Bintree (St. Swithin)
BINTREE (St. Swithin), a parish, in the union of
Mitford and Launditch, hundred of Eynsford, E.
division of Norfolk, 2 miles (S. E. by S.) from Guist;
containing 409 inhabitants. This parish, which is
bounded on the west by the river Wensum, and situated on the road from Norwich to Fakenham, comprises
1443a. 3r. 11p., of which 1117 acres are arable, 247 pasture, and 26 plantation: some of it is good wheat land,
and other parts good turnip and barley soil. The living
is a rectory, with that of Themelthorpe annexed, valued
in the king's books at £10; net income, £462; patron,
Lord Hastings. The church is a handsome structure
in the early and later English styles, with a square embattled tower, and a south transept, and contains a
richly carved screen, and some other interesting details.
The poor have twenty-five acres allotted on the inclosure
of the parish in 1796, and now producing £50 per
annum; and the half of £30, rent of land bequeathed
by an unknown benefactor.
Birbeck-Fells
BIRBECK-FELLS, a township, partly in the parish
of Orton, East ward and union, and partly in the
parish of Crosby-Ravensworth, West ward and
union, county of Westmorland, 4 miles (W. S. W.)
from Orton; containing 200 inhabitants, and comprising
1250 acres, of which 770 are common or waste. The
Birbeck embankment, on the line of the Lancaster and
Carlisle railway, contains 200,000 cubic yards of earthwork, and the viaduct here is 45 feet in height, the
arches being similar to those of Borrow viaduct. The
vicarial tithes have been commuted for £18. 9. A free
school at Greenholme, for the education of the children
of Birbeck-Fells, Bretherdale, Rounthwaite, and Low
Scales, is endowed with land producing about £40 per
annum, purchased with a bequest of £400 by George
Gibson, in 1733.
Birch
BIRCH, a district chapelry, in the parish of Manchester, union of Chorlton, hundred of Salford,
S. division of the county of Lancaster, 3 miles (S.) from
Manchester, on the road to Congleton. The living is a
perpetual curacy, in the patronage of J. Dickinson, Esq.;
net income, £160. The chapel, dedicated to St. James,
is supposed to have been originally built by a member of
the family of Birch, and was rebuilt in 1846; it is one
of the best specimens of ecclesiastical architecture in
this neighbourhood, and consists of a nave, chancel, and
aisles, with a tower and spire placed at the north-west
corner, within the square of the plan. Adjoining is a
neat school. Birch Hall, a seat of the Haverseges,
passed from them to the Birches; and it is conjectured
that the plans laid by James, Earl of Derby, for seizing
Manchester for Charles I., were disconcerted by the
councils of Col. Birch and his compeers, held here.
Birch
BIRCH, a village, in the parish of Middleton,
union of Oldham, hundred of Salford, S. division of
the county of Lancaster, 2½ miles (W. N. W.) from
Middleton. This place is half-way between Rochdale
and Manchester: the road from Manchester to Heywood
runs through the village; and the Rochdale canal, and
Manchester and Leeds railway, pass along the eastern
side of the district chapelry of Birch. The spinning of
cotton, and the manufacture of gingham, are carried on
to a limited extent. The living is a perpetual curacy, in
the patronage of the Rector of Middleton, with a net income of £150; there is a parsonage-house. The church,
dedicated to St. Mary, was built by means of a parliamentary grant of £4000, and consecrated Dec. 11th,
1828. Attached is a district formed out of the parishes
of Middleton and Bury. A national school is connected
with the church.
Birch, Great And Little (St. Peter)
BIRCH, GREAT AND LITTLE (St. Peter), a
parish, in the union of Lexden and Winstree, Colchester division of the hundred of Lexden, N. division
of Essex, 5¼ miles (S. W.) from Colchester, containing
794 inhabitants. The parish is supposed to have derived
its name from the Saxon signifying a bridge, in reference
to a bridge over a brook, now called Hickford bridge.
It comprises 3028 acres, by measurement; the soil is
various, consisting of dry loam resting on clay marl
of a whitish colour, and of heavier mould resting on
brown clay. Birch Castle was fortified against Henry III.
by Sir Ralph Gernon, then lord of the manor: there are
still some remains. The living is a rectory, with that of
Little Birch (formerly a parish valued in the king's
books at £5. 6. 8.) united, valued in the king's books at
£11, and in the gift of the Bishop of London, and C.
Round, Esq.: the tithes of Great Birch have been commuted for £574, with a glebe of 57½ acres, and those of
Little Birch for £210, with a glebe of 14½ acres. The
church is a small edifice, with a spire of shingles. When
the church of Little Birch became a ruin, several of the
monuments in it were removed to Earl's Colne.
Birch, Little (St. Mary)
BIRCH, LITTLE (St. Mary), a parish, in the Upper
division of the hundred of Wormelow, union and
county of Hereford, 6 miles (S.) from Hereford;
comprising by admeasurement 935 acres, and containing
375 inhabitants. Free sandstone of good quality is
raised in considerable quantities. The living is a discharged vicarage, valued in the king's books at £6. 12. 11.,
and in the gift of Guy's Hospital, London: the tithes
have been commuted for £160, and the glebe consists of
14 acres. The church has been just rebuilt on an enlarged plan, with stone supplied from quarries within the
parish.
Birch, Much (St. Mary)
BIRCH, MUCH (St. Mary), a parish, in the Upper
division of the hundred of Wormelow, union and
county of Hereford, 6¼ miles (S. by W.) from Hereford; containing 484 inhabitants. The parish is
bounded by the road from Hereford to Monmouth, and
intersected by that between the former town and Ross;
it consists of 1170 acres. The living is a perpetual
curacy; net income, £91. The ancient place called
Wormelow, from which the hundred takes its name, is
within this parish.
