Whiston, Lancashire

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Whiston
Lancashire

Whiston Fire Station
Location
Grid reference: SJ4791
Location: 53°24’47"N, 2°47’53"W
Data
Population: 13,629  (2001)
Post town: Prescot
Postcode: L35
Dialling code: 0151
Local Government
Council: Knowsley
Parliamentary
constituency:
St Helens South and Whiston

Whiston is a large village in southern Lancashire. At the 2001 census the population was recorded as 13,629.

Whiston is crossed by the historic Liverpool to Manchester Railway with services operating from Whiston Railway Station.

History

Whiston was once 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.

In the mid 14th century, the manors of Whiston, Skelmersdale, Parr, and Speke, were held by William Dacre, 2nd Baron Dacre.[1]

The church of St. Nicholas on Windy Arbor Road was consecrated on 30 July 1868. It holds a war memorial, designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, which was struck by lightning in 1928. The memorial was replaced in 1932.

Whiston Hospital

Whiston Hospital

Whiston Hospital, one of the largest acute hospitals in this part of Lancashire. As a teaching hospital, it has well established educational and research relationships with the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University for medical, nursing and allied health training. Over 4,000 members of staff are employed across the organisation and it is responsible for an additional 2,000 trainee specialty doctors based in hospitals and GP practice placements throughout the region. It is reckoned to serve a population of over four million people across Lancashire, Cheshire, Flintshire, Denbighshire and even the Isle of Man.[2]

The original Whiston Hospital was built in 1843 when Prescot Poor Law Union established the Prescot Union Workhouse on Warrington Road, Whiston.[3][4][5] In 1871 a new general hospital was built with a medical isolation unit added in 1887 for cases of cholera and other serious infectious diseases of the time. From 1904, to protect those from disadvantage in later life, birth certificates of infants born in the workhouse gave their address as just 1 Warrington Road, Whiston.[3]

Industries

Local industry includes Glen Dimplex Home Appliances, producing kitchen appliances and employing approximately 1,000 people.

Outside links

References

  1. Edward Baines, William Robert Whatton, Brooke Herford, James Croston, The history of the county palatine and duchy of Lancaster, vol. 5 (J. Heywood, 1893), p. 2
  2. Whiston Hispital on Dr Foster
  3. 3.0 3.1 orkhoues – Prescot
  4. Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News story
  5. < Whiston Workhouse heritage site