Originally, it formed part of Harrington Barracks, that were built at Formby Point back in the 1940s. Infantrymen of the King’s Regiment (Liverpool) who went through basic training here took part in the D-Day landings. The bricks you see formed their sleeping quarters, canteens and stores. The barracks were demolished after the war and the demolition rubble ended up being recycled as substrate for a beach car park and caravan park. In 1967, the National Trust bought Formby Point to protect it from further dumping and inappropriate development, safeguarding its future as a place of conservation and recreation for all.
Find out how the National Trust manages the rubble here.
It’s not just bricks and rubble that are appearing from the dunes and onto the beach. The sharp-eyed visitor might also notice the dark brown tobacco waste which is exposed as the sand dunes are eroded by the waves.