New Ferry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids New Ferry |
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 Houses on The Esplanade, New Ferry |
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 New Ferry
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| Population | 5,300 (2001 census) |
| OS grid reference | SJ337853 |
| • London | 176 mi (283 km) SE |
| Metropolitan borough | |
| Metropolitan county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | WIRRAL |
| Postcode district | CH62 |
| Dialling code | 0151 |
| ISO 3166 code | GB-WRL |
| Police | Merseyside |
| Fire | Merseyside |
| Ambulance | North West |
| EU Parliament | North West England |
| UK Parliament |
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New Ferry is a town in Merseyside, England, located on the Wirral Peninsula. It sits next to the River Mersey on its eastern side and the town of Bebington to its west. This area has been growing since the early 1800s.
In 2001, about 5,300 people lived in New Ferry.
Contents
A Look Back at New Ferry's Past
New Ferry got its name from a boat service, just like its neighbor Rock Ferry. The first time New Ferry was mentioned was in 1774.
When Did the Ferry Service Start?
On April 4, 1865, a ferry service began connecting New Ferry to Liverpool. However, this service didn't last very long. From 1879, more ferry trips to Liverpool Pier Head were added, often alongside services from Rock Ferry.
Why Did the Ferry Service Stop?
The ferry service had to close after a ship crashed into New Ferry Pier during thick fog on January 30, 1922. Not as many people were using the ferry anymore, and there were better ways to travel by land. Also, the Rock Ferry service was very close by. Because of these reasons, the New Ferry service never reopened. The official permission for the ferry service ended on September 22, 1927.
How Did New Ferry Change Its Location?
New Ferry was once part of a larger area called Lower Bebington. In 1974, a big change in local government happened across England and Wales. Most of Wirral, including New Ferry, moved from the county of Cheshire to Merseyside.
What Happened in the 2017 Explosion?
On March 25, 2017, a large gas explosion caused a lot of damage to buildings and injured many people. This event had a big impact on the community. Police and safety experts investigated what happened. Later, a businessman was found responsible for causing the explosion. This led to many buildings needing to be rebuilt or repaired.
Exploring New Ferry's Location
New Ferry is located on the eastern side of the Wirral Peninsula. It sits on the western bank of the River Mersey. The area is about 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) south-south-east of the Irish Sea at New Brighton. It is also about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) east-north-east of the Dee Estuary at Heswall. The land in New Ferry is mostly low, ranging from sea level up to 27 meters (89 feet) high.
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Rock Ferry | Liverpool Pier Head (across River Mersey) |
Dingle (across River Mersey) |
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| Bebington |  |
Aigburth (across River Mersey) |
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 New Ferry  |
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| Port Sunlight | Port Sunlight | Ince (across River Mersey) |
Getting Around New Ferry
New Ferry is on the A41, which was once a main road connecting Birkenhead to London. It's also right next to the village of Port Sunlight.
Roads and Traffic
The center of New Ferry is called the Toll Bar area. This name comes from a time when the New Chester Road used to be a toll road, meaning you had to pay to use it. In 1960, a new road called the New Ferry By-pass was built. This new road helped reduce traffic in the town center.
Train and Bus Services
The closest train stations to New Ferry are Bebington and Port Sunlight. From these stations, you can catch trains to places like Chester, Ellesmere Port, and Liverpool Central on the Wirral Line.
New Ferry also has several bus services. Companies like Arriva and Stagecoach run buses through the town. These buses can take you to destinations such as Chester and Liverpool.
How New Ferry is Governed
New Ferry is part of the Wirral South area for national elections.
At the local level, New Ferry is part of the Bromborough Ward. This ward is part of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in Merseyside. The town is represented by three councillors on the Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. These councillors help make decisions for the local community.
Community Life in New Ferry
The New Ferry Residents Association (NeFRA) is a group run by local people. Since 1999, they have worked to get money for different projects. They helped get CCTV cameras for the shopping center and improved local parks. They also started the successful Wirral Farmers' Market.
