WikiWirral Wirral's Biggest Online Forum
Forum Statistics
Forums65
Topics76,498
Posts1,034,116
Members14,886
Most Online80,173
Apr 25th, 2025
Who's Online Now
6 members (2 invisible), 3,652 guests, and 454 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
Littlehaven22, BluePeter, David_Roberts, PostNB, Gemnm
14,886 Registered Users
New General Forums
Bridge Street Hostel - 1980’s
by Jmac267 - 20th Jul 2025 12:55pm
Cammell Laird Film - Old Ships & Hardships
by David_Roberts - 16th Jul 2025 5:03pm
Cammell Laird Film - Old Ships & Hardships
by David_Roberts - 16th Jul 2025 5:00pm
Subscriptions to posts?
by nickaxe - 5th Jul 2025 12:33pm
New Wirral History
Hoylake Parade School tragedy
by chris58 - 16th Jul 2025 5:30pm
Removed Mother from Grave
by bert1 - 29th Jun 2025 6:44am
Park Primary School Circa Mid to Late 1960s
by _natabb96 - 26th Jun 2025 9:33pm
Top Posters(30 Days)
bert1 11
bri445 2
Topic Replies
New Ferry regeneration
by diggingdeeper - 24th Jul 2025 5:10am
Bultaco pursang
by BultacoAstro - 23rd Jul 2025 6:23pm
Family Alldis
by diggingdeeper - 22nd Jul 2025 5:19pm
Bridge Street Hostel - 1980’s
by Jmac267 - 20th Jul 2025 12:55pm
Pay and Display ... Or Not.
by diggingdeeper - 19th Jul 2025 11:07am
Mobile Welder Wanted
by Grosvenor - 17th Jul 2025 6:46pm
Hoylake Parade School tragedy
by chris58 - 16th Jul 2025 5:30pm
July
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 31
Top Likes Received (30 Days)
ap493 1
bert1 1
Philip 1
Top Likes Received
bert1 29
casper 4
Mark 4
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3
#301725 18th Mar 2009 4:31pm
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 308
Old Hand
OP Offline
Old Hand
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 308
Just finished my webpage on the Birkenhead Cattle Trade:

"Many people do not know about Birkenhead once thriving cattle trade. Developing countries like North and South America had large areas of land ideal for rearing sheep and cattle. They had more animals than they could use, and so sent huge quantities to the growing industrial towns of Britain on fast steamships many of which came to Birkenhead where they were sold to farmers or slaughterhouses.

In 1878 sickness destroys Britain's sheep and cattle trade as a disease had been imported with foreign animals. At that time it became illegal to import animals unless they were slaughtered or quarantined in licensed quays. Lairages, slaughterhouses, chill rooms and meat-stores are built at Morpeth and Wallasey Docks.

In 1886 the Birkenhead abattoir which was extensive in size was opened, followed shortly by the Birkenhead Lairage buildings three years after. 'Lairage' was a type of modern day Animal Welfare Officer who would monitor the unloading of cattle into the Lairage to ensure none of the cattle were injured or showed signs of sickness. The inspections began to work and the trade took off once again. By 1897 the imported animal trade is booming and it is estimated that 40-50% of Britain's trade in American sheep and cattle, passes through Birkenhead.

Every building below the transit sheds alongside Morpeth branch dock was involved in the Irish Sea livestock trade for which Birkenhead became the leading UK port, having been helped by a decision to concentrate all of the Mersey's Irish livestock traffic in Birkenhead for ease of control reasons following a foot & mouth outbreak in Ireland in 1913. The green line in the picture below highlights the old wooden livestock walkway which allowed transfer of animals between the dedicated 'Wallasey' livestock stage (actually sited where Twelve Quays is now rather than in Wallasey) and Woodside. It had to be elevated to enable sufficient clearance over the Morpeth river entrance which would have made it an overhead walkway. The photo also shows the livestock-dedicated north end of the Woodside stage and its high-sided linkspan which prevented animals from seeing the river whilst coming ashore and becoming distressed as a consequence.

