Burton church c;lock is unusual in having only one hand. When it was made clocks were often so inaccurate that a minute hand was usueless. The clock had to be adjusted daily with the aid of a sundial (and there is a sundial in the churchyard).
Thursday, 6 May 2010
Burton Church Clock
Burton church c;lock is unusual in having only one hand. When it was made clocks were often so inaccurate that a minute hand was usueless. The clock had to be adjusted daily with the aid of a sundial (and there is a sundial in the churchyard).
Wednesday, 5 May 2010
Thornton Hough - Chimneys
Although mention of Thornton Hough goes back as far as the Domesday Book the village is primarily Victorian, having been largely rebuilt and expanded in the 1880s by the third Lord Leverhulme, of the then Lever Brothers soap company, now the Unilever corporation. The buildings are mostly of mock Tudor design and this is reflected in the wonderful chimneys.
Tuesday, 4 May 2010
Thurstaston- Thor's Stone
Thurstaston Hill is the location of Thor's Stone, a large sandstone outcrop and a place of romantic legend.
As children we enjoyed nothing better than scrambling up its various sides to the top - which in those days seemed very high indeed.
In the 19th century it was supposed that early Viking settlers may have held religious ceremonies here. A visit to the site by members of the British Archaeological Association in 1888 heard an account by Rev. A. E. P. Gray, rector of Wallasey, that the 'Thor Stone' was also known in the locality as 'Fair Maiden's Hall' and that children were "in the habit of coming once a year to dance around the stone". This part of Wirral was part of a Norse colony centred on Thingwall in the 10th and 11th centuries. However, geologists and historians are agreed that the rock is a natural formation similar to a tor, arising from periglacial weathering of the sandstone, which was later exploited by quarrymen in the 18th and 19th centuries. Whilst this is no less fascinating the local legend that it was a place of Viking meetings will undoubtedly persist.
In the middle of the 20th Century the Ramblers Association held a meeting at the Stone to press for extended rights of access to open land. A photo of that meeting shows that the immediate surroundings were open heathland whereas nowadays a substantial amount of Birch woodland has surrounded the Stone.
The hard way up!
Monday, 3 May 2010
Pensby - Dixie Dean
Pensby has few claims to fame - it's best one being that the famous Everton FC footballer Dixie Dean played for Pensby Institute in his early days, on the fields at the side of Gills Lane. He was sold to Tranmere Rovers prior to movinmg on to Everton. The fee for the sale to Tranmere was the price of a new kit for the Pensby team.
William Ralph Dean (22 January 1907 – 1 March 1980), popularly known as Dixie, was an English football player and the most prolific goal-scorer in English football history, best known for his legendary exploits at Everton, where he spent most of his career.
In total, Dean scored 383 goals for Everton, in 433 appearances, an exceptional strike-rate,including 37 hat-tricks for Everton, With modern scoring rates being much lower, both that record, and the record of 60 League goals in a season, are unlikely to ever be broken. He was also known as a very professional player, having never been booked or sent off throughout his entire career despite suffering rough treatment and provocation from opponents.
He also made 16 appearances for England, scoring 18 goals, including two hat-tricks. Dean scored three against Belgium in May 1927 and then another three against Luxembourg 10 days later.
Dean died in March 1980 after suffering a Heart attack at Goodison Park, Everton's home ground, whilst watching a match against their closest rivals, Liverpool. The match finished 1-2. In 2001, local sculptor Tom Murphy completed a statue of Dean which was erected outside the Park End of the stadium at a cost of £75,000 carrying the inscription, "Footballer, Gentleman, Evertonian". In 2002 Dean became an Inaugural Inductee to the English Football Hall of Fame.
William Ralph Dean (22 January 1907 – 1 March 1980), popularly known as Dixie, was an English football player and the most prolific goal-scorer in English football history, best known for his legendary exploits at Everton, where he spent most of his career.
In total, Dean scored 383 goals for Everton, in 433 appearances, an exceptional strike-rate,including 37 hat-tricks for Everton, With modern scoring rates being much lower, both that record, and the record of 60 League goals in a season, are unlikely to ever be broken. He was also known as a very professional player, having never been booked or sent off throughout his entire career despite suffering rough treatment and provocation from opponents.
He also made 16 appearances for England, scoring 18 goals, including two hat-tricks. Dean scored three against Belgium in May 1927 and then another three against Luxembourg 10 days later.
Dean died in March 1980 after suffering a Heart attack at Goodison Park, Everton's home ground, whilst watching a match against their closest rivals, Liverpool. The match finished 1-2. In 2001, local sculptor Tom Murphy completed a statue of Dean which was erected outside the Park End of the stadium at a cost of £75,000 carrying the inscription, "Footballer, Gentleman, Evertonian". In 2002 Dean became an Inaugural Inductee to the English Football Hall of Fame.
Sunday, 2 May 2010
Woodchurch
In the days when Woodchurch was fields! Mum standing in a cornfield near Woodchurch in Auguist 1937. (Photo by Dad).
Saturday, 1 May 2010
Gayton Windmill
Gayton Windmill, built of red sandstone and Wirral's oldest tower mill, ceased operation in 1875. It has since been converted into a private residence.