Shopping in New Ferry
New Ferry has a small shopping area often called "The Ferry." It used to have some larger chain stores, but now it has many independent shops. For example, Edge's butcher shop has been in the same family since the 1850s and is very well-known.
The Wirral Farmers' Market is held in New Ferry's Village Hall on the second Saturday of each month. This market has won awards for helping the local community. It is run by volunteers, and any money it makes goes back into local groups and good causes.
New Ferry also used to have several banks, but most of them have closed over the years.
New Ferry After the 2017 Explosion
After the big explosion in 2017, many buildings were badly damaged. More than 200 homes and businesses were affected, and some people had to move out temporarily. Local businesses like butchers, beauty parlors, and restaurants were hit hard.
In 2019, the person responsible for the explosion was found guilty. This led to plans for rebuilding the area. Wirral Council has been working on a plan to bring new shops and homes to New Ferry. In 2020, New Ferry received money from a government fund to help it recover and improve the town center.
Places to Gather: Pubs and Clubs
New Ferry has several pubs, including Shillings Bar, The Cleveland Arms, and the Wirral Hotel.
The John Masefield pub is named after a famous poet. New Ferry also has private clubs like The Ex Civil Defence Club. The Bebington Liberal Club was sold and is now a business center.
One pub, The Great Eastern, had a long history. It was built in 1862 and was known as "The Great Eastern Picnic Hotel." Later, it even had parts from a famous ship called the SS Great Eastern inside it. The pub closed in 2007, and the building was later taken down to make way for new houses. The new houses include a special memorial to explain the area's history and its link to the SS Great Eastern.
Learning in New Ferry
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New Ferry has several primary schools, including Grove Street Primary School, Church Drive School, and St Johns RC Primary. For older students, secondary schools in the area include Co-op Academy Bebington and St John Plessington Catholic College. There is also a Learning Centre where young people and adults can continue their education.
Parks and Green Spaces
New Ferry Park has a play area for children and football pitches. These pitches are often used for local amateur football matches. The park also has a lodge building that was given by Lord Leverhulme in 1903 and is a listed building, meaning it's protected for its history.
Shorefields Nature Park is located along the River Mersey. It's a special place for birds in winter and is protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
New Ferry Butterfly Park: A Wildlife Haven
Since 1993, local volunteers have created a wonderful wildlife area called New Ferry Butterfly Park. It's a thin strip of land next to Bebington railway station. This park is nearly 5 hectares (about 12 acres) in size and is known as an Area of Special Biological Interest. Visitors can explore it on summer Sundays, and volunteers help manage the park all year round.
In 2010, the local council decided to buy the land for the park to make sure it would be saved for future generations. Artists have also created an art trail within the park, adding sculptures and interactive artworks. The New Ferry Butterfly Park received a Green Flag award in 2013/14, recognizing it as a well-managed green space.
Port Sunlight River Park: From Landfill to Park
Between New Ferry and Bromborough, a former landfill site has been transformed into a new community park. This park, called Port Sunlight River Park, opened in 2014. It offers visitors a freshwater lake with lots of wildlife, a beautiful waterfront, and paths that lead to a summit with great views of the River Mersey and the Liverpool skyline.
Sports and Activities
New Ferry is home to New Ferry Rangers Football Club, an amateur football team that plays its home games at New Ferry Park.
The Olympic Taekwondo Centre is located at Bebington Youth Club. In 2008, the coach won a "Coach of the Year" award.
Bebington Youth Centre is also in New Ferry. In 2012, there were plans to close the youth club, but the community strongly opposed this. Many people signed a petition to save the center, and because it was one of the most popular youth clubs in the area, the council decided not to close it.
Images for kids
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Local restaurant
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New Ferry precinct
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New Ferry Park
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Grove Square
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The Cleveland Arms pub
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