Windle, Merseyside
Encyclopedia
Windle is a suburb of St. Helens
, and Ward of the metropolitan borough
of the same name. The 2001 census gives Windle a population of 8,621 in 3,607 households. It borders the villages of Eccleston and Rainford
. It was one of the original four townships alongside Eccleston, Parr
and Sutton formed that would later merge to become St. Helens. The name derives from Windy Hill.
in Cheshire
who were the eventual inheritors of the land and title.
Other significant families were the Colleys (or Cowleys), Hindley and Urmstons. The families of Harflynch and Eccles appear in the sixteenth century; and others of the neighbourhood, like the Byroms, Parrs, and Woodfalls, were also owners of land. Adam Martindale
, a puritan divine, born near Mossbank in 1623, recorded daily life and events of the area in his diaries, describing the chapelry and family interactions.
18th century Windle was originally constituted by the villages and areas of Cowley Hill, Gerards Bridge, Hardshaw, Islands Brow, Laffak, Moss Bank, Pocket Noot, Windle Ashes and Windle Smithy. Hardshaw (or antiquated Hardsheigh), described as a Berewick in the Domesday Book was the site of The Chapel of St Elyn in Chapel Lane. The modern town of St Helens
was formed around the Chapel of St Elyn that was located within the Hardshaw berewick since at least the 16th century.
In 1910 the area was said to cover 3,150 acre
Until 1834 Windle was part of the ancient West Derby hundred
before becoming part of the district of the Prescot Parish and Poor Law Union (as was much of St Helens). In 1834 St Helens was established as a Sub District before becoming a charter borough in 1868.
The Windle Parish was reduced as an official body in 1894 to allow for the creation of the St Helens Parish. In 1934 it was again reduced. Windle falls under the remit of the unitary authority that is St Helens Council for all policy decisions. The Parish Council retains some small authority for local matters within the community.
Bleak Hill, Rivington and St. Thomas of Canterbury are the main primary schools in the area.
town centre is the A570 (Rainford Road), the area also being within walking distance of the A580 (East Lancashire Road), that links Liverpool and Manchester. The A580 is renowned for its traffic problems particularly at the Windle Island junction, where during rush hour traffic congestion can be expected. It has also been the site of numerous car accidents.
Public open spaces include Queens Park, Cowley Hill, Bishop Road and Victoria Park.
St Helens Cricket Club
is based on Windleshaw Road.
St Helens Recreation Cricket Club
, aka St Helens Recs, is based in Ruskin Drive, formerly Pilkington's Sports Ground.
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...
, and Ward of the metropolitan borough
Metropolitan Borough of St Helens
The Metropolitan Borough of St Helens is a metropolitan borough of Merseyside, in North West England. It is named after its largest town St Helens, and covers an area which includes the settlements of Newton-le-Willows, Earlestown, Haydock, Rainhill, Eccleston, Clock Face, Billinge and...
of the same name. The 2001 census gives Windle a population of 8,621 in 3,607 households. It borders the villages of Eccleston and Rainford
Rainford
Rainford is a village and civil parish within Metropolitan Borough of St Helens, in Merseyside, England. It is around north of St Helens. At the 2001 Census the population of the civil parish was 8,344....
. It was one of the original four townships alongside Eccleston, 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 Sutton formed that would later merge to become St. Helens. The name derives from Windy Hill.
History
Windhull, 1201, (and common; Wyndhill, 1320; Wyndhyll, Wyndill, Wyndell, Wyndle, xvi century) a Manor originally fell under the fee of the Warrington Barons until at least 1585. The first Baron is listed as Pain de Vilers. Vilers was disenfranchised by William de Ferrers the Earl of Derby to the benefit of William le Boteler from Warrington. The Manor was subject to contesting claims by the Vilers to no avail. Portions of Windle over the next three hundred years were divided between the families local gentry Peter de Burnhull, Alan de Windle III and Thurstan de Holand The de Burnhull family married into the Gerard family from nearby KingsleyKingsley, Cheshire
Kingsley is a civil parish and a village in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is approximately 5 miles south east of the town of Frodsham....
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...
who were the eventual inheritors of the land and title.
Other significant families were the Colleys (or Cowleys), Hindley and Urmstons. The families of Harflynch and Eccles appear in the sixteenth century; and others of the neighbourhood, like the Byroms, Parrs, and Woodfalls, were also owners of land. Adam Martindale
Adam Martindale
Adam Martindale was a British presbyterian minister, closely involved in the evolution of presbyterianism in Lancashire in the seventeenth century.-Biography:...
, a puritan divine, born near Mossbank in 1623, recorded daily life and events of the area in his diaries, describing the chapelry and family interactions.
18th century Windle was originally constituted by the villages and areas of Cowley Hill, Gerards Bridge, Hardshaw, Islands Brow, Laffak, Moss Bank, Pocket Noot, Windle Ashes and Windle Smithy. Hardshaw (or antiquated Hardsheigh), described as a Berewick in the Domesday Book was the site of The Chapel of St Elyn in Chapel Lane. The modern town of 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...
was formed around the Chapel of St Elyn that was located within the Hardshaw berewick since at least the 16th century.
In 1910 the area was said to cover 3,150 acre
Governance
Windle is one of 16 wards in the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens.Until 1834 Windle was part of the ancient 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...
before becoming part of the district of the Prescot Parish and Poor Law Union (as was much of St Helens). In 1834 St Helens was established as a Sub District before becoming a charter borough in 1868.
The Windle Parish was reduced as an official body in 1894 to allow for the creation of the St Helens Parish. In 1934 it was again reduced. Windle falls under the remit of the unitary authority that is St Helens Council for all policy decisions. The Parish Council retains some small authority for local matters within the community.
Education facilities
Cowley International College and De La Salle High School are the two high schools in the area.Bleak Hill, Rivington and St. Thomas of Canterbury are the main primary schools in the area.
Infrastructure
The main access route that links Windle to St. HelensSt 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 is the A570 (Rainford Road), the area also being within walking distance of the A580 (East Lancashire Road), that links Liverpool and Manchester. The A580 is renowned for its traffic problems particularly at the Windle Island junction, where during rush hour traffic congestion can be expected. It has also been the site of numerous car accidents.
Entertainment and leisure
The area is host to two leisure centres in the suburb of Dentons Green. Queens Park and Ruskin Leisure The new Queens Park complex contains facilities for swimming, keep fit, bowling, tennis, basketball, rugby and football. Ruskin sports a gym and swim pool, in addition to cricket, rounders, football and rugby fields.Public open spaces include Queens Park, Cowley Hill, Bishop Road and Victoria Park.
Sport
Windle is home to Liverpool St. Helens FCLiverpool St Helens F.C.
Liverpool St Helens Football Club are a rugby union team formed from the merger of Liverpool Football Club and St. Helens RUFC. The club currently plays in North 1 West....
St Helens Cricket Club
St Helens Cricket Club
St Helens Cricket Club is an English amateur cricket club based in St Helens, Merseyside. The club was formed in 1843, making it one of the oldest clubs in Lancashire, the club plays its home games on Windleshaw Road Cricket Ground, Dentons Green, St Helens....
is based on Windleshaw Road.
St Helens Recreation Cricket Club
St Helens Recreation Cricket Club
St Helens Recreation Cricket Club aka St Helens Recs Cricket Club , is an English amateur cricket club based in St Helens, Merseyside....
, aka St Helens Recs, is based in Ruskin Drive, formerly Pilkington's Sports Ground.
External links
- Windle Parish - Windle Parish Council