Sculpture

Land Reclamation

Just over a hundred years ago you would be standing in a field called "Sea Brows" on the banks of the River Mersey, with clear views across the Mersey.

By 1936 it would be very different, you would be on the quay side of a very busy Bromborough Dock.

Today you face a large hill.

This is the story of these changes.

Just think how many bins full of rubbish went in to to creating this hill.

when I was probably about 5, if I can remember it, there was a lorry park at the bottom of the road and there was huge boulders in the road as the road was unadopted. And you could go down to the bottom of the road and you could look across the river and you could actually see Liverpool and you could see the river. Then that gradually decreasing with the hill being formed as the landfill sort of became much more apparent. But yeah I do remember we could look across the river when I was a child.

being a teenager, er, sort of yeah, maybe, 13 probably, and not liking it because by then you could see sort of the huge hill and the rubbish on top and being quite embarrassed really when my friends came and things as they would be saying ‘Oh what’s that, what’s that at the end of your road?’

I also remember that we got white flies a lot. We had several summers where we had a lot of midges and white flies that was as a result of the tip. We also got I also remember my mum and all the neighbours being up in arms because there was rats that had come down. I think it was as the landfill was capped there obviously wasn’t as much food for them And they actually came down and they went through the back garden and I remember my mum getting the council out and them sort of saying to her, ‘you’re okay they’re only using you as a thoroughfare not actually stopping just using you to passing though.

Sarah S

Walk along the tarmac path to look for the mooring bollard inside the Gas2Energy plant.

The red cross indicates the position of the bollard.

maps from https://maps.nls.uk/

Photo from https://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/ This photo shows how wide the Dibbin was and how barges could load and unload at Lever's Factory.

Now return to the bird sculpture

‘The name that was chosen …was Bromborough Pool Park, because it was right next to Bromborough Pool Village, and of course the original dock had been built on top of what had been known as Bromborough Pool. … And then after that of course there were other various issues that occurred because tipping stopped in 2006, then there seemed to be very long delay when nothing really happened and I think the community essentially forgot about it because they thought it’s just not going to happen. And then when of course Alison McGovern became our MP I think she started cracking the whip on some people and then the whole project and idea of doing something was resurrected, and that’s how the park ended up becoming what it is today, with a different name… looking back on it now, I am perfectly happy – it’s got that association with Port Sunlight, and of course the dock that was built originally was for Levers ships to come in to unload the palm oil and so on to take it to the soap factory, so understand the park does have a connection with Port Sunlight Village through that, so, but I’m fine, because what it's turned into today is something quite spectacular.’ Mark C. Chair of the New Ferry Residents Association

As the landfill is still settling items from the capping material find their way to the surface.

Such as glass and sharp pieces of metal.

It is important for your safety and the safety of your dogs that you keep to the surfaced paths at all times

This side of the park is much higher and steeper than the slope on the Mersey side of the park because of concerns about the stability of the site near large oil pipelines under the riverside path on the far side of the Park.

Directions to next point

Facing the sculpture, turn left on the stone path and follow the zigzag path up the hill. At the bench turn right up the hill. Continue to the next bench and post 2