Eccleston, Merseyside
Encyclopedia
Eccleston is a civil parish
within the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens
, Merseyside
, England. According to the 2001 Census
it had a population of 10,528.
Historically
a part of Lancashire
, the early history of Eccleston is marked by its status as a township
, an area much larger than the modern civil parish, extending into what is now St Helens
. Part of the township was united with Parr
, Sutton and part of Windle
to form the Municipal Borough of St Helens in 1868.
Eccleston is one of seven civil parishes in St Helens, and one of the largest covering the neighbourhoods of Eccleston Park, Gillars Green, Trapwood Close, and the area around Springfield (now a Carmelite monastery) south of the A580 road
.
which has had a church for over a thousand years.
The present Eccleston Hall dates from the 1820s but there have been halls on the site from the late mediaeval period. The Eccleston family, who were Lords of the Manor of Eccleston, were recusants and there was a Catholic chapel in the old hall which was built in the Tudor era
.
to south and east. Running through Eccleston there is a stream or brook called Windle Brook (actually the boundary with Windle CP) and Mill Brook. There is a mere
called Eccleston Mere and three dam
s used for cooling purposes in factories. There are several open public spaces including many woods and small nature reserve
at Millfields. There are a number of public footpaths through local countryside such as Green Lane and Sadlers Lane.
There is a large public area at Ecclesfield playing fields, which is located behind the Library.
, M62
, M57
and M58
. The A580
(Liverpool to Manchester) locally known as the 'East Lancs' is a 1930s trunk road
running north of the borough linking the M58 and M6, traffic
problems are often reported at the notorious Windle Island. The A570
(St Helens to Southport) links the M58 and M62. The B5201 takes traffic from Prescot through the centre of Eccleston.
There are many frequent bus
services that run to parts of St Helens and Liverpool some of these are:
35/35A Gillars Green-St Helens Junction (Arriva)
37 Eccleston-St Helens Bus Station (Arriva)
137/138 Billinge/St Helens Circular (HTL)
Ther There are no railway stations in Eccleston but there are a number of stations close by such as St Helens Central, St Helens Junction, Eccleston Park, Prescot, Whiston. Liverpool John Lennon Airport
is the closest airport and Manchester
seconds to that both no more than a 45 minute drive.
and a private day nursery at Broadway.
Walmesley Road, Mill Brook Lane and Gillars Green Drive are the main shopping areas and have some parking facilities.
There are also a number of Mother and Toddler groups at St Julie's Parish Hall, the library and the Lester Drive Centre. An NHS dentist at Broadway and a private clinic on Kiln Lane. A medical centre is now located beside The Vicarage on the site of the Church Hall, Chapel Lane.
’s businesses
Also, on Knowsley Road is the home of the 2006/2007 engage Super League
champions, St Helens RLFC (known locally as 'The Saints') and St. Helens Town AFC, the town's non-league football side. The capacity is 19,100 mainly standing with near 3,000 seats in the main stand. The stadium also boasts a restaurant and the clubs' official store. The stadium is over 100 years old and a new improved stadium is currently planned that will see the Saints move to a new home, with a potential stadium in the advanced planning stages that will see the club move to the centre of St. Helens. Though in the historic township of Eccleston the current ground is outside the modern civil parish.
Religion is still quite vibrant in Eccleston with several churches including St Julie (Roman Catholic), Christ Church (Church of England
), St James (Church of England) and Portico (Roman Catholic). Eccleston Methodist Church closed in May 2006. The former United Reformed Church
on Kiln Lane closed in 2005 and the site has now been redeveloped into retirement home
s. Ethnicity is approximately 98% British/Irish White.
Community activities revolve around church and school festivals and fête
s. Other forms of social interaction include meeting on streets, schools, churches, pubs and shops. Eccleston has several pubs including The Seven Stars, The Griffin, The Stanley, The Game Bird (previously The Royal Oak) and The Wellington. All of these public houses serve food.
In terms of sport, the area is home to the amateur Rugby League team Eccleston Lions. There are also teams for the youngster of Eccleston these clubs are Millfields and Bleak Hill.
, special needs and catering facilities. There is also a good sized library in the parish with reference guides and IT facilities.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
within the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens
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...
, 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. According to 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....
it had a population of 10,528.
Historically
Historic 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...
, the early history of Eccleston is marked by its status as a township
Township (England)
In England, a township is a local division or district of a large parish containing a village or small town usually having its own church...
, an area much larger than the modern civil parish, extending into what is now 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...
. Part of the township was united with 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...
, Sutton and part of Windle
Windle, Merseyside
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...
to form the Municipal Borough of St Helens in 1868.
