Penketh
Encyclopedia
Penketh is a civil parish in the Borough of Warrington
in Cheshire
, England
. It is about 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Warrington
town centre. It has a population of 8,699.
The emblem/badge of Penketh is three kingfishers.
parish but became a chapelry and then a separate parish. It grew due to the crossing over the Mersey
at Fiddlers Ferry and the building of the Sankey Canal
. The area was mainly rural and agricultural until well into the 20th century, though a tannery
and boatyard were established in the 19th century.
The last 50 years has seen the area transformed into a large residential suburb.
, the parish has a Parish Council and is a ward of Warrington Borough. It is in Warrington South constituency of the United Kingdom Parliament. Until the major local government reorganisation of 1974, Penketh was part of Warrington Rural District
.
dominates Penketh, though it is in Cuerdley
parish.
), and a Catholic
church (St Joseph's). There is a strong nonconformist tradition as exemplified by the Methodist chapel in Chapel Road. The Quakers were well represented at one time; the Meeting House was the present village hall on Meeting Lane.
which is now a Specialist School in Media and the Arts. The primary schools in the area are Penketh Community Primary School (a feeder school for Penketh High School), Penketh South Primary School, St Joseph's Catholic Primary School and St Vincent's Catholic Primary School.
on the Liverpool to Manchester Line (with express services along this route available from Warrington Central
), as well as Warrington Bank Quay
on the West Coast Main Line
. Frequent buses link Penketh with Warrington town centre: it is the terminus for Warrington Borough Transport
buses (routes 30, 30B, 31, 32 and 32A), and the north of Penketh is also served by Warrington Borough Transport
routes 14 and 15. Arriva
inter-urban services also serve the main road through Penketh, heading towards Widnes
and Runcorn
(route 110) and to Huyton
and Liverpool
(routes 6 and 7A). Penketh is on the A562 road
linking Warrington with the Silver Jubilee Bridge. The nearest airports are Liverpool
and Manchester.
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...
in Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, 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...
. It is about 3 miles (4.8 km) west of 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...
town centre. It has a population of 8,699.
The emblem/badge of Penketh is three kingfishers.
History
Penketh was originally part of PrescotPrescot
Prescot is a town and civil parish, within the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley in Merseyside, England. It is 8 miles to the east of Liverpool city centre and lies within the historic boundaries of Lancashire. At the 2001 Census, the population was 11,184 .Prescot marks the beginning of the...
parish but became a chapelry and then a separate parish. It grew due to the crossing over the Mersey
Mersey
Mersey may refer to:* River Mersey, in northwest England* Mersea Island, off the coast of Essex in England * Mersey River in the Australian state* Electoral division of Mersey in the state of Tasmania, Australian...
at Fiddlers Ferry and the building of 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...
. The area was mainly rural and agricultural until well into the 20th century, though a tannery
Tanning
Tanning is the making of leather from the skins of animals which does not easily decompose. Traditionally, tanning used tannin, an acidic chemical compound from which the tanning process draws its name . Coloring may occur during tanning...
and boatyard were established in the 19th century.
The last 50 years has seen the area transformed into a large residential suburb.
Government
Historically within LancashireLancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, the parish has a Parish Council and is a ward of Warrington Borough. It is in Warrington South constituency of the United Kingdom Parliament. Until the major local government reorganisation of 1974, Penketh was part of Warrington Rural District
Warrington Rural District
Warrington Rural District was, from 1894 to 1974, a local government district in the administrative county of Lancashire.It was formed a rural district under the Local Government Act 1894 from the Warrington rural sanitary district, and was centred on territory north of the town of Warrington...
.
Industry
The former tannery and boatyard were the only major industries in Penketh. Fiddlers Ferry Power StationFiddlers Ferry Power Station
Fiddlers Ferry Power Station is a coal fired power station located in Cheshire in North West England, which is capable of co-firing biomass. It is situated on the north bank of the River Mersey between the towns of Widnes and Warrington. Opened in 1971, the station has a generating capacity of...
dominates Penketh, though it is in Cuerdley
Cuerdley
Cuerdley is a civil parish in Warrington, Cheshire, England. It has a population of 107 and much of its area is farmland. A large part of Cuerdley is occupied by the Fiddlers Ferry Power Station....
parish.
Churches
There is a parish church (St Paul's, Church of EnglandChurch of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
), and a Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
church (St Joseph's). There is a strong nonconformist tradition as exemplified by the Methodist chapel in Chapel Road. The Quakers were well represented at one time; the Meeting House was the present village hall on Meeting Lane.
