Woolton

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Woolton is a suburb of Liverpool, Merseyside, England and a Liverpool City Council Ward. It is located to the south of the city, bordered by Gateacre, Hunts Cross and Allerton. To the east is Halewood, which is a part of Knowsley.

History

Originally a separate village, it was incorporated into the City of Liverpool in 1913. The area was referred to as Uluentune in the Domesday Book. Shortly after the Domesday survey, which was completed in 1086, Woolton became part of the Barony of Halton and Widnes. In 1189 a charge was granted by John, Constable of Chester, to the order of Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, a religious order who protected the routes for Christians who were on a pilgrimage to The Holy Land. These Knights Hospitallers held land in Woolton for over 350 years, until it was confiscated from them in 1559 by Queen Elizabeth I. The manorial rights to Woolton passed from Queen Elizabeth to James I who sold them to William Stanley, 6th Earl of Derby. Woolton then passed to Isaac Green, and through his daughter to her son Bamber Gascoyne of Childwall (MP for Liverpool 1780-96) (an ancestor of the Bamber Gascoigne who hosted University Challenge for many years), and is presently owned by the Marquis of Salisbury.

Description

Woolton is now a prestigious middle class suburb. Perhaps its biggest claim to fame is that Paul McCartney and John Lennon met there for the first time. Housing in Woolton is primarily detached, although some well-preserved terraces survive in Woolton Village.

The village is also known for its numerous high standard pubs and inns, frequented by famous individuals from all around Liverpool. Public Houses such as The White Horse and the pub formerly known as The Elephant attract many customers. Also of note are the Victorian swimming baths building, and the public library converted from a methodist chapel.

Many Beatles landmarks can be found in Woolton, including Mendips (Lennon's childhood home at 251 Menlove Avenue), Strawberry Field, the grave of Eleanor Rigby in the churchyard of St. Peter's Church, and its church hall, where Lennon and McCartney first met at the Woolton Parish Church Garden Fete.

Attractions

Transport

Hunts Cross Station is one mile south of Woolton, serving local services on the southern route of the Manchester to Liverpool line between Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Oxford Road, and also Merseyrail's Northern Line to Liverpool Central and Southport. Liverpool South Parkway, one and a half miles to the west of Woolton, serves the same lines in addition to Crewe and Birmingham stopping services.
Bus services provide connections with Liverpool John Lennon Airport, the city centre, neighbouring districts and the broader Liverpool area.

Notable residents

Fabio Aurelio, footballer
Malandra Burrows, former Emmerdale actress and singer
Dirk Kuyt, footballer. His Woolton luxury home was burgled in November 2007
John Lennon
Pepe Reina, footballer
Fernando Torres, footballer
Ernest Wright Alexander, World War I recipient of the Victoria Cross. The house in which he was born, "The Hayes", has now been demolished.

External links

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Last updated on Sunday February 17, 2008 at 09:47:09 PST (GMT -0800)
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