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New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside

Chapter One : Chapter Two : 1950 Ealing Film : New Brighton Tower

New Brighton used to be the Blackpool of Liverpool. It's has declined a little over the years but is still a worthy seaside resort. Not least because it situated on the River Mersey with a good dose of sea air, long walks along the promenade, watching the ships go by, and a few things to see. Fort Perch Rock was built in 1830 (last used in 1954 by the Army) along with the New Brighton Lighthouse to protect and guide ships through Liverpool Bay. The New Brighton Pier went in the 80's. I remember as child the New Brighton Tower, sadly destroyed by fire in 1969. The open air swimming pool was demolished in 1990 which was a great shame as it was the place to be on hot summer days. The funfair is still there and keeping generations of children very happy.

The guys who sail their radio controlled model boats are still there after 40 years, a real institution!. Power skiing is very popular and one can enjoy a happy hour watching them race up and down the Mersey causing no bother to anyone. The beaches all seemed nice and clean with children building their sandcastles. The day I went there where thousands of people enjoying the sunshine.

A very pleasant place to go and hopefully the local council will change their mind (who makes these decisions?) about building a supermarket complex and petrol station right on the sea front that will spoil one of the finest views of the River Mersey there is.

I am sure there are many people who have fond memories of New Brighton !

P.S Its really nice to know that the project to 'improve' the New Brighton seafront has been scraped. Not against improvement or progress. Surely there are architects and planners out there who can improve New Brighton without making it into another gaudy retail development.

New Brighton Highlights

Read Denny Hunts recollections

of the New Brighton Tower

and its final demise

"Don’t Forget the Diver" Memories of New Brighton from Norman

COMMENTS

Q. Is this in America or is it in Brighton, England ?

A. It is neither, it is New Brighton on the Wirral next to the Port of Liverpool, North West England :-)

This is the usual ill informed comment about the New Brighton Development. The proposals are actually for a new Marine Lake, an open air swimming pool/ice rink a major upgrading of the promenade, doubling the size of the theatre, a range of quality cafe bars and family restaurants, cinema, bingo, a new model boating lake. A food store and apartments are included to fund the leisure uses. The views will still be there - you will see them from the enhanced prom with its raised viewing areas and its new seating pavilions. Please look at the plans before passing on ill informed myths and rumours. Anon

Sincerely hope it will be an improvement and I would love to be proved wrong in my original comments :-) Icarus at Y2U

Welcome to New Brighton Statue. It's the new fashion to have a statue to welcome everyone to their town and New Brighton is no exception.

What a brilliant site well done. I used to visit often in the 60s and remember everything really well. My favourite place was the old fair and steam mini railway. Pity kids have devolved into the over indulged snivelling brats they are today. Can you buy "The Magnet" on DVD? would like to know if its available. I saw the gradual decline of New Brighton in the 70s until That harridan Thatcher completely destroyed the English way of life in 1979. Jim Ross Radio Caroline (still on the air sky 0199)

I am from Liverpool and can still remember the floral clock, it fascinated me as it actually worked, I was about ten. I have recently started going back, my wife had a stroke/heart attack, she loves the place as there are no drunkards swearing ,kids fishing for crabs with mom. I think your lucky its not like Blackpool, hen nights, stack nights and foulmouthed yobs. New Brighton recommended to any one not relying on booze to enjoy a holiday, or take the kids for a cheap day out lolly Anon

I remember the tree at the bottom of Manor Lane on the prom. I was asked to go out with a guy who is now my husband of 36 years. It was a foggy night 14th February 197, how could I forget? We still live in Wallasey and miss that old tree!! B&D

My dad was a lifeguard for the outside pool in New Brighton, he first met my mum when she worked in the rock shop my dad is Alan Thorn my mum was named then Carolyn Bennett anyone have any photos or information please rewrite to me so grateful their daughter Michelle

My Grandparents used to perform on New Brighton Pier ( so I am told) probably 1930's/1940's. My father said they were a song and dance act. Thomas Owen and Ruby. They may have had stage names, I really don't know but would be interested to hear from anyone who may remember. When I retire I shall do some serious research into my family History. JAD.

i love New Brighton jack xxxx

I remember being taken to the Zoo as a child in the early 1960's. I was fascinated by the Giant Sewer Rats, does anyone remember them? And what happened to the Zoo? Mark.

