Whiston, Merseyside
Encyclopedia
Whiston is a large village and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley
on Merseyside
, England
. At the 2001 Census
the population was recorded as 13,629. It is located within the greater Liverpool Urban Area
.
Whiston gave its name to and formerly administered the Whiston Rural District
which operated under the county of Lancashire
from 1895 until 1974 when it ceased to exist upon local government boundary changes and the formation of the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley
, Merseyside
.
Whiston is crossed by the historic Liverpool to Manchester Railway
with services operating from Whiston Railway Station
.
St Helens & Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust operates Whiston Hospital. The hospital supports the primary maternity ward for the St Helens and Knowsley area. The Trust is member organisation of the teaching hospital
system partnered with the University of Liverpool
and Liverpool John Moores University
.
a part of Lancashire
, it was known for its coal mines. Its recorded history begins in the 13th century but its roots are much older.
In the mid 14th century, the manor
s of Whiston, Skelmersdale
, Parr
, and Speke
, were held by William Dacre, 2nd Baron Dacre
.
A polished stone hand-axe, a relic of the Neolithic Age, was discovered there in 1941 and in 1986 fragments of flint tools were found on a local farm.
The church of St. Nicholas on Windy Arbor Road was consecrated on 30 July 1868. It hosts a war memorial, designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, which was struck by lightning in 1928. The memorial was replaced in 1932.
. The North and South wards are separated by the Liverpool to Manchester Railway which runs directly through the town.
Whiston was formerly the headquarters of the Whiston Rural District
.
. The trust was established in April 1991 and consists of both Whiston Hospital and St Helens Hospital, employing approximately 4,500 people. It holds Clincial University Education Centre
teaching status and is affiliated to both the University of Liverpool
and Liverpool John Moores University
for medical, nursing and allied health training. With over 900 beds, it is the regional centre for Burns & Plastic treatment and presently one of the largest acute hospitals on Merseyside
. Plans to rebuild the hospital, which had previously served as a workhouse for the poor in the 19th century, were drawn up in 2001 and a Private Finance Initiative (PFI)
project began in 2006. This has seen the completion of a brand new multi-storey hospital that opened its doors to patients in a phased move in March 2010, with full occupation of the new building achieved by the following April.
The new hospital was designed specifically to minimise disruption to the existing buildings and services. It was constructed fully within the hospital grounds and directly adjacent to the then-occupied Victorian ward estate on the north-west corner of the site. The land used for the construction of the new building was cleared before work commenced, having previously been the location of the historic workhouse hospital chapel, maintenance and medical records block. Thus, when building work began, the existing hospital buildings were able to provide an uninterrupted service to patients. Upon completion of the new hospital, inpatients were transported into the new building via a temporary sheltered walkway from the original main entrance of the old building.
The main Victorian ward blocks (A-F and K) and Maternity & Gynaecology Unit (H wards, constructed in 1973) have since been demolished and centralised within the new building, replaced largely by car parking facilities for staff and visitors. The former G-Ward block building that previously accommodated the A&E Department
and Regional Burns Unit
, located on the south-east corner of the hospital grounds, has been retained and redeveloped for Education, Training and Office accommodation, renamed as Nightingale House. The hospital's pathology laboratory, maintenance and mortuary/bereavement centre on the main site are also now located within this building, with the new mortuary housed within the old A&E department of which was completely refurbished for its present use. The original locations of the pathology laboratory and mortuary will be cleared to provide addition car parking facilities. The rebuild cost is estimated to be £338 million. In addition to the rebuild, the upper playing field of the old Higher Side School grounds (now St Edmund Arrowsmith) off Stoney Lane has been re-surfaced to serve as a helicopter landing site for the dedicated use of air ambulance, being in close proximity to emergency medical facilities at the hospital.
Other local employers include Glen Dimplex
Home Appliances, producing kitchen appliances and employing approximately 1,000 people.
Secondary Education
Two of Whiston's secondary school
s have recently been vacated and permanently closed under the governments 'Building Schools for the Future' scheme. This £150 million programme will create seven new learning centres to replace the ten existing secondary schools within the Knowsley borough.
Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley
The Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley is a metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England. It comprises the towns of Kirkby, Prescot, Huyton, Whiston, Halewood and Cronton; Kirkby, Huyton, and Prescot being the major commercial centres...
on 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...
