Wavertree facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wavertree
Wavertree
Population	14,772 (2011)
OS grid reference	SJ3889
Metropolitan borough	Liverpool
Metropolitan county	Merseyside
Region	North West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	LIVERPOOL
Postcode district	L15
Dialling code	0151
Police	Merseyside
Fire	Merseyside
Ambulance	North West
EU Parliament	North West England
UK Parliament	Liverpool Wavertree
List of places UK England Merseyside 53°23′53″N 2°56′01″W / 53.398°N 2.9337°W / 53.398; -2.9337

Wavertree is a lively area in Liverpool, England. It is a local area, also called a ward, within the Liverpool City Council. In 2011, about 14,772 people lived there. Wavertree is located to the south and east of the main city centre. It shares borders with other areas like Childwall, Edge Hill, Fairfield, Mossley Hill, Old Swan, and Toxteth.

Wavertree's History

The Wavertree Village Lock-Up, a historic building.

Wavertree is part of the historic county of Lancashire. Its name comes from old English words: wæfre and treow. These words mean "wavering tree," possibly referring to aspen trees that grew there. People have also described the name as "a clearing in a wood" or "the place by the common pond." Over time, the name has been spelled in many ways, like Watry and Wavertre.

We know people lived in Wavertree a very long time ago. In the 1860s, during building work in Victoria Park, Bronze Age burial urns were found. This shows that people were here even thousands of years ago.

The Domesday Book, a famous survey from 1086, mentions Wavertree. It says "Leving held Wauretreu." This old record shows that Wavertree was a small but important place back then.

The Wavertree Lock-Up

Wavertree has a special old building called a village lock-up. People often call it The Roundhouse, even though it has eight sides! It was built in 1796. Later, a famous local architect named Sir James Picton made some changes to it. In the past, this building was used to hold people who caused trouble, like those who drank too much. In 1952, it became a listed building, which means it's protected because of its history.

A similar building, Everton Lock-Up, can be found in Everton. The small grassy area where Wavertree's lock-up stands is special. It is the only remaining piece of common land in Liverpool. Common land is an area that everyone in the village could use.

In 1895, the village of Wavertree officially became part of the city of Liverpool.

Important Buildings in Wavertree

Wavertree has many interesting buildings. These include Holy Trinity Church, Liverpool Reform Synagogue, and two famous schools: the Blue Coat School and the Royal School for the Blind. All these buildings are on the same road.

King David High School is also in Wavertree. It is a Jewish school, but it welcomes students from all backgrounds. It also has a primary school next to it.

The Wavertree Town Hall was built in 1872. It used to be the main office for the Wavertree Local Board of Health. In 1979, it was saved from being torn down. Today, the town hall is a restaurant.

Wavertree Today

Wavertree is a popular area for students from Liverpool's three universities. Many students live near Smithdown Road. This road is famous for "The Smithdown Ten," which is a fun challenge to visit ten pubs along the road. The number of pubs can change each year.

Wavertree also hosts the annual Smithdown Road Festival. During this festival, local bars and cafes welcome almost 200 bands to perform. The community in Wavertree is very diverse, with many people from different backgrounds, including South Asian and Black communities.

Local Government

The people who represent Wavertree in the local council are Angela Coleman, Clare McIntyre, and Dave Cummings. They are all members of the Labour Party. The Labour Party is one of the main political parties in the United Kingdom.

Since 2019, Wavertree has been represented in the UK Parliament by Paula Barker. She is also a member of the Labour Party and represents the Liverpool Wavertree area.

Schools in Wavertree

Wavertree is a busy area with many schools for children of all ages. There are both primary schools and secondary schools.

Besides the Blue Coat School, the Royal School for the Blind, and King David High School, there is also Wavertree Church of England School. This school used to be called Trinity District and changed its name in the 1990s. In September 2017, the school celebrated its 150th birthday!

Other primary schools include Our Lady of Good Help on South Drive. St Clare's Roman Catholic Primary School is also located near Smithdown Road.

Wavertree Playground (The Mystery)

The historic Wavertree Town Hall.

Wavertree Playground, often called The Mystery by local people, was one of the first public playgrounds built just for sports in the UK. It opened in 1895. The land for the playground was given to Liverpool by someone who wanted to remain anonymous. That's why it's called "The Mystery"!

The donor wanted the land to be a place for organized sports. They also wanted it to be a place where children from city schools could run around and play. It was not meant to be a quiet park for walking, which was common in Victorian times. The donor hoped the City Council would "give it a fair trial" for this purpose.

Today, the land is home to the Wavertree Athletics Centre. This centre has many great sports facilities. You can find tennis courts, an all-weather sports pitch, a bowling green, and an athletics track with a grandstand.

The centre also includes the Liverpool Aquatics Centre. This part has two swimming pools, a sports hall, and a fitness centre. The athletics centre has helped train Olympic athletes, like Katarina Johnson-Thompson. She trains with the Liverpool Harriers team, which has been based at the centre since 1990.

Famous People from Wavertree

Getting Around Wavertree

• Wavertree Technology Park railway station
• Edge Hill railway station

• Train times and station information for Wavertree from National Rail