Images taken February 2004

Mention of Bidston Hill conjures up, for me, fond memories of long childhood hours spent playing in its woods, picnicking on its springy turf, and hiding in its secret places. And always, the feeling that this was no ordinary place. And indeed few other parts of Wirral can offer so much of interest in such a small area. Where else in a few hundred acres can you find open, gorse-covered heathland with fine land and sea views, pine woods and rhododendrons, a lighthouse, an observatory, a windmill, rock carvings, and a fascinating seventeenth—century village?

And Harry Neilson wrote:

I distinctly remember a walk over Bidston Hill when a child with an elder sister, about the year 1868. A fresh breeze was blowing and the sails of the mill were turning round in full swing, grinding corn. A cart, laden with sacks of flour, stood just ready to leave by the stony cart track to the road below while the miller stood by chatting to the carter. As we stood watching, the loaded cart moved off and the miller asked us if we would care to look inside the mill. His invitation was gladly accepted and in we went. My first and lasting impression was of the loud buzzing noise of the machinery, very like the sound of a swarm of angry bees but much louder, and my next, the whiteness of everything inside the mill, caused by the coating of fine white flour dust which nothing could escape, not even the miller himself.

Portrait of Wirral. Kenneth Burnley. Hale Publications

Bidston Windmill is here, on its own page.

I got an email from John in Thailand on 11 May 2005: I guess I'm a little bit younger than you, but I grew up in Worcester Road - right next to the Hill - in the '50s / '60s, was a choirboy at the church up to '65, then went off to Birkenhead School. So my whole young life was spent on or around the Hill. Because of the various 'extensions' - Noctorum Lane, the Wirral Ladies' golf course etc- you could actually walk from Bidston Village almost all the way to Birkenhead School without ever really leaving the woodlands - a remarkable fact in one of England's more brutal urban environments. Incidentally, part of the church is older than you suggest  - there's a carving above the tower door which dates it to the 14th Century, if I remember correctly.  It has the 'three legs of man' on it (the Isle of Man crest, I mean) - no idea why! Mind you, it was almost unreadable in the '60s, so I doubt if there's much left. If you get a chance, go up the tower. There's a flat roof, and the view gives you a totally different take on the landscape - you can suddenly see how Bidston was once part of a sandy marshland stretching out to the Moreton shore. It gives added meaning to the tales I heard when I was a kid about the smugglers of Bidston - the old farm on the corner, opposite the church, was supposed to have been a smugglers' inn, if I remember the stories correctly. I too remember the village shop, which seemed totally unreal even at the time. It reminded me of stuff like Enid Blyton, which seemed about as far away from life on a '60s Merseyside council estate as Kathmandu. But there it was. We used to buy sweets there before choir practice. I remember that the shop actually had saddles for sale, above the counter (could I be dreaming this? There certainly were horses in the stables just behind the shop). Incidentally, I also remember watching the farmers harvesting wheat in the fields past the church - next to that very humped-back bridge over the railway line. Do you remember the 'seven stiles' walk? You could go from opposite the church (past the war memorial), all the way to Upton, which was (C. '64) entirely 'modern', but still fairly limited in size. There weren't actually seven stiles, but the walk was astonishingly rural with ponds, fox holes etc. I suppose that's where they put the M62. Incidentally, one of my other significant memories - which you might find a bit strange - is the men's toilet next to the lighthouse. It was still open, but entirely unattended. The slate interior was evidently a perfect medium for name carving, and there were some beautifully carved names dating from the 1870s. Seemed wonderfully remote in time back then. I'm now seriously ex pat - teaching at a University in Thailand. Haven't lived in Birkenhead since the early seventies. John. (I think the "bridal path" sign is still there by the war memorial john!)

