The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-06-14 00:00:00

BIRKENHEAD FERRY AND HOTEL.

We last week noticed the opening of M'onk's Ferry Hotel,
between Woodside and Birkenhead ; and, as the peculiar
accommodations, locality, pleasure grounds, and other attrac-
tions of the respective landing-places on the Cheshire shore,
opposite to our " good old town," have become a matter of
interest, not only to individuals who cross the Mersey on
business, but to a much greater number who resort thither
for health and recreation, we purpose to devote a portion of
our columns to the insertion of a sketch of each of the ferry_
houses, as occasion ma, iresent.

Pk
BIRKIYENHEAD FERRY

- .
To this ferry an interest is attached not only from its pe-
culiar advantage in pleasure-grounds, but from the historical
reminiscenses to which it leads, and of which it yet presents
strong memorials, in the time-worn and ivy-covered remains
of its ancient priory. True, a new church, in a fine style of
Gothic architecture, has been constructed on the east side of
the old abbey, but the venerable ruins, preserved with much
care, surrounded by trees of a large growth, and containing
even forest trees within their walls, furnish a gratifying testi-
monial of the respect entertained for the Memory of our fore-
fathers, apart from all considerations of politics or religion.
Birkenhead was for ages the not only practicable, but the
only " legitimate" ferry for passengers crossing from Liver-
pool to the Cheshire shore. The monks of Birkenhead held
the exclusive privilege of ferrying parties across the river,
the charge being one penny of the currency of the time, and
the whole being a perquisite of the holy brotherhood. They
seldom ventured across the river when a breeze prevailed,
and were still more restrained in the then great adventure of
a voyage, when tha tide ran strong. How, could they be
resuscitated, would they be astonished by what modern
science has effected, not only in land but in marine transit!
How would they not stare to see, in place of their little
shallops pulled slowly and fearfully along by a pair of paddles,
our river steam-boats, propelled by an agency of which they
had no previous conception, at a speed against wind and tide
which their best vessels could not accomplish when running
even before the wind! How would they have been further
astonished, had they seen the thousands of vessels daily
under sail or steam on our noble river; our fleets of trans-
marine and coasting vessels ;, our yachts and sailing-boats,
the least of which exceeds in tonnage and in power the
largest of their boasted marine! How, above all, would they
be astonished were they privileged to behold the amazing
increase of population ; of buildings; rivalling the ancient
structures of Greece, in the once fishing village of Liver-
pool ; of wealth, the result of industry and enterprise, by
which, on both sides the Mersey, the almost barren waste
has become replete with splendid edifices, and luxuriant
fields and gardens. But apart from this general view of the
effects of commerce on the Mersey, we must proceed to the
immediate subject of our present notice.
BIRKENHEAD HOTEL.
c.,This hotel, on the Cheshire shore of the Mersey, and the
highest ferry immediately opposite,the town of Liverpool, is
a favourite resort, not only from its forming the terminus of
the route of numerous coaches from the South of England,
but from its proximity to, and rapid intercourse with, the
great port from which it derives its importance, and also
from its peculiar advantages in extensive gardens and pleasure ,
grounds. The views that present themselves from every
point, whether from the house or the grounds, are peculiarly
rich in rural, and in marine scenery ; and in'the latter the
river navigation forms an unceasing panorama, the broad
expanse of the Mersey being sometimes glassy calm, and
disturbed only by the steamers and row-boats : and, more
generally, gently undulated by the breeze, and exhibiting a
beautiful display from shore to shore of sailing and steam-
ships, coasters, flats and boats, pursuing their several des-
tinations, and forming, though each is managed with nautical
skill, a combination forming a sort of delightful confusion.
THE HOTEL.
The hotel has two fronts, one to the east (towards Liver-
pool), the other to the south. The house is a handsome
modern building, well adapted in every point for the accom-
modation of casual as well as resident visitors. It is situated
on a sort of promontory, or point, based on the red free-stone
rock that bounds the shores of the Mersey immediately op-
posite this town, and of which thisformS a terminating point,
—Tranmere pool forming the indenture in the coast on the
south, so that the grounds as well as the honse, present, in nearly a•rectangle a frontage to the east, and another to the
south, each replete with rich and varied tiaripe. and rural - scenery.

