Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past Wirral Now and Then Rose Brae - Church Street field

I think Rose Brae and Church St must have been amongst some of the earliest streets in Birkenhead.Rose Brae has disappeared now
I am interested in the vacant land just before you get to the Swinging arms and was wondering why such a prime piece of waterfront land had not been developed - possibly something to do with the infill of the dry docks.
In 1857 post office cheshire there was
Adelphi Hotel 1 rose brae
Ferry Inn 6 rose brae

Is this the road that's blocked off, nearly opposite Galagher's that all the office workers park in during the day?

yes it is mate!

pic d.d.posted way back

That's Church St. Rose Brae was parallel to it, 50 yards nearer the river.

Interesting to see, from the 1970's aerial photo that Grayson Rollo & Clover extended a couple of their docks through where Rose Brae was. This happened after 1967, since the tip of the Northernmost dock is where the turntable for Woodside station was.

Both no1 and no5 docks were extended in at least two stages.

No1 was initially extended to Rose Brae then at a later date extended to Church St

I thought I posted a thread about this but can't find it and can't find my notes either - doh - senility creeping in.

If anyone's interested and has the time the following search terms help

"Birkenhead Iron Works"
Grayson's graving dock
Clover grayson docks
Cammel Laird docks
etc

Work on rebuilding and extending Grayson's No 1 Dock (the one nearest Woodside Station) actually began in February 1958, and lasted I believe until 1961. I have a photo somewhere of the first ship enering the rebuilt dock which I'll try and dig out. It was during this reconstruction work that the bridge carrying Rose Brae over the railway lines was permanently removed, in September 1959.

Still asking does anyone know is there any reason the land hasn't been built on?
Ground not stable? water encroaching from Mersey?
or no interest by anybody.
Who owns it now?

My guess would be, unstable ground. They probably didn't take much care when infilling the old docks. If you compare this modern view with the 1912 map, the area to the South, marked "slip" has been built on, but not the bit where the docks were. The dividing line is opposite Water St.
As to who owns it. I'd be surprised if it wasn't Peel Holdings.
http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=swyz6bgrg8ky&lvl=17&dir=0&sty=b&FORM=LMLTCC

Think it would make a nice little camping site for visitors to Birkenhead.
What more could you want - nearby pubs, cafes, police station,
handy for town,trains and buses in easy reach and a great view over the Mersy.