The Wirral Peninsula in north-west England lies within Cheshire and Merseyside but has its own distinct identity. In the east, on the estuary of the River Mersey, lie the two largest urban centres on the Wirral, Birkenhead and Wallasey. These grew rapidly in the nineteenth century with large docks in both, increasing industrialisation and improved access to Liverpool across the Mersey. At the same time the resort of New Brighton was also established. On the eastern side of the Wirral, on the estuary of the River Dee, development in the towns of Hoylake, West Kirby and Heswall was slower, although improved transport links with Chester and Liverpool in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries saw these towns grow too. Away from these heavily populated towns, there are more rural areas in the south and west of the Wirral.Wirral From Old Photographs presents a fascinating portrait of the Wirral over the last 100 years. Drawing on an extensive collection of historical photographs, the author surveys how the area has changed, from the height of its industrial development, when the docks were busy, through the intense destruction of areas of the Wirral from aerial bombardment during the Second World War, post-war industrial decline and later regeneration. This book will appeal to all those who know this part of north-west England.
