• historic
• parks
  • birkenhead park
  • heaton park
  • the mere at ellesmere
  • sefton park
  • stanley park
  • thame park
  • werneth park
• ecclesiastical
• secular
• domestic

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Client	Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council
Location	Birkenhead, Wirral
Status	Grade II listed park
Summary	Repair and restoration of buildings and follies in the park landscape
Completion	July 2006
Build Value	£1.5m

Public Parks which were truly accessible to all were an invention of the Victorian period to rival the feats of Brunel and Telford. Some of the most eminent politicians, social reformers and designers of their age were responsible for their creation, developing philosophies which were translated into forms which, nowadays, are considered commonplace.

Birkenhead owes it's pre-eminence amongst public parks to it being the first public funded park in the world and through it's designer Sir Joseph Paxton the embodiment of Victorian social and commercial aspirations.

Paxton designed this landscape to be both pleasing and educational. The Grand Entrance Lodge was intended to announce the town's intent to its rival across the Mersey; The Swiss Bridge and Roman Boathouse to introduce the visitor to themes far removed from their normal experiences elevating their spirits.

In 2004 LEP were appointed to be responsible for the specialist conservation and restoration of these three structures by Wirral MBC who had made a successful bid for grand aid to the HLF's Urban Parks Initiative and English Heritage.

After initial assessment a scheme was prepared and tendered for each building to a suitable panel of contractors experienced in works to historic buildings and structures.

The repair of the Grand Entrance Lodge was principally concerned with the roofs and high level masonry where serious problems were comprising the integrity of the fabric.

The Swiss Bridge had been boarded up after persistent vandalism had done much to destroy the superstructure denying a valuable amenity to the visitor. In restoring it informed by Paxton's original drawings, we were mindful to ensure that the finished structure was not made more vulnerable to damage whilst still retaining it's scenic contribution.

The Roman Boathouse roof finally disappeared in the 1950's after many years of neglect, but using an historic collection of post cards, sufficient evidence was available to restore it to its original form and Paxton's original intention is evident in the completed work.