Hi this is an answer for Mark who was enquiring about the "Giant Sewer Rats" I do remember them well and like Mark I was also fascinated by them. They were in fact

Coypu

Source

Coypu which is a large rodent from South America. They are now being farmed in Europe and North America for their fur. If you look them up on the internet there are some very good pictures of them on the Wikipedia site and this should rekindle your memories of them. However they were not Giant Sewer Rats. I do not know what happened to the zoo, i remember that it was very smelly and the animals were poorly housed. I always felt particularly sorry for the lions. Wilkies Circus, which used to be on the site of the bowling alley had a menagerie, where the animals were much better cared for. I remember trying to stroke a lion cub through the bars and I was quite startled when it tried to go for me, it had looked so gentle and playful until I put my fingers in, however I managed to get them out before it could bite or scratch me. Hope this info on the "Rats" is helpful and the pictures on Wikipedia bring back memories of them for you. Kind regards. RH

I grew up in new brighton. Back then it was a great place to live loads to do for the kids. I lived right across the road from the crazy golf course and everyday would spend time in the Arcades and fun fair...Always seem to remember the smell of pop corn and candy floss...I went back after 10years and the place has change so much...I live In Morecambe Bay were it was once a great place to grow up also. Only now its full of crime and drugs...Its a shame. Anon

Bring back New Brighton. We are right near Liverpool a HUGE Tourist area. With Liverpool winning City of Culture we should be putting money into this area too. Tourists want to come across on the River Mersey its all part of the experience of visiting the Wirral. New Brighton isn't down in the dumps but a little money will bring people back over here and put the Wirral back on the map. Anon

i think New Brighton is a good day out for children but the fair is a bit awful so i think they should get a new fair there but the rest is great .x.x. beckiee .c. and jade .l. xxx

I thought the Magnet film was great. I have been wanting to see it for years now. I grew up in the early sixties when New Brighton was like that. I went to Vaughan Rd school and lived over the Co-op on Seabank Rd. I know live in Perth, Western Australia. I always go to New Brighton to have a look around on my trips back home to the Wirral. Its very sad what has happened to the place Anon

Do you know about the buried elephant in New Brighton ? Charlie

Re the elephant, when I was a kid in the fifties it was rumoured that an elephant was buried in the tower grounds. Went by the original name of Jumbo if I am not mistaken. New Brighton tower was bigger than Blackpool's but was neglected during the first world war and would have cost too much to put right so it was dismantled in the early twenties. It is a myth that it was pulled down during the war for the scrap metal as some people say. Anyone remember the slogan "New Brighton a wonderful place to alight on"? Bit naff in my humble but it was a long time ago. Alan New Brighton born and bred.

Does anybody have any info on New Brighton Tower I have been told it was bigger than Blackpool tower can you help with this question ? thanks Anon

This page is really good its brought back many memories !!!! thank you. Anon

For anyone looking for a bit of nostalgia try getting your hands on two films. "The Magnet" Made in 1950 in Wallasey and Liverpool. Lots of footage of New Brighton. "I Thank a Fool" filmed in 1962 with about three minutes of footage of the Tower fairground. I was there when they filmed the second one and the leading lady Susan Hayward (I think) gave me a hot dog because she overdid the red sauce. I have some lovely colour photo's of the tower fairground that I got from the guy who took them. I also have some cine film of the shore and area around the pier taken in the sixties that I had put on video. There are hundreds of things I could tell you about New Brighton. Working on the rides, local characters, shops, the baths. It was a great place to be a kid in the fifties and sixties. Anon

Thanks for mentioning "The Magnet", we found it. If you can get your video onto YouTube we would be willing to show it here. :-)

New Brighten was a great attraction in the 1920's and '30s. It was the heyday of it's time. But remember, people didn't have the money to travel far and wide as today, plus the fact that most young people have become sun worshipers--and how do you boast to your friends about were you went for your holidays "New Brighten", yeh, I'm sure!!! I agree however that it's a shame that what was once a chic place like New Brighten (and believe me it was) has now become a shadow of it's former self. The tower ballroom was great I had the pleasure in 1944 of being ask to play piano with the resident orchestra at that time. One of the memories that I hated was that around 1935 my mother loved to attend the afternoon tea dances at the Tivoli Gardens and she insisted I come with her--this way I was forced into dancing with her, due to a lack of partners----at nine years of age, man, did I hate that!!! Anon