In the ground floor are a laige coffee-room, and several
parlours facing the parterre and the river. The upper rooms
are peculiarly adapted for families, and the views from all of
the parlours are animated and delightful. The prospect is en-
riched by the proximity of the ancient oak and other trees
that bordered the river long before the inn was erected.
They at once offered shade, and a pleasing verdure, without
interrupting the river scenery. We need scarcely add that
in the culinary and subsidiary departments, no inn in the
county is more effectively provided. The stabling, and
and accommodation for carriages,j. is also extensive, and
coaches daily arrive from and depart to Chester, Park-gate,
Shrewsbury, Bristol, Cheltenham, Wrexham, and numerous
intermediate places in the South.

THE :QUAY.
Our forefathers were wise in their generation. They chose
the best scites for their religion and their private houses, and
as a matter of course, were especially careful in choosing
their landing places or ports, which presented the greatest
facility and security to the transit of passengers. In this
respect Birkenhead has a decided natural advantage over
most of the other ferries. It is protected on the south by a
ledge of free-stone rock, from any excessive current with
the down-going tide, and is at all times easily accessible from
having a good depth of water'. At the top of the quay, a
building, of the Grecian order, has just been erected as a
waiting-place for passengers. • The centre . part forms a
covered promenade, with seats, and the two wings form
comfortable rooms for the respective .passengers, male and
female. The style of architecture is pecidiarly neat, and
theaccommodationaff rded giVes .adttiomlittraction to this
ferry. The road leading to the inn and to' Chester, has also
been widened and improved.
THE PLEASURE GROUNDS.,.,
At the top of the quay, when the koad,turits'from a west
to a north direction towards the inn; theie is a small coppice,
or wood, with seats, in angular •recesktffronting the river.
Fronting the hotel on the south; is a fine garden „exceedingly
well laid 'out, rich in vegelition,- and afforifilo• delightful
views. The walks are broad, and edged With ' -ench moss,
and the whole is luxurient in alnindance4trees'. d
decorative shrubs and flower's:. 'TlieFe acre .two ~,.
eoves facinang
the river, beautifully embowered in ivy. " Thq.liews to the
4.,.
east and south are extensiVe and interesting'. Immediately
below, lie at anchor the fine government steam mail packets,
and many other vessels, including some tine pleasure yachts.
On the south east, the river. generally enlivened by a large
fleet of flats, is distinctly visible so far as RuticOrn, and the
Cheshire hills beyond, terminate the prosvect.
Adjoining the private garden, and to the west of it, is a
spacious bowling-green. On the north side is a refreshment-
room, and above it a well-furnished billiard-room, both coal-.
manding a fine prospect marine and rural to the south. A
society of gentlemen have met periodically t?.atnuse them.
selves with a match at bowls, and after dinmeat the inn,
here sip their wine, and smoke the " light eigar.'
In front of the inn, (towards the roomYthere is a parterre,
or pleasure ground, in which the old oak trees that overhung
the river in days of old are still cherished, and: put forth a
truly luxuriant foliage. Northward, and parallel with the
river, is an avenue shaded by forest trees, forini4 a cool re-
treat, and leading to the tea gardens, which also front the
river, and are laid out in a tasteful and pleasing manner,
sloping to the shore. The back, or west side,-facing the
Mersey is entirely formed into comfortable alcoves, all of
which command fine views of the river scenery. and the town
of Liverpool.

THE POOL.
Immediately to the south of the garden and hoWling-green
of Birkenhead Hotel, there is a bay or inlet, known as " Tran.
mere Pool ;" extending from the south side of the land of
Birkenhead, to Tranmere pier, which is now in use only for
fishing boats. It has become a matter of wonderment that
docks have not long ago been constructed in this Pool, which
presents great natural facilities for their construction, and would, in our opinion, he beneficial to this port. No en-
croachment on the tidal flow or scouring requisites of the
river water would, in the opinion of practical men or ordi-
nary observers, result from the construction of docks in
that quarter. On the contrary, we believe that were a sea
wall run from Birkenhead point to Rook Ferry; inclosing
the whole of the immense area now embayed, -arid shallow
even at high water, the down-flow of the tidal water would
be greater than now, and a great nautical advantage would
be gained. This part of our coast presents opportunities of
no mean importance for the consideration of the-admiralty.
The government post-office steam-vessels that )mw ride at
,anchor in the Sloyne immediately oppOsite, might, were a
dock there constructed, find security against the strongest
gales of the winter, which prevail from the west ;,and accom-
modation might also be afforded, at a good return of interest,
for such vessels as the " Liverpool" steal"; ship. In addi-
tion to these considerations, the proximity of the quarantine
ground, together with the growing importance and popula-
tion of the Wirrall peninsula, render the subject worthy of
the investigation of the government authorities.
In conclusion, we may state, that Birkenhead Hotel pre-
sents peculiar attractions for parties, whether consisting of
families or individuals, in tbe higher walks of life; who may
there sojourn for weeks during the summer; or'for casual
visitors, who are in search of a day's amusement and recrea-
tion.

