Category: News

Here is our latest update on The Battle of The Atlantic museum Project.

Work to start on Wirral Battle of the Atlantic U-Boat museum

The new Battle of the Atlantic U-Boat museum is expected to open next year.

The project led by Big Heritage CIC will see a brand new attraction next to the Woodside Ferry Terminal in Birkenhead and is part of a nearly £20m Levelling Up bid to transform the area.

Eventually Wirral Council hopes to encourage the development of 1,700 new homes, hotels and other attractions in the area.

You can read more here

https://lnkd.in/eqvPJejA

The demolition of the former U-boat Story Museum building at Woodside Ferry Approach will mark the first step towards Big Heritage CIC’s creation of a brand-new Battle of the Atlantic visitor attraction on the site, set to open in Spring 2026.

Birkenhead-based Technical Demolition Services has been appointed to oversee the works which will include the removal of the 1970s link-span tunnel at Woodside Ferry, which is being replaced as part of major new reinvestment at the site.

It promises ‘advanced interactive exhibitions alongside previously unseen documents and artifacts’ and will provide visitors with a unique new perspective on the Atlantic Campaign.

you can read more here
https://lnkd.in/eNkMN6XY

We are looking for freelance to support to help us to develop and scope out educational opportunities, school tours, workshops and outreach to appeal to schools and higher education for our new venues in Birkenhead as well as reviewing our existing school tour offerings in Chester and Liverpool.

The person ideally will have experience in developing and writing school tours which meet the curriculum requirements, must have a creative approach to school tours, experience in training staff in delivery as well as ability to deliver would be ideal and the ability to help with developing awareness of the tours.

The opportunity can be flexible and home based and timeline will be from now to Spring 2026. 

To apply please send your cv to georgia@bigheritage.co.uk with an idea of costs and availability.

Cost of running Western Approaches per year: over a £1 Million

Annual funding we receive: zero

First ever museum in Britain to win Gold Award from the Ministry of Defence for our commitment to serving and veteran Armed Forces personnel: Priceless.

Wirral Transport Museum and the operation of the Heritage Tramway was closed in April 2023 following an inspection by the Office of Road and Rail based upon numerous issues with track condition combined with unacceptable operational procedures around risk assessments, health and safety record keeping and no COSHH procedures in place. 

Big Heritage took over the museum in December 2023, and the museum and tramway remain closed whilst these issues are addressed and new major investment in the museum and tramway is made. 

What does the future hold for the operation of trams in Birkenhead? 

Big Heritage remain committed to our promise to invest in the tramway infrastructure alongside Wirral Council to ensure they can continue to operate and indeed have a much-improved infrastructure as part of ongoing investment in the Woodside area.  

Big Heritage have the custodianship of three trams on behalf of Wirral Council, and in October we confirmed a new loan agreement with National Museums Liverpool for Tramcar 245 to ensure its future remains in Birkenhead. 

What is happening with the Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society Trams? 

As space is at a premium and the new museum focussing only on local transport, we requested that MTPS re-homed their Lisbon built-and-operated Tramcar 730, which was subsequently moved to Beamish Museum. 

MTPS wrote to us in September to inform us that they wish to relocate all of their trams to Crich National Tram Museum. This decision is a disappointing one and came as a surprise to us. They are an important part of the history of Merseyside, and we believe that they should remain local. We have written to MTPS to share our opinion but accept that this decision lies with their committee. 

For the avoidance of doubt, we have not asked for the trams to be relocated, and the invitation for the trams to stay or eventually return to Birkenhead will continue to remain open should this decision be reversed. 

What is the status of volunteers at Wirral Transport Museum? 

After taking over the museum in December 2023, we welcomed back volunteers in January 2024. We now have a new comprehensive health and safety protocol in place, requiring all volunteers (regardless of previous experience) to undertake a short series of training programmes, sign up to a new volunteer conduct agreement and be required to wear appropriate PPE clothing when on site – all fully paid for by Big Heritage. 

As the tram tracks are due for a complete refurbishment in 2025, we have not been able to offer tram driver and guard volunteers access to these roles, but the invitation continues to remain open for them to volunteer in other roles within the museum on the proviso that they abide by the new policies noted above. 

We have now also created partnerships with Wirral Met College and the apprenticeship programme at Cammell Laird to provide placements and learning opportunities to a new generation of young engineers who will be able to hone their skills in the museum, learn from our experienced volunteers and eventually act as a talent pool for us to provide future employment.  

