Sorry guys its a copy and paste job but some brilliant facts so thought it deserves to be put up.

Wirral had the first commercial hovercraft service in Great Britain which operated from Moreton in 1962.

Thomas Henry Ismay the founder of the White Star Line which built the Titanic, lived and died on the
Wirral.

William of Orange launched his main task force to attack Ireland from the Wirral ports of Hoylake and
Denhall.

Wirral is said to be the site of the bloodiest battle ever fought Britain. It is reputed to have taken place
in around the Bebbington and Brombrough area, it was known as the battle of Brunburgh.

The first shot of WW1 was fired from the Wirral. It was shot from one of the guns on Fort Perch Rock
as a warning across the bow of a Norwegian vessel just 30 minutes after war had been declared. The
officer in charge of the Fort was Major Charles John Luya. (1870 - 1933). He was a dental surgeon from
Wallasey, who had joined the Territorial Army and risen to the rank of Major.

Birkenhead Park was the first municipal park open to the public in the United Kingdom. The park was
so much of a success that Central Park in New York was based upon its design.

Brigadier Philip John Denton Toosey, (12 August 1904 – 22 December 1975) was the senior Allied officer
in the Japanese prisoner of war camp at Tamarkan in Thailand during World War II. The men at this
camp built the Bridge on the River Kwai. His character was immortalised by Alec Guinness in the film.

The legend of Canute holding back the sea was said to have taken place at Moreton in Wirral. A
Canute Chair was present there up until the 1950s.

Wirral has the highest amount of Grade 2 listed buildings outside of London.

The tidal activity research for the D Day landings were taken from Bidston Observatory.

The first commando raid was carried out at Zeebrugge by the Iris and Daffodil, of the Wallasey ferries in
1918.

Wallasey Ferry Service was the first in the world to have Radar.

The Waltons from Wallasey were Britains first Sextuplets to survive.

The New Brighton palace was the first indoor amusement arcade in the country.

Wallaseys life boat the Duke of Northumberland, was the worlds first Steam Jet Lifeboat.

Mary Elizabeth Williams of Moreton, was the first female lighthouse keeper in Britain.

The mole was used to bore the Wallasey tunnel was the first to be used in Britain.

The New Brighton Tower was the highest building in Britain at the time, standing at 621 feet high.

New Brighton Swimming Baths was the largest aquatic stadium in the world and also the largest open
air pool in Europe.

New Brighton Tower Ballroom stage was the largest in the world at 3240 feet.

Wirral has the longest Promenade in Britain.

Leasowe Lighthouse built in 1763, is the oldest surviving lighthouse in Britain

Wow! It's fantastic that wirral has so much interesting history..really makes you proud to live here. I hope at least some of this knowledge is being passed on to the children in wirral schools. Thanks for the post, very informative.

it is a wonderful place and as i say to my friends in liverpool we also have the nicer view across the river.

im proud of coming from new brighton.

This is fabulous stuff. I travel all over the country with my job and consider myself to be a great ambassador for The Wirral (capital "T") Can you email me this please? I am at [email protected]. I will use it for my after-dinner speaking.

Fantastic info

copy and paste it to microsoft word mate

Great Facts, I have that particular page bookmarked.

More interesting facts.....

101 Interesting facts about Mersey Ferries

Where have my earlier posts on this thread gone? I realise some were off topic but to just remove them without even telling me is a bit off, don't you think?

Admin : Removed Due to being off topic. We do like to keep history topics "on topic"
It would also be nice if the topic stayed on topic.

It should be stated, the shot fired from Perch Rock was possibly the first British shot, don't want people thinking Wirral started the war. Apparently it hit a beach in Liverpool, thankfully our aim got better.

Thank god for that hey Bert. Was it a shot in panic or an time aimed shot?

Apparently it was meant to be a warning shot across the bow of a Norwegian ship that failed to stop when ordered to. Unfortunately it landed in the sandhills at Crosby because the gun’s elevation was too high! The shell was found by a resident who handed it in to Seaforth Battery where it was given a place of honour in the mess room with a plaque marked ‘A present from New Brighton’

A second shot was fired but it hit the bow of an Allen liner which was at anchor. Not a very successful day’s work!

