Hi,

Wasn't sure where to post this, so sorry if someone has to move it!!

I'm very interested in what's happening with 2 great houses in the Wallasey/New Brighton area!

The first is Redcliffe, one of the villas in Wellington road, looking out over the New Brighton sea front. Ever since I first really noticed it, about 4 years ago, absolutely nothing has been done with it! It had been converted into flats, but has been abandoned and is starting to fall apart. There's been a skip on the drive the entire time, but no-one there!! It could be a fantastic place to live if someone actually did something with it!!

The second is Gibson House Memorial Home. Originally built by Andrew Gibson as a Memorial Home for Widows of Seamen, it comprised of purpose built flats, and is situated on Maddock Road in Seacombe, overlooking the Mersey. Again nothing's been done with it for years! Unfortunately it isn't Grade II Listed, like the above house, so I have a feeling it will fall into the 'wrong hands' and be lost!! I know there's lots of Asbestos warning signs all around it, so I imagine its gonna be an expensive thing to undertake!

It's when I see houses like these that I wish I was a Millionaire!! Just so I could buy them off the owners and look after them!!

So does anyone have any info about what's being done with them?

i have no idea, but would love to know as well

Looking on the Wirral Gov website, the only planning applications for Redcliffe were made back in 2004!! And that was when they built the building to the left of it!

And Gibson House has had permission for 34 flats in 2011!!

I suspect they are both suffering from planning blight and economic recession.

redcliffe is still occupied--flats underneath,

Yeah there's a separate driveway for them that goes to the bottom floor. I'm not sure wether they are the people that own the whole place? Or maybe they're not happy with the work that was happening?

Although, according to some websites, the guy who converted them to begin with lived in the ground floor flats, so maybe it's still him there?

I just think that if you can't afford to touch something in 4 years, you should sell it to someone who can!!

Redcliffe in Wellington Road was ground to a halt after the owner was ordered to put in the original window frames after replacing them i believe.
The owner has ran out of money.
The place is in a right state, he does not live in the bottom flats, those people are angry due to the way the place has been left.
Do not attempt to urban explore this place as you will be punished, steer clear, don't say i didn't warn you! (That warning is not for you Cate).

I believe the Gibson gardens are still being maintained, it is a wonderful looking building, one wonders how such a place could be left to rot like that.

Ahhh I see. My boyfriend used to live opposite Redcliffe, and I used to walk past it every day thinking what a state it's been left in!! But surely it's costing the owner to have it sat there doing nothing??

And likewise with Gibson House! Although if the gardens are being looked after, then maybe they're just having trouble finding someone to remove the asbestos?

I think most of the time the asbestos warnings are to deter people from entering the property, the police used to use gibson house as a training ground, if there was a danger of asbestos poisoning i highly doubt they would of used it for training purposes.

yes i believe rates have to be paid on empty property.

The problem with Redcliffe is it is in a conservation area as far as i am aware and with it's graded listing the building cannot be altered.

It really is a nice building and has a great history but will take a lot of money to restore, the guy who owns it has stripped the plaster off the walls as far as i'm aware, i cannot imagine the state the building is in now having laid open to the elements for so long.

I see work has started on the old hotel victoria site now too, another great building which should of stayed.

Also the old Warren point mansions on Warren drive should never of been flattened.

such a shame to see all the great buildings disappear to make room for more apartments, i wonder if the owners of Gibson house have left it in that state so they can demolish it?

Yeah Redcliffe is in a conservation area, and is grade II listed, so I imagine would be difficult/expensive to restore, and possibly the owner made some expensive mistakes he has to put right?

It's horrible seeing these old buildings go to ruin!! Especially as the ones built in their place often have no character, or look like space-age buildings in a sea of history!!

I imagine the owner of Gibson House would prefer to knock it down and start again, and I doubt he'd have any objections to planning permission for this, as its not a listed building!! I just hope it doesn't happen!!

Oh if I were a millionaire!! Haha!!