Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past Wirral History Oldest ? in the Wirral

No real evidence proving a Wirral location;whilst Steven Harding says it is Wirral , Michael Wood suggests South Yorkshire.Whilst I would love it to be Bromborough I don't think it has been proved at all.

Going back to this post of March 2013..... I believe it was Rudebox who was more recently enquiring about the grave of a horse in Tranmere. This is the extract which would possibly give a near date, due to a coin found in the same plot. Just in case it was missed

...........................

Singular Equine Interment on Holt Hill, Tranmere.

We are indebted to Mr. W. Lownsborough, surveyor, of
Tranmere, for the subjoined notice.

A Mr. Getley lately purchased a piece of land, on the top
of Holt Hill, and nearly opposite the Nunnery, from the
trustees of W, W. Perry, Esq. This plot, about twenty years
ago, was an unenclosed common, with furze bushes growing
upon it, and had never been disturbed within the memory of
man. However, in digging the foundations of some houses,
the workmen came upon three large slabs of stone, about two
h2

Digitized by VjOOQ IC

100

feet below the surface ; these formed the covering of a grave,
carefully hewn in the solid rock, about 8 feet long, 4 feet
broad, and 3 feet deep, and which was found to contain the
bones of a horse, accompanied by a quantity of dry material
like tinder. Upon searching among the last, a copper coin
was found, almost defaced by wear and rust, but which proves
to be a halfpenny of William and Mary. There was likewise
disclosed the handle of a sword, the heft of which is of bone,
carved in a reticulated manner, whilst the strig and rivets are
of iron.

I think that I have somewhere read, that William III, on
his journey to or from Ireland, stayed at the Old Hall,
Tranmere,* and halted on this hill ; if so, I think it very
probable that the steed must have been a favourite of one of
his troopers, and died either from the effect of recent wounds
in Ireland, or sudden illness after crossing the channel —
possibly a combination of both. The deposition of the coin
is, to my mind, an excellent mode of handing down the date
of the animal's death to future generations.

Gayton Mill. Finished working in 1875 and said to be one of the oldest 'tower' mills.

Cannot find anything about how old it is and it has been converted into a home.
http://hiddenwirral.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/gayton-mill-oldest-of-wirral.html



The ancient mill at Gayton is said to be the oldest tower windmill on the peninsula. There is a huge difference between this type of mill and the old peg mill which is that the upper section of the sails rotate with the wind as apposed to the peg mill which meant that the whole structure had to be turned by the miller to face the wind. The mill today has been completely renovated into a modern dwelling which is now privately owned. The structure itself is built from fine red sandstone most likely from Runcorn and at one time had four large sails over looking the small hamlet. The mill ceased to work in 1875 and by 1905 had lost all of its sails due to neglect. The elements took its toll on the old building and it was looking like the structure would have to be demolished by most others in Wirral. Luckily a local builder came to the rescue and heavily refurbished the mill restoring it to its natural beauty but this time as a residential building. The tower of the old mill is now connected to what was once the old millers cottage which stood directly opposite to house his family. Records show that the miller was bringing up sixteen of his own children in the old cottage prior to the building being closed.

Hello Granny, no it wasn't me, having no luck searching for Eastham Windmill, any hints and tips welcome

Thanks Bert1 and Granny, I have posted a reply to the Eastham Windmill thread, could be interesting, Regards Locomotive

i think the harp on neston marshes is the oldest pub in the wirral

The Wheatsheaf at Raby (as mentioned earlier in this thread) predates the Harp but I suspect that may not be the oldest either.

Is WikiWirral the oldest community forum on the Wirral?

Pretty sure its is the oldest general community Wirral forum, there are a couple of specialist Wirral groups that might predate it, one even predates the internet and was active in the BBS days but there were some breaks.

Have either the Wheatsheaf or the Harp been rebuilt ? Just wondering as the Fox and Hounds in Barnston is said to have been on the place of a pub going back to 16th century, the first recorded licensee dates back to before 1561 and his name was Thomas Baylye, although rebuilt in 1911.

Picture pre re-build and after . Basic structure looks the same.

The oldest pub on the Wirral is the Harp (but not the one at Neston) it is the Harp at Tranmere and although the present building is over two hundred years old, the foundations and cellar are much older and there has been an inn on this site for 800 years at least.

But the Harp (Tranmere) isn't a pub.

It was a pub though DD think it's been turned into a shop now? Is that the one by monkey steps?

Its the general store and off licence across the road from the monkey steps, used to be the Prince William