Update 4 May 2010
Update 4 May 2010
Now Two Pages
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The Moreton I Knew 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 post war 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. I had a red three wheeler trike. I was riding it along a new road, Franklyn Road, I think which was behind the flats. A young lad called Les Appleton threw a brick from the window of one of the partially built houses, it hit me full in the face, blood everywhere. My mum told me I was carried home by a workman; with a very apologetic Leslie in tow. I grew up and got to know Les again, in Moreton, as a teenager. But he died young, very sad. |
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The date is around the mid 50s and I moved into Hoylake Road, a new council house, from 71 Twickenham Drive, Leasowe and began attending Sacred Heart Primary School, off Hoylake Road, but the gate was at the end of the Avondale Avenue cul de sac behind our house. I remember little of this period at the school but do recall standing in the "great hall" for assembly. I think it was also a gym, crude but there. I also have recollections of standing in the playground behind which was a large open area, grassed, with large trees. |
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At the end of Fender Lane, as you approached from Bidston was a large roundabout. There was a dip on the left which caused some vehicle to severely tilt as they went across, especially if driving too fast. I recall running out on hearing the smashing of glass (It always signalled a pop lorry!). We got whatever we could carry if we quickly swept up the glass before the coppers came! On the left of this roundabout lay Catton's Farm, a dairy farm. I always recall it as "muddy". Opposite this, on the other side of the roundabout, were three small stone cottages. To my mind they looked positively prehistoric. They soon vanished when Moreton Secondary Modern was built on the land behind in the late 50s. The farm buildings still remain, in 2008, but a pale reflection. The land now built upon. My new home, newly built was opposite the Super Garage which sold Shell petrol and had a fascinating workshop through a central passageway. Fender Lane was then a tiny country lane leading past the three stone cottages on the roundabout, past the "figure of 8" ponds on the left, over the River Fender 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 a good mate Lenny Wright (From Fairmead Road) in the early hours, got sunburnt by 10 am. |
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If you turned tight, down Reeds Lane, you travelled towards Leasowe Station with its big heavy wooden gates, operated from a signal box on the right hand side of the road. First you would pass Avondale Avenue, with Sydie's sweet shop on the right hand corner, waste land on the left. Next was Daneswell Drive, which led past the rear side of Sacred Heart. Then Saxon Road, via a pathway and round the left hand bend to Kingsmead Road and the station. After the station, on the left, was Leasowe Tennis Club, a popular 60s haunt, with Radio Caroline disco's etc. Opposite sprang up a new factory, Squibbs, which made pharmaceuticals. And round to the imposing Leasowe Hotel public house. You could then see the back of Cadbury's, more on that later, in my Wallasey page. The river Birket signalled that we were now approaching Leasowe. |
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Going back to the roundabout and continuing along Hoylake Road, we pass the Super Garage. Later, they built a Jet garage right next to it in the late 60s (back handers flew or what!!) We pass a group of shops, still there in 2008, contained a chippy and the last one being Alderney Dairy. Solid wood floors, old wooden counter, lovely! I would be sent here for our milk. Sacred Heart School could be seen through the railings opposite. (see below) Next we come to Danger Lane on the right, which led into, on the left, Fairmead Road. We then past Gates Garage and Moreton Engineering and another group of shops, also containing a chippy, I seem to recall some sort of clothing or wool shop, and the last was a hardware store. After a hedged field we arrive at Chapelhill Road and the corner shop. On the opposite side, all the way to the Cross, was housing. Each had a low 1 foot high concrete wall, with a gap for the path. I would try to reach the Cross without having to stand on the pavements, along the wall. I was too small however, to jump the gap!! |
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And now we arrived at yet another garage, on the left (I think it was Gulf but it used to be called the Atlantic Garage). Then there was an old cottage set back off the road; this was the fourth in about 1 mile of road! Passed the dentist on the corner of Orchard Road, a right chamber of horrors!! we then pass the Methodist Chapel and come to garage number 5 on this stretch - Poston's! I can recall petrol price for 4 gallons the equivalent today of 90p. Now it is over a £ for a poxy litre! At the cross, on the left, past Sandbrook Lane was the new Sacred Heart Church. Opposite was/is The Plough! (see below) And then a small arcade under which nestled Les Turner's cigarette shop. Next to which was a shoe repairer, followed by Lloyd's Bank, which was next to Midland Bank. On the other side of the Cross roundabout, I recall the Army & Navy Stores who sold jeans for £1 and pumps for approx 5 shillings. Trainers were unheard of then. |
