Clergyman’s progress
September 29, 1903, Bulpit wrote, from Crossens, to an unknown correspondent, saying: “My Dear Sir, I have found the stone base of an old cross on the top of some garner steps at Churchtown and, I have found the old watermill, which I connected with the treasure found there – and so the result turns out. With kindest regards, cordially yours, WT Bulpit.”
The simple phraseology conceals a triumphant heart, it would seem.
Bulpit elaborates on these discoveries in a letter to the Southport Visiter, also written at that time, which reads: “Some time ago in draining operations, a mass of timber was discovered underground outside Meols Hall gates. Then it was covered up quickly, lest investigations should be asked for. The fact came to Mr CB Hesketh’s knowledge, and with commendable public spirit he caused an excavation to be made.
‘This had disclosed a platform on oaken beams resting on supports. The central supports are not piles but props, the central one of which rests upon a worked stone. I think that this proclaims that the platform is a bridge, for the investigated end is supported on stones as well. The tale told by this bridge is most interesting. “It proclaims that the surface of the locality has been raised by the accretion of sand, for the platform (which must have been made for use) is 11 and a half feet below the present surface. This surface is about 20 and a half feet above the datum level of low tide. So the old surface would have been covered by a nine foot tide, unless the sea was kept back by tidal gates.” These cottages, positioned to the right of the former manor house’s entrance in Botanic Road, were known as the “Strawberry Cottages”, where people paid to visit the old Strawberry Gardens, (pre-dating the Botanic Gardens) which consisted of curving walkways and stone alcoves.
The bridge – or rather wharf – referred to was there because that is how far the high sea tides used to reach.
Following his retirement, Bulpit and his wife, Ann, moved to Churchtown, in “little” Cambridge Road.
Bulpit had been, more than anything else, a doting husband and father, and during our research we came across some rare old images of him and his family members, a few of which we share with you here.
Bulpit, then of 143 Cambridge Road, died on September 5 1914, while visiting friends in Blackpool – staying at 9 Raikes Parade.
His probate was read in London on September 24 to his widow, his effects being to the value of £2,005 19s 11d.
We conclude our brief look at the Rev Bulpit next week with his involvement in two major discoveries – the ancient log-boat (or medieval canoe) – on show at The Atkinson – and, the ancient West Derby Hundred boundary marker, the great “Snotterstone”.
● This feature has been specially extracted from the manuscript The Life & Times of the Rev WT Bulpit, researched, written and compiled by Geoff Wright and Susan K Stacey.