Senior Blues Meeting Recap: January 2025
On a cold, cold January morning, barely recovered from the excesses of New Year celebrations, the hardy souls that are the Senior Blues gathered in the Cestrian Bar for the first meeting of 2025.
Our two guests were Chester stalwart Mark Howell and returning speaker Dr David Mottram. Mark described the importance of developing a viewing platform and access to the Legends Lounge for disabled supporters. He also explained why the Blacon Seals group had embarked on a fund raiser to support the project. For those not yet aware, this involved 20+ supporters setting off from the Deva Stadium at 4am on Boxing Day and walking over 24 miles to Marine FC at Crosby for the match.(NB, they used Merseyrail rather than walk on water). He pointed out that his feet were still recovering. The total that had been raised through individual and group contributions (including the Senior Blues) stood in excess of £11,000 helped by the fact that the involvement of the Community Trust allowed donations to be gift aided, which has raised the overall amount to almost £14,000 at the time of writing.
The project is the brainchild of Chester FC director Steve Jones who has been assisted by like minded professionals within the fan base who have given their time and expertise in the planning and costing. The scheme is expected to cost in the region of £305k, some of which is eligible for 70% grant funding from the Premier League. Nevertheless considerable fund raising is still required. Steve also said a few words to amplify Mark’s talk and provide further insight. He also expressed his thanks to the Blacon Seals. Senior Blues members were quick to respond, donating £110 cash through additional individual contributions at the meeting. (Mark posted his gratitude online on behalf of the Blacon Seals). Donations will still be gratefully received via cash, cheque made out to Chester FC Community Trust (mark envelope “Walk for Change”), or online at justgiving.com/page/ccfctxblaconseals.
In complete contrast to his previous talk (Drugs in Sport) David Mottram returned to tell us all about Eastham Victorian Pleasure Gardens which proved to be a fascinating insight into the rise and fall of a tourist attraction. Starting in 1066 ( and why not?) we learned that Hugh Lupus (a familiar name) was awarded the land in 1071 and in turn became the 1st Earl of Chester (and subsequently Club mascot). Eastham was in fact a relatively significant settlement at the time. It even gained a mention in the Domesday book, boasting 79 households putting it in the largest 20% of those settlements recorded. Eastham church was established in 1150 and donated to the Benedictine monastery of St Werburgh two years later. Incidentally, the church yew tree is believed to be over 1600 years old.
The Eastham ferry to Liverpool operated in various forms from 1357 to 1929. Initially it was a route to Liverpool avoiding the road to Birkenhead (why not?) with up to 40 stagecoaches a day unloading in the 1770’s. However, after the building of the New Chester road in 1833 and the opening of the Chester to Birkenhead railway in 1840, commercial traffic declined and it became a tourist route transporting day trippers from NW England via Liverpool to the ever developing Pleasure Gardens and the accompanying Bote House pub (now the Tap) and the Stanley Arms (now the Eastham Ferry Hotel). The Pleasure Gardens were clearly something special with ballroom, bandstand, circus ring, floral gardens and zoological gardens. The great Blondin performed for more than 100,000 people over 19 days in 1883 which is recorded on a Blue Plaque. Animals included lions (in houses), bears (pits), seals (tanks), polar bears (cages), monkeys (houses) and birds (aviaries). However, the high cost of feeding this menagerie led to its closure by 1890. Coinciding with the Boer War, there was also a Transvaal rifle range (no comment).
At the turn of the century, boats arrived every 15 mins and the landing stage and pier catered for 100,000 merry travellers on a fine weekend. The water chute, loop the loop ride, donkey rides, boating lake and penny slots were further attractions until its popularity declined in the 1920’s as improved road and rail transport enabled travel to other destinations. The ferry finally closed in 1929 which led to the Garden’s decline and most things disappeared over the next few years culminating in the ballroom burning down in 1958. The area was designated a Woodland and Country Park in 1970 (now owned by the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral) where the bear pit and part of the boating lake wall are last remnants of its former glory.
For anyone interested, there is plenty of online information by searching for “Eastham Country Park”, and “Eastham Victorian Pleasure Gardens”. Last time I went, probably before Covid, there was a small cafe that did a great BLT. IMO, worth a visit just for the exercise.
Senior Blues Next Meeting. Friday February 7th. Guest Speakers, Chester FC update with Jim Green: Adrian Hughes, Home Front Museum, Llandudno.