Updat09 August 2008
Updat09 August 2008
Now Two Pages
Moreton Cross late 1940s
My earliest recollections of Leasowe and then Moreton are now based on what my mother related to me years ago. My own memory is vague now. I was born in Hull, Yorkshire and, at a very early age, moved to Wallasey, to Monks Road I believe. From there we moved into what was then the new estate of Leasowe (71 Twickenham Drive). It was in a three storey block of flats, 71 being in the middle) opposite my favourite haunt then, the sweet shop! Brian Lloyd emailed me in August 2006 to tell me that these shops were: Greengrocer; Grocer; Sweet Shop and Chemist. The grocers was called McCulloghs. These few shops are now residences. I remembered a sweet shop and a grocer but not sure what the other one (or two) were. I attended Birket Primary School from the age of 5. We moved sometime in the mid to late 50s to 14 Hoylake Road Moreton into a council house, newly built on the junctions of Fender Lane, Reeds Lane & Hoylake Road, directly opposite the Super Garage (Shell). I can remember the pile of mud that was to become the front lawn. I recall also the farm over the road, next door to the garage. The farm is still there (2004) but has diminished in both size and decor. Seemingly little more than a riding stable now. Indeed, most of the farm's land to the direction of Bidston is now a new housing estate (2004). I recall that it may have been called Catton's Farm, or Fender Farm. Fender Lane was then a tiny country lane leading past the two or three stone cottages on the roundabout, past the "figure of 8" ponds on the left, over the River Birket and on, over the railway bridge into Bidston Village then to Bidston Hill. Now it is a dual carriageway riddled with traffic lights and new estates. But in my youth, in the early 60s, it was a road to Utopia. I would spend many an hour, day and weeks roaming the vast (it was for me then!) landscape which separated Moreton from Bidston. Spend hours sitting on the ponds watching the dragonflies zipping in amongst the reeds, the odd brown rat, fish jumping, birds singing and, on occasion, some local lads fishing. When man landed on the moon in July 1969, I went there with my mate Lenny Wright (From Fairmead Road) in the early hours, got sunburnt by 10 am.
Moreton Cross, in the opposite direction was a crossroads of some significance. Hoylake Road went straight through and on to Meols, Hoylake, West Kirby, Caldy etc. Turning left took you past Christ Church, the Moreton Football club and Social, and on towards Overchurch and Upton. Turning right took you into Pasture Road, past the old "flea pit", the cinema where I got in for 9d on a Saturday morning, past the old Moreton Youth Club and Library, the "pink building" on the right, past the old and new libraries, excellent chip shops, over the railway bridge, passing Cadbury's factory on the right and the brick works on the left and towards Moreton Shore. The Apollo Dance Hall (still there in 2007) stands on the left hand side as you near the shore, next to the bus stops where the 22 would pull up from Birkenhead and the 77, also from Birkenhead Woodside, but via Prenton and Woodchurch.
The "world famous" Apollo Club (well, its world famous in
Moreton anyway!) Image taken 1 April 2007
Here there were the shanty town style stalls and the cafe's. On the right hand side of Pasture Road, as it sweeps round to the right to become Leasowe Road, were the seasonal visitors, in my teens, of the Wallis' Fun Fair. The main attraction being the Speedway. It was built just like a Waltzer but had fixed wooden motorbikes instead, and it went round at one heck of a speed sometimes! I actually fell off once, very luckily not breaking anything! We were the bravado's who, instead of sitting normally on the bikes, would "ride the bars" - sitting or standing against the safety bars, leaning heavily inwards against the centrifugal force generated by the circular speeds. Idiots! That's how I see it nowadays, but then - sheer bravado.
Crossing directly over this junction and the massive seawall beckoned. A few short steps to the rim and there lay the Irish Sea. Superb descriptions of the area can be found in Kenneth Burnley's books on the Wirral. Here lies yet another childhood memory. That of cockles! My father would, on occasion, bring me down and I would help him dig up cockles from the wide flat sand beds at low tide. There were others too there attending to the same harvest. In those days, I do not know if they were safe to eat even then. Locally there were pipes, going out to sea, which carried effluence from the town, semi treated I believe, according to Ken Burnley's books. Nevertheless, I appear to have suffered no long term effects!
Progressing along the seawall in the direction of Leasowe I distinctly recall an old black and white cottage, nestling beneath the wall on the landward side. This was directly opposite the Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital, now also sadly a thing of the past. Now "luxury apartments" and housing. Leasowe Castle, (mentioned in detail on a Wallasey page of mine) was now becoming the dominant landside feature as I carry on walking towards another Utopian haven of my youth, the Leasowe Sand Hills. The sand was soft, warmed by the sun. It was built up in huge drifts, protected by large areas of high tufted grassy banks. Here my dominant memory of the Sand Hills is as a teenager, listening, in the mid 60s, to Radio Caroline North on our plastic "trannies" (transistor radios). Groups of us would go down on bright blue summers days. This particular day, I was lying in the sand next to Gina Johnson. Now Gina was the most beautiful girl in Moreton (she actually lived in Royden Road, Overchurch) and was "unattached" at the time of this. We chatted most of the afternoon and I got up the nerve to ask her out, to which she agreed!! I left early to get changed and meet her at her house, misfortune intervened, she slashed her foot on some glass, and we never did date! In Aug 2005 there was a television programme on about the UK coastline, inch by inch, mile by mile. When the presenter got to North Wales he skipped the Wirral in its entirety and went on past Liverpool. Well, my friend, you missed a hell of a lot out. Parkgate, Hilbre, Thurstaston, the long long sea wall, a masterpiece of civil engineering.
Past the Hospital we reached the junction of Reeds Lane and Leasowe Road where, if you turn right, leads up to Birket Avenue, the river Birket passing underneath a few yards further on, then we pass the rear entrance to Cadbury's and on to the Leasowe hotel, a pub on the right hand side. Rounding a bend we can see Leasowe Station in the background as you pass the Leasowe Tennis Club and Social Club. The club was really a large shed but it was cosy. Over the railway lines and past Saxon road, Kingsmead Road, Daneswell Drive to the corner shop, Sydies on Avondale Avenue, a cul de sac leading to Sacred Heart School. The roundabout, now lights, was next and back onto Hoylake Road by my house.
But, back to Moreton Shore, if we walked onwards in the direction of Meols, the landward scenery turns distinctly bleaker and more "wild" as I pass the Leasowe Lighthouse, at that time derelict, and the occasional farm building and cottages. The lighthouse has now been restored and can be visited. I can just recall the remains of the shanty town which sprang up in the early 20th Century here, the wooden chalet type "hovels" which have mostly long since gone. I recall also seeing the submerged forest in my younger days, but sadly, at that time, meant little to me. There was a petrified forest here, showing above the sands, I can remember seeing it, but it has vanished now.
Moreton was, when I lived there, a relatively small, uninspiring place, where nearly everyone knew everyone else. Policeman like "Flash Harry" would lurk rather than patrol his beat and woe betide you if he caught you "messing about" - a clip across the back of the head was the order of the day. Nobody complained, unlike nowadays, it meant you deserved it! I had recourse to revisit Moreton again in Feb 2004 and was dismayed to see such a nice little place has degenerated into a haven of shops selling those £2.99 hand painted ornaments, sun tan parlours and fast food joints. The atmosphere has completely vanished that I knew, to be replaced by modern, hustle and bustle, no parking spaces, like many towns the length and breadth of the country. Moreton was once described as "unremarkable - Moreton in the Mud etc". In the late 50s and 60s it did actually develop character and charm, but sadly it did not last. I am so pleased to have left there so long ago.
