ST ANNE S R C CHURCH, ROCK FERRY ST HILDEBURGH S CHURCH, HOYLAKE Highfi eld Road, Rock Ferry, Wirral CH42 2BY Description: Large Pugin-designed church decorated in Early-Gothic style (1875). The principal stone used is Storeton faced with Welsh Pierrepoint of a bluish tint. Outstanding rose window and many other outstanding devotional features. Car park at rear, entrance from Ruskin Avenue. Church can be accessed from car park. Within 100 yards of Rock Ferry Station. Sunday 15th September 12 noon to 4pm No Booking required Refreshments available Disabled access at front and side of church Parish Secretary (mornings only) 0151 645 3996 Stanley Road, Hoylake, Wirral CH47 1HL Description: Grade 2 listed building in The King s Gap Conservation Area. Designed by Edmund Kirby and completed in 1899, the church has been praised by Pevsner for an unusually good brick interior, warm and mellow and very sumptuous carved oak reredos and pulpit. The excellent painted windows include a set by Forster, which Pevsner considered an amusing period piece. Memorial plaques and windows honour men of Hoylake lifeboat, Hoylake Horse regiment and Royal Liverpool Golf Club. Saturday 14th September 10 am to 3pm There is disabled access Peter Surridge 0151 632 5507 21
ST GEORGE S URC CHURCH, THORNTON HOUGH TRINITY WITH PALM GROVE, OXTON St George s Way,Thornton Hough CH63 1JJ Description: St George s URC is a Grade 2* listed. Built at the start of the 20th century by the first Lord Leverhulme the architect Lomax Simpson was commissioned to build a church in the Norman style. It has outstanding Romanesque-style carvings and impressive stained glass windows. Both stone work and the woodwork were inspired by visits by the architect to churches across Europe. Recently renovated 2-manual Norman and Beard fully-pneumatic pipe organ. Local Historian, Gavin Hunter, will be introducing his new book about Lady Lever, who opened the Church on 29th May 1907. Thursday 12th to Saturday 4th September 10 am to 4 pm Sunday 15th September 11 am to 12 noon for morning worship (open to all) General opening 12 noon to 4 pm Refreshments will be available There is disabled access Tony Swarbrick 0151 378 7872 22 Trinity with Palm Grove (United Reformed/Methodist) Church, Alton Road, Oxton, Wirral CH43 1UZ Description: Our church celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2013. The building was first started in 1863 and finally completed in 1866. This large Victorian building, built in the Gothic style, could accommodate 800 worshippers. Many of the original features are still in place together with several extensions built at later dates. It began as a Presbyterian church, became United Reformed in the 1974 then combined with the Methodists in 1977. Today s worshippers come from a rich heritage of nonconformism. In this special year, we have a dedicated exhibition to our anniversary and have created two History Trails which allow visitors to explore our Church and its stained glass windows at their own pace with guides readily available to answer your questions. Saturday 7th September 1 pm to 4:30 pm Saturday 14th September 1 pm to 4:30 pm Light refreshments will be available with a rolling power point pictorial of the Church today Entrance via the main door on Alton Road. Disabled access to the ground floor Disabled parking space on Beresford Road Ken Tasker 0151 652 6667
ST JOSEPH S RC CHURCH, BIRKENHEAD HOLY NAME OF JESUS R C CHURCH, OXTON North Road, Birkenhead CH42 7JY Description: St Joseph s Church was built in 1899 and is one of 14 churches designed by Edmund Kirby for the Diocese of Shrewsbury. Constructed from Terracotta brick, the main features are the richly decorated interior and the impressive sculptural Stations of the Cross. Saturday 7th September Wednesday 11th September (check before visiting) Saturday 14th September 11.00am to 4.00pm Refreshments available Disabled access via side entrance 60 Beresford Road, Oxton CH43 2JD Description: One of the many churches designed by local architect, Edmund Kirby, (1838-1920) and erected in the orchard of his own home, Overdale, 1899-1900. Thanks in part to the use of natural materials such as the soft rose-coloured brickwork, woodblock flooring, and oak bench pews the building retains a peaceful, intimate character. The stained glass windows represent some of the finest work of the Arts and Crafts artist, Margaret Agnes Rope (1882-1953). Wednesday 11th September 10:30 am to 4:30 pm Hugh Lappin 0151 6524937 Tony Ireland Parish Office 0151 653 8085 0151 652 5767 23