Thanks nightwalker very detailed response, much appreciated. was the person firing the cannon, sampling the alcohol to keep warm?

The aim of a warning shot is to land in the water in close proximity of the ship one is trying to warn and not frighten the life out of someone blowing their lilo bed up on a beach, if it doesn't land in the water a blank may as well be fired or get your best top tenor to shot bang. Then to fire another shot into the bow of an anchored ship is a piece of history best forgotten.

Wirral is a wonderful place. Don't know if the following will be of interest to anybody.

Thomas Ismay lived at Thurstaston and has a plaque in Thurstaston Church. He was also resposible for blowing up the rock between Thurstaston and West Kirby for a road to run through.

King William and his Queen, stopped at Gayton Hall on their way to Hoylake. Two trees were planted to commemorate their visit, which still stand to this day.

I believe that it is Birkenhead that has the most Grade II buildings outside London not Wirral in general.

Birkenhead Park was designed by Joseph Paxton which I think is something to be proud of.

Thanks tony for the interesting things about the wirral, i was born in plymouth 1960 moved up here in 1965 i,am now 51. My mum is from tranmere and my dad was from dingle [royal navy] and you know what i like living here what a great place the wirral is to live in! cheers mike...ann..x.

Yes, Thomas Ismay paid for the rock cutting to blown up/excavated to form the present road. The original road would have gone past the Hall carrying the lower orders and general riff-raff. That would never do of course!

Similar to Billy Lever re-arranging the M53.

To add some more info. about Thomas Ismay. He was chairman of the White Star line (Titanic).
The house he built, "Dawpool", was at the junction of Telegraph Rd. and Station Rd., Thurstaton. Here's a couple of pictures from the book "Merchant Palaces" photographed by Bedford Lemere.
The marble pillars from the massive fireplace still exist in the entrance to the Kingsland Cabaret on Borough Rd.
http://g.co/maps/vyk9w

What did he do, DD?

amazing pics once again chris, thank you

Wasn't it something about him not wanting to see it so he had them build it below ground level.

the amount of information that i keep finding from this history forum is excellent, can not wait till i finish uni and can concentrate more on local stuff.

i can see myself in the archives quite often down at cheshire lines building as well as earlston library.

...best take a pencil and paper with you Tony. You can't 'cut and paste' with original documents...

Will they allow you to graduate before you've learned what the shift key is for?

Well, when you have a broken keyboard, it can be awkward sometimes!

Tracing paper could work?

Tony, Tony, Tony....tut, tut, tut!

The original cut and paste before computers!

Omg love the fireplace its outstanding.
i can imagine me sitting in front of that with my mince pie and sherry in xmas morning!

great photos and facts, my livingroom is the size of that whole fireplace! ha

i was thinking that as well lol my kitchen is that size we can dream though cant we

I was taught it was either "Wirral" or "The Wirral Peninsula".

Dead right, chriskay ... never say The Wirral, it's always Wirral.

i nearly got a xmas card to send abroad and im sure it had seasons greetings from The Wirral ooo i'll have to check it out now when im next in town

Britains first Training Centre for Guide Dogs was opened in Wallasey in 1931
and
Norman Thelwell the illustrator of humerous ponies was born in Birkenhead as was another famous illustrator Harry B Neilson.

Not forgetting the famous artist Phillip Wilson Steer born in Grange Mount, Birkenhead.

Leasowe Castle was home to the first St. Bernard dog in the UK

Sir Edward Elgar’s ‘Minuet’ was premiered in the Tower Theatre on 16 July 1899. Elgar orchestrated and performed it with Granville Bantock’s orchestra

The UK mainland attendance record for a Beatles show was at the Tower Ballroom on November 24 1961, estimated as 4,500

Wallasey was the first municipal authority to introduce Atlantean buses

[Sir Edward Elgar’s ‘Minuet’ was premiered in the Tower Theatre on 16 July 1899. Elgar orchestrated and performed it with Granville Bantock’s orchestra [/quote]

That IS something impressive. I wonder how it was received.

Cheshire - Wirral became part of Cheshire after the death of Alfred in 901 and the Kingdom of Merica was divided up into administrative districts called ‘shires’. The Wirral became part of Chester’s shire.