I stood there, on Moreton Cross, where Les Turner's tobacconist used to be under the little arcade, next to the Plough, and watched the world go by, just as I used to do in the 60s, sitting on the stone wall alongside Chadwick St, or was it Oakenholt Road? Memories see? - slipping away? Nobody was paying any attention to each other, young mothers with overloaded prams screeching at the mongrel struggling alongside. Cigarette hanging out of the corner of her mouth. The child with jam stained bibs about its neck. The teated bottle of Ribena nestling on the canopy. The teenager runs out into the traffic, of which there is vast amounts for such a relatively small area. He is heedless of the swerving motorbike and accompanying horns. Progress? No, it surely is not.
Ken Burnley in his book "Portrait of Wirral" mentions a book I had read years ago, from the library. "The Rise & Progress of Wallasey", and mentions the optimistic tone of this 100 year old book, as it is now. Sorry, but progress in Moreton and Wallasey died when the current socialist incumbents took residence in the Town Hall and a long time tradition of Tory Members of Parliament were eventually ousted to be replaced by a socialist feminist. I have purchased a copy of this book, in 2006, but have yet to get to work on it. Also the advent of container shipping killed off what was left of dockland trade on the Wirral. I worked in many jobs up to when I joined HM Forces as a soldier. One of these was a trainee miller with Spillers at Pauls Mill on the docks. Was a car park for the Warship Museum which was closed down as it has fell to the developer who are now building "luxury" flats (2007). Next will come the "marina" I suppose, then it will be fenced off so Mr Joe Public cannot wander the docks as he used to. Luxury flats bring in more revenue to the Council than Historic Museums.
As a youngster and then young man in Wallasey I had high hopes of a good life, house, nice wife and trips with the kids to Bidston or the coast. I am not too sorry these dreams did not materialise. The latter dreams anyway. I did get the good wife, kids and house but not on Merseyside! Strangely enough, although I am not being too kind to Moreton, it was still the place where I was "dragged up" as I like to phrase it. I do often manage to haul my car back up the A5 and A41 to the beautiful Wirral. In Feb 2004 I spent a beautiful, freezing, couple of hours walking Bidston Hill, subject of its own page in here. Next time I shall come "home" will be to revisit West Kirby, see all those things so beautifully described by Ken Burnley which I somehow missed as I grew up and, eventually, left.
The name Moreton comes from the Anglo-Saxon mere - meaning a Lake, and ton - meaning Town. It was originally known as Moreton-cum-Lingham and was bounded by Great Meols to the West with Bidston and Wallasey to the South and East. Before the embankment was constructed, it was 3000 acres of tidal lagoon between one and two metres below sea level with most of the remainder little more than one metre above. Lingham means Heather Island and is derived from the Norse words Lyng, meaning heather, and Holm, meaning island. Leasowe - from the Anglo-Saxon Leasowes - means Meadow Pastures.
Moreton, Lingham and Great Meols have been occupied since before Roman times. Moreton became part of the Parish of Bidston and was the wealthiest and most productive part of the area run for the Birkenhead Priory. Although it was allowed to become run down during the early 1800's, the introduction of the Wirral Railway Line in 1866 brought day-trippers from Liverpool and further afield. By 1900 Moreton was again thriving and was even being recommended by doctors as a place for a holiday or a place to live because its fresh air and clean sea was seen as beneficial for conditions such as rheumatism. Moreton's association with health attracted the attention of Margaret Beavan who chose Leasowe as the place to build the Liverpool Open-Air Hospital for children with tuberculosis - later to become the Leasowe Children's Hospital when the National Health Service came into operation in 1948. Now demolished and is an estate of the "trendy" luxury apartments.
Moreton's population has grown from 165 in 1665 to the present-day (2000) figure of around 24,500. It was 210 in 1801 and 597 in 1901. There was a big jump between 1911 and 1921 when it went from 898 to 2,531. On 1st August 1928, Wallasey extended it's boundaries to include Moreton and by 1941 the population had grown to 5,000 -- expanding to over 7,700 in 1951. In 2004 Moreton barely resembles its own past, being built upon at an alarming rate, almost now touching Meols in the west, Greasy to its southwest and Upton, where there is now no discernable boundary. The population is probably treble what it was in the 1960s. The green belt between Bidston and Moreton is disappearing also as the housing creeps along Fender Lane.
The first road into Moreton was built from Great Meols in 1841 but it was not until 24 years later in 1865 that Moreton railway station was built on the Wirral Railway Line. It was opened on June 18th 1866, initially as a single-track line. In it's early days, the shelter on the Liverpool side of the line was used by the Moreton Football Club as a changing room. Leasowe station was built in 1895 when the Wirral Line was being converted to a double-track line. The line was electrified in the mid 1930's but, amazingly, a footbridge over the track was not added until 1947. Cole's Bus Service was the first motorised bus service in Moreton. Initially running between Moreton Shore and Moreton Station, the service was extended from the station to Moreton Cross when Birkenhead Municipal Transport started their service to Moreton Cross in 1920. The Crosville service started in 1925 with Wallasey joining, in 1928. Cole's service last ran in 1926.
Christ Church in Moreton was built in 1863 at a cost (which included a school) of 8,000 UK Pounds. It was built on land donated by Mr. Tom Webster. Mr. William Inman the Shipping Magnate of Upton manor donated the money for the buildings. Moreton's first Roman Catholic Church was built in 1923 at a cost of 1,200 UK Pounds. The money was raised by public subscription. The Church was pulled down in 1955 and replaced with the one which exists today.
Dating from the seventeenth century, the oldest of the three main public houses in Moreton was the Plough Inn and the Druids Arms. In the early 1930's it became known simply as the Plough Inn. The Farmers Arms dates from the late 1700's and even in the early 1900's, parts were still being used as a farm. The youngest public house, the Coach and Horses dates from the early 1800's. The original building was knocked down and replaced in 1928. The Moreton Church of England School was built for a cost of 745 UK Pounds and was opened on 21st February 1861. The bricks used to build it were hand-made from a marl pit on the stretch of road between Moreton and Great Meols (The Meols Stretch). The school was pulled down in 1975. Leasowe Lighthouse was built in 1763 with 660,000 hand-made bricks and is the oldest lighthouse in England. Originally two were built - the second was a quarter of a mile out to sea but was washed away during a storm in 1769. It was replaced by one on Bidston Hill in 1771, not the present one. Vessels would line up the two lights and would then be able to enter the Rock Channel or the Hoyle Lake for safe anchorage. It was last used on 15th July 1908.
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Did a trip up on 14th June 2006 to have a look around. This is the old Moreton Youth Club | Looking towards the Cross on Pasture Road |
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The Coach & Horses. This, and the pub on Twickenham Drive, Leasowe, is where I learnt the art of darts | Oakenholt Road, this was a bustling indoor market for many years. |
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The clinic in Oakenholt Road, now has a strange obscure title? | Plough Inn and Sacred Heart Church. Churches were always open to the public but now locked and barred. Sign of the times, unfortunately. |
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Moreton Cross. The sign says Dual Carriageway, but it - isn't! | This used to be, on the right, Les Turners shop, left was a cake shop, it used to be under an arcade roof, shame its been removed. |
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Sacred Heart Social Club, to the rear. It was here a comedian got thrown out in the 60s for saying, when looking at the cross at the rear, I see your last comic went down well!!! Oops! | The Cross from Upton Road, near Christ Church. |
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And Again, from Upton Road | The local "nick" in Chadwick Street, been in there a few times I can tell you!! |
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Back around to Hoylake Road and the Cross. Coach & Horses on the left. | Sacred Heart Junior School, Primary Section off to the right. I was at this school, I recall getting sent for the cane once - with Steve Hollywood. We went into the loos and put our hands in hot water, then went back up! hehe! |
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Hoylake Road. My home was down far end, left. | Looking back on Hoylake Road towards the Cross. Furthest shop ion the row was Alderney Dairy, real old fashioned, wooden floored shop. |
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The Olde & The New!
On February 18th 2008 I was passing through Moreton on one of my photo missions to the Wirral and popped into the Shoe Repairers on The Cross. He had some photo prints of post cards for sale and I bought 3. A bit expensive mind you but necessary for this article on the changing faces of The Cross.
