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Birkenhead Leasing

Did You Know?

Birkenhead is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, Merseyside, England; historically, it was part of Cheshire until 1974. The town is on the Wirral Peninsula, along the west bank of the River Mersey, opposite Liverpool. At the 2011 census, it had a population of 88,818.

Birkenhead Park and Hamilton Square were laid out as well as the first street tramway in Britain. The Mersey Railway connected Birkenhead and Liverpool with the world's first tunnel beneath a tidal estuary; the shipbuilding firm Cammell Laird and a seaport were established.

The recorded history of Birkenhead began with the establishment of Birkenhead Priory and the Mersey Ferry in the 12th century. During the 19th century Birkenhead expanded greatly, becoming a town as a consequence of the Industrial Revolution.

Birkenhead Park is known as the People's Garden and is much loved by the local community. For almost two hundred years it's been a major landmark here on the Wirral and is greatly valued by locals,

Birkenhead has produced notable sportsmen such as Matt Dawson, the rugby union player; 'Dixie' Dean, record-breaking footballer, who was born at 313 Laird Street; and several other footballers including Peter Davenport, Jason McAteer, David Thompson, Max Power, Jodie Taylor England Lionesses International.

In 1815 a small paddle boat steamed up the Mersey and this event sparked the expansion of Birkenhead. Now travel across the Mersey was no longer totally dependent on the weather. In 1817 the steam powered Etna crossed from Liverpool and started a service that was faster and more reliable than the large four oared boats that could carry up to thirty passengers, had ever been.

Houses were built along Church Street, a big hotel was built at the bottom of Abbey Street and Birkenhead became, for a short time at least a holiday resort. Visitors took advantage of the fine sandy beaches and bathed in the clear water of the Mersey.

Hamilton Square, one of the finest squares in the country, built by William Laird and named after his mother, was opened in 1833. The first Town Hall and market hall was opened in Hamilton Street in 1835. In 1840 the Birkenhead to Chester railway, planned by George Stephenson, was opened and in 1843 123 acres of land was bought for the most ambitious project of all, the formation of Birkenhead Park.

In 1841 the population had tripled to 8,223, by 1846 it had increased to 40,000. Birkenhead was being hailed ‘The City of the future’ and it seemed that nothing could halt its progress. One year later the dock scheme failed, there was a disastrous slump and people left Birkenhead in thousands.

The future of Birkenhead now lay in the hands of four men, William Laird*, George Rae and Maurice Mocatta*. Indeed it was only through the generosity of William Hind and his brother that the Commissioners were able to meet the claims of the bondholders, save the ferry and retrieve their position.