Bircham, Great (St. Mary)
BIRCHAM, GREAT (St. Mary), a parish, in the
union of Docking, hundred of Smithdon, W. division
of Norfolk, 9 miles (N. N. E.) from Rougham; containing 511 inhabitants. It comprises 3606a. 2r. 3p.,
of which 2937 acres are arable, 436 woodland, and the
rest sheep-walk and pasture. The living is a rectory,
valued in the king's books at £22, and in the patronage
of A. Hammond, Esq.: the tithes have been commuted
for £575, and there are 73 acres of glebe, with a handsome house. The church is in the early and later
English styles, with some Norman remains.
Bircham-Newton (All Saints)
BIRCHAM-NEWTON (All Saints), a parish, in
the union of Docking, hundred of Smithdon, W. division of Norfolk, 7¼ miles (S. W. by S.) from BurnhamWestgate; containing 107 inhabitants. The living is a
discharged rectory, with that of Bircham-Tofts annexed,
valued in the king's books at £7. 13. 4.; patron, the
Marquess of Cholmondeley. The tithes of this parish
have been commuted for £218, and those of BirchamTofts for a like sum; in Bircham-Newton are 48, and in
Bircham-Tofts 32 acres of glebe.
Bircham-Tofts (St. Andrew)
BIRCHAM-TOFTS (St. Andrew), a parish, in the
union of Docking, hundred of Smithdon, W. division
of Norfolk, 7¼ miles (S. S. W.) from Burnham-Westgate; containing 142 inhabitants. The living is a discharged rectory, annexed to that of Bircham-Newton,
and valued in the king's books at £6. 13. 4.
Birchanger (St. Mary)
BIRCHANGER (St. Mary), a parish, in the union
of Bishop-Stortford, hundred of Uttlesford, N.
division of Essex, 2 miles (N. E.) from Bishop-Stortford; containing 386 inhabitants. It was given by
Richard II. to William of Wykeham, for the endowment
of New College, Oxford, the Warden and Fellows of
which are the present proprietors. The parish comprises 1051a. 23p., of which 730 acres are arable, 185
meadow, and 97 woodland. The living is a rectory,
valued in the king's books at £9. 13. 4., and in the gift
of the college: the impropriate tithes have been commuted for £50, and the rectorial for £310; there are
24 acres of glebe, with a handsome house. The church,
pleasantly situated on the summit of a hill, near the
London road, is a small ancient edifice with a round
tower, and contains a fine Norman arch. Richard de
Newport founded here, in the reign of John, an hospital
dedicated to St. Mary and St. Leonard, for a master and
two chaplains; the revenue, in the 26th of Henry VIII.,
was £31. 13. 11.
Bircher
BIRCHER, a township, in the parish of Yarpole,
union of Leominster, hundred of Wolphy, county of
Hereford, 5½ miles (N. by W.) from Leominster; containing 257 inhabitants. It lies on the road from Leominster to Ludlow. The village is a short distance
north-east of that of Yarpole; and on the north-west
is an extensive common, called Bircher or Highwood
common.
Birches
BIRCHES, a township, in the parish of Great
Budworth, union and hundred of Northwich, S.
division of the county of Chester, 3¼ miles (E. S. E.)
from Northwich; containing 8 inhabitants. In the
reign of Edward II. the manor passed with the heiress
of Nicholas de Birches, by marriage, to the Winningtons, in whose family it continued for many generations.
It came to the Starkeys in Charles I.'s reign; and in
1695 was the property of Mrs. Elizabeth Dobson, who
bequeathed it to the Cholmondeley family, in trust, for
the education of two boys, one to be the son of a counsellor, and the other the son of a divine of the Church
of England. The township comprises 138 acres: the
soil is clay. The road from Northwich to Twemlow
passes on the south.
Birchfield
BIRCHFIELD, a hamlet, in the parish of Handsworth, union of West Bromwich, S. division of the
hundred of Offlow and of the county of Stafford, 2 miles (N.) from Birmingham, on the road to
Walsall. This place lies in the eastern part of the
parish, and close to the borders of the county of Warwick. It contains a few handsome residences, the principal of which are those of William Haughton, Esq., and
George Bragg, Esq.; the former a large mansion with
about 76 acres of land, and the latter having about
40 acres. The other residences situated in the hamlet
are small.
Birchington (All Saints)
BIRCHINGTON (All Saints), a parish, within the
cinque-port liberty of Dovor (of which it is a member,
though locally in the hundred of Ringslow, or Isle of
Thanet), union of Thanet, lathe of St. Augustine,
E. division of Kent, 3½ miles (W. by S.) from Margate;
containing 874 inhabitants, and comprising by admeasurement 1283 acres of arable, and 290 acres of pasture
land. It is said to have been anciently called Birchington in Gorend, from a place called Gorend on the seashore, where tradition reports the church to have stood
until it was destroyed by the falling of the cliff. The
village is on the road from Margate to Canterbury, and
a pleasure-fair is held in it on the Monday and Tuesday
at Whitsuntide. At Quex Park, a fine old seat, is preserved a curious gilt chair, which was used by William III.
when he occupied Quex, whilst waiting for favourable
winds to convey him to Holland, and was borrowed by
Sir William Curtis for the use of George IV., when he
embarked at Ramsgate for his Hanoverian dominions,
in 1821. The living is united, with that of Acole, to the
vicarage of Monkton. On the north side of the church
is Quex chapel, belonging to the manor of Quex, where
are interred several of the family of Crispe, to whom
there are some very interesting monuments and brasses.
A place of worship for dissenters was erected a few years
since; and there is a school, founded under the will,
dated Feb. 13th, 1707, of Mrs. Anna Gertrude Crispe,
who bequeathed 47 acres of land in Birchington and
Monkton for charitable purposes.