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1. Moreton Cross looking from the vicinity of The Plough, towards Christ Church. |
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1. The same shot, from the approximately the same angle today (18th Feb 2008) |
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2. On Pasture Road looking towards The Cross. note Picture House on left |
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2. Same shot, slightly lower angle, Picture House long long gone (about 48 years ago now) |
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Looking in the opposite direction, down Pasture Road. A note said 1950s, its not, this is early 60s. |
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And, the same shot in February 2008 |
I have never noticed this before today, the annotation around the
base of the clock. does anybody know its significance?
March 2008: Email received: Lil (Thomas) Jackson here, the clock on the
roundabout was dedicated to the late Joyce (Rigby) Leech a family friend who
died quite young and
very suddenly, she was a devoted youth worker at Moreton Youth Club. I would
like to get in touch with Linda Austin who was asking for me on your page
after I wrote my article.
Les Turners little tobacconist shop was here, on the right, under an arcade, the left side was a cake shop
Next to Les Turner's was/is The Plough.
V Day street party, I believe on Pasture Avenue
Arrowe Avenue (Feb 18th 2008) I
was asked to visit this street for a couple of shots for an ex-pat!
Down the left hand side here, and possibly the right, were wooden chalet type
houses. Sammy Aspey, a school chum, lived in one of them.
and at the bottom of Arrow Avenue
May 5th 2008. I decided to take another drive up
to Moreton to claim some images of places driven past, or bypassed, that are
also changing
beyond recognition. Some familiar names and familiar roads of my past, and
probably yours.
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Hoylake Road. A favourite "chippy" was Anna's. Now known as Blue Moon. The shutters are symptomatic of the times |
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This used to be Gates of Moreton. Mr Gates and his son ran the car showroom and I worked the forecourt. Mid 60s. Hoylake Road |
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Opposite Gates of Moreton, this used to be Moreton Engineering, a famous local landmark and company. Hoylake Road |
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Another favourite "chippy" was the Blue Sea, still there, same owners, Hoylake road. |
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Hoylake Road. Looking towards what was MSM School. Jet & The Super Garage were on the right hand side. I lived in the second to last house, far end. |
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Avondale Avenue, off Reeds Lane, leads to the Primary School of Sacred Heart. Cul de Sac. |
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What was Moreton Secondary Modern (MSM); now Cleremont School |
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Looking down Reeds Lane towards Leasowe station |
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Fender Lane, leads from Moreton to Bidston and Birkenhead. Used to be a single narrow lane road, surrounded by open fields. Then farm farm sold its land to developers. |
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Looking back from Fender Lane to what was the Super Garage & The Jet Garage. How the Jet got planning permission, in the 60s, to build right next to the Super, which was Shell, was the subject of many a tongue. Councillors and backhanders? |
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Hoylake Road, leading towards Moreton Cross and Hoylake beyond. |
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Reeds Lane, Avondale Avenue on left. Shop was called Sydies, my own little "heaven" on earth when little! |
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This WAS the site of the Leasowe Station Signal box. A Wheel driven contraption opened the heavy gates to allow the trains to pass through. See further below, in emails, for image taken in 1987 |
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The old bridge still conveys pedestrians across the rails when the barriers are down |
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Train from West Kirby arrives at Leasowe Station on its way to Liverpool. |
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The same train now heading towards Bidston station, some distance away |
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A "zoom" shot of the train arriving at Bidston. |
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The automatic barriers that replaced the gates |
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"Zoom" shot looking back towards Moreton Station (Meols, Hoylake & West Kirby beyond). |
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Eastway Primary School |
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St John's Ambulance Centre in Barnston Lane. Well recalled from my 60s days. I would regularly pass here, walking to my girlfriends home. |
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Also in Barnston Lane, possibly the oldest building left in this area now? |
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The date stone above the door in the above image in Barnston Lane. |
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Farmers Arms Public House, Barnston Lane |
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This used to be the Salvation Army Chapel in Barnston Lane. Barnston Lane runs parallel with Pasture Road, behind the Coach & Horses |
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This "used" to be Barnston Lane Primary School but not sure exactly what it is now, looks like some sort of Units? |
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Lingham Park, little known outside the immediate area. |
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Lingham School |
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Curlew Way flats |
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Curlew Way, the home on the left housed the Gooding family. I courted Tricia. I believe that Tricia & sister Carol are now in Australia. |
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Ternway, bitter sweet memories for me |
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On Ternway, this view was once fields and agriculture, all the way to Meols. Now, yes, more houses. |
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Amusing little home found on Bermuda Road. Chalet type homes of this sort were found all over Moreton, in particular Arrowe Avenue and near Moreton shore. |
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Junction of Bermuda Road and Hoylake Road, near to the Grange. |
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The Grange Public House, Hoylake road |
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Hoylake Road, looking towards Moreton Cross, from Bermuda Road |
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Locals will recall that there appears to have always been Dodds, the builders, in the Bermuda road, they are still there! |
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This was the playground entrance to St Thomas Becket Secondary School, my old school, on Ely Drive |
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But the School has long gone, now known as Foxfield School or something. Headmaster office was those windows on the left extention. I had the cane in there on a number of occasions!!! |
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Driving back towards The Cross |
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The junction of Pasture Road and Pasture Avenue. That chippy always had "hot" chips in the 60s!! |
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Opposite the junction, the Morton Arms (often wondered why it was spelt different). Always was a spit and sawdust pub, probably still the same. |
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This used to be Cadbury's Factory on Pasture Road, Moreton. Went through several transformations, now Burton's Biscuits. They supply Cadbury's Minworth (where I currently work) with biscuits. I recall a radio show of the 60s, "Workers Playtime" on BBC Radio, which did a variety show in factories all over. They came here. I think it was Bob Monkhouse who was on and recall his remark, "I nearly went Past-ure road!!" |
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Pasture Road, leading to Moreton Shore and Leasowe Lighthouse. |
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The Rear of the factory (Burton's) which is actually on Reeds Lane, Leasowe. |
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Twickenham Drive Leasowe. I was living here, in these flats up to about 5 |
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Used to be our local shops, now dwellings. |
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And the flat I lived in, centre right No 71. |
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And my first local, The Oyster Catcher, aged 16. Learnt to play darts here. ME, Steve Hollywood, Albie Thompson, George Lowden |
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An email from Ann Colclough. Spain - June 2005. I lived in Fairmead Road from when the houses were finished in 1947, and went to Eastway Primary School, and thence to the Technical Grammar School for Girls in New Brighton, no mixed schools in those days! When I was 4, and sent with older and younger brother for a walk one winters afternoon, I fell into the water right by the breakwater photo you show. (See Wallasey Pages) A complete stranger waded into the water as my heavy overcoat was dragging me out with the tide, and saved me. I made the papers, but we never did find out who he was. I joined the Army in 1962, and had never been back to Moreton until 2002, when I took my husband to show him where I grew up. Like you I was very disappointed, but unlike you I didn't know why. The place appeared to be thriving, so I decided it must be me, I'm over 60 now and thought memory was playing tricks on me! The Post Office is where is always was, and the Coach and Horses, but little else. My Mum used to work in the cinema, and then for a while in the chippy next door, so you may well have been served in one place or the other by her! The pictures of Moreton Cross brought a particular memory for me. My eyesight was always very poor, but I hated the National health glasses. If I met a boy at the Tower, chances were I wouldn't recognise him from a distance. I used to arrange to meet him at the Cross, walk down to Danger Lane bus stop, get the bus, go round the roundabout with glasses on, and if he looked ok, I got off at the cross, if he didn't I got off at the next stop and walked home over the field! I am now off to send details of your page to all the friends from Eastway School that I've contacted through Friends Reunited, they'll be as tickled as me I'm sure! You brought back a lot of memories, thank you. Ann. And thank you too Ann for your email. August 2005: I have a puzzle for you here. Wendy, who used to live in Leasowe, sent me this newspaper clipping and we were wondering if anybody had a date for this event? Here is the image: Also, is the cross still wired up?
