The large green field overlooking the river is another
jewel in New Ferry’s crown, and is currently the
largest flat green open space on the western bank of
the River Mersey.
Originally, in the late 19th century, all the Shorefields area was turned into a “pleasure park” for the rich merchants who had been moving to live in their expensive Rock Ferry villas. The centre of this complex was the Great Eastern pub, and around it were bowling greens and tennis courts – many of which would disappear under the Shorefields/Pollitt Square/Merseybank Road Council estate when it was built in the 1930s.
As compensation for the loss of the other facilities when they built the houses, the Council constructed a large open air swimming pool – called New Ferry baths. At a cost of £12,000 to build, it opened in July 1932 and was described as the most up-to-date open-air swimming pool in the country. It was 330 feet long, by 90 feet wide with a depth varying from three to sixteen feet. High diving boards were located at the deep end, nearest the river. The 1 million gallons of water needed to fill it were pumped up from the River Mersey and filtered and cleaned, chemically treated and aerated before being delivered to the shallow end. The baths closed in 1977 and remained derelict until the mid 1980s when Wimpey bought the site and built a housing estate on it.
Of all of this “pleasure area”, the main part which survives is the green field overlooking the river. A tall brick wall originally stood along the cliff edge, but this was eventually demolished in the mid 20th century. During and after WWII, the field was filled with pre-fab houses for people to live in temporarily after losing their own homes in German bombing raids.
Until the late 1970’s, an old boat near the junction of Shorefields and Shore Bank was used as an informal play area by local children. In 1990, Wimpey made an application to build more houses on the field, but the application was turned down and the field is now regarded as “protected coastal land”, which means it can never be built on.
At the foot of the cliffs are the mudflats – a nationally important feeding site for wading birds. In 2002, the beach was designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), giving it protected status. It is also part of the Mersey Estuary Special Protection Area for birds (a European designation showing international value). Throughout the winter, the New Ferry shore supports numerous waders and wildfowl, feeding at low tide on the many invertebrates in the mud. There are nationally important numbers of pintail (a type of duck) and black-tailed godwits (waders) as well as many redshank, shelduck, ringed plover, knot, dunlin and turnstone. Obviously, the site is very popular with bird-watchers.
At low tide in winter, please do not disturb the feeding birds by going down onto the beach or letting a dog run there. If disturbed, the birds will fly up, losing valuable energy and feeding time. Watching the birds quietly from the cliff-top does not disturb them: Shorefields is the best place along the south shore of the Mersey to see waders and wildfowl at relatively close quarters.
In 2008 we hope to transform this area in the nature park, beginning with a clean up of the shore line.
back
Originally, in the late 19th century, all the Shorefields area was turned into a “pleasure park” for the rich merchants who had been moving to live in their expensive Rock Ferry villas. The centre of this complex was the Great Eastern pub, and around it were bowling greens and tennis courts – many of which would disappear under the Shorefields/Pollitt Square/Merseybank Road Council estate when it was built in the 1930s.
As compensation for the loss of the other facilities when they built the houses, the Council constructed a large open air swimming pool – called New Ferry baths. At a cost of £12,000 to build, it opened in July 1932 and was described as the most up-to-date open-air swimming pool in the country. It was 330 feet long, by 90 feet wide with a depth varying from three to sixteen feet. High diving boards were located at the deep end, nearest the river. The 1 million gallons of water needed to fill it were pumped up from the River Mersey and filtered and cleaned, chemically treated and aerated before being delivered to the shallow end. The baths closed in 1977 and remained derelict until the mid 1980s when Wimpey bought the site and built a housing estate on it.
Of all of this “pleasure area”, the main part which survives is the green field overlooking the river. A tall brick wall originally stood along the cliff edge, but this was eventually demolished in the mid 20th century. During and after WWII, the field was filled with pre-fab houses for people to live in temporarily after losing their own homes in German bombing raids.
Until the late 1970’s, an old boat near the junction of Shorefields and Shore Bank was used as an informal play area by local children. In 1990, Wimpey made an application to build more houses on the field, but the application was turned down and the field is now regarded as “protected coastal land”, which means it can never be built on.
At the foot of the cliffs are the mudflats – a nationally important feeding site for wading birds. In 2002, the beach was designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), giving it protected status. It is also part of the Mersey Estuary Special Protection Area for birds (a European designation showing international value). Throughout the winter, the New Ferry shore supports numerous waders and wildfowl, feeding at low tide on the many invertebrates in the mud. There are nationally important numbers of pintail (a type of duck) and black-tailed godwits (waders) as well as many redshank, shelduck, ringed plover, knot, dunlin and turnstone. Obviously, the site is very popular with bird-watchers.
At low tide in winter, please do not disturb the feeding birds by going down onto the beach or letting a dog run there. If disturbed, the birds will fly up, losing valuable energy and feeding time. Watching the birds quietly from the cliff-top does not disturb them: Shorefields is the best place along the south shore of the Mersey to see waders and wildfowl at relatively close quarters.
In 2008 we hope to transform this area in the nature park, beginning with a clean up of the shore line.
back
Shorefields looking over to Liverpool
Shorefields open air swimming pool
Shorefields looking from the river into New Ferry
Pintail ducks
Black tailed godwit