WEST KIRBY MUSEUM THE WALLASEYANS CLUB St Bridget s Centre, St Bridget s Lane,West Kirby, Wirral CH48 3JT Description: The newly refurbished museum, founded in 1892, in memory of Charles Dawson Brown, houses items covering 1000 year of history: Anglo-Saxon, Viking and medieval grave markers and Norman masonry. Displays tells the story of St Bridget s Church, West Kirby Old Village and the West Kirby schools. Additional displays on local topics compiled by the West Kirby Research Group. Saturday 7th September 10 am to 4 pm Tea and biscuits are available Heather Chapman 0151 625 7013 Wallaseyans Clubhouse, 140-142 Grove Road, Wallasey, Wirral CH45 0JF Description: Built in 1894 the two houses were originally owned by the influential Billington family. The houses have been schools and during the war housed service personnel. Sunday 8th September 2 pm to 5 pm Pre-booking not required Guided tours of the building can be arranged Maximum in group 10 Refreshments available There is disabled access David Harvey (President) 0151 639 8093 25 24
610 SQUADRON ASSOCIATION GRAND ENTRANCE, BIRKENHEAD PARK Hooton Park Airfi eld, Hooton, Ellesmere Port, South Wirral CH65 1BR Description: An Audio-visual presentation on the history and achievements of 610 (County of Chester)Squadron will be available at 610 Squadron Association headquarters. The Squadron was the only Royal Air Force Squadron to be formed in West Cheshire. It was set up in 1936 and operated Spitfires throughout the Second World War. 610 was one of the most effective fighter squadrons to take part in the Battle of Britain. Many 610 pilots gave their lives in defence of our way of life. Later in the war they were tasked with destroying flying bombs. They also provided many escorts for allied bomber formations on their way to Germany and occupied Europe. Saturday 7th and Saturday 14th September 12 noon to 4 pm Pre-booking required Maximum in group 25 Tea and biscuits available There is disabled access Grand Entrance, Birkenhead Park, Park Drive, Birkenhead, Wirral CH41 4HD Description: A rare opportunity to see the Grand Entrance and its hidden courtyard, designed by Lewis Hornblower who also designed the boathouse and bridges in the park. Saturday 7th September and Sunday 8th September 12 noon to 4 pm There are steps leading up to the entrance of the courtyard and a fairly steep staircase inside The Friends of Birkenhead Park 0151 653 5697 Michael Lewis 01244 373551 25
HOOTON PARK TRUST NESS BOTANIC GARDENS The Hangers, South Road, Hooton, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, CH65 1BQ Off Junction 6 M53 Description: The history of the Park goes back 1,000 years. The Stanley family built a hall in 1778 which was demolished in 1925. The war department requisitioned the park in 1914 for the Liverpool Pals. Three Belfast hangers were built on the airfield in 1917. These are now Grade 2* listed. Also on the site The Aeroplane Collection (TAC) who restore aircraft and aero engines, and the Griffin Trust who restore transport vehicles. Conducted tours at 11 am and 2 pm on Saturday 14th September and Sunday 15th September Colin Schroeder 0151 678 7798 or 07765-077385 Neston Road, Ness, Cheshire CH64 4AY Description: Arthur Kilpin Bulley was born 150 years ago. He built for himself a wonderful garden at Neston. After he died, his daughter in 1948 gifted his created garden to the University of Liverpool. What we see at Ness today is the continued desire to promote plant conservation, education and visitor enjoyment. These fantastic gardens cover 64 acres with a very extensive range of collected, and propagated plant specimens. See website www. nessgardens.org.uk. Sunday 15th September 10 am to 5 pm Refreshments available Mobility scooters and wheelchairs available free, bookable in advance Jenny Lemon 0845 030 4063 26
PRENTON UNITED REFORMED CHURCH ST ANDREW S CHURCH, BEBINGTON 1 Prenton Road West, Birkenhead, Merseyside CH42 9PX Description: Prenton Congregational Church began in 1887 and amalgamated with St Paul s Presbyterian Church in 1972 to form Prenton United Reformed Church. There is a recently opened Place of Quiet Remembrance near the 1908 Foundation stone, laid by Mrs W H Lever. In the church is a brass plaque commemorating those of the congregation killed in the First World War. The church is by the traffic lights at the junction of Prenton Road West and Storeton Road. Tuesday 10th September. 12 noon to 4 pm Refreshments are available There is disabled access Church Road, Bebington, Wirral CH63 Description: St Andrew s Church is a Grade 1 listed building, which Raymond Richards considered to be the finest parish church in Wirral. It is an active Anglican parish church which has historical records dating from 1093. Tuesday 10th September 10 am to 12 noon Guided tour at 10:30 am (tour lasts approximately 45 minutes) Tea and biscuits will be available There is disabled access to church but no wheelchair access to toilets Mrs Karen Davies 0151 645 6478 Marian Davies 0151 645 4802 27
