WEST KIRBY MUSEUM The Charles Dawson Brown Museum

How to find us

St Bridget's Centre, St Bridget's Lane, West Kirby, CH48 3JT — five minutes from the village, with a small car park right by the door.

The Charles Dawson Brown Museum today, viewed from St Bridget's churchyard
Photo: Rept0n1x, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Opening hours

Every Saturday
10am – 1pm

Extended to 10am–4pm during some special exhibitions — see News & Events. Group visits by arrangement outside normal hours.

Parking

On St Bridget's Lane

A small car park very close to the entrance can be used by museum visitors, accessed via St Bridget's Lane (off Village Road).

Cost

Free for individuals

The museum is supported entirely by donations and run by volunteers. If you enjoy your visit, please give generously on your way out.

Facilities

There are wheelchair-accessible toilets in St Bridget's Centre, and the museum itself has wheelchair access.

Group visits

Groups need to be pre-booked, with a maximum of 20 per visit. We require two weeks' advance notice for group bookings, at a cost from £2 per head.

If you'd like to see the hogback stone itself, the church is open most weekday afternoons, 2:30–4:30pm — just mention it when you book.

We'll reply by email to confirm your date. Prefer to talk it through first? Contact us directly.

Frequently asked questions

What are West Kirby Museum's opening hours?

The museum is open every Saturday, 10am–1pm, except for pre-booked group visits and special exhibitions outside these hours.

Is West Kirby Museum free to visit?

Yes. Admission is free for individual visitors; donations are welcome. Group visits are charged from £2 per head.

Where is West Kirby Museum?

West Kirby Museum is inside St Bridget's Centre, St Bridget's Lane, West Kirby, Wirral, CH48 3JT, next to St Bridget's Church.

Is there parking at West Kirby Museum?

Yes, a small car park is available off St Bridget's Lane.

Is West Kirby Museum accessible?

Yes. The museum has a step-free entrance and wheelchair access throughout, and St Bridget's Centre has accessible toilets.

Can I book a group visit?

Yes. Group visits are welcome with two weeks' notice, up to a maximum of 20 people, from £2 per head.

Walks in Historic West Kirby

The museum lies next to the village's pre-Victorian centre. A short walk up the hill, starting near the modern restaurant once known as The Moby Dick, takes in several buildings of historical interest — probably the oldest structures in the area.

On the left, Number 3 was built in 1699 and Sycamore Cottage is dated 1746. The Ring O' Bells pub on the corner is dated 1810, though there are historical references claiming its site as one of the oldest pubs in England. Past it, a set of thatched cottages called “The Nook” probably date from the early 1600s. Continuing up the road brings you to a set of stone steps running to the top of the hill, and a view across to Hilbre Island and Wales.

The Dee Estuary shoreline at West Kirby, looking towards Hilbre Island
The shoreline towards Hilbre Island — photo: Rodhullandemu (Phil Nash), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
West Kirby promenade along the Marine Lake
The promenade along the Marine Lake — photo: Rept0n1x, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Know something about a particular house, shop or family in West Kirby — or want help finding out? Our Research Group may be able to help.