Dockers Umbrella

[Capt Bill Davies]

There can't be to may of us left who remember the Overhead railway. Thought that limiting the thread solely to the Umbrella as too narrow mention some of the Pubs might draw interest. Seven Steps, Elm House , Tom Halls etc,. How many are still trading?

[John Callon]

Remember the Overhead Railway very well. As a child we did not live far from the underground station in the Dingle where the railway terminated. When we were in primary school all of us kids were taken on the Overhead to see the burnt out hulk of the Empress of Canada in the Gladstone. The only pub I can think of that is still open in the south end is the Baltic Fleet. Hampton by Hilton Hotels have built a hotel right behind the pub. Will never see days like that again Bill, just glad that I did experience them, both as a child and as a seafarer.
Regards
John.

[John Callon]

Hi Bill, yes Tom Halls did have green ceramic tiles on the outside. Two of my favourite pubs on the Dock Road were The Bramley Moore and the Long Lobby opposite the Cunard berth at Huskisson. Sunday night in the Bramley Moore was the best night of the week - they had live country music acts on there. Great days.
Regards,
John.

[Neil Morton]

Wasn't Mabel's close to the Overhead? I seem to recall a bunch of us off MV"Huntingdon" walking there from Gladstone dock. I have a photo somewhere, if I knew how you guys post your little thumb nails I'd give it a go.

[Capt Bill Davies]

There were really only two pubs which were frequented by the BF crowd on sailing day. The Caradoc in Liverpool for those sailing on the Australian ships or any BF ship going around the land and the Dolphin on Corporation Road Birkenhead for those sailing to the Far East. Later when I sailed out of Bidston on Ore Carriers there was the Pool Inn but, I understand that pub has gone.

[Neville Roberts]

I remember the overhead as a boy in the 40,s used too take a trip on sundays when very few were on it, and also as a catering boy on the ships , they were taking it down in 56 after I did a couple of trips, what a shame it would have been a great icon today ,

[Stuart Henderson]

Hi Bill, yes Tom Halls did have green ceramic tiles on the outside. Two of my favourite pubs on the Dock Road were The Bramley Moore and the Long Lobby opposite the Cunard berth at Huskisson. Sunday night in the Bramley Moore was the best night of the week - they had live country music acts on there. Great days.
Regards,
John.

I wonder if the Long Lobby was what I remember as Harry Hattons ? It was across the road from the cunard berth at huskissons Dock as you said John. I remember the overhead railway also working must have been early fifties at a guess my cunard days were a few years later.
Stuart H

[John Albert Evans]

Permission to digress a little from the thread.

My dad took me on the overhead when I was about 14 years old, we got on at Mann Island and went the full length both ways. I was too young to go into a pub but my dad did go into a pub, I cannt remember which one. (I waited outside as you did in those days) I am gald that I did the trip as the Overhead has long since closed.

We also went on the trams and trolley busses fron the Pierhead into town ,they have also all gone.

I joined the Merchant Navy in 1956 by going to The Shipping Federation in Upper Parliament Street first. Then Gravesend NSTS. Then back to the Shipping Federation at Mann Island, the Overhead track was still there but was not running.

When I first went to sea I heard other Liverpool sailors saying the the Overhead closed down because it wasn't making money because the dockers knew that the Overhead only had ticket collectors every other stop and they got on and off where there wasnt a collector. True or not its a good storey.

I've also crossed the Old Runcorn Transporter Bridge. Rember that.

I proposed to my wife driving through the Mersey Tunell ,Liverpool to Birkenhead Lane whilst on leave.We will have been married 49 years next year.

Slight deveation from the thread but what the heck.

I have had a drink in the Baltic Fleet about 8 years ago.

Cheers

John Albert Evans

[Capt Bill Davies]

Digression, John is one of the privileges of those of our age and enjoying this site. I often get halfway through reading a post and something will trigger a thought that has lay dormant for many many years. On my previous post on this thread I mentioned the pub the Pool Inn which is no longer there. I omitted to say that the actual Bidston Dock itself was filled in several years ago. It is debatable which snippet of info is more important to the mariner.

[John Albert Evans]

Thankyou Bill for your thoughts and i agree, all snippets will be important to someone,somewhere, someday and thats the beauty of this site, little ones will be remembered for ever.

When I left the Merchant Navy in 1963 I joined the Cheshire Police Force. Withing a few weeks of walking the beat I was under the supervision of a Police Constable with almost 30 years service, a very worldly officer and he gave me this advice which I always found to be true in my later years.

Someone, somewhere out there knows the answere to the question that you are asking.

Cheers

John Albert Evans