WALKS, TALKS AND ACTIVITIES BROMBOROUGH VILLAGE AND CHURCH Church Square, CH62 7AB Bromborough, BURTON MANOR GARDENS Wirral Burton Manor, The Village, Burton, Neston, Cheshire CH64 5SJ Description: A short walk around Bromborough village, seeing some of the historic buildings and features still in existence today, including the Market Cross, Pear Tree Cottage and Stanhope House, then St Barnabas Parish Church and churchyard, with its Saxon Preaching Cross. Description: 45 minute walk around the historic gardens of Burton Manor. Gardens designed in 1908 by Thomas Mawson. Tour includes visit to 200 year old Ice House and to the rebuilt 100 year old glasshouse. Meeting Time : Sunday 15th September Tours at 2 pm, 3 pm and 4 pm (additional groups will be arranged if required) Meeting Time: Sunday 8th September at 2 pm Meet at Church Square, Bromborough, Wirral CH62 7AB at 2 pm Meet in Burton Manor car park (follow signs) The walk lasts about 2 hours Each tour will last just under an hour Pre-booking required Maximum in group 20 Pre-Booking required Refreshments available Refreshments can be purchased after each tour in the restored glasshouse overlooking the historic walled gardens. Susan Nicholson 0151 334 4431 Disabled access to areas except for the Ice House Neil Johnstone 0151 336 7332 28
DEE MARSHES BIRKENHEAD PARK Neston, Cheshire to Burton Point, Cheshire Description: A guided walk from Marshlands Road, Little Neston to Burton Point, showing how the landscape has been affected by the Neston Collieries, and the WW2 RAF Bombing Decoys and Targets. The Neston Coalfield was a small extension of the North Wales Coalfield, there were two main groups of mineshafts, and mining continued until around 1928. New housing has been fitted in around the old shafts and workings. Burton Marsh was used in WW2 as a bombing decoy for Garston Docks (one of 4 sites around Merseyside), and was also used by the RAF as a practise bombing range which still shows on the landscape. Please note you are advised to carry sun protection, hats and cream and an adequate supply of bottled water. Meeting Time: Sunday 8th September and Wednesday 11th September Meet outside The Harp Inn, Quayside, Little Neston, Cheshire CH64 0TB at 10 am. There is ample parking available on Quayside Each walk lasts about 5 hours with breaks for refreshments Pre-booking required Maximum in group 20 There will be a break for Refreshments, on the outward leg and another break for a packed lunch near Burton Point. The entire route is along a tarmac cycle-way and is passable by a wheelchair. There are 3 mild and short gradients in each direction. Phil Pritchard 0151 336 5973 29 Birkenhead Park Visitor Centre, Park Drive, Birkenhead, CH41 4HY Description: Find out about the amazing history of the world s first public park and the role of Joseph Paxton in its design. The walk will follow the places of interest that were incorporated into the Park s original design including a walk around the lower park lake, taking in the Grand Tour vistas of the Roman Boathouse, the Swiss Bridge and the Alpine Avalanche and a variety of lodges. Exotic trees, such as Himalayan Cedar and the Cucumber can be seen on the walk as well as native trees. Meeting Time: Saturday 7th September, Sunday 8th September, Monday 9th September and Tuesday 10th September Meet at 1:30 pm at Birkenhead Park Visitor Centre, Park Drive, Birkenhead, CH41 4HY The tour is 2 miles and takes about 2 hours. Refreshments are available at the Visitor Centre coffee shop The route is on good paths with some gentle slopes. Stepped access to Swiss Bridge and Roman Boathouse. Visitor Centre is fully accessible. Office 0151 652 5197
A WALK AROUND PORT SUNLIGHT FLAYBRICK MEMORIAL GARDENS Guided walk around Port Sunlight Village led by Matthew Crook, Senior Conservation Offi cer, Wirral Council Description: Guided walk around Port Sunlight village, taking in the major buildings and some of the blocks of housing. Meeting Time: Saturday 7th September at 2 pm Meet at the Port Sunlight Museum, 23 King George s Drive, Port Sunlight, Wirral CH62 5DX Guided walk of 45 mins Pre-booking required There are many places to eat in the village The pathways can be uneven in places and some of the buildings have limited disabled access Matthew Crook 0795 710 1817 Local Heroes Military Guided Tour around Flaybrick Memorial Gardens, Tollemache Road, Bidston, Wirral Description: Flaybrick burials commenced in 1864. The Cemetery contains hundreds of military related burials and family commemorations to those who gave their lives in wars across the world. You will be taken back to the Great War and World War 2. Army, Navy, Royal Air Force and civilians are all represented amongst our heroes. Meeting Time: Saturday 7th September at 11 am and Saturday 14th September at 11 am Meet at Tam O Shanter Urban Farm, Boundary Road, Bidston, Wirral, CH43 7PD The walk is about 1½ hours Pre-booking required Chris Morris 0151 608 5050 30