Helsby: Difference between revisions
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==Events== |
==Events== |
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The [[Munkyfest]] [[music festival]] was held in Helsby from 2001 to 2004. |
The [[Munkyfest]] [[music festival]] was held in Helsby from 2001 to 2004. |
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'''The new Air Training corps (Air Cadets) has arrived''' |
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This air cadets is run by 1 cadet by the name of 'Warren Hollingsworth' with a number of other well trained cadets by his side. This air cadets trains people first who want to come or may be interested in the air cadets mainly for the people who are to young to attend the 'REAL' (if you like) air cadets. We do a number of the same activities EXCEPT FLYING SORRY. But we personly think you child will really enjoyit we hope to see you pop along. To see all of our notices please visit our websie it is: http://www.squadron87.piczo.com/ATC?cr=3 we also have facebook type in our name: Helsby Squadron Atc. Thankyou for reading HOPETO SEE YOU THERE!!!!!!! |
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==Transport== |
==Transport== |
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Revision as of 11:34, 9 January 2010
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2008) |
| Helsby | |
|---|---|
| Population | 4,701 (2001 Census)[1] |
| OS grid reference | SJ491755 |
| Civil parish |
|
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | FRODSHAM |
| Postcode district | WA6 |
| Dialling code | 01928 |
| Police | Cheshire |
| Fire | Cheshire |
| Ambulance | North West |
| UK Parliament | |
Helsby is a large village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. At the 2001 Census, Helsby had a population of 4,701[1]
Geography
It is situated on the A56 main road between Chester and Runcorn. The neighbouring villages are Dunham-on-the-Hill, Frodsham, Elton and Alvanley. Helsby is a semi-rural village, with many dairy and arable farms, but is also in close proximity to a number of industrial plants around the Mersey Estuary including the Royal Dutch Shell Stanlow oil refinery, the Quinn Glass manufacturing plant, the Kemira fertiliser plant on Ince Marshes and the chemical manufacturing site (previously ICI chemicals, now Ineos Chlor) and power station at Rocksavage. There are few jobs in Helsby itself, due to the larger surrounding cities, Chester and Runcorn offering better prospects and a wider range of careers. The Tesco supermarket is one of the biggest employers there. The village is popular with commuters as a residential area, due to its links to the M56 motorway and rail networks.
History
There are traces of Stone Age and Iron Age settlements on the hills around Helsby (Helsby Hill is the site of an Iron Age hill-fort called Woodhouses),[citation needed] but the first known settlers of Helsby were the Vikings in the 10th century[citation needed]. In fact the name 'Helsby' is derived from the Viking name Hjallr-by, meaning "the village on the edge" (Placenames with the suffix "by" often denote Viking/Danish origins, e.g. Derby, Grimsby, Whitby etc).
The village was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 under the Norman name of Hellesbe.[2] The Manor of Helsby was owned by a series of aristocratic landowners, most recently the Marquis of Cholmondeley.
In 1968 Mudiad Amddiffyn Cymru (Welsh Defence Movement), a Welsh republican movement, blew up a water pipe in Helsby[citation needed]. The water pipe was carrying water from Lake Vyrnwy to Liverpool.
Community
A Methodist church was established in 1800, 70 years before the Anglican church was built in 1870. Helsby also has one of the most successful schools in Cheshire: Helsby High School.[citation needed]
The village is home to three pubs, all of which are alongside the A56 road. The Railway Inn offers Greenalls cask ale and is frequently host to live music. The Robin Hood is now closed. The Horse & Jockey is also closed.
Behind The Railway Inn is "The Courtyard Helsby", a development of luxury holiday cottages in period barn conversions offering the only place to stay in the village, close to The North Cheshire Way footpath.
Future
It has been proposed that an incinerator be constructed at Ince Marshes, near Helsby. This is highly controversial with posters being displayed around the local community in protest at these plans.[3] Despite this, a public inquiry was held and as a result the Government gave Peel Holdings permission to build the plant on the 12th August 2009. [4]
Sport
Local amateur football club Helsby F.C. plays in the West Cheshire League and is based at the Helsby Sports and Social Club.
The local rugby team Helsby R.U.F.C. competes in South Lancashire/Cheshire Division 4.
Events
The Munkyfest music festival was held in Helsby from 2001 to 2004.
The new Air Training corps (Air Cadets) has arrived This air cadets is run by 1 cadet by the name of 'Warren Hollingsworth' with a number of other well trained cadets by his side. This air cadets trains people first who want to come or may be interested in the air cadets mainly for the people who are to young to attend the 'REAL' (if you like) air cadets. We do a number of the same activities EXCEPT FLYING SORRY. But we personly think you child will really enjoyit we hope to see you pop along. To see all of our notices please visit our websie it is: http://www.squadron87.piczo.com/ATC?cr=3 we also have facebook type in our name: Helsby Squadron Atc. Thankyou for reading HOPETO SEE YOU THERE!!!!!!!
Transport
Railway services
The railway came to Helsby in 1850, with the construction of the line between Chester and Warrington. Helsby railway station has won awards as one of the best kept unmanned stations in the UK. The signal box at Helsby Junction is still operated manually.
There are frequent services operated by Arriva Trains Wales to Manchester Picadilly and Chester, with some continuing to Llandudno.
