Irby, Merseyside
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Irby | |
  Irby shown within Merseyside |
|
| Population | 6,110 (2001 Census)[1] |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| District | Wirral |
| Shire county | Merseyside |
| Region | North West |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | WIRRAL |
| Postcode district | CH61 |
| Dialling code | 0151 |
| Police | Merseyside |
| Fire | Merseyside |
| Ambulance | North West |
| European Parliament | North West England |
| UK Parliament | Wirral West |
| List of places: UK • England • Merseyside | |
Irby is a village on the Wirral Peninsula, Merseyside, England. The village covers an area of 20 square kilometres. To the north of Irby lies the associated hamlet of Irby Hill. Map It is part of the Greasby, Frankby & Irby Ward of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral and is situated in the parliamentary constituency of Wirral West. According to the 2001 Census, Irby had a population of 6,110,[1] contributing to a total population of 14,667 for the whole ward.[2]
Contents |
[edit] History
The name Irby is believed to be of Viking origin, meaning; "the settlement of the Irish".[3] Other nearby towns and villages with the viking "by" suffix in their name include Frankby, Greasby and Pensby.
The village was formerly a township in Woodchurch Parish, Wirral Hundred. The population was 96 in 1801, 180 in 1851 and 146 in 1901. [4]
A reference to the existence of a mill at Irby was made in a rental agreement of 1431, whereby tenants were expected to "...grind at Irby Mill to the 16th measure." This referred to the miller receiving this amount in flour as a toll. This original wooden structure was replaced by a post mill in the early 18th century. After being disused since about 1878 and in a very dilapidated condition, the mill was demolished in 1898. It was the last post mill of its kind on the Wirral.[5] The demolition work was carried out by unskilled labour hired by the miller. They removed the brick base first, resulting in the whole structure becoming dangerously unsafe and crashing to the ground, narrowly avoiding injury or loss of life.[6] The Irby Mill public house, which opened for business in 1980, stands adjacent to the site in a building formerly known as 'Irby Mill Cottage' [7]
On 1 April 1974, local government reorganisation in England and Wales resulted in most of Wirral, including Irby, transfer from the county of Cheshire to Merseyside.
[edit] Demographics
Whilst not being diverse in terms of ethnicity, Irby is an economically diverse neighbourhood, possessing a mixture of large 1930s built private houses together with an estate of 1970s built homes of in a range of sizes and an element of 1950s built council housing all in close proximity. In this respect it is regarded locally as a very desirable place to live. Irby is within the catchment area for two local grammar schools: Calday Grange Grammar School for Boys and West Kirby Grammar School for Girls. Despite the typically suburban character of most of its neighbourhoods, Irby surrounded on all sides by a very large amount of greenbelt and woodland.
[edit] Education
Pensby High School for Boys (renamed Pensby Sports College) and Pensby High School for Girls are the nearest state secondary schools. Irby Primary School and Dawpool Primary School are the local state primary schools.
[edit] Transport
Irby is well served by local bus services, including the following routes:
- 71 - Heswall to Liverpool (every 20 minutes)
- 22 - West Kirby to Chester (hourly)
The nearest railway station is Heswall (formerly Heswall Hills) on the Borderlands Line. From Irby, accessing the station is difficult via other public transport, it is approximately a 30 minute walk away and offers only hourly services. Alternatively, locals can either use buses exclusively or travel to West Kirby station, which is on the Wirral Line of the high-frequency Merseyrail system.
[edit] Notable people
- Frank Lester, recipient of the Victoria Cross.
- John Aldridge, former Liverpool and Tranmere Rovers footballer.
- Paul Richardson, former of Real Madrid and Ajax footballer.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Wirral 2001 Census: Irby. Metropolitan Borough of Wirral. Retrieved on 10 May 2007.
- ^ 2001 Census: Greasby, Frankby & Irby (Ward). Office for National Statistics. Retrieved on 10 May 2007.
- ^ History of the Parish. Martin Amlot. Retrieved on 11 March 2007.
- ^ Cheshire Towns & Parishes: Irby. GENUKI UK & Ireland Genealogy. Retrieved on 7 March 2007.
- ^ Burnley, Kenneth. "The Wirral Journal - Volume 1, Number 3", 1982.
- ^ Boumphrey, Ian & Marilyn (2000). Yesterday's Wirral: Pictoral History, p13. ISBN 1-899241-15-9.
- ^ Irby Mill Hill - the mills, the cottage and the pub. Retrieved on 10 May 2007.