Hi, I've just found this site,memories, memories! I lived in Vaughan Rd from 1959_1970, went to the old Vaughan Rd School. I remember the pier ferry landing stage where I used to take the ferry to Liverpool Stadium Friday nights to watch the wrestling. There used to be wrestling in the old tower ballroom on Saturday evenings. Does anyone remember the Mann brothers? Tommy used to run the boating lake in late 50s. Charlie had the steam railway on the prom, where at age 12, I was chief engine cleaner for my weekly pocket money, which I soon got rid of in the Palace fun fair. I'm 62 now, living in Falmouth Cornwall, but my memories of NB are still close to my heart, what is it about the place? Weavers coffee bar, where on Sunday evening in the 60s, we packed the place to the rafters, why? The Beatles were on the London Palladium live, the old Embassy night club in Vicky Rd! Musical Marie played piano non stop for seven days and nights. I've promised my wife Chris I shall bring her to visit the Gem of the North this summer, and I will. Patrick W

The Inviting Shore: Social History of New Brighton: 1830-1939

More books from Amazon.co.uk

I can remember the Empress Club on Vicky Road and spent many a happy Friday night in their. Being into rock music I can also remember not favouring the Chelsea Reach! Anon

Terrific site. Lovely memories. Keep it up Peter

I have lived in Wallasey for almost 20 years now (came over from Liverpool) though now living on my own. I now live in New Brighton on the front, I have the most beautiful view out to the Irish sea and across to Crosby etc, it doesn't matter if it rains, snows, we have gale force winds or beautiful sunshine I for one love it here! but just one point I have to make for those on the other side of the Mersey...it's New Brighton, Wallasey...NOT Birkenhead! there is a difference. Danny S

Love New Brighton! I live near Vale Park; but I can not believe they spent so much money of that hideous clown statue. It cost 35k, which could have been spent doing something more beneficial like renovating the old Chelsea, or Coasters! I totally agree! A supermarket and petrol station is not what we need on the sea front. I hope they don't try and change in to another Blackpool with it's noisy and annoying clubbing atmosphere Anon

The Blackpool of Liverpool? Do me a lemon, mate. This place is the anti-Liverpool. Get yer facts straight. Anon

Anti-Liverpool get over yerself Anon

New Brighton anti Liverpool, I don't think so. A lot of people are talking nonsense Anon

OK its not exactly like Blackpool, but it has a funfair, the beach, a lighthouse and fort, its by the seaside and lots of people visit it for a day out AND lots of Scousers go there. Why you call New Brighton anti-Liverpool, beats me ? Icarus at Y2U

I was really amused to read all the comments about New Brighten. I was born in Seacombe and my memories of NB start around 1930---the great outing for all the locals was to get there early so that they could collar a seat on the promenade preferably a bench with it's back to the Tivali Gardens then wait for all those Liverpool day trippers to come along--just like a parade. I can still hear the adults sitting with us talking about those people passing----"Liverpool people, they make such a mess of the place"!!. You know folks listening to some of you now doesn't sound that much different. NB was a great place---but remember it to fit the times and the conditions. People during the '30s and '40s had no money---but it's amazing how they enjoyed themselves. Nothing beats tearing others to pieces--so long as they don't hear you!!!. Cy M

New Brighton pre-dates Blackpool whose tower is a much smaller replica of the original New Brighton Tower which in it's day housed a magnificent ballroom, and a large circus built theatre style. The animals were housed outside the tower. The tower was dismantled and the metal used in the war effort and fell into disuse, it was however revived in the early sixties when the ballroom was the venue for many gigs by the new generation groups such as, The Beatles, Gerry and Pacemakers, Cilla, Jerry Lea Lewis -the list is endless, basically, think of a sixties group - they played the Tower. New Brighton also boasted TWO fairgrounds, a large outdoor fair in the grounds of the tower which had the country's first aerial cable car running from the promenade right up onto the roof of the tower. The second fairground was a smaller indoor fair further along the prom'. It also had miniature railway in the grounds that ran for part of its track alongside the promenade, and a Zoo. The zoo was the pilot for the present day Colwyn Bay Mountain Zoo - opened circa 1962 and still going strong. I have strong childhood memories of a mechanical elephant ( referred to as the 'clockwork elephant' because it was wound-up using something resembling a car starter handle. Does anyone else remember this ? It operated at Harrison Drive giving rides for children. FW at ic24

very good, nice to see old memories coming back of such a lovely place Anon

I love England Anon

The Tower Ballroom was sooo great we had such good times there 'Operation Big Beat' featured so many great groups and somehow everyone seemed happier in those days, we loved The Beatles and Gerry etc, but when they made it big and left it was very sad we knew they had left us FANS but hey ho life went on. New Brighton was a great place to live such an underestimated place. I, like many, have travelled far and wide but New Brighton is Brill. No matter where you go to live and work you can never forget this place. Good Luck but don't spoil this lovely place. Anon

