Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past Wirral History Gibson House, Wallasey

Your a cynical lot!

I love the building and remember it before it got boarded up! Wish I had won the lottery tonight, it would get my cash, I would buy it and restore it and use it in something valuable for the commuinity! Ah... dreams!

we do try

I think I read somewhere once that nothing could be done with the house because it is in trust to someone apparently American who cannot be located??!!

Somebody must be paying rates on it by now.I think the first six months is free then half if the place has no furniture etc.

There is a fresher link somewhere about this place??!

A friend of my mums used to live there years ago. I used to love the view over the Mersey from her lounge window.
I saw an urban exploration report from inside this place about 2 years ago on the 28dayslater site.

I applied for listed buildings status to English Heritage, but because most of the insides were stripped out (from the origional application) I had to mount an appeal for the shell to be listed which, had to be done via the governments department of media and sport (Andi Burnham) at the time wrote back to say that English Heritage were wrong in the appeal process. I applied on the grounds that it was "one of a kind" and of significant architectural importance in its design type.The company that own it have been in touch with me several times and made it quiet clear that the building will be converted into flats with Bungalows in the grounds at the back (feb 2009).
The costs which is the hold up is due to the safe removal of asbestos from the heating systems and pipes throughout the building so, becarefull. I think the owners are more worried about the liability if somebody did get in and put a claim in for asbestosis of the lung (as they are a charity)If you do a search on the planning application site using the post code you will see the last application this year so, its still on topic and beleive it or not a few council members are very keen to see its refurbishment particularly Leah Fraser
http://leahfraser.wordpress.com/2007/08/22/andrew-gibson-house-egremont/

Thanks - very interesting. I'd love to have a look inside. I hope they keep as many of the original features as possible after conversion!

The interior was quite nice but nothing extravagant. There where coving but not fancy, the corners where more detailed. There was however nice ceiling roses and occasional random details from various era's that people seemed to try and keep in good order. A lot of the work was done by tenants that still had some ability and the grounds and maintenance was done by a paid employee until layer on and then families and friends chipped in more. There was a man called Danny who did most and worked in other places to. The Mariners homes and the local cinema. I delivered milk there as a boy. I always enjoyed delivering milk to an Elderly woman who lived on the left wing on the 3rd floor. She baked me cookies some weeks and others had a slice of cake for me. I was told then she was 96, she claimed her long life though she never confirmed her age was down to her Gold top milk. Bless her. A lovely memory and a lovely frail lady.