018 Annual General Meeting

Following the formal business, Rod Tann, Chairman of the Wirral Society, gave us a fascinating insight into the last 90 years of the Society – how the population and development of the Wirral had changed in the early part of the 20th Century which led to their formation – and some interesting pictures of buildings that were no longer there or had been changed beyond recognition! All in all a very worthwhile evening and several CA members thanked CAW for organising such an interesting event.

A BLUE PLAQUE FOR JAMES GILLESPIE GRAHAM, ARCHITECT OF HAMILTON SQUARE

On Saturday, 10 March 2018, Wirral’s Mayor, Cllr Ann McLachlan unveiled a Blue Plaque on the flanking wall of No 63 Hamilton Square. The plaque commemorates James Gillespie Graham who had worked with the Laird family in Scotland and when William Laird thought that the rising new town of Birkenhead needed designing, Gillespie Graham was top of the list to do the work. Having designed Moray Place in Edinburgh, which had proved very successful, Gillespie Graham used the same formula for Hamilton Square – resulting in the largest number of Grade I listed buildings in England, outside London. Placing the plaque on the flanking wall of No 63 was particularly relevant as John Laird actually lived in the house for some years. Following the unveiling in the Square, the Mayor kindly came and repeated the “unveiling” of a copy plaque on our CAW stand at the History & Heritage Fair so possibly a unique event: a double unveiling of the same plaque on the same day!

CAW RECEIVES THE RITA CHEESMAN AWARD FOR HERITAGE INTERPRETATION FROM THE MERSEYSIDE CIVIC SOCIETY

Rita Cheesman (1918-2011) was a pioneer Merseyguide and later a Blue Badge Guide who was involved for many years in interpreting Merseyside’s heritage to local residents and visitors alike. Following her death in 2011, her family donated funds to the Merseyside Civic Society to enable an Award to be granted to the individual or society who they felt had made a significant contribution to heritage interpretation. CAW was thought to deserve the Award in 2017 for their innovative Conservation Area Heritage Trail which has now been launched as well as our Blue Plaque scheme. The Award was presented to Peter Bolt on behalf of CAW by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Cllr Malcolm Kennedy at the Civic Society’s recent AGM.

CONSERVATION AREA TRAIL IS LAUNCHED

Following months of work by CAW’s Chairman, Alan Chape, working with Wirral Council’s Rights of Way Officer, Robin Tutchings, Eileen Willshaw (Heritage Officer) and Jess Malpus (Conservation Officer), a trail has been devised which will allow people to visit each of the 26 Conservation Areas on the Wirral and learn more about the historic buildings along the way. The Trail can be walked, cycled or even driven as information is provided at every stage. The Wirral has been divided into four quadrants and the information can be downloaded onto a smartphone or even printed out to guide those who would like to follow the route and learn more about Wirral’s history and heritage.

To check out the Conservation Area Trail click here.

OUR CELEBRATION OF 50 YEARS OF CONSERVATION AREAS IS A GREAT SUCCESS

Attended by the Mayor, many councillors and representatives of Conservation Areas and other societies across Wirral, our Celebration Event at Birkenhead’s iconic Town Hall in Hamilton Square on 9th November proved a huge success. A remarkable celebration cake, modelled on Hamilton Square, was provided by Julie Scrumptious cakes in Hoylake and kindly funded by the Chamber of Commerce. The Mayor, Cllr Ann McLachlan, kindly undertook to make the first cut and it was then enjoyed by all those attending with many coming back to take home an extra piece for their partners.

A brief Welcome presentation by Alan Chape, Chairman of Conservation Areas Wirral – outlining some of the themes CAW was working on – was followed by an inspirational talk from Ian Harvey, Director and founder of Civic Voice. Ian spoke about the problems CA’s were experiencing all over the country and also outlined some innovative ways in which councils and local societies were tackling those issues whilst experiencing cuts in funding. He was particularly pleased to see the Leader of the Council, Phil Davies, at the event and congratulated CAW on making positive connections with the Council.