Bircholt (St. Margaret)
BIRCHOLT (St. Margaret), a parish, in the union
of East Ashford, franchise and barony of Bircholt,
lathe of Shepway, E. division of Kent, 4 miles (E. by
S.) from Ashford; containing 37 inhabitants. It comprises 299 acres. The living is a rectory, valued in the
king's books at £2. 10. 10.; net income, £50; patron,
Sir E. Knatchbull, Bart. The church is in ruins.
Birchover
BIRCHOVER, a chapelry, in the parish of Youlgrave, union of Bakewell, hundred of High Peak,
N. division of the county of Derby, 1 mile (N. by W.)
from Winster; containing, with the hamlet of Gratton,
112 inhabitants.
Birchwood
BIRCHWOOD, a hamlet, in the district of Riddings, parish of Alfreton, union of Belper, hundred
of Scarsdale, N. division of the county of Derby,
about 3 miles (S. S. E.) from the town of Alfreton. The
neighbourhood abounds in coal and iron.
Birdall, with Raisthorpe.—See Raisthorpe.
BIRDALL, with Raisthorpe.—See Raisthorpe.
Birdbrook (St. Augustine)
BIRDBROOK (St. Augustine), a parish, in the
union of Risbridge, hundred of Hinckford, N. division of Essex, 7 miles (N. W.) from Castle Hedingham;
containing 557 inhabitants. This parish, which is separated from the county of Suffolk by the river Stour,
comprises an area of about 2240 acres, and is beautifully
situated on a hill descending to the north and south,
and commanding a richly diversified prospect. The
soil is a deep sandy loam, extremely favourable to the
growth of forest timber, especially oak, of which there
are many noble and stately trees. The living is a rectory,
valued in the king's books at £19, and in the patronage
of Clare Hall, Cambridge: the tithes have been commuted for £600, and there are 99 acres of glebe. The
church has some fine details in the early English style.
The Roman road from Colchester to Cambridge passed
through the parish, in which several ancient coins have
been found.
Birdforth
BIRDFORTH, a chapelry, in the parish of Coxwold, union of Thirsk, wapentake of Birdforth, N.
riding of York, 5 miles (N. W. by N.) from Easingwould; containing 44 inhabitants. It comprises 595
acres, of which 259 are arable, and 334 meadow and
pasture. The village is situated on the road from
Easingwould to Thirsk, and the York and Newcastle
railway passes a short distance on the west. The antiquity of the place is evinced by its having given name
to the wapentake. The living is a perpetual curacy,
in the patronage of the Archbishop of York: the impropriate tithes, belonging to Trinity College, Cambridge,
have been commuted for £108. 15., and those of the incumbent for £64. 2. The chapel was partly rebuilt
in 1585.
Birdham (St. Leonard)
BIRDHAM (St. Leonard), a parish, in the union
of West Hampnett, hundred of Manhood, rape of
Chichester, W. division of Sussex, 4 miles (S. W. by
S.) from Chichester; containing 506 inhabitants. The
parish comprises about 1750 acres, and is intersected
by the Portsmouth and Arun canal, which terminates at
Chichester harbour, by which Birdham is partly bounded
on the north: the soil is a rich, strong, hazel mould,
and good wheat land. The living is a rectory, valued in
the king's books at £10. 0. 10.; net income, £396;
patrons, the Dean and Chapter of Chichester: there
are about 14 acres of glebe. The church consists
of a nave and chancel, with a heavy square embattled
tower.
Birdinbury, or Birbury (St. Leonard)
BIRDINBURY, or Birbury (St. Leonard), a parish,
in the union of Rugby, Southam division of the hundred of Knightlow, S. division of the county of Warwick, 5 miles (W. S. W.) from Dunchurch; containing
201 inhabitants. It comprises 1033a. 1r. 19p., of which
621 acres are arable, 361 pasture, and 44 woodland.
The living is a discharged rectory, valued in the king's
books at £7. 10.; net income, £120; patron, Sir T.
Biddulph, Bart. Allotments of land, and money payments, were assigned in 1802 in lieu of tithes.
Birdsall (St. Mary)
BIRDSALL (St. Mary), a parish, in the union of
Malton, wapentake of Buckrose, E. riding of York,
5 miles (S. S. E.) from Malton; containing 267 inhabitants. This parish comprises nearly 4000 acres, and lies
partly on the edge of the Wolds: the surface is mountainous, and the scenery wild and romantic; the soil is
various, on the higher lands light and thin, and on the
lower grounds a rich loam alternated with clay. Limestone and freestone of good quality are extensively
quarried. The village is widely scattered, occupying a
semicircular range of picturesque acclivities at the western
foot of the Wolds. The living is a perpetual curacy;
net income, £40; patron and impropriator, Hugh M.
Ingram, Esq., whose tithes have been commuted for
£580. 4., and who has a glebe of 543 acres. The church,
an elegant structure in the early English style, with a
lofty square embattled tower crowned with pinnacles,
was erected in 1824, by Lord Middleton, at an expense
of £3000. Henry Burton, a puritan divine, was born
in the parish.
Birkacre
BIRKACRE, a hamlet, partly in the parish of
Chorley, and partly in the townships of Coppull,
Charnock-Richard, and Duxbury, parish of Standish, union of Chorley, hundred of Leyland, N. division of the county of Lancaster, 2 miles (S. W.) from
the town of Chorley. This place is situated on the river
Yarrow, and is about half a mile distant from the Coppull station on the North-Union railway. The vale here
is very beautiful; there are large lodges, or reservoirs,
of fine spring water, resembling what are seen in Westmorland and Cumberland. Here is an excellent coalmine. Formerly an iron-forge was in operation; but
in the year 1784 it was converted into print-works,
which are still carried on, employing about 300 hands.
