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Coordinates: 53°19'43?N 3°05'57?W? / ?53.3285, -3.0992
Heswall is a town on the Wirral Peninsula, Merseyside, England. Administratively, it is a ward of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral. At the time of the 2001 census, the total population of the ward was 16,012 (Male: 7,474; Female: 8,538),[2] which included the nearby villages of Barnston and Gayton. The population of the town of Heswall itself was 7,750.[1]
Before local government reorganisation on 1 April 1974, it was part of the county of Cheshire.
[edit] Geography
Located on the eastern side of the Dee Estuary, with views across the river to North Wales, Heswall is about 30 minutes' drive from the Roman city of Chester and about 20 minutes' drive from Liverpool. On a clear day the cathedral spires of Liverpool can be seen on the horizon from high ground.
The town of Heswall consists of two parts: upper and lower. The commercial upper part is centred at the junction of Telegraph Road and Pensby Road. Lower Heswall village is quieter and designated a conservation area.
[edit] History
Heswall was recorded in the Domesday Book as Eswelle and owned by Robert de Rodelent, who also owned much of the land on the eastern side of the River Dee. In 1277, it became the property of Patrick de Haselwall, who was Sheriff of Cheshire.
In 1801, the population was recorded as 168. By the census in 1841, it had only grown to 398. Prior to 1897 it was known as Hestlewelle or Hesselwelle. Its growth was started by wealthy merchants from Liverpool who had originally chosen it as a retreat but the arrival of two railway connections allowed them to commute. One line is the Borderlands Line from Wrexham Central to Bidston which opened in 1896. This line is still active and has Heswall railway station on the eastern edge of the town. The station was formerly called Heswall Hills to distinguish it from the older, now demolished, Heswall Station. The old station was in Station Road in the Lower Village on another line from West Kirby to Hooton. This opened in 1886 but the line closed to passengers in 1956. The track of the old railway became a footpath, the Wirral Way.
The Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital originally opened in Heswall as Liverpool Country Hospital for Children in 1909.[3] The hospital was well known for having no glass in the windows on the wards as it was believed at the time that this would help cure the ill children of disease.[citation needed] It stood on the opposite side of Telegraph Road from the "Puddydale", it had a tall square clock tower and extensive grounds with views over the Dee estuary. The hospital closed in 1985[3] and the site is now occupied by a Tesco supermarket.
[edit] Open spaces
There are several areas of open space. The largest is the Dales, an area of dry, sandy heathland overlooking the River Dee. It has the status of both Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Local Nature Reserve (LNR). Within this SSSI lies 'the Dungeon', a small river valley cut into the hillside. A path connects the Dales to the Wirral Way and the coast. Other open areas also overlooking the Dee are the Beacons, and Poll Hill, which is the highest point on the Wirral Peninsula.
The large grass area near the centre of town is known as the "Puddydale". In former years there was an infant and junior school (Heswall County Primary) on the eastern edge of the field (since demolished).
[edit] Notable people
[edit] Births
- Ian Botham, retired English cricketer.
- Jim Bowen, comedian and former presenter of darts game show Bullseye.
- Paul Bracewell, a football midfielder who played for Stoke City, Sunderland, Everton, Newcastle United, Fulham and England.
- Christian Furr, the youngest artist to have officially painted Queen Elizabeth II.[4]
- Scott Minto, retired footballer.
- Philly Morris, downhill skier, cancer survivor and founder of checkemlads.com testicular cancer charity.
- John Peel, the late BBC Radio 1 disc jockey, radio presenter and music journalist.
- Ian Woan, a football winger best known for his playing years at Nottingham Forest.
- Anne Thelwell, won Miss United kingdom in 1959
[edit] Resident connections
- Ringo Starr spent two years in Heswall's Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital when he contracted chronic pleurisy as a child.
[edit] References
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
(Source: Wikipedia) |