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Kate Wheelwright emailed me (Nov 13th 2006) with the following information regarding the above newspaper cutting on the illuminated Spire: Rev. Charles Edward Wormell was Rector there from 1926 to 1949. Could this have been something to celebrate either the end of WW2 or maybe the Jubilee of King George V? I attended Christ Church from 1952 to 1959 and was a regular bell ringer there from 1955-1959 and the spire was not illuminated during that time nor was there any reference made to it, to my knowledge, so I am thinking it may well have been prior to 1945 (end of the war) when this was done. October 4th 2005: I agree with all of the comments from the other people (Older generation). I am 32 now and have lived here all my life. I remember my summer holidays playing on the fields at the back of Fender Farm. Going to the pond at Upton Park and collecting frog spawn and my mum going nuts saying where are we going to put the spawn. (They lived in a bucket outside the back door). You could buy batter bits from Sids chippy (The Blue Sea on Hoylake Road) for 5p. You could get a bus to New Brighton for 5p as well. Now 5p wont even get you a bag off pick n mix. I have seen standards in Moreton change for the worse not better I am afraid. The pushing of prams, single parents, drugs and arrogant teenagers all spoiling this once great village. There are only policeman when their has been a break in or a fight in the pub. You cant leave your back door open, you don’t like to be in certain areas of a night because of the local hooligans. I think I am fortunate that I had a good upbringing as the younger generation don’t seem to of. On a happier note my Moreton childhood was brilliant. Days out with my friends along the Birket, going down to the shore, bike riding along the front down to New Brighton (Then realising that you have to ride home), Carrying my mums shopping home for her. (When was the last time you saw that in Moreton). Coming out of the dentist on Upton Road and going to Sayers for a cake after a filling. I just wish that my next 32 years can hold some of the charm that I experienced when I was younger. But I fear unless Moreton can clean up its act it will only degenerate more. To many charity shops, too many pubs, too many bargain junk shops too many cafes and too many fast food shops. Moreton as changed…..(Sadly). Regards Ian Burrows My thanks to Lil Jackson (nee Thomas) for the following email. Aug 2005: I have lived here all my life, 70yrs. I try to look at Moreton with rose coloured glasses, but I am afraid I am kidding myself. I loved it as a child, so many places to explore, so many things to do. Tap dancing at Miss Jenny’s dancing school at the corner of Bermuda road and Hoylake Road, and then later tap dancing lessons at the parish hall in Hoylake Rd next door to the school, with Mrs Whitelys school of dance, the pictures on a Friday night as long as someone could take us in. Not being the right age, (not done these days) and then going to the chip shop for 3 pennyworth of chips and sometimes a fish cake for 3d. Days out at Leasowe Sandhills, coming home dead tired but happy and looking forward to the next day to go again. Can’t remember if it ever seemed to rain then, I remember standing by the front gate in a new plastic mac waiting for it to rain, it took a few days! Joining the Moreton Youth Club in Upton Road school, so many activities, we joined the Moreton Girls Choir, with the then headmaster conducting, Mr Davies. We travelled all the way to Rock Ferry Baths to sing in a concert!! The RAF Camp (near Greasby), the Floral Pavilion, and not forgetting The Ritz Birkenhead, where we supported Tessie O'Shea twice nightly and 3 times on Saturday. Happy happy days. And thanks to Clive Hatton for this lovely email dated 22 August 2005: Just looked at your Moreton website - talk about nostalgia! We must have been neighbours, only one street away, but at a different time. We lived at 24 Avondale Avenue - on the roundabout at the top of the Ave - close to Sacred Heart school which we went to. They built a new Catholic Church (Sacred Heart again?) after we emigrated; my mum sent money to have some bricks with our name on them when the new church was being constructed. Our family left for Montreal, Canada in 1953, I was 9 at the time. I returned for a quick visit in 1989 and saw the air-raid shelter where I was born during an air raid, still standing. I had the same snapshot of the street as you, I think you have to pay for them now. I believe all of the old neighbours are passed on now. A boyhood pal, John Conroy, from Avondale Ave emigrated to Toronto, Canada years later and we met several times - small world, eh! Also the Brereton family who I think lived on Stavordale, I believe one of them became quite a motor-bike racer on the Isle of Man. I remember the sand hills; and what we called Moreton Bug House - there must be a flea connection somewhere, lol; the farm you mentioned on Reeds Lane was Enion's Farm (I think that's the right spelling); hikes to Bidston and my brother telling scary tales in the woods there and the "forbidden" observatory; I can still taste the fish 'n' chips - not the same here -even in "Brit" pubs; trips to Arrow Park; Guy Fawkes night at the bottom of the Ave and fighting off the "Saxons" of Saxon Road with our home made bows & arrows; a trip to the seashore seemed to take a week to arrange; I think Lil Jackson was right about lots of sunshine - I can't recall a rainy day either. I remember caroling at Xmas in the snow with short pants/no boots and blue light flashes from the electric train lines by the station caused by the snow; Hewlett's shop at the bottom of the Ave where we'd spend our tanner allowance. Never thought I could remember so much from that tender age! There's a lot more memories in there somewhere, just have to dust off the cobwebs a bit. Cheers from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. I'm only about 7-8000 miles from "home". Clive Hatton. From Heather Brown (nee Murray) - December 2005 My name is Heather Brown ( nee Murray). I used to live in Pasture Avenue from the time I was born, 1957- 1971 and then Heathmore Road 71- 77. I went to Eastway Primary School, Moreton Sec. Girls School - Upton Road and then Wallasey Tec. High for Girls. I was married at Christ Church in April 77 and moved away with my husband to Germany and then Essex where I have lived for the past 27 years. I haven't been home since 87 when my father died. If anyone remembers me I would like to hear from them. I have fond memories of home and all the adventures my three brothers and two sisters had - Bidston Hill, Sandhills, Moreton Shore. The fair in the summer. Love to hear from someone. heather.catnap (at) tiscali.co.uk. Change (at) for @ to email heather directly. March 2006: From Linda Austin. Your reflections of the area are wonderful. I left in 1968 and have lived in Canada ever since. I did return to Moreton in 1978. As we lived next to the Moreton Arms, on my return trip, I sat on the pub wall and watched the people going by. I must have gone to every chippy in the area. I still miss them and the mushy peas. You have to go to Vancouver to get the really good fish and chips. You have a message from Lillian Jackson (nee Thomas). Would you send her my e-mail address and ask her to contact me? Her parents and mine were very good friends at the Legion. That was when the Legion was in the "little tin hut" in Moreton. Keep up the good work. Lillian, if you read this contact me ok. April 2006: Angela O'Hare is 65 and has lived in Moreton all her life. She was wondering what was the name of the "Flea Pit" on Pasture Road, near the Cross. I thought it was simply the Moreton Picture House but probably wrong. Contact Angela here angela(at)aohare.wanadoo.co.uk - changing the (at) for @ of course. June 2006: I called into the church on 14th and asked three ladies there about the cross mentioned in the newspaper clipping above, not one of them has any idea and it does not appear in the Church history. From Kevin. December 06: Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed browsing through your web pages. I was born in Moreton (Highfield Hospital to be precise) in 1965 and spent most of my growing years there until my parents moved to Birkenhead in the late 70's. We lived initially in Wastdale Drive on the Lingham Estate then moved to Orchard Road in 1968. My brother & sister still live in Moreton after being born there. My childhood was one which was troubled to most people and I have a feeling our family unfortunately were one of the ones which may have been well known locally for our Dad who was well acquainted with the local pubs were I spent many a night on the doorstep waiting for him while my mother worked the night shift at St Catherine's Hospital in Birkenhead. My sister Sandra Gooding (nee Tunstall) tragically died after falling 11 floors from Millhey Heights in 1971. However despite all the sadness I have so many other great compensating memories that are basically centred around the great neighbours and people who lived around the neighbourhood. Les Turners was a name I hadn't heard for a while and I remember the cake shop in that arcade where you would get a great 'iced bun'. I remember the distinct smell of 'Cushions' hardware store and remember the laundry\drycleaners on Chadwick Street and visiting the other 'bagwash' on Hoylake Road, where my favourite teddy's eye melted in 1970! I