The present proprietors of the works are Messrs. Mc
Naughtan, Potter, and Company.
Birkby
BIRKBY, a township, in the parish of Cross-Cannonby, union of Cockermouth, Allerdale ward
below Derwent, W. division of Cumberland, 1¾ mile
(E. N. E.) from Maryport; containing 89 inhabitants.
Birkby
BIRKBY, a township, in the parish of Muncaster,
union of Bootle, Allerdale ward above Derwent,
W. division of Cumberland, 2¼ miles (E. by S.) from
Ravenglass; containing 119 inhabitants. Extensive
ruins of a British or Danish city, called Barnscar, are
visible on Birkby Fell.
Birkby (St. Peter)
BIRKBY (St. Peter), a parish, in the union of
Northallerton, wapentake of Allertonshire, N.
riding of York; consisting of the townships of Birkby
and Little Smeaton, and the chapelry of Hutton-Bonville; and containing 256 inhabitants, of whom 74 are
in the township of Birkby, 6 miles (N. N. W.) from
Northallerton. This parish comprises about 3000 acres
of land, of which two-thirds are arable, and one-third
pasture with a little wood; the soil is a productive clay,
and the surface, though not hilly, gently undulated:
some parts are subject to inundation from the Wiske
river. The York and Newcastle railway, passing to the
east of Hutton-Bonville Hall, and slightly curving to the
west of Birkby, crosses the Wiske. The living is a discharged rectory, valued in the king's books at £6. 13. 4.,
and in the patronage of the Bishop of Ripon: the tithes
have been commuted for £205, and there are 4 acres of
glebe, and an excellent parsonage-house lately built.
The church, erected in the year 1776, is a plain brick
building. At Hutton-Bonville is a chapel dedicated to
St. Lawrence.
Birkdale
BIRKDALE, a township, in the parish of North
Meols, union of Ormskirk, hundred of West Derby,
S. division of the county of Lancaster, 7½ miles (N. W.)
from Ormskirk; containing 557 inhabitants. The
manor, in the reign of Henry IV., was held by the Halsalls; and the Gerards of Bromley became possessed of
the estate by purchase, in the 17th century: from the
latter it passed to the Mordaunts, and from them to the
Blundell family. The township comprises 2235a. 2r. 32p.,
and lies on the coast; the shore here is remarkable for
its flatness and number of sandbanks, highly dangerous
to shipping in strong westerly winds. Some years ago,
a farm in the township was overwhelmed in the sand.
There is a good schoolroom, where divine service is performed once every Sunday by one of the clergymen
attached to the parish church. A court-leet appertains
to this place.
Birkenhead
BIRKENHEAD, a rising sea-port, market-town, and
township, in the union, and Lower division of the hundred, of Wirrall, S. division of Cheshire; situated
less than a mile, by ferry, (W.) from Liverpool, 16 miles
(N. by W.) from Chester, 32 (W. by S.) from Manchester, and 202 (N. W.) from London; containing about
25,000 inhabitants, and comprising the ancient extraparochial district or chapelry of Birkenhead, the former
township of Claughton, in Bidstone, and part of that of
Oxton, in Woodchurch. Though of recent origin as a
town and port, this place is of considerable antiquity.
A priory for sixteen Benedictine monks was founded
here about 1150, in honour of St. Mary and St. James,
by Hamon de Massey, third baron of Dunham-Massey:
according to Leland, it was subordinate to the abbey of
St. Werburgh, at Chester; but from the power exercised
by the monks, Bishop Tanner considers it to have been
independent. The priors sat in the parliaments of the
earls of Chester, and enjoyed all the dignities and privileges of palatinate barons, seldom riding out unless
attended by their chamberlains and marshals; while the
office of their seneschal was a prize worthy of the emulation of the most knightly houses in the county. The
priory had considerable endowments: the adjacent
rectories of Backford and Bidstone, with most of the
lands in those parishes, were among its possessions, and
it had also property in various parts of Lancashire. The
right of ferryage across the Mersey was given to the
prior in 1282, and confirmed by subsequent grants;
and in a charter dated the 20th February 1318 (11th of
Edward II.), he obtained license to build houses for
lodging all such persons using the ferry as should be
detained on account of contrary weather and the frequent
storms. Up to that time there had not been any accommodation for sojourners here, and the priory had in consequence been burthened, and the passengers "much
wearied and very greatly grieved." Subsequently the
priors obtained a house, situated in the present Waterstreet, where such produce as remained unsold on the
market-days was deposited till the next market. The
revenues of the establishment were, according to Dugdale, valued at the Dissolution at £90. 13., and, according to Speed, at £102. 16. 10. Of the buildings, the last
use of which was as a girls' school, for all the country
for many miles round, nothing remains but a small portion of a Gothic window covered with ivy. The Priory
House, which was garrisoned by the royalists, and captured by the parliamentarians in 1644, stands at the back
of the church of St. Mary.
The greater portion of the priory estates in Cheshire
was granted to Ralph Worsley, a junior member of the
family of that name settled at Worsley, in Lancashire;
and after his death, without male issue, the lands became
the property of his grandson, Thomas Powell, of Birkenhead, whose eldest son was created a baronet in 1628.
