Marshside, Sefton
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Marshside was a detached settlement, on the northern fringe of what is now Southport, Merseyside. It is part of the ancient parish of North Meols.
Marshside's most notable features are neighbours: the sandwinning plant on the beach by the junction of Marshside Road and Marine Drive (the "Coast Road") and the SSSI and nature reserve on the opposite side of Marine Drive. The sandwinning plant extracts thousands of tonnes of Southport sand per year for use in industry, while the nature reserve provides food and accommodation to many native and migratory birds. The nature reserve is managed by the RSPB.
Marshside's traditional industry was shrimping, and the practice still continues to a diminished degree today.
Marshside has four schools: Marshside Primary School, St Patrick's Primary School, Larkfield Primary School (between Larkfield Lane and Preston New Road) and Stanley High School (on Fleetwood Road). The last of these is the largest, with around 800 pupils between the ages of 11 and 16.
Marshside has surprisingly few pubs (compared with neighbouring Churchtown, possibly in part due to the strong tradition of Methodism in the former village. However, there is the Shrimper on Fylde Road (next to the Somerfield supermarket). The Shrimper is a food-serving pub and part of a large chain. A notable feature is a fish & chip shop built on to the back of the building in the car park, although this is no longer operational.
St Patrick's Parish Club on Marshside Road is another establishment licensed to serve alcohol. Situated at the back of the old church, the members club is open throughout the week. The only other place to serve alcohol in Marshside is the Fleetwood Hesketh Sports & Social Club, on Fylde Road. Built on land acquired from the Meols Hall estate in Churchtown, this private members club has various sports teams including football, cricket, crown green and indoor bowls, darts, and snooker. The bar has a pool table, dart board, a double snooker room and several large television screens which makes it a popular venue for watching football. The club consists of 3 bars, one for members, one for private hire and an external bar in the recently completed Pavillion. Although long-established, the club didn't have a licence to serve alcohol for many of its early years due to the Methodism of the majority of its members. The club is currently home to many teams including Fleetwood Hesketh CC in the Liverpool District Premier League, and Fleetwood Hesketh F.C. in the West Lancashire League Premier Division.
The main modern industry in Marshside is situated on the estate behind the Shrimper pub, housed in a number of metal-clad buildings. There is a bakery and a publisher's warehouse amongst others.