WikiWirral Share a Little Learn a Lot about your Wirral
Forum Statistics
Forums65
Topics76,509
Posts1,034,178
Members14,906
Most Online113,173
Sep 9th, 2025
Who's Online Now
2 members (2 invisible), 4,477 guests, and 260 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
Monkeh, Caro11, Monroe, jonmac, Rmad1997
14,906 Registered Users
New General Forums
Magnet fishing
by Dilly - 2nd Oct 2017 11:43am
New Wirral History
Looking for lost streets
by CloverBee - 12th Sep 2025 2:20pm
what was this building in Claughton Road
by derekdwc - 1st Sep 2025 12:10pm
461 Collingwood, Black Horse Hill, West Kirby
by diggingdeeper - 3rd Mar 2009 9:30pm
Top Posters(30 Days)
bert1 5
Topic Replies
461 Collingwood, Black Horse Hill, West Kirby
by KevinFinity - 13th Sep 2025 10:05pm
Looking for lost streets
by CloverBee - 13th Sep 2025 4:49pm
Temporary relocation of Birkenhead Market
by diggingdeeper - 12th Sep 2025 12:12am
Are there any grants available for a new boiler?
by tomcat77 - 5th Sep 2025 11:19am
Tree surgeon recommendations
by CarterUSM - 4th Sep 2025 1:24pm
Magnet fishing
by diggingdeeper - 3rd Sep 2025 1:32am
what was this building in Claughton Road
by diggingdeeper - 2nd Sep 2025 6:46am
What are they doing at four bridges?
by Excoriator - 29th Aug 2025 3:32pm
Purple Aki found dead
by Softy_Southerner - 27th Aug 2025 10:21pm
September
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
#263089 12th Oct 2008 3:05pm
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 14,549
Likes: 34
Wiki Master
OP Offline
Wiki Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 14,549
Likes: 34
I have no knowledge of this other than it appears on maps around 1950 - The Seaplane Station existed beside Rock Ferry Pier.

Was this another short lived business by a post war pilot or was it a proper service to/from somewhere?


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
Google Ads
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 14,549
Likes: 34
Wiki Master
OP Offline
Wiki Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 14,549
Likes: 34
Guess nobody else knows anything about this aerodrome, everything I have found has been around 1930 not 1950 - but it is not unusual for maps to carry forward duff info like this. Anyway here are a few snippets I have found in connection with this, just in case somebody wants to follow up in the future ....

Sept 1928
Flying Boat (Short Calcutta) of Imperial Airways used on the Mersey. Liverpool Maritime Aerodrome was operated by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board between Rock Ferry Pier and Garston Docks. Only ran from Sep 22 to Oct 4

Story dated January 10 1930
Liverpool Marine Airport Approved
THE Air Ministry has approved, with the concurrence of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise, of the following area at Liverpool as a Customs " aerodrome " for marine aircraft carrying only passengers and light baggage. That portion of the River Mersey bounded on the north by Rock Ferry Pier (Lat. 53° 22'30" N., Long. 2° 59' 45"W.) on the west bank and by a line running true east from the pier and on the south by a line running true west from a position in Garston Docks (Lat. 53° 21' N., Long. 2° 54' 30" W.) on the eastern bank.

Air Ministry Notice published February 14 1930
A map and full particulars of the Liverpool Customs Seaplane Port
appear in the Air Pilot (Volume I) Monthly Supplement No. 5, separate copies of which are obtainable direct from H.M. Stationery Office or through any bookseller at the price of 6^. Net

National Archives
Inter-war flying boat on the river Mersey. M387/MAS/2/55 c. 1928
Inter-war flying boat on the river Mersey (with press cutting). M387/MAS/2/56 c. 1928


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: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,868
Forum Veteran
Offline
Forum Veteran
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,868
No, that's a new one on me.


Carpe diem.
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 683
Likes: 1
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 683
Likes: 1
[Linked Image]

The picture above is of Imperial Airways' flying boat "City of Athens" being towed by a launch loaned by White Star Line on the river Mersey, September 1928.

It was operated from 'The Liverpool Marine Aerodrome' off Rock Ferry by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board - this experimental flight to Belfast was the only known service.

The Short S8 Calcutta flying boat G-EBVH had a crew of 2 and could carry upto 15 passengers.

The inaugural flight on Saturday 22 September 1928 carried 12 distinguished guests who were treated to a civic luncheon on arrival at Belfast.

The first week went successfully so it was decided to continue into a second week. However the aircraft was damaged and returned to Southampton for repairs; it never returned, instead it was used on the Channel Islands service - so came the end for the experimental service.


Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,924
Forum Addict
Offline
Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,924
Chris,same as yourself.I did`nt know anything about it myself.A fantastic find. thumbsup

Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,990
Are you SoNutz?
Forum Master
Offline
Are you SoNutz?
Forum Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,990
Bloody hell fantastic didnt even know that happy


Lee Mills

Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 14,549
Likes: 34
Wiki Master
OP Offline
Wiki Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 14,549
Likes: 34
Wow - well done uptoncx - have you got a job down at the archives or summit?


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

Moderated by  Mod 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Random Wirral Images

Click to View Topic.
Newest Topics
Looking for lost streets
by CloverBee - 12th Sep 2025 2:20pm
Tree surgeon recommendations
by CarterUSM - 4th Sep 2025 1:24pm
what was this building in Claughton Road
by derekdwc - 1st Sep 2025 12:10pm
Purple Aki found dead
by Softy_Southerner - 27th Aug 2025 10:21pm
Are there any grants available for a new boiler?
by Longnails - 25th Aug 2025 9:34pm
For Sale & Free
Member Spotlight
Beaty59
Beaty59
Port Sunlight
Posts: 236
Joined: May 2009
Today's Birthdays
There are no members with birthdays on this day.
New Wirral Info
Are there any grants available for a new boiler?
by Longnails - 25th Aug 2025 9:34pm
What are they doing at four bridges?
by Excoriator - 25th Jul 2025 12:23pm
Temporary relocation of Birkenhead Market
by mikeeb - 29th May 2021 1:01pm
News : New Topics
Purple Aki found dead
by Softy_Southerner - 27th Aug 2025 10:21pm
Allotments Sell-Off
by diggingdeeper - 5th Aug 2025 8:27am
New Enthusiast Forums
Tree surgeon recommendations
by CarterUSM - 4th Sep 2025 1:24pm
Power steering line repair or fabrication
by phillhere - 18th Aug 2025 12:25pm
Popular Topics(Views)
10,589,965 CW Chat room thread
5,801,706 WIKI WALK CHAT
4,571,959 Spotted!
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5