Phil Davies then gave a short presentation about the Council’s aims for the regeneration of the Hamilton Square and Woodside area, also announcing that £50,000 of Council and Birkenhead Business Improvement District funding has been allocated to the production of a management plan for Hamilton Square Conservation Area – currently on Historic England’s “At Risk” register. The management plan will support the Council’s efforts to regenerate Birkenhead through the Wirral Growth Company and its financial backers. The Hamilton Square Conservation Advisory Committee will be working closely with them to give guidance as the plan progresses.

Alan Chape, in his summing up, also announced that the new Conservation Area Heritage Trail will soon be live on the Council’s website. He paid tribute to Robin Tutchings and Eileen Wilshaw of Wirral Council for helping to make this idea become a reality and the Merseyside Civic Society have recently announced that they are awarding CAW their Rita Cheeseman Award 2017 for the Heritage Trail initiative and our Blue Plaques scheme.

Many thanks to Wirral Council. The Wirral Society and the Chamber of Commerce for their support for the event.

CAW’S THIRD BLUE PLAQUE IS UNVEILED – COMMEMORATING ANN DAVISON

This blue plaque is to commemorate a remarkable woman whose achievements have been overlooked for many years. Born in Surrey, in 1914, Ann Davison had always had a taste for adventure and gained her aviation certificate in 1935 which led her to answer an advertisement for a joy-ride pilot at Hooton on the Wirral. She joined a team at Utility Airways which flew charter aircraft, did aerial photography and this was later extended to include joy-rides for holiday makers at Blackpool. As a result of this Ann ended up marrying Frank Davison, the owner, in 1939. However, the outbreak of war resulted in their house and the Hooton airfield being requisitioned by the RAF.

Frank and Ann moved to Mere Brook House on Thornton Common Road in Thornton Hough and lived there for several years before moving on to sailing, buying a semi-derelict ketch called “Reliance” which they worked on for two years before setting sail for Cuba! Sadly, their timing was poor as a massive Atlantic storm was brewing and after several days of appalling weather the boat was wrecked and Ann and Frank took to the liferaft. Frank could not withstand the intense cold and was swept away whilst Ann was later washed towards the coast and managed to return to land. For most people this would have been enough to put them off sailing for life but Ann was made of stronger stuff and remarkably – in May 1952 – she set out in her 23 ft sloop, “Felicity Ann” to conquer the Atlantic. By taking her time, with various stops along the way, she crossed the ocean to Barbados. It took her 65 days but she made landfall in Dominica on the 23 January 1953. A truly remarkable achievement and made her the first woman to sail the Atlantic single-handed!

The blue plaque commemorating Ann’s achievement was unveiled at Mere Brook House on 20 October, 2017 by the Mayor of Wirral, Councillor Ann McLachlan with representatives of the various sailing clubs on Wirral attending along with members from Ann Davison’s extended family, representatives from Wirral Borough Council and CAW committee members. David Allan, Vice Chairman of CAW, gave an informative and entertaining talk about Ann to those attending and there was also a display of pictures for visitors to look at. Ann’s boat, “Felicity Ann”, still exists and remarkably she is currently being restored at the Northwest School of Wooden Boat Building in Port Hadlock, Washington, USA. When finished she will join the Community Boat Project fleet and next summer she will tour the Puget Sound with an all female crew to tell the story of her intrepid former owner, Ann. Mere Brook House has also been restored and is now a lovely hotel run by Lorna Tyson who has been a fan of Ann Davison’s since reading her book some years ago.

Flaybrick stabilising is a huge success

A lovely sunny afternoon on 3 July saw the Flaybrick stabilising work finally unveiled and what a success it has proved to be. The Mayor, Cllr Ann McLachlan, formally opened the site by cutting a ribbon by the new front doors. Formally introduced by Eileen Wilshaw, Heritage Officer for Wirral, the Mayor thanked all those who had been involved with this huge project including Historic England, Purcell who managed the contract and all those others who were involved – often in a voluntary capacity. Funded by Wirral Council and Historic England, the chapels have been restored beyond recognition with beautiful stonework, pointing and restoration of historic features that had previously laid in pieces on the ground. All that is needed now is some more money to get the roof on – however that will have to wait for another day! The chapels will be open for public viewing by arrangement but Wirral Council can certainly feel that they have had value for money in the quality of the workmanship that has taken place on this unique site. A Management Plan is currently being drawn up to decide where the project goes to from here but today marked a real turning point in Flaybrick’s fortunes.

