Wallasey

File:Arms-wallasey.jpg

Arms of the former Wallasey County Borough Council, 1913-74

Wallasey is a large town on the mouth of the River Mersey, at the north-eastern corner of the Wirral. It is now part of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, but historically was part of Cheshire.

History

The name of Wallasey originates from the Germanic word Walha, meaning stranger or foreigner, which is also the origin of the name Wales. The suffix “-ey” denotes an island or area of dry land. Originally the higher ground now occupied by Wallasey was separated from the rest of the Wirral by the creek known as the Pool (which later became the docks), the marshy areas of Bidston Moss and Leasowe, and sand dunes along the coast.

Before the 19th century the area was sparsely populated. Old maps show that the main centre and parish church (St Hilary’s) were located at what is now called Wallasey Village, and there were smaller hamlets at Liscard, Poulton and Seacombe, from where there were occasional ferries across the Mersey. There was also a mill (at Mill Lane), and from the mid-18th century a gunpowder store or magazine at Rock Point, located well away from the built-up areas.

The main activities in the area were farming and fishing. The area also had a reputation for smuggling and “wrecking”, the act of luring ships onto rocks or sandbanks with false lights in order to raid their cargo. Underground cellars and tunnels are still rumoured to exist in the town. As late as 1839, the “Pennsylvania” and two other ships were wrecked off Leasowe in a severe storm, and their cargoes and furnishings were later found distributed among local residents.

By the early 19th century, the shoreline between Seacombe and Rock Point started to become an attractive area to which affluent Liverpool merchants and sea captains could retire. Development at Egremont began around this time, and gained pace with the introduction of steam ferries across the river. The area also had a defensive role overlooking the growing port of Liverpool. In 1829, Fort Perch Rock was built, and in 1858 Liscard Battery.

In 1830, the merchant James Atherton purchased much of the land at Rock Point, which enjoyed views out to sea and across the Mersey and had a good beach. His aim was to develop it as a desirable residential and watering place for the gentry, in a similar way to one of the most elegant seaside resorts of that Regency period – hence "New Brighton". Substantial development began soon afterwards, and housing began to spread up the hillside overlooking the estuary - the gunpowder magazine being closed down in 1851.

In 1835 Liscard Hall was built by another merchant, Sir John Tobin. Its grounds later became Central Park. His family also developed a “model farm” nearby.

With the expansion of trade on the Mersey, new docks were constructed between 1842 and 1847 in the Wallasey Pool, and by 1877 the dock system between Wallasey and neighbouring Birkenhead was largely complete. The area around the docks became a centre for engineering industries, many associated with shipbuilding, and other activities including sugar refining and the manufacture of cement and fertilisers. Bidston Dock, the last in the area, was opened in 1933, but was filled in during 2004.

During the latter half of the 19th century New Brighton developed as a very popular seaside resort serving Liverpool and the Lancashire industrial towns, and many of the large houses were converted to inexpensive hotels. A pier was opened in the 1860s, and the promenade from Seacombe to New Brighton was built in the 1890s. This served both as a recreational amenity in its own right, and to link up the developments along the estuary, and was later extended westwards towards Leasowe. The New Brighton Tower, the tallest in the country, was opened in 1900 but closed in 1919, and was later demolished after a fire. However, its ballroom continued as a major venue, hosting numerous concerts in the 1950s and 60s by local Liverpool bands as well as other international stars.

After 1886, with the opening of the Mersey Railway allowing access via a tunnel to Liverpool, the pace of housing development increased, particularly in the Liscard and Wallasey Village areas. Much of the residential development which now links the separate district centres dates from this time, with further growth continuing well into the 20th century and eventually spreading into the Leasowe area and beyond to Moreton.

Wallasey became a County Borough in 1913, and its Town Hall opened in 1916. The borough boundaries expanded to include Moreton and Saughall Massie in 1928.

Because of its docks and proximity to Liverpool, parts of the area suffered aerial bombing in 1940-41. After the Second World War, the popularity of New Brighton as a seaside resort declined dramatically, as did the use of the docks, and Wallasey gradually became more obviously a residential suburb for Liverpool, Birkenhead, and the other towns in the area.