The manor continued in this family until 1703 or 1704,
when it was sold to John Cleveland, Esq., of Liverpool,
during the year of his mayoralty. This gentleman, and
his second son (the eldest having died young), were successively members for the borough of Liverpool for many
years; they resided in Cleveland-square, several of the
streets near which are called after parties connected with
them. Alice, the only daughter and heiress of the
former, married Francis Price, of Bryn-y-pys, in the
county of Flint, and had issue Richard Price, Esq., who
assumed the name of Parry, became a privy councillor
for Ireland, and was buried in the old chapel at Birkenhead, yet occasionally used, in 1782. He was twice
married, first to Dorothy, daughter of Sir John Byrne,
and sister of Sir Peter Byrne Leycester, Bart., of Tabley;
and had issue Francis Parry Price, of Bryn-y-pys. The
last-named married Francisca, daughter of Henry Offley
Wright, Esq., of Mottram, in Cheshire; and his son is
Francis Richard Price, Esq., late lord of the manor of Birkenhead, which now belongs to William Jackson, Esq.,
of Claughton Hall.
Few places have, in the same short space of time,
made such rapid progress as the township of Birkenhead.
For centuries an inconsiderable place, it has suddenly
become a large and important town; and what was once
regarded as an outskirt of the great port of Liverpool, is
now going hand in hand with that mart of commerce, in
extending the facilities for the trade of the country, and
in increasing the prosperity of those residing on the
shores of the noble estuary of the Mersey. The first
steam-boats were introduced on the Mersey in 1815, at
which time Birkenhead contained but a few insignificant
and isolated cottages. In 1833 an act was passed for the
improvement of the place; in 1840 a railway was opened
hence to Chester. The first stone of the docks was laid
on the 23rd of October, 1844, by Sir Philip de Malpas
Grey Egerton, Bart., M.P. for the southern division of
the county; and on the 5th of April, 1847, a portion of
the docks, a number of dock warehouses, the extension
of the Chester railway to the quays, and the park, were
all formally opened by Lord Morpeth. The increase in
the population has been commensurate with the great
and rapid improvement of the town and the establishment of its various public works. In 1818 there were
only three houses besides the priory and a few straggling
cottages, and Woodside ferry-house; and the population
did not exceed 50: in 1821 it was only 200; it had
risen in 1831 to 2569, and in 1841 was 8227. The
number of inhabitants in 1844 was about 14,000, and
there were then at least 2315 houses in the township,
exclusively of 503 houses in the course of erection. An
actual survey and valuation were made in August 1823,
by the late Mr. William Lawton, land-surveyor, of all
the property in the township, when it was found that
there were only 61 houses, cottages, fields, or other property that could be assessed; and that their annual
value was £3101. 4. 6. In 1837 the property was
assessed at £25,781 per annum; in 1840, at £42,778;
and in 1844, at £64,481.
The town is admirably situated on the Mersey, which
separates it from Liverpool, on the east; while on the
north it is bounded by Wallasey Pool, soon to be converted into the great Float and the low-water basin. The
direction of the chief streets is from north-west to southeast; they include Conway-street, Laird-street, Beckwith-street, Price-street, and Cleveland-street, and are
crossed at right angles by shorter streets, among which
are Hamilton, Argyll, Lord, Camden, Park, Exmouth,
Cathcart, and Victoria streets. Hamilton-square occupies 6½ acres of ground, surrounded on every side by
elegant stone-fronted houses, four stories high, rusticated
to the first story course, and built in the Doric style of
architecture; the wing houses having four bold columns
in front, supporting handsome friezes and parapets. The
garden and walks of the square are inclosed by a
parapet and iron-railings, and are tastefully laid out for
the special use of the neighbouring occupants. The
town is well drained: in 1833 an act was obtained for
paving and improving it, for regulating the police, and
establishing a market; this act was amended by another
passed in 1838, and in 1841 an act was obtained for
lighting the township with gas, and supplying the inhabitants with water. The Water-works are situated in
Oxton (fn. *) , and are the property of a private company. Their
level is 104 feet above the sea: the borings and sinkings
are 294 feet in depth, through an uninterrupted stratum
of red sandstone formation; and from the elevation of
the works, a supply of water is provided even above the
tops of the houses in Hamilton-square. The Market was
opened in July 1845, and is very centrally situated; its
general form is somewhat similar to that of St. John's
market at Liverpool, being a quadrangular building, 430
feet long, and 131 wide. The hall is covered with
wrought-iron roofs of a light and elegant construction,
which are divided into three bays, the centre one supported upon two rows of columns, connected by arched
cast-iron girders; an arrangement that divides the hall
into three arcades. Of these, the middle arcade is of
thirty feet span, and the two exterior arcades have each
a span of fifty feet. The whole building, which is fireproof, is surrounded by an open area, protected by a low
parapet wall with a handsome cast-iron railing; this area
affords a free communication with the vaults, which form
the basement story, and promotes the thorough ventilation of the stores, so necessary for preserving all
articles of food in a fresh and wholesome condition. The
cost of the market, including the outside footpaths and
curbing, was nearly £35,000. The Slaughter-houses are
situated in Jackson-street; they are built of freestone,
and have walls of a massive character. The principal
entrance is through a large gateway, over which is a
lodge for the keeper, and on the right and left are sheds
or pens for cattle, each butcher having stalls set apart
for his own beasts, and for forage; the slaughter-rooms
have all the necessary mechanical aids for the purpose,
with abundance of hot and cold water, and thorough and
efficient drainage. The ground purchased for these
houses, and which will eventually be occupied by new
erections when required by the increasing wants of the
township, is 1000 yards.
The project of turning the capabilities of Wallasey
Pool to advantage was first conceived by the late
Mr. William Laird, who purchased from Mr. Price, in
May 1824, fifty acres of land on the margin of the pool,
adjoining the site of the present Dock Company's warehouses, for an establishment for iron ship-building.
