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Birkenhead
is on the west bank of
the River Mersey, known as the Wirral, and has spectacular
views of the skyline of Liverpool just across the river.
The area remained mainly agricultural
until the introduction of the steam-powered Mersey Ferry in
1820 after which Birkenhead grew rapidly to became an important
ship building centre and port.
At the Egerton Bridge Birkenhead
Dock System visitors can climb the iron stairway to get a
birds-eye view over the docklands.
The port's maritime heritage
is also remembered by a collection of historic warships berthed
at the dockside of the Corn Warehouse.
The
Wirral Museum, located in the handsome Hamilton Square,
includes the story of the famous Cammell Laird shipyard.
Birkenhead was the first town
in Europe to have a street tramway (opened in 1860) and visitors
can still ride on Birkenhead Tramway to see the town's historic
attractions.
The Birkenhead Heritage Trail
includes the Shore Road Pumping Station, where the restored
'Giant Grasshopper' steam pump can be seen in action. These
huge pumps were used to keep water out of the Mersey Rail
Tunnel - the first underwater rail tunnel in Europe.
Other tourist attractions in
the town are the renovated Pacific Road Art and Exhibition
Centre and Birkenhead Priory, dating from 1150, the oldest
building in Merseyside. Benedictine monks from the priory
operated the first ferry across the River Mersey.
The beautiful Birkenhead
Park was created in 1847 by Sir Joseph Paxton (designer
of the Crystal Palace) and was Britain's first publicly funded
park, over 2,000 acres of woods, parkland, lakes and gardens.
The village of Bidston, to the
north-west of Birkenhead, stands at one of the highest points
on The Wirral. Bidston Hill has 100 acres of woodland and
heathland, with old crofter's cottages scattered about its
slopes and a windmill at its highest point. Tam O'Shanter's
Urban farm, in a thatched cottage on the edge of Biston Hill,
houses a small collection of farm animals.
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Birkenhead