Trivia

• Horse races organised for the Earls of Derby on the sands at Leasowe in the 16th and 17th centuries are regarded as forerunners of the modern Derby.

• Wallasey established the first centre in the UK for training guide dogs for the blind, in 1931.

• The Wallasey Golf Club is where club member, Dr Frank Stableford, developed the Stableford system of points scoring. This was first used in competition in 1932.

• Local MP Ernest Marples was responsible as Minister of Transport (1959-64) for introducing parking meters, yellow lines and seat belt controls to the UK.

• The Beatles played some of their first shows outside Liverpool at the Grosvenor Ballroom in Liscard in 1960, and over the next few years also played several times at the Tower Ballroom in New Brighton. On 12 October 1962 they played there as the support act for Little Richard. Wallasey was also the home base of another leading Merseybeat group, The Undertakers featuring Jackie Lomax.

• The "Solar Campus" on Leasowe Road was the first building in the world to be heated entirely by solar energy. It was formerly St George’s Secondary School, and was built in 1961 to the designs of Emslie Morgan.

• The world's first passenger hovercraft service operated in 1961-62 between Leasowe and Rhyl in North Wales.

• People hailing from Wallasey are traditionally known as Wallase(y)ans, but this appears to be dying out.

Districts

The area now called Wallasey comprises several distinct districts - Wallasey Village, New Brighton, Liscard, Seacombe, Egremont, and Poulton. These gradually merged together to form a single built-up area during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Unlike in most other towns, there is no single Wallasey town centre, although the main shopping area is centrally located at Liscard. Both the parliamentary constituency and the former County Borough of Wallasey also include (or included) Leasowe, Moreton, and Saughall Massie, which are now usually regarded as separate settlements.

Liscard

Main article: Liscard

This contains the main shopping area, with the covered Cherry Tree precinct and an extensive shopping parade outside. Central Park, originally the grounds of Liscard Hall, is the largest park in the town. Much of the area is residential and contains mainly high-density semi-detached housing with some terraces. The gatehouse of the old Liscard Battery remains.

Wallasey Village

Main article: Wallasey Village

Wallasey Village has a mixture of popular mostly 20th century semi-detached and detached housing, with a pleasant shopping street. St Hilary’s church is an ancient foundation; the old tower is all that remains of a 1530 church building which burned down in 1857. The promenade extends from here, near Harrison Park around to Seacombe, a total of over 4 miles. There are two railway stations, Wallasey Village and Wallasey Grove Road.

New Brighton

Main article: New Brighton

New Brighton was a popular seaside resort after the mid-19th century, but declined in popularity after the 1950s. Nevertheless, the marine promenade is part of a popular walk and the areas near the sea offer a much improved beach and many leisure activities. The Floral Pavilion plays host to regular productions and national stars such as Ken Dodd, and Vale Park is a beautiful public park. Housing here ranges from large villas near the sea to suburban semi-detached homes, while there are some less attractive terraces in parts of the area. New Brighton is served by a railway station of the same name.

Poulton

Main article: Poulton

Poulton was originally a small fishing and farming hamlet beside the Wallasey Pool (hence its name). It developed with the growth of the docks, mainly as an industrial and terraced housing area.

Egremont

Main article: Egremont

Egremont developed as an affluent residential area in the early 19th century, and was named by one Captain Askew who built a house in the area in 1835 and named it after his Cumberland birthplace. Egremont Pier was built in 1827 and was the longest pier on Merseyside until it was damaged irreparably in 1946 when a coaster collided with it. Wallasey Town Hall, an imposing edifice opened in 1916 and initially used as a war hospital, is located here, overlooking the estuary and with its back to the town. This area is now almost entirely housing, although there is a small shopping area on King Street.

Seacombe

Main article: Seacombe

Seacombe is best known for its Mersey Ferry terminal, with regular ferry boat departures to Pier Head in Liverpool and Woodside in Birkenhead. Local landmarks are the church of St Paul, and the ventilation tower for the Kingsway Tunnel. As with Poulton, the area developed with housing for workers in the docks and nearby industries, and much of the housing is council-owned or terraced. The Guinea Gap swimming baths are located between Seacombe and Egremont.

