The Legend of the Liscard Vale Witches

 

The Liscard Vale Witches

The area of old Liscard Vale has long been associated to Witchcraft and was known locally as “Hells Brow”, and ancient Rock carvings depicting Sacrafices are said to be buried within the grounds of the old Tower Grounds which dates back to Medieval Times. The Local Legend of the Magazines Witch has been told for many Decades and it says that one of the unfortunate Witches of Liscard Vale is said to Haunt the nearby Public House previously known as The Black Horse.

A Coven of Witches met in the Clearing of Liscard Vale, Every Witches Sabbat. Nobody knew what they did up there, but there were rumours. Locals of the Magazine Village swore blind that they could hear laughter and sometimes Screams, but none were brave enough to go up and Investigate. The Witches always met in the same Clearing near to the Quarry and it is said that if you step foot within the Witches Clearing without Permission you will be dead within a Month.

In the mid 18^th Century, Local upstanding Christians of the Magazine Village began to grow tired of all the rumours and decided to get rid of the Witches once and for all. It angered them that they should Mock God on his doorstep (Local Church or Worshipping Ground) with their evil practices and befouled the air of the Woodland and Quarry. So one night when the Moon was full and Coven were sure to have gathered to worship. A Local Christian rounded up a group of likeminded men in the Black Horse Pub and they made way to the Liscard Vale Woods to give the Witches what they deserved.

The Next day, a local couple were out hunting with their dog in the woods near to the Witches Clearing and suddenly, their dog started barking viciously. Startled they walked over to the clearing, treading carefully as they knew the local legends. There in the witches clearing were all 12 member of the Witches Coven hanging in the Trees amongst the branches above the Quarry.

Nobody was ever convicted for the deaths but the Month after a mysterious spate of deaths occurred in the area. Young Edward Williams was the first to go, a tragic accident, and him so young too. Then there was Jonathan Smith who died in a house fire. Finally the ring leader of the Christian Group, James Brooks Caught a strange illness that no local Doctor could diagnose, Locals say he was cursed by Witchcraft and he wasted away before his lovely fiancés very eyes. They say his last words were “we should never have stepped foot in that place” And the Legends of the Liscard Vale Witches lives on.

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The Great Gale of 1839 in Wallasey

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In the January of the year 1839, the gales wrecked many ships on the Wallasey Coast and little was done by the Constables. The Liverpool Police decided to take action. Superintendent Quick and a band of about 20 men came over to try to save life and property. They were able to catch 25 villains as they went about their ugly business of plundering. These folk were brought before the Cheshire Magistrates who were very annoyed that the Liverpool Police should interfere in matters in Cheshire. Superintendent Quick reminded the Magistrates that as Constables of Liverpool, they had authority in Chester as it was within seven miles of the Borough.

Find out more on our Smugglers Tours in March - Book now Click Here

Wallasey Smugglers Tales

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On one occasion, a ship was wrecked on the sandbank near to Ye Black Rock (New Brighton) and her captain's body was washed ashore.

 

The Wallasey Smugglers took the clothes from the body and even cut off a finger in order to get the ring before the corpse could be taken away for the inquest. A woman even bit off the ears of a drowning woman in order to get the earrings. The old caves, known as 'The Worm Holes' were used by smugglers and wreckers. These caves ran well inland and once a smuggler or wrecker went in the tunnels it was a very difficult job to catch him. The situation became serious as the Coastguards and others were unable to bring the offenders to justice.

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Wallasey Coat of Arms

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The Wallasey Coat of Arms

AUDEMUS DUM CAVEMUS'-We are bold whilst we are cautious

The arms were officially granted on 8th September, 1910.

The New Brighton Pier

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⚓️ The New Brighton Pier ⚓️

The New Brighton Pier opened on 7th September 1867 but was not fully completed until 9th April 1868 when it finally passed over to the privately owned Pier Company. There was a passenger pier and, adjacent, a promenade pier. The pier was 550 feet long and 70 feet wide. The Promenade Pier was proclaimed as "one of the finest in the country". The only entrance was by a flight of steps from the gangway of the Ferry Pier and cost 2d to enter. 

The pier had a handsome saloon, refreshment rooms, bazaars, a raised platform for a band and there was seating all round the parameter area. Above the saloon was a further, smaller promenade area - which cost a further one penny admission - probably used by the more affluent - above this on a third level was a viewing area with fixed telescopes to view the shipping on the River Mersey. In 1900 the promenade pier was extended and connected to the new promenade which had been completed in 1899 - then there were two points of entry to the promenade pier.

Sadly, Ferry passenger numbers declined through the 1960s. Fortes Limited became the owners in 1968 but on 21st September 1971 the last ferry from New Brighton left the landing stage. Repairs were made to the promenade pier but it was not simply a paying proposition. Finally, in July 1978, the pier was dismantled.

