to add an attraction to your Itinerary basket.Bidston
Imagine quiet pathways through heath and bracken, a windmill prominent on the skyline, a lighthouse with extensive views across the peninsula, an observatory, and cool walks through shady woods. This is Bidston - a literal treasure-chest of interest!
Points of interest include:
King George's Way is the path onto the Hill from the corner of Upton Road and Boundary Road by the traffic lights. King George's Way was opened by King George V and Queen Mary on Wednesday 25th March 1914.
An area of approximately 22 acres on the south-eastern slope of the Hill, known as the “Pine Woods”, which was acquired as a memorial to the late Mr Edmund Taylor whose hard work and influence made it all possible. The wood was later named Taylors Wood, in his honour and memory. The wood now appears as a large area of Scots pines with some Corsican Pines, Oaks and a large number of feral Holly bushes.
In the latter part of the 18th Century, Wirral was a very wild and desolate place. When dusk descended it was also a dangerous place and strangers would soon get lost.
A local medical man, Dr Haughton had to make numerous journeys by night and day, often getting lost especially during night-time or when it was misty. For guidance he erected a stone gatepost, called in country dialect a “stoop” and thus originated a nickname for himself “Dr Stoop”.
The stone can still be found today on Upton Road nearly opposite “Thermopylae Pass”.
Not far away from Dr Stoop's Stone, on what is now Vyner Road North, stood a ‘toll bar cottage', mentioned in “Auld Lang Syne”, a keeper's cottage with a little pond shaded by willows”.
The willows are still there with remnants of the pond.
On the south east side of the mill, towards the road, carved in the rock is a Latin verse. About 1800 the vicar of St James' Church was heartbroken when his beloved Great Dane “Tad” died. In his grief he had a Latin verse inscribed.
A few crofters' cottages still lie scattered about the slopes of Bidston Hill including the most famous, Tam O'Shanter. The building, now delightfully developed as an Urban Farm gives children and adults alike much enjoyment with its collection of animals.