still scarred from that episode! Moreton was a great place to be as a kid and Wallis's fair was a seasonal favourite along with light night games of 'kirbsy' outside our house in Orchard Road. I loved the sports days at Eastway School and have happy memories of competing in the sack race and the egg and spoon race. Mr Rawlinson was the Headmaster and was incredibly understanding of my days away from school. I've lived in New Zealand for the past 21 years and like you have a memory of sitting on a Crossville bus as a child, bound for Liscard thinking how I'd have a big house on Upton Road with a great wife and a load of kids I could take to fish for stickle backs in the Birkett. Not quite the same here in NZ but I'm very happy anyway and certainly very happy for the childhood days spent in Moreton and the people who helped shape me. And yes I remember many conversations about 'Flash Harry' - I think my Dad was acquainted with him very well!! An Email from John Parkinson, in March 2007, recalls: I was born on the 10th of August 1947 at 20 Orchard Road Moreton. My father had a bakers and confectioners on Moreton Cross what is now Sayers we had the shop until the early 60's. Bethels Butchers I don't know if it is still there it was a few years ago was there then. I remember my parents saying that all the shops owners there did OK during the war. There was a murder in the late 50's, early 60's, when a man shot the wife of the manager of Bethels. The clock tower could have been lit up when they used to light the windmill on Bidston Hill. My grandfather had a farm down Mary Anne lane called Yew Tree Farm and I went to Moreton C of E the Headmaster was Mr Appleyard and my first teacher was MIss Eastwood. An email From Ken Parrington, now in the land of Oz, May 2007: I was surfing the web nostalgically looking for my my old primary school in Lingham Lane, Moreton when I stumbled across your site. It was great to read about where I was raised and to be able to show my wife. I lived in Moreton with my parents until late 1970 when we moved to Australia. I have lived in Australia ever since, apart from a couple of years in the USA. My main memories are of life in Inglewood avenue and strolling down to the shop at the corner of Arrow Avenue. There used to be some woods at the end of Inglewood Avenue that I was never allowed to play in but somehow always ended up there. I used to regularly visit my auntie who lived near Bidston hill and I still have memories of how huge the windmill used to seem. Anyway, thanks for putting up the site it was interesting re-discovering my first home town. By the way I'm still after all these years an avid Everton supporter. Up the blues!! Regards Ken Parrington. Email: May 29th 2007: Yesterday (bank holiday Monday) I took mum for a drive around Moreton. Mum will be 80 in July but she remembers clearly visiting her grandma, aunts and uncles, who had a small gents and ladies outfitters in Moreton. This would have been between about 1930 and 1934ish. The very small shop was at 2 Seaview buildings, Hoylake Road, Moreton. Mum just about remembers it as a little row of very small shops. From the pictures we have of grandma standing at the back door, it looks for all the world like a few old terraced houses which just happened to be shops at the front: at the back the bricks look quite old, there are sash windows, and the door - from the little kitchen "extension" - opened at right angles to the kitchen window into a small yard. Grandma was blind, her son and daughters ran the shop. Inside the shop was a counter, lots of drawers and a bentwood chair. The daughters liked my mum and she was allowed to sit on the chair, all important, and play shop until a customer came in. We drove up and down looking for any trace of 2 Seaview Buildings, Hoylake Road, Moreton, but couldn't find anything. I couldn't even find a sea view!!!! I wonder if any of your visitors might have any knowledge of this shop? The family (Ralston) were back in Liverpool by 1938, we have no idea whether the next proprietors carried on the same business. Best wishes Hilary - barbarahilary at ntlworld.com (replace at with @ no spaces - to email Hilary with news). June 2007 has been a bit of a mixed month, email wise, so far. I got a particularly nasty and bad mannered email purporting to be from an old school friend who, quite frankly, I would have thought more of, if it was indeed of him. I suspect not. The second email received this month is from Mal in Germany who tells me: I left Moreton in 1974 to join the army and I have lived in Germany ever since. I do go back every year to visit family and to pickup my mum who comes and stays with us. I agree that Moreton Cross has some what has lost it’s character and more often that not looks filthy. My memories of my childhood are very vivid as I had a fantastic time growing up in Moreton. I was born in Highfield hospital on 2Nd March 1957. We lived at 47 Twickenham Drive, Leasowe moving to 34 Ternway, Moreton in I think 1969. I first attended Birket infants, then Lingham Primary, St.George's and finally Wallasey Tech. I had a good upbringing although money was sparse. I was taught to respect my elders, which I did and was taught the differnce between right and wrong. This sadly doesn’t seam to happen anymore as I have been verbally abused on my past two trips there. As a small child living in Twicky we had the swings right behind us and beyond that and the football pitches a sandy area where we would go and dig huge tunnels, not thinking at the time of the danger involved. We sometimes went to the shore at the weekends which was like going on holiday. We never had a car so we walked there which didn’t do us any harm. We would take jam butty’s and if we were lucky a bottle of pop. Living in Moreton I often went to the shore with my friends and more often than not got one hell of a sun burn. We started to be brave and often camped in our tents next to the Berbo?? camping sight. We had a huge quarry not far away and because I was regarded as sensible the parents of younger children went with us. We went round there jumping and diving into the quarry. I felt it was my duty to return the smaller kids home, looking clean and gave eight of them a bath whilst my mum was out doing the ever increasing shopping. She retuned to see the house full of kids, she was really impressed ....not. I have three brothers and one sister and between us we had one bike. This I used for doing my paper round at the Card Shop at Moreton Cross. The paper round on Sundays I did with such enthusiasm....not. The papers weighed a ton and more often than not my bike needed repair so I sometimes ran the round. As I mentioned I loved it as a child growing up there but I am very dismayed when I go back there. Hearing the foul language (we never swore at home) and the rubbish in the streets, is disappointing. Best wishes - Mal June 12th 2007: Paul Tinsley sent me an email: Thanks for a great website and good to see that so many people have taken an interest in it. I AS Kenny was born in 1965 and attended Christ Church School on Hoylake Rd before it was demolished in 1971 whilst there if we stayed for school dinners we had to walk to Barnston Lane. Happy days and it just seemed like everyone knew each other and I hated going to the Cross because my mum stopped and spoke to everyone. I live in Tranmere and have done for twenty two years and visit mum in Moreton each week but I must say the atmosphere has changed as i found out going into one of the pubs for the first time in twenty years. I think that's the same all over. Nice to hear that Ken is doing well he went to Lingham Middle School and I remember him well. Regards Paul T. June 24 2007: Also from Paul: Do you have any information about the flying fortress that went down in fields killing all 20 plus US aircrew during the war years i think it was travelling from northern Ireland when it went down near Landican, there is a plaque on the Durley Industrial Estate which was erected about seven or so years ago? Also anyone who attended the Church Of England junior school in Hoylake Rd, Miss Eastwood’s class she was about 80 then well it seemed and was still going only a few years ago, 1970 class which was the last intake before we moved to Upton Rd. Paul would like to hear from you. You can contact him on - p.tinsley3 at ntlworld.com - replace at with @ (October 2007: A reply about the plane crash - from Australia. My daughter downloaded your website for me to read because I was born in Birkenhead and lived there until I emigrated to Australia with my fiance (now husband) at the age of nineteen. One of your contributors (Paul, June 24 2007) was asking about a plane crashing near Landigan. I remember my mam telling me when I was young, that at the exact time I was born, a plane carrying Americans crashed in Arrowe Park and everyone on board was killed. I was born at 4pm on Thursday 18th October 1944. I hope this helps Paul. Your website brought back a lot of memories of my childhood ,as my sister used to be a "clippie" on the number 22 bus from Birkenhead to Moreton and I used to catch her bus in Conway Street and do the round trip to Moreton shore and back with her. I felt "very important" because she was my big sister. Keep up the good work. Regards, Pam Corbett, New South Wales.) July 3rd 2007: Colin Tunstall mailed me from Moreton. I have just spent the last couple of hours looking at your web site and reading about what you had to say about Moreton, It