Formed from Friends of Hilbre, British Art and Design Association and Hilbre Bird Observatory
Hilbre Community Land Trust LTD
Hilbre CLT LTD
Three charities make up the land trust.
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The Friends of Hilbre.
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British Art and Design Association.
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Hilbre Bird Observatory.
Each has a unique interest in the islands. We came together to try and prevent the dereliction and collapse of the buildings on the main island and are committed to preserving, protecting and sharing them.
Wirral council transferred their lease to us in September 2024. -
Our first task is to secure the buildings from the weather and reverse the neglect of recent years. some of the buildings are listed so we will need permissions to do some of the work needed.
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Our priority is the historic telegraph station which was used to signal to ship owners in Liverpool that there vessel had rounded Anglesey and was on its way home. We need to seal and repair the roof and gutters and renovate the original windows. The building can then be cleaned painted and sealed to enable it to be opened to the public.
Hilbre Community Land trust LTD is dedicated to preserving the natural beauty and buildings of the Hilbre islands and welcomes visitors to explore and experience the rich heritage and diverse ecosystem.
Discover the unique history, wildlife, and conservation efforts of Hilbre. Understand and contribute to preserving and developing the buildings of the land trust.
Your generous donation or sponsorship help us to conserve Hilbre island's buildings and ensure their accessibility to the community for generations to come.
WELCOME
The islands' buildings hold a rich history and potential for our community. Our goal is to preserve them and create a space for artists, scientists, and the bird observatory to thrive. as a Trust, we will honour the past and build a brighter future for our community and visitors.
Explore Hilbre
Hilbre's history
Hilbre, Middle Eye and Little Eye originally formed part of the mainland and became tidal after the last Ice Age ended about 11,500 years ago
Ice Age hunter-gatherers and The Romans were early visitors to the island
Stone remains of graves have been found on Hilbre, dating back to the 10th and 11th centuries, indicating a religious presence on the island pre-Norman Conquest
A Benedictine cell of two monks and their servants lived on the island until the Dissolution between 1536-1541
In the 16th to 18th centuries Hilbre Island and Hyle Lake became an important anchorage for shipping in the Dee Estuary when the river at Chester was silting up
Hilbre Island was also used as an embarkation point for shipping troops, horses and equipment to Ireland during Elizabeth I’s Irish wars, and again during Cromwell’s Irish campaign
A public house on Hilbre was first recorded in 1793 to cater for the crews of the small vessels who used the harbour, remembered locally as The Seagull Inn
In 1826 the Trustees of the Liverpool Docks acquired the lease of the islands from Chester Cathedral in order to set up their first semaphore telegraph station, for communicating messages from Holyhead to Liverpool