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Birkenhead Priory & St Mary's Tower

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Birkenhead Priory & St Mary's Tower

Home to the oldest standing building on Merseyside and the first regulated ferry across the Mersey.

Founded in 1150, the monks of this Benedictine monastery looked after travellers for nearly 400 years and supervised the first regulated 'Ferry 'cross the Mersey'. Touch the ancient sandstone walls, then look up at the towering cranes of the old Cammell Laird shipyard next door. The tower of St Mary's, the first parish church of the town, shares the site which is now dedicated as a memorial to tho

se lost in the 1939 disaster aboard the Laird's built submarine Thetis. The chapter house is consecrated as an Anglican church and there is a chapel dedicated to the training ship HMS Conway. A small museum tells the story of the site and the buildings as you see them today. Now surrounded by factory units and shipyards, the Priory is an oasis of calm in a busy world and affords unrivalled views of the river and surrounding area. A wide variety of events, from wedding receptions to educational conferences, classic music concerts and open-air theatre, to re-enactments of life in Viking times, take place here. Accessibility - Uneven but level access around most of the site; stairs render some parts of the site unavailable to all visitors; accessible toilet available.

30/05/2026

Today we celebrated National Greyhound Day 2026 at Birkenhead Priory with the support of Home Run Hounds North West and also SPINOFFS. Free entry.

Almost 100 sighthounds PARADED around our ancient Priory site in honour of Prior Henri de Becheton 1348. (See story in previous posts).

We held a Best Dressed Sighthound Contest with prizes donated by Priory staff and were entertained by the wonderful seven piece acoustic band, SPINOFFS.

Thank you all so much.

As nearly 100 of these “gentle giants” paraded peacefully with their families, I wondered what Prior Henri himself might have thought if he’d seen so many of his beloved hounds walking so freely within his Priory grounds and also the hundreds of people remembering and honouring him in such a beautiful and apt way.

The images below are a mixture of stills from video, excellent photos from Paul Rowlands and Joanne Johnson, Alexandrine Charlotte Penny and some by Samantha Higgins. (See if you can find yourself).

Best Dressed Contest Winners:
1st: Sherlock Bones The Great Dogtective
2nd: Pope Pauline
3rd: Wally The Dog Cow

30/05/2026

LIVE MUSIC TODAY!
Don’t forget that as part of our National Greyhound Day event today we have….
SPINOFFS performing for us in our beautiful grounds or inside our monk’s Refectory.

Spinoffs are a wonderful seven piece acoustic band playing a varied selection of much loved songs and favourites in this beautiful setting. Not to be missed.

29/05/2026

Please note that TOMORROW, Saturday 30th May there will be NO GUIDED TOURS available to visitors for one day only due to our National Greyhound Day event. We apologise for any disappointment caused.

Free Guided Tours RESUME as usual on the next day, Sunday 31st May at 11.00am, 1.00pm and 2.30pm. (CASH donations accepted).

PRIORY OPENING TIMES:
Wednesday to Friday: 1.00pm to 5.00pm.
Saturday & Sunday: 10.00am to 5.00pm.
St Mary’s Tower locked at 4.30pm.

FREE ENTRY (Cash donations accepted).

Photo below of 100% original Undercroft at Birkenhead Priory by Samantha Higgins. (c.late 1200’s).

28/05/2026

It’s TOMORROW!
NATIONAL GREYHOUND DAY 2026 at Birkenhead Priory!
Saturday 30th May from 1pm to 4pm.

FREE ENTRY.

Greyhounds, Whippets, Lurchers, Salukis, etc all WELCOME. (Humans welcome too).

WHAT TO EXPECT:

1.30pm PROMPT Greyhound & Sighthound PARADE in honour of Prior Henri de Becheton who saved his 18 greyhounds from the barbaric practice of “lawing” in 1348. Don’t be late!

1.45pm BEST DRESSED SIGHTHOUND CONTEST with prizes.

