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New Ferry
has had a shopping centre since the mid 1800’s when Liverpool merchants
and their families began to settle in the area, bringing with them their
servants and their families. A number of large factories also appeared
around here, including, ‘Prices Candle works’, Lever Brothers Soap
Factory and the local brickyard. These factories employed large numbers
of workers and they, along with their families, needed provisions and
entertainment.
Over the years various businesses have come and gone, along with a
variety of public houses and three picture houses.
Who remembers ‘Rostances’ in New Ferry? It was virtually a local
institution, with various branches in Wirral including Birkenhead. Other
once famous names operating here were ‘Okells’ and ‘Timpson shoe shop’.
New Ferry even had its own indoor market, admittedly not on the scale of
Birkenhead but a market nonetheless.
Even today, with stiff competition and the lure of nearby hyper-markets
such as Asda and Tesco, it is remarkable that New Ferry still has a
shopping centre that is almost self sufficient. In addition, in recent
years, New Ferry has become known for its specialist shops such as
butchers selling high quality meats, digital printing services,
hairdressers, computer and motor repairs all adding to the range of
foodstores which includes Somerfield, Aldi, Iceland and the newly
arrived Heron Foods.
Where else
can you go to buy a complete outfit, shoes and accessories, at the same
time as keeping those all important hair and beauty appointments?
Do you want to get the food shopping and perhaps some gifts? If you need
furniture and carpets you can sort that out too. Then on for a quick
coffee or perhaps a snack, even a full meal.
Perhaps one of the best things of all is plenty of free parking.
Although the face of the shopping centre has changed over the years,
there is still a thriving community here. We have a nationally award
winning
Farmers Market held here on the second
Saturday of every month. |
