BIRKENHEAD, England, a parliamen tary, county and municipal borough of Ches hire, on the estuary of the Mersey, opposite Liverpool. Its growth has been- rapid. It owes its prosperity to the same causes that have made Liverpool a great seaport, and may be regarded as a suburb of that city. Its docks have an area of 173 acres and a lineal quay space of over nine miles, with a complete sys tem of railway communication for the ship ment of goods and direct coaling of steamers. The system of drainage and sewerage is very complete. There is a theological college of the Church of England (Saint Aidan's) ; a free public library, schools of art, etc. The ruins of an ancient Benedictine priory founded in 1153 still exist in a good state of preservation.
The ferry privileges were formerly vested in the monks of this priory. It has a large public park of 114 acres beautifully laid out. Its mag nificent docks and dock warehouses, however, which belong to the splendid Liverpool system, form the distinguishing feature of Birkenhead. The Mersey tunnel, four and one-half miles long, including the approaches, 21 feet high and 26 feet wide, and which cost $6,100,000, now connects Liverpool with Birkenhead. Communi
cation with Liverpool is also kept up by steam ferries, the property of the corporation, which yield a handsome revenue. The corporation also owns the gas, water and electric-lighting plants, and the tramway lines, which, introduced here by George Francis Train, were one of the earli est systems in Great Britain. The water supply, which is abundant and of excellent quality, is obtained within the borough by pumping from the red sandstone strata which underlie it. Birkenhead has gained a distinguished name for shipbuilding, the extensive yards of Laird Brothers (builders of the famous Confederate ship Alabama) being located here. There are machine and engineering works, and an exten sive trade in coal, cattle, sheep and grain. Birk enhead has returned a member of Parliament since 1861. Pop. 130,794.