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Moreton Cross is the junction of Upton Road, from Upton, Pasture Road, from Moreton Shore, and Hoylake Road ran right across, to Hoylake & West Kirby. The large roundabout in the centre was sort of kidney shaped, still there in 2008, and so is its clock. Heading off up Hoylake Road once more, we pass the main shopping area, with the Coach & Horses pub on the right. Passing Boots on the left, and the bowling green on the right on the corner of Barnston Lane we go up hill slightly to Barclays Bank on the left and Mortimers Toy Shop on the right - oh what an Aladdin's cave of items I could only dream of. (see email below -Sep 09). My father never seemed to have any money! It was not until much later I found it went mostly on drink!! My mum had some sort of "allowance" - how she coped I will never know? More shops and then Woolworths before Hoylake Road headed towards the Grange Pub and then out of Moreton onto the Meols Stretch. There are images of The Cross through the years further on. From Ray Mortimer: Sept 09: I thought you would be interested to know that In 1921 my father opened his first shop in Moreton, he carried on the business until his death in 1958.Then my mother, my wife and myself took over the business until 1973 when we sold the business to Keithley's of Heswall. My mother died in 1979. |
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Back at the Cross, if you turned right (in the image above), you were heading for Upton. More shops on the left and right. Chadwick Street, a L shaped street, held the Post Office and Cop Shop before emptying out, by Boots, onto Hoylake Road. Passing Christ Church, mainly homes occupied this road, all the way out of Moreton. Moreton Football Club was along here, reached by a driveway between homes. I believe MAFC now play down Sandbrook Lane. |
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The opposite way took you into Pasture Road, past the old "flea pit", the cinema where I got in for 9d on a Saturday morning, then passing the Royal British Legion Cub and past the old Moreton Youth Club and Library, the "pink building" on the right, past the old and new libraries, (the newest being near the Cross) excellent chip shops, Morton Arms pub (never did find out why it was spelt different), opposite Pasture Crescent and 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. Right: Pasture Road |
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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. Wallis' home base was Towyn, North Wales, just past Rhyl. The Apollo dance club sat on Pasture Road - and still does (2009). Life was hard in the shanty town. See Jim Schultz's account on page 2 in the emails - May 2010. |
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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. I do know my dad would cook them for a long time. 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! |
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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 a thing of the past. Its 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. |
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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. More on this below. |
Moreton from Bidston Hill - Sept 2009
Images of Moreton Cross
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1. Moreton Cross looking from the vicinity of The Plough, towards Christ Church. |
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 |
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. |
And, the same shot in February 2008 |
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More images of Moreton below |
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V Day street party, I believe on Pasture Avenue.
There is a doubt about this due to the date that Pasture Avenue was allegedly
completed. Could this be something other than
1. Pasture Avenue or 2. a 50s
image (Coronation??) I must admit it looks
like the junction of Pasture Avenue and Danger Lane with the turn to Lombard
Road in the background.
This map shows where I believe the image is taken from (X) and the direction of
the camera is towards the right of the map.
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Feb 2010: Tom Bolton sent me an email, there is a lady in the image which will almost certainly be his mum, as far as he can recollect. He tells me: Although I am Tom Bolton in those days as a kiddy I was Adrian (my first name) Bolton I lived in a bungalow 73 Pasture Avenue with my brother and sister (twins) Vince and Rose. I went to Sacred Heart which in those days was not a Primary but (I think a secondary modern) a school were you started at 5 and left at 15. Mr Carolan was head teacher. (I remember that name, Primary head?) Or was he juniors before Conroy? Sacred Heart was never a Sec Modern, so Tom is mistaken there. Unless it replaced Tommy buckets after I had left Moreton. Bev my partner and I now run Wirral Swallows and Amazons Adventure Group taking disadvantaged and children with disabilities on exciting adventure of a lifetime holidays. This year we are taking groups from schools. We started our charity in 2003 and have had the good fortune to already have helped nearly 3000 children to have exciting outdoor adventure holidays. As kids we had the freedom to make our own adventures, climbing trees in the woods, jumping the Birket our own games but nowadays its not safe for children to go out unaccompanied, its a shame really, so we give them opportunities to enjoy safely doing scary exciting activities.. so its nice to put something back in to help others. Tom copied the image and marked his mum. |
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Pasture Crescent - Queen's Coronation (maybe) (Pete Dodd)
Grange Hotel & floods
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 have had recourse to revisit Moreton a few times and am 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 suppose its called progress. Nothing stands still, does it?