The citation you provided from our Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, v.88 p. 137 is contained within an article by W.L.F. Nuttall, entitled Governor John Blackwell: His Life in England and Ireland.” Concerning Bidston Hall, it states the following: Lord Kingston generously lent use of Bidston Hall to John Blackwell to avoid the plague in London. From a question by me to the following regarding the mention of Bidston Hall in a web reference:

Max Moeller

Director of Research Services

The Historical Society of Pennsylvania

1300 Locust St.

Philadelphia, PA 19107

December 2005:

Genevieve Wilkinson is one of those "Friends of Bidston", a real live person who wants to preserve the best of the past for those in the future. She passes information onto me now and then, keeping me up to date with what she and her kind are trying to achieve. Here is an email dated 30th December 2005 from Genevieve:

I've got some good news you might like to here, the Windmill is getting a new roof in a few months and then we'll be fixing the floor boards and putting in a state of the art educational resource (as long as we can work out how to do it without any damage). We're actually doing a lot to the hill at the moment including trying to restore the views and direction finder,  we've had a campaign in the local press appealing for information and we did get one of the rejects turning up but we can't find the one taken off the hill sometime in the 60's, do you remember it? If so can you give me any info or even have you got a picture? It doesn't matter if you don't because like I say we do have a half completed reject so we can make one up from that. I have Genevieve's email address if any of you can help, with information or images.

January 2005: I received the following email from Ricky Cooper.

February 2006: New page added on the Friends of Bidston

March 06: I have just read, with nostalgia, your extremely interesting article on Bidston, for which I thank you.  I was brought up in Claughton and most of my leisure time was spent on the hill and with friends who lived in School Lane.  It breaks my heart to see the present day changes and wonder where it will all end.  Thank goodness we now have the "Friends of Bidston Hill." My husband's paternal family has been traced back to the village in 1695 and I wonder what they would think if they were to return today? Interestingly, Mr. Youd, the last Miller at the Bidston Windmill was also a relative of my husband.   If anyone knows his Christian name I would be very interested as my daughter is trying to trace the family tree. Again, thanks for the very interesting read which cheered me up on a wet and miserable day. Jan Mutch. Contact me for Jan's email address if you have info for her.

From Barry Perry - 1 September 2006: What an incredible site. I was born in 1950 in Birkenhead on Hoylake Road at the corner of Hoblyn Rd. My mother was very good friends with the people who owned Bidston Hall, and Povell's Farm. I visited the house and farm many times as a little lad. I always loved Bidston as a child and am familiar with every location and photograph you have on your site. When I was in my early teens I was in the church choir. As a teenager (18) I became friendly with the son of the family that currently owned Bidston Hall and visited the house once again, I specifically remember the very large dark oak table in the hall it was so large that that it could not be removed and was left for the next owners also the black & white chequerboard tiled floor, and especially the worn sandstone steps to the upper floor on the outside on the right side of the hall. In 2003 I returned to England from Canada for a visit with my wife (who is from London) I took her to Bidston to show her the church, Bidston Hall etc. I was really surprised as to how difficult it was to get to Bidston, Hoylake Rd used to run right through it. I used to play in the rhododendrons garden as a child and also took my wife to show them to her, I was very disappointed to see the state they were in.

 As a child when I went to Bidston Hill to roam and play I used to speak to the old man who lived in Tom O'Shanter's cottage, he had a little dog which I used to play with. That's all for now, I am very interested to keep in touch as to how Bidston Village is progressing. Thank You Barry Perry.

From Jean Robinson - Sept 4th 2006: Browsing the internet for information to help my family history research I came across your very interesting website.  I am not familiar with Bidston at all but my Great grandmother was a Taylor and her father George and brothers all worked at Bidston Hall Farm after 1880.  Family rumour tells me that they worked the farm for an uncle Taylor who was a Birkenhead Councillor in the belief that they would one day inherit it.  Councillor Taylor (no first name as yet) married late in life to a Rimmer and when widowed she evicted the brothers.  To extract some sort of revenge they in turn stole the milk round from her by getting ahead of her deliveries and stealing all the customers.  Could you tell me if any of this rings true.  The brothers were Joseph, Thomas, Richard, George, Robert and William Taylor and lived in Upton from 1856 onwards. Do you have any ideas out there?

A reply to Jean from Keith Hammond: Charlotte Rimmer was sister to my great grandmother  Mary Rimmer. The Rimmers lived at Bidston hall for many years and She did indeed marry a     Thomas Taylor; she leased the hall after Thomas' death and they had a son some years before they married but he died aged about 25.

