Back in the 70s, possibly 80s, there were a couple of large bunker-like constructions on the shore between (I think) Seacombe and Egremont. They were in pretty poor condition, the tops were cracked and broken. I have no idea what they were or what they were used for (if anything) in the past. They were built up against the sea wall.

Can anyone help with info about these strange objects?

I was told as a kid that they were 'bathing stations' in victorian times. One for fellas, one for lasses. They by eggy ferry. Me dad aka 'coot' told me that

Ie 'bathing stations' i mean a place to get into swimwear!

Doubt in the 1970s or 80s they were "bathing stations" as they tended to be 'wooden wagons' on wheels that could be moved with the tide. They were often found nearer to New Brighton / Harrison Drive area.

Something I will look into...

Thanks for the replies.

By 1970s these structures were looking pretty dilapidated and the thought of getting inside them would be pretty unpleasant! But if they were Victorian they'd be 100 years old (pre-dating Guinea Gap Baths?) so not surprising they were in a bad way.

I've an idea there were steps built into the front or side of them but I might be imagining that. Haven't got a photo to check, unfortunately.

I remember these structures well - don't know what they were for, but fairly sure there wasn't an entrance to them - they just appeared to be huge concrete blocks

Were they not bunkers from WWII? There were quite a few of them after the war along the mouth,. of the Mersey and beyond.

I can recall the steps built 'into' the concrete blocks. I'd go up the steps, walk the length and then be lifted off

I don't know what these were for but remember playing on them when the tide was in by putting one of the ladders over the railings. If anyone had moved the ladders we would of been stuck. They couldn't of been bunkers as the tide would bring the water over them. Here's a picture of them.

Thanks for the photo ahbaldy - brought back memories

Great photo - they look smaller than I remember, but I guess there was less sand in the 70s! I wonder what date that picture was taken?

here is another view

thanks for the pic go to ahbaldy

Slightly off topic but whats that building at top of slipway?
Great pics btw and yes they do look smaller than i remembered. Hmmm, dying to know what they are.

for any info or pics of eggy ferry ahbaldy is the man to ask/pm. he has loads of pics of that area.

think the buildings are the Egremont Ferry pub on the left and on the right Davy Jones Locker a club which was all that was left of the Egremont ferry and pier

They wouldn't be anchor blocks with chains connected to the pier would they?

They may just be breakers to stop waves going over the buildings. Or caps over large sewer outlets.

Seem to remember some blocks a bit smaller than that by woodside area, these were below surface water outfalls and were there to stop massive holes being dug into sand/mud by the cascading water.

Took these blocks out in 1996 as part of the Wall/groyne works. They were hollow (would have cost a lot more if solid!). I was led to understand they were 'alongside' facilities for ferry boats, similar to the vertical/horizontal timber latticework that existed around Egremont headland (grooves for the verticals still visible).

This is a picture of the buildings at the top, taken in 1908. On the right was the night club, Davey Jones Locker. Then in the middle was the old payments booths for the ferry which they took apart and was used by a sailing club. Then on the left was the old bandstand.

Here's a picture for you before the 2 blocks were built and look at the town hall!

According to Wikipedia the Town Hall opened in 1916. Again it would be good to get dates for these pictures. I much prefer the idea that the blocks were to do with the ferries than that they were sewage caps! (Where are the outlets on this bit of the coast? All I can think of is the sewage pipe at Harrison Drive that was between where the old shalets were and where the Derby Pool was.)

Fantastic info coming in - thanks for helping to answer one of those little mysteries I lived with as long as I can remember!

I've seen a picture in one of my Wirral books (cue for scrabble through the bookshelves) showing a Wallasey ferry beached near Egremont. Done on purpose for a quick inspection job or to remove anything caught in one of the propellors etc.

Remember my Dad telling me that when this happened, hoards of youngsters would be on the beach to have a look.

The ferry wasn't near the wall or those blocks though. Quite a few yards offshore. MMmmmmmm ?

(Where are the outlets on this bit of the coast? All I can think of is the sewage pipe at Harrison Drive that was between where the old shalets were and where the Derby Pool was.)