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 Oakenholt Road which led to the Clinic. 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, trying to gossip on her mobile phone. The child with jam stained bib 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, surely 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. I used to call it the Rise & Fall of Wallasey! Sorry, but progress in Moreton and Wallasey died around the same time 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. (Who, in 2008, married her "partner"; also female.) Yes, I am biased and not afraid to admit it. I have purchased a copy of The Rise & Progress of Wallasey (reprint 1974).
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. It was then 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 the rest 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 myself back up 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. What follows now is by no means the definitive version, there is much hidden, much forgotten and much unsaid. But here is some local history. I have provided as much as I have found to date.
The name Moreton means village on the lake. It was one of the 4 towns making up the parish of Bidston, the others being Bidston, Claughton and Saughall (The Hall of the Willows). It 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. The geology was that of blown sand in drifts covering the land, and salt marshes going around reaching Wallasey Pool, below Bidston. 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. The higher area of Bidston and Wallasey Village were built upon the sandstone hills, rising to 180 feet above the surrounding area. Moreton was, quite literally, the village in the marsh. There was no sea wall at all, no protection from the sea, and land went much further out to sea than it does now. Evidence of this lies in the long gone petrified forest which I shall include later.
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. It formed part of the Manor of Eastham in Norman times. Earl Hugh being the Lord. Holding part of his Manor is a man by the name of Hamon de Mascy, whose descendants became Lords of Bidston. During the medieval period of the Manor's history, Moreton was the most productive of the 4 towns. Moreton even paid for its own chaplain! In 1170, Birkenhead Priory was founded and a goodly portion of the tithes of Moreton were given in support of this endowment. The records of Pope Nicholas IV record the money earned from 6 curacates of land, which included Moreton.
Around 1180 -1190 Hamon de Mascy gave Moreton to his brother John, it being formerly held by Matthew of Moreton. In 1293 Hugh del Brom (Bromborough maybe?) gave William, son of Alan de Moreton rights to cultivate 3 acres of wasteland in Moreton. In 1307, Henry son of William of Moreton, prosecuted Robert, son of Henry de Salghale (Saughall) and others for trespassing on land in Moreton and for cutting his grass in Sargham Massey. In 1341, there was a murder, at least a recorded one. Simon, son of Roger del Brom, killed William, son of Henry de Moreton, in Moreton, and fled. He escaped justice but three of his accomplices were fined for aiding him! The entire village was fined in 1359 for failing to be fully represented at the Judges Eyre Court in Wirral.
In 1397, the Manor of Bidston was sold by John Lestrange to Sir John Stanley, an ancestor of the Earl of Derby.
In 1402, the Hundred Jury (Wirral was also know as the Hundred) was specially called together to hear a letter patent issued by the Prince of Wales in which Henry le Brwyn, of Moreton, Roger del Brom and others had driven cattle from north Wales into the Hundred of Wirral. The law they were alleged to have broken was probably designed to secure a supply of meat for the Kings Armies in North Wales. The defendants were taken to Chester Castle for judgement. The result is unknown.
In 1438, on November 30th, an inquest was held at Bidston on Robert Benet, killed at Salgham by William Anyon by striking him on the head with a mall. This jury, which included a Thomas Benet of Moreton, and Henry Benet of Salghall, returned a verdict of felony. Anyon, who had fled, was declared an outlaw.
The Earl of Derby's accounts for the years 1521 - 1522 show Moreton having paid:
Rent of free
tenants for Military Service
5d
Rent of free tenants at will 114 6d
Rent of one house with dovecott & butt
6 8d
Rent of one tenement with 1 butt acquired
By the lord from John Whitmore to hold by
the Lord immediately after the death of
George Whitmore (note: the said George is dead) 8 0d
In 1397 the Manor of Bidston was bought by William Steele, a lawyer of some note, who also held the positions of Recorder of London, Chief Baron of the Exchequer and Lord Chancellor of Ireland.
In 1536 Birkenhead Priory suffered along with most of the country's religious establishments in Henry VIII's suppression. In 1544 its lands in Moreton were leased to Edward Plankney but on the expiry of this lease the lands were sold to Richard Barnard and Robert Taylor. Also, following the suppression, the Nuns of Chester had land owned by themselves in Saughall given to the new Bishop of Chester and then, soon after, was surrendered to the Crown. Land that belonged to the Priory in Saughall was also siezed, both sets of land being sold to Sir Robert Dudley, of the Privy council, and to William Glascour.
