Birkenhead man will not let his house be demolished

The last man living on a derelict council estate will never let his house be demolished – and has threatened World War III if anyone tries. 

Charlie Wright, 66, was born and raised in the house on Ilchester Road, Birkenhead.

But since his youth the council estate surrounding his home has been torn down brick by brick.

He bought the family home more than 30 years ago – and refuses to leave the property for anything or anyone.

With its bright yellow front door and Union Jack flags flying proudly outside, Charlie said his unusual decoration scheme is because ‘if anyone comes near this house, it will be World War III.’

Charlie Wright, 66, was born and raised in the house on Ilchester Road, Birkenhead

His four-bedroom terrace property is now the last left on the once-busy street where Charlie and eight of his siblings were brought up.

Bordered only by two derelict shells, Charlie is the last man standing on the Wirral estate. 

Charlie said: ‘I was born in this house. All our family lived here, there were nine of us. Once they got married, they moved and I was the last one – me and me mam.

‘When you’re born in a house, it’s a part of your life, it’s a part of you. I wouldn’t move for any one.’

Charlie doesn’t live on his own at the property – a close friend moved in around 15 years ago after losing his mother and divorced Charlie kindly opened his home so his friend wouldn’t be alone. 

Charlie used to work for Mobil Oil, just round the corner from his family home. 

He said: ‘All my life, the only road I crossed since I was 16 was that bottom road.’

He added: ‘In them days, the work round here was unbelievable.  

‘You could walk out of one job into another one.’

Since his youth the council estate surrounding his home has been torn down brick by brick. He bought the family home more than 30 years ago - and refuses to leave the property for anything or anyone

Since his youth the council estate surrounding his home has been torn down brick by brick. He bought the family home more than 30 years ago – and refuses to leave the property for anything or anyone

With its bright yellow front door and Union Jack flags flying proudly outside, Charlie said his unusual decoration scheme is because 'if anyone comes near this house, it will be World War III'

With its bright yellow front door and Union Jack flags flying proudly outside, Charlie said his unusual decoration scheme is because ‘if anyone comes near this house, it will be World War III’

His four-bedroom terrace property is now the last left on the once-busy street where Charlie and eight of his siblings were brought up

His four-bedroom terrace property is now the last left on the once-busy street where Charlie and eight of his siblings were brought up

But as the area fell into decline the jobs disappeared along with the houses. 

Despite this, Charlie is adamant he will never leave although he admits he misses having friends and family living around him.

Charlie said: ‘This estate, it was families and the brothers and sisters of everyone – you knew everyone on the estate. When they grew up and got married, they got a house on the estate.

‘All my aunties and uncles lived on this estate. My granny at the top and my mam had always lived here.

Charlie said: 'I was born in this house. All our family lived here, there were nine of us. Once they got married, they moved and I was the last one - me and me mam

Charlie said: ‘I was born in this house. All our family lived here, there were nine of us. Once they got married, they moved and I was the last one – me and me mam

He is adamant he will never leave although he admits he misses having friends and family living around him

He is adamant he will never leave although he admits he misses having friends and family living around him

But life in the last house standing isn't as lonely as you might imagine. He added: 'I only have to walk up the road with the dog, everyone knows me and I know them. As long as I can get out every day, I'm alright'

But life in the last house standing isn’t as lonely as you might imagine. He added: ‘I only have to walk up the road with the dog, everyone knows me and I know them. As long as I can get out every day, I’m alright’

‘When my mam had kids and got married, she got a house down there and, when she had more kids, they had to give her a bigger house so she got this four bedroom.

‘The whole family, everyone on this estate, had relatives living round the corner or down the road.’

Charlie added that life in the last house standing isn’t as lonely as you might imagine.

He said: ‘I only have to walk up the road with the dog, everyone knows me and I know them. As long as I can get out every day, I’m alright.

‘Half of them were born on this estate you see – proper community.’ 



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