. At 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....
the population was recorded as 13,629. It is located within the greater Liverpool Urban Area
Liverpool Urban Area
The "Liverpool Urban Area" is a term used by the Office for National Statistics to denote the urban area around Liverpool in England, to the east of the River Mersey. The contiguous built-up area extends beyond the area administered by Liverpool City Council into adjoining local authority areas,...
.
Whiston gave its name to and formerly administered the Whiston Rural District
Whiston Rural District
Whiston Rural District was a rural district of the administrative county of Lancashire, England. It was created in 1895 by renaming the Prescot Rural District when the parish of Prescot was removed from that rural district and created a separate urban district. Later the parish of Speke was...
which operated under the county of Lancashire
Lancashire
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...
from 1895 until 1974 when it ceased to exist upon local government boundary changes and the formation of the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley
Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley
The Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley is a metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England. It comprises the towns of Kirkby, Prescot, Huyton, Whiston, Halewood and Cronton; Kirkby, Huyton, and Prescot being the major commercial centres...
, 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...
.
Whiston is crossed by the historic Liverpool to Manchester Railway
Liverpool to Manchester Lines
There are two Liverpool to Manchester railway lines between the cities of Liverpool and Manchester in the North West of England. The 'Northern Route' via and to either or follows the route of the original Liverpool and Manchester Railway...
with services operating from Whiston Railway Station
Whiston railway station
Whiston railway station serves the district of Whiston in Merseyside, England. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by Northern Rail. It lies on the northern route of the Liverpool to Manchester Line, the original Liverpool and Manchester Railway...
.
St Helens & Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust operates Whiston Hospital. The hospital supports the primary maternity ward for the St Helens and Knowsley area. The Trust is member organisation of the teaching hospital
Teaching hospital
A teaching hospital is a hospital that provides clinical education and training to future and current doctors, nurses, and other health professionals, in addition to delivering medical care to patients...
system partnered with the University of Liverpool
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
and Liverpool John Moores University
Liverpool John Moores University
Liverpool John Moores University is a British 'modern' university located in the city of Liverpool, England. The university is named after John Moores and was previously called Liverpool Mechanics' School of Arts and later Liverpool Polytechnic before gaining university status in 1992, thus...
.
History
HistoricallyHistoric counties of England
The historic counties of England are subdivisions of England established for administration by the Normans and in most cases based on earlier Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and shires...
a part of Lancashire
Lancashire
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...
, it was known for its coal mines. Its recorded history begins in the 13th century but its roots are much older.
In the mid 14th century, the manor
Manorialism
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...
s of Whiston, Skelmersdale
Skelmersdale
Skelmersdale is a town in West Lancashire, England. It lies on high-ground on the River Tawd, to the west of Wigan, to the northeast of Liverpool, south-southwest of Preston. As of 2006, Skelmersdale had a population of 38,813, down from 41,000 in 2004. The town is known locally as Skem.The...
, Parr
Parr, St Helens
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...
, and Speke
Speke
Speke is an area of Liverpool, Merseyside, England, close to the boundaries of the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley. It is south east of the city centre and to the west of the town of Widnes....
, were 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...
.
A polished stone hand-axe, a relic of the Neolithic Age, was discovered there in 1941 and in 1986 fragments of flint tools were found on a local farm.
The church of St. Nicholas on Windy Arbor Road was consecrated on 30 July 1868. It hosts a war memorial, designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, which was struck by lightning in 1928. The memorial was replaced in 1932.
Governance
Whiston consists of the Whiston North and Whiston South wards of the Metropolitan Borough of KnowsleyMetropolitan Borough of Knowsley
The Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley is a metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England. It comprises the towns of Kirkby, Prescot, Huyton, Whiston, Halewood and Cronton; Kirkby, Huyton, and Prescot being the major commercial centres...
. The North and South wards are separated by the Liverpool to Manchester Railway which runs directly through the town.
Whiston was formerly the headquarters of the Whiston Rural District
Whiston Rural District
Whiston Rural District was a rural district of the administrative county of Lancashire, England. It was created in 1895 by renaming the Prescot Rural District when the parish of Prescot was removed from that rural district and created a separate urban district. Later the parish of Speke was...
.
Industries
The largest employer and health service provider in the local area is Whiston Hospital, which operates on behalf of the St Helens & Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS trustNHS Trust
A National Health Service trust provides services on behalf of the National Health Service in England and NHS Wales.The trusts are not trusts in the legal sense but are in effect public sector corporations. Each trust is headed by a board consisting of executive and non-executive directors, and is...
