Birkenhead facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Birkenhead
Town
The former Birkenhead Town Hall and Wirral Museum, now council offices, committee rooms, and Register Office, in Hamilton Square
Birkenhead
Area	25.18 km² (9.72 sq mi)
Population	88,818 (2011 Census)
• Density	3,527/km² (9,130/sq mi)
Demonym	Birkonian
OS grid reference	SJ324890
• London	178 mi (286 km) SE
Metropolitan borough	Wirral
Metropolitan county	Merseyside
Region	North West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BIRKENHEAD
Postcode district	CH41, CH42
Dialling code	0151
ISO 3166 code	GB-WRL

Police	Merseyside
Fire	Merseyside
Ambulance	North West

EU Parliament	North West England
UK Parliament	Birkenhead
List of places UK England Merseyside 53°23′35″N 3°00′50″W / 53.393°N 3.014°W / 53.393; -3.014

Birkenhead is a town in Merseyside, England. It's located on the Wirral Peninsula, right across the River Mersey from Liverpool. In 2011, about 88,818 people lived there.

Birkenhead has a long history, starting with a priory and the Mersey Ferry way back in the 1100s. In the 1800s, during the Industrial Revolution, the town grew a lot. Famous places like Birkenhead Park and Hamilton Square were built. It also got Britain's first street tramway! A special railway tunnel under the Mersey connected Birkenhead to Liverpool. Big businesses like the shipbuilding company Cammell Laird and a large seaport were also started.

Later in the 1900s, the town faced some tough times as port activities slowed down. But now, there are big plans like the Wirral Waters project to bring new life to the docklands.

What's in a Name?

The name Birkenhead probably means "headland overgrown with birch trees." This comes from an old English word, bircen, which means birch tree. Many birch trees used to grow on the land that stuck out into the river at Woodside.

A Look Back in Time

Early Days

The Woodside terminal for the Mersey Ferry in Birkenhead

The first records show that the Mersey ferry started running from Birkenhead in 1150. This was when Benedictine monks built a priory there. Even King Edward I visited the priory in the late 1200s.

The 1800s: A Time of Growth

For a long time, Birkenhead was mostly farmland. But in the early 1800s, steam ferries began crossing the Mersey. This made it easier to travel to Liverpool and helped Birkenhead grow.

Shipbuilding started in 1829. William Laird opened an ironworks in 1824, and his son John joined him later. Their company eventually became the famous shipbuilder Cammell Laird. They built many important ships, including HMS Achilles, CSS Alabama, and the huge RMS Mauretania.

In 1833, a law was passed to improve the town. This included paving streets, adding lights, and setting up a market. The Mersey Railway tunnel, which connected Birkenhead directly to Liverpool, opened in 1886.

The 1900s: Changes and Challenges

Troops helping clear up damage in Birkenhead, 1941

In 1934, the Queensway road tunnel opened, making it even faster to get to Liverpool. This helped Birkenhead become an important industrial area. Many people moved to the town from other parts of England, Ireland, and Wales. The population grew from just 110 people in 1801 to over 142,000 by 1951.

In 1989, a large shopping centre called the Pyramids was built in the town centre. A new train station, Conway Park, opened in 1998.

The 2000s: Looking to the Future

In 2006, the Wirral Waters development was announced. This huge project aims to rebuild much of the dockland area over the next 30 years. In 2020, the local council also shared a plan called the 'Birkenhead 2040 Framework'. This plan includes creating a new park, building new homes, and making the town greener.

How Birkenhead is Run

Birkenhead is part of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral. The Wirral Council handles most local services, like schools and parks. Wirral is also part of the Liverpool City Region, which has a special Metro Mayor who helps lead the area.

Historically, Birkenhead became a municipal borough in 1877. This meant it had its own local government. In 1889, it became a county borough, which gave it even more independence. The Birkenhead Town Hall was built in 1887 as the council's main office. In 1974, Birkenhead became part of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral and Merseyside.

Where is Birkenhead?

The "Birkenhead Urban Area" is a term used to describe Birkenhead and the towns connected to it, like Wallasey and Bebington. In 2011, this larger area had a population of over 325,000 people.

