Although its first inhabitants were medieval monks, Birkenhead began to grow during the nineteenth century because of its links with Liverpool. Later, trade from all over the world began to flow through the docks and the town became a centre for shipbuilding, the first iron-built ship bought for the British government having been made there. But Birkenhead has another side; it had the first street tramway in Europe, while the town's park influenced Central Park in New York.In Birkenhead Through Time, Ian Collard uses a wonderful collection of photographs to take us through the town's history. These illustrate the docks, the famous park and William Lever's Port Sunlight works, as well as shops, schools, churches, houses and street scenes of the local community, while the introduction gives an overview of Birkenhead's history. Birkenhead Through Time is a rich record of the development and regeneration of Birkenhead.