A windy fort on the Wirral

Recently we visited Fort Perch Rock, on the Wirral peninsula. A plaque on the inside proudly records that Captain Kitson of the Royal Engineers completed ‘Perch Rock Battery’ in 1829, and under the estimated cost. The fort, which was built to defend the port of Liverpool, is now a museum.

On the day of our visit it had displays devoted to WWII, and there are some very interesting mini-museums inside. There’s one dedicated to 610 (County of Chester) Squadron, which was based at Hooton Park during the Battle of Britain, an Aviation Archaeology Museum, a Marine Radio Museum, and lots more to see. The display on the horrific sinking of the submarine HMS Thetis made very sobering viewing – this was an awful tragedy in which many seamen and civilians perished very close to shore.

We found much more to see in the fort than we expected, and can thoroughly recommend it for a visit.

Photos: Fort Perch Rock, and the plaque on the fort’s wall recording the date when construction finished. © Sue Wilkes.