Wetherspoons in New Brighton

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Current Progress of the new Wetherspoons add on salt the side of the Master Mariner

This was the Travellers Rest building that was removed

Buxton Lodge

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Another long-gone lodge. Buxton Lodge, Wallasey Village top of Folly Lane. Only the posts still survive and the original wall to the estate

18th Century Smuggling in Wallasey

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In 18th Century North West England, Illegal trade across the coasts grew at a prodigious rate. Non more so than The Wallasey shoreline thanks to a lady named Mother Redcap.

Ask anyone to describe an 18th Century Smuggler and they would romanticise a picture of a man dressed in a striped jersey with a waist vote, boots and trousers. Not forgetting a Tricorn hat.

Most of the original Smugglers in Wallasey were fisherman by day and smugglers by night.

Thanks to the Smugglers, not many a house in old Wallasey didn’t contain a bottle of Brandy or Rum that had been wrecked near to the Red Noses. Food and Drink was plentiful thanks to the Smugglers.

Trade Links between Liverpool and the rest of the world have the Smugglers a taste of all corners of the world. Each day brought a Wreck and each Wreck brought a different Cargo. 

Old Wallasey was a hive of Maritime activities.

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The Coastal Caves of New Brighton

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The Red Noses and other Coastal Caves of Wallasey were only a temporary storage solution for the Smugglers as high tides were no good for the storage of dry goods. Even Spirits and Beer Barrels would not be completely secure in a tide washed cave, a heavy surf could dash the containers against the cave walls, smashing them in minutes.

The Wallasey Smugglers would hide their crates and containers of contraband where they believed customs men and nosey locals would be reluctant to search. Churchyards fitted the bill nicely.

Join me on my exclusive Maritime History Tours in New Brighton and find out more about our amazing past.

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The Lady of the Lighthouse

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The Lady of the Lighthouse also known as the “The White Lady”. Is a common name given to many ghostly apparitions of a female dressed in white.

Local legend in New Brighton suggests this phantom haunted the Sands around the New Brighton Lighthouse. Sounds of the Sea, Whistling Winds and the absence of light makes this area a secluded and eerie spot to wander late in the evening.

Join us on the New Brighton Ghost Walks and hear the Maritime tales surrounding our Coastline

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The Red Noses

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The Red Noses were of Great value to the Wallasey Smugglers as they could be used as Hides & Dumps for Contraband near to the coast. These stone structures became known as Smugglers Caves.

You can see the entrance points still visible in this early 20th century Photograph and some of them ran farther down the coastline making it easier for the Smuggler to escape in ease from the threat of Customs Men guarding the Coastline.

Sadly the Red Noses were partially buried during the Kings Parade Complex construction and have not been seen for over 100 Years. 

Join me on the Maritime History Tours and find out more about our Smugglers Past

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The Legend of Mother Redcaps

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The Legend of Mother Redcaps

The dangerous game of Wrecking, Smuggling, Gossip and Betrayal at Mother Redcaps ended up in Arrests, Hangings and even Murder in Cold Blood.

A Tavern sat in this spot from 1595 when first built by the Mainwaring Family, but it was in the 18th Century that it became known as Mother Redcaps and was a popular spot that welcomed Smugglers and Wreckers.

It may have long disappeared but the Smugglers legacy lives on and a few unsavoury characters are said to haunt the Nursing Home.

Local Legends have been passed down through generations of the Ghost of Mother Redcaps often spotted near the Location of her old Tavern, fulfilling her duties of guarding Loot and Ill Gotten Gains. 

They say that to this day, a large amount of hidden treasure remains beneath the Tavern Grounds.

The Legend of Mother Redcap Lives on….

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The New Brighton Hotel Smugglers

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There are plenty of famous Smugglers pubs dotted around New Brighton, these places were used to hide illegal contraband sourced from trade ships in the River Mersey and were a hive of Criminals, Wreckers and Cut Throats. 

The New Brighton Hotel located on Victoria Road has a whole host of Maritime Tales to tell and features on our Exclusive Maritime History Tours.

Join us on a Sunday Afternoon and find out More 

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The Hauntings of New Brighton Tour

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The New Brighton Ghost Walks

As an eerie darkness falls over New Brighton, Join our Historian & Author as he takes you on a journey to introduce you to the darker side of the Seaside Resort

Come to see the most haunted locations of the Town, the spooky coastline where the dead are restless, the Lighthouse and Battery where Supernatural activity is still witnessed and parts of the old Town where dark deeds of the Pirates & Smugglers have occurred. This is am evening of Dark History, light Comedy, Authentic Truths and Deadly Maritime Tales. 👻⚔️🏴‍☠️⚓️

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Saturday Night Ghost Walk

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The New Brighton Ghost Walks

As an eerie darkness falls over New Brighton, Join our Historian & Author as he takes you on a journey to show you the darker side of the Seaside Resort

Come to see the most haunted locations of the Town, the spooky coastline where the dead are restless, the Lighthouse and Battery where Supernatural activity is still witnessed and parts of the old Town where dark deeds of the Pirates & Smugglers have occurred. This is am evening of Dark History, light Comedy, Authentic Truths and Deadly Maritime Tales. 👻⚔️🏴‍☠️⚓️

