Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past Wirral Now and Then Shops gone by

does ring a bell hun

Sorry, I can't reveal the source, because of copyright issues. What I will say is that they're from a fairly recent book which has some good pics, but to my certain knowledge contains at least 12 errors of location, which I brought to the attention of the publishers.

I remember the "new" precinct being built and the old shops between the Co-op and Beatties being demolished.

It started in the early to mid 70s and Christ, it took *ages* to build. As I remember it, the builders went on strike for about 3 years or something and the shoppers were always being diverted through muddy puddles or over planks of wood.

Pykes is still there on the corner. Bernards is still there, but is now renamed, but is still a tool and hardware shop!!

Does anyone remember Lennons on Village Road in Bebington, which is now occupied by Somerfield? I came across an old carrier bag with it's logo on the front in my folk's loft!
There is also Pinks on the same road, which is STILL THERE!!! It's older than me!
There was a shop called Computer Adventure World which is opposite McDonalds in Birkenhead. They had the banner up in Central Station in Liverpool for years after it closed (around 1994). It smelt of wood all the time, I can still recall the smell, along with Toy & Hobby, which had the rubbery smell from the floor.

Another shop I remember is Lion Computers on Borough Road (down the road from Tranmere Rover's ground). It stank of smoke, and had loads of cheap second hand games in there for 99p!

Not many independent shops open now I'm afraid.

I was going to post a thread for this? It used to be a load of old houses or warehouses I think. Then it was knocked down, and it stood as gravel and rubble for years, alongside the multistory car park which was the same. I can remember vividly walking through the building site coming home from school in September 1987 (when I started secondary school) when they were building it.

anyone remember peter toners in seaview road liscard it used to sell models and bikes its now a tattoo place

I remember the banner, isn't it still up??

i know the book chris, interesting houses inside lairds where the con hall now stands dont you think?

I remember TJ Hughe's on the same side as pykes with the big grating you walked over to get to the stairs ..

Another one was "Robbs" just across the way a grand old building I remember they used to do a lot of musical instruments

Also my first shopping experience was a cool clothes shop called "stolen from Ivor" on the same side as pykes further down.

anyone remember them?

Your right on every count there mate,the original Stolen from Ivor was just about where the Abbey bank is now,the row of shops looked like little houses,they moved down next to where Argos is now,when it became the new precinct.I've got vague recollections of Grange road running right down from Charing Cross through to where Beatties is.None of it was pedestrianised and there were cars,buses and trucks going about their business.

Oxton Rd was always busy then,Bernards as has been mentioned and a pet shop where the chinese resteraunt is now.

The main post office was on Argyle st(Not sure if it is still in use)There was also a pub there(now Sophies)that we all new as"The Old Postie"

Staying on Argyle st was the ABC pictures now the snooker hall.
Then there was the Classsic pictures on Conway st which is now Slices the club.
There was a building opposite that called the Ritz,I remember it being the Bingo hall.Conway St used to be full of large 3 storey buildings many of them shops and is where Peter Johnson of Park Hampers started his little empire,above his Dads butchers shop.

Chris;)

My mate used to own Sophies when it was called Promises! It was an old Post Office.

Does anyone remember Breaks/Suzy Q's in New Ferry which is now covered by Aldi?

I used to love Stolen from Ivor. I remember Promises and Suzi Q's, also remember when it changed over to Breaks. Useless piece of information, but the wood that made up the bar in Breaks is now in my Mum's downstairs toilet and dining room!

I feel so old now

Also had a flashback of going to The 'Amo (Hamilton Club, before it was The Pleasuredrome)on a Wednesday night for the Mod nights. Only went initially as my mate was seeing a lad who was in The Vickers, I fancied his mate but he never knew lol. The joys of being the fat mate that kept dibs and looked after the handbags

Well, lots to comment on here. I'll try to do it all in one post.
@ Station; Bernard's re-named? to what? it was still Bernard's when I was last up about a month ago.

Here's an extract from a 1911 map of the Grange Rd. area. I've left it as a link so you can scale it up to be able to see the fine detail. A few points of interest:
Corner of Catherine St., where Woolworth's is now, a chapel & next to that the Y.M.C.A. which is where the Boy Scout movement was started. A bit further down, the Hippodrome, which I think was a music hall, (although Hippodrome in Greek means horse race track); there's something you never wanted to know.
Further down on the opposite side is Huskisson St., surrounding St. John's Church. Easily located now because St. John's St. opposite is still there. On the corner of Huskisson St., Charing Cross side, was a garden shop; Forizo. They still exist, with a place in Holborn Square. Next to that was an ice cream shop; Fabbri's.
As you can see on the map, it was all residential then down to St.Werburgh's church. Notice too on the map, the tram lines are shown.

@Rentaclown100; If you mean the picture on page 43, they were the offices & drawing offices & plan rooms. My dad used to have to go there to get plans, which he then marked out on the steel plates of the ships with a chalk line. His trade was a liner-off & he had to serve a 5 year apprenticeship.

@Oxtonmac; Yes, I remember Robb's well. They had a restaurant called the Oak Room. You went up in a lift, with an attendant with white gloves.

@Oggie (welcome) yes, I remember when Grange Road was crowded with traffic. I don't remember the pet shop in Oxton Rd., but maybe you remember Morton's bookshop, opposite Bernard's. I understand it was later a Post Office. Riley's/ABC on Argyle St. was the Savoy cinema before the ABC. The Ritz, which you remember as a bingo hall was a cinema. I was a projectionist there in 1955. The manager was Bill Boht; some relation to Jean Boht (Nellie Boswell in "Bread").

Cheers, Chris.

Oh, it's not been renamed, I assumed it had. Well, it's still a hardware store then.

Anyone remember MacCombs pet shop in Birkenhead? I bought many a rodent from there. I remember buying really dodgy stuff from Stolen From Ivor (down the road from MacCombs), I didn't ever notice it had closed down tbh.

I'd love to see some old photographs of Birkenhead how it was 10 - 30 years ago. My brother used to take loads of photos of the Wirral around 1986 - 1992, I'll have to get them and scan them in.

Welcome Oggie.



The Main Post Office - I think it's closed now

The Old Post Office Hotel (Now Sophies)



Argyle Street, 1961

Argyle Street, 1962