| Eccleston | |
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Eccleston
Eccleston shown within Merseyside |
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| Population | 10,528 (2001 Census)[1] |
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| OS grid reference | SJ485955 |
| Parish | Eccleston |
| Metropolitan borough | St Helens |
| Metropolitan county | Merseyside |
| Region | North West |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ST. HELENS |
| Postcode district | WA10 |
| Post town | PRESCOT |
| Postcode district | L34 |
| Dialling code | 01744 |
| Police | Merseyside |
| Fire | Merseyside |
| Ambulance | North West |
| EU Parliament | North West England |
| UK Parliament | St Helens South and Whiston |
| Website | http://www.ecclestonpc.org.uk/ |
| List of places: UK • England • Merseyside | |
Eccleston is a civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens, Merseyside, England. According to the 2001 Census it had a population of 10,528.[1]
Historically a part of Lancashire, the early history of Eccleston is marked by its status as a township, an area much larger than the modern civil parish, extending into what is now St Helens.[2] Part of the township was united with Parr, Sutton and part of Windle to form the Municipal Borough of St Helens in 1868.
Eccleston is one of seven civil parishes in St Helens, and one of the largest covering the neighbourhoods of Eccleston Park, Gillars Green, Trapwood Close, and the area around Springfield (now a Carmelite monastery) south of the A580 road.
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Eccleston means church farm or settlement. Eccles which is found in several place names in the North West of England is derived from the Welsh Eglwys and the use of this word implies a Celtic religious foundation. However, there does not seem to have been a church in the township of Eccleston until Portico Our Lady's Roman Catholic chapel in the late 18th century. St Thomas, Eccleston (now on Westfield Street, St Helens town centre) and Christ Church date from 1838/39. It is suggested that the name is connected with the adjoining town of Prescot which has had a church for over a thousand years.[3] The present Eccleston Hall dates from the 1820s but there have been halls on the site from the late mediaeval period. The Eccleston family, who were Lords of the Manor of Eccleston, were recusants and there was a Catholic chapel in the old hall which was built in the Tudor era.
Eccleston is built upon green fertile rolling hills with countryside to the north and west and urban sprawl to south and east. Running through Eccleston there is a stream or brook called Windle Brook (actually the boundary with Windle CP) and Mill Brook. There is a mere called Eccleston Mere and three dams used for cooling purposes in factories. There are several open public spaces including many woods and small nature reserve at Millfields. There are a number of public footpaths through local countryside such as Green Lane and Sadlers Lane.
There is a large public area at Ecclesfield playing fields, which is located behind the Library.
Road connections are to the M6, M62, M57 and M58. The A580 (Liverpool to Manchester) locally known as the 'East Lancs' is a 1930s trunk road running north of the borough linking the M58 and M6, traffic problems are often reported at the notorious Windle Island. The A570 (St Helens to Southport) links the M58 and M62. The B5201 takes traffic from Prescot through the centre of Eccleston.
There are many frequent bus services that run to parts of St Helens and Liverpool some of these are: 35/35A Gillars Green-St Helens Junction (Arriva) 37 Eccleston-St Helens Bus Station (Arriva) 137/138 Billinge/St Helens Circular (HTL) Ther There are no railway stations in Eccleston but there are a number of stations close by such as St Helens Central, St Helens Junction, Eccleston Park, Prescot, Whiston. Liverpool John Lennon Airport is the closest airport and Manchester seconds to that both no more than a 45 minute drive.
Eccleston is a mix of middle class and working class homes. Predominantly 1930s semi-detached homes in Eccleston village, council estates at Gillars Green and Trapwood Close (now a mixture of private and housing association property, small 1970s housing estates at Eccleston Mere and an abundance of 1990s detached houses, such as small developments at Ledbury Close, Long Meadow with some houses with gardens backing into the mill brook, Eccleston Woods and The Cloisters. Most recently built are two developments at The Spires and Pikes Bridge Fold, both off Church Lane. There has also been a development of flats on the boundary of the Village on Holme Road on the site of the Triplex factory car park.
Eccleston serves as a suburban area and has a limited number of shops and are mainly local amenity shops which provides a unique florist and recent addtion a Continental syle Coffeehouse, Ice Cream Parlour, Patisserie which services excellent food cuisine, there is also a two small supermarkets, four hairdressers, a chemist and an ex farm shop where one can buy Christmas trees and fireworks. There is a library and a private day nursery at Broadway.
Walmesley Road, Mill Brook Lane and Gillars Green Drive are the main shopping areas and have some parking facilities.
There are also a number of Mother and Toddler groups at St Julie's Parish Hall, the library and the Lester Drive Centre. An NHS dentist at Broadway and a private clinic on Kiln Lane. A medical centre is now located beside The Vicarage on the site of the Church Hall, Chapel Lane.
The main attraction is The Smithy Heritage Centre on Kiln Lane, which is a museum about the works of a local blacksmith’s businesses
Also, on Knowsley Road is the home of the 2006/2007 engage Super League champions, St Helens RLFC (known locally as 'The Saints') and St. Helens Town AFC, the town's non-league football side. The capacity is 19,100 mainly standing with near 3,000 seats in the main stand. The stadium also boasts a restaurant and the clubs' official store. The stadium is over 100 years old and a new improved stadium is currently planned that will see the Saints move to a new home, with a potential stadium in the advanced planning stages that will see the club move to the centre of St. Helens. Though in the historic township of Eccleston the current ground is outside the modern civil parish.
A resident of Eccleston is known as an "Ecclestonian". Accents in Eccleston vary from that of a St Helens accent through to a 'posh' northern English accent. The people of Eccleston are mainly of St Helens origin with family in the area. Eccleston is an area with households mainly comprising families and the elderly. Young people tend to move away and come back later in life to settle down.
Religion is still quite vibrant in Eccleston with several churches including St Julie (Roman Catholic), Christ Church (Church of England), St James (Church of England) and Portico (Roman Catholic). Eccleston Methodist Church closed in May 2006. The former United Reformed Church on Kiln Lane closed in 2005 and the site has now been redeveloped into retirement homes. Ethnicity is approximately 98% British/Irish White.[4]
Community activities revolve around church and school festivals and fêtes. Other forms of social interaction include meeting on streets, schools, churches, pubs and shops. Eccleston has several pubs including The Seven Stars, The Griffin, The Stanley, The Game Bird (previously The Royal Oak) and The Wellington. All of these public houses serve food.
In terms of sport, the area is home to the amateur Rugby League team Eccleston Lions. There are also teams for the youngster of Eccleston these clubs are Millfields and Bleak Hill.
Eccleston has some of the best primary schools in the metropolitan borough, including one of the top three primary schools, Eccleston Mere.[5] Other schools include St. Julies and Eccleston Lane Ends. De La Salle High School is also located in Eccleston. Schools in the area have good outdoor, IT, special needs and catering facilities. There is also a good sized library in the parish with reference guides and IT facilities.
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