WikiWirral values you and your opinion.
Forum Statistics
Forums65
Topics76,352
Posts1,033,280
Members14,560
Most Online16,551
Feb 2nd, 2024
Who's Online Now
12 members (ArranGirl13, 3 invisible), 7,899 guests, and 667 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters
sunnyside 45,164
MattLFC 22,315
Mark 21,269
granny 17,788
_Ste_ 16,345
Newest Members
Kalena1962, rattus, Lisrush, Emotecreative, ArranGirl13
14,560 Registered Users
New General Forums
New Wirral History
Tall Brick Chimneys
by diggingdeeper - 16th Mar 2024 11:56am
D.I.Y. / Building Shop
by mharford91 - 3rd Mar 2024 8:53pm
1970's Murder in Central Park, Wallasey
by cutespam - 4th Aug 2018 10:28am
Old Hall in Higher Bebington
by Rhoobarb - 25th May 2010 5:55pm
Oleo Works
by Ducko - 14th May 2008 3:09pm
Top Posters(30 Days)
granny 14
casper 13
bri445 4
Topic Replies
Facial recognition coming in supermarkets?
by diggingdeeper - 27th Mar 2024 3:50pm
Bolts at Bebington Road
by diggingdeeper - 27th Mar 2024 2:33am
Hot Spot Chippie Broadway
by Excoriator - 26th Mar 2024 7:57pm
Tall Brick Chimneys
by diggingdeeper - 26th Mar 2024 5:43pm
Lost river (Well, brook really)
by diggingdeeper - 26th Mar 2024 3:09am
Old Hall in Higher Bebington
by diggingdeeper - 24th Mar 2024 5:58pm
Netflix 3 Body Problem.
by BultacoAstro - 22nd Mar 2024 8:04am
Wisper electric bike. 36v .
by Dilly - 21st Mar 2024 7:36pm
This is Elvis
by GingerTom - 21st Mar 2024 9:27am
March
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)
Kylix 1
cools 1
Top Likes Received
bert1 14
Mark 4
granny 3
casper 3
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 5 1 2 3 4 5
#526024 30th May 2011 1:07pm
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 57
Lyn123 Offline OP
Member
OP Offline
Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 57
I have been amazed at the pictures of all the streets that have been demolished. It made me realise ,that there where areas of my home town, that I never knew where there. I went down town to the shops, but I never took any notice of what was around me. It actually makes me feel sad. The communities that where there, all disbanded to estates. When I come back to Birkenhead I do feel the guts have been ripped out of the place. We had a fine town, some fantastic old buildings and such character.I know houses became unfit to live in, but what has shocked me was what came down for that flyover! smile

Google Ads
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 431
Smartchild
Offline
Smartchild
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 431
Its a disgrace! Birkenhead was a real interesting Gem, now its a sad shadow of its former self!

Joined: May 2009
Posts: 485
Smartchild
Offline
Smartchild
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 485
Originally Posted by saraB
Its a disgrace! Birkenhead was a real interesting Gem, now its a sad shadow of its former self!


same all over i think! Like New Ferry-----not the same as it was years ago,buildings pulled down that should never have been pulled down---the Great Eastern for one--and they still haven't built on the land,it's a right mess,all over grown! the baths went years ago,now a Wimpy estate, part of Rock Park gone! what will they take next?

Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 392
Old Hand
Offline
Old Hand
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 392
i lived on marion street agreat area to live.i went to cathcart street school also a great place. the whole area had great character.could have been regenerated.

Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 562
Smartchild
Offline
Smartchild
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 562
The planning butchers have a lot to answer for, no doubt some were well intentioned, others perhaps made serious money out of the wholesale destruction of parts of the town. I agree with other contributors here in that on returning to Birkenhead, having been away since 1982. I feel a sense of being a stranger in my own town, such is the nature of the changes, which appear to have removed the character, individuality and life out of the town. I forget the name of the old hall on the junction of Eastbourne Road and Claughton Road, but years ago it had a massive sign that declared 'This is it, Second-Hand City!' How that message encapsulated the decline that forever scarred Birkenhead post 1970s. What's left seems sterile in comparison to the communities and streets that gave the town such vibrancy, and don't get me going on Woodside, or the multi-coloured buses, with drivers who seem unaware of the routes they drive smile

Last edited by Erainn; 4th Jun 2011 9:35pm.
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,868
Forum Veteran
Offline
Forum Veteran
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,868
withthat


Carpe diem.
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 392
Old Hand
Offline
Old Hand
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 392
i agree completely,there are one or two areas of the old character left though.

Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,627
Likes: 14
Wiki Veteran
Offline
Wiki Veteran
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,627
Likes: 14
Whether it be butchery or not, i for one would only ever rejoice in getting families out of rat and cockroach infested properties, i fear those who hanker after so called communities have either never lived in them or only have the protection of childhood memories, which always offer a different perspective. When these areas are cleared i suppose its only natural to remember them from some sort of blinked and romantic happy time of community spirit and fondness, yet the reality of it is, living with outside toilets, no bath or bathroom, a constant struggle to keep wallpaper on the wall, shared bedrooms and vermin. Add that to the forever wearing down of health, it can only be viewed as a job well done getting rid of them.
Getting rid of buildings of interest, of course thats a shame and could be seen as a crime and yet could you imagine the uproar if it meant putting the rates up to do so.
Keeping cost effectiveness and a happy balance is not so easy.