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St Hilary’s Church Tunnels

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No tunnels are currently accessible from St Hilary’s at the present date, and the vault beneath the old tower was covered by a tiled floor in the late nineteenth century. But according to the rector, Canon Paul Robinson, one of the parishioners remembers going down a tunnel in the thirties, below Swinton Old Hall, the site of the modern rectory, a few hundred years away from the old tower. According to Joseph Ruiz, a well exists beneath the front sitting room of the old rectory, fifteen feet wide and 350 feet deep, and it is believed to lead to a tunnel; this is also mentioned in an article in the Wirral News . The article refers to a legend that says an underground passage leads from the rectory to the church (presumably the old tower) and then on to Mother Redcap’s. It goes on to maintain that the Old Rectory was a cache for gun-runners during the reign of Charles II. Oral tradition mentions a smugglers’ tunnel leading from one of the graves in the churchyard.. 

find out more about the Secret Tunnels of Wallasey on my Historic Tours every  Sunday in New Brighton. Tickets now on sale. Book now

Wallasey Ghost Walk

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They say that, on the night of a full moon, The Ghost Walks Tonight.... Stand very still and listen along the coastline, you'll hear the laughter of the Smugglers - the laughter will swiftly turn to screams, the Ghosts of Mother Redcaps awaits. 

Join The Ghosts, Fables and Folklore Walk for 90 minutes of history and mystery. You will be taken on a walk steeped in history and brings to life stories of legends, witches 🧙‍♀️ , smugglers 🏴‍☠️, secret tunnels, murders ⚔️ and of course...ghosts 👻. 

Explore the Gunpowder Village and Dark Lanes that make up the oldest parts of the Wallasey Shoreline. We offer an evening of History and Mystery to capture the imagination and inspire the mind. 

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Sunday History Tours in New Brighton

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Our Sunday Tours are Back 😊 

Join us on the 26th of February at 12pm in New Brighton for the Maritime History Tour 🏴‍☠️⚔️⚓️

Journey through the old Streets and Smugglers Cove of Ye Black Rock to discover the origins of this Seaside Resort. 

You will hear of authentic truths, Smugglers Tunnels, Local Myths, Ghost Stories, Life during Wars, the Napoleonic Fort, Perch Rock Lighthouse and all the Legendary Tales about the old towns dark past. Hear about life in Victorian Times and how changes occurred in the following centuries. 

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Pirates of Wallasey

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Smugglers and pirates were a real threat in the 1700's particularly to the Wallasey area, adored by both. They would often take wealthy residents and ransom them for money. There reputation also shows that they were also keen on kidnapping the poor and keeping them on board against their will to help out with labour on their vessel. This could also be said of the smugglers nemises, the Royal Navy. 

  

The Royal Navy notoriously picked up young and able men and recruited them into the ranks many times against there wishes, but the great terror of the sailors was the press other side of the Black Rock that they might conceal themselves in Cheshire, and many a vessel had to be brought into gang. Such was the dread in which this force was held by the sailors, that they would often take to their boats on the port by a lot of riggers and carpenters sent round by the owners for that purpose.” 

  

Two entries in the Wallasey parish registers, both in 1762, refer to the risks the sailor ran. Under the date of 29th March, appears, ' William Evans drowned in endeavouring to escape from a cutter lying at ye Black Rock'; and again on 6th November, 'John Goss sailor drowned from ye Prince George tender in his Majesty's Service', the tender being the ship to which the men were sent immediately on being 'pressed.'

If you love stories of Pirates, Smugglers, Secret Tunnels and more, join me on the New Brighton History Tours Click Here

Shipwreck in Wallasey

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The Wreck of the Pelican by the Wallasey Smugglers in 1793 

  

The ship was a small brig craft fitted with a number of cannon designed to capture French merchant shipping for a profit under a letter of marquee from the British government. She was crewed and outfitted in the Mersey, and on 20 March 1793 was taking her owners and their families and friends on a pleasure and working up cruise in the mouth of the river. On board were 94 sailors and approximately 40 civilians, including several women. Disaster Struck and the weather took a sudden turn for the worse and the ship began to rock violently, causing many of those aboard to go below decks, worsening the impending tragedy. 

  

The vessel breached on to the rocks situated near where the New Brighton Floral Pavilion is today, Local Smugglers took it upon themselves to plunder the ship. Laws at the time stated that if no persons were aboard the ship at the time the cargo/booty could be plundered by anybody. The sad fact is that any of the people who would have still been alive would have been killed. The smugglers then transported their bodies into tunnels situated where these tunnels we are standing in today, leaving the ship in an abandoned state, they were now free to plunder the ship. 

  

Upon the building of the Palace Theatre in the 1870s, parts of these tunnels were breached and an awful stench was apparent. It was on further inspection that the bones of the souls of the Pelican were found and it took a hell of a lot of industrial cleaning before the stench was finally removed. The Palace Theatre Building Caught Fire in 1916 and no longer exists being replaced by Granada Bowl in the 20th Century. Riverside Bowling Alley and Quazar is now located on the site

Join me on the New Brighton Back in Time Tours and find out more about the Wallasey Smugglers