Born in Wallasey 62 living in Canada now but remember so much of the place. Learned to waterski right to the west of the pier at the Wallasey power boat and ski club. Jumped off the top of the diving tower at the baths. Went back for holiday in 91-92 it was such a shame to see all the things that I grew up with destroyed but I knew the people there would rebuild better. Thanks for the memories 👍.
those diving boards at the open-air baths was CRAZY HIGH,you must be brave i never managed the top one,just looking over the edge would give me jelly legs,we the family would spend the whole day there, simpler times brother, seems a lot of my piers emigrated maybe they saw what was coming lol you can take the man out the Wirral but not the Wirral out the man, love and contentment from Llanberis north wales, we only move to wales but i live in a tiny valley and have built my own magic place, couldn't be more content, keep on keeping on Kidda
i remember the summer school holidays the fairground the eternal summers "as it felt" the ice-creams simpler times, wirral has so much to offer for kids then, i felt really lucky to have all these opportunities on the peninsula, great times to be alive (70s) a lot has changed since then, but i still have the beautiful amazing memories, thanks for giving me the chance to revisit my childhood, never STOP Loving,,xxxx,
Unfortunately, as a wallasey lad, NONE of my memories or New Brighton resemble any of this! My memories of Newbo are seagulls robbin ya chips, old people giving you funny looks as you're playin on the rocks and dodgy fair grounds rides on milk creates during the wirral show.
Correction: The "secret" little underground bar at The Palace Amusement building was called "The Creep Inn", I now seem to recall. A fine social atmosphere, with a great moniker. Neat for the documentary to well-address the major Wilkie contribution to New Brighton. There was also (Councillor) Tommy Mann. He ran (owned?) the big boating pool by Fort Perch Rock, and other ventures. Another asset to the resort. Fort Perch Rock, built as a defence against Napoleon I think, saw service in WW2. It had a little WW2 museum and "club" for vets. John Stanley (The Kraal Club) ran a few rock shows in the courtyard there.
Wirral borough council what a joke they have done nothing for wàllasey but sell it out for their own gains now it is getting better but with liverpool drug money being used to open bars but even that has changed when they first opened where nice but now no so with an uneasy vibe about if and feral kids wearing balaclavas on mountain bikes things need to change and people need to look after what they have or will soon have nothing like in the early 80s
ive seen those binlids on motorbike 3 tiny kids Ballied up razzing about without a worry in the world, just like its a normal thing to do, police where no where to be seen
I spent one of the happiest years of my life there from 1952 to 1953. I often wonder what happened to all the lovely girls I met there at the Tower ballroom.
Thank you for such a wonderful documentary. It brought back so many memories. When I worked at Wallasey Borough Council Town Hall, 1958-63, Joy Hockey would come in frequently seeking planning approval for her plans. A very talented architect and a lovely person. My mother told me that, just before WW2, one of the Figure of Eight buggies flew off the top tight bend and sailed out over the promenade to crash onto the beach, with the loss of lives. Great to see the WW2 DUKW being a tourist attraction immediately post-war. I have always remembered my ride, but never seen a video of one in action there. After the war, there was often a sign on the promenade "Don't forget the diver". A legless man would seek donations for jumping off the prom into the sea. I expect that he was an injured war vet. R.I.P. The Tower Grounds were always a delight, especially the miniature railway, the dodgems; The Wall of Death and The Waltzer. The Tower ballroom was incredible; the finest in the North of England and possibly in the UK. It has a sprung floor that continually "creaked" if there were few dancers; 2,000 folk dancers and it seemed quite "empty". Superb sound system. That was a very fine dance band. Wednesday nights were typically free entrance - one just needed to find the man who went around handing out free tickets at the nearby Lakeside Bar or other bars, or in the road. Weekend dancing was usually tremendous for the dancing and meeting