Willaston, Ellesmere Port and Neston

infobox UK place
official_name= Willaston
map_type= Cheshire
latitude= 53.292601
longitude= -3.005409
population= 3,913 (2001 Census)citeweb|url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=5949022&c=willaston&d=14&e=16&g=428719&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1194394951868&enc=1|title=2001 Census: Willaston|work=Office for National Statistics|accessdate=6 November|accessyear=2007]
shire_district= Ellesmere Port and Neston
shire_county= Cheshire
region= North West England
country= England
constituency_westminster= Ellesmere Port and Neston
post_town= NESTON
postcode_district= CH64
postcode_area= CH
dial_code= 0151
os_grid_reference= SJ330777 Willaston is a village on the Wirral Peninsula, Cheshire, England. Centred on a village green, it is located between Neston and Ellesmere Port, just south of the boundary with the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral. As Willaston & Thornton, it is a ward of the district of Ellesmere Port and Neston and includes the villages of Hooton and Childer Thornton. At the 2001 Census, the total population of the ward was 3,913.

History

Willaston (or "Wilaveston") is believed to have given its name to the Wirral Hundred ("Hundred of Wilaveston"), the peninsula's former administrative division,citebook|title=Pictures From The Past: Book 3|last=Young|first=Derek & Marian|pages=p20, p25-26] [citeweb|url=http://willaston.majicweb.net/history.htm|title=Willaston in Wirral: History|accessdate=6 September|accessyear=2007] and one of the Hundreds of Cheshire.The "ton" suffix normally indicates a previous use as a meeting place for officials.

Later the village became a township within the parish of Neston, the largest settlement on the Wirral until the early 19th century. Willaston included part of the hamlet of Badgers Rake, which became part of the civil parish of Ledsham in 1933. The population of Willaston was recorded at 196 in 1801, 317 in 1851, 597 in 1901 and 1,458 in 1951. [citeweb|url=http://www.ukbmd.org.uk/genuki/chs/willaston2.html|title=Cheshire Towns & Parishes: Willaston|work=GENUKI UK & Ireland Genealogy|accessdate=6 September|accessyear=2007]

The half timbered building, the 'Red Lion' was an inn built in 1631, although possibly a significant enlargement of an earlier construction. Located opposite the village green, it remained a public house until 1928 and was eventually renovated as a private residence. [citeweb|url=http://willaston.majicweb.net/redlion.htm|title=Willaston in Wirral: The Old Red Lion|accessdate=6 September|accessyear=2007]

Willaston Windmill, built in 1800, was the largest windmill in Wirral. During the early 20th century it was used for the production of flour and to grind cattle food. It remained working until about 1930, when its sails were destroyed in a storm. The windmill has also since been converted into a private dwelling. [citeweb|url=http://willaston.majicweb.net/windmill.htm|title=Willaston in Wirral: Windmill|accessdate=6 September|accessyear=2007]

Community

Hadlow Road railway station, which served the village until its closure in 1955, became part of Wirral Country Park in 1973. The station building, signal box and eastbound platform have been renovated to their former 1950's condition. The former trackbed has become a public pathway, known as the 'Wirral Way'.

Willaston's local football club plays in the West Cheshire Amateur Football League Division 2.

Notable residents

*Sami Hyypiä, professional footballer with Liverpool F.C.
*Stan Boardman, comedian
*Gerry Marsden, singer

References

External links

* [http://willaston.majicweb.net/ Willaston in Wirral]
* [http://www.cheshire.gov.uk/countryside/OutandAbout/country_parks/wirral_country_park.htm Wirral Country Park]