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Dist:0.2km<br/>Snow on the Wirral, March 2006
©Rob Hadfield
Dist:0.2km<br/>Flaybrick Chapel is situated in Flaybrick Memorial Gardens, Claughton. The landmark spire has recently been removed &, overall, the chapel is in a state of dereliction.
©E Pollock
Dist:0.3km<br/>The cemetery on Boundary Road was laid out by the Birkenhead Improvement Commissioners in 1864. The two chapels sharing a central spire were designed by Lucy & Littler, and are now in a sorry state.
©James Yardley
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©Alex McGregor
Dist:0.4km<br/>
©Sue Adair
Dist:0.4km<br/>Tam O'Shanter Cottage, which was probably built about 300 years ago by a heath squatter, is situated at the edge of Bidston Hill near to the rear entrance to Flaybrick Cemetery. As far as we know it had no particular claim to fame until 1837 when Richard Lea the occupier at that time embellished the building with a carved stone slab depicting Burns poem "Tam O'Shanter" in which Tam pursued by witches sought to reach the bridge in the belief that the witches would not dare to cross running water. Tam indeed escaped but his mare poor Maggie lost her tail. In Auld Lang Syne, by Harry B. Neilson, printed in 1935, mention is made that the date 1837 can be seen on a stone garden wall of the cottage. It is stated that Richard Leay cut the date on the wall and carved the Tam O'Shanter stone and also the weather vane with its animals heads, lion, dog etc. It is said he made them in his spare time to decorate his cottage. Part of the cottage will be seen in the foreground to be roofed with thick, stone, flags, which in past times was a common method of covering buildings in Bidston, where stone was plentiful.The list of farms which were on the Bidston Hill heathland in the year 1840 includes the Tam 0'Shanter farm and tells us that the size of the farm was 6 acres. We know that in 1841 Richard Lea was a master stonemason. At that time, there was a great deal of building going on in Birkenhead. Hamilton Square, the Town Hall, Cammell Lairds, Bidston Observatory, Bidston Lighthouse and many churches were being built in the 19th century and there would have been plenty of work for Richard Lea in Birkenhead. So we might imagine Richard Lea shaping stone for these buildings, as well as working on the Tam O'Shanter farm, looking after hens, pigs, cows and growing crops. Thus the cottage became known as Tam O'Shanter Cottage and became a favourite subject for artists and visitors alike. (Taken from http://www.tamoshanterfarm.org.uk/history.htm)
©Sue Adair
Dist:0.4km<br/>Tam O'Shanter Cottage, which was probably built about 300 years ago by a heath squatter, is situated at the edge of Bidston Hill. Sadly most of the building was destroyed by fire in 1954 and the Council considered demolishing it, but it was saved by public protest. Following a further fire in 1975 and subsequent vandalism, the council decided to demolish the building completely. The Birkenhead History Society stepped in to try and save the building because it represented a period before the area became industrialised. In June 1975 they were given 30 days to submit their suggestions and in August they won permission from Wirral Borough Council for the cottage to be rebuilt and restored to its former glory but rather than return the cottage to residential use the Society felt that the townspeople would be better served by having a field study centre which could be used by local school children. A Charitable Trust was formed in conjunction with Wirral District Council and a grant was obtained from the Manpower Services Commission under the Job Creation Programme. The cottage was open for schools from May 1977 and in 1986 a voluntary organisation called the Wirral Urban Farm Association together with the Tam O'Shanter Cottage Trust began to develop the 4 acres around the cottage as a city farm. The construction of farm buildings, paths and fencing was soon followed by a collection of farm animals. The aim of the new trust was to make this varied collection of farm animals accessible to many people, especially children. By fundraising, grants, donations, support from the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral the farm is able to maintain itself without an admission charge while being open every day (9.30am - 4.30pm). Partly taken from http://www.tamoshanterfarm.org.uk/history.htm
©Sue Adair
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©Alex McGregor
Dist:0.5km<br/>The main row of shops along the main road of Claughton Village.
©David Quinn
Dist:0.5km<br/>Looking south from the forecourt of Birkenhead North Station, this church, which lies unfortunately just outside the same gridsquare, is a prominent landmark.
©Dr Neil Clifton
Dist:0.5km<br/>This church, which is on Laird St/ Hoylake Road, was built in 1858 and is C of E. Until recently, it was isolated in the middle of a roundabout. The road layout has now been changed, and is a bit confusing for anyone who was used to the old system. The area is changing rapidly, with nice new housing.
©Peter Craine
Dist:0.5km<br/>Looks like we're in for a hard winter -- and we haven't even had summer yet!
©Fractal Angel
Dist:0.5km<br/>On Bidston Road, outside Flaybrick Reservoir
©Fractal Angel
Dist:0.5km<br/>Captured against a glorious summer sky. Looks almost as if one were in Italy, save for the type of brick used.
©Fractal Angel
Dist:0.5km<br/>This 1860s Victorian water tower is an attractive sandstone structure in a neo-classical style, supporting a round iron tank. The tower remains in its original use and the cylindrical exterior exhibits fine carved stone details, including Doric pilasters to the ground floor and engaged columns above with capitals, round-headed windows, blind arcading capped by a stone cornice.
©Sue Adair

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