I was looking at some images of the Derby Pool but one of the images looks odd because the buildings at the end of the pool are not the same as all the other pictures. Maybe it was renovated at some time. incidentally, I was comparing the timelines with New Brightons pool. The New Brighton pool used to get too busy in summer and there was no room left to accomodate everyone so people would then travel to the Derby Pool. I didn't realise that the prom was extended in 1939 to accomodate the traffic and people, and connect the two pools. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWhxNSX1mak Picture of the short length of the prom in 1934. https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EPW045208
New Brighton baths had some changes similar to those as well.
With the rocket battery and ack-ack guns being placed at New Brighton together with anti-tank traps at Moreton, it makes you wonder if the new promenade and sea wall didn't have a military strategy as well.
If German ships heading into the Mersey came under fire from Fort Perch Rock, the beach would have been relatively unprotected from an easy landing party.
I know the dates of constructions don't tie up but in those days we planned ahead, not behind!
We don't do charity in Germany, we pay taxes. Charity is a failure of governments' responsibilities - Henning Wehn
With the rocket battery and ack-ack guns being placed at New Brighton together with anti-tank traps at Moreton, it makes you wonder if the new promenade and sea wall didn't have a military strategy as well.
Very interesting thought there DD. The prom wall would almost be impossible to get past, even at high tide. Makes you think eh?
As an ex Royal Engineer, I don't think the prom wall would have stopped anything.
Neither would the tank traps but its all part of layered strategy.
Then the pea-shooters on Fort Perch Rock were no match for the guns used on many German ships either. Ships throwing greater than 500lbs shells at a range of nearly 40,000 ft against 32lb shells with a range of 15,000 ft
We don't do charity in Germany, we pay taxes. Charity is a failure of governments' responsibilities - Henning Wehn
I remember Harrison Drive during the war being turned into a single carriageway and some big grey. naval guns being installed on the seaward side .Although they may have had a fixed line of fire they could have done some damage to enemy ships.
I'd never heard of this and just found an article about West Kirby outdoor swimming baths in Heswall Magazine.
By 1900 the West Kirby Swimming Club had been formed, using the Marine Lake for galas and competitions and for regular pleasure swimming.
Locals used to swim in the Marine Lake but the council didn't allow this so provided changing rooms on barges. You were only allowed to swim after 9am from the changing barges, and there was a fee to be rowed out to the barges. In 1913 they started building the baths shelter on the promonade, and continued building it during the war. https://www.heswallmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/pdf-light-viewer/274-pdfs/page-00030.pdf
I watched this again just to see New Brighton as it was. I loved seeing the pier and the indoor fairground , that's how I remember it and that side alley that led up to the bus stop. Floral gardens looked lovely , arr memories..