Seacombe

infobox UK place
country= England
official_name= Seacombe
static_

static_image_caption= The ventilation tower for the Kingsway Tunnel
latitude= 53.40973
longitude= -3.02922
population= 15,158 (2001 Census)citeweb|url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=3&b=5941374&c=seacombe&d=14&e=16&g=362085&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1211633569532&enc=1|title=2001 Census: Seacombe|work=Office for National Statistics|accessdate=24 May|accessyear=2008]
metropolitan_borough= Wirral
metropolitan_county= Merseyside
region= North West England
constituency_westminster= Wallasey
post_town= WALLASEY
postcode_district= CH44
postcode_area= CH
dial_code= 0151
os_grid_reference= SJ316908
map_type= Merseyside

Seacombe is a district of the town of Wallasey, on the Wirral Peninsula, Merseyside, England. Administratively, Seacombe is a ward of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral. Before local government reorganisation in 1 April 1974, it was part of the County Borough of Wallasey, within the geographical county of Cheshire. At the 2001 Census, the population of Seacombe was 15,158, (7,081 males and 8,077 females.

Notable features

Seacombe is dominated by three landmarks. The first of these is one of the terminals for the Mersey Ferry, the legendary "Ferry 'cross the Mersey" described by Gerry and the Pacemakers. The ferry travels in a triangular route between the Seacombe, Birkenhead Woodside and Liverpool Pier Head terminals. The second landmark is the parish church of St Paul. The third is a building housing some of the ventilation systems for the Kingsway Tunnel, a colossal structure which faces the river. It consists of two huge grilles which resemble stereo speakers, and a central concrete flue-like structure. This building has an almost identical counterpart on the Liverpool side of the river.

Seacombe was originally a terminus for the Wirral Railway; however, passenger services ended on 4 January 1960 and all services on the line terminated on 16 June 1963. Much of the line to Seacombe station was used as the approach road to the Kingsway Tunnel.

Seacombe is also home to Spaceport, a space-themed visitor attraction situated near the ferry terminal. Spaceport was opened on 26 July 2005 by Merseytravel Chairman Cllr Mark Dowd.

Claims to fame

The area was immortalised in the title of "Party Seacombe", an instrumental by George Harrison on his "Wonderwall Music" album. Falkland Road in Seacombe, which runs from King Street to Liscard Road, is the birthplace of the writer, peace campaigner and philosopher Olaf Stapledon, (1886 - 1950), author of "Last and First Men" and "Star Maker". Stapledon's birth certificate gives his place of birth as "Poolton (sic) - cum - Seacombe".

References