WIRRAL Wirral Heritage Open Days HISTORY & 2013 HERITAGE Saturday 7th - Sunday 15th September ASSOCIATION Sponsored by Supported by Welcome to the 2013 Wirral Heritage Open Days Heritage Open Days 2013 celebrates England’s outstanding architecture and culture by offering free access to properties which are usually closed to the public or normally charge an admission fee. Wirral’s Heritage Open Days are organised by Wirral History and Heritage Association in partnership with groups and individuals across the Peninsula. Details of the events in this brochure will be available on the national Heritage Open Days website www.heritageopendays.org.uk. Entries received after publication will also go on the national website and on wirralhistoryandheritage.org.uk Downloadable copies of this guide are available on www.visitwirral. com Whilst the majority of openings and events take place within Wirral Borough, we are delighted to include activities in south Wirral. For further information about Heritage Open Days in West Cheshire contact Chester History and Heritage on 01244 972210 or email [email protected]. Every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy of information in this brochure, which has been supplied by individual events organisers. However, Wirral History and Heritage Association cannot be responsible for any discrepancies or last minute changes to the programme. Any updates will be shown on our website. wirralhistoryandheritage.org.uk 2 Welcome … As Wirral’s Heritage Champion and someone with a lifelong interest in local history, I am delighted to have been asked to introduce this year’s Wirral Heritage Open Days. The programme of talks, visits and events, entirely organised by volunteers, provides both local residents and visitors with a unique opportunity to learn more about the Wirral and its remarkable heritage. As always, I am impressed by the drive, enthusiasm, knowledge and professionalism of those who have put the programme together and have no hesitation in assuring visitors to Wirral Heritage Open Days that they will enjoy a great day out.” Jerry Williams, Councillor and Heritage Champion Heritage Open Days is a national event and Wirral’s contribution to the programme has become ever more popular over the years. Since it began visitor numbers have steadily increased and the event has drawn in people from outside the area as well as attracting visitors from Wirral itself. Admission to all events is free of charge, something particularly welcome in these times of fi nancial constraint. The current programme has been achieved through Wirral History and Heritage Association’s Open Days Committee working in partnership with venues, individuals and societies throughout Wirral. I would like to thank all those who gave of their time in its preparation and the many enthusiasts of our local history, heritage and culture who volunteer their time so freely to make Heritage Open Days successful. Do please use the nine days to see and do as much as you can. Wirral has a long and fascinating history... it belongs to you all! We rely on visitors’ comments to help us improve Wirral’s Heritage Open Days. It would assist us in planning for future years if you could complete a feedback form. These are available at www.surveymonkey.com/s/KPF7YCV. Sincere and grateful thanks to all. Peter France, Chair, Wirral History & Heritage Association 3 4 5 OPEN TO VIEW BIDSTON WINDMILL BIDSTON COMMUNITY ARCHAEOLOGY Bidston Hill, Vyner Road North, Bidston, Wirral Tam O’Shanter Urban Farm, Boundary Road, SJ287893 (Tam O’Shanter Farm car park CH43 7PD) Bidston CH43 7PD Excavation site 50 metres Description: The windmill is a brick built from Tam O’Shanter Farm tower mill put up to replace a wooden peg mill that was destroyed by a fi re in 1791, and used Description: Open day at current dig to grind corn up to 1875. The mill and roof site at potential medieval farmhouse. have been recently extensively restored by Come along for a chance to tour Wirral Borough Council. Well worth a look. our current archaeological project, Admission Details: see a display of fi nds and meet ‘Bats permitting’ members of the excavation team. There is a winter roost usually in the building that we are unable to disturb. They usually Admission Details: come sometime in the Autumn depending Saturday 14th September on the weather and temperature. 