Liscard

Liscard is an area of the town of Wallasey, in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, Merseyside, England. The most centrally located of Wallasey's townships, it is the main shopping area of the town, with many shops located in the Cherry Tree Shopping Centre. At the 2001 census the population of Liscard local government ward was recorded at 14,301,[3] increasing to 15,574 at the 2011 census.[1]

Not to be confused with Liskeard.

Liscard

Liscard shopping centre
Liscard
Location within Merseyside
Population15,574 (2011 census - Ward population)[1]
OS grid referenceSJ307919
• London180 mi (290 km)[2] SE
Metropolitan borough
Metropolitan county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townWALLASEY
Postcode districtCH44
Dialling code0151
ISO 3166 codeGB-WRL
PoliceMerseyside
FireMerseyside
AmbulanceNorth West
UK Parliament

History

The first mention of the settlement was circa 1260 as Lisnekarke. The name is from Welsh Llys carreg, with the name meaning "hall at the rock" or "...cliff".[4] In the past the name has been spelt as Liscak (1260), Lisecair (c.1277), Lysenker (1295) and Lyscart (1417).[5][6]

During the nineteenth century Liscard was a township within Wallasey parish of the Wirral Hundred. It became a civil parish in 1866, ultimately being absorbed into the nascent County Borough of Wallasey in 1912. The population was recorded as 211 in 1801, 4,100 in 1851 and 28,661 in 1901.[7]

Liscard Hall (now demolished)

Liscard Hall was built in 1835 by a Liverpool merchant, Sir John Tobin. Its grounds later became Central Park. A "model farm" was also developed nearby by the Tobin family. The former Grade II listed mansion later became an art college within Central Park. It was damaged by a suspicious fire on 7 July 2008[8] after being left empty and inadequately secured by Wirral Council and was subsequently demolished.[9] The site has since been grassed over.

Gateway to the former Battery compound

Liscard Battery was built in 1858 to help protect shipping on the River Mersey and defend the port of Liverpool. It was equipped with seven 10-inch guns. Set back from the river and hidden by new building, it was known as "the snake in the grass" to local inhabitants. The battery was obsolete by 1912, and sold on and houses were erected on top, and now the site has an odd appearance with only the curtain wall and ornate crenellated gatehouse surviving.[10] This gateway was designated a Grade II listed building in 1988.[11]

Liscard and Poulton railway station on the Wirral Railway opened to passengers in 1895. Consisting of a single island platform in a cutting, it was part of a branch line with Seacombe railway station as its terminus. This branch closed to passengers in 1960 and to freight in 1963. Its route now forms the approach road to the Kingsway Tunnel.[12]

Geography

Liscard is in the north-eastern part of the Wirral Peninsula, less than 2.5 km (1.6 mi) south-south-east of the Irish Sea at New Brighton, about 11 km (6.8 mi) east-north-east of the Dee Estuary at West Kirby and about 1 km (0.62 mi) west-north-west of the River Mersey at Egremont. Liscard is situated at an elevation of around 35 m (115 ft) above sea level.[13]

Liscard is situated 4.8 km (3 mi) from Birkenhead, and 6.4 km (4 mi) from Liverpool via the Kingsway Tunnel.

Governance
Further information: Liscard (ward)

Liscard is part of the Wallasey parliamentary constituency and represented since 1992 by Angela Eagle, a Labour Party MP, who retained her seat in the 2015 general election.

The area is also a local government ward of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, taking in the majority of Egremont. As of 2021 Liscard is represented by three Labour Party councillors: Sarah Spoor, Tom Usher and Janette Williamson.[14] The most recent local elections took place on 2 May 2019.

Community

The area is largely residential and contains mainly high-density semi-detached and terraced housing. Central Park is now the largest park in Wallasey, It has two areas for young children, with swings, slides and other games, large areas of greenery and a popular walled garden. There is also a cricket ground and a large duck pond. It links Liscard to Poulton and Egremont.

Education

Liscard includes the Oldershaw Academy, a secondary school with specialist status as a Business and Enterprise College and Liscard Primary School.

References
  1. UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – Liscard Ward (as of 2011) (E05000965)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  2. "Coordinate Distance Calculator". boulter.com. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  3. UK Census (2001). "Local Area Report – Liscard Ward (as of 2003) (00CBFM)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  4. "Wirral Historic Settlement Study". Merseyside Historic Characterisation Project. Museum of Liverpool. 2011. p. 50. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  5. "Place Names: Liscard". National Museums Liverpool. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2008.
  6. Coates, R (1997–98). Liscard and Irish names in northern Wirral. Journal of the English Place Name Society, volume 31. pp. 23–26.
  7. "Liscard". GENUKI UK & Ireland Genealogy. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  8. "Blaze rips through Hall". Wirral Globe. 7 July 2008. Retrieved 10 July 2008.
  9. "Liscard Hall". Retrieved 17 July 2008.
  10. "The Liscard Battery". oldwirral.net. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  11. Historic England. "Gateway to the former Liscard battery (1273516)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  12. "Liscard & Poulton". Disused Stations. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  13. "SRTM & Ordnance Survey Elevation Data in PHP". Retrieved 3 November 2016.
  14. "Your Councillors by Ward". Wirral Council. Retrieved 30 July 2020.

Bibliography
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