Here’s a photo (source) of the busy Dee Lane junction with Barclays Bank on the corner. That’s a lovely sandstone building – does anybody know what it was originally built for? Maybe it’s always been a bank!

Of course Dee Lane junction, where it meets Grange Road has been of interest to the council road planners. Do you remember the uproar a few years ago when they installed traffic lights at the junction?

Please do leave a comment if you can provide any more information about the bank building – it’d be great to hear about it’s history.

Here’s a photo of the West Kirby sailing school building that I took back in December last year. I chose to pick this building as the subject of today’s Friday Photo as the site is back in the news again.

The local papers are reporting that the Council may make a compulsory purchase order on the site in order to progress the controversial Sail Hotel project.

I really like this sunset view taken a local earlier this in West Kirby. I think it’s by Jan Williams and you can see more of her photos by starting here. Looks to me like it was taken from the Wirral Way, though I’m open to correction!

If you would like your photo featured, simply email it to news [@] westkirby.org

I was made aware of this photo posted in flickr on this page by a chap in America who was after some information about a Hoylake property.

Note the road sign for bowls and putting green !

Here’s the White Lion pub at the bottom of Grange Hill in around 1967-68. As you can see, the place was having a bit of a Changing Rooms makeover! I take it this place has always just been a pub? If you know any interesting facts about the White Lion then please do leave a comment.

Many thanks to Robin Jeffries for another great photos of 60′s life in West Kirby.

A current view for this weeks photo (actually taken yesterday and posted this evening on Sunday, but I’ve dated it Friday) of the entrance of Coronation Gardens. I mentioned that this public space was recently awarded a Green Flag and I can see why.

The public gardens aren’t grand or packed with stunning flowers but they rather attractive, well maintained and very clean. Locals enjoyed a break in the poor weather yesterday and Coronation Gardens were bathed in sunshime and beautifully quiet when I visited.

Visit the official site here for further information.

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 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 !