This isn't local, but the whole country was affected.
I've recently obtained a copy of this magazine dated 2 Feb.1901. It was published every Saturday & was pretty 'upper class'. this issue is interesting because it was the first issue after the death of Queen Victoria (well, actually the second; the first was 2 days after, but that had already gone to press).
If anyone's interested, I'll post some extracts from it in this thread; it gives a great insight into life at the time.

I would just post it Chris, there are lots of posts in the History section that are not confined to Wirral but have an effect on Wirral, I'll look forward to seeing it and i imagine everyone else will.

Thanks, Bert; I'll start soon. I've got quite a collection of extracts ready.

I look forward to seeing it. I love stuff like that. Bert is right, it still has an effect on The Wirral as its part of the realm!

Chris, do you realy need to ask mate??
You know we all hang on every word from you `Old Owls` on Wiki.

Post them mate, i have loads of `King and Country` from First World war, telling us all how "The great Tommy Atkins is booting the Kybosh out of old Jerry Hun!", if only the public knew then about the conditions and reality that we know now!

So let's see them too!!

Sore point mate, i cant post pics to save my life and lost `our` camera on holiday in Mexico in September, so new one on order for `her indoors` for Xmas! Dont ask to scan as the pages are bigger than A4!!!

Yer sacked!!! Pack ya desk...don't let the door hit on the ass on the way out!!!

Soz boss!!!!

Give us some voddie!!

Bog off, she`s out n "its MINE, all mine i tell ya!!"

OK, a bit of background:(watch out, history lesson coming)
Victoria reigned for over 63 years,(so our present Queen has another 6 years to go to catch her up). She was a widow for over 39 years after the death of her beloved Albert & never came out of mourning; she wore black for the rest of her life.
This issue of "The Queen" magazine was actually published on Feb.2nd. 1901, which was the date of her funeral.
A period of mourning was generally observed in those days, by wearing black clothing. (The nearest we come to it these days is the wearing of a black armband). For families, the period was usually 6 months full mourning & 6 months "half mourning", when the rules were relaxed somewhat. The official Court mourning followed this pattern; I suppose the court were considered members of the Queen's family. The rest of the country was expected to observe a shorter period of mourning: 6 weeks full & 6 weeks half mourning. This explains the large number of adverts in the magazine for mourning dress. I've also included the official notice of Court mourning as published in the London Gazette.
Some more cheerful stuff to follow later.

Chris you will remember the same as me everybody had black arm bands on when the late King died. Also you will remember the days when men raised there caps or trilby's when funeral cars passed along the road on there outward journy

I was always taught to stop and bow my head as the funerals passed. still stop in the car / van to let them by!

I recall my parents hammering it into me that when a funeral cortege passed by, you stood still and took your school cap off. If you hadn't got a cap on, you just bowed your head in respect. Some chance of seeing that these days !

Sorry hoseman. Just seen your post. Well done. I think you are one of the few that still do that.

Add me to the list, i think it a generational thing that's from the past, i don't think its a sign of disrespect from the younger ones, its just something that's not done now or taught.

You do yer know! i was in
funeral cortege the
other week+ found passer bys respectable, especially road
users. didnt cut
up any of
our procession for
instance

I sit corrected !!!

Glad to know, Rudebox, that you got some respect. Jimbob, yes, I remember the black armbands on the death of George VI

Here's a piece, interesting that it's in the cycling section.

meaning what, chriskay??

That no one tried to cut you up & from what you say, passers by showed respect.

Lol. Ok. Rudey-tempermental today!

Lol. Ok. Rudey-tempermental today!

Following on from traditional funeral respectfulness, does anyone close their curtains anymore if there is a funeral in their street? I do but notice that alot of ppl don`t, they stand on their doorsteps having a good nose.

I'd forgotten about that tradition.

Now one for the ladies. Note that they charge extra for waist size 27" or more. I make that about a size 10!

Incidentally, this is one of the few adverts which includes a telephone number. Of course, in those days most communication was by post. In cities like London or Liverpool (probably Birkenhead too) you could post a letter early in the morning & expect a reply by lunchtime. You could then reply to that & it would be delivered by evening. Of course, in those days it was the Royal Mail, not the crap service we get now from the Post Office.

And here's how to achieve that sub 27" waist.

Steady on Chris .... this is a family show !!! Just going for a cold shower !!!!

By the time they got the women undressed, they must of forgot what they were doing.

Nothing like "Bingo Knickers"....... It was one pull and "BINGO!!"

Further items of interest to the ladies. I guess that with the hair & the corset, getting ready to go out was quite a performance; don't know how you managed if you didn't have your own maid.

you'll never change will you big guy?

My socks change more than me.... and you dont even want to go THERE!!!!!!

Here's one which should not be viewed if you are of a sensitive nature with regard to political correctness. (You might be surprised to know how recently the use of the 'N' word became offensive).

Nice one Chris. Looking back to even are childhood days compared to now, certain things where so simple.

Just found this in the Daily Mirror, 1910, after the death of Edward VII.

On the subject of how in years gone by the households in the street where where there had been a death would all have there blinds drawn. Unlike these days where the person who has died is taken to a chapel of rest prior to the funeral. In my younger days every family had the body in the coffin in the house normaly in the parlour. {front room to those to young to know what a palour was} So out of respect the housholds near by all had there blinds drawn.

We were not allowed to play in the street if one of our neighbours had died?

All down to respect,

Kimpri and Jimbob are quite right, things use to be done a lot differently in the past, i think respect was shown in a different way. There must have been chapels of rest but i think the majority of people brought there loved ones home to be laid out, and as Jimbob says,normally in the parlour. I can remember as if it was yesterday seeing an uncle of mine laid out in his parlour in Alwyn St, i was about 4 years old at the time. The coffin was open and he lay there in a white shroud, i can also remember asking why he was laying there and i was just told he was a sleep. As i grew up, it was the done thing to go in to someones house to pay your last respects and always as i remember, it was always an open coffin. My own parents were brought home and laid out and people came to pay there respects. I don't know whether this is a tradition, my sister insisted that a member of the family sat up through the night with my parents, Anyone else done that?. Just recently whenever i have known people who have died, i usually end up having to go to the chapel of rest to pay my respects, just the modern way i suppose.

It was tradition that a member of family sat up all night in the same room with the deceased/loved ones,
Don't think people pay there last respects this way anymore,

Called the WAKE,