New Brighton, Merseyside facts for kids

Quick facts for kids New Brighton
Top to bottom, left to right: The Black Pearl pirate ship; one of the promenade shelters; the Marine Lake, with the Floral Pavilion in the background right; the RNLI tractor and lifeboat, with the Mersey estuary and the Liverpool skyline; Fort Perch Rock courtyard; a LARC-XV amphibious rescue truck, on the beach.
New Brighton
Population	15,149 (as of mid 2017) (2011 Census Ward)
OS grid reference	SJ302934
• London	181 mi (291 km) SE
Metropolitan borough	Wirral
Metropolitan county	Merseyside
Region	North West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	WALLASEY
Postcode district	CH45
Dialling code	0151
ISO 3166 code	GB-WRL
Police	Merseyside
Fire	Merseyside
Ambulance	North West
EU Parliament	North West England
UK Parliament	Wallasey
List of places UK England Merseyside 53°25′55″N 3°02′56″W / 53.432°N 3.049°W / 53.432; -3.049

New Brighton is a fun seaside resort located in Merseyside, England. It's at the very tip of the Wirral peninsula, where the River Mersey meets the Irish Sea. New Brighton is famous for its long sandy beaches and the longest promenade in the UK! In 2011, about 14,859 people lived here.

A Look Back: New Brighton's History

New Brighton seafront with lighthouse and Fort Perch Rock, around 1840

Before the 1800s, this area was known for smuggling and for ships getting wrecked. People even say there are still secret tunnels and cellars underground! This spot was also important because it was at the entrance to the Mersey Estuary.

Building Fort Perch Rock

The Perch Rock battery was finished in 1829. It had 18 guns to protect the area. At first, the fort was cut off by water when the tide was high. But now, land has been added around it, so you can always reach it.

How New Brighton Began

In 1830, a businessman from Liverpool named James Atherton bought a large piece of land. It had great views of the sea and the Mersey, plus a nice beach. He wanted to create a fancy place for people to live and visit, much like the popular seaside town of Brighton. That's why he called it "New Brighton." Soon, new houses started to appear, spreading up the hillside.

New Brighton Pier and landing stage, during the 1890s

In the late 1800s, New Brighton became a very popular seaside spot for people from Liverpool and other industrial towns. Many big houses were turned into affordable hotels. The New Brighton Pier opened in 1867. It was designed by a famous architect named Eugenius Birch. The promenade, a long walkway along the coast, was finished by 1901. It was great for walks and connected different parts of the town. Later, it was made even longer, becoming the longest promenade in the UK!

In 1872, a writer named Francis Kilvert described the River Mersey and New Brighton. He said the river was "crowded with vessels of all sorts." He also mentioned the "beautiful sands" at New Brighton, full of families enjoying their holidays.

New Brighton in the 1900s

The New Brighton Tower and Ballroom, seen from the River Mersey, around 1910

The New Brighton Tower, which was the tallest in the country, opened in 1900. But it closed in 1919 because it wasn't kept up during World War I. The tower was completely taken down by 1921. In 1908, a new Winter Gardens Theatre opened, showing plays and later, films.

New Brighton also had a large outdoor swimming pool, built in 1934. It was the biggest of its kind in Britain! This saltwater pool lasted until 1990, when a storm damaged it, and it was later taken down.

St Peter and St Paul's Church was built in 1935. During World War II, sailors returning home knew they were close when they saw the church's green dome from the Mersey.

After World War II, New Brighton became less popular as a seaside resort. However, the Tower Ballroom remained a big music venue. Many famous bands, including the Beatles, played there in the 1950s and 1960s. Sadly, the Tower Ballroom was destroyed by fire in 1969.

The ferries that crossed the Mersey to New Brighton stopped running in 1971. After that, the ferry pier was taken down. By 1977, the promenade pier was also gone.

New Brighton's Location

New Brighton is at the very top of the Wirral Peninsula, on the west side of the River Mersey's mouth. The Irish Sea is to the north. New Brighton is built on a hillside. The marine lake and lighthouse are at sea level, but just a short distance away, St Peter and St Paul's Church sits on a hill about 48 meters (157 feet) above sea level.

The 4-kilometer (2.5-mile) long North Wirral Coastal Park stretches between New Brighton and Meols.

	Liverpool Bay	Liverpool Bay	Liverpool Bay
	Wallasey Village		Mersey Estuary
		New Brighton, Merseyside
	Wallasey Village	Liscard	Egremont

Cool Places to See

Fort Perch Rock

Fort Perch Rock

Fort Perch Rock is an old fort built between 1825 and 1829. It was made to protect the Port of Liverpool. The fort was built on a spot called Black Rock. It is currently closed to visitors.

