Greasby


Greasby is a large village on the Wirral Peninsula, Merseyside, England. It is part of the Greasby, Frankby & Irby Ward of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral and is situated in the parliamentary constituency of Wirral West. At the 2001 Census, Greasby had 9,830 inhabitants, with the total population of the ward at 14,667. At the Census in 2011 the population of Greasby was not measured. However the ward had a total population of 13,991.

History

The earliest known human settlement in Merseyside has been found at Greasby, dating from approximately 7000 BC. A rectangular floor of sandstone slabs and pebbles suggests regular use by the nomadic hunters of that period.
National Museums Liverpool archaeologists excavated the site between 1987 and 1990.
Greasby was an Anglo Saxon settlement, as witnessed by the form of the name, Gravesberie, in the Domesday Book.
Gravesberie derives from the Old English gräf and burh, recorded as meaning a "stronghold by a grove, trench, canal or wood". The name was Scandinavianised to Greasby, under the influence of Old Norse speakers in Wirral.
Prior to the Norman conquest of England in 1066, Greasby was owned by a man named Dunning, who may have been an official for the earls of Mercia. After the invasion, all land in the area passed to Hugh d'Avranches.
By the time of the Domesday Book, Greasby was under the ownership of Nigel de Burcy.
After the Second World War the area expanded considerably, with significant residential development across previously agricultural land. This has resulted in Greasby becoming contiguous with the nearby settlements of Moreton, Upton and Woodchurch.

Civic history

Greasby was formerly a township situated mainly in West Kirby Parish, Wirral Hundred. The population was 123 in 1801, 177 in 1851, 290 in 1901 and 4,367 in 1951.
From 1866 Greasby was part of Wirral Rural Sanitary District, which was replaced in 1894 by Wirral Rural District. In 1933 the village transferred to Hoylake Urban District.

Geography

Greasby is bounded by Arrowe Brook, at Upton Meadow, and by Greasby Brook which flows around the western and northern sides of Greasby. Greasby Brook merges into Arrowe Brook between Greasby and Saughall Massie, which becomes a tributary of the Birket.

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.
Greasby is also part of a local government ward of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, this being Greasby, Frankby and Irby Ward. Greasby 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 was 1007. The result was declared at 12:17.

Economy

The village contains a post office, a branch of The Co-operative Food, a Boots pharmacy, a branch of Age UK, a William Hill bookmaker and a BP petrol station. A Sainsbury's Local convenience store was opened on 8 October 2014, along with a veterinary surgery which opened on 6 October 2014. These were opened in new retail units, after many parts of the local community opposed the construction of the new building. Greasby also has a number of other small shops including a butchers, florist, greengrocer's, estate agents and a number of fast food takeaways.

Community

Schools

The village has four primary schools: Greasby Infant School, Greasby Junior School, Our Lady of Pity Primary School and Brookdale Primary School.

Churches

Greasby has three churches: St. Nicholas' Church of England, the Our Lady Of Pity Catholic Church, and Greasby Methodist Church.

Leisure

The village has a library and a community centre. They are centrally situated and close together, along with the health centre. The Greasby Centre is a purpose-built single-storey building which has two halls. This was built as Greasby Community Centre in 1984, and replaced an older building on Arrowe Road. The 2nd Greasby Scout Group is also within the village, having been established in 1954.

Public houses

There are five public houses in Greasby. The Coach and Horses is possibly the oldest pub, which was definitely in business by 1832, having been named on the Bryant map of that year, and possibly dating as far back as 1725. The Red Cat was built in 1964 to replace the New Inn which had stood a few metres from the site of the present building since at least 1849. The Twelfth Man opened around 1960 and was named as a result of its proximity to Upton cricket club. This pub has an adjoining budget hotel which is part of the Premier Inn chain. The Greave Dunning was an 18th-century farmhouse, and it was opened as a pub in 1981. Ellies Bistro is a wine bar which opened in 2006.

Parks and commons

Coronation Park is situated at the eastern end of the village. Upton Meadow borders Greasby to the east. Arrowe Park borders to the south-east.

Sport

JFC Greasby are a youth football club based in Greasby, which was founded in 2009. Greasby Livery caters for dressage and showjumping. The community centre also has a karate club. Greasby FC were a small football club, which played in the West Cheshire League between 1951 and 1958.

Transport

Road

Greasby is situated on the B5139, which runs between Upton and West Kirby. The A5027 Upton bypass is along the eastern side of Greasby, at the junction with the B5139. The A5027 connects directly to Junction 2A of the M53 motorway approximately from the junction with the B5139.

Notable people