West Kirby

Coordinates: 53°22′23″N 3°11′02″W / 53.373°N 3.184°W / 53.373; -3.184

West Kirby
West Kirby  West Kirby shown within Merseyside
Population	7,680 (2001 Census)[1]
OS grid reference	SJ213869
Metropolitan borough	Metropolitan Borough of Wirral
Metropolitan county	Merseyside
Region	North West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	WIRRAL
Postcode district	CH48
Dialling code	0151 625
Police	Merseyside
Fire	Merseyside
Ambulance	North West
EU Parliament	North West England
UK Parliament	Wirral West
List of places: UK • England • Merseyside

West Kirby is a town on the north-west corner of the coast of the Wirral Peninsula, Merseyside, England, at the mouth of the River Dee across from the Point of Ayr in North Wales. To the north-east of the town lies Hoylake, with the suburbs of Grange and Newton to the east, and the village of Caldy to the south-east. At the 2001 Census, the population of West Kirby was 7,680,^[1] and as part of the West Kirby & Thurstaston Ward, its population in 2001 was 12,869.^[2]

History

The name West Kirby is of Viking origin, originally Kirkjubyr, meaning 'village with a church'.^[3][4] The form with the modifier "West" exists to distinguish it from the other town of the same name in Wirral: Kirkby-in-Walea (now the modern town of Wallasey). The earliest usage given of this form is "West Kyrkeby in Wirhale" in 1285.^[3]

The old village lay around St. Bridget's Church, but the town today is centred on West Kirby railway station, which is about 1km away. The town has a Victorian promenade, flanked by the West Kirby Marine Lake that permits boats to sail even at low tide. The original wall was built to create the lake in 1899 but suffered a catastrophic leak in 1985.^[5] A new lake was constructed on the site which is wider than previously and allows better sporting opportunities. The Hoylake and West Kirby War Memorial is a notable local landmark, designed in 1922 by the British sculptor Charles Sargeant Jagger, who was responsible for a number of war memorials around the world, including the Royal Artillery Memorial at Hyde Park Corner in London.

Civic history

West Kirby was a township and parish within the Wirral Hundred. It became part of Hoylake cum West Kirby civil parish^[6] and Hoylake Urban District in 1894. The population was 148 in 1801, 435 in 1851 and 4,542 in 1901.^[6]

On 1 April 1974, West Kirby was absorbed into the newly created Metropolitan Borough of Wirral as part of local government reorganisation in England and Wales. At that point, West Kirby ceased to be in Cheshire for administrative purposes and became part of the new administrative county of Merseyside.

Education

Secondary schools in the area are Calday Grange Grammar School on Caldy Hill, West Kirby Grammar School and Hilbre High School, which includes the WestWirralWorks City Learning Centre And West Kirby Residential School

Marine Lake

West Kirby contains a large man made coastal lake, the 'Marine Lake'. The structure is large enough to hold sailing events, windsurfing and many more water related activities including: canoeing; kayaking; and power-boating^[7]. In early 2009 it was reported that the lake had undergone structural damage, most likely due to estuarine erosion. Since this report a £750K refurbishment has taken place to help restore the lake, and is now back to holding water sport activities^[8]

Sport

Sunset over the Marine Lake

Windsurfing, sailing and kayaking are all popular local sports. In October 1991 the World Windsurfing Speed Record was set on the West Kirby Marine Lake at 42.16 knots. It was held for two years until it was beaten in Australia.

Water sports fans are reminded to wear appropriate footwear whilst using the marine lake due to the presence of weaver fish with sharp poisonous barbs. There is also an RNLI Lifeboat Station] near West Kirby Sailing Club^[9]

The Royal Liverpool Golf Club, a links course sited between West Kirby and Hoylake, hosted the 2006 British Open.

Tennis tournaments have been held in Ashton Park. Here, players including John McEnroe, Boris Becker, Monica Seles and Pete Sampras have played in competition.^[10]

Parkland and beach

Hilbre Island

The town itself contains Ashton Park and a starting point of the Wirral Way, which follows the trackbed of the former Birkenhead Railway branch line from Hooton.^[11] Sandlea Park lies in the centre of the town, a short walk from the railway station. Another popular activity is to walk out to the islands of Little Eye, Middle Eye and Hilbre Island at low tide. The promenade and beach and the walk to the war memorial allow an excellent panoramic view of part of the North Wales coastline.

Transport

Rail

Bus

Services operating in the West Kirby area, as of December 2008:

Notable people

• Andy Baddeley, English middle distance runner (1500m), brought up in West Kirby and attended Calday Grange Grammar School.
• Daniel Craig, actor who played James Bond in the 2006 version of Casino Royale, attended Hilbre High School and Calday Grange Grammar School in West Kirby.
• Cyril Edward Gourley, recipient of the Victoria Cross, was a pupil at Calday Grange Grammar School and is buried in Grange Cemetery.
• Shirley Hughes, writer and illustrator, was brought up in West Kirby.
• Glenda Jackson, actress and politician, attended West Kirby Grammar School.
• Selwyn Lloyd, former Chancellor of the Exchequer, Foreign Secretary and Speaker of the House of Commons, lived in West Kirby.
• George Mallory, mountaineer, was schooled in West Kirby.
• Denys Rayner, recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross, was brought up in West Kirby.
• David Sheppard, cricketer and Bishop of Liverpool, retired to West Kirby.
• Philip Sheppard and Sir Cyril Clarke, lepidopterists, worked in West Kirby.
• Olaf Stapledon, science fiction author and philosopher, is a former resident.
• The Seal Cub Clubbing Club (rock band).
• Martyn Shone, founding member of Honey Ryder, with three Top 40 hits in 2008/2009 (rock band).

See also

• Kirby Park railway station
• St Andrew's Church, West Kirby
• West Kirby Light Opera Society
• Hillbark Players

Andy McCluskey: member of Orcherstral Manoeuvres in the Dark Paul Humphreys: Member of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

References