2pm - 4pm REFRESHMENTS. CASH ONLY.

(Or you can PICNIC in the grounds).

2.30pm to 3.30pm LIVE MUSIC from seven piece acoustic band, SPINOFFS.

1.00pm to 4.00pm MEET representatives and dogs from HOME RUN HOUNDS NORTH WEST and learn about the wonderful work they do.

EXPLORE a nearly 900 year old medieval Priory and climb St Mary’s Tower for spectacular views. FREE entry.

Dogs must be kept on leads at all times and are welcome to all areas of the site.

Over 100 Sighthounds paraded last year so let’s make 2026 even more amazing! Spread the word.

Photos below by Samantha Higgins.

26/05/2026

Just thought we’d share a taster for you from the BEST DRESSED Sighthound contest last year on National Greyhound Day 2025 at Birkenhead Priory (In honour of Prior Henri de Becheton 1348). We hope Prior Henri returns again (see below).

Run by Home Run Hounds North West. Prizes donated by Birkenhead Priory staff & their friends.

Here are some of the excellent entries from last year below:

26/05/2026

Are we all ready for THIS SATURDAY?

CALLING ALL GREYHOUNDS!!
(Inc’ Whippets, Lurchers, Sighthounds)

You are cordially invited to bring your humans along to Birkenhead Priory to celebrate:

NATIONAL GREYHOUND DAY 2026
Saturday 30th May from 1pm to 4pm.
FREE ENTRY.

At 1.30pm there will be a Greyhound & Sighthound PARADE.
(Meet on the grass by St Mary’s Tower).

Followed by a BEST DRESSED SIGHTHOUND CONTEST with prizes.

From 2.30pm to 3.30pm, we have SEVEN piece band, SPINOFFS performing for us outside in the Priory grounds or inside our beautiful monk’s Refectory (weather permitting).

You can MEET representatives from HOME RUN HOUNDS NORTH WEST and learn about the wonderful work they do.

REFRESHMENTS will be served from 2.00pm to 4.00pm for CASH ONLY.

Or you can PICNIC in our beautiful grounds.

PRIORY LINK: Last year over 100 greyhounds & sighthounds paraded around the Priory on National Greyhound Day IN HONOUR of Prior Henri de Becheton.

In 1348 Prior Henri kept 18 greyhounds at the Priory. The law enforced the cutting of dogs paws so that they couldn’t interfere with the hunt (lawing). Prior Henri de Becheton refused and managed to successfully claim the right to keep greyhounds unharmed at Birkenhead Priory. So we honour him every year on National Greyhound Day.

Photos below of Greyhound Day 2025 by Samantha Higgins

25/05/2026

WHERE TO BEGIN describing yesterday’s free concert by Katie Nicholas, Cael Oak and Anna Corcoran??

We’d first like to THANK these three exceptional musicians for performing so brilliantly for us yesterday. It was a privilege to have you grace our ancient Priory site. Anna’s daughter made beautiful daisy chains for everyone in the sunshine as her mother played the keys and sang so beautifully for us all.

An idyllic Bank Holiday Sunday.

We’d also like to thank the dozens of people who chose to spend their Bank Holiday Sunday with us and for being such a wonderful audience. The monk’s Refectory was filled to the brim.

Excellent photos below by Alan Blundell. Many thanks.

23/05/2026

We can’t believe it’s TOMORROW!

BANK HOLIDAY MUSIC at The Priory!

What better way to spend a Bank Holiday Sunday afternoon than relaxing inside a beautiful medieval Priory listening to live music from the incredibly talented KATIE NICHOLAS and CAEL OAK on vocals and guitar with special guest, Anna Corcoran on keys?

And it’s FREE!

WHEN: Sunday 24th May - 2pm to 4pm
Doors to Refectory open at 1.00pm.
COST: FREE (Cash donations accepted)
WHERE: The monk’s Refectory (c.1200’s)
Stairs to access.
No need to book. Arrive early for a good seat.

