Mark Baker
Author's posts
Dec 06
Widespread anger over Wirral Council’s decision to stop the Town Hall Clock chimes
The Chairman of the Friends of Hamilton Square Conservation Area, Philip Barton, has been giving interviews with BBC North West Tonight, Radio Merseyside, Liverpool Echo, BBC5 Live and LBC, regarding the sudden decision to stop the quarter hour Clock chimes after over 100 years of service to Birkenhead residents and business, due to a single …
Dec 04
Don’t stop the Clock for Birkenhead.
A local Birkenhead resident, Josephine Wood eloquently summed up local concerns on Wirral Council stopping the Town Halls’ Westminster Chimes: ‘For 63 long years, the resonance of the Birkenhead Town Hall clock chiming has woven itself into the fabric of my existence. It paints audible strokes on the canvas of our shared experiences and serves …
Dec 02
Bells stop ringing from Town Hall – due to ONE complaint in over 100 years
People in Birkenhead have been surprised by the sudden loss of quarter hour Westminster chimes from the famous Birkenhead Town Hall clock after over 100 years of telling the local time. Philip Barton, Chairman of the Friends of Hamilton Square Conservation Area, investigated and says, ‘In August 2024 Wirral Borough Council received a single complaint …
Nov 14
Wirral’s Net Zero Project for Grade II Listed Buildings – 24-28 Hamilton Street, Birkenhead
The terraced Grade II Listed buildings of No 24-28 Hamilton Street have been chosen to be a project for the Hamilton Square Conservation Area -Towards Net Zero Project. The focus will be regarding retrofitting historic buildings, climate change, net zero carbon, energy efficiency and heritage sustainability. This project is a unique opportunity for practical research …
Nov 07
Wirral’s Net Zero Project for Grade I Listed Buildings – 20 Hamilton Square, Birkenhead
One of the Grade I Listed buildings in Hamilton Square (No 20 Hamilton Square) has been chosen to be a project for the Hamilton Square Conservation Area-Towards Net Zero Project. The focus will be regarding retrofitting historic buildings, climate change, net zero carbon, energy efficiency and heritage sustainability. This project is a unique opportunity for …
Nov 02
Towards Net Zero Project – Our invitation is here!
Wirral Council will soon be starting work on the Hamilton Square Conservation Area-Towards Net Zero Project. This is an important step to help UK reach its environmental target, especially for Listed properties. The Council has invited the Friends of Hamilton Square to be part of its stakeholder group, thus the Friends have the opportunity to …
Oct 30
Can UK Historic Buildings ever achieve Net Zero? We think they can… and help Hamilton Square flourish.
The main objective of the Towards Net Zero project is to develop a wider understanding of how to help achieve the UK’s net zero targets by sensitively retrofitting historic buildings. As part of the Project, the Wirral Council will engage with the wider community to foster peoples’ awareness, interest and curiosity in Hamilton’s Square historic …
Apr 08
Review of 2023
Much of the work of the Friends is day to day rather than major projects. We have been giving professional views and advice for Planning Applications for buildings both in the Square and the wider Conservation Area, as well as keeping an eye on the area. For example, the Friends are very pleased to see …
Apr 08
Celebrating local heritage
As part of the ‘Wirral Borough of Culture 2024’ the Friends plan walking tours. These will take place in the summer. They will focus on the built heritage in Hamilton Square and the areas around. Funding has been applied for to make it happen. We are currently waiting a response. We aim to boost local …
Apr 08
Historic Homes Guide 2024
In 2024, with the help of government funding, the Friends aim to complete and publish a new Historic Homes Guide to help people look after their heritage homes. The guide will make it easier for owners to use repair techniques compatible with the period and intentions of the original builders. This project requires a lot …