New Brighton Lighthouse

New Brighton Lighthouse

The New Brighton Lighthouse was first called Perch Rock Lighthouse. Building started in 1827, but there had been a light on the rock since 1683. It was designed to look like the famous Eddystone Lighthouse.

Churches in the Sky

St Peter and Paul's Church

New Brighton has two churches that stand out on the skyline. You can see them from the River Mersey. St James Church on Victoria Road has a tall, thin spire. It now includes the New Brighton Visitors Centre. St Peter and Paul's Roman Catholic Church is at the top of Atherton Street. Finished in 1935, it's a famous building with a large dome. Sailors used to call it the "Dome of Home" because it meant they were close to home.

The Black Pearl Pirate Ship

The Black Pearl Pirate Ship is a cool art project on the beach. It looks like a big pirate ship with three masts. It's made almost entirely from old materials and driftwood found on the beach! Kids love to play on it. It's also used for RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) training and even for weddings!

Local artists Major Mace and Frank Lund first built it in 2013. It has been damaged by storms and even fire, but the artists and volunteers keep fixing it up. The "ship" is now a permanent landmark that brings thousands of visitors each year.

Fun Things to Do

During the summer, you can enjoy brass band concerts every week in Vale Park.

How New Brighton is Governed

New Brighton is part of the Wallasey area for the UK Parliament. Angela Eagle is the Member of Parliament (MP) for this area. New Brighton is also a ward within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, which is part of Merseyside.

What's New in New Brighton

New Palace amusement arcade, an Art Deco building

Like many seaside towns, New Brighton has lots of things for visitors to do. A big new area called the £60 million Marine Point Leisure and Retail development opened in 2011. It has a hotel, restaurants, a supermarket, and The Light, which is a cinema with 8 screens.

Other fun places include the Riverside Bowl bowling alley, the LaserQuest center, and the New Palace amusement arcade. The arcade has a small fairground too! The Floral Pavilion Theatre was rebuilt in 2008 and also has a conference centre.

The town has also improved its public spaces, like the model boating lake and the promenade. Popular coffee shops like Starbucks and Costa Coffee have opened, attracting even more people.

Music in New Brighton

Granville Bantock, conductor at the New Brighton Tower Ballroom

New Brighton became famous for music when Granville Bantock led the New Brighton Tower concert band. He turned it into a professional orchestra that played modern classical music. Famous composers like Edward Elgar even came to New Brighton to conduct.

The Beatles played at the Tower Ballroom 27 times! This was more than any other place in the UK, except for the famous Cavern Club in Liverpool.

A big pop concert called New Brighton Rock was held at the town's outdoor swimming pool in 1984. Many famous artists like Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Madness, and Spandau Ballet performed there.

Many songs have been written about New Brighton. The band It's Immaterial had a song called "New Brighton" in 1992. The Boo Radleys released "New Brighton Promenade" in 1996. New Brighton is also mentioned in songs by the Libertines and Babyshambles.

The bandstand in Vale Park is a popular outdoor music spot. It hosts different acts, like orchestras and choirs, every Sunday. Recently, it has also hosted music for younger generations, giving local bands a chance to play.

Sports in New Brighton

Football History

New Brighton Tower F.C. was a football club based in New Brighton that started in 1896. They played at the Tower Athletic Ground, which could hold 80,000 people! The club was formed to provide entertainment for the owners of the New Brighton Tower. Even though they had a big stadium and good players, not many people came to watch their games. The club was disbanded in 1901 because it cost too much to run.

In 1921, a new club called New Brighton A.F.C. was formed. They also played in the Football League from 1923 until 1951. New Brighton is one of the smallest places to have had a Football League club.

Rugby Union

New Brighton Football Club (R.U.) is a rugby union team. They were formed in New Brighton in 1875. They now play in Moreton.

Getting Around New Brighton

By Road

The Welcome to New Brighton Pierrot Sculpture on a roundabout on King's Parade, on the A554

The main road through New Brighton is the A554. It connects New Brighton to other areas.

By Train

New Brighton railway station is part of the Merseyrail network. Trains run every 15 minutes to Liverpool during the day on weekdays and Saturdays, and every half hour at other times.

By Boat (in the past)

Until 1971, New Brighton had a landing stage where the Mersey Ferry would stop.

Famous People from New Brighton