just looking at an old map on one of the posts. Was Clarence Road originally called Albert Road? and was Hawthorne Road (the one next to Stuart Road, off Willowbank) called something else. It had the water tower at the top of it, running across from Stuart to the now Hawthorne Road. I cant see that clearly but it doesnt look like it was called Hawthorne Road. Anyone any idea?
Clarence Rd. was originally Alfred Rd. & Hawthorne Rd. was Wilton Rd. The later map here is from the 1910 O.S. & the earlier map from the late 1890's. No idea why the names were changed; I'd really like to find out.
A lot of re-naming of roads was done when Birkenhead became a County Borough in 1887 . They took over Rock Ferry-where there was already a Wilton Road and had prev been in Higher Bebington Township . Also Prenton and Oxton were absorbed into Birkenhead and some road names were duplicated in different areas so ,over the course of the next few years, some name changes were put into place. The various Local Govmt changes in Bebington in 1902 and espec in 1937 lead to similar changes in Road and Street names being made. Grove Road ,Rock Ferry was originally Portland Street ( don't know reason for that change) .St Pauls Road was originally Limekiln Lane. Indeed there was a Limekiln Lane Railway Station for approx 20 years!
Thanks, littlestan; that explains it. Re. Limekiln Lane station, it was only there for about 11 years & halfway through its life, the name was changed to Tranmere. See link. http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/t/tranmere/index.shtml