Eccleston is one of seven civil parishes in St Helens, and one of the largest covering the neighbourhoods of Eccleston Park, Gillars Green, Trapwood Close, and the area around Springfield (now a Carmelite monastery) south of the A580 road
A580 road
The A580 is a primary A road in England that connects Walton, near Liverpool and Salford, near Manchester and known officially as Liverpool-East Lancashire Road. Locally, the road is shortened to the "East Lancs". The road was designed and built to provide better access to the Port of Liverpool for...
.
History
Eccleston means church farm or settlement. Eccles which is found in several place names in the North West of England is derived from the Welsh Eglwys and the use of this word implies a Celtic religious foundation. However, there does not seem to have been a church in the township of Eccleston until Portico Our Lady's Roman Catholic chapel in the late 18th century. St Thomas, Eccleston (now on Westfield Street, St Helens town centre) and Christ Church date from 1838/39. It is suggested that the name is connected with the adjoining town 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...
which has had a church for over a thousand years.
The present Eccleston Hall dates from the 1820s but there have been halls on the site from the late mediaeval period. The Eccleston family, who were Lords of the Manor of Eccleston, were recusants and there was a Catholic chapel in the old hall which was built in the Tudor era
Tudor period
The Tudor period usually refers to the period between 1485 and 1603, specifically in relation to the history of England. This coincides with the rule of the Tudor dynasty in England whose first monarch was Henry VII...
.
Governance
Eccleston is built upon green fertile rolling hills with countryside to the north and west and urban sprawlUrban sprawl
Urban sprawl, also known as suburban sprawl, is a multifaceted concept, which includes the spreading outwards of a city and its suburbs to its outskirts to low-density and auto-dependent development on rural land, high segregation of uses Urban sprawl, also known as suburban sprawl, is a...
to south and east. Running through Eccleston there is a stream or brook called Windle Brook (actually the boundary with Windle CP) and Mill Brook. There is a mere
Mere (lake)
Mere in English refers to a lake that is broad in relation to its depth, e.g. Martin Mere. A significant effect of its shallow depth is that for all or most of the time, it has no thermocline.- Etymology :...
called Eccleston Mere and three dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
s used for cooling purposes in factories. There are several open public spaces including many woods and small nature reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
at Millfields. There are a number of public footpaths through local countryside such as Green Lane and Sadlers Lane.
There is a large public area at Ecclesfield playing fields, which is located behind the Library.
Transport
Road connections are to the M6M6 motorway
The M6 motorway runs from junction 19 of the M1 at the Catthorpe Interchange, near Rugby via Birmingham then heads north, passing Stoke-on-Trent, Manchester, Preston, Carlisle and terminating at the Gretna junction . Here, just short of the Scottish border it becomes the A74 which continues to...
, M62
M62 motorway
The M62 motorway is a west–east trans-Pennine motorway in Northern England, connecting the cities of Liverpool and Hull via Manchester and Leeds. The road also forms part of the unsigned Euroroutes E20 and E22...
, M57
M57 motorway
The M57 motorway, also known as the Liverpool Outer Ring Road, is a road in England. Designed as a bypass road for Liverpool, it is long and links various towns east of the city, as well as the M62 and M58 motorways.-Route:...
and M58
M58 motorway
The M58 is a motorway passing through Merseyside and Lancashire, terminating in Greater Manchester, England. It is 12 miles long and provides a link between the M6 motorway and the area north of Liverpool.-Route:...
. The A580
A580 road
The A580 is a primary A road in England that connects Walton, near Liverpool and Salford, near Manchester and known officially as Liverpool-East Lancashire Road. Locally, the road is shortened to the "East Lancs". The road was designed and built to provide better access to the Port of Liverpool for...
(Liverpool to Manchester) locally known as the 'East Lancs' is a 1930s trunk road
Trunk road
A trunk road, trunk highway, or strategic road is a major road—usually connecting two or more cities, ports, airports, and other things.—which is the recommended route for long-distance and freight traffic...
running north of the borough linking the M58 and M6, traffic
Traffic
Traffic on roads may consist of pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, streetcars and other conveyances, either singly or together, while using the public way for purposes of travel...
problems are often reported at the notorious Windle Island. The A570
A570 road
The A570 is a primary route in northern England, that runs from St Helens to Southport. The road begins at junction 7 of the M62 motorway in Merseyside, and runs in a northerly direction as a dual carriageway through the centre of St Helens, meeting the A58 road, then the A580 road to the north of...
(St Helens to Southport) links the M58 and M62. The B5201 takes traffic from Prescot through the centre of Eccleston.
