Seacombe

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Seacombe
Seacombe shown within Merseyside
Population	15,158 (2001 Census)^[1]
OS grid reference	SJ316908
Metropolitan borough	Wirral
Metropolitan county	Merseyside
Region	North West
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	WALLASEY
Postcode district	CH44
Dialling code	0151
Police	Merseyside
Fire	Merseyside
Ambulance	North West
European Parliament	North West England
UK Parliament	Wallasey
List of places: UK • England • Merseyside

Coordinates: 53°24′35″N 3°01′45″W / 53.40973, -3.02922

Seacombe is a district of the town of Wallasey, on the Wirral Peninsula, Merseyside, England. Administratively, Seacombe is a ward of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral. Before local government reorganisation in 1 April 1974, it was part of the County Borough of Wallasey, within the geographical county of Cheshire. At the 2001 Census, the population of Seacombe was 15,158, (7,081 males and 8,077 females.^[1]

Seacombe is dominated by three landmarks. The first of these is one of the terminals for the Mersey Ferry, the legendary "Ferry 'cross the Mersey" described by Gerry and the Pacemakers. The ferry travels in a triangular route between the Seacombe, Birkenhead Woodside and Liverpool Pier Head terminals. The second landmark is the parish church of St Paul. The third is a building housing some of the ventilation systems for the Kingsway Tunnel, a colossal structure which faces the river. It consists of two huge grilles which resemble stereo speakers, and a central concrete flue-like structure. This building has an almost identical counterpart on the Liverpool side of the river.

Seacombe was originally a terminus for the Wirral Railway; however, passenger services ended on 4 January 1960 and all services on the line terminated on 16 June 1963. Much of the line to Seacombe station was used as the approach road to the Kingsway Tunnel.

Seacombe is also home to Spaceport, a space-themed visitor attraction situated near the ferry terminal. Spaceport was opened on 26 July 2005 by Merseytravel Chairman Cllr Mark Dowd.

The area was immortalised in the title of "Party Seacombe", an instrumental by George Harrison on his Wonderwall Music. Falkland Road in Seacombe, which runs from King Street to Liscard Road, is the birthplace of the writer, peace campaigner and philosopher Olaf Stapledon, (1886 - 1950), author of Last and First Men and Star Maker. Stapledon's birth certificate gives his place of birth as "Poolton (sic) - cum - Seacombe".