Parr, St Helens
Encyclopedia
Parr is a former village
, now situated within St. Helens
, England
and is located towards the eastern side of the town. However the area dates back to the West Derby hundred
district from the 12th century. The area is located within walking distance of St. Helens town centre within a distance of approximately half a mile.
of Parr was held by William Dacre, 2nd Baron Dacre
.
Parr was one of a number of townships formed in around 1866, that would later become St. Helens, the others being Sutton, Eccleston and Windle.
The Sankey Canal
, also known as the Sankey Brook Navigation and St Helens Canal, flows through Parr. When opened in 1757, it ran from the mouth of Sankey Brook at the River Mersey
along the valley of the Sankey Brook, ending north west of St Helens. Later extensions were made at the Mersey end, firstly to Fiddlers Ferry, then to Widnes
, and at the northern end, where it was extended into what became the centre of St Helens
St Peter's Church was built in 1864-65 to the designs of J. Medland Taylor: the stonework is in three different colours and there is a broach spire.
The area was overlooked by Bold Power Station
across "The Moss" until the decommissioned station was demolished in the late 90s.
There have been claims of a historical link to the Parr family, most famously represented by Henry VIII
's final wife Catherine Parr
. Her Father Sir Thomas Parr
is known to have owned or rented lands in the area.
The area succumbed to social problems linked to poverty and an aging population during the 1980s with the collapse of several significant employers in St. Helens. Its housing remains markedly cheaper than other areas of St. Helens due to a commonly perceived stigma of high crime and low education standards.
Since 2006 the area, as well as other areas of St. Helens in coordination with Re:new Neighbourhood Management Project, has been targeted for regeneration. Parr was selected for the Pilot scheme and has seen increased funding to local parks and green spaces (The Duckeries for instance, formerly a slag heap, is now in the process of returning the land to its marshy origins, whilst new multi-sporting facilities and park equipment have been added to Gaskell Park and others).
In coordination with Helena Housing many council and private properties have been refurbished with new exterior walls, adding a new roof to each property, UPVC doors and double glazing. Other projects have included a government incentive schemes for loft insulation, cavity insulation and secure gated schemes for alley access.
Recently a new private housing development of detached houses, terraced homes, and flats was completed along Newton Road and adjacent to the Derbyshire Hill area, with more new-builds developed on Ashtons Green Drive, and Fleet Lane.
(Newton Road) linking to Newton-Le-Willows, the A572 (Parr Stocks Road), a direct route into St. Helens
town centre and the B5204 towards Burtonwood
, Warrington
.
is the only secondary establishment, resting on the junction of Watery Lane and Berry's Lane and the boundary of Sutton (their official address is in fact "Sutton"). St. Augustine's
is located in nearby Blackbrook
.
After Parr High School closed, many students attended Haydock Sports College.
and rugby fixtures are played as well. One of St. Helens' swimming baths is also located in the area.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
, now situated within St. Helens
St Helens, Merseyside
St Helens is a large town in Merseyside, England. It is the largest settlement and administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens with a population of just over 100,000, part of an urban area with a total population of 176,843 at the time of the 2001 Census...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and is located towards the eastern side of the town. However the area dates back to the West Derby hundred
West Derby (hundred)
The hundred of West Derby was an ancient division of the historic county of Lancashire, in northern England. It was sometimes known as West Derbyshire, the name alluding to its judicial centre being the township of West Derby .It covered the southwest of Lancashire, containing the ancient...
district from the 12th century. The area is located within walking distance of St. Helens town centre within a distance of approximately half a mile.
History
In the mid 14th century, the manorManorialism
Manorialism, an essential element of feudal society, was the organizing principle of rural economy that originated in the villa system of the Late Roman Empire, was widely practiced in medieval western and parts of central Europe, and was slowly replaced by the advent of a money-based market...
of Parr was held by William Dacre, 2nd Baron Dacre
William Dacre, 2nd Baron Dacre
William Dacre, 2nd Baron Dacre was an English peer. In the final months of his life he was also 3rd Baron Multon of Gilsland...
.
Parr was one of a number of townships formed in around 1866, that would later become St. Helens, the others being Sutton, Eccleston and Windle.
The Sankey Canal
Sankey Canal
The Sankey Canal, which is also known as the Sankey Brook Navigation and the St Helens Canal, is a canal in Cheshire, extending into Merseyside, in the northwest of England, connecting St Helens with the River Mersey...
, also known as the Sankey Brook Navigation and St Helens Canal, flows through Parr. When opened in 1757, it ran from the mouth of Sankey Brook at the River Mersey
River Mersey
The River Mersey is a river in North West England. It is around long, stretching from Stockport, Greater Manchester, and ending at Liverpool Bay, Merseyside. For centuries, it formed part of the ancient county divide between Lancashire and Cheshire....
along the valley of the Sankey Brook, ending north west of St Helens. Later extensions were made at the Mersey end, firstly to Fiddlers Ferry, then to Widnes
Widnes
Widnes is an industrial town within the borough of Halton, in Cheshire, England, with an urban area population of 57,663 in 2004. It is located on the northern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form the Runcorn Gap. Directly to the south across the Mersey is the town of Runcorn...