10:30 am to 4 pm Saturday 14th September, 10 am to 12 noon No booking required There is a minimum height restriction for access to the higher fl oors (1.06m). Children Refreshments are available at under 11 years old must be accompanied by Tam O’Shanter Farm café an adult at all times Uneven ground unsuitable for wheelchairs No booking required. First come fi rst served Refreshments will be available from the café Contact: at the Tam O’Shanter Farm Website: Limited access into the mill building, but a www.bidstoncommunityarchaeology. new pathway from Tam O’Shanter car park weebly.com makes access easier across the hill to the mill Email: Contact: [email protected] John Jakeman Nic Harding 0151 653 9332 0151 653 9332 6 ‘DOME ON YOUR DOORSTEP’ WIRRAL ARCHIVES Ss Peter, Paul and Philomena Church, 7 Atherton Wirral Archives Service, Lower Ground Floor, Street, New Brighton, Wirral CH45 9LT Cheshire Lines Building, Canning Street, Birkenhead, Wirral CH41 1ND Description: The Dome of Home, an architecturally ambitious, and little altered Catholic church of 1935, welcomes visitors Description: Guided tour of Wirral daily. Monumental in scale, Baroque in its spatial Archives. Come and have a behind the conception, with its hemi-spherical dome visible scenes tour of Wirral Archives, including from afar, this well-loved, familiar landmark, has a look at our Strong Room where the been recently established as a Shrine Church. archives are stored, and see a selection Admission Details: of our holdings. The church is open daily from 8 am until 7:30 pm for all visitors Admission Details: Wirral Archives are open every Monday Dome on your Doorstep Heritage Tour to Friday 9:30 am to 4:30 pm Saturday 7th Sept 2 pm - 5 pm Sunday 8th Sept 3 pm - 5 pm 1 hour “Behind the Scenes of Wirral Monday 9th Sept 10 am - 11 am Archives” guided tours are available on Tuesday 10th Sept 3 pm - 4 pm Tuesday 10th September 2 pm to 3 pm and Thursday 12th Sept 3 pm - 4 pm 3 pm to 4 pm Maximum number in each Friday 13th Sept 3 pm - 4 pm group 25 Saturday 14th Sept 2 pm - 5 pm Sunday 15th Sept 3 pm - 5 pm Pre-booking required Pre-booking is not required. Please report to for guided tours a volunteer guide in the Foyer if you wish to join a tour. Tea and biscuits are available on There is disabled access Saturday 7th, Thursday 12th, Friday 13th and Saturday 14th. Contact: There is disabled access to the church. Access William Meredith to disabled toilet is via an outside ramp. 0151 606 2929 Contact: [email protected] Anne Archer 077 43 23 50 46 7 FORT PERCH ROCK HOYLAKE LIFEBOAT MUSEUM Marine Parade, New Brighton, Wirral, North Parade, Hoylake, Wirral, CH45 2JU CH47 2AL Description: Fort Perch Rock was Description: Tour round this imposing named after the nearby Sea Perch and former Lifeboat House. Its primary exhibit Rock Channel. The barracks could is the 113 year old Chapman. The oldest accommodate over a hundred men and Liverpool-type Lifeboat in existence, and the last lifeboat to serve at Hilbre Station. Also offi cers. Its defence included 18 guns to on display are postcards, nautical ephemera protect Liverpool and the Rock Channel and much more. from invasion. It is now Grade 2* listed. “Chapman” was restored between November Admission Details: 2011 and July 2012, following a grant of Fort Perch Rock will be open £1000 from History Ships (a part of the Thursday 12th September and National Maritime Museum). The leader of Friday 13th September 11 am to 4 pm the restoration Team, Jon Britton (one of our Trustees) was awarded “Highly Commended” Free admission - please note none of the in the 2012 Marsh Volunteers Awards, run by museums will be open National Maritime Museum. Staff will be on hand to give a brief Admission Details: history on the building Sunday 8th September No booking required 12 Noon to 4pm Refreshments available at café Contact: There is limited disabled access Beverley Aspinall 0151 632 5529 Contact: Doug Darroch 0797 628 2120 8 LADY LEVER ART GALLERY LEASOWE LIGHTHOUSE Port Sunlight Village, Bebington, Wirral, Leasowe Common, North Wirral Coastal CH62 5EQ Park, Moreton, Wirral, CH46 4TA Description: The Lady Lever Gallery is one of the most opulent galleries in the country. Description: The lighthouse was It houses a notable collection of fi ne and erected in 1763 to guide ships to safe decorative arts, including British 18th and 19th anchorage at Hoyle Lake. It is the oldest century paintings and furniture, Wedgwood and brick-built lighthouse in the country and Chinese porcelain displays. was the fi rst building to have cavity walls. Admission Details: There is a spiral iron staircase with 130 The Gallery is open every day steps and the building rises to 101 feet. 10 am - 5 pm FREE ADMISSION It ceased to function as a lighthouse in Saturday 7th September 1 pm to 4 pm 1908. Stained Glass demonstration by website: www.leasowelighthouse.co.uk Collette Gavin, inspired by the exhibition: email: [email protected] The Drawings of Edward Burne Jones Admission Details: Wednesday 11th September at 2 pm Sunday 15th September 12 noon to 5 Tour of the Edward Burne Jones Exhibition pm for guided tours.