From Adele - December 28th 2006:  My name is Adele and I used to live in Eleanor Rd Bidston from 1976 - 1982.  I lived in Holly Grove an old coach house and I was looking up on the net any info. on it when I came across your website. I must say it brought back loads of very, very fond memories for me as no other place has felt as magical as when I grew up there. Not only did I walk the hill many times with my Dad on our way to Claughton Village, I also remember Tam O'Shanters cottage and the stables at the end of the road also the witches circle in the woods and the fairy circle with all the stones sitting in a circle under the holly trees. When I lived there, the house at the top of our lane was a children's home, and the nursing home belonged to friends of ours who my parents still keep in contact with. I remember playing there it was a huge house and we used to find old remnants of pottery in there garden. I also remember the lovely wildlife, how the foxes would run across our garden in the snow. How sometimes you'd be leaving for school and a beautiful big owl would be on the fence or there'd be a hedgehog in the garden. Such a wonderful time in my life that I will never forget.  

Unfortunately while we lived there the Ford estate behind our home became a very undesirable place and we were burgled over 9 times, the other houses in the road where also being burgled and starting to get home invasions. It was a sad way to leave the area as I feel not only myself but the rest of my family adored living there and have never forgotten it, we talk of the old times there often. We all now live in Australia and have done so for over 20 years, a couple of years back I visited my old home and was dismayed to see how much the area had changed and how the housing estate which originally was a wimpy estate had spread right up to our old fence. It just felt like no-one cared how lovely the place was and just built houses anywhere they could. I think the vicarage is still there but it is not the same place and part of me wished I hadn't seen it again, but I'm really glad they are restoring the windmill and I do hope that Bidston Hall and the Observatory stay the same. Thank You for all your research it is such a joy to be able to access all the information you have put together and I will talk to my parents and see if they have anything to contribute to your good work.

January 1st 2007: A request for information from Texas: Thank you for the nice Bidston web site.  I have an interest in the family of Colonel George Frederick Allender who at least until his death in 1916 lived for many years in what was called in Directories etc.  simply "The Cottage", Vyner Road, Bidston.  I imagine this would have been one of the notable families of the area.  He was an architect and surveyor and had a son who died in the explosion of the Vanguard.   In fact when he died he apparently left only two daughters,  Ruth and Kathleen.  He is buried in St. Oswalds and his son is memorialized on the cenotaph there as well.  As there were many cottages in the area I don't know if his residence still exists or if it was one of the more notable ones like Tam O' Shanters.  I am very keen to know more about his daughter Ruth who died in Warminster 14 July 1982, the widow of Leland Mordaunt Dundas but I don't suppose anybody is still around who has any recollection of these people.  I am hoping though. GBAlum - at - aol.com is the address to contact him, replacing -at - with @.

From Malcolm Owens July 2007: I was born 1937 at 60a Hoylake Road.  How it brought back old memories at seeing your photos of old Bidston and the surrounding area. Church Farm was occupied by my mothers Aunt Sarah Gardner and her husband Len Gardener. In the early 1940's I used to play on the Farm and ride the big Shire Horses. Also Tam 'o' Shanter cottage was a favourite play area. The occupant of the cottage was a Mr. Inglis, whose Grandson was a playmate of mine. I am currently researching my' Family History ' who came from Bidston and Claughton Village. Do you have any info on the Owens Family? or do you know of anybody who has? You can contact him at malcolm.owens -at - tiscali.co.uk.

July 31st 2007: From Leslie Anderson. Hi Mike, I stumbled upon your website by chance as I love reading up on local history, and all the memories came flooding back! My family moved to the Ford Estate in 1972 (I was about six) and although I lived there most of my childhood experiences revolved around the village. I went to Bidston CE Primary and was in the Church Choir from 1978 to1983. Almost as soon as we moved to the Ford, my sister & I were enrolled into the Sunday School which was the black and white timber church hall on the lane opposite the church which leads on to the Ford. Unfortunately this was burned down by vandals and the Sunday School was relocated to the Old School Hall which as you know is just further down and adjacent to Church Farm. I also went to school in this building as it was used as an extension to accommodate the oldest year of the modern Bidston CE during the seventies and our remember our class number swelling to 44 which was a lot, and due to the influx of children from the new Ballantyne Estate. I do remember the village shop still being open in the early 70's though not for long as I recall. I remember clearing the old churchyard with our Girl Guide troupe and couldn’t believe how far it went back, and we uncovered many really overgrown and ancient graves. I remember Banky Pemberton and my now husband and sister did bell ringing with him (I was hopeless at it). We went up Bidston Hill many times and my mum used to say how the Ford was all woodland and they used to come up from Birkenhead. The church featured largely in our lives and we witnessed quite a few changes as the interior was adapted to fit in with the more family orientated and practical side as many churches have had to do. Our organist and choirmaster was Roger O'Brien and he and his family later moved to Church Farm. I now live in Birkenhead, but that little village was a big part of my childhood. During these times when we see so much about conservation/restoration, surely Bidston has its own unique identity which must be retained for future generations to explore.

