Halewood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Halewood |
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 St Nicholas' Church, Halewood |
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 Halewood
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| Population | 20,116 (2011 census) |
| OS grid reference | SD312122 |
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| Metropolitan borough | |
| Metropolitan county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LIVERPOOL |
| Postcode district | L25, L26 |
| Dialling code | 0151 |
| Police | Merseyside |
| Fire | Merseyside |
| Ambulance | North West |
| EU Parliament | North West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Halewood is a town and civil parish in Merseyside, England. It's part of the Knowsley area. The town is located near the southeastern edge of Liverpool. It borders the nearby areas of Netherley, Hunt's Cross, and Woolton.
Halewood was historically part of Lancashire. It started as a small village. Over time, it grew into a larger area. This growth helped house people from the bigger cities nearby, like Liverpool, Manchester, and Salford.
In 2011, about 20,116 people lived in Halewood. This number was very similar to the population recorded in 2001.
Contents
Exploring Halewood's Past
Halewood has a long and interesting history. The land was once part of a larger area. In the 13th century, two families, the Irelands and the Hollands, had disagreements over who owned parts of Halewood. These arguments continued for many years.
By the 15th century, Halewood became its own separate area. In 1682, the ownership of Halewood passed to Charlotte, Countess of Derby.
St Nicholas Church: A Historic Landmark
The Chapel of St Nicholas was built in 1839. It was made bigger in 1847. By 1868, it became a full Parish Church. A tower and bells were added around 1883.
St Nicholas' Church is a special building. It is listed as Grade II, meaning it's historically important. The church has 17 beautiful stained glass windows. These were designed by famous artists William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones. It also has an old organ installed in 1889.
William Imrie, a Liverpool shipowner who owned the White Star Line, is buried here. He died in 1906. The church also has a war memorial. It was put up in 1921 to remember those who served.
Halewood's Railway History
The current Halewood railway station opened in 1988. An older station, which was a bit further east, closed in 1951. The very first Halewood station opened in 1874. The railway line in Halewood crossed a three-arched stone bridge. The station was built high up on a bank. Because of this, it was made of wood.
Local Pubs and Community Life
Halewood has a few pubs. The oldest one is The Eagle & Child, which dates back to around 1750. It was briefly renamed The Reverend Plummer. However, it went back to its original name in 2020. Reverend Canon F B Plummer was a vicar at St Nicholas Church. He sadly lost three of his seven sons during the First World War. His sons are remembered on the war memorial at the church.
Blackie the War Horse
Halewood is home to a very special grave. It belongs to a war horse named Blackie. Blackie was buried at the RSPCA Liverpool Animal Centre in 1942. He served bravely in the First World War. Blackie fought in major battles like Arras, the Somme Offensive, and Ypres.
In 2017, Blackie's grave became a grade II listed monument. This means it's officially recognized as an important historical site. It honors the great contribution horses made during the war.
Halewood's Car Factory
A large car factory in Halewood was first opened by Ford Motor Company in 1963. It was built to make the Ford Anglia. The first car, a Ford Anglia de Luxe, rolled off the production line in March 1963. This car was later given to the Liverpool City Museum. It is now at the Museum of Liverpool.
Production of the Anglia stopped in 1967. The factory then started making the Ford Escort. It produced this car until the year 2000. The Halewood plant also put together the Ford Corsair from 1964 to 1969.
Women Workers and Equal Pay
In 1968, women machinists at Ford, Halewood, stopped working. They did this to support their colleagues in Dagenham. In the 1960s, these women were paid less. They were officially called "unskilled" workers. This was despite having to pass tests to get their jobs. After years of fighting for fair pay, they walked out. This stopped car production and became a big national news story.
Education in Halewood
Halewood has several primary schools. It also has one secondary school, called Halewood Academy.
Halewood's Economy and Growth
The Halewood plant is now home to the Jaguar Land Rover factory. This factory makes popular cars like the Land Rover Discovery Sport and the Range Rover Evoque. On the same site, the Ford Motor Company has a large factory. It produces gearboxes for vehicles like the Ford Transit and Ford Fiesta.
There is also the Eli Lilly Factory. This factory makes important medicines. Liverpool City Council built a new training ground for Everton Football Club here. It is called Finch Farm.
Modernizing Halewood: Recent Changes
Halewood has seen many improvements since 2004. Crime rates have gone down. Local schools have performed much better. New housing has been built, bringing in new residents. The old sports center was replaced with the modern Halewood Leisure Centre.
Halewood's biggest employer is the Jaguar Land Rover factory. In 2012, the old Raven Court shopping center was replaced. A new shopping center opened with many new shops. These include Aldi, Iceland, and Tesco Express.
Halewood Park Triangle is the town's main public park. It won a Green Flag Award in 2011. The park has woodlands, ponds, and meadows. It used to be part of a railway line. Now, a walking trail follows the old railway route.
Notable People from Halewood
Many well-known people have connections to Halewood.
- George Harrison: He was the lead guitarist for the Beatles. He lived in Halewood with his family from 1962 to 1965.
- Steve McMahon: A former professional footballer. He played for Everton and Liverpool. He was born in Halewood.
- Aaron Cresswell: Another professional footballer. He plays as a left back for Premier League club West Ham United. He also plays for the English national team. Aaron was born and grew up in Halewood.
- Katarina Johnson-Thompson: An English track and field athlete. She is known for the heptathlon and pentathlon events. She was born in Halewood.
- Mary Peters: She was born in Halewood. Mary won a gold medal in the women's pentathlon at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.
- Christine McGuinness: A model and TV personality. She is from Halewood.
- Fred Lawless: A playwright who spent most of his childhood in Halewood.
- Edward Whitley: A politician who lived in Halewood. He was the mayor of Liverpool in 1868. He also served as a Member of Parliament.
- John Hilton Grace and Alan Robertson: A family from Halewood produced two famous scientists. John Hilton Grace was a mathematician. His nephew, Alan Robertson, was a geneticist. Both were Fellows of the Royal Society.