folk. The came The Skiffle Craze and then Rock, with many fine top-rank shows. So many incredible nights there. The Palace Amusement building had some fine rides .... dodgems, car racing, and a fierce "giant bullet" that spun, tilted and swung around fiercely. And a "secret" bar underground, "The Creep". I think it was supposed to be only for Palace employees and their guests. Then The Bowling Alley was built on the circus/ car park next door. And all the local scallies were running around town wearing pinkish/reddish bowling pumps. (The Bowling Alley itself was built a few feet in the wrong place. Building Inspector's error. Bit embarrassing that. There was a pretty tough Rock Band place above a shop at the lower end of Victoria Street, "The Empress". One night I saw "Derry/Howie Casey and The Seniors" with their new-singer Freddy Fowell (later Freddy Starr). I was near the front and a, fortunately empty, flying glass pitcher smashed against the wall by me. The band did not miss a beat. The Brighton Pier a classic. And it was reputed that its draught Guinness was the finest on The Mainland, "brought in straight from Dublin" so the local cognoscente said. I have often wondered how high the top diving board was. It seemed terrifyingly high. The Royal - a fine little cinema that showed "B" horror movies every Sunday night. Often with some "encouragement" from the thoughtful management. I recall on one Sunday there being a large "bucket of blood" in the foyer, in keeping with the movie's title. So, so much in the documentary. Possibly the only other thing that I was hoping to see was something of The Kraal Club (set up by John Stanley and John Pennington), that I always felt was far finer than The Cavern. Resident band were The Pressmen, with Aynsley Dunbar on drums; but other fine bands like The Undertakers and The Roadrunners were regulars. Another fine place was The Grosvenor in Liscard. Regulars were Cass and The Casanovas/The Big Three. It might have not seemed like it at the time, but it was a special town. It had about 350 pubs. We planned on having a pint in each before our 18th birthday. The target was almost achieved before the first in the group had his 18th. Cheapest pint of mild was 11 pence, a small pub with a sandstone cellar wall near Seacombe Ferry. So, thank you so much.
My great grandfather,Samuel Oxton -Langley,died in 1910 Stuart,he was on his way back to Birkenhead after a visit to the Zoo,he had a pony and trap,and coming over the Four Bridges,he was in collision with a railway shunt,and was thrown from the trap,he died a few months later,his Death Certificate states,that” He died from exhaustion,following upon insanity,due to being thrown from his trap,after collision with certain goods wagons on Tower Road “
Great to see the old images of New Brighton again. It’s a pity there was no film of Old Mother Red Caps and the several gun emplacements located near the railway line running into New Brighton. We used to access the area through loose fences just after the bridge at the end of Sea Road. Climbing past the brambles and then on to the higher flat terrain adjacent to the railway line, clambering down Old Mother Redcaps to the open green space below which led us to the crazy Clock Golf course. Anyone remember that? I think the gun emplacements remained until about 1962. It was great being a kid at these times - Like my dad once said:- They were the good old days. Remember the Queen arriving at Grove Road Station around 1960 ish having a Royal visit ?
Yes, and she came to Wallasey Town Hall. We had to replace the loo seat with a totally new one for her "just in case". That made much sense. And in about 1959, Harry Seacombe came to chin-wag with The Mayor. Lovely guy.
born in '72 in St.Caths birkenhead, lived in rock ferry as a kid then moved to wallasey in 1980, loved new brighton outdoor baths (always cold water and dead flies) but great memories, my mum used to take us to the baths firework display on bonifre night shortly before the storm destroyed it. also did a few seasons for dave wilkie in the fairground in my teens :) it's a shame new brighton is basically a ghost town in comparison to the good days.
I had no idea we has a promenade pier in new Brighton. Edit: just saw the early 1990s video of adventureland. I absolutely loved this place growing up. I've even taken my own kids. It's sad that the recent news that the building is going but change is needed, the new stuff in new Brighton is fab.
