| Windle | |
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Windle
Windle shown within Merseyside |
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| OS grid reference | SJ4916297181 |
|---|---|
| Metropolitan borough | St Helens |
| Metropolitan county | Merseyside |
| Region | North West |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ST. HELENS |
| Postcode district | WA10, WA11 |
| Dialling code | 01744 |
| Police | Merseyside |
| Fire | Merseyside |
| Ambulance | North West |
| EU Parliament | North West England |
| UK Parliament | St Helens North |
| List of places: UK • England • Merseyside | |
Windle is a suburb of St. Helens,[1] and Ward of the metropolitan borough of the same name.[2][3] The 2001 census gives Windle a population of 8,621 in 3,607 households. It borders the villages of Eccleston and Rainford. It was one of the original four townships alongside Eccleston, Parr and Sutton formed that would later merge to become St. Helens.[1][2] The name derives from Windy Hill.[4]
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Windhull, 1201, (and common; Wyndhill, 1320; Wyndhyll, Wyndill, Wyndell, Wyndle, xvi century)[4] a Manor originally fell under the fee of the Warrington Barons until at least 1585. The first Baron is listed as Pain de Vilers.[4] Vilers was disenfranchised by William de Ferrers the Earl of Derby to the benefit of William le Boteler from Warrington. The Manor was subject to contesting claims by the Vilers to no avail. Portions of Windle over the next three hundred years were divided between the families local gentry Peter de Burnhull, Alan de Windle III and Thurstan de Holand[4] The de Burnhull family married into the Gerard family from nearby Kingsley in Cheshire who were the eventual inheritors of the land and title.[4][5]
Other significant families were the Colleys (or Cowleys), Hindley and Urmstons. The families of Harflynch and Eccles appear in the sixteenth century; and others of the neighbourhood, like the Byroms, Parrs, and Woodfalls, were also owners of land.[4] Adam Martindale, a puritan divine, born near Mossbank in 1623, recorded daily life and events of the area in his diaries, describing the chapelry and family interactions.[6]
18th century Windle was originally constituted by the villages and areas of Cowley Hill, Gerards Bridge, Hardshaw, Islands Brow, Laffak, Moss Bank, Pocket Noot, Windle Ashes and Windle Smithy.[4] Hardshaw (or antiquated Hardsheigh), described as a Berewick in the Domesday Book[5] was the site of The Chapel of St Elyn in Chapel Lane. The modern town of St Helens was formed around the Chapel of St Elyn that was located within the Hardshaw berewick since at least the 16th century.[4]
In 1910 the area was said to cover 3,150 acre[4]
Windle is one of 16 wards in the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens.[2]
Until 1834 Windle was part of the ancient West Derby hundred[7] before becoming part of the district of the Prescot Parish and Poor Law Union[3] (as was much of St Helens).[1] In 1834 St Helens was established as a Sub District before becoming a charter borough in 1868.[1]
The Windle Parish was reduced as an official body in 1894 to allow for the creation of the St Helens Parish. In 1934 it was again reduced.[1] Windle falls under the remit of the unitary authority that is St Helens Council for all policy decisions. The Parish Council retains some small authority for local matters within the community.
Cowley International College and De La Salle High School are the two high schools in the area.
Bleak Hill, Rivington and St. Thomas of Canterbury are the main primary schools in the area.
The main access route that links Windle to St. Helens town centre is the A570 (Rainford Road), the area also being within walking distance of the A580 (East Lancashire Road), that links Liverpool and Manchester. The A580 is renowned for its traffic problems particularly at the Windle Island junction, where during rush hour traffic congestion can be expected. It has also been the site of numerous car accidents.
The area is host to two leisure centres in the suburb of Dentons Green. Queens Park [8] and Ruskin Leisure [9] The new Queens Park complex contains facilities for swimming, keep fit, bowling, tennis, basketball, rugby and football. Ruskin sports a gym and swim pool, in addition to cricket, rounders, football and rugby fields.
Public open spaces include Queens Park, Cowley Hill, Bishop Road and Victoria Park.
Windle is home to Liverpool St. Helens FC
St Helens Cricket Club is based on Windleshaw Road.
St Helens Recreation Cricket Club, aka St Helens Recs, is based in Ruskin Drive, formerly Pilkington's Sports Ground.
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