WikiWirral Wirral's Biggest Online Forum
Forum Statistics
Forums65
Topics76,352
Posts1,033,281
Members14,560
Most Online16,551
Feb 2nd, 2024
Who's Online Now
7 members (3 invisible), 8,139 guests, and 433 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters
sunnyside 45,164
MattLFC 22,315
Mark 21,269
granny 17,788
_Ste_ 16,345
Newest Members
Kalena1962, rattus, Lisrush, Emotecreative, ArranGirl13
14,560 Registered Users
New General Forums
New Wirral History
Tall Brick Chimneys
by diggingdeeper - 16th Mar 2024 11:56am
D.I.Y. / Building Shop
by mharford91 - 3rd Mar 2024 8:53pm
1970's Murder in Central Park, Wallasey
by cutespam - 4th Aug 2018 10:28am
Old Hall in Higher Bebington
by Rhoobarb - 25th May 2010 5:55pm
Oleo Works
by Ducko - 14th May 2008 3:09pm
Top Posters(30 Days)
granny 14
casper 13
bri445 4
Topic Replies
What song are you listening to?
by diggingdeeper - 28th Mar 2024 6:06pm
Facial recognition coming in supermarkets?
by diggingdeeper - 27th Mar 2024 3:50pm
Bolts at Bebington Road
by diggingdeeper - 27th Mar 2024 2:33am
Hot Spot Chippie Broadway
by Excoriator - 26th Mar 2024 7:57pm
Tall Brick Chimneys
by diggingdeeper - 26th Mar 2024 5:43pm
Lost river (Well, brook really)
by diggingdeeper - 26th Mar 2024 3:09am
Old Hall in Higher Bebington
by diggingdeeper - 24th Mar 2024 5:58pm
Netflix 3 Body Problem.
by BultacoAstro - 22nd Mar 2024 8:04am
Wisper electric bike. 36v .
by Dilly - 21st Mar 2024 7:36pm
March
M T W T F S S
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Top Likes Received (30 Days)
cools 1
Kylix 1
Top Likes Received
bert1 14
Mark 4
granny 3
casper 3
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
#933064 9th Mar 2015 11:44pm
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 17
andym Offline OP
Newbeee
OP Offline
Newbeee
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 17
I have been told that the attached photo is not Woodchurch, Wirral but Woodchurch, Ashford, Kent. Having spoken to an admin member of an Ashford local history group, he has no knowledge of this post office. I have since found out that there is another Woodchurch in Kent but someone (originally from the Wirral) who now lives near this one (Isle of Thanet) assures me that it isn't a photo of that Woodchurch.

Attached Images
$_57.jpg (96.48 KB, 265 downloads)
Last edited by andym; 9th Mar 2015 11:55pm.
Google Ads
andym #933065 10th Mar 2015 12:58am
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 14,344
Likes: 19
Wiki Master
Offline
Wiki Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 14,344
Likes: 19
Difficult call if the building isn't extant.

This has been listed on ebay as Woodchurch near Ashford, however I strongly doubt that. While Ashford had some old sandstone buildings, Woodchurch (Kent) appeared to have none apart from the church.

I think it looks "right" for Wirral, similar sandstone building were everywhere, castellations weren't unusual, indeed the wall around the Arrowe Park Hotel is still a castellated sandstone wall.

The other Woodchurch (Birchingston-on-sea) appears to be just an area named after a farm and wouldn't have been big enough to support a post office, it didn't even grow much when RAF Manston was built literally beside it. Again its not a sandstone area.


We don't do charity in Germany, we pay taxes. Charity is a failure of governments' responsibilities - Henning Wehn

https://ddue.uk
andym #933067 10th Mar 2015 2:17am
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 319
Old Hand
Offline
Old Hand
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 319
Church Lane Woodchurch Wirral has
sandstone walls with some parts having
similar castellations. See Google Earth:-


Attached Images
ChurchLaneWoodchurch.jpg (281.13 KB, 245 downloads)
andym #933071 10th Mar 2015 2:47am
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 659
Smartchild
Offline
Smartchild
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 659
I have sent an email to the guy who sold a copy of this postcard on ebay asking if he had any local knowledge of its where abouts but I won't hold my breath waiting for a reply. It may be worh contacting The British Postal Museum & Archive
Freeling House, Phoenix Place, London WC1X 0DL
Tel: + 44 (0)20 7239 2570
Email: [email protected]

andym #933075 10th Mar 2015 5:13am
P
Pinzgauer
Unregistered
Pinzgauer
Unregistered
P
I'm pretty sure it's "our" Woodchurch. I remember the building was still there until the Woodchurch Estate was under construction. It was in Pool Lane. It was in my roaming territory when a youngster. A fair distance down on the RH side after leaving the junction with Arrow Park Road. Pool Lane originally went past the church and joined Woodchurch Road at the bend at bottom of the hill.

A lad in my class at Prenton Primary, David Wilkinson (Wilko) lived in that house. Not sure if it was still a P.O. or not then. I don't remember the ivy though. Maybe Bert could trawl his records and maps on this ?


#933077 10th Mar 2015 6:38am
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,627
Likes: 14
Wiki Veteran
Offline
Wiki Veteran
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,627
Likes: 14
The maps below, 1894/1938 put the Post Office in Church Lane, close to what is now the Arrowe Park Hotel, marked Horse & Jockey on map. The 1911 census describes the building having 4 rooms, not including Kitchens, halls, landings, etc. The building in the photo doesn't appear to have 4 rooms but the building just in view behind could make it up to 4.