There are plenty of local people who will tell you that in the 1960's you always know when a Irish boat had docked, as you could smell it from a good distance away. Also the tannery on New Chester Rd, was part of the site which again added a terrible stench to the area. Much of the area and buildings associated with the cattle trade was demolished in the 1970's and in the 1990's to make way for the Woodside Small Business Park

The abattoir building, now used by Birkenhead Timber; caught fire on the 7th December 2007. There is not much left of the once thriving cattle industry buildings in the area and those that still stand are falling into dilapidation. The old fountain at the front of the Abattoir still exists although now badly damaged having been exposed to the elements for over a century. The inscription on the fountain reads as follows "These Abattoirs were opened by W.Laird Esq J.P Mayor of Birkenhead".

Attached Images
abatoir1.jpg (184.03 KB, 365 downloads)
abatoir2.jpg (366.37 KB, 358 downloads)
The Fountain at Birkenhead Abattoir
abatoir3.jpg (175.74 KB, 367 downloads)
Remains of Birkenhead Abattoir
abatoir4.jpg (284.48 KB, 359 downloads)
The Foundation Stone of the Abattoir
abatoir5.jpg (197.75 KB, 347 downloads)
Remains of Birkenhead Abattoir
abatoir6.jpg (181.22 KB, 347 downloads)
Remains of Birkenhead Abattoir
abatoir7.jpg (194.92 KB, 346 downloads)
Remains of Birkenhead Abattoir
abatoir8.jpg (122.3 KB, 362 downloads)
The Birkenhead Slaughter House - Crown Copyright NMR.

Over 5000 years of Wirral History:
Google Ads
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,238
Forum Addict
Offline
Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,238
Excellent stuff.



It all makes perfect sense expressed in dollars and cents ,pound shillings and pence
P
Pinzgauer
Unregistered
Pinzgauer
Unregistered
P
Said the URL is not valid. Is this just my 'pooter ? Couldn't view the pics/info.

I well remember seeing the cattle off-loading at the N.end of the Woodside stage for their last stroll. If you were waiting downwind of the cattle boat, it had a deeply rural odour !!

Recall the two dedicated cattle boats involved, the "Leinster" and "Ulster" ?

#301733 18th Mar 2009 5:09pm
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 113
Enthusiast
Offline
Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 113
Originally Posted by Pinzgauer
Said the URL is not valid. Is this just my 'pooter ? Couldn't view the pics/info.
I well remember seeing the cattle off-loading at the N.end of the Woodside stage for their last stroll. If you were waiting downwind of the cattle boat, it had a deeply rural odour !!

Recall the two dedicated cattle boats involved, the "Leinster" and "Ulster" ?

The same happened when i tried too.

Last edited by ronnie; 18th Mar 2009 5:11pm.
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 308
Old Hand
OP Offline
Old Hand
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 308
Hmmm dont know whats happening here !

try clicking HERE


Over 5000 years of Wirral History:
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 113
Enthusiast
Offline
Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 113
Originally Posted by Doctor_Frick
Hmmm dont know whats happening here !

try clicking HERE


That works. Cheers.

Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,793
Likes: 29
Wiki Veteran
Offline
Wiki Veteran
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,793
Likes: 29
Originally Posted by Doctor_Frick
Hmmm dont know whats happening here !

try clicking HERE


works for me


God help us,
Come yourself,
Don't send Jesus,
This is no place for children.


Bertieone.
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 308
Old Hand
OP Offline
Old Hand
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 308
Think there have been server problems today. Damn you Geocities !


Over 5000 years of Wirral History:
P
Pinzgauer
Unregistered
Pinzgauer
Unregistered
P
Works OK now. Many thanks.

#301828 18th Mar 2009 10:37pm
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,641
Forum Addict
Offline
Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,641
My grandfather started work at the age of 11 at the woodside lairage in 1886 and by the time he was in his 20s he had become a butcher. He then in the 1920s moved the the lairage on new chester road by lairds at the bottom of Green Lane.