Politics

The County Borough of Wallasey was incorporated into the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in 1974. The town is contained in the parliamentary constituency of Wallasey, which has been held since the 1992 general election by Angela Eagle of the Labour Party.

Transport

Road

• The Kingsway Tunnel, built in 1971 and located in Poulton, links Wallasey with the centre of Liverpool.
• The M53 motorway begins in Poulton and leads south through the centre of the Wirral Peninsula to Chester and the M56 motorway continues to Manchester Airport.
• The North Wallasey Approach Road begins in Wallasey Village and ends in Bidston at Junction 1 of the M53.
• Leasowe Road gives access to Leasowe and Moreton to the west.

Rail

Present
There are three railway stations: Wallasey Village, Wallasey Grove Road and New Brighton. Trains to Liverpool and Birkenhead depart every 15 minutes (every 30 minutes during late evenings and on Sundays). Grove Road station has a huge 'park and ride' car park with over 160 spaces.

Past
Formerly, an additional railway line ran from Seacombe & Egremont station to Birkenhead and Liverpool. An intermediate station served Liscard & Poulton. The line, and both stations, closed to passengers in 1960. The cutting where the line once ran now forms the approach road to the Kingsway Tunnel.

Bus

Regular bus services depart Liscard Bus Station every 15 minutes and travel via the Kingsway Tunnel to Liverpool. In addition, there are several services which link the districts of Wallasey and nearby towns such as Birkenhead, Leasowe and Moreton.

Famous people from Wallasey

• Olaf Stapledon (1886–1950), science fiction writer and philosopher, was born in the town.
• Walter McLennan Citrine, 1st Baron Citrine, GBE, PC (1887-1983), leading British trade unionist and politician, was born here.
• Saunders Lewis (1893-1985), Welsh nationalist politician, playwright, poet and literary critic, was born here.
• World-famous harpist Sidonie Goossens (1899-2004) was born at Liscard.
• Film director Charles Crichton (1910-1999) was born in Wallasey. His films include A Fish Called Wanda (1988), The Lavender Hill Mob (1951) and The Titfield Thunderbolt (1953).
• Actor and comedian Deryck Guyler (1914-1999) was born here.
• The post-war art photographer Raymond Moore (1920-1987) was born in Wallasey and studied at the Wallasey College of Art.
• Actor Graham Stark (b 1922) originates from Wallasey.
• ITV Sports journalist of the 1980s Dickie Davies (b 1933) was raised in Wallasey and attended The Oldershaw School, Valkyrie Road.
• The 'gonzo' artist Ralph Steadman (b 1936), known for his collaboration with the writer Hunter S. Thompson was born in Wallasey.
• Eric Idle (b South Shields, 1943), of Monty Python fame, lived in Wallasey between the ages of three and nine (1946-1952).
• The actor Geoffrey Hughes (b 1944), best known for roles in Coronation Street, Heartbeat and Keeping Up Appearances was born in Wallasey.
• Rock'n'roll drummer Nigel Olsson (b 1949), known for his work with Elton John, was born in Wallasey.
• Mountaineer Alan Rouse (1951-1986), first Briton to climb K2, was born in the town and did his first climbing at the Breck.
• The BBC sports presenter Ray Stubbs (b 1957) was born in the town.
• Simon "Sice" Rowbottom (b 1969) and Timothy Brown from the band The Boo Radleys also came from Wallasey. The Boo Radleys had a hit with "Wake Up Boo" in 1995.
• Leicester and England Rugby Union player Austin Healey (b 1973) was born in Wallasey.
• Actress Louise Delamere (b 1974), whose work includes No Angels and The Chatterley Affair, was raised in Wallasey and attended St. Mary's R.C. College in Wallasey Village.
• Business Man Andrew Dudley (b 1971), founder of eBay based company Postal Supplies Direct[1] and eBay University presenter. Pupil of St. Mary's R.C. College in Wallasey Village.

External links

• Wirral Met College
• Photographs of New Brighton
• The Art Nouveau Unitarian Chapel

53°26′N 3°04′W