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

The Gibson house didn't look very secure when I went today.
As I walked around the perimiter of the grounds I couldn't see but heard at least 3 lads messing around in the gardens to the rear, (on the prom side). Here's the photo's as promised.

And the obvious 'weak point' in security. If I was a kid this bit would be like a magnet to me. It still is appealing even though I'm in my thirties! I could still hear the kids at rear so that put me off... and the asbestos warnings.

very good photos

Yeah, you can see the remnants of fire in the building at the top of a few of the windows. I hope something's done with the building, there's bound to be someone with ideas somewhere, no doubt they don't reside at the Town Hall, the bunch of idiots they are...

good pics mate, this pic though, when i went there the first time the front door was open, where these railings are in this pic was not like that, there seems to have been a hole blown in the wall?
last time we looked in that bit it looked like something had blown a hole in the wall and upon looking through it looks like a boiler room.
We didnt go in there because there was about 5` high mounds of white stuff which we didnt know what it was.
Inside the building some of the fake ceiling tiles have been taken down and the ceiling extends about another 5` and you can clearly see the original borders ect.
When you go through the main entrance and look on the wall to your left you will see a large brass plaque with the name of the building and the date 1906 dedicated to the guys son.
Heres a link to a photo i took in the basement....

clickjme

Nice1. I'd love a look inside. The railings were on the right wing of the building and have been clumsily chained and padlocked together to cover the steps to the basement and a small window into the basement with no boards covering it, (in the photo). A couple of strong hands would be needed to move it, thats all. I couldn't see a thing inside, it was too dark.

p.s. You got any more photo's from inside to share?

i have more photos but they are on dvd somewhere in a big plastic bag due to us just moving home, lol, i will have a looksee tonight and see if i can fish them out

I've just been for a nose around this fantastic old building, not inside as it has asbestos warnings all over it. I had heard that the police were going to turn it into a custody suite?? There are boards pulled off leading into the cellars. I dont think this will avoid the bulldozers it has plenty of land to the back and great river views. What the history of the land and building anyone?

https://www.wikiwirral.co.uk/forums...s&topic=0&Search=true#Post245390

Here's some stuff in a thread from a while back.

Sara

The place you refer to is NOT the Mariners Home - it is the place next door.

We have covered this in previous threads eg most recent I think was

https://www.wikiwirral.co.uk/forums...s&topic=0&Search=true#Post259276

And then earlier

https://www.wikiwirral.co.uk/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Main/16156/Number/218633#Post218633

Basically this building was the Andrew Gibson Home for Seamen's Widows. The building was donated for the purpose by a Liverpool shipping mangate. It was built in 1906 and dedicated by two sons in memory of their father. It cost £25,000 to build - which is a HUGE amount for 1906 (about £5 million based on todays prices and a conversion based on average earnings).

Yes, a very interesting building with HUGE potentiol - but needing £££ to get the asbestos out before it coul be converted. When you look at this building with magnificent views over the river and Liverpol city and compare it to the old Spiller building conversion on the docks - then no contest in my view. This building in Egremont has infinitely more potential.

Snod

Thanks Everyone. The idea of another of our towns historic buildings making way for a load of sh***, make me feel physicaly sick. I really wanted to get inside but the asbestos signs stopped me. What next?? Havn't any old buildings left have we?

Sara

I agree that some of the replacement building are often rubbish that will date quickly, deteriorate and then end up as yet another blot on the skyline.

I have no objection at all to good buildings like the one in Egremont - or even the Spillers place - being converted to other uses. Retaining a substantial part of a structure is simply progress and if done properly (tastefully) can be a benefit to the community for many years

Regrettably we have observed that when a site becomes potentially valuable (as with the Egremont building)
but there is some impediment to doing something with existing buildings (planning, asbestos, ownership etc) there seem to be "little accidents" eg mysterious fires. Surprisingly all the planning arrangements then seem to fall quickly into place. We have suspicions

Snod

mmm yes, fires seem very common in the past year especially!

Give it three months before it crumbles through arson, just as a developer shows "interest" in it.

Give me £5000 and i`ll do it within 2 weeks