'Air raid' siren in South Liverpool?

[Aunty J]

There's a siren that sounds at 8.45am (every day - Sunday, bank holidays, Christms day.. the lot) in south Liverpool and it's driving me nuts trying to find out where it comes form. I've been told it could be Garston Tannery but that could be too far away but not impossilel with the wind in the right direction etc.

PLEASE does anybody know where it come from!

[lindylou]

Sorry, I havn't heard about this before.

[Kev]

There's a siren that sounds at 8.45am (every day - Sunday, bank holidays, Christms day.. the lot) in south Liverpool and it's driving me nuts trying to find out where it comes form. I've been told it could be Garston Tannery but that could be too far away but not impossilel with the wind in the right direction etc.

PLEASE does anybody know where it come from!

Embrace the air-raid siren, i've lived with it all my life and its never punctual, sometimes 9am, sometimes 9.05am...

A warm welcome :Colorz_Grey_PDT_16:

[Aunty J]

Thanks for the reply. I've looked in books, serched the net and asked all the more 'senior' people I know and all have drawn a blank.

It's comforting to hear every morning but as I said it's driving me nuts trying to find out whatthe hell it is.

Ta again

[ChrisGeorge]

Embrace the air-raid siren, i've lived with it all my life and its never punctual, sometimes 9am, sometimes 9.05am...

A warm welcome :Colorz_Grey_PDT_16:

Where's it coming from, Kev?

[Kev]

I was out at Otterspool a while ago and it sounded like it came from over the water somewhere, but that could have just been the sound carrying around on the wind or something. I've always wanted to find out its origin too :Colorz_Grey_PDT_16:

[Aunty J]

Kev, I knew you'd know the answer - you're quite a historian on the quite aren't you!

It used to be punctual at 9am every day and as time has gone by slipped to 8.45 am. That made me think it was something old that was timed and had lost time over the years

Where is it and why does it still sound?

[Paul D]

Hiya AJ.:)

[sweetpatooti]

This comes from Garston somewhere - I have lived here all my life and don't know where it comes from or why - like you say - it has gone from 9.00 to 8.45 over the years. Someone must set it off because it is never right to the minute but always around then. I have asked before on another thread if anyone knew. I just know I used to run to school when I heard it - but now my kids know they have got another 15 mins!!

[Max]

Does it make Garston people angry?

[sweetpatooti]

No - we're just angry

[Norm NZ]

When I lived in Garston, it used to be the "bobbin Works Hooter"!!!:celb (23):

[Aunty J]

Hi guys,

Thanks for the replies, just goes to show how long it's been going for (no disrespect NormNZ) and that my original guess of it coming from Garston isn't too far off. Garston Tannery was along the river I seem to remember and kind of in a bay along from Otterspool. So maybe it would sound as if it came from across the river.

Was there an actual bobbin factory, would there be a need for it in that location? Are there other kinds apart from those used for sewing? Maybe... sewing hides together? Absolutly pure speculation.

[Norm NZ]

Hi guys,

Thanks for the replies, just goes to show how long it's been going for (no disrespect NormNZ) and that my original guess of it coming from Garston isn't too far off. Garston Tannery was along the river I seem to remember and kind of in a bay along from Otterspool. So maybe it would sound as if it came from across the river.

Was there an actual bobbin factory, would there be a need for it in that location? Are there other kinds apart from those used for sewing? Maybe... sewing hides together? Absolutly pure speculation.

"Guess I'm giving my age away"! No offence taken! and I've just had a thought! If the siren is from over the river, as Kev states, what about the 'Oil Refinery at Ellsmere Port' could be one of theirs. and 'Yes', the Bobbin Works is well known to all Garstonians, and remember! Lancashire was once a great cotton and woollen Mill area, the 'bobbins' were quite large wooden objects of various sizes. kids used them as toys in my younger days!!:celb (23):

[PhilipG]

"Guess I'm giving my age away"! No offence taken! and I've just had a thought! If the siren is from over the river, as Kev states, what about the 'Oil Refinery at Ellsmere Port' could be one of theirs. and 'Yes', the Bobbin Works is well known to all Garstonians, and remember! Lancashire was once a great cotton and woollen Mill area, the 'bobbins' were quite large wooden objects of various sizes. kids used them as toys in my younger days!!:celb (23):

Wasn't it called "Diabolo"?
You'd roll it along a skipping rope & throw it up & catch it with the rope?

