Tucked away, a short walk from Birkenhead Central Library, is an idyllic village loved by its residents but unknown to many in Merseyside.
Oxton is a small village but contains a high street packed with independent shops, beautiful houses and peaceful green areas. It’s an area that residents and business owners take pride in, as evidenced through the yearly Secret Gardens of Oxton festival.
Charlie Harrison, 27, has lived in Oxton since he was 12 and owns craft beer shop Homebrew Tap. The small shop on Christchurch Road is a haven for beer connoisseurs, containing some of Germany’s finest craft lagers to IPAs from the nearby Glen Affric Brewery.
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He said: “It’s an interesting place. People sort of stumble upon it - it’s like the village in Hot Fuzz! It’s a tucked away gem. Some people who get in touch with us have no idea where we are. But it’s a lovely village. I’m on first name terms with many of the other business owners.”
Charlie praised the atmosphere of the village, and highlighted occasions such as the Secret Gardens and the Christmas light switch on which brings everyone together. He admitted though that he’d like to see more events organised in Oxton.
Nevertheless, Charlie said the demographic of Oxton gives it a unique feel compared to other small villages. He said: “You get a lot of older people, but we’ve had younger people from London moving here because of the cheaper prices. I don’t blame them to be honest, it makes sense.”
Oxton does indeed contain beautiful houses. Some of the three storey properties with large windows have been converted into flats, one of which I was fortunate enough to live in for a few years with my family. Houses on the more luxurious end have electronic gates in front of them.
Another feature of the area is the various food outlets, from The Mayflower Chinese takeaway to Fraiche, a Michelin-star restaurant. Laura McKenzie, a 27 year-old from Eastham, works at Host coffee shop on Village Road. Inside, the small size and neutral colour scheme give it a calming and stylish feel.
Laura was also full of praise for the area. She said: “I’d say there’s something here for all different generations. We put on activities such as cheese and wine nights, painting evenings, mindfulness practice and book clubs. You couldn’t have Oxton without Host.”
On Oxton’s hidden gem status, she added: “Because it’s in Birkenhead but off the beaten track, it’s easy to miss. But we’ve got lots of loyal and new customers. It’s a very warm village atmosphere.”
Some are reluctant to classify the village as part of Birkenhead, much to the annoyance of Joanna Stakes from The Green Community Shop and Centre on Christchurch Road. The 63 year-old lives around the corner.
Joanna said: "I like Birkenhead, and I don't like it when we deny that Oxton is part of it. Birkenhead's a very mixed place, and everything here is part of Birkenhead."
The famous Birkenhead Park is just a 15 minute walk from the high street, but Oxton can boast great green spaces of its own. The Arno And Garden on Storeton Close is one such example.
The small park is located on the site of a former quarry owned by The Earl of Shrewsbury, from which nearby pub The Shrewsbury Arms gets its name. Its circle of plants is impeccably maintained and is overlooked by a row of houses with decent sized balconies.
It backs onto the much larger Oxton Fields, which stretches out to Woodchurch Road and Prenton. Community group Friends of the Arno & Oxton Fields maintain the two sites.
Abi Roberts, co-owner of Ewer-Roberts Flowers opposite the community centre, said these features prove that Oxton offers much more than just a few nice shops.
Abi, 43, said: “It’s got so much going for it. There’s a buoyant crowd of young families, with good schools, shops and green spaces. It’s got everything you’d want here, from a coffee first thing in the morning to a cheese and wine late at night.”
Oxton has its fair share of history too. Edith Smith, who became UK’s first ever woman police officer in 1915, lived on Palm Hill. Meanwhile, town planner Patrick Abercrombie made his home on Village Road between 1915 and 1935. He held positions at the University of Liverpool and was an early advocate of the Green Belt and New Towns, which eventually led to the creation of Skelmersdale and Runcorn.
Oxton may well be a lesser known attraction in Merseyside. However, with all the positives the area has going for it, perhaps it deserves more time in the spotlight.
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