Churchtown, Merseyside

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Coordinates: 53°39′35″N 2°58′43″W / 53.6596°N 2.9787°W

Churchtown
The Bold Arms pub on Botanic Road, looking towards the Hesketh Arms pub and village green
Churchtown Churchtown shown within Merseyside
OS grid reference	SD365186
Metropolitan borough	Sefton
Metropolitan county	Merseyside
Region	North West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	SOUTHPORT
Postcode district	PR9
Dialling code	01704
Police	Merseyside
Fire	Merseyside
Ambulance	North West
EU Parliament	North West England
UK Parliament	Southport
List of places UK England Merseyside

Churchtown is a suburb of the town of Southport, Merseyside, England though historically within Lancashire. It is surrounded by Crossens, High Park and Marshside. It is the centre of the ancient parish of North Meols and was formerly a detached settlement, on the northern fringe of what is now Southport.

History

In 1575 a shipwreck occurred off the Churchtown coast, the cargo of which contained potatoes, was washed ashore. Subsequently, the village became the first place in England where they were grown.^[1]

The Botanic Gardens was at one time the terminus for the Southport tram system, and evidence can be seen in the large turning circle at the front of the gardens. Stocks dating from 1741 can be found adjacent to the church wall on St. Cuthbert's Road close to Botanic Gardens. The centre of the old village retains much of its character from bygone ages - with the green in front of St Cuthbert's Church flanked by the two local pubs - the Bold Arms and the Hesketh Arms. This is covered by a preservation order which covers much of Botanic Road, where some thatched cottages still exist. On one side of the Hesketh Arms is the entrance to Meols Hall, home of the Hesketh family.

Geography

Churchtown is situated in North West England. The closest cities are Preston to the north east and Liverpool to the south. Churchtown is a suburb of Southport which has the nearest town centre.

The village is one of many villages on the West Lancashire Coastal Plain, most of the village is only slightly above sea-level just like the nearby village of Banks which means the village can be susceptible to flooding during heavy rainfall. There are embankments to the north of nearby Marshside and there are drainage systems across the area, the closest being the Three Pools Waterway to the East of the village which is controlled by the pumping station at the Banks/ Crossens border.

Churchtown

Southport

Blowick

Scarisbrick

Education

Churchtown has one primary school (Churchtown Primary School) which is situated on St Cuthbert's Road and access is also available via Botanic Gardens The school is a "community school" (i.e. not a church school) but is closely associated with St Cuthbert's Church. It is among the ten biggest primary schools in the country, with nearly 900 pupils, and was described by OFSTED in February 2010 as "outstanding" (grade 1).

Religious Sites

St Cuthberts Church from the Grave Yard 2008

The Village has three Churches

St Cuthbert's Church - Church of England - St Cuthberts Road
Churchtown United Reformed Church - Non-Conformist - Botanic Road
Marshside Road Methodist Church - borders the fine line between Churchtown and Marshside.

Public Services

Botanic Gardens Cafe

Churchtown Medical Centre
Corner Surgery - closed in 2006 and moved to a new surgery situated on the Co-op Complex in Marshside.
Two Pharmacies
A Conservative Club
Churchtown Conservative Club
Churchtown Dental Practice
Three Banks - Santander, Loyds TSB, Natwest
Tesco Express
Two Spar
Post Office - Closed in 2007 due to the National closure of Post Office Branches
Six Hairdressers/ Barbers
Museum - Situated in Botanic Gardens
Library
Churchtown Garage
Hesketh Arms Public House
Hesketh Arms Pub
Bold Arms Public House
A Funeral Director
A Veterinary Practice
An Optician
Two Newsagents
Three Solicitors
One podiatry/chiropody practice
One reflexologist

Other amenities in the Churchtown include: Two Bakeries, Subway (Sandwich shop), Garden Centre, Antiques Shops, Two DIY shops, Three Take Away Shops, Two Florist, Two Furniture Shops, Three Cafe's, Printer Shops, Blacksmith, Mobile Phone Shop, an Offlicence, Two Beauty Shops and many more smaller shops.

Leisure

Southport Old Links is a golf Course situated to the south of the village.

Transport

Churchtown railway station was a stop on the West Lancashire Railway to Crossens and Preston. The line closed in 1964. The A565 road runs through the north of the village and is considered by some local people to be the boundary of Churchtown and Marshside. There are many bus stops throughout the village and local area which link to all over the Southport area and suburbs, with services extending into Liverpool and West Lancashire.

References

↑ Churchtown Village Trail, North Meols Civic Society, retrieved 2 April 2008

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Churchtown, Merseyside.

v t e Suburbs of Southport

Ainsdale Birkdale Blowick Churchtown Crossens Hesketh Park High Park Hillside Kew Marshside Woodvale

v t e Districts and wards of the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton

Districts	Ainsdale Aintree Birkdale Blowick Blundellsands Bootle Brighton-le-Sands Carr Houses Churchtown Crosby Crossens Ford Formby Freshfield Great Crosby High Park Hightown Hillside Ince Blundell Kennessee Green Kew Lady Green Litherland Little Altcar Little Crosby Lunt Lydiate Maghull Marshside Melling Meols Cop Netherton Orrell Seaforth Sefton Southport Thornton Waddicar Waterloo Woodvale

Council Wards	Ainsdale Birkdale Blundellsands Cambridge Church Derby Dukes Ford Harington Kew Linacre Litherland Manor Meols Molyneux Netherton and Orrell Norwood Park Ravenmeols St. Oswald Sudell Victoria

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