Spital, Merseyside
Encyclopedia
Spital is a suburb
an area of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral
, in Merseyside
, England
. It is located mid-way on the Wirral Peninsula
, and is mostly incorporated into the town of Bebington
and the most westerly point of Spital forms the most northern edge of Bromborough
.
Spital is primarily a residential suburb which has apartments, and close proximity to the motorway network. The area is contains shops, two bars, a chip shop and a primary school.
during a trip to England.
Spital has a history spanning over 800 years. The first recorded dwelling in the area was a small chapel built sometime before AD
1183 with the name St. Thomas the Martyr. It is not known who built this chapel but was probably used by workers and owners of the Poulton Estate, founded in 1133 at nearby Poulton Lancelyn. In 1283, the brethren of Bebington were given licence to use the forested land where Spital stands today to be used as a hospital for lepers. This hospital was probably attached to the chapel already in the area, but there are no remains of this building today.
The word "spital" was a term given to a place or building (or "spital house") that acted as a hospital or colony for lepers. Therefore it seems obvious that the name Spital derives from this; however it could also be argued that Spital's name derived from the term "hospitality" - this was due to the large proportion of people who worked as servants at the Poulton estate in Poulton Lancelyn. However many villages with the name "Spital" in their title can be put down to hospitals being in the area many years previously. Poulton cum Spital and Spital Old Hall were the original names for the village until part of this was formally dropped at the end of the 19th century.
The area became more popular during the 20th century after Spital Station
on the Chester to Birkenhead railway was connected to the Mersey Railway line in 1891, and businessmen and workers could easily reach places of work, primarily in Liverpool
. Spital was a particularly popular place to live with sea merchants and ships' captains due its proximity to the River Mersey
and Irish Sea
during the height of maritime activity in the area.
Spital was originally part of Cheshire
when on 1 April 1974 it was absorbed into the new administrative county of Merseyside created through the reforms of the Local Government Act 1972
. Spital has since grown and is now part of the larger town of Bebington which borders Birkenhead
. After the ending of the workhouse system in 1930, Wirral Workhouse
was renamed Clatterbridge
(County) General Hospital and under the National Health Service became Clatterbridge Hospital. In 1958, it became a centre specialising in Oncology
. The centre was built in to enlarge cancer care services from a cramped site on Myrtle Street in Liverpool - since then the site has been expanded and the hospital has been awarded 3 out of 3 stars in the NHS scoring system.
. Since the 2010 General Election the constituency Member of Parliament is Alison McGovern (Labour).
At local government level, Spital and the neighbouring village of Poulton Lancelyn are part of the Clatterbridge
Ward of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral
.
The 2001 Census
shows the population of Spital to be 4,190. This was composed of 2,010 (47.97%) males and 2,180 (52.03%) females. There were 1,660 households.
on the Wirral Line
of the Merseyrail
network, with frequent services to Liverpool, Chester
and Ellesmere Port
. The station is staffed from early in the morning through to 10 minutes before the last train at night and there is a free car park with space for over 40 vehicles.
Regular bus services, operated on behalf of Merseytravel
, leave Spital cross-roads for various destinations around Merseyside.
The M53 motorway
, A41 road
and B5137 road pass through or near the area.
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
an area of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral
Metropolitan Borough of Wirral
The Metropolitan Borough of Wirral is a metropolitan borough of Merseyside, in North West England. It has a population of 311,200, and encompasses of the northern part of the Wirral Peninsula. Major settlements include Birkenhead, Wallasey, Bebington, Heswall, Hoylake and West Kirby. The city of...
, in Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
, 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 located mid-way on the Wirral Peninsula
Wirral Peninsula
Wirral or the Wirral is a peninsula in North West England. It is bounded by three bodies of water: to the west by the River Dee, forming a boundary with Wales, to the east by the River Mersey and to the north by the Irish Sea. Both terms "Wirral" and "the Wirral" are used locally , although the...
, and is mostly incorporated into the town of Bebington
Bebington
Bebington is a small town and electoral ward within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, in Merseyside, England. It lies south of Liverpool and west southwest of Manchester, along the River Mersey on the eastern side of the Wirral Peninsula...
and the most westerly point of Spital forms the most northern edge of Bromborough
Bromborough
Bromborough is a large village within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the Wirral Peninsula, to the south of Bebington and to the north of Eastham...
.
Spital is primarily a residential suburb which has apartments, and close proximity to the motorway network. The area is contains shops, two bars, a chip shop and a primary school.
History
Legend has it that Irish patron saint, St Patrick, blessed a well in the local Brotherton ParkDibbinsdale
Brotherton Park and Dibbinsdale comprise an area of over of park and woodland within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, England.Situated between Spital and Bromborough, the valley woodland is one of the finest examples of ancient woodland on Merseyside and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest...
during a trip to England.
Spital has a history spanning over 800 years. The first recorded dwelling in the area was a small chapel built sometime before AD
Anno Domini
and Before Christ are designations used to label or number years used with the Julian and Gregorian calendars....
1183 with the name St. Thomas the Martyr. It is not known who built this chapel but was probably used by workers and owners of the Poulton Estate, founded in 1133 at nearby Poulton Lancelyn. In 1283, the brethren of Bebington were given licence to use the forested land where Spital stands today to be used as a hospital for lepers. This hospital was probably attached to the chapel already in the area, but there are no remains of this building today.
The word "spital" was a term given to a place or building (or "spital house") that acted as a hospital or colony for lepers. Therefore it seems obvious that the name Spital derives from this; however it could also be argued that Spital's name derived from the term "hospitality" - this was due to the large proportion of people who worked as servants at the Poulton estate in Poulton Lancelyn. However many villages with the name "Spital" in their title can be put down to hospitals being in the area many years previously. Poulton cum Spital and Spital Old Hall were the original names for the village until part of this was formally dropped at the end of the 19th century.
