Aigburth
Aigburth (Template:Pron-en) is a suburb of Liverpool, Merseyside, England. Located to the south of the city, it is bordered by Dingle, Garston and Mossley Hill.
History
Aigburth means "hill where oak trees grow" and is a hybrid place-name: the first part of the name is from Old Norse eikr "oak tree" (which is found in Eikton in Cumbria and Eakring in Nottinghamshire) and Old English beorg meaning " hill, tumulus" but here in the sense "rising ground". This element usually occurs as "-borough" (as in Barlborough in Derbyshire) or more rarely as "-barrow" (e.g. Backbarrow in Cumbria). The meaning is probably derived from the presence of a sacred oak grove in the area. The name was also recorded as Eikberei in an undated record.
The spelling Aigburgh (or, more rarely, Aighburgh) is sometimes found in old publications and historical documents (for example, S. Lewis, A Topographical Dictionary of England (1848)),[1] as well as in modern references to former residents[2][3] and is occasionally seen as an alternative (if incorrect) spelling today.
The area was previously part of the West Allerton parliamentary district and, as such returned (now Lord) David Alton for many years. It is now part of the Liverpool Riverside constituency and returned Louise Ellman as MP in the 2005 general election.
Description
Aigburth is mainly residential and covers an area following Aigburth Road, (A561) and the areas either side of it. The suburb is to the south of Sefton Park and adjoins Otterspool Park, which leads to Otterspool Promenade on the Mersey. Housing in the district is mostly a mixture of terraced and semi detached homes, with large detached houses (mostly converted into flats or hotels) in Aigburth Drive overlooking Sefton Park and modern estates containing detached and semi detached houses in the Riverside Drive area. It is considered by most Liverpudlians to be one of Liverpool's more prosperous and green areas, and is widely regarded as the most bohemian part of Liverpool [original research?]. Lark Lane (between Aigburth Road and Sefton Park) is one of the most popular areas to eat/drink/pass the time of day in Liverpool. The Guardian published a semi-accurate article in its 'Let's move to ...' series.[4]
Landmarks
- Liverpool Cricket Club, (Aigburth)
- Sudley House
- Sefton Park
- Church of St Anne, Aigburth
- Stanlawe Grange
- Otterspool Promenade
- Lark Lane
Education
There are the Aigburth Park halls of residence of Liverpool Hope University, close to the railway line on St Michael's Road. Close by towards Mossley Hill are the Carnatic and Elmswood Road halls of residence for the University of Liverpool. On the piece of land between Mossley Hill Road and Barkhill Road is the IM Marsh Campus of Liverpool John Moores University, where the university's Faculty of Education, Community and Leisure is based. There is a student bar and refectory. On Aigburth Road, is the St Margaret's Church of England High School. Opposite this is the junior section of Sudley County Primary School, whose infant section is situated on Dundonald Road.
Prior to the reorganisation of secondary education in Liverpool in the 1980s, Aigburth was also home to Aigburth Vale Comprehensive School for Girls, formerly Aigburth Vale High School for Girls, which was merged with Quarry Bank School to form Calderstones School.
Transport
The area is served by Aigburth railway station on the Northern Line of the Merseyrail network, located some distance from larger residential areas. St Michaels railway station is also situated in the area, at the bottom of Southwood Road.
Sport
Liverpool Cricket Club, a regular home venue of Lancashire County Cricket Club, and Sefton Park Cricket Club are located in Aigburth.
Notable residents
- Peter Beckett, musician and composer.
- Cyril Bibby, industrialist.
- Ronald Brittain, Sergeant Major of The Guards.
- John Leslie Chadwick, original bassist, Gerry & The Pacemakers
- Kenneth Cranston, dentist and England cricketer.
- Gloria Grahame, Hollywood actress.
- Mikey Dalton, Big Brother housemate in 2006.
- Dixie Dean, professional footballer for Everton Football Club.
- Sonia Evans, singer.
- Benjamin Howard Baker Everton player and Olympian.
- Augustus Radcliffe Grote, born in Aigburth, noted entomologist and author.
- Gérard Houllier, manager of Liverpool Football Club from 1998 to 2004.
- J. Bruce Ismay, managing director of the White Star Line, operators of the RMS Titanic and shipwreck survivor.
- Gillian Kearney, actor.
- Billy Liddell, professional footballer for Liverpool Football Club.
- Dave Lister, fictional television character in BBC Television's Red Dwarf.
- Florence Maybrick, convicted murderer.
- James Maybrick, cotton broker, murder victim and Jack The Ripper suspect.
- George Melly, jazz/blues singer and writer.
- Elliot Morley, MP.
- Steven Norris, former MP and businessman.
- John E. Owens, Liverpool born American comedian.[5]
- Geoff Rowley, professional skateboarder.
- Banastre Tarleton, MP and cavalry commander in American War of Independence.
- Alfred Waterhouse, architect of the Natural History Museum and other noted public buildings.
- Ricky Tomlinson, actor
- Ashleigh Rice, comidienne
References
- ^ Aigburth, or Aigburgh, British History Online, retrieved 15 February 2008
- ^ The Waterhouse collection, University of Reading, retrieved 15 February 2008
- ^ Venezuelan Orchids, retrieved 15 February 2008
- ^ Let's move to ... Aigburth, Liverpool, The Guardian, 21 July 2007, retrieved 4 April 2008
- ^ Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896, Chicago: Marquis Who's Who, 1963
External links
- Liverpool Street Gallery - Liverpool 17
- Website of the Sudley Area Residents' Association
- Sudley Blog
- Aigburth Community Church
