“18 months” they said. Then “Open by Easter, 2013” they said. That’s how long they said it would take to reinstate the shops and takeaway following the fire that destroyed our local shopping centre.
Here we are, at the end of June, and the pharmacy has opened. Hooray.
I feel for the staff at Rowlands who have put in a stalwart performance since the fire. The following statement by the News doesn’t really recognise the conditions that they have endured.
Since then, staff have been dispensing medicine from a cramped portable building in the car park of Stake Lodge Surgery.
The “cramped portable building” was really little more than a converted shipping container and working there must have been like being in an oven in the summer and being in a freezer in the winter. And yet, throughout it all, they still managed to put on a cheery face and I for one would like to thank them all for the service that they provided in those less than kindly conditions. I hope they like their new accommodation.
Last Sunday, part of the bank holiday weekend, was a glorious day. Unusual for a bank holiday, the sun was shining and the sky was blue. We chose to drop down to West Kirby for a stroll along the prom. The popularity of this area, evidenced by the crowds of people enjoying the fresh air and the sun and the views, brought back childhood memories.
Many times, as kids we would be taken down to the sea-shore at Worthing or Hastings with nothing more that a ball and a picnic which usually featured eggy butties. We did nothing much other than messing about on the beach, rock pools and on the wooden groynes. The crown on such a day was usually an ice cream, a “99” with maybe some sprinkles and on some occasions we would have fish and chips, in newspaper.
Sailing on Marin Lake – West Kirby
Well I’m a bit older now but the simplicity of walking along the prom at West Kirby,
inhaling the fresh sea air, watching the boats on Marine Lake,
A Mirror Dinghy sailing Marine Lake – West Kirby
watching the “scousers” walking on water, they are really walking the Marine Lake wall and
Marine Lake – West Kirby
enjoying the views across the Dee estuary to Wales. Money cannot buy these pleasures and none is required.
Well, actually, you do need some money if you are to have an ice cream. And we did top of the experience and partake of a very nice ice cream, not a “99” but tasty even though it lacked the flake.
Last week I posted about our horrible journey up to The Wirral and also about the disturbed first night. Here are a couple of pictures of Leasowe Castle Hotel, our chosen accommodation for the weekend. Leasowe Castle HotelIt is a very popular venue for wedding parties judging by last weekend when they had the previously mentioned party on the Friday night, another on Saturday night and two on the Sunday night.Leasowe Castle Hotel There are plenty of places in the grounds for nice photo’s. Unfortunately I chose to take these pictures on the Monday morning which was cold, dull and overcast.Gazebo – Leasowe Castle Hotel
The hotel has an interesting history and I have lifted the following straight off their website…..
Leasowe Castle was originally built in 1593 by Ferdinand, 5th Earl of Derby, second heir to the English throne. Named “New Hall”, it consisted only of an octagonal tower. The door was about six feet above ground level, for security and protection from high tides; the walls were one metre thick. The Earls of Derby were kings of the Isle of Man between 1407 and 1735 and a stone bearing the date 1593 and the “Three Legs” emblem of the Isle of Man was removed from the Castle and is now displayed at the Williamson Museum and Art Gallery in Birkenhead.
It is thought that “New Hall” was built for sporting activities, hawking and a viewpoint for horse racing for which Wallasey was well known. The lower portion could have been used as a stable. Turrets were added later, possibly by William the 6th Earl. It is said that the Castle has had many famous guests including members of the Stuart family and King William III, who stayed overnight before boarding a ship to Ireland, an expedition which ended in the battle of the Boyne in 1690.
Over the years the Castle’s owners have added extra towers, wings, turrets and outbuildings but towards the end of the 17th Century the Castle became derelict and acquired the name “Mock beggar Hall”, a name given to any deserted or lonely building.
Robert Harrison acquired the building in 1786 and then in 1802 it passed to Margaret Boode, daughter of the Rector of Liverpool and friend of the shipwrecked. She was tragically killed in an accident in Wallasey in 1826 and her son-in-law Sir Edward Cust became the new occupant, attempting unsuccessfully to turn the Castle into an hotel and residing here on and off until his death in 1878. During this time the building was converted into a home. Alterations included the erection of a perimeter wall; a new entrance and oak from the submerged forest of Meols brought to the library. In 1836 Sir Edward Cust purchased some paneling from the old Exchange Buildings which were to be demolished. There was a Star Chamber, so called because the ceiling was decorated with bright stars so convicts could gaze up at them when sentenced at the Court of Westminster. He brought this to the Castle and it still remains in our Star Chamber along with four beautiful tapestries depicting the four seasons.
A fine stone and iron staircase dominates the entrance hall, the renowned “Battle Staircase” so called because of the named plates of famous British battles set into the wrought iron rails. Erected by Sir Edward, the handrails also show dates, battles, the reigning Sovereign and Generals in command of the troops. He was probably responsible for “Canute’s Chair”, a huge oak seat which stood on the sea wall above high water mark. The chair, which bore the inscription “Sea came not hither nor wet the sole of my foot”, disappeared some 25 years ago. After the death of Sir Edward the Castle passed through several members of the family until it became Leasowe Castle Hotel in 1891. It was bought by the trustees of the railway Convalescence Homes in 1910 and except for a short time during the First World War, when it accommodated German prisoners, it was occupied by retired railway men until to 1970. It again stood derelict as it had some 300 years before; a 20th Century Mock Beggar until in 1982 when it was purchased by a local businessman and restored as a hotel and conference centre. The Castle is now owned by Lawton Hotels Ltd who have refurbished it in keeping with its great history and character.
Just a small comment regarding the refurbishment mentioned in the quote. The hotel and certainly the room in which we stayed is now looking a little tired and is in need of a bit of tidying. Having said that the staff are friendly and the food at breakfast was what you would expect for a buffet style serving.
WrAnTz 