There were sewage pipes between Seacombe Ferry and Guinea Gap (nearer Seacombe Ferry)- Two I think

I remember the boats being beached for repairs, seem quiet often but things were always bigger aswell. Here's a picture of the mountwood being re-floated.

Thanks ahbaldy. Saves a visit into dry dock. Reeeeeeeel cheap !

Nice pics, fond memories of Seacombe,Egremont.

Talking about beaching boats, here'e a good one in New Brighton.

I wonder if this was a deliberate beaching or not? I seem to recall the "beach" around the lighthouse is exposed rock. Not a good place for the old girl to rest her bottom !

Maybe the skipper had been on the cooking sherry and turned right a bit too soon ?? One of those "Oh sh*t" moments !

Another great pic. Thanks.

Is it an Isle of Man boat? I can just make out King Orry at the bottom of the photo.

Yes, one of the pre-war I.O.M. Steam Packet Co's vessels. I think there were two more King Orry's after her.

wikipedia says the King Orry (3) in the above photo was one of the company's losses during the Dunkirk evacuation in WW2.

I bet no one remembers this beaching, must be one of the first. It's the Great Eastern Of The Mersey in 1889

Ahem. Great Eastern...

On a recent holiday to Salcombe, Devon, we had a trip in an old lifeboat. The crew heard our accents and said they had one of our ferrys in Salcombe Harbour. They took us up to see it and it was the Egremont.....all in one piece and being used for youth training activities,

this is the ex wallasey corpy ferry egremont in salcombe,devon

It looks as if she's well maintained, unlike the poor Royal Iris. Would look even better if they re-painted the funnel with a black topping (as was)and did away with the obvious add-on shelter on the afterdeck. That looks a bit tatty. However.....

if you think that she's the same age as the royal iris she is doing well me thinks..

Agreed !!

amazing thread and pictures guys! thanks for all you effort.

Looks good externally, but all machinery has been removed.

Bob.

Interesting thread. I have a couple of recent shots I took of the Royal Iris and Royal Daffodil in the same place but at different times.

there is an piece and photo about that I. O. M. ferry on the beach at N. B. in one of the wirral books by Ian Bo-? It was after a storm I think.

I Thanks jimbob. I posted those pictures in the wrong thread and it won't let me delete them now.

I stayed on board the Egremont about ten years ago in Salcombe - it was pretty basic but better than having it destroyed.

Thats just how we saw the Egremont, brilliant photo....thanks for that

What was it like on board? any photos?

I did have some photos but they've gone AWOL...

My overwhelming memory is of rust! It could have done with a coat of sealant/paint or two. Fixtures and fittings all looked original (including moth-eaten mock-velvet on some of the seat coverings) but it was functional (shower = hosepipe) rather than luxurious!

Thanks for that Ros,

It would be great if the Mersey could have all the old ferries in service again, including the sinking Iris, but this is fantasy....

Im interested in the ferry stuff but i would really like the original 'topic' answering-what where the concrete blocks for?

I thought I had a stab at that earlier in the thread - something to do with the ferry coming alongside

I remember the excavations around the headland where Egremont Ferry was as part of the 1996/1997 wall works - some large cast iron gear wheels were unearthed - part of the original machinery that used to extend and retract the end portion of Egremont Ferry. A consequence of the large tidal range in the Mersey. The end of the landing stage could be extended or retracted from a motor house on the prom.

One of the Contractor's engineers got a whole load of old coins from under the line of the old ferry landing stage once excavations commenced - he had a metal-detector. All the coins must have been dropped by people passing on and off the old ferry.

Apologies, i thought this was a theory!

I posted this on wrong thread I think

As a lad in the 50's I often swam off these Blocks when the tide was in, we use to call them the 'Boomdocks' and I was led to believe they were part of the Egremont Ferry Pier that had been struck by a ship in 1947 and was dismantled, incidently the building is part of the old ferry buildings and was used for a social/youth club for some time in the 50's. out of sight with just the canapy showing is the main ferry building which was used by the West Cheshire Sailing Club to store dinghies and where I learnt to sail.

nb; we always swam on the incoming tide because they released raw sewage from Liverpool when the tide was going out and you had to dodge the 'Mersey goldfish'.