New Brighton was and always will be the place of best memories, so many of us in the sixties will remember those magical times at the Tower Ball room, Beatles, Gerry, Rory Storm with Ringo! Great days everyone seemed happier. I moved from NB in the seventies but would move back tomorrow if I get the chance. I wonder where all of the Tower jivers are today and what we are all doing .Hope NB never loses its spirit, don't think it will, that glint is still there with Peter and Paul on the hill watching over it! ANON

I remember the Beatles playing at the Tower Ballroom (just after their return from Hamburg) ...they were really good but we didn't like to admit because they were from 'over the water'. Does anyone remember Lil's cafe? It was a coffee bar in Victoria Road - next to Woolworths? It used to be THE place in the early '60's! I am thinking of coming back for a visit and wonder whether anyone can tell me whether the indoor fairground is still there? Or any fairground??

PS Have just returned from a brief visit to New Brighton this very morning (so my previous question re. the fairground has been answered). I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Victoria Road!!!! - Diane

Hi In answer to Diane, I went to Vaughan Rd Junior School from 1947-1952. In my teens I regularly went to Lil's coffee bar, it was always the one with the most atmosphere and Lil was quite a character. I moved to Nottingham 9 years ago when I married my present wife and I am always so sad when I visit New Brighton, the place is dead and all I have left of it's vibrancy are my memories and numerous photographs of how it used to be. My dad used to sail on the river in yacht races and I used to go with him. We used to get on the river via the old landing stage and then row out from there to the yacht. Does anyone remember the floral clock in the Tower grounds, it was just along from the wall of death, also does anyone remember the illuminated animals that used to be in Vale park which would start off on the grass and then run up a tree as they lit up in sequence, there was a boardwalk through the trees to enable you to see them. There were three boating lakes, the one in the Tower grounds, the small one by the pier, which i once fell into in my Sunday best and of course the Marine Lake. I had my first drink in the Lakeside pub very naughty I was only 16. I also remember the big guns at the Red Noses, the charabanc that went from Victoria Rd to Harrison Drive and the American DUKS (landing craft) that you could go for a ride from the dips out into the river. If anyone remembers these things please let me know. RH

---New Brighton was ace in its day. shame what the bureaucrats done to it...hence Chelsea R

I enjoyed your page a great deal & it brought a lot of lovely memories back to life for me & it was nice to talk through the photos with my granddaughters who have only seen the modern day NEW Brighton. Please lets see more photos of the late 50s & early 60s Anon

'Don't forget THE DIVER'! Does anyone remember about him? And the 'Late Extra' club where I used to play Jazz during the late 60's. I also played at the 'KRAAL'. GREAT DAYS. Peter T.

"Don't forget the diver"---the question, doesn't anyone remember about him?--deserves a comment. It is my understanding that after the first world war (WW1) an ex-serviceman with one leg was always seen on the pier at New Brighten diving off into deep water and then going around the sightseers collecting for this feat by saying "don't forget the diver sir, don't forget the diver". During the second world war the comedian Arthur Askey used that same character in his radio show. Let's also not forget the Pieros, for those of you that were not around, they were song and dance groups who would perform on a small stage on New Brighten Pier and other Piers around the country. Cy.M

Thanks for the info on The Diver. My dad has been talking about him for years but I thought he was making it up - a one legged diver - now I know he was right and he's thrilled to bits to know his memory hasn't failed him! Anon

"Don’t Forget the Diver" Memories of New Brighton from Norman

Cool Anon

Creative Commons License Attributed to Felicity and Phillip

Isle of Man ferry from New Brighton Pier 1962

FW at ic24 needs to know that New Brighton did not predate Blackpool. Its tower was only started two years after Blackpool had opened, and was finished four years later. Both of them were modelled on the Eiffel Tower. New Brighton was about 50ft taller than Blackpool. Anon

New Brighton needs more sand. A new sand bay should replace the car park at Fort Perch Rock and the marine lake should be extended westwards. Funding would use the same £15 million grant applied for by the supermarket developers. Money would still be left over for the Floral Pavilion refurbishment. A supermarket will be a disaster. Anon

Build anything on the Marine lake site, and you are asking for trouble. If the water can flood the row of clubs on the promenade, and fill the dips. Planning knows best. Anon

I also live in New Brighton and agree that we have lost our pride. Either people want to relive the past which was great in its time but unfortunately that time has passed. New Brighton could once again be put on the map if the majority of people who lived there were actually interested. I would love to see a new improved marine lake, and better facilities but what i think would improve the place the most is if the locals respected their home and did not litter and would clean up after their dogs. Anon

howdy!!!! luving the pics just brill i am soo impressed Anon

I love New Brighton. Its a lively place on a hot august afternoon but also a lovely escape from the city on a blustery March day too, I love to get fish and chips and wander along the front (note i am actually only 21 not 71) I was wondering if anyone could tell me what the weird rows of cement block things are that you can see in the mouth of the river when the tide is out. Anon

I think its important to remember that New Brighton has always moved with the times and maybe the slump in care over the last 'few' years will give rise to the new up to date New Brighton.

