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Yesterday's Wirral

Wirral local history · Since 1980

Yesterday's Wirral

Local history books by Ian Boumphrey, drawn from a lifetime collection of Wirral postcards and photographs.

Browse the books

About

A peninsula in postcards

“Yesterday's Wirral” is a series of local-history books about the Wirral peninsula, built on an extensive collection of old postcards and photographs, many never previously published.
Hello, and welcome to my website. My name is Ian Boumphrey and I am a local historian. Since 1980 I have published over 60 books, mainly about Wirral, using my extensive collection of postcards and photographs of the peninsula. I have lived on Wirral all my life and currently reside in Prenton.
— Ian Boumphrey
Old hand-tinted postcard of New Brighton promenade and pier
Illustrative postcard

The catalogue

Books in stock

Direct titles are ordered through PayPal, one book per order. Amazon-only titles are fulfilled by Amazon. See Postage below for delivery details.
Cover of Pubs of Wirral – Part 1: Breweries of Birkenhead

Ian Boumphrey

Pubs of Wirral – Part 1: Breweries of Birkenhead

Over 220 images of pubs of Wirral, Liverpool, Chester, Cheshire and North Wales, plus brewery and pub adverts. Details from the Birkenhead Brewery (1865–1968) and West Cheshire Brewery (1897–1966) minute books, including pub opening/closure dates, extensions and repairs, publicans, and an index of pubs. Also Yates Castle Brewery, Moorhouses, and Mackie and Gladstone.

Format
A4, 128 pages
ISBN
978-1-899241-34-7
£9.95Free P&P (2nd class, UK)
Cover of Pubs of Wirral – Part 2: Pubs of Birkenhead

Ian Boumphrey

Pubs of Wirral – Part 2: Pubs of Birkenhead

The second volume in the Pubs of Wirral series, covering the pubs of Birkenhead.

Format
A4, 128 pages
£9.95Free P&P (2nd class, UK)

Sold out

Cover of Pubs of Wirral – Part 3: Pubs of North Wirral

Ian Boumphrey

Pubs of Wirral – Part 3: Pubs of North Wirral

Includes Wallasey, New Brighton, Egremont, Liscard, Poulton, Seacombe, Leasowe, Moreton, Saughall Massie, Meols, Hoylake, West Kirby, Caldy, Greasby and Frankby. Over 220 photographs/graphics with details of pubs and publicans from brewery minute books, directories, licence records and adverts.

Format
A4, 128 pages
ISBN
978-1-899241-37-8
£9.95Free P&P (2nd class, UK)
Cover of Pubs of Wirral – Part 4: Pubs of South Wirral

Ian Boumphrey

Pubs of Wirral – Part 4: Pubs of South Wirral

Includes Irby, Brighton, Gayton, Heswall, Parkgate, Little Neston, New Brighton, Willaston, Thornton Hough, Eastham, Bromborough, Ince, Little/Great Sutton, Whitby, Ellesmere Port, Elton and Saughall. Over 220 photographs/graphics with details of pubs and publicans.

Format
A4, 128 pages
ISBN
978-1-899241-38-5
£9.95Free P&P (2nd class, UK)
Cover of Birkenhead at War 1939–1945

Ian & Marilyn Boumphrey

Birkenhead at War 1939–1945

How the people of Birkenhead and Bebington prepared for war: a diary of the raids over Merseyside from August 1940 to January 1942, bomb-damage photographs, rationing and Home Front life, a list of civilians killed in the raids, and an index. Over 120 photographs/graphics.

Format
A4, 84 pages
ISBN
1-899241-16-7
£9.95Free P&P (2nd class, UK)
Cover of Hoylake Race Course and the Beginnings of the Royal Liverpool Golf Club

John Pinfold

Hoylake Race Course and the Beginnings of the Royal Liverpool Golf Club

The first book on the history of Hoylake Race Course (1831–1876) and the start of the Royal Liverpool Golf Club in 1869. Over 35 photographs/sketches. Limited to 750 numbered copies.

Format
A4, 44 pages
ISBN
1-899241-19-1
£6.95Free P&P (2nd class, UK)
Cover of Helmets, Handcuffs and Hoses – Part Two: The Wallasey Fire Brigade

Noel E Smith

Helmets, Handcuffs and Hoses – Part Two: The Wallasey Fire Brigade

The story of the Wallasey Police and Fire Brigade, Part Two: The Wallasey Fire Brigade. Includes over 80 photographs/graphics, plus a list of the Wallasey Policemen & Firemen.

Format
A4, 76 pages
ISBN
978-0951776247 (095177624X)
£6.95Free P&P (2nd class, UK)
Cover of Port Sunlight: A Pictorial History 1888 to 1953

Ian Boumphrey & Gavin Hunter

Port Sunlight: A Pictorial History 1888 to 1953

A pictorial history of Port Sunlight from 1888 to 1953, with 500 photographs & graphics plus an index.

Format
128 pages, A4 format
ISBN
978-1899241187 (1899241183)
£9.95Free P&P (2nd class, UK)
Cover of West Wirral

Ian Boumphrey

West Wirral

A pictorial history 1860 to 1960, covering Shotwick to Thurstaston including Puddington, Burton, Ness, Neston, Little Neston, Parkgate, Gayton, Heswall, Barnston and Irby. Over 540 photographs/graphics plus an index.

Format
A4, 128 pages

Amazon only

Cover of Yesterday's Liverpool

Ian Boumphrey

Yesterday's Liverpool

A pictorial history 1857 to 1957 including city and suburbs, over 450 photographs/graphics.

Format
A4, 128 pages

Amazon only

Postage

Postage and delivery

  • Direct orders are paid through PayPal, one book per order.
  • Postage is by 2nd class post, UK delivery only.
  • Discounted books have £2.40 P&P added on top of the price. Full-price books have free UK 2nd class P&P.
  • We will endeavour to send your books within 10 working days of your order. Please allow additional delivery time on top of this.
  • For overseas orders, or to order more than one book, please use the contact form and we will confirm postage and arrange payment.
Overseas or multi-book order

Contact

Questions about ordering?

For any questions, please use the contact form below. Postage details are in the Postage section above.