, and at the northern end, where it was extended into what became the centre of St Helens
St Peter's Church was built in 1864-65 to the designs of J. Medland Taylor: the stonework is in three different colours and there is a broach spire.
The area was overlooked by Bold Power Station
Bold Power Station
Bold Power Station refers to a series of two coal-fired power stations situated in Bold near St Helens in Merseyside, North West England.-History:...
across "The Moss" until the decommissioned station was demolished in the late 90s.
There have been claims of a historical link to the Parr family, most famously represented by Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
's final wife Catherine Parr
Catherine Parr
Catherine Parr ; 1512 – 5 September 1548) was Queen consort of England and Ireland and the last of the six wives of King Henry VIII of England. She married Henry VIII on 12 July 1543. She was the fourth commoner Henry had taken as his consort, and outlived him...
. Her Father Sir Thomas Parr
Sir Thomas Parr
Sir Thomas Parr was an English knight, courtier and Lord of the Manor of Kendal in Westmorland during the Tudor period. He is best known as the father of Catherine Parr, queen consort of England and the sixth and final wife of King Henry VIII.-Life:Thomas was the son of Sir William Parr of Kendal...
is known to have owned or rented lands in the area.
Housing
The area of Parr is predominately Council Housing, represented by three main stages of developments. Waring Avenue Estate (developed 1950s / 60s), Concourse Way (colloquially referred to as Cement City in reference to its Pebble Dash rendering) developed in the 1960s, The Pennine Drive Estate developed in the 1950s. Amidst these estates remain the more traditional buildings dating to the 1930s, along with Terrace Housing (1890s onwards) and private developments.The area succumbed to social problems linked to poverty and an aging population during the 1980s with the collapse of several significant employers in St. Helens. Its housing remains markedly cheaper than other areas of St. Helens due to a commonly perceived stigma of high crime and low education standards.
Since 2006 the area, as well as other areas of St. Helens in coordination with Re:new Neighbourhood Management Project, has been targeted for regeneration. Parr was selected for the Pilot scheme and has seen increased funding to local parks and green spaces (The Duckeries for instance, formerly a slag heap, is now in the process of returning the land to its marshy origins, whilst new multi-sporting facilities and park equipment have been added to Gaskell Park and others).
In coordination with Helena Housing many council and private properties have been refurbished with new exterior walls, adding a new roof to each property, UPVC doors and double glazing. Other projects have included a government incentive schemes for loft insulation, cavity insulation and secure gated schemes for alley access.
Recently a new private housing development of detached houses, terraced homes, and flats was completed along Newton Road and adjacent to the Derbyshire Hill area, with more new-builds developed on Ashtons Green Drive, and Fleet Lane.
Transport
Parr has three main access routes. The A572A572 road
The A572 is a main road serving the Greater Manchester and Merseyside areas, running from Swinton to St Helens via Leigh and Newton-le-Willows.- Route:...
(Newton Road) linking to Newton-Le-Willows, the A572 (Parr Stocks Road), a direct route into St. Helens
St Helens, Merseyside
St Helens is a large town in Merseyside, England. It is the largest settlement and administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens with a population of just over 100,000, part of an urban area with a total population of 176,843 at the time of the 2001 Census...
town centre and the B5204 towards Burtonwood
Burtonwood
Burtonwood and Westbrook is a civil parish in the outermost suburbs of Warrington in Cheshire, England. Historically within Lancashire, the name Burtonwood is known worldwide as the location of the former RAF Station Burtonwood military camp. Burtonwood village itself is a few miles away from the...
, Warrington
Warrington
Warrington is a town, borough and unitary authority area of Cheshire, England. It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley. It lies 16 miles east of Liverpool, 19 miles west of Manchester and 8 miles south of St Helens...
.
Education
There are currently no non-denominational high schools located in Parr, since the closure of Parr High School. St. Cuthbert'sSt Cuthbert's
St Cuthberts Catholic Community College for Business and Enterprise is a high school situated in St Helens, Merseyside, England. The school has been awarded Specialist Business and Enterprise College status. It has over 900 students. It is one of few schools in the world with a built-in hotel and...
is the only secondary establishment, resting on the junction of Watery Lane and Berry's Lane and the boundary of Sutton (their official address is in fact "Sutton"). St. Augustine's
St Augustine Of Canterbury Roman Catholic High School (St Helens)
St Augustine of Canterbury Roman Catholic High School or Guzzies as it is commonly known, is a voluntary-aided Catholic comprehensive school in the town of St Helens, Lancashire. The school has approx. 725 students whose ages range from 11 to 16...
is located in nearby Blackbrook
Blackbrook, Merseyside
Blackbrook is an electoral ward in St Helens, Merseyside. The area is so called for the brook of the same name. The Blackbrook area is situated at the north east of St.Helens Borough and is historically part of the Parr township....
.
After Parr High School closed, many students attended Haydock Sports College.
Sport
There are no professional sporting clubs or organisations in Parr, but the area boasts a series of playing fields where the local combination football leagueSt Helens Combination
The St Helens Combination Association football league was formed on 4 August 1917 when Ernest Worrall distributed notices to several of his friends & colleagues calling a meeting in the old. LMS Club now known as The British Rail Club Penlake Lane Sutton. A league was formed but was initially known...
and rugby fixtures are played as well. One of St. Helens' swimming baths is also located in the area.