was absolutely fascinating, I was born in 59 Wastdale Drive Moreton in August 1953 and have spent my life here in Moreton, There is so much I remember about Moreton and as I read your web site it all came flooding back, I can remember Mortimer's toy shop where we stood in the window and looked at the toys wishing we had the money to buy them but we didn't because we were short of money in them days in our family, My dad only worked as a driver for the Wirral Borough Council, that was at the back of the shops on Hoylake Road where ATS Tyres now stands, He also had a job of a night as a barman in the Coach and Horses and the Grange to make up the money, Unfortunately for us he then drank most of it after he'd earned it, My mum was a nurse at Leasowe Hospital for many years then went on to work at Mill Lane and VCH ( Victoria Central Hospital ) I have loads of memories of things you haven't mentioned like the two lagoons down at the Shore were we used to make rafts and paddle across the water, The old Moreton tip were we used to go and make dens out of all the old rubbish, there's just so much you could go on for ever; (well I know I could) funny really because when I get into conversation with people about Moreton and the old days I remember that much that my wife always say's to me " How bloody old are you", I think if I ever got into conversation with you I would end up talking the head off you, Anyway Mike I just wanted to say thanks for that site I'm really enjoying it and the links to some of the other stuff too. July 27th 2007: An Email from Tony Murray. Hi, I really enjoyed reading your website on Moreton. I was brought up in Danger lane and it brought back a lot of memories. There is a story I would like to relate and hope you could offer some advice. I was born in 1957 and attended Sacred Heart School until about 1969 when I left to go to Thomas A Becket. About 1966 – 1968 we had a Summer fair at Sacred Heart School, It was opened by the great footballer Dixie Dean who played for England, Everton and Tranmere. I would have been about 9 or 10 and there was a newspaper photographer there, I don't know if he was from the Wallasey News or the Birkenhead news, he took some photos of me and a couple of other children in a circle playing" football "with Dixie Dean. I never seen or heard anything about the photos and don't know if they were ever printed, but I would love a copy of one if they exist anywhere. Fancy having a picture of myself kicking a football with the player who still holds the record for the most goals scored in a season. If you have ever come across the photos are have some contacts who might be able to help I would be very grateful. I also remember the "petrified" forest on Moreton Shore. Thank you very much for bringing back some memories. (The newspaper involved has to have been the Daily Post or Liverpool Echo??? - mk) July 28th 2007: Got an email from Allan Tucker. Just been looking at some old photos and I came across a photo of my school, Moreton Secondary Modern in 1960 so I have attached them. Its actually one of those panorama ones about a mile long so I have split it up. Sorry the files are so big but I wanted to be able to see the faces. I lived in Harvest Lane from about 1950 to 1974 when we emigrated to N.Z. Went to Lingham Lane school and then on to Moreton Secondary Modern. Got an apprenticeship at Cadburys as a fitter. Some of the things on your website could have been written by me, we all used to do the same things and remember the place of our childhood. Do you remember a pond at the back of the brickworks called "Black Harry's" or something very similar, we used to fish there it was very popular with local anglers until they filled it in. I remember the Tennis club too, I played in a band there on Saturday nights in the early sixties, I still have my guitar and it still smells of the place, it was a funny smell :)
I would like
to make contact with Kevin Tunstall who email you, I knew his sister that died
very well, as a teenager we hung around together, duffle coat's and drainpipes.
Just thought of the "Drive Inn" coffee bar next to the petrol station on Hoylake
Road, that was a place for black leather jackets and Mods and Rockers.
Mortimer's toy shop, remember that as a kid..... The 1960 photo's of MSM School, Reeds Lane. Click to enlarge.
August 14th 2007. Andrew Brown emailed me from Australia. I was raised in Moreton having arrived in 1965 and went to Eastway Primary (Mr Rawlinson, who sadly died last year I am told, was headmaster), Moreton Middle (I remember my first school day in long trousers at Moreton Middle) and Wallasey Grammar/Henry Meoles. I lived in a cul de sac next door to the Atlantic Garage, which was almost as close as you could get to the Cross. Many happy days were spent in Bethel's sweet shop run by the elder Mrs Bethel (Bethel's the butcher was next door - where I was always called 'Hovis') – also collecting the 'Echo' from Haig's (later Williams' but I always call it Haig's) on the corner of Hoylake/Chapelhill Roads. Fish and chips were a specialised matter: Dad preferred the Blue Sea opposite Sacred Heart School but the walk to Anna's was shorter and the chips hotter when you got home – chips with curry sauce, ah sheer nectar!. Many times my mates and I cycled to Biddie Hill where there was a small village shop, and I never properly learned to swim because my Dad thought learning to swim entailed throwing your son in at the deep end of Guinea Gap Baths. My father is interred at Christ Church (by Mr Rawlinson when he was vicar there), where my brother and sister were both christened. I also remember the farm opposite Moreton Middle because a school mate, Dave Catton, lived there. (Opposite my house - mk) My treasured possession at home is a Matchbox No 77 Birkenhead Transport Bus destined for 'Moreton Shore', where I remember the tank traps and going cockling with Dad. (The 77 ran from Woodside, via Prenton & Woodchurch to Moreton Shore - mk) I visited Moreton again in July 2006 and walked around the old haunts and while much has changed (sadly not greatly for the better) there was so much that came flooding back and your photos and memories rekindled those happy memories when kids mucking around unsupervised in the district and mums hollering to them to come in for tea, were normal sights and sounds. Happy days indeed and thank you. Andrew Brown NSW, Australia. September 2007 and Steve Hallam emailed me from Australia. I was born at Highfield Hospital in 1952 and when about 4 moved to the new housing estate at Leasowe. We lived at 237 Twickenham Drive, in the small cul-de-sac opposite the school. I remember the 4 shops where my mum used to take us shopping before the shops were built by Birkett School. I went to Birkett Primary when Mr Hughes was headmaster and we were taught by Mr Boyce and I think Mr Sharpe. I then went to Wallasey Grammar in Liscard but when the new one was built at Leasowe I went there for my final year. I was at the opening ceremony for the new grammar school. I was also in the 23rd Wallasey Scouts which was based at St Chad's Church. The original one not the new one. Dad got his petrol at the Atlantic Garage. By then we had moved to Moreton (1967) and lived in Knutsford Green off Hoylake Road. Our Sundays were always spent at Bidston Hill or Thursaston or Neston. I was a paper boy at Williams paper shop and we all still called it Haighy's. Fish and chips were always from Anna's and we spent many a cold evening in the hot chippy on the pinball machine. Sometimes if we had been drinking at the Cross we might get curry and chips from the Golden Sunrise. When we ran out of milk there was a little milk machine outside Les Turners where you could get a small carton. (this is the machine where, if you kicked it in the right place, you got a freebie!! - mk). Moreton Youth Club was another place. There was a great leader there at the time. Peter something. (Blackley - mk). I played football at Moreton Football Club and spent many a great night at the social club there. (See my link here Moreton Youth Club - mk). I seem to remember a supermarket opening up where you collected punch cards instead of food, then took the cards to the till and they ran them through a machine. It must have printed out a list somewhere out back, because after a while someone came out with your basket of shopping. As we grew up we drank at the Coach or the Plough or Friday nights at the Grange. My sister still lives in Knutsford Green, she works at the Farmers Arms and I also have another sister who lives off Lingham Lane. I left Moreton in 1976 to work in Bath and then emigrated to Australia in 1990 where I am now. Regards Steve Hallam. November 7th 2007: An email from Roger Clague. When I came across your web-site I could not believe so many of us did the same things, same places, and same ages. I remember during my school days ay MSM we performed a play “ A Midsummer Nights Dream “ I think that was one of our most exciting projects, all helping Mr,Roy with the scenery and Mr, Fordham as director. The Moreton community players came and did our make up and costumes etc. It was one of my most exciting times at school. I worked at Ramsdens newsagents on Moreton Cross delivering papers to Upton Road and Rosslyn Drive area 12 shillings a week aged 13. I left after two years, and got a job delivering milk £1. 