The name Frankby come from the Old NorseFrankis-byr, meaning "Franki's/Frakki's farm". The "by"suffix, included in neighbouring place names such as Greasby, Irby and Pensby, applies to settlements believed to be Viking in origin. The settlement of Frankby was mentioned in the Domesday Book entry for neighbouring Greasby. Frankby was formerly a township in the West Kirby Parish of the Wirral Hundred. The population was 90 in 1801, 138 in 1851, 248 in 1901 and 413 in 1951.
Frankby contains part of Royden Park with its miniature railway and meres. Named after local landowner Sir Ernest Royden, the park is jointly owned by the National Trust and Wirral Borough Council. Within the grounds is a large Mock Tudor house known as Hill Bark, which was re-erected between 1929 and 1931 by Sir Ernest Royden. Originally known as Bidston Court, it was initially sited near Bidston Hill in 1891, but moved brick by brick to its present position in Frankby to replace an earlier dwelling. The house contains a 16th-century fireplace, once part of a house belonging to Sir Walter Raleigh. Frankby's local public house is known as the Farmer's Arms. Sir Thomas Royden was an English shipowner and Conservative Party politician. He was created a baronet in 1905 and lived at Hill Bark whilst his wife's parents lived at Frankby Hall. His daughter, the writer, preacher, suffragist and former local inhabitant Maude Royden is buried in the localChurch of St John the Divine. In the village of Frankby lies 1st Frankby Greasby Scout Headquarters. The Roydens donated a strip of land to the group in 1929 when they were known as 1st Frankby. This happened not long after the recent World Jamboree in Arrowe Park a couple of miles up the road. They amalgamated with 1st Greasby not long after the war finished to become 1st Frankby Greasby.
Government
The village is part of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, in the metropolitan county of Merseyside. The village is part of the parliamentary constituency of Wirral West. The current Member of Parliament is Margaret Greenwood, a Labour representative. Frankby is also part of a local government ward of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, this being Greasby, Frankby and Irby Ward. Frankby is represented on Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council by three councillors. These are Tom Anderson, Wendy Clements and Mike Hornby, who are all Conservative councillors. The most recent local elections took place on 22 May 2014. The electorate numbered 11,501, there was a turnout of 43% and the majority is 1,007. The result was declared at 12:17.
