THE oldest public building on the Wirral has been given a dramatic facelift and a new lease of life. Birkenhead Priory Chapel stands next to the former Cammel Laird’s shipyard on the Mersey, where ships are now refitted in dry dock. But the £20,000 refit of the ancient chapter house of Birkenhead Priory is as spectacular as any ocean-going liner.
The Priory was built in 1150 by the Benedictines when Birkenhead was just a riverside hamlet. It was closed in the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the early 16th century but some of the buildings, including the chapter house, survived. Restoration The chapter house, off Chester Street, was reopened and dedicated as a chapel in 1919 but over the years since then it had become run-down and very cold in winter.
A scheduled Grade I building, the chapel is now regularly used for worship on three Sundays out of four and for special festivals.
 | | Inside Birkenhead Priory |
The restoration work has given the building a much needed makeover. The interior stone work, made of locally quarried Storeton stone, has been cleaned. Storage heaters, new chairs and lighting have been installed. The chapel has been carpeted in green, beige and royal blue, and a vestry has been built in traditional design of light French oak. The Team Vicar of Birkenhead Priory, the Revd Dallas Ayling, said: “Because of the great age, beauty and spiritual heritage of the chapel, we made it our priority to repair it and enhance it and we are very pleased with the result, which everyone can now enjoy.” The chapel stands in an industrialised part of Birkenhead town centre, amid docks and berths and ship repair businesses. Next to it the former undercroft of the old priory has been opened as a museum by Wirral Council. The chapel is open to visitors when the adjoining museum is open. The museum opens Wed, Thur, Fri, 12noon to 4pm; and Sat and Sun, 10am to 4pm until April 1. After that summer opening hours apply. For details phone the Birkenhead Priory Museum. | 