REFRESHMENTS: 1pm - 4pm CASH ONLY.

Or you could bring a PICNIC and enjoy our stunning Priory grounds.

KATIE NICHOLAS
Award-winning singer-songwriter Katie Nicholas returns with a cluster of new musical releases plus some of our old favourites.

"A delightful discovery!" – Whispering Bob Harris, BBC Radio 2

CAEL OAK
Cael Oak is a gifted Liverpool songwriter and musician. With his Irish roots and army background he uniquely fuses a variety of musical genres from Americana to rock. Not to be missed.

NB The monk’s Refectory has no lift access.

Birkenhead Priory is a CASH ONLY site.

Photos below by Samantha Higgins.

NB: Due to the concert tomorrow, there will unfortunately be no guided tours of the Priory. Our incredible, nearly 900 year old site is open for you to explore and staff will be onsite to answer any questions. FREE.

St Mary’s Tower is also open to visitors as usual until 4.30pm.

21/05/2026

ANNOUNCEMENT: Due to our fantastic free live music event on Sunday afternoon (see post below) and staff/volunteer availability, there will be NO GUIDED TOURS this weekend. Apologies for any disappointment caused.

OPEN AS USUAL
Saturday 23rd May & Sunday 24th May from 10.00am to 5.00pm. (Information available from staff on site). FREE ENTRY.

FREE Guided Tours will RESUME on Wednesday 27th May from 1.30pm. (Cash donations accepted).

PRIORY OPENING TIMES:
Wednesday to Friday 1.00pm to 5.00pm
Saturday & Sunday 10.00am to 5.00pm
FREE Entry. (Cash donations accepted).
St Mary’s Tower locked at 4.30pm.

FREE GUIDED TOURS:
(Cash donations accepted)
Wednesday to Friday: 1.30pm & 2.30pm
Saturdays & Sundays: 11am, 1pm & 2.30pm

NB: Saturday 30th May is NATIONAL GREYHOUND DAY at Birkenhead Priory. No Guided Tours on this day also. (Just lots of Sighthounds on parade, contests, live music and FUN). Apologies.

Photograph of the Great Hall, monk’s Parlour and Prior’s Lodgings by Samantha Higgins

21/05/2026

Not long to go now…

CALLING ALL GREYHOUNDS!!
(Including all Sighthounds)

You are cordially invited to bring your humans along to Birkenhead Priory to celebrate:

NATIONAL GREYHOUND DAY 2026
Saturday 30th May from 1pm to 4pm.
FREE ENTRY.

At 1.30pm there will be a Greyhound & Sighthound PARADE.
(Meet on the grass by St Mary’s Tower).

Followed by a BEST DRESSED SIGHTHOUND CONTEST.

From 2.30pm to 3.30pm, we have SEVEN piece band, SPINOFFS performing for us outside in the Priory grounds or inside our beautiful monk’s Refectory (weather reliant).

You can MEET representatives from Home Run Hounds North West and learn about the wonderful work they do.

REFRESHMENTS will be served from 2.00pm to 4.00pm for CASH ONLY.

Or you can PICNIC in our beautiful grounds.

PRIORY LINK: Last year over 100 greyhounds & sighthounds paraded around the Priory on National Greyhound Day in honour of Prior Henri de Becheton.

In 1348 Prior Henri kept 18 greyhounds at the Priory. The law enforced the cutting of dogs paws so that they couldn’t interfere with the hunt (lawing). Prior Henri de Becheton refused and managed to successfully claim the right to keep greyhounds unharmed at Birkenhead Priory. So we honour him every year on National Greyhound Day.

Photos below of Greyhound Day 2025 by Samantha Higgins

Address

Priory Street
Birkenhead
CH415JH

Opening Hours

Wednesday	1pm - 5pm
Thursday	1pm - 5pm
Friday	1pm - 5pm
Saturday	10am - 5pm
Sunday	10am - 5pm

Telephone

+441516663537

Website

http://www.thebirkenheadpriory.org/

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