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.

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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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