[Norm NZ]

That was one of the uses Philip, but you could make all sots of toys with them! even a Yo-Yo!:celb (23):

[Bunnyman]

Hello folks. This morning I was woken up at arount 8:50 in my Wavertree flat by what sounded like an Air attack warning. Does anybody know what this sound is? When I lived in Garston, it was much more audible, and was heard on pretty much a daily basis. I was actually quite surprised to hear it this morning, and it set my mind racing.

It wasn't particularly loud in Wavertree, but as I am a notoriously light sleeper, it was still enough to wake me up. I used to assume it was the container crane on the sidings in Garston, but doubt it could be heard from such a distance.

Could anyone out there shed some light on what it may be, if it is indeed the same noise I'm hearing?

Cheers folks. :PDT_Aliboronz_24:

[ChrisGeorge]

Hello Bunnyman

As you see above, there has already been discussion of this phenomenon, so I moved your enquiry to this thread.

Chris

[Bunnyman]

Cheers Chris. :PDT_Aliboronz_24:

That's really weird. I put the words 'air raid siren' into the search function to see if it had been discussed before, and the only thread to pop up was about Church Street.

Don't know what happened there...

[ChrisGeorge]

Hi Bunnyman et al.

Got it fixed now! Actually you might not have found the original chat on the topic because it was in the "Introductions" area under "Driving Me Mad" so I am glad to now give the thread a more appropriate title and add your enquiry to the thread.

I am not sure though that anyone has come up with the answer as to where the siren is coming from. As you probably saw above, Kev thought it might even be coming from across the Mersey, and so it seems Ellesmere Port might be a possibility. Anybody else have any further thoughts on the matter?

Chris

[Max]

Never heard no sirens In Wavertree?

[FKoE]

Is there any 'flood alert' sirens on the river does anyone know ?

[Max]

I'd hear a food alert siren If their was one though.:PDT_Aliboronz_24:

[PhilipG]

Hi Bunnyman et al.

Got it fixed now! Actually you might not have found the original chat on the topic because it was in the "Introductions" area under "Driving Me Mad" so I am glad to now give the thread a more appropriate title and add your enquiry to the thread.

I am not sure though that anyone has come up with the answer as to where the siren is coming from. As you probably saw above, Kev thought it might even be coming from across the Mersey, and so it seems Ellesmere Port might be a possibility. Anybody else have any further thoughts on the matter?

Chris

I've never heard it here in the Dingle and wouldn't want it waking me up, but wouldn't Environmental Health know about it?
Perhaps one of our Garston residents could find out?

[ChrisGeorge]

Hi all

I asked me 86-year-old Mum if she remembered the morning siren in Garston. She used to live on Inwood Road in Garston when she was a girl. She didn't remember the siren but she did remember a sound that used to come from the Bryant and May factory on Speke Road on a Saturday, that she called "The Midday Cow" and that she said signaled the knocking off of the matchstick workers. Anybody else remember that?

One other thing while I think about it. Does anyone remember -- or does it still occur -- the one o'clock gun? Maybe we need another thread? Ha ha. :celb (6):

Chris

[johnmed]

Moved to Aigburth just over a year ago - Have heard this regularly; thought I was imagining things. Nice to know I'm not mad

[aigburth_red]

Hi,

I walk to st Michaels station every morning and here this quite often arounf that time, has been wrecking my head as to what it is as well!!

[MissInformed]

i have never heard this noise!
Has anyone contacted the council?

[theninesisters]

It'll be Kev's Mini with his Cherry Bomb exhaust :PDT_Aliboronz_24:

[Kev]

Could be (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9YUodM5dII) :celb (23):

[Max]

If a Mini drove at me and I punched the engine part just as It rides at me, It better fly Into the air.

Thats one farty engine.

[MissInformed]

Hi all

One other thing while I think about it. Does anyone remember -- or does it still occur -- the one o'clock gun? Maybe we need another thread? Ha ha. :celb (6):

Chris

I am pretty sure this doesn't occur anymore.
There is a whole chapter about it in a whittington egan book.

[ChrisGeorge]

I am pretty sure this doesn't occur anymore.
There is a whole chapter about it in a whittington egan book.

Hi Thanks, MissInformed

Thanks for the information that Richard Whittington Egan wrote about the one o'clock gun. We have started a new thread on the topic of the one o'clock gun. Go to "Do You Remember the One O'Clock Gun?" (http://www.yoliverpool.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3233)

All my best

Chris

[billo]

I was told that it was Laird's shipyard that sounded the siren. Having lived in Aigburth for 20+ years I have always heard it, even on the weekend. Strangely when I was in a flat off Lark Lane(late 70's) it used to sound at 8.30 but now it's at 8.45.
There used to be another siren/whistle in or around Westminster Road,Kirkdale when I was growing up which was to let the workers know that they were late:)

[Tockeyhead]

The siren may have been set off as a prank.