Ships that pass in the night, seldom seen and soon forgoten
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 308
Old Hand
OP Offline
Old Hand
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 308
You got any pics of him in his work clothes or anything Jimbob ?


Over 5000 years of Wirral History:
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 19,446
Wiki Master
Offline
Wiki Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 19,446
As a kid my dad used to take us walking around the docks-boring at the time-i remember running through the wooden cattle run, i recall the 'bridge' -a raised bit!

Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,641
Forum Addict
Offline
Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,641
no photo's or anything else regarding my grandfather {my dads dad} he died in 1944 when i was 4 year old.


Ships that pass in the night, seldom seen and soon forgoten
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 105
Enthusiast
Offline
Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 105
I can remember my Grandad taking me to the lairage to see the cattle being slaughtered. He was probably after some cheap meat, but what a day out!


Born Not Manufactured
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 526
Likes: 1
Smartchild
Offline
Smartchild
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 526
Likes: 1
My grandad (antrobus) lived in rest hill road storeton he was a cow hand for leverhulme farm in storeton village. It was his job to drive the cattle down leavers causeway and the wiend. Through bhead and onto the floating landing stage.

Eventually they went by truck not that my grandad was bothered as he could cadge a lift back home as in those days there was not much traffic that went that way home.

Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 708
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 708
I remember seeing sheep being driven down Bridge St.- Chester St. area in the '40s or '50s, while waiting for the 50 bus in Bridge St. Presumably they were heading for the Lairage but where from?

Bri

Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 708
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 708
There's an excellent book on the (gruesome) subject published 1991 by Countyvise for NMGM, £2.95 then, but probably out of print.

Bri

Attached Images
Scan-090707-0001.jpg (164.38 KB, 357 downloads)
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 339
Old Hand
Offline
Old Hand
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 339
Originally Posted by Doctor_Frick
Hmmm dont know whats happening here !

try clicking HERE

Fascinating stuff - I know the New Chester Road Buildings as 'the Tannery' - as for many years, until it became the timber yard, quite recently - it was used to render (separate skins from flesh and bone - nice!), by various heating methods, cattle carcasses. I don't think the meat itself was actually used for consumption from this site.

My dear wife worked in the Lairds offices just over the wall while she was pregnant - the smell made me want to vom', but was much worse for her..!

Cheers Doc

Last edited by bigpete; 17th Jul 2009 4:32pm.
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 467
Smartchild
Offline
Smartchild
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 467
The tan yard and lairage on the Chester road were seperate entities,the skins were proccessed in lime pits.I have seen a guys foot after a piece of lime went down his welly unbeknown to him,not a pretty sight and took a long time to heal.Woodside lairage had a cattle walk that went over the lock at sandy bottom from where the irish boat now ties up.The meat on the hoof going along Bridge street probably came from the docks because the berth was full at the cattle walk.

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,444
Forum Veteran
Offline
Forum Veteran
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,444
My old man used to work there, and Green Lane. Used to take his lunch down for him, what a job for a 10 year old, blood everywhere. Found the kosher bit off putting. Beast in the drum, turned upside down with throat exposed, bloody great knife, slash, buckets of blood and lots of noise. 'orrible but fascinating. Then off down to the sheep pen and there's the old man putting bolts into sheeps heads while his mates are skinning and gutting. "'ere's yer butties dad." "ok, put 'em over there." "right, tahrah." and off we pop. Still like my sweetbreads and fries when I can get them.


Birkenhead........ God's own Room 101.
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 708
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 708
I posted this on a different thread. This is probably the same lime slurry you mention.
I suspected it was not nice at the time!
Bri

Attached Images
ww.jpg (147.36 KB, 292 downloads)
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 871
Wise One
Offline
Wise One
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 871
why was it called lime when it sounds like acid.

Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 708
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 708
Lime is highly alkaline which is just as corrosive as a strong acid. Think of the effect of caustic soda.