The area became more popular during the 20th century after Spital Station
Spital railway station
Spital railway station is situated near Bebington on the Wirral Peninsula, England in the small suburb of Spital. The station is located on the Wirral Line operated by Merseyrail and there are frequent electric train services to Liverpool, Chester and Ellesmere Port.- Services :Trains operate...
on the Chester to Birkenhead railway was connected to the Mersey Railway line in 1891, and businessmen and workers could easily reach places of work, primarily in 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...
. Spital was a particularly popular place to live with sea merchants and ships' captains due its proximity to 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....
and Irish Sea
Irish Sea
The Irish Sea separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is connected to the Celtic Sea in the south by St George's Channel, and to the Atlantic Ocean in the north by the North Channel. Anglesey is the largest island within the Irish Sea, followed by the Isle of Man...
during the height of maritime activity in the area.
Spital was originally part of 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...
when on 1 April 1974 it was absorbed into the new administrative county of Merseyside created through the reforms of the Local Government Act 1972
Local Government Act 1972
The Local Government Act 1972 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974....
. Spital has since grown and is now part of the larger town of Bebington which borders Birkenhead
Birkenhead
Birkenhead is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in Merseyside, England. It is on the Wirral Peninsula, along the west bank of the River Mersey, opposite the city of Liverpool...
. After the ending of the workhouse system in 1930, Wirral Workhouse
Workhouse
In England and Wales a workhouse, colloquially known as a spike, was a place where those unable to support themselves were offered accommodation and employment...
was renamed Clatterbridge
Clatterbridge
Clatterbridge is a hamlet located on the Wirral Peninsula, England. It is situated to the west of the town of Bebington, close to the M53 motorway....
(County) General Hospital and under the National Health Service became Clatterbridge Hospital. In 1958, it became a centre specialising in Oncology
Oncology
Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with cancer...
. The centre was built in to enlarge cancer care services from a cramped site on Myrtle Street in Liverpool - since then the site has been expanded and the hospital has been awarded 3 out of 3 stars in the NHS scoring system.
Governance
Spital is situated within the UK Parliamentary Constituency of Wirral SouthWirral South
Wirral South is a county constituency in Merseyside, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first-past-the-post system of election, and was first contested in 1983.-History:...
. Since the 2010 General Election the constituency Member of Parliament is Alison McGovern (Labour).
At local government level, Spital and the neighbouring village of Poulton Lancelyn are part of the Clatterbridge
Clatterbridge
Clatterbridge is a hamlet located on the Wirral Peninsula, England. It is situated to the west of the town of Bebington, close to the M53 motorway....
Ward of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral
Metropolitan Borough of Wirral
The Metropolitan Borough of Wirral is a metropolitan borough of Merseyside, in North West England. It has a population of 311,200, and encompasses of the northern part of the Wirral Peninsula. Major settlements include Birkenhead, Wallasey, Bebington, Heswall, Hoylake and West Kirby. The city of...
.
Demography
- 1801 - 87
- 1851 - 294
- 1901 - 487
- 1951 - 1,257
- 2001 - 4,190
The 2001 Census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
shows the population of Spital to be 4,190. This was composed of 2,010 (47.97%) males and 2,180 (52.03%) females. There were 1,660 households.
Transport
Despite its small size, the area is served by Spital railway stationSpital railway station
Spital railway station is situated near Bebington on the Wirral Peninsula, England in the small suburb of Spital. The station is located on the Wirral Line operated by Merseyrail and there are frequent electric train services to Liverpool, Chester and Ellesmere Port.- Services :Trains operate...
on the Wirral Line
Wirral Line
The Wirral Line is one of the two commuter railway lines operated by Merseyrail that are centred around Merseyside, England, the other being the Northern Line...
of the Merseyrail
Merseyrail
Merseyrail is a train operating company and commuter rail network in the United Kingdom, centred on Liverpool, Merseyside. The network is predominantly electric with diesel trains running on the City Line. Two City Line branches are currently being electrified on the overhead wire AC system with...
network, with frequent services to Liverpool, Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
and Ellesmere Port
Ellesmere Port
Ellesmere Port is a large industrial town and port in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is situated on the south border of the Wirral Peninsula on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal, which in turn gives access to the River...
. The station is staffed from early in the morning through to 10 minutes before the last train at night and there is a free car park with space for over 40 vehicles.
Regular bus services, operated on behalf of Merseytravel
Merseytravel
Merseytravel Merseytravel Merseytravel (MPTE, or Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive, is the Passenger Transport Executive responsible for the coordination of public transport in the metropolitan county of Merseyside, England...
, leave Spital cross-roads for various destinations around Merseyside.
The M53 motorway
M53 motorway
The M53 is a motorway in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral and Cheshire on the Wirral Peninsula in England. It can also be referred to as the Mid Wirral Motorway...
, A41 road
A41 road
The A41 is a formerly-major trunk road in England that links London and Birkenhead, although it has now largely been superseded by motorways. It passes through or near various towns and cities including Watford, Hemel Hempstead, Aylesbury, Solihull, Birmingham, West Bromwich, Wolverhampton,...
and B5137 road pass through or near the area.
Notable people
- Former British Prime Minister Harold WilsonHarold WilsonJames Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, FSS, PC was a British Labour Member of Parliament, Leader of the Labour Party. He was twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s, winning four general elections, including a minority government after the...
spent his adolescent years living in Spital. - Leslie Allen (Television, Commercial, Film and VFX Director) spent his adolescent years though early adult in Spital and currently lives and works in Malibu, California.