Irby Hall

Irby Hall, on the site of an ancient manor house of Chester Abbey, is early 17th century, with some reconstruction in 1888.

A high earth bank - just visible to the left - and the remains of a deep moat are reminders of times when marauding Welshmen were slightly more of a problem than they are today. Recent excavations nearby in Irby have uncovered the remains of a settlement dating from Iron Age and Roman times.
(Information from - http://www.allertonoak.com/merseySights/WirralTI.html )

There are stories of an underground tunnel leading to Thurstaston so as the early occupants could escape via the River Dee should there be a need.

The Anchor Inn, Irby

Externally The Anchor is one of the oldest buildings in Irby village but it has been modernised internally. It is part of a pub chain and the food reflects that being reasonably priced and pleasant. The biggest attraction in the summer is the outdoor beer garden whilst in the winter it is the fire!

The view from The Anchor window.
 

 

Warm and cosy by the pub fire.

Thingwall cottages

The settlement of Thingwall was recorded in the Domesday Book as Tuigvelle, and has been variously known as Fingwalle (1180); Thingale (circa 1250); and Thynghwall (1426). The name indicates that it was once the site of an assembly place.

The old village of Thingwall has been swallowed up by modern development but there are a few old sandstone cottages around.

 

 

Traditional buildings in the area are constructed of locally quarried yellow sandstone but these two eighteenth century ones in Whaley Lane have been whitewashed. Several small sandstone quarries once existed in the area including one at the top of the appropriately named Quarry Lane. Little evidence of these quarries now exists as the land has been redeveloped for housing or for the construction of an above ground fresh water reservoir.

Burton Village

A couple of shots of Burton village in the early 1960s.

 

 

Fishers Lane, Pensby

On Fishers Lane, Pensby, there is a small wood. In fact, it is so small it hardly deserves the name of a wood – a small copse would be a better description. But it provides a lovely piece of green and a home for a number of bird species and the occasional mammal like the Grey Squirrel.

 

In January it also provided a delightful scene in the snow.

 

 

Ashton Park, West Kirby

Jo and I went around Ashton Park, West Kirby, in mid-February. There were dozens of ducks and geese around.

 

Canada Goose

  

  

Coots

  

Mallards

Little white ducks!

Moorhen

 

 

 

Tufted Duck