New Ferry
New Ferry is a small town located on the Wirral Peninsula, Merseyside, England. Situated to the east of Bebington, it is part of the Bromborough Ward of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral and in the parliamentary constituency of Wirral South. The 2001 Census measured the town's population at 5,300.[1]
History
As with the neighbouring settlement of Rock Ferry to the north, a ferry service gave its name to the locality, with the first recorded mention of New Ferry in 1774.[2] Additionally, on 4 April 1865, a "South End" service was established between New Ferry and a dock basin in the southern dock system of Liverpool, although this appeared to be relatively short-lived. From 1879, services to Liverpool Pier Head were usually augmented with Rock Ferry.[3] The ferry service was forced to close after a ship collided with New Ferry Pier in thick fog, in the early hours of 30 January 1922. Due to declining passenger numbers, improved local land-based public transport and a close proximity to the Rock Ferry service, it never reopened. The lease on the Ferry Rights officially expired on 22 September 1927, although no service had operated at New Ferry for over five years as a result of the collision.[4]
New Ferry was part of the Lower Bebington township, which became the Bebington-cum-Bromborough civil parish in 1922. Between 1894 and 1974 these parishes were administered as part of Bebington urban district.[5]
On 1 April 1974, local government reorganisation in England and Wales resulted in most of Wirral, including New Ferry, transfer from the county of Cheshire to Merseyside.
Transport
New Ferry is situated on the A41, the main road between Birkenhead and London prior to the introduction of motorways, and immediately adjacent to the village of Port Sunlight. At the centre of the town is the Toll Bar area, a name originating from when New Chester Road used to be a toll road. The re-routing of the A41 road onto the New Ferry By-pass, built in the 1970s, has resulted in a decline in through-traffic in the town centre.
The nearest railway stations to New Ferry are at Bebington and Port Sunlight railway station, on the Wirral Line of the Merseyrail network.
Due to the location of New Ferry it is easily accessible by buses. Many bus companies including Arriva (401-Chester), First (41/42-Mill Park, 1-Chester, 38 New Ferry, 40/40a to Mill Park ) and Merseylink all go through New Ferry on route to other places.
Community
The Shorefields area on the banks of the River Mersey is a winter bird heaven as it is designated Site of Special Scientific Interest.
New Ferry has a small shopping precinct often referred to as "The Ferry" it has several shops including Somerfield and Iceland and Discount Carpet Centre, a 20 year old family business. For a small shopping centre it is unusual in having four Butcher's Shops (the oldest on Wirral is in New Ferry) and a number of others; Running shoes, cake decoration, fishing tackle, and Combat clothing (Asian Combat) specialist shops. It is home to several pubs including Shillings Bar, Alice's Place, The Farmers Arms, The Cleveland Arms and the Wirral Hotel. The John Masefield, a pub named in honour of a former poet laureate, who was briefly stationed on a training ship on the Mersey near New Ferry. Part of the JD Wetherspoon chain, the company received complaints due to the unfortunate resemblance of the Masefield portrait on the pub sign to Adolf Hitler.[6] As a result, it has received the nickname of "The Bünker" or "Adolf's". The company had said it would consider renaming the pub, but this has not happened to date.
New Ferry also has a number of Private Members Clubs: The Royal British Legion at Hesketh Hall on Boundary Road, The Ex Civil Defence Club in School Lane and The Bebington Liberal Club on Bebington Road.
Facilities at New Ferry Park include a play area for children and football pitches, which are often used during local amateur Sunday league matches. Local amateur side New Ferry Wirral Hotel Football Club plays their home matches at New Ferry Park on Sunday mornings.
New Ferry is also home to the Olympic Taekwondo Centre based in Bebington Youth Club, Cornwell Close. In 2008 the coach won Wirral Sports Council 'Coach of the Year' and the club took the Junior -73 kg male British National Champion title for the second year running.
The Wirral Farmers' Market, held in New Ferry's Village Hall (between Longfellow Drive & Grove Street) on the second Saturday of the month, has been voted Britain's Best Farmers' Market at the prestigious BBC Food & Farming Awards also received a UK National Regeneration Award from BURA for its work in investing in the Local Community. The market is entirely volunteer run, its profits being used to fund local community groups and good causes. In addition to the market, the town also boasts a very respected butchers' shop, Edge's, with the same family trading in New Ferry since the 1850s.
Out of a thin piece of land adjoining Bebington station and along the railway towards Birkenhead, local volunteers have for the last 12 years created a wildlife haven, New Ferry Butterfly Park. The Park is designated as an Area of Special Biological Interest and is protected under Local Planning regulations. Open to visitors on Summer Sundays, Local volunteers provide tours and help to manage the site throughout the year.[7]
Current Devolpments
With the collapse of the Woolworths chain, seen the closure of the New Ferry Woolworths. However in recent weeks the shop has been converted into a frozen food shop by the company Herons. It has said that it will rival the two other main supermarkets.
The Farmers Arms has been involved in a lot of controversy in recent weeks. It was shut down by local authorities involving an incident. Briefly reopened, it has now shut again for at least a month while a £65,000 redeveolpment scheme will be taking place to convert this pub into a family restaurant to rival weatherspoons and in fact improve facilities within the pub. During a local committee meeting the issue of access past the pub was brought up. Due to the smoking ban, people are forced to smoke outside. However the pedestrian footpath is fairly narrow along that stretch and is often difficult to get past when a large group of people are there. With the redevelopment grant, they look to increase access, with the option of creating a back entrance being discussed.
Education
New Ferry has in its area 3 schools including Grove Street Primary School, Church Drive School, Port Sunlight and St Johns RC Primary. The old site of the New Ferry market, has been turned into a Learning Centre. This offers many opportunities for young people and adults to further their qualifications.
References
- ^ a b Wirral 2001 Census: New Ferry, Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, retrieved 18 May 2007
- ^ Maund, TB (1991), Mersey Ferries - Volume 1, Transport Publishing Co. Ltd, p. 59, ISBN 0-86317-166-4
- ^ Maund, TB (1991), Mersey Ferries - Volume 1, Transport Publishing Co. Ltd, pp. 60–61, ISBN 0-86317-166-4
- ^ Maund, TB (1991), Mersey Ferries - Volume 1, Transport Publishing Co. Ltd, pp. 70–71, ISBN 0-86317-166-4
- ^ Cheshire Parishes: Lower Bebington (including New Ferry), GENUKI UK & Ireland Genealogy, retrieved 18 May 2007
- ^ Row brews over 'Hitler' pub sign, BBC News, 8 November 2007, retrieved 21 December 2007
- ^ New Ferry Butterfly Park, retrieved 18 December 2007
External links
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