The grounds are open to all respectable individrials, with,
out price or hindrance ; and the civility acid attention of
Messrs. "Willoughby to their guests is such as to secure their
good wishes, their desire to return to the 4` is they
have there found, and their commendation, to others who
may visit the shores of the Mersey. • •

' 7
LAUNCH.--On Wednesday, a beautiful vessel; called the -
Creole, was launched from the yard of MesstS.lldbert Rus-
sell
and Sons, North Birkenhead. She is-300 tone burthen,
and is intended by the owners, Messrs. Janaes,Poole and
Co., for the trade between this and Buenos'Ayrds.
TIIE LIVERPOOL PETITION APAIiiiT THE, SCHEME
OF NATIONAL EDUCATION.—This petition was forwarded
on Wednesday, to Lord Sandon and Mr.-CreAs*ell, for pre-
sentation. It bears the signatures of' WO individuals, each
name having the residence of the party attached tif it. This
is temode of signing petitions, which, for, obvious reasons,
the radicals dare not resort to, asit is a well-known fact, that
an immense proportion of the signatures appended to the
liberal petitions sent from this town, is composed of dupli-
cates and fictitious names. The' conservatives have too high
a feeling of honour and self-respect to practice such trick-
ery. We are glad to say that many respectable dissenters
have joined the churchmen of Liverpool in protesting against
the popish and infidel scheme of Lord John Russell. ' That
highly influential and repectable body, the Wesleyan metho-
dists, have sent a separate petition on this important subject.
The signatures to all the petitions from Liverpool and its
suburbs, cannot amount to less than 11,000.
LAUNCH OF A NEW SenooNEß.—On Wednesday morn-
ing, at twenty minutes past eleven o'clock, a new schooner,
the property of the Glasgow and Liverpool Shipping Com-
pany, was launched from the building-yard of Messrs. Ban-
nister and Simpson, Trentham-street. This fine vessel,
named the " Columbine" by the accomplished daughter of
the worthy and indefatigable managing owner, W. S. Dixon,
Esq., is intended to complete the " Pantomimic" line of schooners sailing between this port and Glasgow. Notwith-
standing the strong opposition of antagonist steam naviga-
tion, the Glasgow and Liverpool Shipping Company resolved
upon placing in the trade a number of beautiful schooners,
being determined to maintain the character they had hitherto
held, viz., that of an undoubted first-rate sailing communi-
cation between this port and the large and influential manu-
facturing city of Glasgow. That line they have now com-
pleted, inasmuch as they have placed on the station the four
characters that we were wont to look upon in our schoolboy
days, though in different stations, we being then delighted
at beholding the mimicry of the Clown and Pantaloon, and
the beautiful and not unfrequently graceful dancing of the
Columbine and Harlequin ; and new, having grown up and
become men of business, that we may not forget our habits
of childhood, we have continually floating on the waters,
from the Mersey to the Clyde, a fleet whose names tend to
remind us of our playful days. In addition to the Pantomi-
mic, the Company have a number of schooners. that were
classed under the title of the Menagerie ',line, inasmuch as
they comprise the Lion, Tiger; Stag., &e: ,&e...:,We have,
however, digressed from our original subject., , .The is larger by about 30 tons than auy of the vessels that
have preceded her, being 185 tons register. She .is an ex-
ceedingly handsome modelled vessel, well .finislie,ci, and,
from her exterior appearance, her qualities for sailing mast
be of a superior order. She. is exempt from the: exception -7
usually taken to Liverpool-built vasels-that.of being wall-
sided. She has a beautiful frill-length figige-liet)..oearing,
at the time of the launch, wreaths of flowers). She is com-
manded by Capt. Marshall, an experienced seaman, who has
been long acquainted with the Coast between her ii4tel4led
ports.