Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

Back again! Should I be in the Southport group?

My grandfather Simon Matthew Donougher died in 1932 in Waterloo at 12 Dean St. On his Death cert. it stated he was a barman. I have evidence to believe he latterly served at the "Birky" which I assume to be the Birkdale Hotel. And would that be in the Southport area ? 

I am wondering if the hotel kept any records or photos of their employees, only 79 years ago !!

It would mean a visit either social or business to said establishment. I PROMISE, if anything positive turned up, the next round would be on me !

Hoping for a positive response,

Alan

Hi Alan

Unless it's someone's local you're probably best writing to them and maybe sort them out with the cost of a reply/documents.

Blue

Googling 'Birkdale Hotel' brought only this from Wiki:
'The Birkdale Palace Hotel was a luxury hotel located in the coastal resort of Birkdale, Southport, on the north-west coast of England. It was opened in 1866 and demolished in 1969. During the Second World War it was a rehabilitation centre for US airmen, and in the last two years of its existence was used as a film location. It was notorious as a haunted hotel.'

Can't say if it is relevant.
D

I'm wondering if there might have been an obituary, probably in the Southport Visiter if there was.

Employment records aren't necessarily something that a hotel would keep - I wish as one in Liverpool could certainly help me out - but a letter to them might at least tell you if there are or not and then if positive an indepth search could be thought about afterwards.

For any further suggestions about the area, it might be a good idea to raise this subject up again in about a week's time when Hilary is back, she's the one who often knows most about Birkdale/Southport.

Firstly, thanks everyone! I assume The Birkey is (or was) the one in Cooks Road in Crosby.
Mary's comment about the obituary woke me up. Talk about "Can't see the wood for the trees!" I have it, though it is undated and unsourced. Simply a newspaper cutting. It says the funeral took place at SS Peter & Pauls, Great Crosby.
It also, when mentioning floral tributes, says one was from "Customers from the Birkey."
It says he was in the employ of Messrs Threlfalls Ltd. Perhaps Hiliary can link Threlfalls to The Birkey ?

Alan

Hi Alan
Did he have a son Simon?
He's listed at the address in Waterloo in 1938 Directory.
I've seen photos of the hotel, crying shame it was pulled down.
The Birkdale I mean.
Your man was at the BIRKLEY Hotel
35 Cooks Rd, between Victoria & Alexandra Rds
Publican Mrs Herodia Neale.
Tina


Tinahttp://www.realalehunter.co.uk/pubs/birkley-hotel-liverpool

Threlfalls was a large Liverpool brewing company which was taken over by the national company Whitbreads in 1967. The latter was one of the few brewery companies to take archives seriously and had a major resource, but that has been broken up, with much being donated to regional record offices. There might therefore be something in the Lpl RO, but I do not know which name it will be under.
Threllies brewery & head office in Liverpool were in Trueman Street, and they had a secondary outfit in Salford.
Daggers

alan donougher wrote: It also, when mentioning floral tributes, says one was from "Customers from the Birkey."

I reckon Tina has something there, go have another look at your newspaper cutting Alan and see if you have an "l" missing from the name.

Your clues of Waterloo and the church of SS Peter & Pauls, Great Crosby would definitely point to this area rather than Birkdale.

Once again I am gratified at the rapidity & knowledge of the group. At the risk of repeating myself, Thank You.

Tina, my grandfather had 4 children. 2 died within a year of birth. My father was Joseph born 1915. The other child was Simon, born a year earlier, I think. I often met him visiting my father in Waterloo. He was a character and very unlike my father.
He remained single but I think he had a bit of a reputation, reading between the lines as people talked in the parlour.

Mary, I have reread the obit. Definitely says "Customers from the Birkey".

Daggers, relying on my memory of my father's information, I think my grandfather finished up his life driving a brewer's cart, a horse I assume.

His address at death was 12 Dean St Waterloo L22 which seems to imply a more local pub than Birkdale. Maybe 2 pubs with the same nickname ?

Alan

Hi Alan
Sounds like Simon was a bit of a ladies man!
Couldn't find anything relevant in public houses 1938 Directory sorry.
Would Anc## have something in their phone book listings?
Tina

Tina wrote: Would Anc## have something in their phone book listings?
Tina

Doesn't appear to be.

hi Alan
I lived in Crosby untill 10 years ago. I feel the ......Birkey Hotel ,35 Cooks road Cosby liverpool L 23...... is the one you are looking for, It's not a nick name it is listed in the telephone Book as ....Birkey
Regards Maureen

Thank you Maureen for you great info about the pub.
Birkey not Birkley..
Well done

Tina

Well it's still there now
The Birkey

More good stuff ! Thanks to you all.
I tracked a map from Dean St Waterloo to the pub along Crosby Road and it came out at 1.5 miles. Not too far to go for your employment. Now I think I will try and compose a letter to the management asking if they have any written records or photos of the very early 1930's. "Hope springs eternal!"
Alan

Good luck Alan!!
Tina

I'm doubtful that the Birky will have records but you never know.

The place I would try for perhaps a photo and possibly some information would be

Sefton Local History Unit
Crosby Library
Crosby Road North
Waterloo
L22 0LQ

I can't at the moment find their email address but I'm sure they have one.

Would this be the page you are looking for?
http://www.sefton.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=5947

Probably - I was hoping the Local History Unit might have had a dedicated email of their own!

Having been given the clues, I did a bit of ferreting. The email address for family history at Crosby Library is either,

local-history.north@sefton.gov.uk
or
local-history.south@sefton.gov.uk

I picked south for Waterloo/Crosby. Here's hoping!

Alan