Having bought other, additional, land, and with a view
of bringing the matter prominently before the public,
Mr. Laird and Sir John Tobin caused a survey to be
made by Mr. Thomas Telford, Mr. Robert Stephenson,
and Mr. Alexander Nimmo, civil engineers; and their
report was so favourable, that a private company was
formed, and every preparation made for proceeding to
parliament, in 1828, for power to construct docks, warehouses, and wharfs. The corporation of Liverpool, on
hearing of the project, made overtures for the purchase
of the land on the margin of the pool from Mr. Laird
and Sir John Tobin, the holders of it: after some negotiation the purchase was concluded, the amount paid
being £84,657; and purchases were afterwards made
from other frontagers on both sides of the pool by the
corporation, to the extent of £100,000 more. The pool
continued in the possession of the corporation until
1843, when that body, requiring funds to carry on
various works they had then in hand, disposed of some
land to Mr. John Laird for 10s. per yard; a large
portion of the land thus transferred being that sold by
Mr. Laird's father to the corporation in 1828, and for
which only 3s. a yard had been paid. The conditions
upon which Mr. Laird made the purchase were, that he
should have the right of constructing docks or wharfs
for the use of shipping, on a lease of seventy-five years;
and no sooner had that agreement been effected, than
other parties bought large portions of the land, in eligible situations along the pool, with the view of building
docks and warehouses.
The commissioners of Birkenhead being then fully
convinced of the practicability of the scheme going forward, and of the important influence it would exercise
as to the future prospects of the town, appointed
J. M. Rendel, Esq., as their civil engineer, and gave
notice of their intention to apply to parliament for the
requisite powers to construct extensive works, embracing a sea-wall from Woodside to Seacombe, docks
at Bridge-End, and a tidal basin of thirty-seven acres,
accessible at all times of the tide by vessels of not more
than twelve feet draft; a basin, for the use of coasters,
of sixteen acres; and a dam to pen up the waters of
Wallasey Pool, and make that portion lying between
Bridge-End and the Wallasey bridge into an immense
float, similar to that at Bristol, convenient gates and
locks being formed for the access of vessels to it from
the tidal basin. The determination to proceed to parliament was formed on the 19th of July, 1843, at the house
of Mr. Laird; and by a somewhat remarkable coincidence, the bill giving full powers to carry out the
project passed the third reading in the house of lords on
the 19th of July, 1844. In less, therefore, than four
years from the original determination to proceed to parliament; in less than three years from the obtaining of
the bill; and in less than two years and a half from the
laying of the foundation stone, the public were called upon
to celebrate, under Lord Morpeth's auspices, the completion of the first portion of the undertaking.
The docks bound, or will bound, the town on the
north and north-east, and partly on the east; ranging
from the pier of Woodside ferry to the Wallasey bridge.
The Pool, which was originally an inlet or creek of the
Mersey, will form the great Float of 150 acres; it divides
Birkenhead from Poolton with Seacombe, in the parish
of Wallasey, and will communicate on the east with a
low-water basin of thirty-seven acres, and on the southeast with a three-acre dock, called Bridge-End. This
last will be connected on the north with the low-water
basin, and on the south-east has connexion with the
Woodside dock, which communicates, also on the southeast, with a tidal basin of sixteen acres for coasters and
other vessels: the entrance to the Woodside dock is
fifty feet wide. Thus a total accommodation will be
afforded equal to more than 200 acres. The great seawall on the east will be broken only by an entrance 300
feet in width to the low-water basin of thirty-seven
acres: this basin is excavated to the depth of twelve
feet below low-water spring tides, will be walled with
convenient wharfs, and in every respect made suitable as
a place of refuge for the numerous vessels visiting the
port. At the southern extremity of the sea-wall is the
basin of sixteen acres: this is bounded on the south by
the Woodside ferry-pier, and has two entrances, north
and south, formed by the construction of an oblong
island between the basin and the river. It is thus seen,
that the two great basins last described are the only
portions of the docks of Birkenhead that immediately
adjoin the Mersey.
The Dock Warehouses belong to a joint-stock company,
called the Birkenhead Dock Warehouse Company, the
bill for legalizing which was successfully carried through
parliament in 1845. This company purchased a large
extent of frontage on the south side of the Pool, and
laid it out, with a view to the accommodation and increase
of trade generally: the first portion of their warehouses,
containing an amount of space sufficient for the stowage
of 80,000 tons of goods, was opened in April, 1847. Adjoining their property is the new goods' station of the
Chester and Birkenhead Railway Company, whose line
is now carried round the whole of the Dock Company's
property, by which all cartage is avoided, and the goods
delivered direct from the vessel's side or the warehouse
to all parts of the country, with safety, speed, and
cheapness. The warehouses come under the denomination of what the insurance offices call fire-proof: each
set is detached; water is laid on, and the whole are surrounded by a wall twelve feet high, with convenient
entrance-gates and yards. In order to provide accommodation for the various workmen connected with the
warehouses, the company have built a number of airy,
well-lighted, and well-ventilated dwellings at the junction of Ilchester-road and Stuart-street. They are sixty
in number, and have an abundant supply of pure water,
with all the modern and most approved conveniences
(some of them being perfectly unique) for sanitary purposes: they are built on the Scotch principle of having
flats of four or five stories, one over another; and a good
kitchen and two small bed-rooms are allotted to each
family. The custom-house department is under that of
Liverpool, and the entries passed on the Liverpool side
answer for Birkenhead. A large establishment has been
some time formed, belonging to Mr. Laird, for the construction of iron vessels, and at which many have been
already built; there are also copper-mills, a varnishmanufactory, an iron-foundry, gun-works, a patent-slip
for repairing ships, a boiler-yard, and other establishments.
