| Birkenhead - St Mary | |||||||||||
Last updated 26 January 2002
Brief History
| St Mary's church, designed by Thomas Rickman, was built in 1821 alongside the ruins of Birkenhead Priory which had stood on this site since 1150. | After around 150 years of service to the parish of Birkenhead, the church became redundant and parts were demolished for safety reasons in 1975. Fortunately, as a popular local landmark, the tower was retained and subsequently refurbished and is now open to the public. Admission to the tower, which belongs to the local Wirral Borough Council, is free. Visitors can climb to the top of the tower and see the 'Knox' bell but most will be more interested in the splendid panoramic views of the Liverpool waterfront (See Picture Gallery). Services are still held most Sundays in the adjacent Chapter House.
JOHN LAIRD M.P. |
Prominent in the churchyard is the tomb of the Laird family which includes John Laird, Birkenhead's first Member of Parliament and co-founder of the adjacent Cammell-Laird Shipbuilding company, who died in 1874. (See Picture Gallery). |
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