Whiston, Merseyside

Coordinates: 53°24′47″N 2°47′56″W / 53.4131, -2.7988

Whiston is an area within the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley, Merseyside, England and a suburb of the city of Liverpool. It lies to the east of Liverpool lying approximately 8 miles (12.9 km) from the city centre, and is south of the road linking Liverpool and Warrington, and crossed by the northern route of the Liverpool to Manchester railway.

History

Historically a part of Lancashire, for more than 450 years it was known for its coal mines. Its recorded history begins in the 13th century but its roots are much older. 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.^[1]

Famous Whistonians

• Peter Briggs - Screenwriter of the movie Hellboy, was born in Whiston hospital; raised in Cherrytree Close, off Dragon Lane, Whiston. Attended Higher Side School.
• Melanie Chisholm - Sporty Spice in the international girl band Spice Girls.
• Martin Dwyer - Jockey. Double classic winning flat jockey raised in Fisher Avenue; off Lickers Lane, Whiston. Attended St. Leo's Primary School and St Edmund Arrowsmith R.C. High School.
• Steven Gerrard - Liverpool F.C. (current captain) and England international football player (current captain)
• Peter Reid - Former Everton F.C. player.
• Willy Russell - Prolific writer for stage, television, and cinema.

Industries

Probably the largest employer in the town is that of Whiston Hospital, which is part of the St. Helens & Knowsley NHS trust. The trust employs approximately 4500 people, the majority based at Whiston. The hospital itself is a District General Hospital, with almost 900 beds, specialising in Burns & Plastic treatment. A PFI (Privately Financed Initiative) project has begun, which will see the completion of a brand new state of the art hospital, due for completion in 2010. The rebuild cost is estimated to be £343 million.

Other employers include Glen Dimplex Home Appliances, producing general kitchen appliances, employing approximately 1000 people.

Education

• St Lukes Catholic Primary School
• Halsnead Community Primary School & Training School
• Higher Side Comprehensive School
• Whiston Willis Primary School
• St Leo's Catholic Primary School

A number of Whiston's schools will move or be merged within the next year under the Building Schools for the Future scheme. This £150 million programme will create seven new learning centres to replace the ten existing secondary schools.^[2] For example, Higher Side Comprehensive School will no longer exist and will be merged with Prescot High.

References