Standing proudly on the banks of the River Mersey is the region's oldest standing building.
Dubbed a "hidden gem" by many of the visitors who pass through it, Birkenhead Priory first opened its doors more than 870 years ago. The Priory itself is classed as a Scheduled Ancient Monument, with the neighbouring St Mary's tower ranked as a grade II listed building.
Caroline Fitzpatrick, who works at the Priory, told the ECHO: “From St Mary's tower, you get the best views of Liverpool. It’s fabulous at all times of the year. It really is a priory for all seasons because, in the summer, there are amazing views of the city and the ferries going up and down the river.
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"In the winter it’s really atmospheric. You can’t see anything because of the fog and all you can hear are the fog horns in the distance.”
Despite the site being relatively small, Birkenhead Priory encapsulates so much of the town’s colourful history. Founded in circa 1150 by Hamo de Mascy, the monks of the Benedictine monastery looked after travellers for nearly 400 years and supervised the first regulated ‘Ferry ‘cross the Mersey’ up to the dissolution of the monasteries in 1538.
Over the next 200 years, the Priory began to fall into disrepair but, at the turn of the nineteenth century, owner Richard Parry Price wanted to develop the site and make Birkenhead a destination for the well-to-do of Liverpool. Thus, St Mary’s was built as the first parish church in Birkenhead to attract families to the area.
Maintained jointly by Wirral Council and the Archdiocese of Chester, the Priory has deeply-entrenched links to Cammell Laird shipyard and Merseyside's rich naval history. The Priory's Chapter House is consecrated as a Church of England chapel and hosts regular church services as well as weddings, baptisms and funerals.
The stunning stone building also features a stained glass window by world-renowned Scottish architect, Sir John Ninian Comper, whose work is distinguishable by a golden strawberry painted in the bottom right corner in a tribute to his beloved father - a reverend who would give out strawberries to all the poor children of his parish.
In 2013, the Priory re-opened following a £735,000 revamp and the site is now preparing to welcome thousands of visitors over the summer holidays.
Caroline said: “The priory is free. There’s no entrance fee for anybody and the staff and volunteers are happy to provide information or tours when people turn up on the day. We get visitors from all over the world as well as local visitors.
“There’s always a lot going on and I like to emphasise all the different aspects because not everyone is interested in the naval history associated with the Priory or the Mediaeval Priory. Also, we have a lot of green space and, in such an industrial area it's a real green lung, and it's so peaceful.”
This summer, the Priory will run yoga classes and jewellery making sessions for a small fee for children. The Priory is also set to welcome national arts education programme, The World Reimagined, as well as hosting an open-air production of Shakespeare's 'Love's Labour's Lost' on August 4.
Caroline said: “It really is a beautiful spot. Most people call it a hidden gem and with the new Wirral Waters, we’re right at the centre of it really.”
You can find out more about Birkenhead Priory here.
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