Billinge, Merseyside

infobox UK place
country= England
latitude= 53.4932
longitude= -2.7129
official_name= Billinge
civil_parish= Seneley Green
metropolitan_borough= St Helens
region= North West England
metropolitan_county= Merseyside
constituency_westminster= St Helens North
post_town= WIGAN
postcode_district= WN5
postcode_area= WN
dial_code= 01744
os_grid_reference= SJ528998
population= 6,554 (2001 Census)
map_type= Merseyside Billinge is a village within the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens, in Merseyside, England, that formed part of the civil parish of Billinge Chapel End. At the 2001 Census, it had a total resident population of 6,554.citeweb|url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/census2001/ks_urban_north_part_1.pdf|title=2001 Census: Key Statistics (Northern England)|work=Office for National Statistics|accessdate=18 August|accessyear=2008] citeweb|url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=790602&c=billinge&d=16&e=15&g=359737&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1219043866656&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779|title=2001 Census: Billinge CP|work=Office for National Statistics|accessdate=18 August|accessyear=2008]

Billinge is located by road approximately 5.5 miles (8.9 km) southwest of Wigan (town centre) and 3.4 miles (5.5 km) northeast of St Helens (town centre). The Billinge parish of St. Aiden is in the Wigan Deanery, which is part of the Diocese of Liverpool.

Geography and administration

Civic history

This township or civil parish was within the historic county boundaries of Lancashire. It was in Wigan ecclesiastical parish (Deanery of Wigan) and, therefore, in the Diocese of Liverpool, previously Chester. It came to be divided into two separate townships, Billinge Chapel End and Billinge Higher End. These townships were in Wigan poor law Union. In 1872 Billinge Local Board of Health was established for the area of these two townships and two detached parts of Winstanley township (one known as Blackley Hurst and the other situated in the Carr Mill area, both lying within the area of Billinge Chapel End township). In 1894 the area of the Local Board (together with the remaining area of Winstanley township) became Billinge Urban District. In 1927 the Urban District was renamed Billinge and Winstanley Urban District. In 1974 the Billinge Higher End ward and most of Winstanley ward became part of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester County; the Billinge Chapel End area (including the two detached parts of Winstanley township) became part of the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens, Merseyside County. [cite web |url=http://www.gmcro.co.uk/guides/gazette/gazframe.htm |title=Greater Manchester Records Office Archive|accessdate=20 December|accessyear=2006]

History

Etymology

Billinge may mean "(place at the) pointed hill", from Old English "billa" "ridge, bill of sword" and -"ing" "place at/people of the". The name was recorded as "Bylnge" in 1252.

Notable people

*Colin Greenall, former professional footballer
*Leon Osman, Everton footballer
*Carley Stenson, "Hollyoaks" actress

References

ee also

*Billinge Hill
*Billinge Urban District
*Higher End