A FEW weeks ago I wrote a series of articles about the Lancashire Wakes resorts.

I mentioned that during the 1990s many resorts were getting their act together and were now looking very smart indeed.

Mark Preston lives on the Wirral but saw a copy of the Evening Telegraph when he visited Burnley on business. He wrote to me suggesting that I visit Parkgate on the banks of the River Dee. He mentioned that since the 1990s its recovery had been dramatic.

So it was that a few days ago I arrived on a bright sunny morning and found Parkgate busy. Before setting off to explore the pretty little spot I had my lunch, which consisted of fresh prawns and cockles, crusty locally-baked bread and a generous portion of home-made ice-cream.

Although the old harbour at Parkgate has long since silted up, the tide does still occasionally lap against the promenade wall. The hotels which once served passengers who came by coach from Chester and then set out for Ireland still stand and have now been renovated.

A new hotel now stands on the old quay and one former guest house is now an upmarket public school, taking pupils from four to 18.

Historians of the area can point to many famous people who stayed at Parkgate. Two of the most famous were the composer Handel and that wonderful old sea dog Lord Nelson - but he came more as a philanderer than as a fighter.

Handel was on his way from Chester to Ireland via Parkgate. The first performance of the Messiah was to be performed in Dublin but the vessel due to take him there was storm-bound. Perhaps George Frederick was pleased, because it is said that he finished the famous piece at Parkgate and then held a rehearsal in Chester.

Another "famous piece" was Lady Hamilton. Young Emma often stayed at Parkgate and there is documentary evidence to show that Nelson may have visited her there. Emma occasionally suffered from a skin complaint and was sure that "Wirral Watter" was a cure.

It was a bit cool to risk waiting for the tide to come in and sample the "Wirral Watter" but I waited until teatime and joined the many visitors sitting in the sun.

Then came another helping of prawns and cockles and I gave thanks to the Telegraph reader who told me to visit Parkgate.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.