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Eastham



The small and picturesque village of Eastham is situated on the southern part of the Wirral Peninsula. The village has been a settlement since Saxon times.

Eastham

Much of the surrounding land was once owned by the influential Stanley family. Since the Middle Ages, Eastham has been an important crossing place on the Mersey, when a ferry service operated across the river Mersey between Eastham and Liverpool, the early ferries were operated by the monks of the Abbey of St. Werburgh.

The village today consists of a collection of old cottages and twisting narrow streets. Parts of the village church, St Mary's, date back to the Norman times. The baptistry contains 12th century Norman font. At the east end of the south aisle is late 16th century large oak parish chest measuring 9 feet (3 m) in length. The Stanley chapel contains two altar tombs of members of the aristocratic Stanley family. One is in alabaster and is to the memory of Charlotte, Lady Stanley, who died in 1662, and the other is in sandstone and commemorates Sir William Stanley who died in 1612. The north aisle contains the arms of King George III. The ancient Yew tree in the churchyard reputed to be nearly 2,000 years old.

St. Mary's Church, Eastham

St Mary's Church, Eastham

In the mid 1800's Thomas Stanley, the then owner of the ferry, built the Eastham Ferry Hotel and Pleasure Gardens to attract more visitors.

Eastham Country Park is situated on the banks of the River Mersey, the park covers a hundred acres and contains some of the finest mature trees to be found on the Wirral. The park offers excellent views across the estuary and the cliffs at provide superb sites for viewing the flocks of waders and ducks on the estuary. Much of the Estuary is now designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Nearby places of interest

The National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port, is situated at the northern end of the Shropshire Union Canal where it enters the Manchester Ship Canal. It contains the largest collection of canal boats in the world. With its fascinating displays housed in a fine collection of Victorian buildings, the museum makes a great day out whatever the weather.

The Blue Planet Aquarium at Ellesmere Port is the largest aquarium in the UK, and boasts two floors of interactive displays and exhibits. The Blue Planet holds more sharks than anywhere else in Britain, holding more than ten different species from around the world including sand tiger sharks.

Bromborough a candidate for the site of the epic Battle of Brunanburh, a great English victory over the Vikings, An Anglo-Saxon preaching cross dating from around the tenth century stands in the churchyard.

Leasowe Lighthouse Constructed of hand made brick in 1763 by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board, Leasowe Lighthouse on the Wirral Peninsula is the oldest brick built lighthouse in the United Kingdom.


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