They were sometimes hand cranked so someone could have took it from a shed etc.

http://www.ringbell.co.uk/ukwmo/siren.jpg

[tpoo22]

I'd love to know if anybody has an answer for this. I remember it as a teenager in the late 70s living near Aigburth Vale, and still hear it regularly near Penny Lane. I think it's a bit later nowadays too, used to be at 8.40 now about 10 minutes later, at one time I thought it was Vauxhall's over the water but I've got no evidence for this. Surely somebody on Yo must live close enough to know exactly where it is?
Perhaps if we can all stick pins in a map a pattern will emerge?

[PhilipG]

It depends on traffic noise whether you hear it or not.
I know somebody in The Elms who hears it regularly, but I live nearer Park Road, at the Chapel end, and because it's peak hour, I've never heard it.
Yet, I'm still only 5 minutes walk away from The Elms.

.

[AntiPathos]

I remember this too all around the Aigburth/Mossley Hill area. And I can't believe this thread has gone on this long and we haven't cracked what it is yet. We must all be slacking.

As an aside, ISTR that there is a proper Air Raid Siren on top of what used to be the Barclays Bank in Aigburth Vale. Unusually for me, I can't remember how I know this. I just, er, do. Or think I do :)

[Cadfael]

Ok....

My mate who has an Air Raid Siren occasionally likes to wind it up. He can be found just off Quarry Street in Woolton.

(seriously!)

[tpoo22]

Ok....

My mate who has an Air Raid Siren occasionally likes to wind it up. He can be found just off Quarry Street in Woolton.

(seriously!)
Is he a creature of habit? :)

[gorgeous]

Guess what ?




I think we've managed with some help from Yvonne & Neil to locate the mystery of the siren , they're 99% certain of the location .:handclap: ( Hello & welcome to you both if your looking in )

Do you all want to carry on guessing ? or putting out of your misery ?
It's not from over the water

Luv Karen xx

[No-ones_Princess]

I want to kill you for that post. I am desperate to know now.

[gorgeous]

LOL ,

It is in the area i thought it was , but not the place if that makes sense.

Love Karen xx

[No-ones_Princess]

your a tease.

Where? :PDT_Aliboronz_11:

[gorgeous]

He hee ,
Sent ya a PM ,


:PDT_Aliboronz_24:

[tpoo22]

I think we should be told!

[chrismarsden]

I've been told that it's an alarm connected to Kev's wallet.
I believe it only goes off once a day, normally when he's giving Mrs Kev some dinner money.

[Kev]

I've been told that it's an alarm connected to Kev's wallet.
I believe it only goes off once a day, normally when he's giving Mrs Kev some dinner money.

haha, very funny :PDT10:PDT_Aliboronz_24:

[tpoo22]

the suspense is killing me - where is it?

[tpoo22]

so, now we're back online - are you going to spill the beans, gorgeous?

[Tom Jones]

There's a siren that sounds at 8.45am (every day - Sunday, bank holidays, Christms day.. the lot) in south Liverpool and it's driving me nuts trying to find out where it comes form. I've been told it could be Garston Tannery but that could be too far away but not impossilel with the wind in the right direction etc.

PLEASE does anybody know where it come from!

The local Fire Station used to sound off a siren once a week to test civil defence procedures. Dont know if they still do it. It's been 40 years since I last worked on a fire station

[tpoo22]

thanks, Tom Jones - this isn't a Fire Station, the siren goes off every day at 0845, and is audible across a large part of South Liverpool. Tens of thousands of people must hear it, and it's been this way for at least 30 years. And yet, NOBODY KNOWS WHERE IT COMES FROM. I, for one, find that spooky.

[johnmed]

I heard this last week, and still do frequently. We're in Aigburth Vale. It's really weird. I'll probably hear it again in 10 mins time.

[brian daley]

I don't how I missed this thread for so long. I too recall the many sirens and hooters that used to fill the air in Garston and South Liverpool as well. We lived in the tenements at Speke Road Gardens in the 50's and our day was dominated by the whistle/siren of Bryant and Mays. That would go off at about 0800 hours and it would trigger a tidal wave of Green and White,the white turbans and green overalls of the hundreds of women who poured across the road to work from the "Tennies". My mother and elder sister were part of that wave and it seemed to give life a sense of order,after that wave would come the sleepy headed crocodiles of schoolchildren dawdling their way to the many schools that kept them off the streets for the day until their Mums got home from work. Every time I saw Chigley on childrens T.V. I was reminded of our time in Garston.