There are three ferries, with an hotel at each;
namely, the Woodside ferry, the Monks', and the Birkenhead. The right of ferry across the river has, for nearly
five centuries, been a fruitful source of litigation: under
the 27th of Edward III. pleadings were instituted
against the prior; and it was the subject of two actions
in the years 1838 and 1839, when it may be presumed
to have been at length finally settled, as the jury returned in both cases that "Mr. Price had an ancient
right of ferry from Birkenhead to Liverpool." These
two actions were brought by the Woodside Ferry Company against the trustees of the Monks' ferry, who, soon
after the verdict was delivered, sold their ferry, and
their splendid building, the Monks' hotel, to the railway
company, by whom it has been re-sold to the commissioners of the township. The commissioners have also
purchased Mr. Price's ancient right of ferry, extending
over all the township, except the Birkenhead hotel premises. The slips at Woodside are excellent: a fine pier
runs down between them, which is twenty feet wide;
a row of lamps illuminates each slip at night, and the
pier forms a delightful promenade, where contractors
with the ferry have the privilege of walking: at the
extremity is a small lighthouse. The Monks' ferry
hotel is the largest hotel in Birkenhead, and is advantageously situated on the verge of the river, from which
it presents a very fine appearance. The Birkenhead
ferry, the property of the corporation of Liverpool, by
whom it was purchased a few years ago, is the most
southern of the ferries, and has a fine commodious slip,
but shorter than the slips at the other ferries, owing to
the greater depth of water close to the shore. The
hotel, which is very spacious, stands on a delightful and
almost isolated site, close to the point forming the
northern boundary of the indenture of Tranmere Pool.
From the house and pleasure-grounds the most charming views are obtained of the river and shipping, the
Lancashire shore from Bootle bay to Runcorn, with
Liverpool on the east, and the whole basin of the Mersey
on the south; also of the Cheshire shore, the Rockferry, &c. A new pier has recently been built from the
top of the slip, running northward, parallel with the
river; and this is found to be extremely convenient for
passengers landing or embarking during the height of
spring tides.
The Birkenhead and Chester railway, sixteen miles in
length, connects the town with the midland counties
and the metropolis; and in 1846 an act was passed
for a railway from Hooton, about midway between
Birkenhead and Chester, to Warrington, Altrincham,
and Stockport, thus completing a direct railway communication between the town and Manchester, Lancashire generally, and Yorkshire. The Birkenhead and
Chester line originally commenced at Grange-lane; but
in 1844 an extension under the town was formed, which
brings the line almost to the water's edge, at the Monks'
ferry. The tunnel is about 500 yards long, and has
excavated and embanked approaches; the inclinations
fall towards the river, and the line curves a little to the
right in going down: there is one shaft near the middle
for ventilation. About 242 yards of the tunnel were
driven through sand and clay, and 255 through indurated sandstone. The arch is semicircular, and two feet
in extreme thickness: it is partly constructed of stone
and partly of brick, as the emergencies required; and
the crown of it is lined throughout with brickwork, and
pointed with cement. The area of the station or yard
at the ferry is very large; being, from the mouth of the
tunnel to the quay, about 250 feet long, and about 120
in width between the high retaining rails. Another
act was passed in 1845, for making a line from Grangelane to Bridge-End and the docks: this second extension is about a mile long, and has two new stations, one
for passengers between Canning-street and Bridgestreet, and the other for goods, adjoining the dock
warehouses.
The commissioners of the town were originally constituted under an act of parliament, 3rd William IV.,
which received the royal assent on the 10th of June,
1833. The mayor and bailiffs of Liverpool for the time
being, and the four junior aldermen, together with sixty
other persons named in the act, were appointed the commissioners; the rate-payers having the privilege of
supplying vacancies in the sixty, from whatever cause
they might occur. The act of the 1st Victoria, which
received the royal assent on the 11th June, 1838, repealed the clauses in the former act relating to the commissioners, their number, and mode of election; and
enacted that there should be twenty-four commissioners,
three of them appointed by the town-council of Liverpool, and the remainder elected by the rate-payers. In
1846 an act was passed for the exclusion of the three
Liverpool members. The qualification for a commissioner is a rating to the poor to the value of £35, or the
possession of property to the value of £1500: one-third
of the commissioners retire annually, but they are eligible for re-election. For the convenience of public business, the following committees have been appointed by
the board; Watching and Lighting, Improvement, Finance, Market, Road, Ferry, and Health: the chairman
and vice-chairman are ex officio members of all committees. Birkenhead is not subject to church rates or any
other claims of an ecclesiastical character; and it may
be added that, as the general sewerage of the place is
effected by the land proprietors, no rate is levied on the
inhabitants for the purpose. The commissioners have
only authority to levy dock dues on the shipping using
their docks; on goods no duties are levied. The powers
of the county debt-court of Birkenhead, established in
1847, extend over the registration-district of Wirrall.
The town-hall contains the bridewell, and various offices
for parochial purposes, and is situated in Hamiltonstreet; the front is of stone from the Storeton-hill
quarries, and presents to the eye a neat elevation in the
Grecian style. But the whole of the buildings have been
found unsuited to the necessities of the township, and
will be cleared away when the new buildings now in contemplation shall have been completed.
