Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past History Information Request Eastham House Eastam

Trying to find out any information on Eastham House Eastham, especially from when Birkenhead Corporation Public Assistance took over from Eastham Urban District Council in 1930's, seems that their is very little information about the building in the Records office in Birkenhead.

There's something in the cheshire archives ....

Envelope marked Mrs. L. Parry, 71 Ferry Road, Eastham P195/15/7 1925-1960

These documents are held at Cheshire and Chester Archives and Local Studies Service

Contents:
Contains Carlett Park sale particulars and plan, 1925; Eastham House Estate sale particulars, 1928; newscutting, 1960 with part of article on Eastham, 1960

There are numerous references on the internet to the occupants from 1800 to at least 1910. Some big names there!

A bit of a coincidence but at the weekend i was copying a few bit's that where of general traction engine interest and came across this page, it's not Eastham house but it is related to this thread !.

Hi I started serving my time as an apprentice plumber on Eastham house in the 1970s,at that time the property had been empty for quite a few years and the company I worked for had won the contract to turn house,out houses and annexe into 38 flats for the then Merseyside Improved Houses,Now known as Riverside Housing.We spent a couple of years at Eastham House and the building was amazing to work in.Cellers, attics,stables and some fantastic old craftsmanship,including carvings around entrance halls and staircase in panels of if I remember Charles Dickens life story.Barrel arches in cellers where particularly well built and where a nightmare to try and route pipework through.My work mates and myself all saw some very strange things while on site,things we couldnt explain,Im not a ghost believer but some things especially noises defied explanation.We worked there during the 3 day week power cuts with sometimes only single light extension leads which wasnt fun if you found yourself working on the top floor on your own.We heard many stories of the property from the gardener whos name was Jack,and we scoured the old tipping areas many times during lunch breaks picking up some old pieces of silver and old bottles,quite a job.

Ive seen a picture of it`still cant place it`maybe its set back off the road or hidden is it next door to the Old peoples home

Its right on the Eastham Village Rd.opposite side from church yard and between the church and New Chester Rd going out of the village towards Vauxhall roundabout.Main house and adjoining smaller houses,which were outhouses.

Thanks

Hi

With regards to Eastham House I can hopefully shed some light on this.

in 1966 my father became the manager of the Eastham House on behalf of Birkenhead Corporation, as this was one of the residential care home the corporation owned.

This appointment provided live-in accommodation for my father and mother. This provided a fantastic playground for myself and my sister.

The main entrance was via the large green gates (now black) on Village Road, just after the junction with Rivacre Road. This was a long stone driveway which now appears very overgrown. There was a foot entrance further along Village Road, just after St Mary's church opposite Church Lane. This was a black wooden gate resembling a barn door. This has now long gone and the entrance has been stoned up, however this can clearly still be seen. The current road entrance to Eastham house was created in the mid 1970's after the property was sold by Birkenhead Corporation, as was originally part of the grounds' perimeter wall.

Also at the entrance to the drive is a large gate lodge. This was also part of Eastham House and was divided into two separate accommodations, occupied by the deputy manager, Mrs Scott and the head gardener, "Jack"

The care home consisted of the main house which had 44 residential bedrooms, separate large day lounges for men (included a full size snooker table) & women and a smaller shared lounge. There was a large dining room (originally a ballroom) with a stage and piano. Internal kitchens (under head cook Winnie Stewart), with a large seller. The main house also had a single lift to the upper floors. To the rear of the lift was a boiler room.

Beyond the boiler room was a large courtyard arrangements with some old stable buildings to the right (backing on to Village Road), some of these converted to a laundry and gardener's office/room. Above these was a series of rooms, all inter connected (not corridors) These appeared to be in a state of disrepair and also doubled up as a mortuary for keeping the body if a resident passed away in the night.

On the opposite side of this courtyard was a newer building, which was connected to the main house by a interconnecting corridor. This was a two story annex and provided dormitory accommodation for some male residents.

Beyond the courtyard & on the old stables side was a separate house, visible from Village road. This was occupied by one of the members of staff, Mary Mansfield with her husband Johnnie and there two children Tina & David, both similar ages to myself and sister.

If at the end of the courtyard you were to turn left there would be more old stable building and a further boiler house containing two boilers. Opposite these was a larges enclosed walled yard for the storage of coal. At the time of the power cuts in the early 1970's there was a mass of coal stored in this yard which almost appeared to be mountains. We managed to find an old Morris Minor roof (god knows where from) and decided that this would make a good sledge to use on the coal mountains. This was a great idea until our parent realised what we had been doing and how dirty were were. Coal dust is very fine and by the end of the night we were well and truly sick of being repeatedly bathed.

As I recall the grounds considered of 3 sets of lawns, 2 wooded area, a large greenhouse(s) arrangements and vegetable area. There were two full time gardeners employed, Jack (head gardener) & Alex (who's father had been a coachman for the original owner of Eastham House.

On the opposite side of the lawns, from the house, there was a large field, access from the entrance at the top end of Village Road (near A41). I believe this was also owned by Birkenhead Corporation and rented out to a local farmer, Albert Rosco. Every November a section of the fencing, between the lawns and the field was removed and a large bonfire was erected, with many residents of the village attending on bonfire night.

Outside the entrance of the main building was the car park, originally accessed via the long driveway, there was also a footpath to the gate, opposite Church Lane. Just beyond the gate on the opposite side of the footpath was a square grassed plateau area and in the bottom right hand corner was 3 x dog grave, believed to belong to the original owner of Eastham House.

In the very early 1970's the annex build was deemed not to meet fire regulations and was eventually closed down, when the corporation opened a newly built Birkett House residential home in Birkenhead, with the remainder of Eastham House closing in February 1972 and the residents moving to the newly built Feltree House residential home, on the Ford Estate (now called Beechwood Estate).

Some time after the closure in 1972, Birkenhead Corporation sold Eastham house, surrounding properties and grounds for £36,000 for redevelopment into sheltered accommodation.

Now this is the bit that I am not too sure about :-

I believe the original owner of Eastham House owned the flour mills/storage on Wallsey Dock Road and Corporation Road, Birkenhead - Later to be come part of Spillers. The gardener, Alex's father had to prepare the houses for the carriage every morning for the journey to the offices in Birkenhead.

At some stage the property was supposedly sold to Judge Turvin, who added the ballroom which became the dinning room for the residential. In 1910 Judge Turvin was reportedly the judge handed down the death sentence to Dr Crippen - who was found guilty of murdering his wife and was arrested in Canadian waters after a wireless telegram to the SS Montrose.

I am not sure when or how Eastham House came under the ownership of Birkenhead Corporation, but it was certainly before 1966. as when my father took over the management of the residential home, it had already become an established residential care home.

Hope this is helpful

Excellent George

A few pics from a visit a while agoclick