I used to work night security for Dave before he received funding to replace/remove the asbestos roof from the palace (why half the Palace roof was knocked down)
@@KaptainKastle it use to be brilliant not so good now do you rember the old fair ground which burnt down years a go it's OK if you just go for the sea and a nice walk the swimming pool was good they should of rebuilt it
@@KaptainKastle look up new bright you will see the baths fair grown you will see how good it was seeing you are to young to rember the old new Brighton the baths was open air and would get packed
You off the ford estate?? Kevin Duffy's relative ?? I grew up on the ford until my parents hot me away from the smack. I then went to Scotland and been here ,30 years now. It's time I came back home to my roots now.
How strange, I didn’t hear a mention of the Tower Zoo ! My Great Grandfather, Samuel Oxton Langley, was a Vetinary Surgeon, and treated the animals kept there
My mum remembers the zoo. She told me about this poor old monkey 🐵 with his finger up his bum and when he pulled it out he/she flooded the place with diarrhoea. (Straight Up-or down in the poor old monkeys case). I was just wondering if ya dad ever treated the poor soul.?
I worked at a fish and chip shop there as a kitchen porter on the corner of Wilkies fair ground
Born in Wallasey 62 living in Canada now but remember so much of the place. Learned to waterski right to the west of the pier at the Wallasey power boat and ski club. Jumped off the top of the diving tower at the baths. Went back for holiday in 91-92 it was such a shame to see all the things that I grew up with destroyed but I knew the people there would rebuild better. Thanks for the memories 👍.
those diving boards at the open-air baths was CRAZY HIGH,you must be brave i never managed the top one,just looking over the edge would give me jelly legs,we the family would spend the whole day there, simpler times brother, seems a lot of my piers emigrated maybe they saw what was coming lol you can take the man out the Wirral but not the Wirral out the man, love and contentment from Llanberis north wales, we only move to wales but i live in a tiny valley and have built my own magic place, couldn't be more content, keep on keeping on Kidda
No mention of wall of death.my grandads sister was the first woman to ride the wall with her husband ..cassie and fred God bless them..
That would be Peter Catchpole he had a wall of Death as well
I remember the ghost train. As a kid I thought this was the Bees knees
Birkenhead 1960, emigrated to Sweden in 71, this does bring back a few memories
Which school did you attend?
I remember going down the helter-skelter in the early sixties, expecting to fly off any moment into the Mersey.
i remember the summer school holidays the fairground the eternal summers "as it felt" the ice-creams simpler times, wirral has so much to offer for kids then, i felt really lucky to have all these opportunities on the peninsula, great times to be alive (70s) a lot has changed since then, but i still have the beautiful amazing memories, thanks for giving me the chance to revisit my childhood, never STOP Loving,,xxxx,
wow look how sociable it is and looks so safe. I ,miss how things used to be :(
Sad to see how it looks know I remember it in its hey day .we will never get that back
Unfortunately, as a wallasey lad, NONE of my memories or New Brighton resemble any of this! My memories of Newbo are seagulls robbin ya chips, old people giving you funny looks as you're playin on the rocks and dodgy fair grounds rides on milk creates during the wirral show.
u must remember the open air baths, with the massive diving boards
whoah thats so cool i find old videos like that intresting
I was living at the back of Vale Park at Aylesbury Road I would try to sleep but the row those kid kept me wake .
Correction: The "secret" little underground bar at The Palace Amusement building was called "The Creep Inn", I now seem to recall. A fine social atmosphere, with a great moniker.
Neat for the documentary to well-address the major Wilkie contribution to New Brighton. There was also (Councillor) Tommy Mann. He ran (owned?) the big boating pool by Fort Perch Rock, and other ventures. Another asset to the resort.
Fort Perch Rock, built as a defence against Napoleon I think, saw service in WW2. It had a little WW2 museum and "club" for vets. John Stanley (The Kraal Club) ran a few rock shows in the courtyard there.