The township comprises an area, including Claughton
and part of Oxton, of about 1388 acres, or two square
miles: Claughton contains 575 acres, a large portion of
which is converted into a public park and villa grounds;
and it has, together with a small part of Oxton, been incorporated by a recent act of parliament with the township of Birkenhead. The project of a public park
originated with Mr. I. Holmes, one of the commissioners,
and a committee was appointed to take the subject into
consideration: some time afterwards, the project was
revived by Mr. Jackson; and the commissioners, having
agreed to purchase the land, obtained an act of parliament, the royal assent to which was given on the
1st Sept. 1843. The area consists of 180 acres, laid
out in admirable taste by Mr. Paxton, with every variety
of landscape-gardening, including plantations of shrubs,
flower-beds, verdant vales, picturesque lakes, ornamental
bridges, and serpentine walks, with extensive drives,
cricket and archery grounds, &c. A margin of 350,000
yards of land is available for sale to erect villas, and
114 acres are dedicated to the public for their free
use and enjoyment for ever. It is expected that the
sales of the marginal land will reimburse the township for the cost of the whole: from 70,000 to 80,000
yards have been already sold, at an average price of
about 6s. 6d. per yard. The park entrance is through a
handsome archway for carriages, and two minor archways for foot passengers; on each side are uniform
lodges, two stories in height, and built of the purest
freestone: the noble architectural appearance of the
whole, presenting a fine specimen of the Ionic style, is
deservedly admired. Claughton Hall, the residence of
William Jackson, Esq., the lord of the manor, and late
chairman of the commissioners, is a very elegant and
commodious building, of fine white veined freestone from
Storeton, erected with great taste, and having four
fronts, one to each cardinal point; the principal entrance is on the west. The house stands on an elevated
site sloping gradually eastward, and commands, as do
the lawn and pleasure-grounds in front, an extensive
and uninterrupted view of the public park below, the
pool, the Wirrall peninsula northward, the river and
shipping, and the whole of Birkenhead and Liverpool,
which, save where the water intervenes, appear to be
blended into one huge metropolis. Oxton Hill lies to the
south of Claughton. Comparatively but a few years
ago, it was a barren heath; it is now, to a great extent,
covered with fine houses and villas, with gardens, fields,
woods, and pleasure-grounds, and is, in fact, a village of
itself. The air in this elevated locality is extremely
salubrious, and the prospect from almost any point uninterrupted and delightful, embracing a vast extent of
land, and town and marine scenery. Clifton Park is
well worthy of being named among the beauties of Birkenhead; the entrance lodge is in Grange-lane: after a
turn on the road there is a slight ascent, and on each
side a number of elegant mansions have been erected,
rising one above another on the slope of the hill. Other
places within a short distance are also very attractive,
especially to visiters from the counties inland; among
these may be mentioned New Brighton, Leasowe, West
Kirby, and, particularly, Hoylake, on the west point of
the peninsula.
St. Mary's church is an elegant and well-built structure
of stone, in the pointed style, erected by F. R. Price,
Esq., then lord of the manor. In 1817 a considerable
purchase of land was made by Messrs. Grindrod, Hetherington, and Addison, who, in their contract with Mr.
Price, stipulated, among other things, that a new church
should be built, which was accordingly commenced in
July, 1819, the foundation stone being laid by Lord
Kenyon, and the direction confided to the eminent architect, Mr. Rickman. The living is in the patronage of
William Jackson, Esq. The churchyard includes the
ancient burial-ground of the abbey, in which are a number of tombs of very old date. The church of the Holy
Trinity, situated in Price-street, is somewhat remarkable,
as regards design and architectural ornament; it is in
the Norman style, but considerably modified, is built of
stone, is 102 feet in extreme length, 56 feet in breadth,
and will accommodate 1000 persons. The principal entrance is by a deep, recessed, ornamented doorway,
having two windows above supported on small arches,
grotesque heads being introduced at the various points
of contact; the tower rises to the height of 88 feet, and
is highly embellished with mouldings and pierced work.
The living is in the patronage of H. Williams, Esq. St.
John's church is of new red sandstone, and was built at
the expense of J. S. Jackson, Esq., Joseph Mallaby, Esq.,
and others; it stands in Grange-lane road, and presents
one of the most perfect specimens of the early English
style in the neighbourhood, is of very imposing appearance, and of large dimensions. In the chancel are
stained-glass windows representing St. John, St. Paul,
and St. Peter, and in the north and south aisles are
others, with various arms. The living is in the patronage
of Trustees. St. James's church, of yellow sandstone,
and in the early English style, was built at the united
cost of W. Potter, Esq., W. Jackson, Esq., and the
Messrs. Laird, for the use of the labouring classes resident in the dock cottages. A church dedicated to St.
Anne, and situated in Beckwith-street, has just been
completed from designs furnished by William Cole, Esq.,
architect, at the expense of Mr. Potter; it is of red sandstone, and in the pointed style of architecture. The
last-named gentleman has erected another church at
Claughton Firs, in a similar style. There are places of
worship for Calvinists, Independents, Quakers, Welsh
Methodists, Wesleyans, and Roman Catholics, one in
connexion with the Scottish Kirk, and one for Seceders.
The Scottish church is situated in Conway-street, and
is one of the principal edifices in the locality, combining
neatness of form with internal convenience and fitness:
there is a small portion of land attached, used as a
burial-ground.
A Theological College, under the patronage of the
Bishop of Chester, prepares young men as clergymen for
foreign missions, and others as pastors to foreigners in
the port of Liverpool and Birkenhead: the course of
study includes the ordinary University course, with a
greater proportion of theology and biblical literature.
The Birkenhead Mechanics' Institution was established
in 1840, and has been perseveringly carried on under
very fluctuating circumstances. Numerous schools have
been founded for the poor. A house is at present used
as an infirmary, but the erection of a spacious building
has been determined on; the commissioners have agreed
to give an acre of land for the purpose, and a sum
amounting to several thousand pounds has already been
subscribed. A lying-in hospital has been established in
a house at the entrance of Clifton Park, through the exertions of several charitable ladies and those of Dr. C.
E. H. Orpen; and there is a dispensary, yet but an infant institution. Flaybrick hill, where extensive stonequarries are formed for the town purposes, especially for
the construction of the docks, is intended ultimately to
be the public cemetery. From the bowels of this hill
fine stone has been for many years extracted; but the
excavation made has been filled up with the rubbish
thrown out, and in such a manner as to leave a hill of
pyramidal form, the high side of which will be appropriated to catacombs and tombs, ornamented with shrubs
and flowers.