Norris Green

Coordinates: 53°26′06″N 2°55′44″W / 53.435°N 2.929°W / 53.435; -2.929

Norris Green
Norris Green  Norris Green shown within Merseyside
Population	17,784 (2001 Census)[1]
OS grid reference	SJ383954
Metropolitan borough	Liverpool
Metropolitan county	Merseyside
Region	North West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	LIVERPOOL
Postcode district	L11
Dialling code	0151
Police	Merseyside
Fire	Merseyside
Ambulance	North West
EU Parliament	North West England
UK Parliament	Liverpool West Derby
List of places: UK • England • Merseyside

Norris Green is a large housing estate and council ward in Liverpool, Merseyside, England. At the 2001 Census it had a population of 17,784.^[1]

History

Historically a part of Lancashire, Norris Green was developed in the 1920s and named after the Liverpool-based Norris family.

It is thought the land Norris Green was built on was donated to the city by Lord Derby, who was at the time resident at nearby Knowsley Hall. Although it is also suggested Lord Derby did not give the land away - he didn't own it in the first place.

The area called Norris Green was a farming estate and its stretched as far as stone bridge house to the north and norris green farm (opposite the junction of hornspit lane and Almonds green) to the south - The sale boundary in 1920's consisted of the railway, Carr Lane, Dwerryhouse Lane, Hornspit lane. It was bought by the council for the sum of £65,000 from the estate of leyland & Naylor.

Geography

The area is defined by a number of major thoroughfares. These are: the A580 East Lancashire Road and a small portion of Walton Hall Avenue to the north; Lowerhouse Lane and Dwerryhouse Lane to the east; Muirhead Avenue and Queens Drive to the south and Townsend Avenue back to Walton Hall Avenue to the west.

The area is bordered by Walton to the west, Fazakerley to the north, Croxteth to the north east and east, West Derby to the south and Clubmoor to the south-west

Norris Green's district centre is known locally as "Broadway", consisting of mainly shops found around Broadway and Broad Lane (though this is actually located in neighbouring Clubmoor ward). The former North Liverpool Extension Line runs past this area and includes Broadway Bridge.

There are no actual pubs in the main residential area, but a small number of public houses do exist particularly around the vicinity of Broadway shops.

Housing

Homes on the periphery (outer edge) of the estate and on the main routes through the area are largely brick and well-built, with those on minor routes and residential roads are of concrete construction. It is this concrete group of housing which is considered defective.

The estate was subject to large scale upgrading and renovation in the early 1970s, when still almost universally under local council ownership - this was several years before the introduction of the right to buy scheme which gave council tenants the right to buy their homes from local authorities.

A number of new homes are planned to be constructed on derelict land cleared following the demolition of defective houses on the "Boot Estate". Most of these demolitions took place around the year 2000.

Broadway, Norris Green

Landmarks

The most notable landmark when approaching Norris Green from the north or west is the large former Cheshire Lines railway bridge, on the former Loop Line, crossing the junction of Utting Avenue and Townsend Avenue from North to South. A 1930s art deco public library is also widely recognised. The exterior and interior of Norris Green Youth Centre have been refurbished; this 2011 refurbishment, supported by the annual charity event Children in Need, was featured on BBC Television's DIY SOS.

Transport

There are a number of frequent bus services to and from Liverpool City Centre via Norris Green and the Broadway area. A major cross city bus route, the 61 Aigburth to Seaforth bus service also passes through the area. A project to provide a tram service, Merseytram, was abandoned due to a lack of funds. the 14 is also a main bus route in norriss green running form (the city center) to (willow way croxteth)

Gangs

Whilst filming for an ITV Tonight with Trevor McDonald special, journalist and presenter Sheila Fogarty and her crew were threatened by teenagers armed with glass bottles and stones in Norris Green in January 2008.^[2]

The Sky1 programme Ross Kemp on Gangs featured the gang problems in Norris Green.

Each of these programmes have been accompanied by allegations of judicious editing on behalf of the producers and/or payments for local youths to enact scenes or speak in a particular manner. These allegations are unsubstantiated.

Notable people

• Steve Coppell, former Manchester United football player and former manager of Reading, was born here.
• Actor Geoffrey Hughes, who found fame in Coronation Street, and later Heartbeat and Keeping Up Appearances, was born in Norris Green.
• Holly Johnson and other members of Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
• Ian McCulloch, lead singer of the prominent Liverpool band Echo & the Bunnymen grew up on Parthenon Drive in Norris Green. Also, a track from their 2006 album Siberia is titled Parthenon Drive.
• Winifred Robinson, the BBC Radio presenter, lived here for twenty years from 1962.
• Joe Royle, former Everton player and Manchester City manager, was also from the area.
• 1980's pop band A Flock of Seagulls originated from Norris Green.
• Mark "Bez" Berry's parents grew up in the area.^[3]
• Former Liverpool FC player, cousin of Frank Lampard and Son of Harry Redknapp, Jamie Redknapp lived in Norris Green.
• Actor Tom Baker lived in this area.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} 2001 Census: Norris Green, Office for National Statistics, http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=3&b=6078169&c=norris+green&d=14&e=16&g=358679&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1221267094828&enc=1, retrieved 13 September 2008 
2. ^ Gun aimed at BBC radio presenter, BBC News, 28 January 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/7212556.stm, retrieved 28 January 2008 
3. ^ http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-entertainment/echo-entertainment/2009/12/18/why-shaun-ryder-is-still-steppin-on-100252-25418573/

External links

• Liverpool City Council, Ward Profile: Norris Green
• Liverpool Street Gallery - Liverpool 11