In 1545 the earliest record of Moreton's population with 21 families living there (12 in Saughall Massie). By 1663 the figures remained the same.
In 1561, Thomas de Smythe Saughall Massie and William Rathbone de Murton are registered as keepers of Ale houses.
In 1653 the Manor of Bidston was bought by a William Steele, lawyer of some note, who also held the positions of Recorder of London, Chief Baron of the Exchequer and Lord Chancellor of Ireland. The estate again changed hands in 1662, this time it was sold to Lord Kingston of Rockingham Co Roscommon. In 1665 he undertook a highly detailed survey of his Manor. The survey contained lists of the tenants of the four townships and maps showing the houses and roads, each field bore a name and that of its tenant. The survey of Moreton shows the main street passing through the village, now known as Pasture road. A back lane running parallel, was Chapel Lane, now Barnston Lane. The geographical orientation of the main street is SW to NW. The east side of the main road, that which favoured Wallasey, had tenants Henry Robinson, William Bennett, Richard Lenaker and James Bird. The west side, favouring north Wales, had two homes of the Urmston family, Thomas Watt, William Hancock, John Rathbone. Many paths crossed between the houses. A chapel stood on the western side of the village green (the location of which is not mentioned) with a maypole to the north. Nearby was the Tithe Barn and Pound. The town bull was kept in a field on the edge of the village bordering Saughall Massie. Other prominent names in Moreton were William Dod(d). John Anderton, John Gowen, Ellen Graviner, Richard Pemberton, Thomas Urmston and john Upshon. A piece of land, outside the village boundary,was given to the village constable. Saughall Massie, in the same survey contained names Edward Wainwright, Mary Smith, John & Henry Bennett.
In 1680 Sir Robert Vyner became the Lord, and Vyners have been there right up to the 20th Century.
A Mill stood on what is now the corner of Acton Lane and Saughall Road. Little is known of the Mill. In 1598 it was sold to John & Henry Bennett. In 1719 owned by the Vyner's and occupied by Esther Martin at a rent of £6 per year. In 1762, Thomas Kirk, paying the same rent. (Inflation was obviously not a problem back then!). It stood until approx 1870, the last miller said to be a Richard Hale. The Mill actually collapsed, parts of which were taken to Bidston Hall, turning part of a steam mill for another 20 years. The names of Dod(d) and Benet (Bennett) are still prominent in modern times. I had a Philomena Bennett in my class at school in Moreton. The Dodds are a well know local building company, their yard is still at the top of Bermuda Road. I think it moved sides thats all! Joseph Kitchinghman who lived near Mother Redcaps in Wallasey, described Moreton's Mill as:
"The old mill at Saughall Massie stood about a mile from the village. It was a most remarkable wooden structure, with strong oak beams and gaunt, primitive sails, standing alone on a rough base of stone, with a large wheel to turn the wooden mill round on the ground. The mill stood entirely by itself a little way from the edge of the moss. Secret meetings of various kinds, political and otherwise, were held in the old mill, which was away from civilization. It was supposed to be haunted, and there were ravens in it."
Daniel Wilson lived at Old Hall Farm, Barnston Lane (was previously called Chapel Lane) in 1719. His home was licensed to conduct religious meetings. He was the son of Robert Wilson of Bidston Hall. Towards the end of the reign of Charles II, a troop of horse searched the Hall for arms as well as in other local places. At this time Daniel is described as "of Lingham". They took away 122 guns, pistol etc. Daniel married Mary Ensdale, and on 18th August 1689, they baptised Robert, their son. He shares the same birthday as me, but not the year!! His grandson, Thomas, was probably the next tenant of Barnston Lane following Daniel's death in 1737. Thomas' sister, Catherine Gardener was the next owner of Old Hall Farm, the Wilson connection being severed.
(Scenes from Barnston Lane in 2008)
The Old Carrs forms part of Saughall Massie and western Moreton. The word Carr means Marsh. Carr Lane is now an area of extensive new housing put up in the property boom years of the 1980's and 90's. Before this is was but fields, and the Brickworks. The part of Moreton known as Sandbrook is now Sandbrook Lane which runs from the Cross (By Sacred Heart Church) to Manor road in Upton, this also follows the SW-NW alignment of the main road, Upton Road. Local area names here, in 1665, include The Banakers, Neeve Wimbrick, Gosty Pellitan Hey, Barcroft Hey, Werrethey and Cherrie-Tree Hey.