What is the situation on the historic bus collection? 

There had been almost no investment made into the conservation of the bus collection by the previous museum management for many years. As Big Heritage now have custodianship of theses vehicles, we have been able to commit over £30,000 already to provide much-needed repairs, replacement tyres and MOT testing across the bus collection. This has included the funding needed to complete the restoration of Wallasey Corporation Leyland Bus which required a complete engine overhaul and respray.    

A number of the buses are operated by volunteers regularly and we anticipate a much-expanded vintage bus service around Wirral in 2025. 

Heritage Learning Network invites you to an event for teachers and their families!

Yesterday we helped Cammell Laird Shiprepairers & Shipbuilders Limited with a heritage tour ride around the site for vip guests.
our wonderful volunteers were on hand as drivers and tour guides.

We were pleased to welcome Tom Foulkes and guests from BEE Wirral last week. We gave a short local history talk, discussed our future plans with them and asked for their input. Thank you for your time and comments. We look forward to working with you all in the near future!

To find out more about BEE Wirral, click the link below

https://www.beewirral.co.uk

We were pleased to host a visit from Wirral Met College at the transport museum who met with our team of volunteers to take a look around the building and discuss future projects we will be working on together.

We are looking forward to working closely with wirral met and offering training and work experience placements with us

Western Approaches Museum in Liverpool have announced two historic ‘firsts’ by becoming the first museum in the UK to be achieve the prestigious Gold Award from the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme – the country’s highest badge of honour given to organisations that demonstrate exceptional commitment to supporting veterans and the Armed Forces community.  

Additionally, the museum has made history by becoming the first museum in the UK to become sponsors of a national league football club, partnering with Tranmere Rovers Football Club to promote local heritage and expand community engagement. 

Commitment to the Armed Forces Recognised 

Western Approaches HQ was formerly a top-secret command centre for the Battle of the Atlantic in the Second World War and now preserves the vital history of Allied naval operations, showcasing the strategic efforts that helped turn the tide of the war. 

The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award recognises the positive role that employers play in supporting defence and inspiring others to do the same. 

The Gold Award honours the museum and its parent company Big Heritage for its extensive support for veterans and active Armed Forces members – assisting ex-service personnel and other charities that support them, collaborating closely with the Royal Navy to welcome serving crew members to the city and providing funding to pay for Battle of the Atlantic veterans from across the UK to visit the site.  

Reflecting on the museum’s remarkable achievement, Minister for Veterans and People, Alistair Carns, said: 

“Our Armed Forces Community make incredible sacrifices to keep the nation safe, and it is only right that they are welcomed and valued in the workplace when they leave service. This scheme aligns with this government’s determination to renew the nation’s contract with our Armed Forces. 

“I would like to thank the nearly 200 organisations that have been recognised with a gold award this year. Their continued support ensures that our Armed Forces Community are given opportunities needed to flourish.” 

Partnering with Tranmere Rovers Football Club 

In addition to this national recognition, the museum has recently announced a unique partnership with Tranmere Rovers Football Club in Birkenhead, becoming the first museum in the UK to sponsor a professional football team. This collaboration coincides with the club’s 140th anniversary year and aims to promote the museum and broaden local awareness ahead of a new Battle of the Atlantic museum opening in the town in Spring 2026. 

As part of the partnership, signage promoting Western Approaches is now visible inside and outside Tranmere Rovers’ Prenton Park stadium. The two organisations have already collaborated on a cultural engagement programme with children from the Hive Youth Zone, and several exciting new fan-led heritage initiatives are being planned.

Dean Paton, CEO of Big Heritage said: 

“A tremendous amount of work happens quietly behind the scenes at Western Approaches to support the Armed Forces community, especially veterans. Receiving this Gold Award from the Ministry of Defence is an incredible honour that validates the dedication of our fantastic staff. While we don’t seek recognition, it’s incredibly rewarding to know that the impact of our efforts is being felt by those who serve or have served.” 

“At the same time, our partnership with Tranmere Rovers highlights our commitment to finding new and innovative ways to engage with the community. These two historic firsts – being recognised for our support of veterans and becoming the first museum to sponsor a national league football club – reflect how we consistently push boundaries and challenge what it means to be a museum. Whether it’s honouring our Armed Forces or creating meaningful local connections, we are always looking to lead the way into the future while staying true to our mission of connecting people to the past.” 

For further information or additional media inquiries, please contact: 

Dean Paton  Dean@bigheritage.co.uk 

Images © Big Heritage