Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past History Information Request st marys church eastham

no re-tiled..the lead box gutter was done twice after the first one was stolen.....

yeah yeah

I like the look of that covered hole thing - looks very intriguing - probably just a sewer lol

too hight for a sewer!

lol interesting we will have to look closer me thinks

you took yer time finding it kid?

I used to know what those holes were for on churches but brain dead at the moment - guesses would be something to do with heating or something to do with organ, heating being the favourite.

Some churches have a massive cavity wall which is well ventilated to reduce damp, Poulton Hall has a similar arrangement.

Poulton Hall damp proof course (down a couple of screenfulls)

mate will have to pm you guy!

what about this water well? how deep mate? and where abouts? and you need to clear your pms kid?

Hi, new member here! I work in Eastham Hall opposite St Mary's church and was asking about the history of the hall pre renovations and have been trying to find a little about the building. Seems the well you mentioned is situated practically under my desk! I'm trying to attach a pic of the well before it was capped and built over but I'd be delighted to hear if any members have further information relating to the property. I've heard it was an RAF base but what was it before? I've had a look online and it was possibly called Hooton Mount?

Great pic queen and welcome to wiki

Thanks, there's a few more of the building mid renovation in the late 80's kindly shown to me by our gardener/handyman Steve who's been there over 20 years which I'll try and put up soon. The top floor was an addition but parts of the original staircase remain. Bit worrying having that well so close to where I sit tho! I hope they did a good job capping the thing off!

Hi,
Is it possible the 'tunnel' could be an air vent for the crypt? They were big enough and used by robbers and thieves for hiding in at some time. Also thought this following might be of interest, although a slightly different area, it shows that not all monks were Saints!
Taken from the British History site:

The monks or their tenants were sometimes involved in lawsuits but there is no evidence of serious disorder. (fn. 47) In 1436, however, the priory was the scene of a notorious crime: Isabel, the widow of Sir John Butler of Bewsey (Lancs.), was abducted by William Poole, a member of the Wirral family which supplied stewards for the priory in the 15th and 16th centuries, forcibly married to him in Bidston church, and imprisoned at Birkenhead where she was discovered by Sir Thomas Stanley. (fn. 48) Some fragmentary personal details of the lives of the monks have also survived: two priors were barstard, and one had been a murderer and had undertaken a penitential pilgrimage to Rome before being professed as a monk at Birkenhead.

From: 'Houses of Benedictine monks: The priory of Birkenhead', A History of the County of Chester: Volume 3 (1980), pp. 128-132. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=39974&strquery=birkenhead Date accessed: 07 November 2011.

Its possible I suppose, I have been speaking to one of the staff who are archiving in the basement of the building and it appears there are tunnels running under the building in the direction of the church opposite. I dont really know a lot about the histroy of the place, just what I've been told from people who've had an association with the building for years! Interesting stuff indeed

Got an old picture of it ("snaffled"!).

Apologies - not sure how to put it up as a normal picture!

Cheers, uptoncx.