Birkenhead

Birkenhead is now a parliamentary borough, having received the elective franchise in 1862, although the seat remains vacant till the next general elections. It is under the government of commissioners, appointed according to an Act of Parliament passed in 1833 for paving, lighting, and improving the township. Several Acts have been subsequently obtained, authorising further improvements and arranging various conflicting local claims and interests. The streets are regularly planned, wide, clean, paved, and lighted with gas; there are many handsome residences, but much of the ground is not yet built upon. There is a handsome market-house, 430 feet in length by 130 feet in breadth, with a roof of iron and glass, and six entrances. The post-office is a fine edifice in the Corinthian style of architecture; part of the building being appropriated to the free library. 'The town also contains a townhall, a gaol, gas and water-works, baths and wash-houses, a savings-bank, and a dispensary. The docks have been formed by closing the entrance to Wallasey Pool, a natural inlet. The floating dock covers an area of about 150 acres. There are also a tidal and graving docks, with extensive and convenient wharfs, and all needful accommodations. The construction of these docks was first suggested by Mr. Laud; the first stone was laid in October, 1844, and they were opened in April, 1850. They have since been purchased by the Liverpool corporation, who at the same time secured by Act the Cheshire tidal shore of the Mersey, for about 26 miles from its mouth; thus preventing future dock-making except by arrangement. Adjoining the docks is the government emigration depôt for Australia. Branch lines of railway run to all the quays, and there is constant communication with Liverpool by steamboats. Among the principal establishments are the Sub-Marine Telegraph Works, the iron ship-building yard of Mr. John Laird, and the Canada Works of Peto and Co. A public park has been formed, which extends over about 180 acres, and is tastefully laid out. It has six entrances, that in Conway-street being a handsome Ionic archway. Next the park is a large cemetery. The living is a perpetual curacy in the diocese of Chester, value £153, in the patronage of trustees. The church is dedicated to St. Mary, and is in the decorated style, with a tower, and spire. There are five other churches of recent erection, all curacies The living of Holy Trinity is of the value of £250, and in the patronage of the Rev. Dr. Baylee. The church, erected in 1837, is a large structure in the Norman style, with a richly decorated tower and doorway. The other churches are dedicated to St. Anne, St. John, St. James, and St. Paul. St. John's was erected in 1845, and is in the early English style, with a tower and spire. St. James's was founded in 1857, and St. Paul's in 1860. There are chapels belonging to the Roman Catholics, Independents (2), Baptists, Presbyterians (3), Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists, Quakers, and several others. Besides numerous schools connected with the several churches and the dissenting congregations, there is a theological college, dedicated to St. Aidan. It was founded in 1846 by the Rev. Dr. Baylee, and the foundation stone was laid by the Marquis of Blandford, now Duke of Marlborough. His grace has taken a lively interest in the institution, which now educates more than the 18th part of the clergy of the Church of England; and, from the progress it has hitherto made, and the high character of its students, it bids fair to be one of the foremost of the theological institutions of the Church of England. The present buildings were completed in 1856. They are a beautiful specimen of Elizabethan architecture, and the internal arrangements are highly creditable to the architect and the founder."

"WOODSIDE, a village in the parish of Birkenhead, district of Holy Trinity ,_Birkenhead, county Chester, adjoining Birkenhead, at the ferry on the river Mersey."