Northern England Forum Friends
Port Sunlight & Birkenhead Priory
21st July 2007

	A light rain had just started to fall upon arrival at Port Sunlight and Humus, Phil B and the three kids were wondering just what sort of day was in store. They waited for the trip organiser, Sue H, outside the village museum, directly across from the day’s first venue of the Lady Lever Art Gallery. It became apparent that recent heavy rain in Southern climes would prevent two people from ever arriving and so it was that when Sue did arrive, her party was assembled. Lady Lever Art Gallery had loads of room, there was some renovation going on which meant some were closed, and it was pretty much what you would expect from a building of this type. On display throughout were paintings, furniture, china and pottery, busts and statues (both famous and less well known people) and an exhibition of etchings by James Ensor called Masquerade. After getting through that lot we descended into the basement café for a deserved cuppa. Port Sunlight 1 600 X 450 60 KB Port Sunlight 2 600 X 450 63 KB Port Sunlight 3 600 X 450 52 KB Village museum 600 X 450 64 KB Fountain 1 600 X 450 48 KB Fountain 2 600 X 450 56 KB Fountain 3 600 X 450 57 KB Fountain 4 600 X 450 63 KB Lever Art Gallery 600 X 450 45 KB Display 1 600 X 450 54 KB Display 2 600 X 450 44 KB Display 3 600 X 450 60 KB Upon leaving the sun was shining down on us as we crossed the road to the village museum. This was recently renovated using Lottery money and has a lot of history about the village within. There are also lots of things for the youngsters to do. If anything was to detract from the place though it would be that it felt a little cramped and a little too dark. We did get a free bar of soap upon arrival though and we all got in for the price of a family ticket so it was good value. We then made our way to the village church passing Bill and Ben on way. It was attempting to rain but was very light stuff and we weren’t getting wet as such. Arriving at the church it was clear a wedding was in progress so a couple of external photo’s were taken before we moved on to the pub for lunch. However, this had been taken over by the wedding party and looked pretty crowded so we decided to wait until we got to Birkenhead and thus duly made our way to Port Sunlight station, in the sunlight, to catch a train. Port Sunlight Church 1 600 X 450 71 KB Port Sunlight Church 2 600 X 450 47 KB Port Sunlight Church 3 337 X 449 47 KB Port Sunlight Church 4 600 X 450 60 KB Sue and Phil both declared that Green Lane station was closer to our next destination of Birkenhead Priory whilst Humus said we’d be better going to Birkenhead, the next stop on. Leaving the train at Green Lane to find our lunch stop, you can imagine the reaction when we ended up in Birkenhead, after walking quite a way in another light shower, just a couple of blocks from the station Humus had said we would be getting off at - cue smugness. Lunch was in a pub run by that well known food chain, Wetherspoons, and was a pretty basic affair. The highlight was probably Phil B getting his meal ‘thrown’ at him by a butter-fingered waitress who apologised and quickly retreated to get a replacement. The breaking of glasses near the bar either side of this incident made you wonder if the staff actually pay their employer for breaking things! The sun was fighting the rain for supremacy at this point. As we arrived at Birkenhead Priory the on-off drizzle had become steady. First impressions were that it seemed quite small but upon exploration it was a little gem. The small church still in use was exquisite and it’s stained glass window and vaulted ceiling really set if off. There was also a small museum with various artefacts found onsite during previous excavations and an interesting display showing how the large wall of the ruins was numbered for renovation. Priory 01 600 X 450 76 KB Priory 02 600 X 450 76 KB Priory 03 600 X 450 80 KB Priory 04 600 X 450 70 KB Priory 05 600 X 450 69 KB Priory 06 600 X 450 73 KB Priory 07 600 X 450 31 KB Priory 08 600 X 450 48 KB Priory 09 337 X 449 30 KB Priory 10 600 X 450 79 KB The Blurred Wall!! 600 X 450 59 KB Priory Church 1 337 X 449 33 KB Priory Church 2 337 X 449 35 KB Priory Church 3 600 X 450 53 KB Window 1 600 X 450 57 KB Window 2 337 X 449 21 KB After leaving the ruins it was decided to be too late in the day to tackle another museum and a decision was made to end the day at Woodside Ferry Port. Humus and the Phil B clan decided to cross to Liverpool to seek out the artwork in the soon to be demolished Yates Wine Lodge. Sue decided to return to Port Sunlight and collect her car and duly said her goodbyes. The ferry ride was deemed ’cool’ by the kids. A quick walk around the Albert Dock ensued upon arrival in Liverpool and then it was off to seek out the artwork. It was around this time we had the heaviest shower of the day and boy did it fall. Then stopped after about 5 minutes before easing into a steady shower. We traipsed around Liverpool to eventually find the artwork directly opposite Moorfields train station and a series of shots show the full rotation of the artwork and the impressive engineering feat which has gone into it. Such a shame it will soon be demolished. It was after six pm at this point and with the station in close proximity, and the sun breaking through yet again, it was an ideal time to finish a fun packed day. Anchor 1 337 X 449 49 KB Anchor 2 600 X 450 87 KB Omnibus in Ferry Port 600 X 450 83 KB Big Boat 600 X 450 34 KB The Liver Building 337 X 449 28 KB Anglican Cathedral 600 X 450 32 KB Liverpool Shoreline 600 X 450 36 KB albert dock 600 X 450 54 KB the duck 600 X 450 63 KB Bill and Ben!! 600 X 450 61 KB Where's your legs gone. 337 X 449 26 KB Gotcha! 600 X 450 78 KB Hello.... 600 X 450 53 KB Hello again.... 600 X 450 44 KB Kids all at sea 600 X 450 33 KB Let's spoil his shot 600 X 450 63 KB Finally the artwork - just click on the image below and use the forward button. Sorry about the raindrops!! BACK TO TRIP INDEX PAGE