Birkenhead Town Hall

Birkenhead Town Hall is one of the most impressive buildings on the Wirral. Of a classical design, it grandly proclaims the glory days of Birkenhead and the great England of the 1880s. Now, its purpose and function seem rather open to question. No longer does an elected council meet within; the local museum it hosted has closed and the borough’s archives moved out in 2008. Now it is used for the occasional secular wedding and election counts. It seems a rather sad redundancy for a great building in a significant part of the county.

Sadder still are the many churches which have closed for want of congregations. Even gloomier a prospect are the many churches which do remain open, while not preaching the glorious gospel of grace. Social clubs, eco-campaigns, or advocates of secular wokery, such institutions are more melancholic than a splendid civic centrepiece with no obvious purpose.