The first Celtic Christian churches were established on the Wirral in 5th Century A.D. There were three churches - Landican (St Tegan), Wallasey (St Hilary) and West Kirby (St Bridget) all dedicated to Celtic Saints.

In the 1650’s Wirral was Royalist during the Civil War.

This may need a little translation, but it's not too hard.

Talk about walking on thin ice Transcentral!


7] SEVEBB FB0ST8 IN 1607 AND 1688.

The following extracts from the Begisters of
Wallasey, published in Mr. E. M. Haoce's admirable
paper on that parish io Vol. 85 of the Transactions
of the Lancashire and Cheshire Historic Society
throw light on two 17th century winteis.



1607.

**Mem*dum. In the yeare of o* lord god 1607
there was a great frost that people did goe over the
Poole (over against Poolto'), vppon the yce

(at a full
1683.



« Memorand' that in the year 1688 there was A
great ffoet soe that people went over the pooli any
where at any time of the tide and It was thought
by seuerall that a man at A low water at some time
xnight have gone to IHuerpoole : all passage out oc
these pts to Liuerpoole was by Warrington or
ifidlers feny, where they went over on Ise, there
wss noe getting to the Market till the 9th of ffeb

oldest tree in eastham? Eastham, Merseyside - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Here you go TC...

http://www.gavinrymill.com/flaybrick/greattrees/easthamyew.html

Reputedly one of the oldest trees in the country.

Click on the small picture of the plaque.

were did you get that from?

clicky

brill thanks, i was just confused by the bad spelling

Be carefull using that transcript, it's full of errors. You can get the original printed version of 'Wirral Notes & Queries' at most local libraries.

Old English Tony,with a few transcript errors!

The Yew tree. Once used to make poison for arrow heads,and nearly every Church yard in the country had one!! Ironically it's now used to make poison for making cancer sufferers better.
I was told that all the yew tree clippings from Ness Gardens are collected for this purpose but I don't know how true.
There are some huge Yew trees in the grounds of Ruthin Castle but I don't think they are as old as Easham

was going to say when i did English Lit (poems & Short Stories) and stuff on the Civil War, they could spell alot better than that from the same era.

On a seasonal note, mistletoe is also now being used to cure cancer.

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/mistletoe/patient/page2

Ooooo. I did not know that. There are a lot of very clever people out there. I shall have a look at that website later. Thanks.

p.s. Did you know - you now look as if you have an affliction? I'll probably get an offiial warning or struck off for that!

dont forget amongst all the things mentioned about firsts,the greatest centre forward ever,william ralph dean was born in birkenhead,as i was.thats The birkenhead,with a capital T,in cheshire,not the wirral on my birth certificate !!!!!!!!!!

i think greatest centre forward is a bit dramatic, he only holds the record for the most goals in a season, but never really won any major honours like a world cup or european cup, that is how greatness is defined!

What utter nonsense. That's like saying the Beatles can't be regarded as great because they never won the X factor.

winning the xfactor is no great achievement, it is merely a talent contest. he will only be seen as the greatest ever strike in the eyes of everton fans, to everyone else he was just another striker, nothing special.

Not heard the one about Yew trees making poison. They certainly made bows out of Yew?

British Poisonous Plants & Shrubs
clicky

what a daft statement tony!! there was no european cup,weve only won the world cup once,how many great players in that team? tom finney and a lot of other truly great players never won anything.william ralph is one of birkenheads jewels,the scousers even built a statue in honour of him,something that his home town should have done for its most famous son.

i was using the likes of the world cup when comparing to players like pele and maradonna.

im not denying he was a good player, i was arguing the debate on the statement of "the greatest ever"

Here you are.No wonder it was a 'must have' tree.


http://www.shee-eire.com/Herbs,Trees&Fungi/Trees/Yew/yew1.htm

HISTORY: The oldest known wooden implement is a spear made of yew wood, about 50,000 years old, from Clacton-on-Sea, England.

Archeological excavations have found yew bows and knives in Swiss lake dwellings from 10,000 years ago. Historically, yew bows were the weapon of choice for both hunting and warfare throughout most of Europe until the invention of firearms.

Yew was also employed as a poison, used for assassination, suicide, as an arrow poison, and to poison fish and mammals.

Due to its hardness, it was used for shuttles, cogs, axle-trees, and pulley-pins. The colorful wood (red heartwood, white sapwood) was used to veneer furniture, to make lute bodies, bowls, tankards, combs, tool handles, pegs, and various art objects. It was used in many ways by various religions, and certain yew objects such as drinking-cups are still regarded as having a certain spiritual potency.

Yew forests were once common in France and Germany. The wood of the English Yew was used for bows by Celtic and Teutonic warriors, a practice which eventually led to the demise of the great Yew forests of Western Europe. In Teutonic areas the Yew had important symbolic significance. A judge's staff was made of its wood and Yew was planted in graveyards as a form of protection from malevolent spirits. Its needles were also used in rituals to communicate with the dead.

Can't see us using it as an arrow poison. Very un-British and probably outlawed by the Geneva convention.

A slightly 'seasonal' bit of information.

The worlds best selling book of all time is..... The Bible.

I wouldn't mind betting, the people who have bought it, haven't read it cover to cover.

I've read "The Prophet" by Kahlil Gibran. Says much the same thing in much less pages. I was even allowed to read a passage from it at my friend's funeral-which speaks volumes for the Roman Catholic priest who conducted the service. If only all clergymen could be so understanding of other's religions. By the way-I'm not a member of any religion. Just believe in God.

The worlds best selling book of all time is..... The Bible. [/quote]


I wouldn't mind betting, the people who have bought it, haven't read it cover to cover.[/quote]

I have. The Old Testament can be a bit hard going but Liverpool Anglican Cathedral has 'Supper with the Scriptures'which is the best explanation I have heard for some time:

Supper With the Scriptures - (weekly - Monday Evenings) Block 2 - Opening session for 2012
Education
Sir Giles Gilbert Scott Function Suite

09th January 2012 19:00 - 20:00
Join us on Monday evenings for free supper and an exploration of the Bible in a welcoming atmosphere. Open to all.

Supper with the Scriptures begins on Monday 12th January 2012 and runs from 7-8 pm.

A small snack will be provided free of cost, and parking is also free. You can arrive from 6.30pm.

Supper With the Scriptures explores theological themes as well as contemporary issues of faith and life.

It will ask difficult questions and will seek to address the walk of discipleship. You do not need to be an expert in the Bible to attend - people who are not churchgoers but are interested in knowing more about the Bible as a cultural and literary document are very welcome. There will also be lots of time for questions and discussion.

Clergy, pastors and readers who may not be able to attend Breakfast With the Bible are also most welcome to attend. The studies are led by the Reverend Canon Dr Jules Gomes, Dwelly Raven Canon and Lecturer in Biblical Studies at Liverpool Hope University.

Jules has a PhD in Old Testament from the University of Cambridge and has written five books and a number of academic articles on biblical topics. He uses the most recent as well as traditional methods in biblical scholarship to teach the Bible from the perspectives of literature, history and theology. The studies also draw attention to the use and interpretation of the Bible in music, art and film.

The studies are currently on the book of Genesis and will continue through the Old Testament seeking to make connections with the New Testament along the way.

The teaching will explore theological themes as well as contemporary issues of faith and life, and use the latest biblical scholarship alongside references to original Hebrew and Greek texts.

(Please note these sessions will cover the same material as Breakfast With the Bible each week - Supper with the Scriptures is designed to provide an alternate day and time for those unable to make Sunday mornings)

The sessions taught so far are now online and may be accessed at www.liverpoolcathedral.org.uk/breakfastwiththebible

For more information please contact [email protected]

Dates for your diary:

Block 2 - 9th January - 26th March 2012

[quote=FiremanFil]I've read "The Prophet" by Kahlil Gibran.

I have read all twenty three of Gibran's works.

Now I prefer reading the works of Rabindranath Tagore such as 'Gitanjali' ISBN 0-333-42217-1
'Rabindranath Tagore Selected Poems' ISBN978-0-14-018366-5

'The Hound of Heaven' By Francis Thompson
'Markings' by Dag Hammarskjold

The above are mystical spiritual works.

I also have a collection of Carribean Literature, writings and poetry to include the works of Derek Walcott, Kwame Dawes, Tupac Shakur, Robert Beckford, Colin Channer and Contempory Black british Poetry .

