New Brighton, Merseyside

New Brighton
Population
OS grid reference	SJ302934
Metropolitan borough	Wirral
Metropolitan county	Merseyside
Region	North West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	WALLASEY
Postcode district	CH45
Dialling code	0151
Police	Merseyside
Fire	Merseyside
Ambulance	North West
UK Parliament	Wallasey

New Brighton is a seaside resort located in the town of Wallasey, on the north east tip of the Wirral Peninsula, in Merseyside, England. Administratively it is a ward of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral. Before local government reorganisation in 1974, it was part of the county of Cheshire. At the 2001 census, the population of New Brighton stood at 14,450.

History

Up to the 19th century the area had a reputation for smuggling and wrecking, and secret underground cellars and tunnels are still rumoured to exist. It also had a strategic position at the entrance to the Mersey estuary.

The Perch Rock battery was completed in 1829. It mounted 18 guns, mostly 32 pounders, with 3 6" guns installed in 1899. Originally cut off at high tide, coastal reclamation has since made it fully accessible.

In 1830, a Liverpool merchant, James Atherton, purchased much of the land at Rock Point, which enjoyed views out to sea and across the Mersey and had a good beach. His aim was to develop it as a desirable residential and watering place for the gentry, in a similar way to one of the most elegant seaside resorts of that Regency period – hence "New Brighton". Substantial development began soon afterwards, and housing began to spread up the hillside overlooking the estuary - a former gunpowder magazine being closed down in 1851.

New Brighton Tower & Ballroom

During the latter half of the 19th century, New Brighton developed as a very popular seaside resort serving Liverpool and the Lancashire industrial towns, and many of the large houses were converted to inexpensive hotels. A pier was opened in the 1860s, and the promenade from Seacombe to New Brighton was built in the 1890s. This served both as a recreational amenity in its own right, and to link up the developments along the estuary, and was later extended westwards towards Leasowe. The New Brighton Tower, the tallest in the country, was opened in 1900 but closed in 1919; the tower was demolished by 1921 and the buildings destroyed by a fire in 1969.

After the Second World War, the popularity of New Brighton as a seaside resort declined dramatically. However, the Tower Ballroom continued as a major venue, hosting numerous concerts in the 1950s and 60s by local Liverpool bands such as the Beatles as well as other international stars.

Ferries across the Mersey to New Brighton ceased in 1971, after which the ferry pier and landing stage were dismantled. By 1977, the promenade pier had suffered the same fate. The once famous open air New Brighton Bathing Pool was closed in 1990 following storm damage and demolished a short time later.

The area became the subject of Martin Parr's photographic book The Last Resort, which provoked local outrage.

A £70 million redevelopment plan for the regeneration of New Brighton was unveiled in 2004, with the aim of bringing jobs and tourism into the area. Known as the Neptune Project, it involved filling in the Marine Lake to build a supermarket, and constructing a lido resort combining a pool and a new marine lake. However the plans were rejected on account of financial feasibility, and scepticism over the actual worth to the community on the whole.

Fort Perch Rock

View from the top of Fort Perch Rock in New Brighton.

Fort Perch Rock is a coastal defence battery built between 1825 and 1829. It was built to protect the Port of Liverpool and as a fortified lighthouse to replace the old Perch Rock Light. It was originally built on an area known as Black Rock and was cut off at high tide, but now coastal reclamation has made it fully accessible. It is currently open as a museum.

The Fort covers an area of about 4000 square yards, with enough space for 100 men. It was built with red sandstone from the Runcorn quarries. The height of the walls ranges from 24 feet to 32 feet, and the towers are 40 feet high. The Fort originally had a drawbridge, and a Tuscan portal which bore the coat of arms and the words 'Fort Perch Rock'. At one point, it was armed with 18 guns, of which 16 were 32-pounders, mounted on platforms. It was nicknamed the 'Little Gibraltar of The Mersey'.

The foundation stone reads: This foundation stone of the Rock Perch Battery, projected by and under the direction of John Sikes Kitson, Esquire, Captain in the Royal Engineers, for the defence of the port was laid on 31st March 1826 by Peter Bourne, Esquire, Mayor of Liverpool in the 7th year of the reign of His Majesty George IV. His Grace, the Duke of Wellington , Master General of the Ordnance.

The projected cost of the build was £27,583.0s.8d. Kitson ensured that this budget was not exceeded, finishing the fort for a total cost of £26,965.0s.8d.

In the late 1970s the fort could be hired as a party venue. During this time Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark founder members Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys played there as members of the short lived Wirral group The Id. Since the 1990s the fort has played host to various musical events including, in the summer of 2006, a number of rock concerts which were organised by a group of young Wallasians (Marc Fadden, Mike Lee and Craig Pennington). The nights were called "Nautical" and were featured in the Guardian newspaper and named NME club of the week for the 1st September 2006 show which featured British Sea Power and The Tiny Dancers. Nautical is set to return in the summer of 2007.

Lighthouse

New Brighton lighthouse was originally known as Perch Rock lighthouse, and construction began in 1827. Since 1 October 1973 it has not been in use as a lighthouse, having been superseded by modern navigational technology. It has been in use since 2000 when the light was switched on once again for the millennium.

Attractions

New Palace Amusement Arcade

New Brighton has a wide range of attractions and facilities. These include the Riverside Bowl bowling alley, the Lazer (sic) Quest centre, the New Palace Amusement Arcade (which includes a small fairground) and the Floral Pavilion Theatre (undergoing redevelopment from 2007).

The four mile long North Wirral Coastal Park is situated between New Brighton and Meols.

The Wirral Show, a free to enter annual event, is held on open ground off the Kings Parade at New Brighton.

Music

The pop concert New Brighton Rock was held over two days: Monday 21st and Tuesday 22nd May 1984 at the town's open air swimming pool and transmitted on Saturday 23rd June 1984 ITV by Granada Television.A strain was placed on local Police resources due to an on-going committment to the 1984 Miner's Strike. nevertheless, the event was covered by Merseyside Police's Wirral Division. It featured many famous musical artists of the day, such as Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Gloria Gaynor, Madness, Nik Kershaw and Spandau Ballet.

A song about New Brighton called "New Brighton" was included on the 1992 album Song by Liverpool-based band It's Immaterial. Later in the 1990s, in 1996 to be exact, Wallasey Brit-pop band The Boo Radleys released the C'mon Kids album. Track 9 on the album was an atmospheric and nostalgic song called "New Brighton Promenade". New Brighton is also briefly mentioned in the song "Radio America" by The Libertines.

Transport

New Brighton railway station is located on the Wirral Line of the Merseyrail network.

External links

• New Brighton History
• Pictures of New Brighton past and present
• Photos of New Brighton
• New Brighton Walrus: rare personal photos of New Brighton
• Archive of New Brighton postcards
• New Palace and Adventureland, New Brighton
• Fort Perch Rock
• Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council: North Wirral Coast Park
• Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council: New Brighton Lighthouse
• Merseyside.net: The Lighthouse at New Brighton