That I think is a consideration too, Sonylegs. Reason. Birds house and barn was on the map in the mid 1600's and situated in the same place as it is now . Was known as Williamson's Croft .
Ships arrived in from Ireland .
Kathryn Brydd daughter of Wm Brydd married Robert Williamson 1580/81
Robert Williamson was Master of a ship named 'The Swallow' out of Wallasey
John Bird of Mayor of Liverpool owned ships
Richard Bird age 27 yrs sailed on the Pheonix one of John Bird's ships.
Also a ship called 'Speedwell of Wallazie'
The Birds of Chester were 'tanners'
The SPEEDWELL.] On trie 28th of March "the Speedwell of
Wallazie, Robert Ensdall* master, burthen 16 tons, from Dublin,
entered the Port of Liverpool. The cargo of the Speedwell
consisted of 17 packages of yarn, sent to several persons; of 150
yards of linen cloth; and of 1600 sheep, deer, and broke
[badger] fells' [skins.]
Page 38
https://www.hslc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/122-3-Woodward.pdf In addition it is quite clear that the animals were not unloaded at Chester,
but down the Wirral, and only a small number of the animals
seem to have entered the city. At Chester the sheriffs kept an
account of the duty paid by merchants, who were not freemen,
on goods shipped to the city for sale. These accounts have
survived in usable condition for eight years during the period
1605-24. 3<J Only for one year, 1611, is there a reference to
livestock; on 9 February Sam Bates of 'Hallifex' brought a
cargo of tallow, pig grease, bacon, beef and Tenn quicke
beeves' to the city while in July another merchant shipped
'ix quicke beastes'. There are, in fact, very few references in the
Chester city archives relating to the import of Irish livestock. In
the Assembly Book, for the period 1603-42, there are only two
references to Irish cattle. "
************
There's clearly been a fair bit of activity in Poulton in the late 1500's early 1600's and there's only one way that would have happened, due to seafaring . The way I see it, is that Poulton (Poton) was the quay for the off loading of live cargo, and the Old House, (Birds House) was possibly a place for the shipmates to stop off . The Barn would be for the animals.
There is another entry in Hslc : Rentals of Poulton @Seacombe During Eliz Ist reign ( 1558-1603) Richard Brydd a tenement with housing
Rental of Poulton @ Seacombe, 5 Eliz."
Had. MS. 2039, p. 89.
(h) " Pet Puford | Richard Brydd a ten' wh housyng thereunto
" Secam f and upon the back side of the house or
" yard croft adioyning to a tent of Mr. houghes.
" Item a barne and a Gardayn upon the backsyde thereof
" adioynyng to Tottyes grounde.