September 2007. I received an email from Julie in Australia. I was born in Birkenhead in1967 but came to Australia with my parents in 1969. On your site I saw an email from John Parkinson 2007. He says his grandparents owned Yew Tree Farm. Are you able to put me in touch with him at all as we are currently doing geneology research and Yew Tree farm was and still is owned by our relatives. Would love to be able to make some sort of connection....with thanks julie.

John, if you see this, I have Julie's email address.

From Jill Wilson. July 1st 2008: I really enjoyed reading all that you have posted on the web page , I was married at St. Oswalds Church , 30 years ago and reside in South Africa now.

August 16th 2008 - an email from Jenny Minshull: I was born and brought up in Claughton Village but left at the age of 18 (am now a ripe old 61). I was very very interested to see Margaret Parkinson of Bidston Village mentioned. I went to school with Beryl Parkinson. I haven't been in touch with her since I was 18. Could you give me any info as to who Margaret is and to whether I could get in touch with Beryl?

I have also been looking through old photos and found some of me, my boyfriend and Beryl taken in the back part of Ivy Collage. Not good photos, but you can see the thatched roof etc. I also have old photos, like really old of me knocking on the door of the Windmill! Your info is really really interesting and as got me going down memory lane. All those Saturdays spend on Biddy Hill with the dog, my auntie from Liverpool, and memories of Beryl, Roy, her brother and her worn-out looking father and mother, helping get in the hay and kissing the lads when no-one was looking (that was more Beryl than me!!).

Some people aren't interested in the past, but I am always fascinated by it  (past history in general), so maybe Beryl or a relative of hers would not be interested in getting in touch with me, but I would love to have some correspondence with them. I live in Germany (south of Munich) and have been here for over 30 years now. Thanks for all your fascinating info. Best wishes Jenny Minshull.

If Margaret (or Beryl) want to contact Jenny, her email address is minshull-at-orn.mpg.de; change the -at- for @.

This is Jenny in 1965 at Ivy Cottage (more below)

August 20th 2008: An email from Beryl Hull, nee Davies: I have to admit I was almost in tears viewing the site, but it also made my heart sing. As Bidston Farm and the Village always had a special place in my heart, as it still does today. My Uncle Tom and Auntie Dot had a special part in my life at that time. I just loved the huge kitchen that we played cards on cold winter days etc, and the warmth emanating from the fire.

I had spent many a joyous weekend with my cousins at the farm. It always felt as if I was being drawn there and that I needed to be there. No bathroom or toilet in those days, and we would wash every morning in the cold rain water barrel outside the scullery. Often I would ride my bike across from Wallasey  [I am afraid I have forgotten what the area was called] and lift my bike over the railway station bridge, and then up School Lane. Sometimes I would catch two buses or catch the train to get there.

We often played past the Parish Hall and walked miles across the fields and stiles, or play cricket. I believe those areas are now built on. I dutifully would go to church Sundays with my cousins.  Played on Bidston Hill, and the pathway through the beautiful rhododendrons seem to be a place of magic to me.  I have still retained a special fondness for rhododendrons after all of these years. Unfortunately, living in Queensland, Australia, the humid climate is not very good to grow them here. I do believe in the southern part of Australia it is possible to grow them beautifully.         

Seeing Banky Pemberton's name on your site also brought back memories too. We all played together as youngsters and spent many a happy times. Banky also tried to teach my cousins and I how to bell ring on one occasion.    I wonder if he still remembers me,  Beryl? I am so proud of the way that Stan has redecorated the farm, it looks magnificent.    Stan has done a wonderful job. How I would love to visit the old farm again. By the way my nieces still live in Moreton and Wallasey. Thank you again for all of the hard work Friends of Bidston are doing, in order to keep Bidston Village etc as it was. I would like to wish you all to have more support  and encouragement from the local authorities in your endeavours.

Beryl Parkinson at Ivy Cottage

Three more images from Jenny - Windmill 1950