New Brightons from across the world: Part 1

Discovered in 1830 by eager entrepreneur, James Atherton, New Brighton was born to the Wirral with 170 acres of seaside land and charming views of the waterfront.

What once was called Rock Point, Mr Atherton set his eyes upon the empty beach from across the river in Liverpool unaware of what outstanding impact he would make.

With an ambition to pursue a recreation of Brighton, which was then one of the most elegant seaside resorts of that Regency period, Mr Atherton created ‘New Brighton’—a retreat for the gentry to dine, drink or to even reside.

Hereafter, extensive work took place creating residencies up and along the hillside, with a full development plan for the prosperous future of New Brighton.

Today, there are various other towns worldwide that hold the name ‘New Brighton’, three of which are in the United States of America and one 12,000 miles away in New Zealand.

Paige, a resident of New Brighton in New York, said: “Although I do not know offhand for sure, most of the new places over here are named after areas of Europe, especially England!”

However, Christchurch’s seaside town of New Brighton delivers a witty yet heartwarming backstory of its establishment, yet has a close link to home.

Its history begins with five men bringing their bullock through modern day Wainoni back in 1860.

After crossing the Avon, Enoch Barker, Stephen Brooker, David Wilson Hamilton and the Frees, Thomas senior and William junior bought the land and began to work on a new settlement.

When the Waste Lands Commissioner, Guise Brittan, visited the area, William Fee immediately recognised him, and hastily chalked ‘New Brighton’ on a wooden plank, and nailed it over the saw-pit where he was working.

It is there were New Brighton was born, after Mr Fee referenced the name of the town to his fellow settler, Stephen Brooker, who had come from New Brighton in England.

Since then, both seaside resorts reflect each other with the features they offer to residents and tourists alike.

David Firth, a local historian, has researched into Wirral’s New Brighton and its backdated history for most of his life.

David said: “New Brighton was established in the 19th century, and planned to offer Liverpool's merchants a pleasant semi-rural retreat far enough from the urban and industrial stench of city living, but close enough for them to commute.

“It was quick to grow into a fully fledged resort to meet this popular demand and soon trumped Blackpool with a taller tower and ballrooms to rival her northern neighbours.”

In the 1860s, Wirral’s New Brighton was renowned for its Pier, scattered with eateries, restrooms and smokehouses, and even a Pavillion where Aldeler and Sutton Pierrots took their shows from the beach.

David Wilke, owner of New Brighton’s oldest family-run amusement park, New Palace, said: “One of the founding fathers of Wilke’s amusements, George Wilkie, was highly successful with his inventions and amusements, so much they became an indoor fairground which too became very successful.

“Locals and holiday makers would come in from the cold from the outdoor fairground and pier, at New Brighton.

“It was even on the map before Blackpool!”

Thirty years later in New Zealand, New Brighton had the first of two Piers constructed.

The first was planned to have an octagonal end to hold a large building (a pavilion maybe?), but it was not carried out, and the decaying Pier was demolished in 1965.

However, still standing today is the second Pier of New Brighton, after the community rallied against their local council to erect another, and were successful in 1997.

It is now an icon of Christchurch.

This little seaside town is adored by its residents, so much that every February, ‘Happy New Brighton Day’ is the community’s largest event which attracts over 10,000 people from throughout Christchurch.

It could be said that this is rather like the once beloved ‘Wirral Show’ that attracted thousands of visitors every year to New Brighton for fun-filled attractions, events and games.

Much like the annual Wirral Half Marathon, where runners finish on the New Brighton promenade, the Speight’s Cost to Costa race in New Zealand too finishes in New Brighton!

New Brighton may be unique to the Wirral, but it certainly isn’t the only one in the world!