A REDISCOVERED stained-glass artist and mural of a maritime tragedy that influenced Rudyard Kipling will feature in this year’s Wirral Heritage Open Days.
Several Wirral churches that feature stained-glass windows by Bebington artist, Trena Mary Cox, will be open for the public to explore.
Trena was born in Bebington and lived in Oxton during her education and art training. When established she moved her glass studio to Chester and produced windows for cathedrals, churches and other public buildings throughout the UK.
Paul Smith of the Wirral History and Heritage Association said: “There’s an abundance of art, crafts and architecture to explore free of charge over 10 days this September.
“For the first time we can draw attention to Trena Cox’s rare talent and extraordinary contribution to our local churches.
“Trena’s work was only known to a few glass history specialists until recently when Oxton-based based researchers pieced together her story and fabulous local work.”
Also available as part of the Heritage Open Days is the Woodside Industrial Heritage Tour, a free walk around Woodside and Hamilton Square in Birkenhead will feature not only the replica model of the submarine ‘Resurgam’ but also the mural by Paul Curtis of the ‘HMS Birkenhead’ tragedy a famous ship that sank in 1852.
Only 193 of the estimated 643 people on board survived, and the incident gave rise to the unofficial "women and children first" protocol when abandoning ship.
The "Birkenhead drill" as it became known was made famous by Rudyard Kipling in a poem ‘Soldier an' Sailor Too’ which described courage in the face of hopeless circumstances.
The Heritage Open Days website lists over 60 Wirral sites involved in the celebration of local history between 9 and 18 September. Check out the local listings and brochure online at www.wirralhistoryandheritage.org.uk or pick up a printed brochure now available from local libraries, museums, venues and tourist information points.
In England the Heritage Open Days programme is coordinated by the National Trust with support from the People’s Postcode Lottery. Full details of the national and regional programmes can be found at www.heritageopendays.org.uk
Locally the festival has been organised by the Wirral History & Heritage Association since 2009, with support from Wirral Borough Council.
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