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Thurstaston
Thurstaston maps
Historic maps of Thurstaston and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Thurstaston maps
Thurstaston area books
Displaying 1 of 5 books about Thurstaston and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Thurstaston
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memories of Thurstaston.
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Times at Thurstaston
Spent some time here down on the Dee, walking out to the middle at low tide, playing in the old gun garrison overlooking the Dee, until someone yelled "GHOST" and we ran like startled hares. My mother once said something about the tunnel from the Dee, but it had more to do with running contraband? Sang in the choir at St Bartholomew's for a short time, an awe inspiring place. I liked to sit on top of the cutting looking out over fields and Dee to Wales, it was so peaceful you could hear a curlew call down below. But best of all was sledging on Sutton Hill and the common until you were so cold you would cry.
Monks And Pirates
I used to live in a house at the top of Grange Hill in a road called Monks Way. At the top of our garden, just opposite Tottey's garage, there was the remains of a round sandstone tower. We were told that the area used to be a monastry or abbey, hence the name "Monks way". The monks were apparently persecuted and the tower was a watch tower to warn of any trouble. It was claimed that there was an underground tunnel to the beach, from where the monks could sail to Hilbre Island for sanctuary. Never found the tunnel but as a lad we fought plenty of battles from the tower!
Vikings And Saxons
How many young vikings and saxons would have been slain trying to capture this ancient landmark.Memories of sword fights blood and guts in a childs fantasy. A wonderful place to explore and imagine.
The view from the rock across the Dee estuary is magnificent and I would think that countless photographs would have been taken from this vantage point.
Camp & Fish
What a wonderful place to camp and fish in the 1950's and 60's. Plenty of fish and sea birds and so very peaceful. In recent years the old railway track Hooton-West Kirby line, which ran alongside Thurstaston shore, has been ripped out to make the Wirral Way walking track. I have heard from U.K. friends, that now in 2008, that the track is being widened even further, and is now known by the locals as The Wirral Highway. Such a pity so called progress destroys our history.
Merseyside memories
Irby Hall Farm
Irby Manor is a very old building listed in the Hundred of Wirral and was once surrounded on three sides by a moat. 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. As a kid I remember the farm was owned by "Pop Griffiths"? and later passed on to Vince McLure. I used to visit and help out in the dairy with Spud, who worked there as a farm hand. Later in time I worked as a painter and decorator in some of the rooms. I remember the place being a bit dark inside.
Pete
The Paper Shop
The shop seen first on left was owned by a Mr.Mathews and was the new paper shop (newsagents) a handful of young boys including myself and a couple of girls used to deliver the newspapers on bicycles to the local community.The previous shop was more like an old shed. Irby was a lovely peaceful little village.
Memories From my New Home in Chicago
Having grown up in Irby and now living in Chicago. It was great to see some excellent picture of the old Irby village. The white sided building in this picture on the left is the Irby Club. My Grandfather Percy Hayward was the first steward at the club and my Mother lived at the club until my grandfather retired from his position.
I joined the Irby Club as a member and later became the membership secretary for a number of years before leaving to move to Chicago.
Great photos and great memories. Thanks.
