Burton, Wirral

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Burton
Cheshire
St Nicholas's Church, Burton-in-Wirral - geograph.org.uk - 1495720.jpg
St Nicholas' Church, Burton
Location
Grid reference: SJ316741
Location: 53°15’36"N, 3°1’30"W
Data
Population: 1,620  (2001[1])
Post town: Neston
Postcode: CH64
Dialling code: 0151
Local Government
Council: Cheshire West & Chester
Parliamentary
constituency:
Ellesmere Port and Neston

Burton is a village and ancient parish in the Wirral Hundred of Cheshire.

History

The population was recorded at 288 in 1801, 291 in 1851, 222 in 1901 and 667 in 1951.[2] The Cheshire and Chester Record Office has records of baptisms, marriages and burials at the parish church, St Nicholas', dating from 1538.

Ancient

Burton was first documented in the Domesday Book and historically was on the route which travellers would take from London to Birkenhead.[3] Owing to its location on trade routes, it is thought to have developed at a faster rate than neighbouring communities. Indeed, during the fourteenth century trade and travel allowed Burton to flourish, standing as it did near the site of embarcation for the ferry to North Wales and on the main route to the city of Chester. However, the build up of silt in the River Dee led to a decrease in shipping trade,[3] and Burton's prosperity took a downturn when the river course was diverted in the eighteenth century.

Modern

In recent years Burton has become a quiet 'picture postcard' village much sought-after on the property market. In 2001 the village of Burton was ranked eighth overall in a UK market research survey of so-called 'super rich' communities by Philip Beresford of the Sunday Times Rich List, with millionaires making up 16% of the population in its postal district.[4][5]

The village is the location of Burton Manor, formerly a residential adult education college operated by Liverpool City Council. Just to the south of Burton is the RSPB's Burton Mere Wetlands reserve.

Railway station

Burton Point railway station in 1961

Burton had an operational railway station, Burton Point, on the Borderlands Line, from 1889 until 1955. Services were to Wrexham and Seacombe. The station being a long walk outside of the village did not promote usage as cars became common in the 1950s. The station is still almost entirely intact with the station buildings currently forming part of a garden centre.[6] The line is proposed to be incorporated into Merseyrail running right into the underground section in Liverpool city centre. However no plans were forwarded to reopen the station.

Famous people

Burton is the birthplace of Bishop Thomas Wilson (1663–1755), Bishop of Sodor and Man. The popular BBC radio broadcaster John Peel grew up in the village, having been born in Heswall.

References

Further reading

Outside links

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