Schools
The secondary school is Penketh High SchoolPenketh High School
Penketh High School is a large secondary school with contains a Sixth Form in Penketh, Warrington. It is a coed, non-denominational school for 11-18 year olds...
which is now a Specialist School in Media and the Arts. The primary schools in the area are Penketh Community Primary School (a feeder school for Penketh High School), Penketh South Primary School, St Joseph's Catholic Primary School and St Vincent's Catholic Primary School.
Pubs
Pubs in the area include the Ferry Tavern, the Crown & Cushion, the Sportsman's Arms and the Red LionTransport
Railway stations in the area include local services from Sankey for PenkethSankey railway station
Sankey railway station, also known as Sankey for Penketh, is a railway station in the west of Warrington, Cheshire, England, serving the Great Sankey, Penketh and Whittle Hall areas of the town. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by Northern Rail...
on the Liverpool to Manchester Line (with express services along this route available from Warrington Central
Warrington Central railway station
Warrington Central railway station is one of two main railway stations serving the town of Warrington in the north-west of England. It is located on the southern route of the Liverpool to Manchester Line , and is situated around halfway between the two cities...
), as well as Warrington Bank Quay
Warrington Bank Quay railway station
Warrington Bank Quay railway station is a mainline railway station serving the UK town of Warrington. The town centre has two stations on opposite sides of the main shopping area, Warrington Central operating a more frequent service to the neighbouring cities Liverpool and Manchester...
on the West Coast Main Line
West Coast Main Line
The West Coast Main Line is the busiest mixed-traffic railway route in Britain, being the country's most important rail backbone in terms of population served. Fast, long-distance inter-city passenger services are provided between London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and the...
. Frequent buses link Penketh with Warrington town centre: it is the terminus for Warrington Borough Transport
Warrington Borough Transport
Warrington Borough Transport is a bus operator running a network of services within the Borough of Warrington, England and into the surrounding area, including Altrincham, Leigh, Earlestown and Northwich. The network of services is marketed under the Network Warrington name, with both names...
buses (routes 30, 30B, 31, 32 and 32A), and the north of Penketh is also served by Warrington Borough Transport
Warrington Borough Transport
Warrington Borough Transport is a bus operator running a network of services within the Borough of Warrington, England and into the surrounding area, including Altrincham, Leigh, Earlestown and Northwich. The network of services is marketed under the Network Warrington name, with both names...
routes 14 and 15. Arriva
Arriva North West
Arriva North West is a division of Arriva that operates bus services around North West England. It consists of two companies: Arriva North West Ltd and Arriva Merseyside Ltd....
inter-urban services also serve the main road through Penketh, heading towards 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 Runcorn
Runcorn
Runcorn is an industrial town and cargo port within the borough of Halton in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. In 2009, its population was estimated to be 61,500. The town is on the southern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form Runcorn Gap. Directly to the north...
(route 110) and to Huyton
Huyton
Huyton is a suburb of Liverpool within the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley, with some parts belonging to the borough of Liverpool in Merseyside, England. It is part of the Liverpool Urban Area and has close associations with its neighbour, Roby, having both formerly been part of the Huyton with...
and Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
(routes 6 and 7A). Penketh is on the A562 road
A562 road
The A562 is a road in England which runs from Liverpool to Warrington.At Liverpool the road is known at first as Parliament Street, then Upper Parliament Street, Smithdown Road, Allerton Road, Menlove Avenue, Hillfoot Road, Hillfoot Avenue and Higher Road, before joining Speke Boulevard.It ends in...
linking Warrington with the Silver Jubilee Bridge. The nearest airports are Liverpool
Liverpool John Lennon Airport
Liverpool John Lennon Airport is an international airport serving the city of Liverpool and the North West of England. Formerly known as Speke Airport, RAF Speke, and Liverpool Airport the airport is located within the City of Liverpool adjacent to the estuary of the River Mersey some southeast...
and Manchester.
Demographics
- 7,340 residents
- 2,993 households
- 29.4% of all residents have no qualifications (approximately 2,158 residents)
- 2.06% are unemployed (approximately 154 residents)
Race and gender
- 48% males to 52% females
- 98.3% are of white race
- 0.6% are of mixed origin
- 0.7% are of Asian origin
- 0% are of black race
- 0.4% are of "other" race
Housing demographics
- 92.0% Owner occupied
- 3.7% are council accommodation
- 0.4% are rented from a housing associationHousing associationHousing associations in the United Kingdom are independent not-for-profit bodies that provide low-cost "social housing" for people in housing need. Any trading surplus is used to maintain existing homes and to help finance new ones...
- 2.0% are private rentals
- 1.3% are rentals from other sources
- 0.6% are undisclosed