There are many frequent bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
services that run to parts of St Helens and Liverpool some of these are:
35/35A Gillars Green-St Helens Junction (Arriva)
37 Eccleston-St Helens Bus Station (Arriva)
137/138 Billinge/St Helens Circular (HTL)
Ther There are no railway stations in Eccleston but there are a number of stations close by such as St Helens Central, St Helens Junction, Eccleston Park, Prescot, Whiston. Liverpool John Lennon Airport
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...
is the closest airport and Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
seconds to that both no more than a 45 minute drive.
Housing
Eccleston is a mix of middle class and working class homes. Predominantly 1930s semi-detached homes in Eccleston village, council estates at Gillars Green and Trapwood Close (now a mixture of private and housing association property, small 1970s housing estates at Eccleston Mere and an abundance of 1990s detached houses, such as small developments at Ledbury Close, Long Meadow with some houses with gardens backing into the mill brook, Eccleston Woods and The Cloisters. Most recently built are two developments at The Spires and Pikes Bridge Fold, both off Church Lane. There has also been a development of flats on the boundary of the Village on Holme Road on the site of the Triplex factory car park.Economy
Eccleston serves as a suburban area and has a limited number of shops and are mainly local amenity shops which provides a unique florist and recent addtion a Continental syle Coffeehouse, Ice Cream Parlour, Patisserie which services excellent food cuisine, there is also a two small supermarkets, four hairdressers, a chemist and an ex farm shop where one can buy Christmas trees and fireworks. There is a libraryLibrary
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
and a private day nursery at Broadway.
Walmesley Road, Mill Brook Lane and Gillars Green Drive are the main shopping areas and have some parking facilities.
There are also a number of Mother and Toddler groups at St Julie's Parish Hall, the library and the Lester Drive Centre. An NHS dentist at Broadway and a private clinic on Kiln Lane. A medical centre is now located beside The Vicarage on the site of the Church Hall, Chapel Lane.
Landmarks
The main attraction is The Smithy Heritage Centre on Kiln Lane, which is a museum about the works of a local blacksmithBlacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
’s businesses
Also, on Knowsley Road is the home of the 2006/2007 engage Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
champions, St Helens RLFC (known locally as 'The Saints') and St. Helens Town AFC, the town's non-league football side. The capacity is 19,100 mainly standing with near 3,000 seats in the main stand. The stadium also boasts a restaurant and the clubs' official store. The stadium is over 100 years old and a new improved stadium is currently planned that will see the Saints move to a new home, with a potential stadium in the advanced planning stages that will see the club move to the centre of St. Helens. Though in the historic township of Eccleston the current ground is outside the modern civil parish.
People and culture
A resident of Eccleston is known as an "Ecclestonian". Accents in Eccleston vary from that of a St Helens accent through to a 'posh' northern English accent. The people of Eccleston are mainly of St Helens origin with family in the area. Eccleston is an area with households mainly comprising families and the elderly. Young people tend to move away and come back later in life to settle down.Religion is still quite vibrant in Eccleston with several churches including St Julie (Roman Catholic), Christ Church (Church of England
Church 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...
), St James (Church of England) and Portico (Roman Catholic). Eccleston Methodist Church closed in May 2006. The former United Reformed Church
United Reformed Church
The United Reformed Church is a Christian church in the United Kingdom. It has approximately 68,000 members in 1,500 congregations with some 700 ministers.-Origins and history:...
on Kiln Lane closed in 2005 and the site has now been redeveloped into retirement home
Retirement home
A retirement home is a multi-residence housing facility intended for senior citizens. Typically each person or couple in the home has an apartment-style room or suite of rooms. Additional facilities are provided within the building, including facilities for meals, gathering, recreation, and some...
s. Ethnicity is approximately 98% British/Irish White.
Community activities revolve around church and school festivals and fête
Fête
Fête is a French word meaning festival, celebration or party, which has passed into English as a label that may be given to certain events.-Description:It is widely used in England and Australia in the context of a village fête,...
s. Other forms of social interaction include meeting on streets, schools, churches, pubs and shops. Eccleston has several pubs including The Seven Stars, The Griffin, The Stanley, The Game Bird (previously The Royal Oak) and The Wellington. All of these public houses serve food.
In terms of sport, the area is home to the amateur Rugby League team Eccleston Lions. There are also teams for the youngster of Eccleston these clubs are Millfields and Bleak Hill.
Education
Eccleston has some of the best primary schools in the metropolitan borough, including one of the top three primary schools, Eccleston Mere. Other schools include St. Julies and Eccleston Lane Ends. De La Salle High School is also located in Eccleston. Schools in the area have good outdoor, ITInformation technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
, special needs and catering facilities. There is also a good sized library in the parish with reference guides and IT facilities.