The encroachment of the sea was a constant threat to those living on the low lying lands of Moreton. Thomas Wilson's will of 1775 records that "the closes of land called The good Ovens and Two Pastures Gates by sold by my executors. But, if the Two Pastures Gates cannot be sold by reason of the encroachment of the sea, a close called the Marled Heaps was to be sold"
In 1781 rural recreation included Bull Baiting in Moreton. Cock Fighting was not uncommon, especially around Easter and Whitsun.
In 1841 a turnpike was opened which afforded a much needed route between Birkenhead and West Kirby, passing through Moreton, Meols, Hoylake & West Kirby.
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 Bevan 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 involvement in WW2 was minimal. There was a large kitchen set up, or Central Cooking Depot, in October 1941, possibly where Cadbury is now, certainly in Pasture Road, for feeding displaced and homeless but it was, thankfully, never used. Few homes were damaged or destroyed in Wallasey by German bombers. It was used to provide school meals however.
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, Greasby 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 towards the River Fender.
Population growth in Moreton: 1821: 273 1831: 247 1841: 330 1851: 350 1861: 361 1871: 455 1891: 464 1901: 597 1911: 898 and 1921: 4029
The massive rise in 1921 was due to the acute housing shortage after World War 1. It must have been quite a jolt to those who had been living there all these generations. The above figures do not include Saughall Massie which did not see rises of any significance. Also responsible for the growth was the appearance of the shanty town on Pasture Road and Moreton Shore, along with caravans. There were 2000 of these temporary dwellings. Sanitation was not high on the Council list of priorities, nor a water supply. In 1928, under an Act of Parliament, Wallasey absorbed Moreton, and in 1933 Upton and Saughall Massie. Following the 1928 Act, roads, sanitation and sewage were greatly improved.
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.
There was in the
olden days only one main route through the village. This is now known as Pasture
Road but was formerly Station Road. The other main avenue for traffic, the
Turnpike Road, was not built until 1841. This crossed the township in a westerly
direction running from Bidston to Saughall Massie. It was known by a variety of
names:
Fender Lane (after one of the two streams which drain the marsh), Birkenhead
Road, Hoylake Road, Main Road and Village Road. With the incorporation of the
parish of Moreton in the Wallasey Borough it was decided to alter any Moreton
street names which might be confused with similar street names in Wallasey. The
Council also decided that where more than one name was used for a Moreton street
they would resolve all difficulties by deciding once and for all by which name
it would be known. In the case of the Turnpike Road the Council decided that it
would henceforth be known and described as Fender Lane from the Bidston boundary
to Reeds Lane, and Hoylake Road from Reeds Lane to the Saughall Massie boundary.
Barnston Lane (running parallel to Pasture Road) was originally called Chapel
Lane, and the small chapel after which the lane was called, stood there for many
years. A lane opening off Pasture Road was originally known as either Townmeadow
Lane or Mary Anne’s Lane after the owner of a cottage in the lane. In order to
prevent confusion the Council decided that the first 210 yards from Pasture Road
should be called Marylands Lane and the remainder Townmeadow Lane. Similarly the
road which was known as either Lingham Lane or Lighthouse Lane is now known as
Lingham Lane.
Churches
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 of Overchurch Hill, Upton. Mr. William Inman the Shipping Magnate of Upton manor donated the money for the buildings. Roman Catholics had no church in Moreton until 1921. Masses were conducted in an old cafe on Moreton Shore. 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.
Moreton Chapel
Moreton Chapel was a large rectangular building with a south door. It had a belfry over the western gable and a cross over the east gable. In 1550, it was listed as having 1 chalice and 1 bell. In 1554 the probable incumbent was Rev William Bymson. In 1571 it was Rev William Edmundson. In September of 1592 George Pemberton of Moreton was brought before the Court at Chester for "sitting on the cross at Service time and would not go in at the Warden's request.". An entry in a church volume records that "Moreton, a chapel in Bidston Parish. Demolished 30 years ago .... as certified by the minister of Bidston 1719. 1742 records that "Moreton Chapel in
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.