[No-ones_Princess]

Come on Gorgeous inform tpoo22 and put the poor member out of there misery.

Only thing is Tpoo22 it actually opens up more questions.

[tpoo22]

what questions, No-ones_Princess?

[tpoo22]

heard it again this morning - Sunday, and the clocks have gone back, but still went off at 8.45am.

[mossley]

i live off rose lane and heard it last week ive heard it off and on for 30 years now . id love to know where it came from ,asfar as i can remember this thing went off as i walked to work in the 70's at various times then down park avenue ,it seemed to be coming from the aiogbuth/garston area .iwas told by a local resident many years ago it was kelton .?? i dont hear it every day poss due to traffic and double glazing .does someone hear it every day?
its almost a case for .tom slemen ........mystery siren .
someone must live close to it . i saw one in an antique shop and if cranked it was LOUD, i wish id bought it now .

[No-ones_Princess]

what questions, No-ones_Princess?

Once gorgous tell you tpoo22 then next question is WHY ?

[PhilipG]

Guess what ?




I think we've managed with some help from Yvonne & Neil to locate the mystery of the siren , they're 99% certain of the location .:handclap: ( Hello & welcome to you both if your looking in )

Do you all want to carry on guessing ? or putting out of your misery ?
It's not from over the water

Luv Karen xx


Are you ever going to tell? :)

[irishseashipping.com]

As most people have noted that this siren is more audible in south Liverpool.

It is the emergency siren for the oil refinery complex around Ellesmere Port.

It used to be tested at 09:00 every morning but for some time now sounded at 08:45 every morning.

[LondonBeatlesFan]

I'm pleased that someone has asked this question as I had forgotten about it. I heard it the last time I stayed in Liverpool and wondered why it had sounded. I stay near the Asda supermarket on Smithdown Road and the siren sounded as if it was fairly far away.

[AntiPathos]

As most people have noted that this siren is more audible in south Liverpool.

It is the emergency siren for the oil refinery complex around Ellesmere Port.

It used to be tested at 09:00 every morning but for some time now sounded at 08:45 every morning.

It sounds a lot closer than that from Garston area.

[GingerTheCat]

It is the emergency siren for the oil refinery complex around Ellesmere Port.


Could it be this one then. Sirens warn over large distances at Stanlow: News from Klaxon Signals (http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/klx/klx115.html)

If it is they have a website with sound files you can try out! http://www.klaxonsignals.com/technicalinfo.asp?type=Soundfiles

Unfortunately there is a problem with the Sirens ones and the links don't work. :disgust:

[LondonBeatlesFan]

It sounds as if the mystery has finally been solved. I am always surprised at the distance covered by these sirens.

[irishseashipping.com]

It sounds a lot closer than that from Garston area.

Look on the map and you will see Ellesmere Port & Stanlow are not that far from Garston - plus there is the open expanse of river for the sound to blow across.

The other item which mentions the installation of the Klaxon sirens in 2006 must correspond to the time when the daily test was changed from 09:00 to 08:45.

In the 60s when I was a youngster there was the siren at 09:00 which my mother used to call the 9 o'clock siren I think she thought there was some connection between that and the 1 o'clock gun.

I was only much, much later that I discovered the 9 oclock siren was at the oil refinery / terminal.

[chrismarsden]

Could it be this one then. Sirens warn over large distances at Stanlow: News from Klaxon Signals (http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/klx/klx115.html)

If it is they have a website with sound files you can try out! http://www.klaxonsignals.com/technicalinfo.asp?type=Soundfiles

Unfortunately there is a problem with the Sirens ones and the links don't work. :disgust:
Mini mono p in miscellaneous section sounds a bit like 'The 9 o'clock buzzer'.
I've heard this for over 30 yrs. My nan used to refer to it as 'The 9 o'clock buzzer.'She told me that it had been going for years and that was back in the 70's.

Helen

[GingerTheCat]

Could it be this one then. Sirens warn over large distances at Stanlow: News from Klaxon Signals (http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/klx/klx115.html)

If it is they have a website with sound files you can try out! http://www.klaxonsignals.com/technicalinfo.asp?type=Soundfiles

Unfortunately there is a problem with the Sirens ones and the links don't work. :disgust:

They have just replied to say they have fixed the sound file links. I still can't get them all working though and the ones that do don't sound like the siren to me. So perhaps its still open to debate?