2017 AGM report

Our 2017 AGM was extremely well supported with representatives from two thirds of the 26 Conservation Areas on the Wirral. We were also delighted to welcome two members from the Altrincham Civic Trust. Whilst CAW Chairman, Alan Chape, was able to report progress in some areas, others were more challenging with Green Belt building applications being made, poor decisions on key properties in Birkenhead Park being allowed to go through and a lack of enforcement where inappropriate development was taking place. Hamilton Square’s continued decline was commented upon and the problems of multi-occupancy in some of the bigger listed buildings in Clifton Park. However, CAW has launched the first section of the Conservation Area Trail which covers the North East quadrant of the Wirral. Working with officers from the Council, new maps have been drawn up showing roads and the listed buildings and these trails will be downloadable from the Visit Wirral website. CAW has also begun to implement the Blue Plaque programme with two having been installed in this financial year, the first for Dixie Dean at Tranmere Rovers football ground and the second at Birkenhead Park, commemorating Edward Kemp (see below).

The Chairman’s report was followed by a fascinating talk by Ian Harvey of Civic Voice, introducing his concept of the Big Conservation Conversation, commemorating 50 years since the first CA was designated in 1967. Ian’s enthusiasm and knowledge was extremely infectious and the audience were very appreciative of his ideas on how to take things forward.

The second presentation was given by Elizabeth Davey on Hamilton Square. After giving some of the history of the Square, Elizabeth highlighted many of the current problems experienced in the area and urged everyone to come together to save one of Wirral’s “Jewels in the Crown”.

Speakers: Ian Harvey (Civic Voice) “The Big Conservation Conversation”
Elizabeth Davey (CAW) “Hamilton Square – Wirral’s Crown Jewel?”

Read the Minutes of the meeting and summaries of the two speakers here. MINUTES OF THE CAW 2017 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

CAW’S SECOND BLUE PLAQUE IS UNVEILED – COMMEMORATING EDWARD KEMP

To celebrate 170 years since the grand opening of Birkenhead Park on 5 April 1847 and the work of the young man who laid out the park to the design of Joseph Paxton, a Blue Plaque commemorating Edward Kemp has been placed on the new Visitor Centre at the Park and was unveiled, today, 5 April 2017, by Cllr Pat Hackett, Mayor of Wirral.

Edward Kemp was born in Streatham, Surrey in 1817 and had served as an apprentice gardener at Chatsworth in the 1830’s. As a result, Paxton asked him to come and supervise the preparatory work for this new park in Birkenhead and also implement the design plans. In 1843 Paxton recommended that Kemp be retained as the Park’s first Superintendent and this was accepted by the Birkenhead Commissioners. Kemp was also provided with the Italian lodge as a home for him and his family although he later built another house for himself in Park Road West. Kemp was a well educated man who designed gardens and landscapes all over the country. His knowledge was also sought by the New York Commissioners when they created New York’s Central Park. Further examples of his work can be found at Flaybrick Cemetery, Anfield Cemetery, Lymm Hall, Stanacres Raby, Stanley Park in Liverpool, Hesketh Park in Southport and many more. Edward Kemp died in 1891 and is buried in Flaybrick Cemetery.

WIRRAL HISTORY & HERITAGE FAIR A GREAT SUCCESS

The Wirral History & Heritage Fair, held at the Town Hall in Birkenhead on 11 March 2017 was a huge success. With more stalls than ever and a very interesting range of exhibitors the public attendance was excellent. One of the youngest exhibitors had to be Rowan Patel from Bromborough with his new book “The Windmills and Watermills of Wirral” which he began researching at the age of 16 and which he has now published at the age of 24! A great achievement. CAW’s stand was very busy too, talking to people about the work we are doing, supporting the Conservation Areas around Wirral. The Mayor, Cllr Pat Hackett and the Lady Mayoress, also stopped by for a chat with Peter Bolt, a CAW Steering Group member. The Mayor is already booked to unveil CAW’s next Blue Plaque – for Edward Kemp – at the Visitor Centre in Birkenhead Park on 5 April at 12 noon.

