Welcome to WikiWirral, sharing is what we do best.
Forum Statistics
Forums65
Topics76,527
Posts1,034,299
Members14,991
Most Online121,890
Sep 24th, 2025
Who's Online Now
8 members (2 invisible), 113,203 guests, and 1,153 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters
sunnyside 45,164
MattLFC 22,315
Mark 21,269
granny 17,811
_Ste_ 16,347
Newest Members
Wenchyb, Ciara, Sazzz, kira56, joshua
14,991 Registered Users
New General Forums
New Wirral History
Telephone Exchange Closures
by diggingdeeper - 27th Mar 2026 1:02pm
Tranmere Water Tower
by homeraway - 17th Dec 2012 12:24pm
Wallasey bus accident 1950s
by nightwalker - 5th Nov 2010 1:37pm
Top Posters(30 Days)
JunxinH 10
Reno2 1
Topic Replies
Deva Mental Asylum, Chester
by kenmo52 - 8th Apr 2026 8:13am
Boxer Ollie Locke
by JunxinH - 6th Apr 2026 1:08am
Telephone Exchange Closures
by Excoriator - 4th Apr 2026 10:42pm
Tranmere Water Tower
by Gmurphy1892 - 19th Mar 2026 7:34pm
Wallasey bus accident 1950s
by bert1 - 19th Mar 2026 4:52pm
Reliable Recomended Builder Required
by Reno2 - 18th Mar 2026 8:38pm
April
M T W T F S S
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30
Top Likes Received (30 Days)
Top Likes Received
bert1 29
Mark 4
casper 4
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#1085735 13th Apr 2025 8:34am
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,829
Likes: 29
bert1 Offline OP
Wiki Veteran
OP Offline
Wiki Veteran
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,829
Likes: 29
Also known as the Rock Ferry Athletic grounds, situated behind the Bedford Hotel, Bedford Rd, owned by Mr Luke Lee. It appears sports that took place on the grounds were Athletics, Cycle races and there's a newspaper snippet reporting the score between Rock Ferry and Blackburn Rovers res football teams. There also appears to be a dark side to the grounds which may have cost its demise, Rabbit coursing with dogs and Pigeon shooting. Looking in to more and contributions welcome.













https://www.oldmapsonline.org/en/Li...6.4189/53.372909/-3.010135&year=1898


God help us,
Come yourself,
Don't send Jesus,
This is no place for children.


Bertieone.
Google Ads
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,829
Likes: 29
bert1 Offline OP
Wiki Veteran
OP Offline
Wiki Veteran
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,829
Likes: 29
Re-licensing was applied for by Mr Luke Lees, owner of the Bedford Hotel and Athletic ground in August 1901, objections were made by the Birkenhead Vigilance Committee, residents of Rock Ferry and the Chief constable. The residents and Vigilance committee had no problem with proper sports being carried out on the athletic grounds but were totally opposed to the Rabbit coursing and the shooting of Pigeons, they could see no reason sports such as cycling events etc could not be carried out. The Chief Constable wanted no sports at all as it only encouraged betting and gambling.

A further objection was made as to the way in to the grounds, down an ally at the side of the Hotel and through its back yard where there was a door leading into the Hotel which encouraged drink being bought and taken onto the athletic grounds. It was suggested the grounds be closed initially for 2 years, Mr Lees objected declaring some companies had already paid £25 for the use of the ground for their annual sports events. These monies were returned and the field closed.

During the meeting Mr Lees reported he had no idea local residents were in anyway upset or objected to the Rabbit coursing and wasn't aware of any betting or gambling. Having agreed to close the ground and stopping Rabbit coursing and Pigeon shooting the license was renewed.


God help us,
Come yourself,
Don't send Jesus,
This is no place for children.


Bertieone.
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 14,566
Likes: 38
Wiki Master
Offline
Wiki Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 14,566
Likes: 38
Not forgetting the nearby Temperance Society.


There's a real danger that the left will drag Britain back to the 1970s, with secure well-paid jobs, ample housing, properly-funded NHS and social care, free tuition, student grants, final salary pensions, affordable rail fares and fabulous films and music. David Osland 2025

We don't do charity in Germany, we pay taxes. Charity is a failure of governments' responsibilities - Henning Wehn

https://ddue.uk
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,829
Likes: 29
bert1 Offline OP
Wiki Veteran
OP Offline
Wiki Veteran
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,829
Likes: 29
Originally Posted by diggingdeeper
Not forgetting the nearby Temperance Society.

No doubt they had a dog in the fight, pun intended.


God help us,
Come yourself,
Don't send Jesus,
This is no place for children.


Bertieone.

Moderated by  Mod 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Random Wirral Images

Click to View Topic.
Newest Topics
Telephone Exchange Closures
by diggingdeeper - 27th Mar 2026 1:02pm
Reliable Recomended Builder Required
by Reno2 - 18th Mar 2026 8:38pm
Boxer Ollie Locke
by Sully - 12th Sep 2024 1:11pm
Tranmere Water Tower
by homeraway - 17th Dec 2012 12:24pm
Wallasey bus accident 1950s
by nightwalker - 5th Nov 2010 1:37pm
For Sale & Free
Member Spotlight
johncon
johncon
bromborough
Posts: 643
Joined: October 2010
Today's Birthdays
There are no members with birthdays on this day.
New Wirral Info
Reliable Recomended Builder Required
by Reno2 - 18th Mar 2026 8:38pm
News : New Topics
New Enthusiast Forums
Boxer Ollie Locke
by Sully - 12th Sep 2024 1:11pm
Deva Mental Asylum, Chester
by robbo_theman - 11th Oct 2008 11:06pm
Popular Topics(Views)
10,816,702 CW Chat room thread
5,955,646 WIKI WALK CHAT
4,675,171 Spotted!
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5