Birkenhead

The town of Birkenhead started it's existence when the Priory was built in the late 1100's.  From the needs of the priory to have a workforce to labour in it's fields and other endeavours the population grew.  There are two possibilities for the derivation of it's name, Birchen Head from the birch trees on the headland, or from the river Birch ( or Birkett) Head.  Although the trees are long since gone (Birkenhead Ferry is known as Woodside), the river still flows from one side of Wirral to the other. (Although more of a small stream it did at one time supply a modern steel mill.)

Although the population grew, it wasn't until the late 1700's that Birkenhead started to gain separate farms and cottages to the priory area.

In 1815 the first steam boat, a small paddle steamer, to be seen in the river Mersey appeared.  Businessmen of the day saw the potential of this, and so the first motorised ferry service was started, along with a hotel.  This allowed for more housing and other businesses to be attracted to the area.

Lairds ship builders was started in 1824 by John Laird, and is still in business today, having launched many a famous ship in it's time.  These included the famous Alabama, secretly built for the US Confederate Army, that became a commerce raider sinking many British ships, and a host of warships such as HMS Rodney and HMS Ark Royal.  Today the company has started to built and repair commercial ships, up to the most beautiful cruise liners, rather than concentrate on the naval ships that became its mainstay after the Second World War.

John Laird was also builder and instigator of broad streets and squares for enhancing living conditions in the town.  One of the finest squares in the country, Hamilton Square in the heart of the town, was named after his mother.

It is from the time of John Laird that the population of the town exploded, and in 1833 Birkenhead was given the right to govern itself. A Town Hall and Market were built.  The Market is still going, not just one day a week, but six days, and only recently used an ancient law to ban a large car boot sale within five miles of it. 

By 1844 the population had grown to 12,000, and Birkenhead planned and developed a Port which opened in 1847.  As this project required massive amounts of labour, the first community housing project came into being.  This was the Dock Cottages, 350 dwellings built into blocks of flats, each block having four flats, the blocks laid out in parallel lines. If you wanted to be up-market about where you lived, they were also properly called Queens Buildings.

In 1860 the population had risen to over 45,000, and Birkenhead had several 'firsts' for itself in the next decade.  A Member of Parliament was elected, a workhouse, cemetery and public library were opened, and the first tramway in Europe was opened.  This was conceived and built by Mr George Francis Train, of Boston USA.

By the 1870's Birkenhead had become so large that it petitioned to become a Borough.  Despite opposition on 13th August 1877 Birkenhead was duly Incorporated as a Borough, and elected it's first Mayor, Mr. John Laird, son of the first.  In 1878 the Borough was granted its Arms.  Birkenhead lost it's Boroughship in 1974 when it was incorporated into the new County of Merseyside.