Spital, Merseyside
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  Map sources for Spital, Merseyside at grid reference SJ3483
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Spital is a small a suburb of Wirral located on Merseyside, England. Spital is mostly incorporated into the town of Bebington and the most westerly point of Spital forms the most northern edge of Bromborough. The area of Spital now includes the small villages of Poulton Lancelyn and Clatterbridge.
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[edit] Origins
Spital has a history spanning over 800 years. The first recorded dwelling in the area was a small chapel built sometime before AD 1183 with the name St. Thomas the Martyr. It is not known who built this chapel but was probably used by workers and owners of the Poulton Estate, founded in 1133 at nearby Poulton Lancelyn. In 1283, the brethren of Bebington were given licence to use the forested land where Spital stands today to be used as a hospital for lepers. This hospital was probably attached to the chapel already in the area, but there are no remains of this building today.
The word "spital" was a term given to a place or building (or "spital house") that acted as a hospital or colony for lepers. Therefore it seems obvious that the name Spital derives from this; however it could also be argued that Spital's name derived from the term "hospitality" - this was due to the large proportion of people who worked as servants at the Poulton estate in Poulton Lancelyn. However many villages with the name "Spital" in their title can be put down to hospitals being in the area many years previously. Poulton cum Spital and Spital Old Hall were the original names for the village until part of this was formally dropped at the end of the 19th century.
[edit] Recent history
The area became more popular during the 20th century after Spital Station on the Chester to Birkenhead railway was connected to the Mersey Railway line in 1891, and businessmen and workers could easily reach places of work, primarily in Liverpool. Spital was a particularly popular place to live with sea merchants and ships' captains due its proximity to the River Mersey and Irish Sea during the height of maritime activity in the area.Spital also contains a small primary school called poulton lancelyn primary school, and contains shops including spar.
Spital was originally part of Cheshire when in 1974 it was absorbed into the new administrative county of Merseyside created through the reforms of the Local Government Act 1972. Spital has since grown and is now part of the larger town of Bebington which borders Birkenhead. After the ending of the workhouse system in 1930, Wirral workhouse was renamed Clatterbridge (County) General Hospital and under the National Health Service became Clatterbridge Hospital. In 1958 it became a centre specialising in Oncology. The centre was built in to enlarge cancer care services from a cramped site on Myrtle Street in Liverpool - since then the site has been expanded and the hospital has been awarded 3 out of 3 stars in the NHS scoring system.
Today Spital is a popular Wirral suburb which continues to grow in popularity with both professionals and families. New apartments and flats are being created in the area as developers and house buyers realise the potential of the area due to its pleasant village-like atmosphere and its close proximity to the commuter railway line and M53 motorway.
[edit] Facts and figures
Population Figures
- 1801 - 87
- 1851 - 295
- 1901 - 487
- 1951 - 1257
- 2001 - ?
Statistics
- Parliamentary Constituency - Wirral South
- Current MP - Ben Chapman [Labour] (2005 general election)
- Local Authority - Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council
- Police Force - Merseyside Police
- Local Hospital - Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology (NHS Trust)
- Average Price of a Semi Detached House - £143,375 (Dec 2005)
Transport
- Despite its small size, the area is served by Spital Station on the Merseyrail network with frequent services to Liverpool, Chester and Ellesmere Port. The station is staffed from early in the morning through to 10 minutes before the last train at night and there is a free car park with space for over 40 vehicles.
- Regular bus services leave Spital cross-roads for various destinations around Merseyside. Check the Merseytravel Website for more details.
- The main roads; M53, A41 and B5137 pass through or near the area.
There have also been a number of new houses and flats built On Spital Road and Vanderble Avenue.
[edit] Trivia
- The first ever broadcast interview with The Beatles was recorded at Clatterbridge Hospital in the early 1960s.
- Legend has it that Irish patron saint, St Patrick, blessed a well in the local Brotherton Park during a trip to England.
- Former British Prime Minister Harold Wilson spent his adolescent years living in Spital.
[edit] External Links
