Liscard

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Liscard
Liscard (Merseyside)
Liscard

Liscard shown within Merseyside
Population 14,301 (2001 Census)[1]
OS grid reference SJ307919
Metropolitan borough Wirral
Metropolitan county Merseyside
Region North West
Constituent country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town WALLASEY
Postcode district CH44
Dialling code 0151
Police Merseyside
Fire Merseyside
Ambulance North West
European Parliament North West England
UK Parliament Wallasey
List of places: UKEnglandMerseyside

Coordinates: 53°25′10″N 3°02′49″W / 53.41944, -3.047

Liscard is an area of the town of Wallasey, on the Wirral Peninsula in Merseyside, England. The most centrally located of Wallasey's townships, it is the main shopping area of the town, with many shops located in the Cherry Tree Shopping Centre.

Contents

[edit] Origin of Name

The first mention of the settlement was circa 1260 as Lisnekarke. The name derives from the Irish words lios na carraige, with the name meaning "hall at the rock". In the past the name has been spelt as Liscak (1260), Lisecair (c.1277), Lysenker (1295) and Lyscart (1417).[2][3]

[edit] History

Liscard Hall was built in 1835 by a Liverpool merchant, Sir John Tobin. Its grounds later became Central Park, and the building itself later became an art college. A “model farm” was also developed nearby by his family.

Liscard Battery was built in 1858 to help protect shipping on the River Mersey and defend the port of Liverpool. It was equipped with seven 10-inch guns. Set back from the river and hidden by new building, it was known as "the snake in the grass" to local inhabitants. The battery was obsolete by 1912, and sold on, and houses were erected on top, and now the site has an odd appearance with only the curtain wall and ornate crenellated gatehouse surviving.

The area originally had a railway station as part of the Wirral Railway. Known as Liscard and Poulton railway station, it was part of a branch line which included Seacombe railway station as its terminus. This branch is long-closed and its route now forms the approach to the Kingsway Tunnel.

[edit] Description

Liscard is situated three miles from Birkenhead, and four miles from Liverpool (via the Kingsway Tunnel). The area is largely residential and contains mainly high-density semi-detached and some terraced housing.

Central Park is now the largest park in Wallasey. It has two areas for young children, with swings, slides and other games, large areas of greenery, a large listed former arts building and a popular walled garden. There is also a cricket ground and a large duck pond. It links Liscard to Poulton and Egremont.

[edit] Education

Liscard includes The Oldershaw School, a secondary school with specialist status as a Business and Enterprise College

[edit] Liscard Ward

Liscard is also a local government ward of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, the ward also takes in Egremont, and is represented by Conservative Party Councillors Leah Fraser, Karen Hayes and James Keeley. The most recent local elections took place on 1 May 2008.


Confirmed candidates for United Kingdom local elections, 2008 [4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrat Daniel CLEIN 195 4.7
Labour David HAWKINS ~ 1369 33.0
Conservative James KEELEY 2122 51.14
UK Independence Robbie QUINN 304 7.33
Green Jacqueline SMITH 159 3.83

~ indicates retiring councillor

[edit] References

  1. ^ 2001 Census: Liscard. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved on 19 March 2008.
  2. ^ Place Names: Liscard. National Museums Liverpool. Retrieved on 19 March 2008.
  3. ^ R.Coates 'Liscard and Irish names in northern Wirral', Journal of the English Place Name Society, volume 31 (1997-8), pages 23-26
  4. ^ [1], Metropolitan Borough of Wirral


Areas of Wallasey

Egremont | Liscard | New Brighton | Poulton | Seacombe | Wallasey Village