Les Jones

Over half of the Wirral’s built environment is Victorian and the era has left a huge imprint on the area. In this period the first docks across the River Mersey from Liverpool opened and Birkenhead became a pioneering planned Victorian town, including its municipal park and lodges which was the template later for Central Park in New York, the coastal town of New Brighton was developed as a coastal resort and Lord Leverhulme built his masterpiece garden village at Port Sunlight. Alongside these, many grand Victorian public buildings, town halls, baths, markets, libraries etc, were built as well as more humble but noteworthy structures. Another Victorian gem on Wirral is the magnificent cemetery at Flaybrick and the work of many nineteenth century architectural greats such as Pugin, Gilbert Scott, Norman Shaw and George Street can be found throughout the area. The book is illustrated throughout.All those interested in the history of the Wirral will find this a fascinating exploration of the Victorian heritage of this area.

The Wirral peninsula encompasses a fascinating diversity of places. Bounded by the River Dee to the west and the Mersey Estuary to the east, this unique area includes urban and industrial centres such as Birkenhead and Wallasey, built around the docks, the towns of Hoylake, West Kirby and Heswall, the faded seaside resort of New Brighton, rural hinterland and the unique Port Sunlight model village.In Wirral Pubs, author Les Jones takes the reader on a fascinating journey through the area’s watering holes, many of which have retained features and traditions of previous ages. Brimming with quirky tales and fascinating facts, this carefully crafted guide initiates readers into the fascinating history of the Wirral’s pubs.