Freshfield

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Coordinates: 53°33′43″N 3°04′12″W / 53.562°N 3.07°W / 53.562; -3.07

Freshfield
Freshfield shown within Merseyside
OS grid reference	SD292078
Metropolitan borough	Sefton
Metropolitan county	Merseyside
Region	North West
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	LIVERPOOL
Postcode district	L37
Dialling code	01704
Police	Merseyside
Fire	Merseyside
Ambulance	North West
European Parliament	North West England
UK Parliament	Crosby
List of places: UK • England • Merseyside

Freshfield is an area of Formby, in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, Merseyside, England, situated at the northern end of the town. It has no local political distinction or representation and is included as part of the two council wards which make up Formby (Harrington Ward and Ravenmeols Ward), nor is it separated in any physical sense from the town. The area is generally considered to be very affluent with many local celebrities, footballers, politicians, businessmen and in general wealthy people making up the vast majority of residents calling this their home.

History

The name did not exist until Formby's second railway station, Freshfield, was built in 1854. The name was chosen, as the local landowner, a certain Mr Fresh, owned the adjacent field.^[1] In fact, the same farmer used the new station stop to bring in human manure from nearby Liverpool to fertilise his field,^{[citation needed]} a principal reason for why the station was built.^{[citation needed]}

A process of reverse naming seems to have occurred with some people referring to the area of Formby around this station as "Freshfield". Freshfield is generally regarded as the more affluent area of Formby^{[citation needed]}, largely due to a number of large private residences in the area. It exists from Freshfield beach (situated beyond the pinewoods) to Dobb's Brook or Gutter (commonly referred to as Long Lane "Ditch").

Community

The area contains The Freshfield Hotel and The Grapes pubs, Victoria Hall and Victoria Road (a long avenue on which several famous English sportsmen have lived).^{[citation needed]}

Freshfield railway station is situated on the Liverpool to Southport branch of Merseyrail's Northern Line.

Located nearby is a section of the Mersey Forest, a community forest known for being a habitat of rare red squirrels, with a reserve managed by the National Trust.^[2]

References