[johnmed]

I've just put myself through listening to about two thirds of those tones... Can't say the ones I listened to sound like the 8.45 am siren. I've given up and need a lie down:mad:

[edwardo]

See if it something like this.Northamptonshire Police - Page Not Found (http://www.northants.police.uk/museu:eek:m_new/exhibits/11/siren.htm)
:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

[edwardo]

Try This. World War II Police Air Raid Siren - 1939 to 1945 (http://www.northants.police.uk/museum_new/exhibits/11/siren.htm)
:eek:

[johnmed]

Try This. World War II Police Air Raid Siren - 1939 to 1945 (http://www.northants.police.uk/museum_new/exhibits/11/siren.htm)
:eek:


That's the bugger! Though not quite as deep maybe?!

[tpoo22]

thanks, irishseashipping.com. I think we're close to the answer. Stanlow / Ellesmere Port seems reasonable, though this site (http://tripatlas.com/Eastham,_Merseyside) claims it's at Eastham Lock

[matthewarnold]

it comes from eastham _ if you look across the mersey from otterspool prom you can see eastham country park and 2 pubs _ the siren is in a brick hut and at present goes off around 8.47 am every morning .hope that helps you !

[tpoo22]

thanks, mathewarnold! I'm going to have to get up and stand next to that hut one morning...

[mikeadams1985@gmail.com]

ok, well can i throw in the sound that ive heard 2 or 3 teams over the years around woolton that sounds like some sort of ships horn style?
or is this your mate playing with his air raid siren?

[GingerTheCat]

thanks, mathewarnold! I'm going to have to get up and stand next to that hut one morning...

The perfect place for a forum meet up. lol

[squiggs]

We have the same here in Spital every day about the same time !, it comes from the "Lever soap factory" now Unilever in Port Sunlight !.

[Ingo]

Yes!! Finally someone has the answer to this long-running yoliverpool mystery. I'm pretty sure it must be from Eastham. From Aigburth Vale it definately appears to be coming from the direction of the river. Now, who's going to find out why it is sounded every morning?....

[Kev]

....and has it's accuracy reduced over the years? I remember it during the 80's sounding around 9am!

[geoffrey]

I must confess I've not really thought much about Eastham until today. First of all a house of commons debate about it on my theyworkforyou (http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2009-02-02a.672.0&s=speaker%3A10339#g672.3) alerts and now this.

[Norm NZ]

"I've always thought it was from the Stanlow Oil Refinary!"

[Devo]

This confirms it!

http://74.125.77.132/search?q=cache:6gZxD1C0mukJ:www.merseydocks.co.uk/assets/pdf/Instruction_to_Vessels-MSC.pdf+'queen%2Belizabeth'+eastham+siren&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3&gl=uk

end of page 6.

[GingerTheCat]

This confirms it!

and so does this reply to an email to http://www.merseydocks.co.uk


> Can you supply any information about the 8.45am siren. There are a
> lot of people in Liverpool who are trying to find out where it comes from and
> why it sounds.
>
> The latest theory is that it is associated with the QEII dock.


Yes it is the siren at QEII dock, it is tested daily as part of our
emergency procedures and is linked to an emergency call centre.
At last! Well found Devo by the way.

[Ingo]

Nice work Devo! Finally some evidence.

I could never believe that the sound would travel that far across the water. Then I mentioned it to my work colleague who lives in Ellesmere Port and she said that she could hear it too. I had a hunch that it was to do with the ship canal...

[Kev]

According to my mum, it also sounds every New Years Eve at midnight.

She's gutted that for the last few decades she has believed that it has sounded in Garston, havent we all eh?!

[No-ones_Princess]

And so this thread rumbles on LOL


Guess what ?




I think we've managed with some help from Yvonne & Neil to locate the mystery of the siren , they're 99% certain of the location .:handclap: ( Hello & welcome to you both if your looking in )

Do you all want to carry on guessing ? or putting out of your misery ?
It's not from over the water

Luv Karen xx

Well if its coming from the Docks its not where Gorgous has been told it is.

Now Gorgous will have to come and stirr it up especially as it was her investigative work.

[Paddy]

When I stayed at Cressington I never heard it.:ninja:

[bgkk.rock]

When I stayed at Cressington I never heard it.:ninja:

Really I could not hear anything there... Weird siren, Hmmm maybe it comes from Heaven, no Neverland ... lol :PDT_Xtremez_42:

[PIMO31]

I'm from Woolton, and I've also heard it also, but not recently !!!

[georgeb]

There is one on the training tower at allerton road fire station I think that the one in south Liverpool