Petrified or Submerged Forest
Known locally as the Meols stocks, it consisted as a collection of tree stumps, fallen trunks and roots embedded in turf bog. There was also once a similar forest on the other side of the bay in Seaforth. In a poem, dated 1636, the forest is mentioned:
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"And in summe
places, where ye sea does bate,
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In 1828 a visitor to the Wirral wrote:
"This beach at about half tide level, presents a curious and highly interesting spectacle of the remains of a submerged forest. The numerous roots of trees which have not yet been washed away by the sea, or carried off by the neighbouring inhabitants for firewood, are in a very decayed state. The trees seem to have been cut off about 2 feet from the ground after the usual practice in felling timber; and the roots are seen ramifying from their respective stumps in all directions and dipping towards the clay sub soil"
The trees were at their largest towards the river Dee, and smallest at Leasowe. They were mainly Oak and Fir, also present were Alder, Elm and Beech. They gave the appearance of actually being planted and were of great size. The library of Leasowe Castle was constructed from these timbers and locals made good use. In the forest itself discoveries were made in the 19th Century of artifacts dating back to Pre-Roman days and up to 1700. Mostly small in size they included gold, silver, pewter, lead, bronze, iron, wood, glass, flint and amber. In many kinds of ornaments and jewellery. also found were arrows, knives, keys and spoons as well as nails. In a book called Ancient Meols by Hume, published in 1863, these finds are catalogued. In the early 1970s there was no trace of this forest, the sea finally winning the argument, washing away the remainder with the tides. This process was quite possibly accelerated by the introduction of the massive sea wall, which caused the tide to turn upon itself, increasing the flow around the stumps. It was from this very embankment that I last saw these trees in the 60s. There was not all that much to see by this time, just a few straggled stumps. To think that after all these centuries, I may have been one of the last to overlook this spectacle. On a bas relief in Leasowe Castle is the words "From Birkinheven unto Hilbree, a squirrel may jump from tree to tree"
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Did a trip up on 14th June 2006 to have a look around. This was the 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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Then & Now!
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.
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. Postons Garage is no more
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. October 27th and an email from
Ann Shepherd (nee Westcott) to pass on to me the sad news that Sammy Aspey died
suddenly last year.
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.
This image appeared in the Wirral News this week (November 10th 2006) as an "archive" image from the 60s. It's of the girls who worked the Stavordale Garage in Moreton, on Hoylake Road, in the swinging 60s!!! My sister (Jan) is the one on the right!! She now lives in Praze Cornwall, married to John from High Wycombe. She has a musician son, Anthony.
Nice Corsair! Thanks to the Wirral News for sending me this copy. Steve Hallam contacted me from Australia in Nov 2008, he thinks the car is his old man's Corsair. The advert on the rear is for the Atlantic Garage along the road and behind the photographer was the Super Garage, Shell!! 5 garages in all occupied the road between here and Moreton Cross.
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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 the 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? Nov 09: Lisa Simmons emailed me with this information: This is actually a community centre now, my daughter's dance school hire it every Thursday, they also host a slimming club, have various groups for elderly, dog training classes, yoga classes all sorts goes on here. It is next door to the Wirral Boys Boxing club, which is an old wooden hut and has been there for years, and years!! |
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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. I still play League Darts even now. |
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March 18th 2010 - Moreton Cross |
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Once was Moreton Market. The shuttered shop on left was Les Turner's tobacconists. 18th March 2010. |
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What was the Army & Navy Stores. 18th March 2010. Sacred Heart to the left. |
Don't forget everyone, www.friendsreunited.co.uk has lots of Moreton people aboard and the annual subscription is very minimal.
I am looking for any old images of Moreton, check your attics and shoe boxes please. If you cannot scan them, contact me and I shall arrange postage to me and their safe return. I promise. In particular the 60s, and anything of Moreton Youth Club, I have a separate page in here. I can even arrange a collection as I still have a sister still living in Moreton.
Which also contains lots of
emails I have received since opening these pages
Reference sites
http://www.liverpoolwebcam.com/
http://www.liverpoolpictorial.co.uk/
http://www.new-brighton.f2s.com/
http://www.wirral360.com/ Virtual Wirral
http://www.wirralswallowsandamazons.bravehost.com/
http://www.hypnosis-therapies.co.uk/
Feb 09: Had an email from
Catharine Chalton who tells me that Home Instead Care have taken over 19 Barnston
Lane but that some commercial work
undertaken in the past
prevents the wonderful building from being listed.
1. WW2 Thunderbolt. 2. U Boat 534 3. Moreton
YC 5. Hovercraft
