Chance to learn more about Wirral's heritage (From Wirral Globe)
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Chance to learn more about Wirral's heritage
2:34pm Tuesday 14th August 2012 in News
The battleship ‘HMS Prince of Wales’ during construction at Cammell Laird and Company Ltd shipyard.
AMATEUR historians will be able to learn more about Wirral's heritage during two events next month.
The council’s archive staff are supporting Wirral Heritage Open Days 2012 by offering a glimpse behind the scenes at its archives service, as well as a guided tour of the borough’s 12th century priory.
On Wednesday, September 5, from 2pm until 3pm, members of Wirral Archives team will lead a guided tour of their state-of-the-art facility in Birkenhead’s Cheshire Lines building.
The team stores and maintains more than five miles of records of local government, businesses and societies dating back to the 15th century, including newspapers going back to the 19th century. The tour includes a look inside the temperature-controlled strong room, in which the thousands of records are kept.
On Friday, September 7, Birkenhead Priory will come to life with a guided tour describing the monastery and its history from its foundation in the 12th century.
The former Benedictine priory is a grade 1 listed building, and its graveyard contains the burial vault of the Laird family. The original monastery was closed down during Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries in 1538.
Cllr Chris Meaden, cabinet member for culture, tourism and leisure said: “Wirral Council’s Archives Service oversees the preservation of material which explains who we as modern residents of Wirral are, and where we came from.
"The facility’s records include a treasure trove of information about our area, including material from businesses like Cammell Laird.
"Many of the places described in the archives have now passed into history, and are only discoverable in photographs and descriptions from old newspapers."
Both events are free. To register, telephone Will Meredith on 0151 606 2922 or email williammeredith@wirral.gov.uk. Numbers are restricted so please register early.
For more information about Wirral Council’s Archives Service, visit www.wirral.gov.uk and search for ‘Wirral Archives’, or telephone 0151 606 2929.