FLAYBRICK IS RISING FROM THE ‘ASHES’

A partnership between Wirral Council and Historic England is bringing new hope for the future of Flaybrick Memorial Gardens which is one of England’s most important Victorian garden cemeteries and Grade II* listed. The work, costing £325,000, is being jointly funded by Wirral Council and Historic England. The leading conservation architects, Purcell, are carrying out the delicate work and once completed later this year, the chapels will be safe and secure until a future use is decided.

Designed by Edward Kemp (the then Superintendent of Birkenhead Park) and opened in 1864, the cemetery has seen over 100,000 Wirral residents laid to rest there – including Kemp himself. (Incidentally Edward Kemp is on CAW’s list of those deserving Blue Plaque recognition.) Burials stopped in 1975 and in recent years the cemetery and chapels have sadly been the target of sustained vandalism and anti-social behaviour resulting in Historic England placing the site on its At Risk Register. In 1993 a Friends group was set up who have done sterling work in recording the gravestone details of those buried there as well as trying to tidy the area up and keep on top of the vandalism.

Running alongside the repairs is the preparation of a Conservation Management Plan which will involve the wider community in consultation about potential future uses for the buildings and CAW is represented on the Steering Group by Peter Bolt, a CAW committee member and Secretary of the Saughall Massie Conservation Area. Thankfully the signs are that Flaybrick’s decline has been halted and a brighter future beckons.

CAW’S FIRST BLUE PLAQUE COMMEMORATES DIXIE DEAN

Saturday, 12 November, 2016 saw CAW’s first Blue Plaque being unveiled at Tranmere Rovers Football Ground. William Ralph “Dixie” Dean was born in Birkenhead and played for a local football team in Pensby before joining Tranmere Rovers in 1923. From there he moved on to play for Everton FC, setting an all-time league goalscoring record of 60 goals in the 1927-28 season which has never been equalled.

The plaque in his honour was unveiled by the Mayor of Wirral, Pat Hackett, accompanied by Mark Palios, the owner of Tranmere FC, before Tranmere’s game against Chester and is the first of several that CAW hope to erect around Wirral to celebrate the accomplishments of some of Wirral’s best known former residents. Supported by Wirral Borough Council, CAW committee members will be continuing the programme and hoping to erect more in 2017.

One of the aims of CAW is to push conservation higher up the public agenda – to make people more aware of how important it is to conserve our past – for the benefit of future generations. Therefore we hope to get maximum publicity from our projects so that all of Wirral’s 26 Conservation Areas feel some benefit from keeping conservation in the public eye and this is why we deliberately chose the high profile figure of the legendary footballer, Dixie Dean, to be our first recipient.

If anyone wishes to put names forward for consideration please email Peter Bolt petergillianbolt1@btinternet.com

PRESS RELEASE

New Wirral Conservation Website Launched

Conservation Areas Wirral (CAW) has launched a new website for residents of Wirral’s 26 Conservation Areas, with guidance on the advantages and restrictions of living in one of these sort-after areas.

The site features advice on how to maintain and protect property in a Conservation Area as well as help for potential house buyers.

Each of the 26 Conservation Areas has its own page with photographs and descriptions as well as links to all the relevant information.

CAW is a voluntary-run organisation established in 2014 drawn from all of Wirral’s Conservation Area Committees, to work with Wirral Council and Historic England to promote and safeguard all aspects of the peninsula’s unique heritage.

The group holds regular meetings with Council officers to talk through and find solutions to the many common problems affecting these special areas.

Alan Chape, Chairman of Conservation Areas Wirral said, “The website represents a real step change in the way in which we communicate with residents and potential buyers and the professionals involved in the buying and selling of properties. A partnership approach with them and the local authority is essential to ensuring Wirral’s very special heritage can be enjoyed and studied both now and in the future.”

The new website has been made possible thanks to a £2,500 grant from Your Wirral. The grant has also contributed towards the development of a brand identity, the creation of a leaflet and regular newsletter, and the production of pop-up banners to take to events and fairs to raise the profile of the group and its work.

To find out more about the group, visit the new website cawirral.co.uk. You can also like us on Facebook: