There are a few projects under way around West Float, the Finsa warehousing and the automotive parts specialist business centre is still on the cards I think. Peel as owners of the land are the ones to look at under the Wirral Waters project.
In April 1918 Mr W Webb Shennan, Birkett Scheme engineer reported fourteen and a half miles of river, main drains and ditches had been cleared and deepened. 250 prisoners had carried out the work and owing to the recent heavy rainfall which has been a good test, the project has been successful.
Now doing a trial on collecting recycling clean flexible plastics like bags etc. This is while heavy items like microwave ovens, computers and other metal items have no collection facility and routinely go to landfill.
A recycling company would probably pay the Council to be licensed to collect items like computers, microwaves and metals placed beside bins on collection day.
I was reading about a shop damaged by the bombing in Chester St, 1941. The shopkeeper had to vacate, children effectively broke in and one particular lad went back twice. They were caught and the parents had to pay compensation to the shop owner. The lad who went in twice got 6 strokes of the birch.
At the moment I have access to the papers, there's plenty of snippets between 1940 and 45 of their exploits, too numerous to mention. Just a couple I decided to read reports on a couple of scouts receiving the Silver Cross Medal for bravery, delivering messages while the bombs were falling during the blitz. The Birkenhead news hasn't popped up with a snippet, below is the Liverpool Echo, 1941.
I've shopped in this area from a child with Auntie and then as a teenager with my cousins/friends and I can tell you that I've had many happy times here. When I look at this place now, it's soul destroying. It seems that the simple pleasures that we once enjoyed in life are being taken away.
It appears William Tinsley was Attested to the Kings Own Reg on the 3rd September 1914 and discharged on the 3rd October 1914, reason, Unlikely to become an efficient soldier. He was Attested to the Lancashire Fusiliers on the 5th January 1915 and discharged on the 14th March 1915, reason, unlikely to become an efficient soldier, finally the Cheshire Reg, 10th April, 1915 as William Lyldesley until his death, 1st January 1916. He was married with 3 children, the reason his wife Ellen didn't attend the funeral she had moved address and the Army only found her after. On one of his Attestation forms the 3 children are named and one marked as illegitimate. Ellen received a pension of 21 shillings per week. At the inquest it was reported the building they were billeted in was built in 1902 and in good order but the storm was so severer it lifted the roof and weakened the structure causing its collapse. 2 were killed and 13 injured.
I went there for ONC Electrical Eng. on day release from 1951 to closure, which was probably 1954, then to the 'new' one for evening classes. I've got a date of 1888 from somewhere? The floors were well-worn plain wood and I think there was a lecture theatre with tiered seating. George Roberts was the lecturer, quite a character, but fair, and got the message across in his own way. I can't remember seeing much gear for 'practical' work, some motors perhaps, left over from the DC mains era for the Hopkinson Efficiency Test. Colleagues were from MANWEB, Holts, etc
Well out-of-date compared to the 'new' one!
I did some ONC day release electronics course at Birkenhead Tech in 1970s, they were painfully dull and slow, did the ONC trade/craft theory at Kelsterton College which was a bit better other than travel. At least one of them were long days (morning thru evening) which didn't help.
Thanks for the confirmation that there was an overlap where both building were in use for a few years which I had suspected without any conclusive evidence.
I have it in mind that there was a small power station there at one time.in Shore road or canning street. Am I right?
I've completely forgotten but I don't think so, I suspect it was just transformers and switching gear even though it may have been called a power station. The four corners of the tower are chimneys but nothing on a full time generator scale, more like heating, local backup generators etc. There used to be a stubby chimney on the extended back of the building which was maybe a vent shaft.
The substation has had a few incidents over the years.
I noticed how enthusiastic the council are about eliminating all the new crack willows that spring up from the two still there. You'd think that trees planting themselves would be welcome, but no. As soon as these saplings are noticed they are cut down.
Nature is perfectly capable of looking after itself without council assistance. The simply need to LEAVE IT ALONE!
I came across a mention of the Belgium Chateau on the fringe of Victoria Park, I can only assume it was Arudy House which we have touched on before but can't find it. Criminality at its best knocking it down.
