The Williamson Art Gallery & Museum in Birkenhead on the Wirral side of the River Mersey has, for its size, an excellent collection of paintings, drawings and other art works which are of general interest, but one gallery is a ‘hidden gem’ for those interested in maritime history.
One of the Museum’s permanent exhibitions is a collection of superb ship models which their website describes as “… focusing on Cammell Laird shipbuilders and their contribution to marine history, the Mersey Ferries and the variety of vessels that used the River Mersey at its busiest.”
It is not difficult to spend an hour looking at the various models on display ranging from the American Civil War commerce raider the CSS Alabama to a train ferry. The quality of the models is exceptional and, because most were made for the company which built the ship, accurate.
There is free entry to the Museum which is open from Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm.
The museum is fully accessible and there is a café and modest shop although there are two concessions within the museum – one a second hand book shop and the other a art supplies shop.
If you are relying on public transport this is not the easiest place to get to with your best option being to get to either Conway Park or Birkenhead Central on the Merseyrail network and then take a taxi for the ten minute drive to the Museum. If you are able to drive to the Museum there is a dedicate car park adjacent to the Museum as well as on street parking close to the front entrance.
Williamson Art Gallery & Museum
Slatey Road, Birkenhead, Wirral, CJ43 4UE
Telephone 0151.666.3537
Website - https://williamsonartgallery.org/
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After spending some time in the British Army (we did not get on) I had a first career in banking and a second in management consultancy before going to university for the first time at the age of 55 to take a BA in history at Liverpool John Moores University followed by a Masters in International Slavery Studies at the University of Liverpool.
I published a guide to England’s best First World War Memorials in 2018 and I am currently working on a book about Liverpool’s involvement in slavery which will be called Liverpool: a City Built on Slavery although this is still quite a way off publication.
I have a small publishing company known as The Dusty Teapot Company which I run jointly with my older son we concentrate on reproducing copies of historic books about Liverpool but we also undertake photographic digitisation and oral history.