This is an early draft of my story idea - with some photographs taken by Jensen and lent to me for this blog post. I would appreciate some comments on the story.My story begins in one area of Birkenhead town centre, the second in Tranmere / Rock Ferry.
The first place was Cyprus st/Oliver st/Claughton rd Birkenhead.
The area was built up with terraced houses and little grocery and green grocery shops on every corner. Walking 10yards to buy a loaf or apple, 10minutes away from the Woodside ferry and Birkehead Town Hall.
Across the main rd was the Catholic Convent. Here tramps and poor people were fed bread and water twice a week, next to this building the Liberal club which held events eg., wedding snooker and social nights. A walk to Grange rd shops took 5 minutes with Woolworths, Marks & Spencers, British Home Stores, and a family concern called Rostances plus other big named shops.
The local children went to Cole st infants and junior school on Claughton rd, passing lots of terraced housing and laudries, most of which have been replaced by car parking facilities/modern houses.
Gone are the public houses, cinemas and corner shops selling sherbert. lollypops, sweets and ices all for 1d (penny) in pre-decimal money. Across the road is Birkenhead where children could let their hair down, have a picnic and play hide and seek on the rocks by the lake. This was also where the school dinners building was situated.
The houses in roads Cyprus st, Oliver st Claughton rd Catherine st were old cellar houses with entries or alleys every four houses. These have all gone now for redevelopment, to be replaced with car-park facilities. People were rehoused to out of town housing estates, eg., Woodchurch,Noctorum and Tranmere/Rock Ferry areas, so began a new era for Birkenhead town centre.
It was beneath one of these cellars that during the dereliction and destruction that a macabre story emerged.
The workmen found human remains.
This was to become a big newspaper story at this time. As this area was quite near the docks and was badly bombed during the war years, it was rumoured it could have been remnants from the war but further forensic evidence put the remains nearer 1960-1970. During this time the populace changed, moved, were rehoused and scattered, so this enquiry continued without the original publicity.
It was almost a dead end as far as the police were concerned until six months after the discovery a man walked into the Bridewell at the Town Hall with information concerning the case.
This 54yr old gentleman had lived in Claughton road for most of his life but had moved recently to new property in Tranmere/Rock Ferry area and for some reason had not heard about the police enquiry and as he spoke of where he had lived and his present home he told his story.
Where he lived now was a place of historical interest called Egerton park which was once a park with magnificent houses bordering it, but now redeveloped into private houses and flats. the beautiful oak, ash and horse-chestnut trees remain and still give the impression of grandeur.
Across the main Old Chester Road is the local baths site which housed various sports,such as canoeing, judo/marshall arts. childrens soft play area for parties and lots of events like
smimming galas. Unfortunately, recently, the building has closed through lack of funds even though the listed building remains while the powers that be decide what happens to it.
A short walk away are two parks. Victoria park and Mersey park both popular places for families, cricket and football and annual Summer fairs and bonfire nights events which draw large crowds.
Rock Park is quite near and is another area of historical interest as lots of the houses there are considered to be the oldest in Birkenhead.
It has a lovely walk along the front parade leading to New Ferry the next town to Rock Ferry. Part of the walk is by Tranmere oil terminal and here ships come in about twice a week. The smells here are a mixture of oil sea and silt, but also there are lots of wild flowers and a mix of trees. Down on the waters edge are lots of flotsam, bottles, chunks of wood and sometimes interesting objects which could have travelled miles with the tides of the mersey river.
The gentleman, named Daniel Jones, was part of a larger family scattered over birkenhead area and in the 60's Billy Jones, his uncle, had owned a fish shop in Conway st.
He explained to the police that as houses were becoming unoccupied and boarded up ready for demolition, sometimes children would climb in and play on these properties and occasionally odd tramps would get in and were chased by neighbours or police.
He knew of one that often slept there. Unable to give a proper name only the nickname to this old man, Noah, this was a name given by the local children because of his long grey hair and beard also he spent his time preaching chapters from the bible.
After some time talking to the police, Daniel was given a hot drink and a lift home, with the police very grateful that this case might be closed once they could trace Noah's relatives through the nuns from the convent and records held at the registry office in the Town Hall.
A month later an officer called to see Mr. Jones to confirm the results of their enquiry.
It was confirmed to be the remains through D.N.A. and records, of a certain homeless fellow well known around town. A person who, in the 60's, dodged the system needed to help someone with his mental problems, thanks to Mr. Jones coming forward. the case was closed.
