Birkdale
Birkdale | ||
---|---|---|
Metropolitan county | ||
Region | ||
Country | England | |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom | |
Post town | SOUTHPORT | |
Postcode district | PR8 | |
Dialling code | 01704 | |
Police | Merseyside | |
Fire | Merseyside | |
Ambulance | North West | |
UK Parliament | ||
Birkdale is an area of
Birkdale also inspired the name for a new urban mixed use community in the United States twelve miles (19 km) north of Charlotte, North Carolina in Huntersville, North Carolina called Birkdale Village.
Etymology
Birkdale probably takes its name from two Old Norse words, birki meaning "birch-copse" and dalr meaning "dale" or "valley".[2][3]
Governance
Birkdale is part of the
For elections to Sefton Council Birkdale acts as a single electoral ward, it currently has three councillors, their names are Iain Brodie - Browne, Richard Hands, and Simon Shaw, all are members of the Liberal Democrats.
Demography
On the whole it is a wealthy area featuring many large
Birkdale Village is on Liverpool Road and features a variety of shops, bars and restaurants.
Sport
Despite its small size, Birkdale receives a great deal of sporting attention once every few years as it plays host to The Open Championship. It was last played at the Royal Birkdale golf course in July 2017. To lesser fame, the home ground of the Southport and Birkdale Cricket Club on Trafalgar Road is used for county level cricket matches approximately once a year. Southport and Birkdale squash club also play here and are in the North West Counties Squash League.
Red Rum, a racehorse who was trained by Ginger McCain, had his stables in Upper Aughton Road in Birkdale, while a horse named after the village took part and finished tenth in the 2002 Grand National. Birkdale United AFC played a crucial part in the footballing education of Premiership footballers such as Jack Rodwell, Dominic Matteo, Shaun Teale and Paul Dalglish, and still has its home in the village, boasting teams for boys from the age of 6 and girls from the age of 7 through to open age teams. The club was also presented the FA's highest accolade in January 2008, becoming the first FA Charter Community Club in Southport.
Education
Birkdale has three secondary schools, Christ the King Catholic High School, which has around 1200 pupils including sixth form students, Birkdale High School which is for boys, and Greenbank High School (in the part of Birkdale known as Hillside) for girls.
Transport
Birkdale is served by frequent buses run by
Notable people
- Richard Corbett MEP lived in Birkdale until the age of 8 and attended Farnborough Road School.
- Novelist J. G. Farrell, twice a Booker Prize winner, was evacuated to Birkdale during WW2
- Private Richard George Masters VC, soldier awarded the Victoria Cross for actions on 9 April 1918, born in Birkdale[4]
- Comedian Lee Mack was a pupil at Birkdale County Junior School[5]
- Marcus Morris was vicar of St James' Church, Lulworth Road, in the 1940s and 50s.
- Albert Pierrepoint, the most famous British hangman of modern times, lived in Birkdale in later life and had a tobacconist's shop in Birkdale village.
- Jack Rodwell -Sunderland A.F.C. Midfielder
- A. J. P. Taylor was born in Birkdale in 1906.
See also
References
- ^ a b 2001 Census: Birkdale, Office for National Statistics, archived from the original on 25 May 2011, retrieved 24 October 2007
- ^ Ainsdale On-line, retrieved 24 October 2007
- ^ Vikings In Lancashire, Formby Civic Society, 4 March 2004, archived from the original on 30 September 2011, retrieved 24 October 2007
- ^ "Local VC Winners - Liverpool & Merseyside". Archived from the original on 13 March 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
- ^ Lee Mack