Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past History Information Request Woodchurch Road, before the M53

Thanks all for the further interesting replies.

That was a very poetic description of the area by Hilda Gamlin! It is absolutely amazing how things have changed since then, and sadly how much was lost.

I had a look at the 70s aerial views over Birkenhead, it's great how that site lets the user zoom in so much for free. Until now, I didn't know a 1970s set existed for this area - I thought it was just done in the Google Earth era, so that's a good find. Great view of a passenger ship docked at Liverpool on there too! Perhaps an Irish ferry or something (I'm not sure TBH).

Great picture of the Borough Road tram, thanks for that. It's the first time I have ever seen a tram displaying "Borough Road" on it.

I once saw an old photo of some destroyed buildings on Borough Road which had been bombed in WWII. I remember on the photo seeing what looked like tram lines running along the road, but I was never sure if that was the case, or even if tram services had eneded by WWII. In any case, now we know clearly there was a tram service (presumably pre-war) and it's really good to see some direct evidence of it.

I also remember reading in either the "Birkenhead News" or "Wirral Globe" around the early '90s where it was stated as part of the ill-fated "Merseytram" scheme, trams would be running through the Queensway tunnel by 1998. Alas it never worked out like that, just wish I kept the cutting of it, as that small article always stuck in my mind.

As for the Woodchurch Interchange, on those 1970s aerial photos, you can clearly see the path of the old Landican Lane, before it was diverted away from the junction. It's very clear, when compared with the 1876 OS map in the left-hand window.

I was surprised that when I opened up Google Earth, I could also just about make out the course of the old Landican Lane running across the field (appears as a slightly darker band) even on present-day photos.

The 1970s view also shows how Woodchurch Road was kept open to traffic during the construction of the junction, with vehicles actually using the slip roads before the main centre section was put in place.

More things worth seeing on the 1970s overhead views:-

New Brighton pier and landing stange are still there.

The number of ships in the docks and at Cammel Lairds on the Wirral side.

You can see a ferry at Woodside landing stage and two at Seacombe.

The sheer number of rail lines around the docks and the number of goods wagons just lying around in sidings.

The construction of the new Birkenhead Market and the buildings along Borough Road (like what is now the TJs building).

Grange Road before pedestrianisation and when it ran uninterrupted right though to Argyle street.

Rendel street branch of Queensway tunnel - what looks like toll booths still remaining.

Kingsway tunnel and approach. Toll booths are there, but not opened yet? No traffic on the appproach. Looks like construction still in progress.

I'm sure there are loads more interesting things on those photos.

Well spotted Paul. Quite right. The original alignment went from a bend at the trees, straight across the field to Woodchurch Road by the new** gas compound. A few yards away from where the compound is now, was a large cast iron green painted cabinet. It had a sign "North Western Gas Board" on it. There must have been a clockwork chart recorder or similar inside as there was always a loud ticking from within. Funny the things you remember.

Another thing that got the chop from that area at the time were the old mercury vapour street lamps. Huge cubic glass lanterns. The old mercury tubes weren't colour corrected and made you look like death on a bad day ! You could see all the veins in the back of your hand. Yuk !

** "new" as in 30 years ago. ha.ha.

Paul; just to put a few dates in for you. Kingsway tunnel opened in June 1971. Trams ran until 1937, but no doubt the tracks were there long after. Map of the tram system attached. There are some good pictures of Birkenhead here:
http://www.20thcenturyimages.co.uk/trolleyed/4/22/wirral-birkenhead%281%29.html

Thanks yet again for digging up this further info, Chris. It's very interesting to see a map of the Birkenhead Tram network in its heyday.

Well I must say, my questions have been answered in greater detail than I ever could've imagined.

A big thank you to all on the thread.

Have to say I've now become addicted to using that site with the 1970s aerial photos on it. It's great to scroll around the Wirral on maximum zoom and where there's a building (Arrowe Park Hospital for example) or a road (Upton Bypass) that we all now take for granted, there are just fields there. Virtually the whole M53 is under construction on those photos. Been looking at J5 Hooton too. Really wish we had a 1940s or 1950s equivalent too of these photos - that would be great, but I don't think they exist.

I should post more of my (bit obscure and off-the-wall) questions soon if I get round to it, I'm just taking advantage of the fact that I'm off work this week and so have a few hours spare here and there - normally I'm too busy to check these things out in any depth. Cheers!

Hi Paul
If you go to the doctors surgery by Arrow Park gates you will find on the walls pictures of the old buildings of Woodchurch. I remember the old village built on the site now occupied by Meadowside school. I think I have a photo of the post office on pool lane on an old hard drive. I will post it (forgive the pun) if I find it.

from www.old-map.co.uk

Right click to view image bigger. Think this covers J3/M53.

I can see my house from here !!!!

Hi Lazzah, thanks for the info, that's great. I look forward to seeing the photo if you happen to dig it out.


Thanks finding that for the map, Snooze. Yes, that's right where the junction is now. I saved a copy of the zoomed in version.

It's great to see this, from before when the M53 construction even started. I see the aforementioned "roundabout to nowhere" is on there and also of course the original alignment of Landican Lane.

Other things of interest include Prenton Bridge, the "laundry", the clay pit and the non-existence of many roads in the Durley Drive area. Cheers!

I found some old images of Woodchurch here:-
http://www.oldwirral.com/woodchurch.html

Pretty interesting site - it also has some old maps of WWII bomb damage around Birkenhead.

sorry if off topic

http://www.oldwirral.com/woodchurch.html


Dr Frick is a wiki member
Was looking at the bomb maps part and it reminded me of a friend telling me
in Cleveland Street there are some billboards and no-one is allowed to build on the land behind them because several people were killed there by a bomb and for some reason the bodies were never recovered
Can anyone confirm or say otherwise please

Hi - old-maps website has got a lot more user friendly these days - they used to make it really difficult to get a good close-up of things without you paying first

I've managed to track down one photo of the area before the interchange was built. It clearly shows the roundabout built in the 1930s that other posters have mentioned. I suspect the roundabout was actually built there because early outline plans for the Woodchurch Estate (which was conceived in the late 1920s) envisaged housing being built on both sides of Woodchurch Road - the roundabout was to link with the access roads onto the estate on either side of the road.

Excellent Marty, that roundabout looks flatter than i remember it, maybe some years later shrubs and bushes grew on it.