Whiston, Merseyside

Template:GBthumb Whiston is a town in Knowsley, Merseyside, England. It is to the east of Liverpool lying approximately 8 miles from the city centre. Lying south of the road linking Liverpool and Warrington, and crossed by the Liverpool to Manchester railway. For more than 450 years it was known for its coal mines. Its recorded history begins in the 13th century but its roots are much older. A polished stone hand-axe, a relic of the Neolithic Age, was discovered there in 1941 and in 1986 fragments of flint tools were found on a local farm.

The church of St. Nicholas on Windy Arbor Road hosts a war memorial, (damaged by lightning) designed by Gilbert Scott.

Famous Whistonians

• Peter Reid - Former Everton Player.
• Willy Russell - The playwright and Scouse legend.
• Melanie Chisholm - Sporty Spice in the former international girl band Spice Girls.
• Steven Gerrard - Liverpool F.C. (current captain) and England International Football Player (current vice-captain).
• Peter Briggs - Screenwriter of the movie Hellboy (film), 2004 was born in Whiston hospital and grew up in the town, attending local Higher Side Comprehensive School.
• Martin Dwyer - Jockey. Double classic winning flat jockey raised in Fisher Avenue, off Lickers Lane, Whiston, Merseyside. Attended St. Leo's Primary School and St Edmund Arrowsmith R.C. High School.
• Eddie Rawcliffe - Local Hero - For his efforts of braveness .
• Danny Walsh - A True Great - For Being Such a Legend !!
• Beanie - All Time Happy Chappy .
• Ryan Reedtill - striker (liverpool FC 1999-2003)
• Bob monkhouse - lived in whiston for 30 years next to the gold star fish and chip shop.

Employers

Probably the largest employer in the town is that of Whiston Hospital, which is part of the St. Helens & Knowsley NHS trust. The trust employs approximately 4500 people, the majority based at Whiston. The hospital itself is a District General Hospital, with almost 900 beds, specialising in Burns & Plastic treatment. A PFI (Privately Financed Initiative) project has begun, which will see the completion of a brand new state of the art hospital, due for completion in 2008. The rebuild cost is estimated to be £343 million.

Other employers include Dimplex, producing general kitchen appliances, employing approximately 1000 people.

Schools

St Lukes Catholic Primary School

Halsnead Community Primary School & Training School

Higher Side Comprehensive School

Whiston Willis Primary School

St Leo's Catholic Primary School

53.41313°N 2.79883°W / 53.41313; -2.79883