Birkenhead is located:

To the northwest: Bidston, Upton
To the north: Seacombe, Wallasey
To the northeast: Liverpool (across the River Mersey)
To the west: Claughton, Oxton
To the east: Liverpool (across the River Mersey)
To the southwest: Prenton
To the south: Tranmere, Bebington

Making a Living in Birkenhead

Shipbuilding

The Duke of Edinburgh opening the new entrance to the Great Northern Docks at Birkenhead, 1866

Shipbuilding has been a very important part of Birkenhead's economy for a long time. The famous Cammell Laird shipyard faced difficulties in 2001. However, it was bought and renamed, and in 2008, the Cammell Laird name returned! The company now focuses on repairing and converting ships. In 2010, Cammell Laird won a big contract to build the flight deck for HMS Queen Elizabeth, a large aircraft carrier. They were also chosen to build RRS Sir David Attenborough, a research ship.

Shopping

Birkenhead's first market opened in 1835. A much larger market hall, which was very famous, opened in 1845. Michael Marks, who later started Marks & Spencer, had one of his first "Penny Bazaar" stalls here in the 1880s.

In the 1970s, the town centre was redeveloped, and the market moved to a new building next to the Grange Shopping Precinct. The Pyramids Shopping Centre opened in the early 1990s, adding even more shops.

People of Birkenhead

In 2011, Birkenhead had a population of 88,818. Most people (93.5%) were White British. There were also smaller groups of other White people, Mixed Race, Asian, and Black people.

Cool Places to See

Birkenhead Park

The Edward VII Memorial Clock Tower

Birkenhead Park is very special because it was the first publicly funded park in Britain. It was designed by Joseph Paxton and opened in 1847. This park even inspired the design of Central Park in New York City! You can see its impressive Grand Entrance and a "Roman Boathouse." There are also different styles of lodges at the entrances, like Gothic and Norman.

Hamilton Square was started in 1826. It has many Grade I listed buildings, which are very important historic buildings. The Birkenhead Town Hall is also located here. Close by are the main entrance to the Queensway Tunnel and the Woodside Ferry Terminal.

Other interesting landmarks include Bidston Windmill and Birkenhead Priory & St. Mary's Tower.

Getting Around

Buses

The bus station

Horse-drawn buses started in Birkenhead in 1848. Today, bus services are run by companies like Arriva and Stagecoach. The main bus station opened in 1996 and is next to the Grange shopping centre. You can catch buses from here to places all over Wirral and to Liverpool.

Trains

Hamilton Square station

Birkenhead has several train stations, including Birkenhead Hamilton Square, which is underground and close to the ferry. This station is part of the Merseyrail network, which connects to Liverpool's underground stations. Other stations in town include Birkenhead Central and Birkenhead Park.

The Wirral Line from Birkenhead goes south to Chester and Ellesmere Port. It also goes north to New Brighton and west to West Kirby.

Trains first came to Birkenhead in 1840. In 1886, Birkenhead and Liverpool were linked by an underground railway system, which is now part of Merseyrail.

Old Trams

Birkenhead had the first street tramway in Britain! It opened on August 29, 1860, and ran from Woodside to Birkenhead Park. These early trams were pulled by horses. The system was later changed to electric trams in 1901 but closed in 1937. Today, you can see replica trams as part of a heritage tramway between Woodside and the Wirral Transport Museum.

Roads

The M53 motorway helps people get to the national motorway network. The A41 road connects Woodside all the way to London. Two road tunnels, the Queensway Tunnel from Birkenhead and the Kingsway Tunnel from Wallasey, go under the River Mersey to Liverpool.

By Sea

Birkenhead's dock system is part of the Port of Liverpool. You can catch ferries from the Twelve Quays terminal to Dublin and Belfast. The Mersey Ferry at Woodside offers passenger services to Liverpool and special cruises. In winter, the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company also runs services from Birkenhead to the Isle of Man.

By Air

The closest airport is Liverpool John Lennon Airport, about 8 miles from Birkenhead. Manchester Airport is also about 40 miles away.

Learning in Birkenhead

Schools

Birkenhead has many schools, including Birkenhead Park School and St. Anselm's College, which is an all-boys Catholic grammar school.

There are also two independent schools. Birkenhead School was founded in 1860 and became fully co-educational (for boys and girls) in 2008. Famous former students include the lawyer F.E. Smith and the mountaineer Andrew Irvine.

Birkenhead High School Academy is a state-funded school for girls aged 3–19. It was founded in 1885. The actress Patricia Routledge is a famous former student.

Colleges

Wirral Metropolitan College has campuses in Birkenhead. It used to be called Birkenhead Technical College. Another college is the Birkenhead Sixth Form College.

