New Ferry
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| New Ferry | |
  New Ferry shown within Merseyside |
|
| Population | 5,300 (2001 Census)[1] |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| Metropolitan borough | Metropolitan Borough of Wirral |
| Metropolitan county | Merseyside |
| Region | North West |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | WIRRAL |
| Postcode district | CH62 |
| Dialling code | 0151 |
| Police | Merseyside |
| Fire | Merseyside |
| Ambulance | North West |
| European Parliament | North West England |
| UK Parliament | Wirral South |
| List of places: UK • England • Merseyside | |
New Ferry is a small town located on the Wirral Peninsula, Merseyside, England. Situated to the east of Bebington, it is part of the Bromborough Ward of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral and in the parliamentary constituency of Wirral South. The 2001 Census measured the town's population at 5,300.[1]
Contents |
[edit] History
As with the neighbouring settlement of Rock Ferry to the north, a ferry service gave its name to the locality, with the first recorded mention of New Ferry in 1774.[2] Additionally, on 4 April 1865, a "South End" service was established between New Ferry and a dock basin in the southern dock system of Liverpool, although this appeared to be relatively short-lived. From 1879, services to Liverpool Pier Head were usually augmented with Rock Ferry.[3] The ferry service was forced to close after a ship collided with New Ferry Pier in thick fog, in the early hours of 30 January 1922. Due to declining passenger numbers, improved local land-based public transport and a close proximity to the Rock Ferry service, it never reopened. The lease on the Ferry Rights officially expired on 22 September 1927, although no service had operated at New Ferry for over five years as a result of the collision.[4]
New Ferry was part of the Lower Bebington township, which became the Bebington-cum-Bromborough civil parish in 1922. Between 1894 and 1974 these parishes were administered as part of Bebington urban district. [5]
On 1 April 1974, local government reorganisation in England and Wales resulted in most of Wirral, including New Ferry, transfer from the county of Cheshire to Merseyside.
[edit] Transport
New Ferry is situated on the A41, the main road between Birkenhead and London prior to the introduction of motorways, and immediately adjacent to the village of Port Sunlight. At the centre of the town is the Toll Bar area, a name originating from when New Chester Road used to be a toll road. The re-routing of the A41 road onto the New Ferry By-pass, built in the 1970s, has resulted in a decline in through-traffic in the town centre.
The nearest railway stations to New Ferry are at Bebington and Rock Ferry, on the Wirral Line of the Merseyrail network.
[edit] Community
The Shorefields area on the banks of the River Mersey is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest.
New Ferry has a small shopping precinct often referred to as "The Ferry" it has several shops including Somerfield, Iceland and Woolworths. It is home to several pubs including Shillings bar, Alice's Place and the Wirral Hotel. The John Masefield, a pub named in honour of a former poet laureate, is part of the JD Wetherspoon chain. The establishment has received complaints due to the unfortunate resemblance of the Masefield portrait on the pub sign to Adolf Hitler.[6]
Facilities at New Ferry Park include a play area for children and football pitches, which are often used during local amateur Sunday league matches. Local amateur side New Ferry Wirral Hotel Football Club plays their home matches at New Ferry Park on Sunday mornings. They are members of the Wirral Sunday League Premier Division. The Club was formed in 1996, and in the 2006/2007 Season, won a hat trick of honours by lifting the Premier Division title, as well as the Wirral Sunday League Premier Cup and the Wirral Sunday League Pyke Cup.
The monthly Wirral Farmers' Market held in New Ferry's Village Hall (between Longfellow Drive & Grove Street) has been voted Britain's Best Farmers' Market at the prestigious BBC Food & Farming Awards. The market is entirely volunteer run, its profits being used to fund local community groups and good causes. In addition to the market, the town also boasts a world class butchers, Edge's, with the same family trading in New Ferry since the 1850s.
Out of a thin piece of land adjoining Bebington station and along the railway towards Birkenhead, local volunteers have in recent years created a wildlife haven, New Ferry Butterfly Park.[7]
[edit] Education
New Ferry has several schools including Grove Street Primary School. It is situated behind New Ferry Park and popular with local residents, particularly after the closure of The Dell Primary School.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Wirral 2001 Census: New Ferry. Metropolitan Borough of Wirral. Retrieved on 18 May 2007.
- ^ Maund, TB (1991). Mersey Ferries - Volume 1. Transport Publishing Co. Ltd, p59. ISBN 0-86317-166-4.
- ^ Maund, TB (1991). Mersey Ferries - Volume 1. Transport Publishing Co. Ltd, p60-61. ISBN 0-86317-166-4.
- ^ Maund, TB (1991). Mersey Ferries - Volume 1. Transport Publishing Co. Ltd, p70-71. ISBN 0-86317-166-4.
- ^ Cheshire Parishes: Lower Bebington (including New Ferry). GENUKI UK & Ireland Genealogy. Retrieved on 18 May 2007.
- ^ Row brews over 'Hitler' pub sign. BBC News (8 November 2007). Retrieved on 21 December 2007.
- ^ New Ferry Butterfly Park. Retrieved on 18 December 2007.
