The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-11-05 00:00:00

BIRKENHEAD.

supported by stone retaining walls resting on an invert.
There is one shalt near the middle for ventilation. About
212 yards of it were driven through sand and clay, and
255 through indurated red sand-stone. The clear width
between the springs is 15 feet; width at the rails 16 feet
6 inches ; height above the invert 16 feet 6 inches ; height
above the rails 14 feet 6 inches. The arch is semicircular,
and the invert segmental. The extreme thickness of the
arch is 2 feet, and it is partly constructed of stone and
partly of brick, as the emergencies required. The crown
of the arch is lined throughoutwith brickwork, and pointed
with cement. It is proposed to carry on the general busi-
ness of the railway on the river terminus, for which pur-
pose a temporary station, with sheds, is nearly completed.
These sheds are of wood, and run parallel a length of
about 100 yards. The area of the station or yard is very
large, being, from the mouth of the tunnel to the quay,
about 250 feet long, and 120 in width between the
high retaining walls, which are of rusticated stone work,
surmounted by a height of brickwork, the last banded,
and topped with stone coping, falling in steps towards the
river. Here the excavation presents the appearance of a
vast quarry. The whole of this large area will be covered
in by an iron roof. When completed, we understand that
passengers may take their seats in the trains, and be
whirledoff, without stop, until they land at Euston-square
in the metropolis.
The contractors for the formation of the tunnel were
very fortunate in the nature of the ground. They not only
found a large quantity of excellent sand, for which they
obtained a ready market, but fine beds of hard freestone,
still more valuable and i❑ requisition. Of the latter they
have yet to dispose of a large tonnage in huge blocks. But,
although the contractors were favoured in finding the ma-
terials which they generally met with in excavation to be
thus available, the engineer, Mr. Yarrow, (of the Chester

and Birkenhead Railway,) had peculiar difficulties to con-
tend with, in quick sands and other obstacles—all of
which, however, he, by perseverance and skill, finally
overcame.
...

The Monk's Ferry Hotel is a well-known splendid
establishment, with a fine frontage to the river, and is
conducted by Mr. Hilliar, (as are Mr. Willoughby's, of
Birkenhead Ferry Hotel, and Mr. Gough's of Woodside,)
with every attention to visitors. Great alterations are
about to be made in the building—including a new front-
age to the west, with an open space on that side (at a right
angle) as a commodious approach, on the site of the pre-
sent stable and coach yard.
From this interesting terminus we proceeded to Abbey-
street, the hollow in the centre of which, at the junction
with it of Priory-street, has been filled up, so that it i 9
now nearly level, and both streets much improved. On
the south side of Abbey-street, in the field between it and
Tranmere Pool, a small dock for flats is being formed by
Mr. Gilbertson, and a good deal of ground has been taken
in from the shore below by a river or sea wall. Two
other small docks are also being excavated a little to the
west. On Tranmere Pier (and about half way down) on
the opposite side of Tranmere Pool, Mr, Chacnberlaine,
the proprietor of Tranmere Ferry, has constructed a hand-
some castellated gate-house; and close to it a warehouse
—also on the pier—for the storeage of goods from flats,
small coasters, &c., and other purposes.
It may be here stated, as an historical reminiscence
that the first large vsssel built on the opposite shore of
the Wirrall peninsula, was launched from a site a little
to the northward of the top of this pier, many years ago.
It was a fine brig, built by a Mr. Highton, and was after-
wards purchased by our townsman, Chas. Tayleur, Esq
We next visited