To pin yoller's picture down further, it must be post 1860, since that was when the railway changed from being the Chester and Birkenhead to being joint GWR and LNWR
Sorry, I should have given more details. You're right, Chris - the picture is from the Birkenhead of Yesteryear book by Carol E Bidston and it says: 'Woodside Ferry approach, circa 1870'.
The original building has a large door and two big windows in its facade, plus quite an ornate roof and seems to be a self-contained structure.
But in billyanorak's picture, we can clearly see another section on the right (looking towards the river), which seems to be a later addition. I wonder if this bit was built on when the office became a toilet, so they could have Gents and Ladies?
The 1875 large-scale OS plan clearly shows the building had been extended to the right by that date, so it was nothing to do with the conversion to toilets.
As far as I know it was originally built as a railway Receiving Office not as a ticket office; because of the complexity of the fare tariff for goods carried on the luggage boats, fares were collected on board so that staff could ensure that the right amount was being paid, so there would be no need for a ticket office.
As far as I know it was originally built as a railway Receiving Office not as a ticket office; because of the complexity of the fare tariff for goods carried on the luggage boats, fares were collected on board so that staff could ensure that the right amount was being paid, so there would be no need for a ticket office.
That's very interesting. You're right about the complexity of goods charges; see attached from 1905. My timetable book from 1905 makes no mention of where the fares were collected and it hadn't occurred to me that it was on board. I suppose that was the logical place to have the railway receiving office, at the end of the floating roadway.
Is it possible the extension to the building could have been the Great Northern office, that's if the buildings address was Shore Rd. 1878 Post Office directory.
God help us, Come yourself, Don't send Jesus, This is no place for children.
Did this building perhaps become redundant as a receiving office after 1878, when Woodside Station opened? Surely the GWR and LNWR would then have incorporated all their facilities inside the main station.
I don't remember the VD signs (honest). I do however remember the "Ladies" and "Gentlemen" signs over the doors were GREEN neon signs. Funny the things that stick in the swede.
Love the scale model in the Town Hall. Looking at this part How many vehicles were ferried across to Liverpool and what boat took them? ps I vaguely remember the ice cream bikes in 1st pic