There are also less frequent services operated by Northern Rail to neighbouring Ince & Elton and Stanlow & Thornton with trains terminating at Ellesmere Port.
Bus services
There are frequent bus links (No X30) to Runcorn, Warrington and Chester, with some less frequent services to Ellesmere Port. Most of these run Monday to Saturday only.
Industry
The factory site at the western end of the village has for many years been the main source of employment in the village. Originally built in the 1880s by the Telegraph Manufacturing Company, as the Britannia Telegraph Works, the factory was used to manufacture cables, and was most recently owned by BICC Electronic Cables. It employed up to 5000 people at its peak (from World War II until 1970), but continued to decline following a series of redundancy initiatives started in 1970, and the site eventually closed in 2002. The site was then redeveloped for retail, light industrial and residential purposes. The first completed development on the site was a Tesco supermarket, which opened in September 2005.
Landmarks
Helsby Hill
Helsby has a wooded sandstone hill (height 370 feet above sea level), which is a clear landmark on the Cheshire Plain overlooking the Mersey Estuary. The woodland on the hill is a National Trust property. It is the site of an ancient British fort. The hill, which has steep cliffs on the northern and western sides which are now popular with climbers, is also a triangulation point, with a concrete pillar trig point at the top.
 | This section possibly contains original research. (February 2009) |
The hill is often looked on as a bad place for climbing by climbers travelling along the M56 (from which it is clearly visible) on their way to the popular climbing destinations of North Wales. This is mainly due to the large formation of algae on its surface, largely due to the nearby 'Kemira GrowHow' fertiliser plant on the opposite side of the motorway.[citation needed] The hill, however, provides many routes from easy climbs suitable for beginners (some of which do not require ropes), to challenging climbs up to a grade 6c. The cliff is also split into to lateral sections. The main face is easily accessible from the ground. At the top is a large grassy area, followed by an easily accessible 10 ft (or thereabouts) cliff to the summit, which is excellent for bouldering. Despite its often slimy appearance, the cliff's sandstone composition means it dries out extremely quickly after rain, and, after several accidents, several large metal spikes are to be found at the top of the main cliff for top-rope climbing that offer extra safety for climbers worried about the sandstone's crumbly nature.
The top of the hill also features an abandoned Royal Observer Corps post, which is to be found some 50 ft east of the trig point. The post was abandoned in 1992[citation needed] and is currently well protected by extensive barbed wire, as it is located in private land in a field used for livestock. Slimmer explorers can slide under the fence at one point, however the post was extensively damaged by fire a few years ago, and the large blast-proof hatch is now permanently open, meaning it is usually flooded, along with large amounts of decaying rubbish and plant matter. Only the foolhardy or those with a chemical warfare suit[citation needed]should brave going down the dangerous and broken metal ladder.
The view from the hill is certainly a far better source of enjoyment. The top is easily accessed by way of the local roads, and the car park of Helsby Quarry may be used. To access the summit, climbers proceed up Hill Road South - across the road from the car park - and through a gate and into woodland. Continuing up the path, keeping right, and through a large sandstone cutting, which was the route of a railway in World War II they pass through another gate (and briefly out of National Trust property), turn left back over a stile, follow the path up, over another stile, to gain the summit.
The view is perhaps one of the best in Cheshire, and on a clear day offers commanding views of the Welsh Hills and on exceptionally clear day, Snowdon. The landmarks of Liverpool can clearly be seen beyond the Helsby Marshes, Stanlow Oil Refinery, Kemira Fertiliser Plant and the Manchester Ship Canal. Also on very clear days, visitors can see across Lancashire, past Bolton to Winter Hill, often on mid-mornings (with the sun reflecting off it) visitors may make out the large white section on top of the Winter Hill TV Mast. The view looking back is not as good, but the Peckforton Hills and Beeston Castle can be discerned. Binoculars are recommended to fully take advantage of this view.
Mountskill Quarry
Sandstone was extracted from a working quarry from the early 1800s until the 1920s. Much of the stone was transported by ferry to Liverpool and Birkenhead, where several buildings, including the customs house near Canning Dock were built of Helsby stone. The quarry had its own dedicated tramway/rail link to Ince Pier. After stone production ceased, it was not until the late 1980s that an alternative use was found for the site and in the intervening decades the derelict site was used as a tip by local residents. The site was acquired by the borough council in 1988, and transformed into a woodland park, which was opened in 1990. The park contains a range of trees including oak, sycamore, rowan, silver birch, willow and beech - some of which grew naturally during the sites period of dereliction, and some which were planted specifically in preparing the woodland park[citation needed]. The woodland and grassland are inhabited by many animal and bird species [citation needed]. Aside from the wildlife, the geology of the site is one of its main features and it is designated a Regionally Important Geological Site. The site features exposed rock walls and a tunnel, which enable sandstone formations from the Triassic period (280-250 million years ago) to be viewed.
See also
References
- ^ a b 2001 Census: Helsby (Parish), Office for National Statistics, retrieved 16 April 2008
- ^ Cheshire A-K: Helsby, Domesday Book Online, retrieved 4 February 2009
- ^ Docs put Ince in the dock, icCheshireOnline: Chester Chronicle, 24 February 2006, retrieved 17 May 2008
- ^ Waste power plant plan approved, BBC News, 12 August 2009, retrieved 12 August 2009