Attached Images
po, church lane.JPG (158.31 KB, 230 downloads)
po, wood.JPG (137.35 KB, 231 downloads)

God help us,
Come yourself,
Don't send Jesus,
This is no place for children.


Bertieone.
andym #933082 10th Mar 2015 8:13am
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 659
Smartchild
Offline
Smartchild
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 659
Further searching of ebay threw up another copy of this postcard from a seller in Chester. Item number 251780748837 which ended 14th January 2015. The title of the item was 'postcard woodchurch Birkenhead post office'. I believe the possible error of location may stem from the first seller placing it nr Ashcroft, Kent. This is likely because being from the south it might be the only woodchurch he was aware of. On the back of one of the cards sold was inscribed "Uncle Edwin's post office" if that's of help to any local historians. Then again, its always possible our man from Chester has put it in the wrong location for the same reasons as above!

Last edited by GeeMeister; 10th Mar 2015 8:16am.
andym #933083 10th Mar 2015 8:29am
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 17
andym Offline OP
Newbeee
OP Offline
Newbeee
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 17
Thank you all for the fascinating information. Can't believe how quickly people answered. I bought the photo yesterday on e-bay believing it was on the Wirral and not Ashford, Kent as stated. I have 2 more photos, one of which has a Birkenhead postmark. To my untrained eye they do look very similar to my original photo.

Attached Images
img626.jpg (484.22 KB, 208 downloads)
img627.jpg (400.44 KB, 209 downloads)
Last edited by andym; 10th Mar 2015 8:31am. Reason: no photo
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,627
Likes: 14
Wiki Veteran
Offline
Wiki Veteran
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,627
Likes: 14
Post master, 1911, Edwin Pownall,

Good find Gee,


God help us,
Come yourself,
Don't send Jesus,
This is no place for children.


Bertieone.
bert1 #933085 10th Mar 2015 8:34am
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 17
andym Offline OP
Newbeee
OP Offline
Newbeee
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 17
fascinating map, thank you

andym #933089 10th Mar 2015 8:39am
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,627
Likes: 14
Wiki Veteran
Offline
Wiki Veteran
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,627
Likes: 14
Edwin Pownall is recorded in Directories as Postmaster and as Tailor in the 1911 census.

Attached Images
post1.JPG (52.33 KB, 198 downloads)
post.JPG (58.41 KB, 200 downloads)

God help us,
Come yourself,
Don't send Jesus,
This is no place for children.


Bertieone.
bert1 #933092 10th Mar 2015 8:41am
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 17
andym Offline OP
Newbeee
OP Offline
Newbeee
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 17
Bert1, that's great, thanks.

andym #933093 10th Mar 2015 8:41am
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 659
Smartchild
Offline
Smartchild
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 659
Being a dimwit, ive not phathomed how to add images yet. Take a look at the ebay link i posted a little earlier. The post card looks the same but closer inspection shows its from an earlier year. There are no leaves on the trees and no postbox on the corner wall. The seller states its Birkenhead. Thanks Bert1.

Last edited by GeeMeister; 10th Mar 2015 8:49am.
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 659
Smartchild
Offline
Smartchild
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 659
Hopefully this worked.

Attached Images
image.jpg (322.89 KB, 188 downloads)
Alternative image
andym #933099 10th Mar 2015 8:53am
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 17
andym Offline OP
Newbeee
OP Offline
Newbeee
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 17
And this photo appears to show the same building closer to the church than bert1's map. I'm confused.

Attached Images
Page 1 of 2 1 2

Moderated by  Mod 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Random Wirral Images

Click to View Topic.
Newest Topics
Facial recognition coming in supermarkets?
by Excoriator - 27th Mar 2024 10:52am
Hot Spot Chippie Broadway
by Excoriator - 26th Mar 2024 7:57pm
Bolts at Bebington Road
by Excoriator - 23rd Mar 2024 9:48am
Netflix 3 Body Problem.
by BultacoAstro - 22nd Mar 2024 8:04am
Tall Brick Chimneys
by diggingdeeper - 16th Mar 2024 11:56am
For Sale & Free
Wisper electric bike. 36v .
by Dilly - 21st Mar 2024 7:36pm
This is Elvis
by GingerTom - 17th Mar 2024 2:37pm
Member Spotlight
diggingdeeper
diggingdeeper
Wirral
Posts: 14,344
Joined: July 2008
Today's Birthdays
There are no members with birthdays on this day.
New Wirral Info
Facial recognition coming in supermarkets?
by Excoriator - 27th Mar 2024 10:52am
Hot Spot Chippie Broadway
by Excoriator - 26th Mar 2024 7:57pm
Bolts at Bebington Road
by Excoriator - 23rd Mar 2024 9:48am
Get your Money Tree ready
by keef666 - 22nd Mar 2023 12:27pm
Restaurant/pub with outdoor seating - Bromborough
by CarterUSM - 7th Aug 2020 7:59pm
News : New Topics
Gaza
by diggingdeeper - 29th Oct 2023 9:28am
Lost river (Well, brook really)
by Excoriator - 10th Sep 2019 8:50am
New Enthusiast Forums
Netflix 3 Body Problem.
by BultacoAstro - 22nd Mar 2024 8:04am
Xbox
by TudorBlue - 3rd Mar 2024 8:48pm
Wiper mechanism needed
by Peter0787 - 20th Feb 2024 4:07pm
What song are you listening to?
by - 24th Jun 2007 9:06am
Popular Topics(Views)
5,069,769 WIKI WALK CHAT
4,013,846 Spotted!
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5