Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past Wirral History Borough Road.

I came across this picture while trawling t'internet. Says it's Borough Road, Birkenhead but I just can't place exactly where it is on that stretch of road. I know a lot of house clearance took place to widen the road but the bend and the junctions are confusing me. The church too, where is/was this?

At first glance i thought its by where the Carlton pub is, not sure when the pub was built though and how old that pic is, you can see the Cathedral in the background.

Dave

Taking the cathedral into account it can't be by the Carlton. You just wouldn't see the cathedral. I had a virtual wander down Borough Rd on google street view cos that was my first thought as to where it was. Looked at an old map from 1910 too and the houses just don't match up. It's a bit of a puzzle.

I think that it's looking down towards Central Station from Whetstone Lane.

if that is Borough rd Birkenhead it would be a view from around Whetstone lane, on your map Stegga what is the name of the church off Grange Rd, half way down, in between Grange and Borough. just can't remember, is it St Johns?

Yes, it's St.John's. That should be Vincent Street on the left. Surely someone must remember the barbers and that advert painted on the end wall.

The houses look familiar, had a cousin who lived on the right hand side, around where the girls memorial stone is now. Don't remember the barbers though.

Well before my time that picture.

Good to see what it used to look like instead of beeing told about it by parents.

What's the two big roofs by the spire? Wracking my brains and can't envisage how it used to look down there.

Although it still looks like Borough Rd., I'm not happy about the church. I think it's the wrong shape and I don't think it came that close to Borough Rd.
Borough Rd. is just off the bottom of this map.

Just thinking that myself Chris when finding this

It's Borough Road without a doubt. Tram traction poles still in use for the street lights. Centre of carraigeway a different surface to the edges - tarmac over the cobbles that flanked the tram rails. The edges were glass smooth (Trinidad Lake Asphalt). Great on a bike - as long as it was dry!

Early 1950's pic at a guess. Not a TV aerial in site!

It is definitely Borough Road looking down from Whetstone Lane towards Central Station. And that's definitely St John's Church.
Just next to the No Left Turn sign (out of picture) was the old fire station. I think the barber's name was Charles Tunna.
The big two roofs by the spire are almost certainly the gable ends of the main church building.

The Barbers shop was run for many years by a guy named Jimmy Miller. It is a view from outside of the fire station looking towards central station.

Good photo brings back lots of memories about 1950
I think the barbers shop Charles Tunna was nearer Central Station and on the other side of the road.
Hitchells fishing tackle shop by the bus stop just out of photo