Whiston, Merseyside

infobox UK place
country= England
latitude= 53.4131
longitude= -2.7988
map_type= Merseyside
official_name= Whiston
population= 13,629
metropolitan_borough= Knowsley
metropolitan_county= Merseyside
region= North West England
constituency_westminster= Knowsley South
post_town= PRESCOT
postcode_district= L35
postcode_area= L
dial_code= 0151
os_grid_reference= SJ4791
static_

static_image_caption= Whiston village centre.

Whiston is an area within the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley, Merseyside, England, situated approximately convert|8|mi|km|1 east of Liverpool city centre. It is to the south of the A57 road that links the city with Warrington, and is 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. [citeweb|url=http://history.knowsley.gov.uk/information/print_text.msql?name=Whiston&ref=whorigins|title=Whiston Origins and History|work=Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council|accessdate=21 January|accessyear=2008]

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). Born in Whiston and played for Whiston Juniors FC.
*Peter Reid - Former Everton F.C. player.
*Willy Russell - Prolific writer for stage, television, and cinema.
*Leighton Baines - Everton footballer. Grew up in Whiston and played for Whiston Juniors.

Industries

Probably the largest employer in the village is Whiston Hospital, which is part of the St. Helens & Knowsley Hospitals 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 Private Finance Initiative project has begun, which will see the completion of a brand new state of the art hospital, the first phase of which is due for completion in 2010 [web cite|url=http://www.sthk.nhs.uk/pages/AboutUs.aspx?iPageId=884|title=Redevelopment of Whiston Hospital|accessdate=2008-10-04] . The rebuild cost is estimated to be £338 million [web cite|url=http://www.sthk.nhs.uk/pages/AboutUs.aspx?iPageId=882|title=St.Helens & Knowsley NHS Trust Strategic Redevelopment Project|accessdate=2008-10-04] .

The other large employer is Stoves, part of Glen Dimplex Home Appliances, producing kitchen appliances and employing approximately 1000 people.

Education

*St Lukes Catholic Primary School
*Halsnead County 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. [citeweb|url=http://www.knowsley.gov.uk/education/bsf/|title=Future schooling in Knowsley|work=Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council|accessdate=15 August|accessyear=2007] For example, Higher Side Comprehensive School will no longer exist and will be merged with Prescot High. Fact|date=October 2008

References

External links

* [http://liverpoolstreetgallery.com/thumbnails.php?album=37 Liverpool Street Gallery - Liverpool 35]