Living there, listening to the 'discussion' if there should be development when there are no jobs, no future for the young, and no prospect of returning New Brighton to the 'glory' of it's heyday it is at the moment unloved unkempt and forgotten. I think that anything is better than what isn't there at the moment.

Blackpool has rock, Formby has squirrels, we have views of an urban and industrial landscape, not that there is anything wrong in that. New Brighton has lost her pride and lastly the marine lake is MANMADE!!! and full of litter, its filling up with sand nicely and the longer this 'discussion' goes on the less likely the developers will have to 'fill' the marine lake up. Anon

Well New Brighton is nice at the moment but right now in mid Feb. it very very cold. Anon

New Brighton Kite Festival 2005

Look out for the flying lobster

Movie Video Film Clip

Videos of the Kite Festival at New Brighton are on Google Video for 2004, 2005 and 2006. Here are the URL's if you are interested: 2004 - 2006 - Regards - Mike Lewis

New Brighton needs some serious rejuvenation. It used to be a attraction, a place to have a day out. Currently it has declined to a "pleasureland" cheap arcade type place, where (no offence) people from rough council estates visit to gamble in 2p machines, and scowl at everyone who looks at them. No joke their are 2p machines) Absolutely ANY rejuvenation would benefit New Brighton, I am astounded if anyone objects. Other than sentimental value, who travels to New Brighton from far and wide? No one. Sadly, New Brighton is no longer a genuine tourist attraction. Anon

Don't think New Brighton will ever be a top national or for that matter international tourist destination, having tourists up from London with Yankee and Japanese accents would spoil the uniqueness of New Brighton. It is more a destination for local people from whatever social position, who come from the Wirral and Merseyside. I could be accused of living in the past and being sentimental, but New Brighton really is special. What I fear is an invasion of 'ASDA/TESCO' architecture with the bland commercialising that comes with it. If there have to be major changes they should done sensitively. Icarus at Y2U

Creative Commons License - Attributed to Indigo Goat

New Brighton Lighthouse looking over the Mersey to Liverpool Docks

I would like to respond to the comments from "go-ahead vital" this week in the Wirral Globe and the quote that people apposed are narrow minded. I cannot believe that anyone believes that this is our only hope for investment into New Brighton. The UK economy is at an all time high and Merseyside has major investment projects underway.

So why would this project be our last chance? No other country would build a supermarket and car-park on a valuable coastal front. (it's a crime) I understand that it is a condition of the other projects go-ahead; however I feel it is a price to high. Why are we losing such a beautiful open space? Why have an ethos that if there is flat open green land do we have to build on it? Yes someone else commented on having a competition of what we want. Let us look at it this way and then fundraise for these.

My views would be extending the beautiful trams from Birkenhead to derby pool. (What a sight to visitors on the crew ships entering the Mersey, rather then a supermarket). Secondarily; put the war ships in the dips with a new war museum. Remove the perriot structure down to the round-about by Rawson street and put a scaled reproduction of the top half of the old tower (from tower ball room) here as a attraction, which would be viewable from the sea when entering the Mersey.

Have an open air area for farmers market, international trade fairs, vehicle exhibitions, events and shows. Finally if you what to build, create an indoor market for arts crafts and dining, theme it around Victorian design and allow locals to have first option to rent the space. Keep out the big supermarkets and the low waged jobs, but develop opportunities for locals to start their own business and employ local people. Anthony Rice NRAC

A beauty contest at New Brighton Pool in the 1980's - Fifteen thousand people were reported to have watched the first Miss New Brighton Final in 1949. This Annual contest ran till 1989 - You can find out more at THE RISE AND DECLINE OF SEASIDE BEAUTY CONTESTS

Please can any one help I'm trying to trace the lady who won the Miss Neptune 1949. My mum said she may have photos of her. My mum came second in the commodore in Liverpool 20 mums name Alice Seddon most grateful.

Chapter One : Chapter Two : 1950 Ealing Film : New Brighton Tower

Don’t Forget the Diver

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