St Bridget’s, West Kirby - Head-stops

Like many church windows those of St Bridget’s, West Kirby, have decorative hood moulds, or drip stones, projecting above the windows to protect them from rainwater running down the walls. They end in what are generally called label-stops which, when resembling human heads, are often called head-stops.

The Parish Church of St Bridget, West Kirby

The lych gate

It is hard to pinpoint how old St Bridget’s Church is, since it has been altered and added to over many centuries. Though we know that Christians worshipped here at the time of the first Millennium, the earliest parts of the building surviving and visible are the vestry doorway and some of the masonry north wall of the Lady Chapel which are of the early 14th century. For more details see the Church's website.

The tower is mainly 16th century, although built around an earlier core.   There is a ring of 8 bells, 4 of them over 200 years old - a skilled team ring for Sunday morning services as well as weddings and other occasions. At one time my brother was a ringer here and he was married at St Bridget's.

There was a major restoration of the church in 1869/1870 by the architects Kelly and Edwards of Chester.

The Ring o' Bells, West Kirby

A place of many happy memories!

West Kirby - Coronation Gardens

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