. The trust was established in April 1991 and consists of both Whiston Hospital and St Helens Hospital, employing approximately 4,500 people. It holds Clincial University Education Centre
Teaching hospital
A teaching hospital is a hospital that provides clinical education and training to future and current doctors, nurses, and other health professionals, in addition to delivering medical care to patients...
teaching status and is affiliated to both the University of Liverpool
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
and Liverpool John Moores University
Liverpool John Moores University
Liverpool John Moores University is a British 'modern' university located in the city of Liverpool, England. The university is named after John Moores and was previously called Liverpool Mechanics' School of Arts and later Liverpool Polytechnic before gaining university status in 1992, thus...
for medical, nursing and allied health training. With over 900 beds, it is the regional centre for Burns & Plastic treatment and presently one of the largest acute hospitals on 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...
. Plans to rebuild the hospital, which had previously served as a workhouse for the poor in the 19th century, were drawn up in 2001 and a Private Finance Initiative (PFI)
Private Finance Initiative
The private finance initiative is a way of creating "public–private partnerships" by funding public infrastructure projects with private capital...
project began in 2006. This has seen the completion of a brand new multi-storey hospital that opened its doors to patients in a phased move in March 2010, with full occupation of the new building achieved by the following April.
The new hospital was designed specifically to minimise disruption to the existing buildings and services. It was constructed fully within the hospital grounds and directly adjacent to the then-occupied Victorian ward estate on the north-west corner of the site. The land used for the construction of the new building was cleared before work commenced, having previously been the location of the historic workhouse hospital chapel, maintenance and medical records block. Thus, when building work began, the existing hospital buildings were able to provide an uninterrupted service to patients. Upon completion of the new hospital, inpatients were transported into the new building via a temporary sheltered walkway from the original main entrance of the old building.
The main Victorian ward blocks (A-F and K) and Maternity & Gynaecology Unit (H wards, constructed in 1973) have since been demolished and centralised within the new building, replaced largely by car parking facilities for staff and visitors. The former G-Ward block building that previously accommodated the A&E Department
Emergency department
An emergency department , also known as accident & emergency , emergency room , emergency ward , or casualty department is a medical treatment facility specialising in acute care of patients who present without prior appointment, either by their own means or by ambulance...
and Regional Burns Unit
Burn center
A Burn center or Burns unit is a hospital specializing in the treatment of burns. Burn centers are often used for the treatment and recovery of patients with more severe burns....
, located on the south-east corner of the hospital grounds, has been retained and redeveloped for Education, Training and Office accommodation, renamed as Nightingale House. The hospital's pathology laboratory, maintenance and mortuary/bereavement centre on the main site are also now located within this building, with the new mortuary housed within the old A&E department of which was completely refurbished for its present use. The original locations of the pathology laboratory and mortuary will be cleared to provide addition car parking facilities. The rebuild cost is estimated to be £338 million. In addition to the rebuild, the upper playing field of the old Higher Side School grounds (now St Edmund Arrowsmith) off Stoney Lane has been re-surfaced to serve as a helicopter landing site for the dedicated use of air ambulance, being in close proximity to emergency medical facilities at the hospital.
Other local employers include Glen Dimplex
Glen Dimplex
Glen Dimplex is an Irish-based consumer electrical goods firm. It is the world's largest electrical heating business and holds significant market positions in the domestic appliance industry worldwide...
Home Appliances, producing kitchen appliances and employing approximately 1,000 people.
Education
Primary Education- St Luke's Catholic Primary School
- Halsnead County Primary School & Training School
- Whiston Willis Primary School
- St Leo's Catholic Primary School
Secondary Education
Two of Whiston's secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
s have recently been vacated and permanently closed under the governments 'Building Schools for the Future' scheme. This £150 million programme will create seven new learning centres to replace the ten existing secondary schools within the Knowsley borough.
- Knowsley Higher Side Comprehensive, Cumber Lane. Constructed in 1964 and one of the first purpose built comprehensive schools in the local area, as of March 2010, was permanently closed and subsequently demolished to make way for the new 'St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic Centre for Learning', constructed on vacant land behind the Higher Side site. Former pupils of the school who were still enrolled at the time of its closure now attend the replacement 'Knowsley Park Centre for Learning' based on Knowsley Park Lane, PrescotPrescotPrescot 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...
.
- St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School, Scotchbarn Lane. Now closed & redeveloped on vacant land behind the former Knowsley Higher Side site on Cumber Lane, renamed as 'St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic Centre for Learning'.
Notable people
- Alan AllportAlan AllportAlan Allport is a British historian whose work looks at the relationship between war and society during the period of the two world wars. He was born in Whiston, Merseyside and moved to the United States in 1994. Allport received a Ph.D. in history from the University of Pennsylvania in 2007 and...
, historian. - James RobyJames RobyJames Roby is an English professional rugby league footballer for St. Helens of Super League. A Great Britain and England international representative hooker, he has played his entire professional career to date at St Helens, winning the 2006 Super League XI Championship with them.-Career:Roby...
, St Helens RLFC and England national rugby league teamEngland national rugby league teamThe England national rugby league team represent England in international rugby league football tournaments. The team has now seen a revival, having largely formed from the Great Britain team, who also represented Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The team is run under the auspices of the Rugby Football...
player was born in Whiston though brought up in nearby St. Helens. - Peter BriggsPeter BriggsPeter Briggs is a British born and based director, producer, screenwriter, and concept artist; hired generally by overseas Hollywood motion picture studios. Although having worked in the motion picture industry for close to 20 years, he is best known for his work on the acclaimed film Hellboy...
, screenwriter of the movie HellboyHellboy (film)Hellboy is a 2004 supernatural superhero film, starring Ron Perlman, John Hurt and Selma Blair, directed by Guillermo del Toro. The film is based on the Dark Horse Comics work Hellboy: Seed of Destruction by Mike Mignola. It was produced by Revolution Studios, and distributed by Columbia Pictures...
, was born in Whiston Hospital; brought up in Cherrytree Close, off Dragon Lane, Whiston. He also attended Higher Side School. - Melanie ChisholmMelanie ChisholmMelanie Jayne Chisholm is an English singer-songwriter, actress and businesswoman professionally known simply as Melanie C . She is best known as one of the five members of the girl group Spice Girls, in which she was nicknamed "Sporty Spice"...
, Sporty Spice in the international girl group, was born in Whiston Hospital; member of the Spice GirlsSpice GirlsThe Spice Girls were a British pop girl group formed in 1994. The group consisted of Victoria Beckham , Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm and Geri Halliwell. They were signed to Virgin Records and released their debut single, "Wannabe" in 1996, which hit number-one in more than 30...
. - Martin DwyerMartin DwyerMartin Dwyer is an English Derby winning flat racing jockey having won the 2006 Vodafone Derby upon Sir Percy. This was his second classic success after winning the Epsom Oaks aboard Casual Look in 2003...
, jockey. Double classic winning flat jockey brought up in Fisher Avenue; off Lickers Lane, Whiston. He attended St. Leo's Primary School and St Edmund Arrowsmith R.C. High School. - Steven GerrardSteven GerrardSteven George Gerrard MBE is an English footballer who plays for and captains Premier League club Liverpool. He also has 89 caps for the England national team. He has played much of his career in a centre midfielder role, but he has also been used as a second striker and right winger...
, Liverpool F.C.Liverpool F.C.Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
(current captain) and EnglandEngland national football teamThe England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
(current vice-captain) international football player. He was born in Whiston Hospital and played for Whiston Juniors FC. - Martin KellyMartin KellyMartin Ronald Kelly is an English footballer who plays for Premier League club Liverpool as a right back, although he spent most of his Academy career playing as a centre back.-2007–08:...
, is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Premier League side Liverpool F.C.Liverpool F.C.Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups... - Willy Russell, prolific writer for stage, television and cinema.
- Dave McCabe, lead vocalist and guitarist for English rock band, The Zutons.
- Mark WardMark WardMark William Ward is a former footballer from Liverpool. He started his career as a youth player with Everton F.C. and then played for Oldham Athletic, West Ham United, Manchester City, Everton, Birmingham City, Huddersfield Town, Ayr United, Wigan Athletic, Dundee, Valur and Northwich...
, former professional footballer with Everton, Manchester City and West Ham United. - Craig HignettCraig HignettCraig Hignett, , is an English former professional footballer who now works as an agent and a commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live...
, former professional footballer with Middlesbrough, Crewe Alexandra, Blackburn Rovers and others. - Joey BartonJoey BartonJoseph Anthony "Joey" Barton is an English footballer who plays for and captains Premier League side Queens Park Rangers as either a central midfielder or a winger....
, English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League side Queens Park Rangers F.C.Queens Park Rangers F.C.Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...