2s. 6p. all this money I saved and went on holiday with the school firstly to Rome then to Copenhagen, is there any one out there remembers this. It cost £24 to go to Rome for 10 days, During which time Mr & Mrs Shadrack proved to be very caring people. Coming home from school each night I passed the MSM school for girls in Upton Road, I was always looking for one particular girl her name was Christinr Waring who lived on Hoylake Road (near Borrowdale Road). Christine and I were married in 1968 at the Baptist Church on Hoylake Road Moreton, we have been married for 39 years, 3 children, 2grandchildren. After leaving school we left Christ Church youth club and went to the Baptist youth club on Hoylake Road. I spent a lot of time with old school friends, David Able (Hallie) David Collister (Cogsie) Stewart Dudley (Stew) Leonard Stanley (Sticky) Roy Holmes, Gordon Holt, Ron Meadows to name but a few. We went to the New Brighton ballroom on a Thursday night (no alcohol) there we saw the Beatles for the first time. Jack Woollam. Greetings from New Zealand! 31st March 2008: I've just recently been made aware of your marvellous website which, after a quick browse, brought back all sorts of happy memories of my childhood in Moreton. My name is Jack Woollam, born in 1936 and coming up to age 72 in a few days time. When the war broke out in 1939 we were living in Liverpool and the story goes (I was a bit young to remember!) that in 1940, or 41, during the bombing raids on the Liverpool docks our house in Wavertree was badly damaged. Our extended family was 'evacuated' (the term they used at the time) to comparative safety "across the water" to Moreton. The place we were moved to was Brookland House on Hoylake Road. Brookland House was a very old farmhouse built of sandstone and covered in ivy. It had a road number, which I forget, but was located directly opposite the 'Plough Inn' on the present site of the RC church. So we couldn't have been much closer to Moreton Cross! The farm was owned by a Mr and Mrs Smith. They had a son named Sydney. They ran a few milking cows which were grazed in fields up Sandbrook Lane. There was also a small plot of arable land behind the buildings and some fruit trees which bordered onto Upton Road. I have all sorts of memories of Brookland House believe me! When I became 5 years old in 1941 I went to 'Barnston Lane Junior School'.
These were the war years of course so there were lots of things we went without, but I can honestly say when looking back that those 5, or was it 6, years at Barnston Lane were amongst the happiest in my life. The stories told by your contributors about Moreton shore, Leasowe sandhills, fishing, football, the picture house (take us in please mister), the freedom to wander all over the district, and the birdsnesting - taboo these days of course - all ring a bell with me. Bidston Hill to Arrow Park, we walked the lot! There wasn't a stream, a pit (pond), a wood we didn't know, hadn't climbed up fished in or waded through! Oh yes very happy days. Not many young men in those days to keep an eye on us. They were called up into the forces. My dad went into the navy. After the war we were eventually allocated a council house in Lombard road. My aunty and her family went nearby to Saxon Road. And so began a new period in our lives. I moved on to Oldershaw Grammer School in Wallasey, learnt that girls were even better than fishing and birdsnesting(!!) and eventuallly started work in Liverpool at age 16 in 1952. To get to work I ran down Kingsmead Road, got the train at Leasowe station and got off at James Street in Liverpool. At that time the main road at Leasowe station, Reed's Lane I think it is called, ran over the rail tracks. There was a signal box at the junction and whenever a train was due the guy in the box had to manually open big swing gates by turning a wheel like a ships' wheel to close the road. He then raised a signal to give the approaching train the OK. I bet there is something much more sophisticated these days -perhaps even a bridge? (The signal box was taken down a while ago now and auto barriers installed - mk.)
At that time there was compulsory military training for a period of 2 years which began at age18, so in 1954 I was 'called up' to do my stint. After release in 1956 I returned to my old job but by then I was keen to see the world and to cut a long story short I came out here to New Zealand beginning of 1958 - exactly 50 years ago! Old Brookland House was demolished to make way for the church which we now see on Hoylake Road. My dad worked at Cadbury's for a period before he retired, my sister was married in Christ Church Moreton, My uncle Charlie helped the landlord at the Plough to pay his rent - I could go on. There are a number of memories of family recorded in the grounds of Christ Church. My mum and dad are remembered there, my aunties Amy Tarbuck and Ella Williams, my uncle Charlie Tarbuck. Moreton has been home to my family for donkeys years - since 1940 in fact. I still have a cousin in Moreton and one in Saughall Massey, even older than I am! Perhaps I should finish with my 'party piece'. In my last year at Barnston Lane School, 1947 I think it would have been, the teacher marked the attendance register in a unique way. Rather than call out each name and wait for a "present sir" response he taught us to sing out our surnames in alphabetical order and he would tick us off in the register. If someone was absent there would be a pause whereupon he would look up, say "Smith not here?" mark him absent and carry on. That repetition of names has made them stick in my memory and here they are, with one or two first names I can recall: Asbury, Avison, Barry (Steve), Brockbank, Chantler (Billy), Ellis(Tony), Graham, Jackson, Lee, Martin (Ian), Martin(Tony), Owens (Leslie), Pitman(Tony), Quayle, Shelton, Vaughan, Walker, Woollam(yours truly),and Wright. These are all boys of course. The girls had a separate register. Funny how I can remember those names from 60 years ago when half the time now I can't recall where I put my glasses! Take care. Regards and thanks, Jack. Barbara Wilkinson April 2nd 2008: Was brought up in Leasowe, (the posh part) and spent long days at the shore, having the usual feast of Jam butties and if lucky a bottle of Tizer from Stannies, the post office come sweet shop at Reeds Lane by Cadburys Leasowe entrance. What stanny never knew we took the same bottles back two or three times, till he hit on the idea of tearing the labels. Tommy Edwards, had the grocers next door and over the road the good old Coop, where the change whizzed around in the old cash dispenser system. Always having to give in the divi number which was learnt before your name ours was 30319 and the joy of going the coop in Liscard to get the said divi knowing you were in for a new vest or pyjamas. I could go on forever, but does anyone remember the old Tide Keepers Cottage, must have been demolished in the 60’s, it was opposite Leasowe Hospital at the bottom of the breakwater. My brother said every time he saw it he was going to live there one day, so he would be on site for his Lay Line fishing activities. (Yes, I can recall the cottage, was still there in the 70s). From Andrew MacGregor - April 2008: My three brothers (Peter, Duncan & Robert) and me (Andrew) moved, with our parents, into 18 Orchard Road in 1949, where we resided for the best part of 10 years prior to relocating to Scotland. Although only in Moreton for a relatively short period, that period covered the formative years and sporned a set of unforgettable memories. Although a lot of water has since passed under the bridge the memories which immediately come to mind include:- The Church of England School with it's solid coal fires and wonderful staff. My Appleyard at the helm, ably supported by his depute Mr Goodwyn, Miss Eastwood, Miss Parsons, and a buxom Yorkshire woman whose name escapes me. The new Woolies built next the to school. Danny Evans sweet shop near the school (I blame Danny for the present state of my teeth). The Dawson's farm on Pasture Road near the railway station. The MacGregor boys and the Dawson's (Peter, Greg, and the others) forged great friendships and many an adventure was enjoyed in their pastures. Bells Coaches and Taxis, again in Pasture Road (young John Bell was another member of our gang). Parkinson's Bakery at the Cross ( John & Katherine were our neighbours in Orchard Road). Mr Doughty the dentist who had a surgery (torture chamber) in Orchard Road. (Oh yes, last had teeth out there, concords first flight was on tv - mike). The cubs and scouts hall to the south of the town (along with its own outdoor swimming pool I seem to recall). The magnificent cinema adjacent to the Cross. Saturday morning matinees with Mad Johnny acting as the Pied Piper of Moreton. (doubt if he would get away with it now). New Brighton having a magnificent cup run in the 1950's. The Church of England choir striking for higher wages (did that really happen). Just a few memories. Best Regards, Andrew MacGregor. Barry Perry. April 2008. I was looking at the Bidston site and saw an email from Malcolm Owens who was born at 60a Hoylake Road. I lived at 75 Hoylake Rd ( corner of Hoylake Rd & Hoblyn Rd)1950 - 1961. I would like to contact him. D Swan. May 2008: I lived on the Wirral in the 80's.I had a very good friend named Christine Price who lived on Berrylands Road Moreton, No 6 I think. I would love to get back in touch if anyone knows of her whereabouts. By the the way Price was her maiden name and I don't know if she ever married. DSand56336 - at - aol.com. Remove -at- and insert @ for email.