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


Bertieone.
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 887
Wise One
Offline
Wise One
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 887
Well done Bert, had to be said and 100% true.

Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,195
Forum Addict
Offline
Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,195
What bert says is true. As far as working class housing is concerned there's very little to be nostalgic about.

Much of the heritage we see today is a highly sanitized representation of the past. The nice old buildings which do survive in our towns today tend to be the higher status properties which were always well maintained in the first place.

It's true that many Victorian terraced properties do still exist but they've had to be radically modernised to make them habitable. And anyone who lives in a terraced street will tell you, they were not designed for car owners.

Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 562
Smartchild
Offline
Smartchild
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 562
Good to see selective interpretation is alive and well. Of course no one was advocating that the town was a former paradise, or that conditions were perfect, but that was a straw-man argument offered by others here.

Back to the actual issue..as someone with relatives who lived around Leta Street I need no lessons on 'romanticising' the housing circumstances that some endured, being very familiar with the reality of '2 up 2 down, bog in the back yard'. However, that's again not really the topic. The discussion, prior to the hijacking, simply explored the changes, and yes, 'loss'; in terms of community. Admittedly, though not an example of enlightened housing provision, the streets and terraces of the town, provided a strong sense of identity, and not all were the horror story some suggest.

It is debatable to what degree the 'modern' facilities afforded by high rise replacements, or later the allure of relocating to estates,that within a couple of years had themselves attracted serious concerns, eclipsed the basic provisions of former housing. What is clear, and salient to the thread here, is that the town has indeed been transformed and not in an entirely positive or sensitive fashion.

Last edited by Erainn; 5th Jun 2011 10:05am.
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 14,343
Likes: 19
Wiki Master
Offline
Wiki Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 14,343
Likes: 19
There have been numerous grants available to renovate the old victorian properties to erradicate damp, install double glazing, improve insulation and install internal bathrooms.


We don't do charity in Germany, we pay taxes. Charity is a failure of governments' responsibilities - Henning Wehn

https://ddue.uk
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,195
Forum Addict
Offline
Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,195
Thank you for those kind words Erainn. I've missed your condescending charm! raftl

Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 562
Smartchild
Offline
Smartchild
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 562
Always a pleasure, most particularly for those unable to discuss without resorting to misrepresentation or fallacious argument.

Last edited by Erainn; 5th Jun 2011 10:14am.
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,627
Likes: 14
Wiki Veteran
Offline
Wiki Veteran
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,627
Likes: 14
The opening line in this thread is (I have been amazed at the pictures of all the streets that have been demolished.) which in my view allows debate on a broad spectrum of whats happened to this town and its buildings.

DD is indeed correct in saying grants were available but the money available and offered only went a small way in offering a degree of improvement and comfort to some properties and property owners.


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


Bertieone.
Page 1 of 5 1 2 3 4 5

Moderated by  Mod 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Random Wirral Images

Click to View Topic.
Newest Topics
Facial recognition coming in supermarkets?
by Excoriator - 27th Mar 2024 10:52am
Hot Spot Chippie Broadway
by Excoriator - 26th Mar 2024 7:57pm
Bolts at Bebington Road
by Excoriator - 23rd Mar 2024 9:48am
Netflix 3 Body Problem.
by BultacoAstro - 22nd Mar 2024 8:04am
Tall Brick Chimneys
by diggingdeeper - 16th Mar 2024 11:56am
For Sale & Free
Wisper electric bike. 36v .
by Dilly - 21st Mar 2024 7:36pm
This is Elvis
by GingerTom - 17th Mar 2024 2:37pm
Member Spotlight
Dilly
Dilly
wallasey
Posts: 8,973
Joined: July 2011
Today's Birthdays
There are no members with birthdays on this day.
New Wirral Info
Facial recognition coming in supermarkets?
by Excoriator - 27th Mar 2024 10:52am
Hot Spot Chippie Broadway
by Excoriator - 26th Mar 2024 7:57pm
Bolts at Bebington Road
by Excoriator - 23rd Mar 2024 9:48am
Get your Money Tree ready
by keef666 - 22nd Mar 2023 12:27pm
Restaurant/pub with outdoor seating - Bromborough
by CarterUSM - 7th Aug 2020 7:59pm
News : New Topics
Gaza
by diggingdeeper - 29th Oct 2023 9:28am
Lost river (Well, brook really)
by Excoriator - 10th Sep 2019 8:50am
New Enthusiast Forums
Netflix 3 Body Problem.
by BultacoAstro - 22nd Mar 2024 8:04am
Xbox
by TudorBlue - 3rd Mar 2024 8:48pm
Wiper mechanism needed
by Peter0787 - 20th Feb 2024 4:07pm
Popular Topics(Views)
5,067,821 WIKI WALK CHAT
4,013,750 Spotted!
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5