In that 2nd pic...I use to get the bus home from that stop. Dropped me off opposite the Laird Street Library. I remember going to a pet shop on Conway St. (near Exmouth St.) and getting tropical fish. All those buildings have gone.
My mate lived in the road with the tropical fish shop on the corner ( the other corner had a butchers on it. I remember her brother knocking to tell us someone had thrown kittens out in the back alley, so off we went for a looksee. No kittens just 2 juvenile rats. Being kids we threw rocks at them.
Excellent pictures, derekdwc. What a monstrosity that Conway Street flyover was - in fact, what a monstrosity all the Birkenhead flyovers were ... and are. Does anyone agree that this scheme, which led to the demolition of so many old residential areas, totally ruined the heart of the town and was tragically unnecessary? As for the smell from the British Leather works, it was indeed a hell of a pong. But very much a part of what was then a thriving town.
Totally agree - it was my Dads family area - with various family members of all ages roughly from St Johns Street in the west to Jackson St and Hind St in the East and Lord Street/Market Street in the north - a thriving urban comunity that has been completely eradicated...