Then and Now: How Time Has Transformed West Kirby Station

The North West Corner West Kirby hosted a huge Railway Junction.
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[@shrinkypink]

Thanks for the video, now I know there's no ticket barriers at the station. No need to buy a ticket

[@2ndwestkirbyseascouts602]

My father Harold Dodgson worked as a booking clerk at the station from the early 1950s for around 30 years. My Uncle Laurie Gittens was a ticket collector / Porter, and my Uncle Norman Rainford (known as Sam) was the signalman at West Kirby. As you look at the building the ticket office front window ia at the gate of the tower. As you walked through the doors the ticket windows were on the left and a ladies toilets on the right (both now shops / cafes. Behind the tickets office was a parcels room with huge weighing machine. Behind that was Al Torfers barbers - ok if you wanted a short back and sides! Often visited Dad at work usually to take his sandwiches round. Also spent many happy childhood hours in the signal box. Happy days Stee Dodgson

[@TheWirralChannel]

Great story . Thanks for your recollection. The whole station area has changed a lot ,but the frontage has at least stayed the same

[@orglancs]

I must have bought a ticket many times from your dad. I commuted to Liverpool from West Kirby for 18 months 1957-1958. I'm surprised you didn't mention Joe Pownall, the station foreman. If you knew all those other chaps, you must have surely known Joe.

[@2ndwestkirbyseascouts602]

@@orglancs Hi, hope you are well. Sorry I didn't known Joe personally as I was only born in 1957! I am sure many on here will have known him as Pownall is a very local name going back many years in the area. The names I mentioned were all relatives of mine. I did know a John Pownall who used to work on the Taxis and later at Houghs in Hoylake.

[@davidsheriff8989]

That photo is same as it was in late 60s, used to be a Boots Chemist there...opposite.

[@atakd]

I remember the bridge at Grange Rd being blown up on a Sunday morning. Sadly, I cant remember the year but it was after 1977, and the construction of the Concourse, when I moved to WK. My best guess would be '79.

[@TheWirralChannel]

Yes that sound about right. Thanks for the info.

[@stevewhiteside4525]

Thanks for another interesting and nostalgic look at something Wirral. I walked the Wirral way from Neston to West Kirby many times, once with my Dad when it was still just a disused railway line. When we got to the end it just led us straight into West Kirby station, still very much in use on the West Kirby to Liverpool branch. No one said anything.

[@HYUKLDER1]

In retrospect, closing the West Kirby to Hooton line was a big mistake by the government's politicians of the day.
Now there are many cars on the roads serving growing populations along the closed line route, Wiirral Way. Anyone wanting to work in Birkenhead, Liverpool or Chester for example has to drive daily instead of taking a train journey.
Demolishing stations and allowing construction on the track bed has made it more difficult to reinstate the line too.

[@user-ly5jo1bt8w]

The bridge work was started about the same time as the Concourse, although I think it was still intact and in use into the 1980s. There used to be a roundabout almost under it - where that new lane goes - where some Crosville (or possibly MPTE) buses used to park up overnight.

[@TheWirralChannel]

Oh didn't know about the roundabout

[@autisticdrone.]

Another interesting video. I like the past and present photo’s. I passed you today in Asda Woodchurch ( or your doppelgänger ) , I still wear a face mask in that shop, lots of coughing people. Didn’t want to be that weirdo who stops for a chat..