...keeping you in the know!
The national Green Flag awards have been announced today and West Kirby parks have been recognised as worthy winners.
Ashton Park, Coronation Gardens (in between Banks Road and the promenade) and Hilbre Island nature reserve have all received awards. Nearby Royden Park in Frankby picked up an award too.
Well done to all.
Years ago and way before the plans for the controversial Sail Hotel project were drawn up West Kirby had a rather big hotel. The Hydro Hotel (pictured) was located down on West Kirby promenade facing the Marine Lake. As you can see it was a rather large building …it’s long since been replaced by an apartment block or two.
Does anyone know when the Hydro was demolished? Did you stay or work there and have any memories of the place that you can share in a comment below?
Many thanks again go to Robin Jefferies for such a good photo.
Here’s a great eye witness photo courtesy of Ian from Hazlehurst Linen.
Quite evidently this road repair in Banks Road has been less than successful.
Ian and one of his neighbours from Rightway DIY also acted out a more comical photo that you can see in Ian’s photo stream 
A reader is after any information about an old house/farm called Laurel Mount that was in the Redhouse Lane / Bank area of West Kirby.
If you can help please leave a comment below – thanks.
Just to let you know that I’ll be changing the contact email for this site tomorrow (Wednesday 15th). So if you’re subscribed to the email newsletter and can’t seem to find it then check your spam folder just in case.
You could always add news [at] westkirby.org to your address book to be on the safe side. And you can of course use that email address to send me your West Kirby news!
A long established Banks Road shop is to close later this year. Hazlehurst Linen shop has been trading in Banks Road for 41 years but is currently planned to close in 2009.
Proprietor Ian Hazlehurst has started a blog to keep you informed about the big sale and news from his shop.
Here’s another great 1960′s photo of West Kirby – recognise the view? It’s the row of shops opposite the train station. At the time the photo was taken new drains were being installed, helped along with high pressure water to push the pipes along.
Look at that newsagents sign promoting Benson & Hedges – I think I’m correct in saying that that sort of promotion is illegal now?
What can you tell me about any of these shops …please feel free to leave a comment.
Following on from last Friday’s photo of West Kirby in the 1960′s here’s another one from Robin. This one features his sailing boat Daring and it’s in the Marine Lake. What can you tell me about the buildings that you can see in the background?
Many thanks to Robin who sent me this photograph of the Dee Lane/Grange Road junction as was in about 1965 when new drains were installed in West Kirby. What I really like about this photo is that it’s taken from inside another car …you can obviously see the wiper blade on the windscreen. Click the photo for a larger version. Notice the No Right Turn road sign.
Robin currently lives in Western Australia but used to live in West Kirby in the 60′s with his parents. He has kindly sent me some more photos that I’ll feature over the coming weeks.
Please feel free to comment !
This is the view from the foot bridge over the Wirral line at Orrysdale Road, looking in the direction of West Kirby station. A regular route for me as I use it as a cut through on one of my runs. Would anybody happen to know when this bridge was built? Please a comment if you do.