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Report - - Floating around (Birkenhead/Wallasey, 2017/2018) | Other Sites | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - Floating around (Birkenhead/Wallasey, 2017/2018)

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urbanchemist

28DL Regular User
Regular User
Here’s a summary of things to see around the Great Float, which separates Birkenhead from Wallasey. Comprised of the East and West floats, this area was once a busy port, but like the Liverpool docks most of the industries have now gone and the wasteland areas are due for redevelopment.

I won’t bother with histories for the individual sites, instead just make comparisons with recent reports if there are any.

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1. South Atlantic Building. The only report on here seems to be The Kwan’s 2011 effort https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/south-atlantic-building-on-merseyside.63876/ . Not much has changed except the pigeons have moved in big time. Nice views from the roof though. Visited with junior early 2017, and he took the pictures.

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2. One end of the disused Birkenhead Dock Branch which allows one to walk through Birkenhead below road level without seeing anyone. Not as dull as it sounds.
https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/birkenhead-railway-stroll-liverpool-feb-2017.112018/

3. Central Hydraulic Tower. Loads of previous reports on this, the most recent being
https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/seacombe-hydraulic-tower-august-2015.98758/ and
https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/central-hydraulic-tower-wirral-march-2013.78927/#post-933955.
I was mainly interested in the plumbing of the accumulators but the place is well worth a look for the sheer scale and muscularity of its construction.

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Pair of accumulators.

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The best feature is the spiral staircase up the tower. I got as far as the roof of the main block but on heading up further it became apparent that its now in a rather dangerous state and never made it to the top. On the other hand I’m still alive.

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4. The Royal Daffodil. A retired mersey ferry, still mouldering in a corner while Merseytravel decide what to do with it.
I wandered around the decks once but couldn’t get in so this one is a fail, included here because its on the circular route and the cameras seem to have gone recently - a local might fancy a look.
Only one previous report: https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threa...birkenhead-december-2016.107114/#post-1166229

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5. Transit shed. Just a big empty shed with a small happy building inside.

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6. St Luke’s Memorial Hall. https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/st-lukes-memorial-hall-wallasey-wirral-may-2018.113135/. Worth a look if it happens to be open, which seems to be infrequently.

7. Northwestern Ship Repairers. https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/northwestern-shiprepairers-office-birkenhead-dec-2017.111125/. Mainly of interest because it contained plans for the large Mobil Oil plant next door, now demolished.

8. Substation. I had a brief look at this just to see what it was. The right half, looking from the inside, is certainly a substation although it didn’t sound live. I never got see what’s in the larger building on the left because it turns out the cameras back here work, so I had to leave. There is a smaller building further into the wasteland with arched doors which seemed to be a workshop, although not accessible. The rear portion was open but just contained some furniture.

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urbanchemist

28DL Regular User
Regular User

mookster

grumpy sod
Regular User
Ages since I've seen the Central Hydraulic Tower. The ladders up to the very top were in a ridiculous state even back in 2011 when I did it with @Xan_Asmodi - at night, in a gale. One of the most buttock clenching nights I've had!
 

urbanchemist

28DL Regular User
Regular User
Ages since I've seen the Central Hydraulic Tower. The ladders up to the very top were in a ridiculous state even back in 2011 when I did it with @Xan_Asmodi - at night, in a gale. One of the most buttock clenching nights I've had!
Yeah, scary place this, even when the treads aren't giving slightly when you step on them..
 

dave

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
As ever a pleasure to look through your pics. Sensible man not attempting the dodgy top part of the tower. Must make more of an effort and get over to Merseyside sooner than later. Great work keep them coming.
 

mookster

grumpy sod
Regular User
Yeah, scary place this, even when the treads aren't giving slightly when you step on them..

Your photos actually make me want to go back in the daylight and get some proper photos of the interior. I thought after a couple of teens got stranded at the top of the tower a few years ago it had all been ripped out but I guess I was wrong.

I will always remember ascending the 'tubed' ladder at the top of the stairs to be confronted by two more ladders - the first was metal and OK, the second one was wooden, tied onto the metal one with blue twine and missing about half of the rungs. The top one also didn't line up with the roof hatch and was missing many rungs so you had to contort yourself through it onto the roof. Certainly memorable...
 

toby

Armchair warrior
28DL Full Member
Super photos, really enjoyed those, and cracking idea to do a round-up with location map. Thanks a lot. Dad worked on the floating cranes - Mammoth, Samson, Atlas. Cheers!
 

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