Places of Worship

Religion in Birkenhead dates back to 1150 with the founding of Birkenhead Priory. Today, there are Anglican churches like St. James' Church and Christ Church. Roman Catholic churches include the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. Other religious buildings include the Wirral Christian Centre and the Shah Jalal Mosque.

Staying Healthy

Birkenhead has hospitals and health centres that are part of the Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Fun and Games

Arts and Culture

The Laird School of Art opened in 1871 and was the first public art school outside London. The Williamson Art Gallery opened in 1928 and has a great collection of paintings and pottery.

Birkenhead Library opened in 1856 as the country's first public library in an unincorporated area. The current Birkenhead Central Library was opened by King George V in 1934.

Even though it's in England, Birkenhead hosted Wales' National Eisteddfod in 1917. This is a big festival of Welsh culture. The 1917 event was famous because the winning poet, Hedd Wyn, had been killed in World War I. There's a special stone in Birkenhead Park to remember this event.

News and Media

Birkenhead is served by the Liverpool Echo newspaper and the Wirral Globe weekly newspaper. You can also find local news online at Birkenhead News. For radio, there's BBC Radio Merseyside and Hits Radio Liverpool. For TV, Birkenhead is in the BBC North West and Granada Television regions.

Parks and Recreation

Besides Birkenhead Park, other green spaces include Mersey Park and Victoria Park. Arrowe Park is a large park on the edge of town. In 1929, the 3rd World Scout Jamboree was held there, which is a huge gathering of Scouts from all over the world.

The first two Boy Scout groups in the world are believed to have started in Birkenhead in 1908. The 2nd Birkenhead Scout Group is still active today, making it the longest-running Scout group in the world!

Sports

Prenton Park

The first known football club on the Wirral was Birkenhead F.C., founded in 1879. Today, the professional team Tranmere Rovers F.C. plays at Prenton Park in Birkenhead. They were a founding member of Division Three North in 1921. Cammell Laird 1907 F.C. is another local football club.

The Birkenhead Park Football Club (rugby) was founded in 1871. Birkenhead Park also has its own cricket club.

Birkenhead is home to cycling clubs that have produced Olympic riders like Chris Boardman and Steve Cummings. Rowing clubs have been active in the town since 1840.

Famous People from Birkenhead

Birkenhead has been home to many talented people!

Actors and Performers

Glenda Jackson: Oscar-winning actress and former Member of Parliament.
Taron Egerton: Actor known for films like Rocketman.
Dominic Purcell: Actor from TV shows like Prison Break.
Patricia Routledge: Actress, famous for Keeping Up Appearances.
Paul O'Grady: Comedian and TV presenter, also known as Lily Savage.

Artists

Norman Thelwell: Famous cartoonist.
Bill Tidy: Another well-known cartoonist.

Authors and Journalists

Wilfred Owen: A famous World War I poet who lived and was educated in Birkenhead.
Andreas Whittam Smith: Founder editor of The Independent newspaper.

Musicians

Freddie Marks: From the children's music group Rod, Jane and Freddy.
John Gorman: Member of the band The Scaffold.
Half Man Half Biscuit: An indie band from Birkenhead.
Paul Heaton: Lead singer of The Housemartins and The Beautiful South.
Elvis Costello: Famous singer-songwriter, moved to Birkenhead as a teenager.
Miles Kane: Musician and singer, member of The Last Shadow Puppets.

Politicians and Public Figures

F. E. Smith, 1st Earl of Birkenhead: A leading politician in the early 1900s.
Tony Hall, Baron Hall of Birkenhead: Former Director-General of the BBC.

Explorers and Soldiers

Sandy Irvine: A mountaineer who was part of the 1924 British Mount Everest expedition.
Brigadier Sir Philip Toosey: A soldier known for his leadership during World War II.

Sportspeople

Matt Dawson: Famous rugby union player.
'Dixie' Dean: Record-breaking footballer for Everton F.C.
Jason McAteer: Former professional footballer.
Jodie Taylor: England international "Lioness" footballer.

Birkenhead's Sister Cities

Birkenhead is twinned with other towns around the world, meaning they have special friendly relationships:

Gennevilliers, France
Latina, Lazio, Italy
Lorient, France

It also has a "Sister City Agreement" with:

Midland, Texas, United States

What's Next for Birkenhead?

The biggest plan for the future is the "Wirral Waters" project. This huge project aims to invest £4.5 billion to rebuild the dockland area. It will include new offices, homes, shops, and leisure areas. This project is expected to create over 27,000 new jobs and will take about 30 years to complete.