Tucked away just a few minutes from New Brighton’s bustling waterfront is a beautiful enclave of houses dubbed Wallasey’s “hidden treasure”.
St George’s Park is made up of a stunning array of period homes which circle a gated park that belongs to the people who live there. There’s only one way in and out, rendering the area as a secluded oasis that many people don’t even know exists.
Some of the land was sold in 1922 to Wirral builder Moses Hughes, who began building new houses around the perimeter, but the central section of parkland was sold in 1926 to the Wallasey Corporation for a sum of £1,165. Whilst the park is owned by residents, it is looked after by Wirral Council, and the extent and regularity of the council’s maintenance work has been a divisive subject locally in recent years.
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Although some people in the area have gone as far as launching petitions to get the railings which fence off the park removed, homeowner Mary Bradford, 61, told the ECHO that the land is home to a number of precious plants and wildlife and should be protected.
She said: “We love it here. We’ve been here 38 years and it's so peaceful. It’s a real hidden treasure.
“Most people know each other and when people move here, they tend to stay. A lot of people don’t know it’s here and, when they do, they’ll often come through here on their walks. There have been some petitions to get the railings taken down, but most residents don’t want that.”
Another homeowner, who didn’t wish to be named, reaffirmed the enduring sense of community in St George’s Park, but expressed frustration over a recent lack of maintenance which has left the land overgrown.
He said: “I love it here. I’ve been here for 20 years and it’s lovely. It’s very community driven. I would like it to be better maintained by the council. I’ve lived in Wallasey all my life but I’d never heard of the place before I came here - I don’t think many people have.
"I do think sometimes that it’s because it’s a bit out of the way that it does get forgotten about.”
The street is home to both detached and semi-detached properties, with the average house price currently standing at £255,000. Whilst the majority of houses in St George’s Park were built in the 1920’s and 1930’s, the impressive Stanley Rock was built on the land in the 18th century for Gerard Stanley, who married Mary Meddocroft in 1778.
Mary was the daughter of Edmund Meddowcroft who, at that time, owned all the land now covered by the park and stretching as far south as Mount Pleasant Road. The building has since had an extension constructed at the side and is divided vertically so that one entrance stands in neighbouring St. George's Mount and the other in the Park.
Morag Alexander, 67, moved to the street almost six years ago and said she “absolutely loves” living here.
She said: “Everybody looks out for each other - especially since covid. During the pandemic we made a WhatsApp group so that we could all keep in touch. It’s so peaceful here, the only noise you really get is from the school round the corner but that doesn’t bother me. I love hearing the children when I’m in the garden.
“Maybe the park could be slightly better maintained but I don’t mind too much. We get foxes that visit there, and everyone comes to look at them.”
Another resident told the ECHO: “It’s a great place to live. Everyone is lovely and it’s a really nice tucked away place.”
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