Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past History Information Request New Brighton Dips?

Another Question !

Does anyone know as to what was the exact location of the Anti-Aircraft "Z" Rocket Battery on New Brighton prom during WW2.

I think these (more probably the first) may be (censored) pictures of it. The first picture does show a "dip" between the 1st and 2nd shelters in the middle front of the picture:

I am sure they were on the site known as the "Gun site" which is still known as the gun site. Off Bayswater road I think?

I can remember the old army toilets that were there. Think the council took them over and people going to the sand dunes used them. A lot more dunes in those days plus of course a bit further along was the bathing station thingy?

Not doubting you but are you sure it is New Brighton? That looks like flak in the sky and god knows what those things are on the ground. There are no shelters in the photo that I can see. There is a tent in the foreground.

I also note that the rockets appear to be vehicle mounted whereas in other photo's of the rockets at New Brighton I have seen they are mounted on the ground.

According to Ian Boumphrey's book 'Wirral on the Home Front', the Z Battery was located on a 9 acre site at the bottom of Sandcliffe Road.

Those other photos are beautiful, it looks so peaceful (if they're not artist's impressions). I like it down there, but it's just a mess.

If you go down Sandcliffe Road, (ex Jockey Lane) towards the beach, just before the railway bridge, on the right, on the golf course, you will notice some light wood fencing.
I believe that is were they were sited.

I think the first picture may be of the New Brighton site, looking towards the sea from the SW. The 2nd picture is unconnected. The rockets in the 1st picture look to be mounted on the usual slab of concrete, compared to AA guns they were cheap and easy to install. One of the rocket launchers in the 2nd pic looks to be on a vehicle.

What I meant by the shelters are the small semi-circular (usually corrugated iron) shelters to store AA shells (and I guess rockets as well).

I also think the black "flak" has been "photoshopped" or whatever onto the picture, it looks too low to me to be of any use for taking out aircraft at that heigth.

Some more pics from the Prom Extension brochure. They are actual photos of the newly-built prom, not artist's impressions - they just look a bit strange because I've had to scan them from photocopies!

I agree - it looked SO much better back then. These are brilliant pix, thanks for posting them!

Like everything else they could just not leave well alone could they - they just have to go and ruin it all. <sigh...!>

Just found some pics of the Dips c1966. A few more people around by then...and a few more cars!!

the photos look good.it looks better and more open without the houses, the railings,the clown.I just about remember it without the houses on the back field.

I think the stainless steel clown dates from a couple of years ago, when every town had to have a stainless steel statue of something more or less relevant to the area. There are quite a few about, Chester, Llangollen, Ellesmere Port, Hoylake, Southport to name some.

The tin man... sorry clown was built in about 2001 at the cost of £25,000

that clown should be outside the town hall imo

great pics tho

No, inside with the rest of them.

Wonder how long the street lights lasted for? Few big storms would have damaged them I would have thought?