Interesting. I might turn up. In the meantime, here is a poem I wrote some tears ago. I think it may strike a chord....

A PRAYER FOR ME.

Oh, Lord, I think my place in life
Is not in congregation
I do believe to pray alone
Will always be my station.

This doesn't mean I love you
Any less than any other
More that I see you in a
Different light to "other" brothers.

You see, Dear Lord, to find your love,
I've entered in a search
Which hasn't led to peace of mind
Within the walls of church

I think it not a sacrilege
To speak in such a way
More personal quest in differing prayer
Amidst uncertainty

Dear Lord, I'd love to find my peace
In strength of human numbers
But would so many magnify my chance
In final slumber

A chance to be united with
The dream I hold so dear
The dream of you which will, or won't
Be proved when death is near

I think not, God-the more I
Try to find you, I am sure
It will not matter how, or when
You find me a death's door

Nor trouble me if I should be
Alone in final plea
I know that you'll be there to give
Undying love to me.

You can discuss that at your meeting if you like, pax. It is based on my experiences of life and my complete rejection of religion. :-)

That is so beautiful Fil. Straight from the heart!

:-) Thanks, Granny!!

Thanks Fil for your poem.

Everyone has their own path in life, and organised religion is not for some as per this verse from 'The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam'

'And this I know: whether the one true light,
Kindle to Love, or Wrath consume me quite,
One glimpse of It within the Tavern caught
better than in the Temple outright'.

FF that`s beautiful

:-) Thanks, GJ!! (Just seen a print error-last line of 7 should read "At" death's door). I'm thinking of getting it published as it seems to strike a note with many people of different faiths.

Thanks for that, Granny; the Rubaiyat is (are?) one of my favourites. A word missing from the last line though.
"Better than in the temple lost outright"

Well done, Chris. I haven't read Omar's work-but I had a feeling there was something missing from Granny's post-maybe just a typo, though!! :-)

Fil; if I judge your philosophy correctly, I think you'd get a lot out of Omar Khayyam.
http://www.therubaiyat.com/fitzindex.htm

"The ball no question makes of Ayes or Noes,
But right or left, as strikes the player, goes,
But He that tossed thee down into the field,
He knows about it all, He knows, He knows".

Thanks Chriskay.I missed the vital word out

Hi, Did you know I have just started a 'Poets Corner' on Lifestyle. Maybe useful for some. Maybe someone could start a 'Philosopher's Bench' I am sure that would be well used!

And did you know that the Worlds second best selling book is......'Quotations from Cairman Mao' by Mao Tse-Tung. 900 million (Bible 6 Billion)

A staggering thought that he was resposible for the deaths of between 40 and 70 million people!

Sorry. That's Chairman Mao missed the 'h' out

I've got a copy somewhere.

info on ResesrcherTony's original post.


Wirral has the highest amount of Grade 2 listed buildings outside of London.

It is in fact Birkenhead


http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/england/merseyside/birkenhead

i saw that the other day Granny it surprised me i was even going to post that myself, but never mind you have done it thanks xx

Great Minds TR

resposible!!!!!! where did you learn chinese granny.

Whoops! the fingers go faster than the brain sometimes, or is it the other way around? Ying tong.

iddle eye po !! (Won't mean much to young type people!)

iddle eye po,iddle eye po!

That's it Bezzy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nebe1zuEtbc

I am glad to say that I have the Ying Tong song somewhere in this laptop.

Mao is still in second place on deaths caused as well then?

Did you know that a "speakers corner" area was situated between the old Egremont Ferry building and the southern slipway?

Yes.

Harold Wilson -Prime Minister,came to the area aged 16years and became Head Boy at Wirral Grammar School.

Mistletoe has been used since the 1978 for treatment of cancer. My ex fatherinlaw was being treated in London by Imperial Cancer Research. He had mistletoe injected into his back. Once a week. He agreed to be used as research. He passed away - but at least the research was found to be of benefit for the future.

anybody read sherlock holmes books?

'The Adventure of the Cardboard Box'
was based in and around New Brighton

We all know the link between Mistletoe and a kiss but from a time when we used our lips to suck poison from a wound originated the saying, "Lets kiss it better"

will give it a read thank you