Monument to the Mersey Tunnel

The Monument to the Mersey Tunnel stands in Chester Street, Birkenhead, on the Wirral side of the River Mersey. It marks the western entrance to the Queensway Tunnel, one of two road tunnels built under the river. The monument consists of a tall shaft topped by a lighting bowl, designed to illuminate the tunnel entrance as well as serve as a memorial. It was created by architect Herbert James Rowse as part of a pair, with one on each side of the river. The Liverpool monument no longer exists, though a modern replica has since been installed. The monument was completed in 1934 for the opening of the Queensway Tunnel, which had been under construction since 1925. It was built by McAlpine and Sons, with decorative metalwork by H. J. Lloyd of H. H. Martyn & Co. The inscription on the base records the opening by King George V and Queen Mary, along with details of the tunnel’s construction. The names of engineers, contractors, and committee members involved in the project are also listed. In the 1960s, the Birkenhead entrance was redesigned, and the monument was moved to its current position. Visitors find a striking structure of reinforced concrete clad in polished black granite, rising about 18 metres. The shaft tapers slightly to correct an optical illusion, and two decorative bands feature chevrons and acanthus motifs. At the top, a gilded bronze and glass lighting bowl holds a spherical lamp. The white ashlar base bears the inscription detailing the tunnel’s opening and key figures in its creation. Though now a memorial, the monument remains a notable landmark near the tunnel entrance.