Parkgate, Cheshire

infobox UK place
country= England
official_name= Parkgate
map_type= Cheshire
latitude= 53.2963
longitude= -3.085
population= 3,702 (2001 Census)
shire_district= Ellesmere Port and Neston
shire_county= Cheshire
region= North West England
constituency_westminster= Ellesmere Port and Neston
post_town= ELLESMERE PORT
postcode_district= CH64
postcode_area= CH
dial_code= 0151
os_grid_reference= SJ277782
static_

static_image_caption= View of Parkgate showing saltmarsh and quayside Parkgate is a village on the Wirral Peninsula, in the part that remains in Cheshire, in the North West of England. It is situated on the coastline of the River Dee, adjoining 100 square kilometres of salt marsh, separated by a sandstone former sea wall. [citeweb|url=http://www.neston.org.uk/about/Parkgate.htm|title=Neston website: About Parkgate|work=The Neston Market Town Initiative|accessdate=21 October|accessyear=2007] Administratively, the village is within the borough of Ellesmere Port and Neston. At the 2001 Census Parkgate had a population of 3,702.citeweb|url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=5948065&c=parkgate&d=14&e=16&g=428554&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&enc=1|title=Population Data, 2001 Census: Parkgate|work=Office for National Statistics|accessdate=3 July|accessyear=2007]

History

Parkgate was an important port from the start of the eighteenth century, in particular as an embarkation point for Ireland. The River Dee, which served as a shipping lane to the city of Chester, had silted up, creating a need for a port further downstream. A quay was built near the small town of Neston but further silting required yet another re-siting slightly further downstream near the gate of Neston's hunting park. Hence the settlement of Parkgate was born. [citeweb|url=http://www.neston.org.uk/History/parkgate_history.htm|title=Neston website: Parkgate History|work=The Neston Market Town Initiative|accessdate=26 July|accessyear=2007] However the inevitable happened, the Dee silted up even further, and Parkgate became unusable as a port, to be superseded by the Port of Liverpool, on the nearby River Mersey. [citeweb|url=http://www.pol.ac.uk/home/insight/dee.html|title=Historical information about the River Dee|work=The Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory|accessdate=26 July|accessyear=2007]

During the years when the port existed, two distinguished guests stayed in the local hostelries. One was Lord Nelson's mistress, (Lady) Emma Hamilton, who was born in nearby Ness and who used to bathe at Parkgate, apparently as a cure for a skin complaint. [citeweb|url=http://www.allertonoak.com/merseySights/WirralSW.html|title=The Wirral: Parkgate, Neston, Willaston and Burton|work=Allerton Oak|accessdate=20 February|accessyear=2008] [citeweb|url=http://www.cheshiremagazine.com/Archives/hamilton.html|title=Lady Hamilton and Parkgate|work=Cheshire Magazine|publisher=C.C. Publishing|accessdate=26 July|accessyear=2007] The other was Handel who stayed in Parkgate before sailing to Dublin in April 1742 for the first performance of "Messiah". He had finished "Messiah" in the summer of 1741 and at most he could only have added minor touches to the work in Parkgate.

Towards the end of the eighteenth century Parkgate was popular as a seaside resort with baths. But this diminished as the sands of the estuary were consumed with grass. With no beach and no direct access to the sea, Parkgate could manage only small subsistence from fishing.

Mostyn House School, a striking black and white building, was opened in Parkgate in 1855. Since 1862 it has been run by the Grenfell family, currently as a co-educational day school. Sir Wilfred Grenfell (1865-1940), famous medical missionary to Newfoundland and Labrador, was born in Parkgate and was a pupil at the school. [citeweb|url=http://mostynhouse.co.uk./index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=48|title=History of the School|work=Mostyn House School|accessdate=20 February|accessyear=2008]

During the Second World War two of Parkgate's houses which both contained cellars were converted into shelters and used for public protection from the bombs. Small lights were placed on the marsh to trick the German bombers into thinking settlements were below.

After the war, Parkgate flourished as a highly desirable residential area. It became a conservation area in 1973.

Community

Still popular with tourists, it boasts world-class bird watching, regionally famous homemade ice cream, world-class sunsets and fresh local seafood, including shrimps and cockles.

During the water reaches the sea wall, and visitors arrive at the village to witness the unusual sight. Bird watchers also come at this time to watch the birds usually hidden in the grasses of the marshland. [citeweb|url=http://www.freewebs.com/parkgateguide/ |title=Discover Parkgate...|work=Parkgate Guide website|accessdate=20 August|accessyear=2007]

References