Jayne Casey sent me this
email - June 26th 2008. I noticed that you have
recently posted some photo's of the little 'shack' type houses on 'Bermuda Road'
and you expressed interest in them. My Great Grandfather developed Moreton in
the early 1900s and he built all the little houses in the style of architecture
he remembered from the Island of his birth BERMUDA, hence the name Bermuda Road. Malcolm (July 08) emailed me with these memories: I lived in Moreton until 1978. I attended Moreton Primary School off Barnston Lane. I have seen that the 'war time temporary school' has been redeveloped, after two fires helped the wooden structure on its way. My family was evacuated during one fire. The headmaster, in my time, was a Mr Macklin; looking back, he was a complete psychopath. The Pink Floyd album The Wall could have been based on him. I attended Wallasey Grammar School in Leasowe. WGS changed its name to Henry Meoles Comprehensive whilst I was there. So I knew the Leasowe level crossing very well, having to try and time my bike rides to and from school to miss the trains. I remember the building of the road that bypassed Bidston; Bidston Hill and its windmill and Observatory were a favourite haunt as I had relatives in Birkenhead. I was present at the first landing of a hovercraft on Moreton shore. I still recall the smell, it must have been unburned diesel fuel. The hovercraft came onto the slanted concrete flood barrier. I used to ride my bike along the flood barrier, as I expect you did. (He means the embankment/Sea Wall - mk). I was back a few years ago and I saw that a vertical curved structure had been erected on the flat bit on the apex of the flood barrier. From your photographs, This has now been removed, but it has left a track in flat concrete at the top. I also went cockling on the sands, with a hand rake and bucket. The cockles need food, what do you think that they eat! The kidney shaped roundabout was made smaller and, of course, the M53 was built during my time. I learnt to ride a motorbike along the M53, because it was not opened due to a problem with the box girder bridges having a suspected load problem. There were at least four farms that I collected food from as a child. The farm that was nearest to me was off Barnston lane. I have fond memories of the pigs making squealing noises at night. I worked in the Cadbury factory during summers at university. My next door neighbour worked in the brickworks that you mentioned. In my youth we could hear the chain driven trucks that carried material between the quarry and the brickworks. I had my first legal alcoholic drink in the Coach and Horses, but I remember the Plough as well. I can tell you a story about how the Coach and Horses changed from a pub to a useless, bland branded cafe. The tobacconist next door to the Plough had a cover over its front, with a coin operated milk machine. The Coach and Horses had a 'drive through lane' that was separated from the main road, without the naff yellow bus shelter. July 08: Helga Shoebridge has the following question she needs answering. If anyone can help, email her directly on helga at ambersyard.com - replace at with @. Here is her question: I’m trying to trace a hundred year time-line of The Mosslands School which began as The Higher Elementary School in Vaughan Road (now New Brighton Primary). Just wondering if you have any info about schools around 1908 – 1940 ish? July 08: My name is John McCallum and I think your site is very, very good. I was born in 1938 and was brought up in Digg Lane, no. 26. My father was boilermaker at Cammel Lairds and was a Glasgow man. My mum died in 1945 and he brought me up with a little assistance from neighbours. I went to Tintern Drive private school for about 4 weeks and my dad took me away as it was too soft and I then went to Barnston Lane, this would be 1943. Mr Hibbert was the head and Miss Povall was my favourite teacher. There were 52 of us in the class which today would be unmanageable, but then there was a thing called discipline. I went to the Oldershaw until 1954, and then became an apprentice compositor at Auto Tickets in Birkenhead. Went into the Royal Signals in 1958 after finding out I would be better off financially by interrupting my apprenticeship. Ended up in Fountainbleu and as I was a good table tennis player, Hoylake YMCA, played for the local team in the iles de Paris. What a posting! I have very fond memories of my childhood, swimming in the sea after walking through Dodd's field and across the railway, it was exactly one mile from my house. My Dad used to say ''Have you been in the sea?'' I always said no, but he smelt my hair which always smelt of salt or something else and I would get a smack. I married a Birkenhead girl 45 years ago and we lived behind the Arrowe Park Hotel in one of Robert Lloyds houses. By this time I had left the print and was working at Levers in the accounts dept. after realising I had had a reasonable education. Moved to Surrey in 1970 and worked for several Unilever companies before being finally moved to Lancashire where I have retired. I have return to the Wirral and the saying 'never go back' is true. A big disappointment at the changes and I found it difficult to understand the accent which has gone very scouse. Still, as Confucius(?) said 'the only constant thing is change'! I could go on, but other people have covered the ground for me, particularly Mr Woolham. July 19th 2008: From Brian Lee. Live in Vienna and by chance came upon your site. Used to live in Douglas Drive, by your old school. Knew Lennie Wright well. Hope he is fine. Yep, remember the cross well, but as it is a family web site I'm sure my memories would be unsuitable. Good times.. This is just to say thanks. Regards. Brian Lee. (Lennie lives at the Upton end of Borrowdale Road still, with wife Angie - mike). July 26th 2008: Bernard Williams asks: Does anybody have any memorabilia about the Haig Club that once stood at the end of Haig Ave. The reason I am asking is that my house stands on the site of the old club is situated where the entrance used to be, so my old neighbours tell me. I believe some great and now famous acts used to perform there. regards Bernard Williams. You can contact Bernard directly on haig61 - at - aol.com - replace -at- with @. July 27th 2008: From Michael: I was born in McDonald Rd in 1944 and can remember gypsy`s on the cornfield that is now Lingham Park. I lived in Tern Way from 1951 until 1967. I have a pic of one of the two Coronation Street Parties in Tern Way. I have written a book about my childhood in Moreton but publishing costs have proved too expensive and the other option of a partnership with others does not work as my friend found out to his cost. I collect School class photographs of Moreton and I am looking out for more. Am I thinking right, did you have something on the Hillbark House in Royden Park?. The reason I ask is that my Wifes Father was boss brickie on its move from Bidston. It was he who did the barley sugar twist chimney`s. There is a funny tale about this build but that is another story. He was Brickie on the Avenues in Moreton, Doreen Francis etc. He also was worked on the Station bridge. If you see an ornate brick fireplace in a Moreton house he did it. His first was for Dr Duncan and then everyone wanted one. Another building he did was the Baptist Church and we have the original pics of the laying of the foundation stone. July 31st 2008: Will Smith, no not THAT Will Smith, contacted me: |
