Coordinates: 53°36′07″N 3°02′24″W / 53.602°N 3.040°W
| Ainsdale | |
  Ainsdale
Ainsdale shown within Merseyside |
|
| Population | 12,723 (2001 Census)[1] |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| Metropolitan borough | Sefton |
| Metropolitan county | Merseyside |
| Region | North West |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | SOUTHPORT |
| Postcode district | PR8 |
| Dialling code | 01704 |
| Police | Merseyside |
| Fire | Merseyside |
| Ambulance | North West |
| EU Parliament | North West England |
| UK Parliament | Southport |
| List of places: UK • England • Merseyside | |
Ainsdale-on-Sea is a village in Sefton, Merseyside, England, situated three miles south of Southport, of which it is a suburb. At the 2001 Census it had a population of 12,723.[1]
Contents |
History
Prior to 1600
Ainsdale was listed in the Domesday Book as Einulvesdel. Deriving from Old Norse name Einulfsdalr, this apparently was the valley occupied by a Scandinavian by the name of Einulf.[2][3]
1600-Present
Ainsdale formed part of Sir Cuthbert Halsall of Halsall's estates during the early part of the 1600s. After financial difficulties the land containing Ainsdale (then Aynsdale) had to be sold. In 1634 the ownership was passed to Robert Blundell. The lands were passed from generation to generation within the Blundell family and remained in their ownership until the mid 1900s.[4]
Throughout the 1800s Ainsdale remained an agricultural community. Prior to the British Agricultural Revolution fields and farms in the locality were small and land was enclosed. The 1841 Census listed 176 inhabitants in 33 houses with occupations of farmer, agricultural labourers and servants.[5]
Ainsdale railway station opened in 1848.
Ainsdale became part of the County Borough of Southport in 1912 after being part of Birkdale Urban District, though it remained a separate civil parish to Southport until 1925. Until 1 April 1974 the village lay in Lancashire.
Landmarks
Ainsdale Mill, built circa 1800 on the site of an earlier wooden mill, was an impressive - and functional - landmark, until its closure in 1965, and later demolition. A branch railway line from Ainsdale station was constructed to serve the mill during its operating years.
Ainsdale boating lake, along with the beach itself, were popular tourist attractions, and thus Lakeside Hotel (now known as The Sands) was built to accommodate those wishing to stay in the area. However, a large campsite was also well populated in the busiest periods of the year.
In the village green there is a war memorial that commemorates the lives of forty-four Ainsdale residents killed as a result of the Great War.
Transport
The locality is served by Ainsdale railway station, which is situated on the Northern Line of the Merseyrail network, linking Southport to Liverpool. Trains operate every 15 minutes in each direction from early morning to late evening.
Frequent bus services passing through Ainsdale are provided by Arriva, including:
• 44/44A Crossens - Formby
• 47 Banks - Liverpool
• 48/48A Southport - Liverpool
• 49/49A Crossens - Woodvale
Recreation and sports
Ainsdale has teams in football, cricket, bowls, pool and hosts the Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club. The football section of Ainsdale Sports and Social Club hosts teams from Under 7 up to Under 16 and Open Age Teams. The cricket team play in the succesful Liverpool Competition.
Every year at the start of July Ainsdale Horticultural Society hold a village show. This highly successful local event showcases local growers produce in an horticultural competition and hosts many other events by local people.
Ainsdale beach is designated by Sefton Council as a kite beach where kitesurfing and land-based kite traction activities are allowed.[6]
The Sefton coastal path and the Trans Pennine Trail both pass through Ainsdale. A number of waymarked nature trails are also accessible from the town. These trails allow access to the Ainsdale Sand Dunes, designated as one of the National Nature Reserves in England. This nature reserve also comprises part of a UK Ramsar site.[7][8]
Notable people
Actor Anthony Quayle was born in Ainsdale in 1913.
- Sophie Abelson, Doctors star was born in Ainsdale.
References
- ^ a b 2001 Census: Ainsdale, Office for National Statistics, http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=5941414&c=ainsdale&d=14&e=16&g=360324&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1193236442481&enc=1, retrieved 24 October 2007
- ^ Ainsdale On-line, http://members.tripod.com/~ian_h/ainsdale.htm, retrieved 24 October 2007
- ^ Vikings In Lancashire, Formby Civic Society, 4 March 2004, http://www.formbycivicsociety.org.uk/learning/full_article.asp?storyid=14, retrieved 24 October 2007
- ^ Harrop, Sylvia (1985), Old Birkdale and Ainsdale, Birkdale and Ainsdale Historical Research Society, 1st ed., pp. 1–13, ISBN 0-9510905-0X
- ^ Harrop, Sylvia (1985), Old Birkdale and Ainsdale, Birkdale and Ainsdale Historical Research Society, 1st ed., pp. 120–127, ISBN 0-9510905-0X
- ^ Kitebeach Ainsdale-on-Sea Rules and Conditions of usage, Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council, http://www.sefton.gov.uk/Docs/KITEBEACH,%20Ainsdale%202005.doc, retrieved 23 March 2008
- ^ Ramsar sites in the UK, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-161, retrieved 23 March 2008
- ^ Natural England: Special Sites, Natural England, http://www.english-nature.org.uk/special/nnr/nnr_details.asp?nnr_name=&C=0&Habitat=0&natural_area=&local_team=0&spotlight_reserve=1&X=&NNR_ID=1, retrieved 23 March 2008
External links
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