Many thanks to Charles Morris for sending in this photo showing the old donkey and carriage service that took people over to Hilbre Island. Charles says the photo “was definitely taken after August 1911 and is before November 1922, possibly before 1920.” That’s the old lifeboat station in the background alongside the long-gone lower lighthouse.
You couldn’t offer such a service today as the recommended route to get to Hilbre Island is from the beach at the bottom of Dee Road in West Kirby (tide times permitting of course). I’d imagine there’ll be stacks of people making the walk over during this great spell of hot weather!
I’m still to catch up with a couple more photos …I’ll try and find some time to publish those over the weekend.
It is still completely safe to cross to Hilbre from Hoylake so long as you leave enough time and understand the tides and gutters! It’s also a much nicer walk!
My Grandad used to take people over with the donkey and carriage. I dont know how old he was but he was born in Hoylake in 1900 and he moved away in 1936. I dont know if anyone has any información on names of the people Who did this service?