Hilbre Island

In mediaeval times Hilbre Island was a centre for shipping, conveniently situated at
the head of the Dee estuary. There was a church at Hilbre before 1086 which was given
with the island to French monks. Hilbre had a beacon fire to guide mariners from some
time in the thirteenth century. In the fifteenth century the abbot of Chester retained two
monks on the island who passed their time in fishing and praying. Hilbre became more
important in Tudor times with a regular flow of military traffic to Ireland. After this however,
Hilbre Island became less important, although there was an inn there in the sixteenth century.

In 1847 a Telegraph Station was set up, where the inn used to be, on Hilbre. From 1974 Wirral Borough Council became custodians of Hilbre and the new Leisure Services Committee was determined to protect Hilbre from 'undesirable development'. Hilbre is now a very important site
for natural history and in winter and spring around 200 species of wading birds visit the island,
and it is host to a large colony of seals. In the summer 500 people can walk out to the island
in any day.