John H Luxton Photography

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Parkgate

Parkgate had become important port from the start of the 18th century, as an embarkation point for Ireland.

During the years when the port existed, two distinguished guests stayed in the local hostelries. One was Lord Nelson's mistress, Lady Emma Hamilton, who was born in nearby. Another was George Frideric Handel, who stayed in Parkgate before sailing to Dublin in April 1742 for the first performance of Messiah.

As the Dee silted up, Parkgate became unusable as a port and was replaced by the port of Liverpool, on the nearby River Mersey. Towards the end of the 18th century Parkgate was popular as a seaside resort with bathers, but this diminished as the sands of the estuary were consumed with grass.

As silting progressed, Parkgate could manage only small subsistence from fishing and shrimps.

Mostyn House School, a striking black and white building, was opened in Parkgate in 1855. From 1862 until it closed in 2010, it was run by the Grenfell family, most recently as an independent co-educational day school. Sir Wilfred Grenfell (1865–1940), famous medical missionary to Newfoundland and Labrador, was born in Parkgate and was a pupil at the school.
In the years after World War II, Parkgate flourished as a highly desirable residential area and became a conservation area in 1973.

During seasonal spring high tides the water still reaches the sea wall, and visitors arrive at the village to witness the unusual sight. Bird watchers also come at this time to watch the birds usually hidden in the grasses of the marshland.
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  • Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    Pengwern Place This cluster of cottages are believed to have been built around 1700. In this neighbourhood there used to be a ship yard and in 1793 Richard Bentley whose occupation was "Sawyer & Carpenter" was granted a licence to sell ale. The cottage then became known as "Sawyers Arms". It remained a pub until 1905, when it was converted into a private house. (Information from the Parkgate Heritage Society web site.)

  • Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    The Middle Slipway along The Parade at Parkgate. Middle Slipway is where the Parkgate fishermen used to land their catches at high tide.

  • Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    View along the Parade looking north.

  • Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    View along the Parade looking north.

  • Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    Mostyn Square and St Thomas' Church.

  • Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    View along The Parade looking north.

  • Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    View along The Parade looking north.

  • Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    View along The Parade looking south.

  • Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    The Middle Slipway along The Parade at Parkgate. Middle Slipway is where the Parkgate fishermen used to land their catches at high tide.

  • Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    View across the marshes at Parkgate. This was once the anchorage of vessels coveying mail, passengers and freight to Ireland in the 18th Century.

  • Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    View along The Parade looking south. The sandstone quay wall is clearly seen in the foreground.

  • Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    The Middle Slipway along The Parade at Parkgate. Middle Slipway is where the Parkgate fishermen used to land their catches at high tide.

  • Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    The Middle Slipway along The Parade at Parkgate. Middle Slipway is where the Parkgate fishermen used to land their catches at high tide.

  • Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    View along the Parade looking northwards to The Boat House public house from the middle slipway.

  • Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    The Middle Slipway along The Parade at Parkgate. Middle Slipway is where the Parkgate fishermen used to land their catches at high tide.

  • Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    The Middle Slipway along The Parade at Parkgate. Middle Slipway is where the Parkgate fishermen used to land their catches at high tide.

  • Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    Pengwern Place This cluster of cottages are believed to have been built around 1700. In this neighbourhood there used to be a ship yard and in 1793 Richard Bentley whose occupation was "Sawyer & Carpenter" was granted a licence to sell ale. The cottage then became known as "Sawyers Arms". It remained a pub until 1905, when it was converted into a private house. (Information from the Parkgate Heritage Society web site.)

  • Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    Pengwern Place This cluster of cottages are believed to have been built around 1700. In this neighbourhood there used to be a ship yard and in 1793 Richard Bentley whose occupation was "Sawyer & Carpenter" was granted a licence to sell ale. The cottage then became known as "Sawyers Arms". It remained a pub until 1905, when it was converted into a private house. (Information from the Parkgate Heritage Society web site.)

  • Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    The Boat House Public House. The following is from the Parkgate Heritage site: "An Inn called the "Beer House" was shown here on a map of 1686, though its origin was much earlier. At times it was also known as the Ferry House, and the Pengwern Arms, before it was demolished about 1885. The present structure (built in 1926) began as the Boathouse Café. It has been progressively modified and enlarged over the years; the modern conservatory dining area enables patrons to watch the wildlife on the marshes while they enjoy their meals.

  • Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    View along the river wall at Parkgate looking south.

  • Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    View along the river wall through Parkgate. The large building is the former Mostyn House School which in the second decade of the 21st Century was converted into apartments.

  • Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    Th eold sandstone river wall at Parkgate. Once the tide reached this wall. It still does occasionally during spring tides. Once Parkgate used to be an important port for sailings to Ireland before the River Dee silted.

  • Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 04, 2021

    Parkgate viewed from the Old Baths sit which is now a car park. The building nearest the camera is The Boat House public house.

  • Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 06, 2020

    Parkgate, Wirral, Cheshire, England - February 06, 2020

    View south along the Parade from near Mostyn Square.

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