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.
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
Discover the unique history, wildlife, and conservation efforts of Hilbre. Understand and contribute to preserving and developing the buildings of the land trust.
Hilbre CLT LTD
Three charities make up the land trust.
- The Friends of Hilbre Website of The Friends of Hilbre (opens in a new tab)
- British Art and Design Association Website of British Art and Design Association (opens in a new tab)
- Hilbre Bird Observatory Website of Hilbre Bird Observatory (opens in a new tab)
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.
Our priority is the historic telegraph station, which was used to signal to ship owners in Liverpool that their 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.
Trustees
Our trustees are all volunteers, most of whom have other full-time jobs. Each of the 3 organisations has 3 trustees and meetings require all groups to be represented in order to be quorate.
We can be contacted on hilbreclt@gmail.com
Wirral Council approves the Trust transfer
Wirral Council’s environment, climate emergency and transport committee on Tuesday 12 March recommended the buildings of Hilbre Island are transferred to the Hilbre Community Land Trust on a 30 year peppercorn rent.