Wirral borough council what a joke they have done nothing for wàllasey but sell it out for their own gains now it is getting better but with liverpool drug money being used to open bars but even that has changed when they first opened where nice but now no so with an uneasy vibe about if and feral kids wearing balaclavas on mountain bikes things need to change and people need to look after what they have or will soon have nothing like in the early 80s
ive seen those binlids on motorbike 3 tiny kids Ballied up razzing about without a worry in the world, just like its a normal thing to do, police where no where to be seen
I spent one of the happiest years of my life there from 1952 to 1953. I often wonder what happened to all the lovely girls I met there at the Tower ballroom.
they aint so lovely now,that's for sure,,lol xxxx
My father often spoke of his childhood family day trips to New Brighton.
He was very fond of NB back in the 40's and 50's.
Thank you for such a wonderful documentary. It brought back so many memories.
When I worked at Wallasey Borough Council Town Hall, 1958-63, Joy Hockey would come in frequently seeking planning approval for her plans. A very talented architect and a lovely person.
My mother told me that, just before WW2, one of the Figure of Eight buggies flew off the top tight bend and sailed out over the promenade to crash onto the beach, with the loss of lives.
Great to see the WW2 DUKW being a tourist attraction immediately post-war. I have always remembered my ride, but never seen a video of one in action there.
After the war, there was often a sign on the promenade "Don't forget the diver". A legless man would seek donations for jumping off the prom into the sea. I expect that he was an injured war vet. R.I.P.
The Tower Grounds were always a delight, especially the miniature railway, the dodgems; The Wall of Death and The Waltzer.
The Tower ballroom was incredible; the finest in the North of England and possibly in the UK. It has a sprung floor that continually "creaked" if there were few dancers; 2,000 folk dancers and it seemed quite "empty". Superb sound system. That was a very fine dance band. Wednesday nights were typically free entrance - one just needed to find the man who went around handing out free tickets at the nearby Lakeside Bar or other bars, or in the road. Weekend dancing was usually tremendous for the dancing and meeting folk. The came The Skiffle Craze and then Rock, with many fine top-rank shows. So many incredible nights there.
The Palace Amusement building had some fine rides .... dodgems, car racing, and a fierce "giant bullet" that spun, tilted and swung around fiercely. And a "secret" bar underground, "The Creep". I think it was supposed to be only for Palace employees and their guests.
Then The Bowling Alley was built on the circus/ car park next door. And all the local scallies were running around town wearing pinkish/reddish bowling pumps. (The Bowling Alley itself was built a few feet in the wrong place. Building Inspector's error. Bit embarrassing that.
There was a pretty tough Rock Band place above a shop at the lower end of Victoria Street, "The Empress". One night I saw "Derry/Howie Casey and The Seniors" with their new-singer Freddy Fowell (later Freddy Starr). I was near the front and a, fortunately empty, flying glass pitcher smashed against the wall by me. The band did not miss a beat.
The Brighton Pier a classic. And it was reputed that its draught Guinness was the finest on The Mainland, "brought in straight from Dublin" so the local cognoscente said.
I have often wondered how high the top diving board was. It seemed terrifyingly high.
The Royal - a fine little cinema that showed "B" horror movies every Sunday night. Often with some "encouragement" from the thoughtful management. I recall on one Sunday there being a large "bucket of blood" in the foyer, in keeping with the movie's title.
So, so much in the documentary. Possibly the only other thing that I was hoping to see was something of The Kraal Club (set up by John Stanley and John Pennington), that I always felt was far finer than The Cavern. Resident band were The Pressmen, with Aynsley Dunbar on drums; but other fine bands like The Undertakers and The Roadrunners were regulars. Another fine place was The Grosvenor in Liscard. Regulars were Cass and The Casanovas/The Big Three.
It might have not seemed like it at the time, but it was a special town. It had about 350 pubs. We planned on having a pint in each before our 18th birthday. The target was almost achieved before the first in the group had his 18th. Cheapest pint of mild was 11 pence, a small pub with a sandstone cellar wall near Seacombe Ferry.
So, thank you so much.
