Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past Wirral History Petrified Forest near Meols

Anyone know if it's still there ? Been quite a while since I went along the coastal path but I'm sure some of it was still visible in the last 20 years.

There's a bit about it at:
http://www.merseysideviews.com/Wirral%20Views/Meols/index.htm
and scan through the photos.

The story I've heard is that it's the remains of a prehistoric forest which once covered Wirral.

In the Victorian times Meols was still a farming community although a few houses built by the gentry had made their appearance. The village was without a church or a school; the villagers walked to the parish church at Hoylake and their children attended Hoylake National School in School Lane. In spite of its small population Meols boasted three fully licensed inns and and an ale house.
After the First World War Meols began to lose its rural charm as local building firms began to construct new roads and houses. As the community grew shops were built by the railway station. For many years Meols market gardens supplied produce to local shops and Birkenhead market.

I think matty knows a little about this as i'm sure he has talked to me about it.

Very Interesting.

Yep, it's true, my uncle has witnessed it, and last year, me and my auntie were walking her dog down by Leasowe Lighthouse, and someone asked if we knew whereabouts it was (a couple of tourist's from Australia or S.Africa).

At the time we didnt have a clue, as we hadnt heard of it, but she mentioned it to my uncle and he has seen it.

I think you can see the stump's of tree's or something, and you can only see it at certain times, its visable when the sea has been really rough and moved enough sand away iirc.

Ive never seen it myself and have no idea exactly where it is, but you can be sure that should I ever see it, ill get a photo of it, be it on my camera or my phone.

Ah just re-checked the link and found the photos. Its a shame there are no newer ones.

I've definitely seen it but not for about 10 years. I think the remaining section is closer to Leasowe. There were just a few remaining black stumps.

The old photos begin here. Sorry for inaccuracy of earlier link.
http://www.merseysideviews.com/Wirral%20Views/Meols/pages/Mls%2015.htm

I dunno when my uncle saw it, it probably wasnt too long ago, but possibly not for a good few years tbh.

Will be interesting to know if anyone has seen it in recent years.

Is this another adventure in my wellies ?

Can anyone do a google overhead map to show where it should be?

And why the "petrified" Forrest ?

At a rough guess I'd say it's close to:
53, 24', 41.93" N
03, 08' 31.44" W

If you look down the embankment onto the beach at low tide it'll be *somewhere* along there.

Petrified basically means frozen. A bit of a misnomer really. Expect to see dark soggy stumps sticking up out of the sand to the height of a couple of inches at best.

Just found this at:
http://www.wirral.gov.uk/LGCL/100006/200073/670/content_0001019.html

"The park has a more ancient history going back at least 5000 years when the area was forested, including parts of what is now foreshore. The remains of these trees, known as the submerged forest, can occasionally be seen at Dove Point, Meols, between the slipway and the groyne. The area was inhabited by stone-age people at that time and the remains of their houses have been found on the beach. "

Im gonna be going for a scouting mission pretty soon I think...

By heck that brings back a memory. I remember being taken to see the petrified forrest remains by my grandad when I was about 6 - so that is near 60 years ago. As described it was around Dove point and slightly to the right as you look out to sea.

Some old relatives who lived in Grove Road Wallasey had a "chunk" of the stuff on the dresser in their parlour.

Snod

The Petrified forest

I thnk I may have seen this recently...