A Walk round the Centre of Oxton Village

The Oxton area developed in the early Nineteenth Century around a hilly area on the Wirral Peninsular. There were a variety of  types of houses, from merchant and trader mansions to cottages. Many of these buildings were built of local material and in a range of styles. These can be still seen today as you walk round the area.

Oxton has been designated a Conservation Area and some of its buildings have been designated by the Department of natural Heritage as listed buildings. However, the main reason for the Conservation Area award was not  just the buildings, but the overall character of the area with its natural stone walls, pavements, trees and gardens. Conservation and environment issues within the Oxton area are coordinated through the Oxton Society details of which can be found in the conservation section of this site

As can be seen from the ariel picture on the right, five roads converge on the centre of Oxton Village

These are Palm Hill, Christchurch Road, Claughton Firs, Rose Mount and Village Road.

Palm Hill is a narrow road sloping away from the centre of the village, it contains terraced houses from the turn of the century

Christchurch Road gently slopes away from the centre of the village. At the bottom of the road can be found Christ Church. This Church recently hit the national news when a crack in the spire was noticed, and it had to be encased in scaffolding for a number of months whilst it was repaired. This road is unusual in that there is a castlellated tower running up one side of it, which was built around 1866 forming an integrated part of a larger building known as Normanstons. This building was used at the turn of the centre as a College and Music Academy for young girls, however it was converted into flats in 1936 and remains so now.

Claughton Firs is distinctive, in that at either end are situated Public Houses. These being The Shrewsbury Arms and Oxton Arms (previously and still locally known as the Talbot Hotel). Both of these pubs date back to at least 1850. Opposite the Oxton Arms at Number 1 and 3 Claughton Firs used to be Davis the Dyers and Dry Cleaners shop. A stone can be seen at second floor level in this block of shops dated 1856. Currently in this block of shops are Huttons, T & G Cairns the Butchers, Oxton Computers, Oxton Fast Tan and The Mayflower Chinese take away.

The Oxton Arms, Situated at one end of Claughton Firs

Part of what is currently the Oxton Arms used to form number 10 Claughton Firs on the corner of Prices lane. It was here that George Adams opened his Butchers Shop around 1909. This is the oldest family run business in the village and still exists today, although the premises has moved to Rose Mount, where it now occupies a shop which was previously the  village fruit shop.

Moving along Claughton Firs can be found a set of Cottage houses and five large town houses opposite what is currently a commercial vehicles garage. This property has been variously used as a garage, petrol station and even a dairy.

At the junction of Village Road and Rose Mount until recently there was an antique shop. This is now a greengrocers, however this was previously (around 1930's) a Plumbers shop.

Rose Mount slopes downwards into the the centre of the village and it is this road that currently contains the main restaurants in the village. At the turn of the century the buildings at the foot of the road were a Butchers (J H Wilason) and Fishmongers (H Rowlands), however these two buildings were demolished in 1972 and now form part of the car park of the Oxton Arms public house.

Moving further up the road there was a fruit shop, general provisions store and a Boot and Shoe shop.Carrying on up the road were a number of residential houses many of which now form the present day shops and restaurants in the village. At the top of Rose Mount can be found the Queens Arms Hotel which dates back to at least 1853.

Village Road contains a number of historical residential houses as well as the Conservative Club which sits close to the bottom of the road near to the centre of the village, it was founded in 1882. At that time the headquarters of the club was actually at 16 Claughton Firs and moved to its present location in 1897, when the building of the clubhouse was completed. The year after this the Bowling Club that sits next to the building was founded. To celebrate the centenary of the of the club in 1982, a set of commemorative gates was erected at the front of the building.

If you enjoyed this brief 'walk' round the centre of the village why not take a look at the Views from a village Spire. This section contains a number of pictures taken from the top of Christ Church spire whilst it was being repaired in 1999.