Bri

Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,868
Forum Veteran
Offline
Forum Veteran
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,868
Only quicklime, calcium oxide CaO is corrosive. Once it's been in contact with water, or slaked, it becomes harmless calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)2. Calcium oxide is corrosive because it combines with water in flesh & in doing so it generates heat.


Carpe diem.
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 871
Wise One
Offline
Wise One
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 871
i always forget the other end of the scale lol.

Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 308
Old Hand
OP Offline
Old Hand
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 308
They used to use quick lime in mortars in the 18th century against massed troops. It was a great anti personell munition.


Over 5000 years of Wirral History:
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 526
Likes: 1
Smartchild
Offline
Smartchild
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 526
Likes: 1
My grandad was a cow hand for levers at storeton and it was his job to drive the cattle down the wiend past cammel lairds and onto the floating road for the irish boats. if he was lucky he could get a lift from a farm lorry traveling back and grap a pint in the travellers on rest hill road.
Otherwise it was a long walk home. for another 6 am rise.
My uncle Tom looked after the shire horses and took great pride in there turn out winning several roses.

They lived at wantondale cottage in storeton valley just on the bend (chicken corner)

pace

Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,868
Forum Veteran
Offline
Forum Veteran
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,868
Originally Posted by Doctor_Frick
They used to use quick lime in mortars in the 18th century against massed troops. It was a great anti personell munition.


And they used slaked lime in mortar for bricklaying. I remember the lime pit at the top of Mount Rd., where it meets Storeton Rd. when they were building the Mount Estate.


Carpe diem.
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 708
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 708
Someone on Ships Nostalgia website agrees with us about the pong!:o:

Bri

Attached Images
abatoir9.jpg (67.94 KB, 143 downloads)
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,346
Forum Master
Offline
Forum Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,346
We used to live at the back of a builders yard in Moreton (Warings) and they had a lme pit in there, used to play in there as akid, and in the workshops when no-one around. Warings are still going but dont know if by the same family! Anyone remember them, one of the lads was called Paul, Think there were 3 sons, lived about 6 houses down from them in Borrowdale Rd.


IF IT HAS A HOSE THEN IM YOUR MAN

BETTER TO BURN OUT THAN FADE AWAY!
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 255
Addict
Offline
Addict
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 255
Hi
my grandad worked at Woodside Lairage, somewhere I have some headed paper (blank), as well as a tally marked MDHB (or C!) and a number 65 on it. It has a ring through the centre of it - Ill try and get some pictures of the items if anyone wants them
Barry

Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1
Offline
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1
hi. I was interested to read about your grandfather who once lived at wantondale cottage on resthill rd, storeton. I have recently purchased the property & the adjoining house & land and wondered if you have any old photographs you could share with me please? thanks, steve

Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,683
Wiki Guide
Offline
Wiki Guide
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,683
There is a licenced slaughterhouse located in New Ferry, it's at the back of the butchers on Old Chester Road opposite the old Kwik Save (now Somerfield?).


"C20 LET bang"
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,131
Likes: 1
Forum Addict
Offline
Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,131
Likes: 1
used to know a guy that did a bit there,apparently he had a go of the bolt gun?

Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2
Offline
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2
I was a slaughter man at tranmere abbatior from 1975 to 1985 was your dad working there then . i think he may of been as the knocking box you describe was not installed till the 1980s the boss was a man named tommy atkins or ago and his side kick george carney both are sadly dead now

Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 516
Smartchild
Offline
Smartchild
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 516
I remember arriving on the Leinster from Dublin in 1958 and she docked at Birkenhead first to let the cattle off and then sailed over to Princess Dock to let the people off.

Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 5,216
Forum Veteran
Online Content
Forum Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 5,216
I know someone who was the dcck estate manager who I think was responsible for the lairage and other things on the docks.
If anyone wants any info I could phone or email him to try and put you in touch

Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2
Offline
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2
I have just looked at the pics of Tranmere slaughter house I worked there from 1975 to 1985 they brought back so many memories of people long gone . The picture of the back of the slaughter house with the black and white walls we painted them when we were kids . the door ways led to the hay shed the cattle pens and sheep pens and at the big gate at top of the picture there is a small room that is were the stock man stayed to unload and feed and water the live stock . The picture were there used to be dinking water behind that wall used to be the pig pens and the pig slaughter house

albey #464675 22nd Jan 2011 10:20am
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6
Beginner
Offline
Beginner
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6
Me and my brother used to play in the docks and spent hours wandering round the rotting cattle sheds where the cattle were delivered by ship. There were wooden ramp type things that the cattle would be herded off the ships by, leading to a kind of wooden 'path' that led to the sheds. There were stalls and some mangers (I think) where the cattle were kept before being driven to the abbatoir. (this is mid to late 80s)

Joined: May 2009
Posts: 485
Smartchild
Offline
Smartchild
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 485
Originally Posted by DavidB
There is a licenced slaughterhouse located in New Ferry, it's at the back of the butchers on Old Chester Road opposite the old Kwik Save (now Somerfield?).


that would be Edge's Butcher on New Chester Rd.

Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1
Offline
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1
my grandfather was a cattle dealer who brought cattle over from Dundalk in Ireland to the Lairage at Woodside. This was probably from around 1910 onwards to the late 1930's. His wife and 3 children lived in Dundalk until 1914 when they came over to join him in Birkenhead. They lived for a time in Hamilton Square.They eventually had 7 more children. The 3 eldest sons worked at the Lairage for a time.

Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 26
Newbeee
Offline
Newbeee
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 26
My father was a joiner for MD&H Co. He used to repair the sheds etc around the dock estate.
The cattle run from Woodside to Wallasey lairage was wood planking and must have been around 7 foot high (I was a kid then) and he and his mates had the job of maintaining it. I remember this thing used to run just along the edge of the river wall to take up as little space as possible and was probably about 3foot wide, to stop the cattle turning back on themselves. Anyway, one day they were inside the run, replacing rotten/broken planks when there was a rumbling....there was a stampede of long horn cattle heading their way and their only eascape was over the top....only one guy got his directions wrong and almost ended up in the river.
My, how they all larfed....

Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 17
Newbeee
Offline
Newbeee
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 17
my grandad and his brother came to birkenhead about 1900 bringing a herd of cattle for slaughter from county mayo .his brother went on to the u.s.a. but grandad stayed and married and lived his life in upton. molong

Page 1 of 3 1 2 3

Moderated by  Mod 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Random Wirral Images

Click to View Topic.
Newest Topics
Bridge Street Hostel - 1980’s
by Jmac267 - 20th Jul 2025 12:55pm
Pay and Display ... Or Not.
by diggingdeeper - 18th Jul 2025 12:53am
Mobile Welder Wanted
by Grosvenor - 17th Jul 2025 6:46pm
Hoylake Parade School tragedy
by chris58 - 16th Jul 2025 5:30pm
Cammell Laird Film - Old Ships & Hardships
by David_Roberts - 16th Jul 2025 5:02pm
For Sale & Free
Member Spotlight
Tranquil
Tranquil
Wallasey
Posts: 131
Joined: March 2012
Today's Birthdays
There are no members with birthdays on this day.
New Wirral Info
Pay and Display ... Or Not.
by diggingdeeper - 18th Jul 2025 12:53am
Family Alldis
by Alldis - 2nd Jul 2025 6:15pm
News : New Topics
Cammell Laird Film - Old Ships & Hardships
by David_Roberts - 16th Jul 2025 5:02pm
New Ferry regeneration
by Excoriator - 16th Mar 2025 4:22pm
Lucy Letby
by diggingdeeper - 16th Dec 2024 7:16pm
New Enthusiast Forums
Mobile Welder Wanted
by Grosvenor - 17th Jul 2025 6:46pm
Bultaco pursang
by Bultaco - 13th Mar 2019 1:43pm
Popular Topics(Views)
10,441,028 CW Chat room thread
5,674,254 WIKI WALK CHAT
4,488,951 Spotted!
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5