My great grandfather,Samuel Oxton -Langley,died in 1910 Stuart,he was on his way back to Birkenhead after a visit to the Zoo,he had a pony and trap,and coming over the Four Bridges,he was in collision with a railway shunt,and was thrown from the trap,he died a few months later,his Death Certificate states,that” He died from exhaustion,following upon insanity,due to being thrown from his trap,after collision with certain goods wagons on Tower Road “
was he anything to do with Oxton village?? since the surname was quite unusual
Great to see the old images of New Brighton again. It’s a pity there was no film of Old Mother Red Caps and the several gun emplacements located near the railway line running into New Brighton.
We used to access the area through loose fences just after the bridge at the end of Sea Road. Climbing past the brambles and then on to the higher flat terrain adjacent to the railway line, clambering down Old Mother Redcaps to the open green space below which led us to the crazy Clock Golf course. Anyone remember that? I think the gun emplacements remained until about 1962. It was great being a kid at these times -
Like my dad once said:-
They were the good old days.
Remember the Queen arriving at Grove Road Station around
1960 ish having a Royal visit ?
Yes, and she came to Wallasey Town Hall. We had to replace the loo seat with a totally new one for her "just in case". That made much sense.
And in about 1959, Harry Seacombe came to chin-wag with The Mayor. Lovely guy.
@@1anabasis loo seat classic, thanks that made me smile,,,xx
Loved this xxx
I lived in Virginia road..life was so different back then
It would be really good if a new pier was built.
born in '72 in St.Caths birkenhead, lived in rock ferry as a kid then moved to wallasey in 1980, loved new brighton outdoor baths (always cold water and dead flies) but great memories, my mum used to take us to the baths firework display on bonifre night shortly before the storm destroyed it.
also did a few seasons for dave wilkie in the fairground in my teens :)
it's a shame new brighton is basically a ghost town in comparison to the good days.
I had no idea we has a promenade pier in new Brighton.
Edit: just saw the early 1990s video of adventureland. I absolutely loved this place growing up. I've even taken my own kids. It's sad that the recent news that the building is going but change is needed, the new stuff in new Brighton is fab.
Yeah it got destroyed in a storm..I remember it.
I used to work night security for Dave before he received funding to replace/remove the asbestos roof from the palace (why half the Palace roof was knocked down)
I love it here I was there yesterday
Thank you. What a blast from the past 🙏❤️🙏❤️
New Brighton was a great place to
Go to
@@yvonnejohnson772 for a day out.
@@KaptainKastle it use to be brilliant not so good now do you rember the old fair ground which burnt down years a go it's OK if you just go for the sea and a nice walk the swimming pool was good they should of rebuilt it
@@yvonnejohnson772 I'm not old enough to remember that but I can imagine that it must have been pleasurable to visit New Brighton.
@@KaptainKastle look up new bright you will see the baths fair grown you will see how good it was seeing you are to young to rember the old new Brighton the baths was open air and would get packed
Lived in the baths at summer time
You off the ford estate??
Kevin Duffy's relative ??
I grew up on the ford until my parents hot me away from the smack.
I then went to Scotland and been here ,30 years now.
It's time I came back home to my roots now.
@@speakerscorner7 I lived in Lodge Lane noel St
@@speakerscorner7 no lived in noel street
How strange, I didn’t hear a mention of the Tower Zoo ! My Great Grandfather, Samuel Oxton Langley, was a Vetinary Surgeon, and treated the animals kept there
My mum remembers the zoo. She told me about this poor old monkey 🐵 with his finger up his bum and when he pulled it out he/she flooded the place with diarrhoea. (Straight Up-or down in the poor old monkeys case). I was just wondering if ya dad ever treated the poor soul.?
Sorry mate I meant ya great-grandfather. We’ll never know because I assume he has passed away. Take care mate and I hope all is well with you.
So blurred .Why so poor the quality of the film, ?
Born and bred in Richmond St Newbrighton memories
I lived in Virginia road. Round corner.
Mrs c. Catchpoles 🤣🤣
I lived there for 2 months.A right dump
Peter Catchpole mother? Mrs Collinson I stayed there for 2 month Peter was a con artist He had £930 of my money: he chucked me out after 2 month