h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

There's a lot more to Merseyside than the Beatles. Two cathedrals, for instance, as well as the Grand National, one of the few remaining habitats of the Red Squirrel and a history inextricably linked with emigration to the New World, the slave trade and the British Empire at its peak. But what else do you know about Merseyside? Share your knowledge with us!

Paully

Found in the Northwest of England, Merseyside as a county was created in April 1974 when it was separated from Lancashire as part of a major overhaul of British regions.

It incorporates the City of Liverpool, which is surrounded by the boroughs of Sefton (from Bootle, North of Liverpool, up to Southport), Knowsley (West and South of Liverpool, incorporating Kirky, Huyton and Halewood), St Helens and the Wirral Penninsula.

The River Mersey runs through the county, continuing through Cheshire, Merseyside's neighbour to the South. Greater Manchester lies to the west and Lancashire to the North.

The accents of Merseyside have changed dramatically since the 1970s. The 'Scouse' voice of Liverpool has spread far into the traditionally Lancastrian regions of the outer rim of the county and beyond, meaning younger generations sound to outsiders much more like Liverpudlians than their parents. However, the parochial Liverpudlians stil make the distinction between those people born within its boundary and 'Woollybacks' born outside of the city boundary.

Going to be difficult to make this one different from the Liverpool entry, isn't it? Given that that entry is fairly complete, and that there is only so much you can say about the Wirral?

sprout

How about Bootle? Southport? Kirkby? Port Sunlight? Wallasey?

The kind of stuff that we're really looking for about the County as a whole is:

** General location of the county in the UK (Northwest, Midlands, Highlands), including bordering counties.

** The main towns and cities there, plus any tourist attractions or places of note.

** A very basic history of the county (which, for those counties created in 1974 or after might include a little background about the region before the county was formed). Some counties will be famous for specific key events in history, which we'd also like to know about.

** Any geographical features (lakes in Cumbria, Peak District in Derbyshire, Pennines in Yorkshire/Greater Manchester)

** Links to other related entries for the region (which in this case will obviously include the Liverpool entry!).


Hope that gives a little bit of guidance!

Paully

Hmm. I currently trying to write an entry on Crosby, but Uni has become more important at the moment. I can still help out though.

Bootle:
I've read that Bootle was the most bombed town in WW2, as most of "Liverpool's" docks were actually in Bootle. The last of the WW2 damage was only cleared at the start of this decade

It's very poor for the most part, Bootle ranks as the 3rd most impoverished constituency in England and Wales (with Hulme in Manchester being first, and Anfield being second)

Receives more EU Category 1 funding than any other town in the UK, though much of that is coming to an end as most of the redevelopment has been completed or is nearing completion

History: There has been a settlement in the Parrs Yard area since the 11th century, though Bootle only became a large town as a result of the Industrial Revolution. Got swallowed by Liverpool in the early 18th century, the docks and warehouses were the main features, as well as a lot of slum housing, which is only now being put to history as most of the old terraces are being replaced with modern homes.

Famous sons and daughters: Tom O'Connor (comedian and teacher at a school in Bootle), Kim Cattrall (actress, she moved to New York when she was 7), Jamie Carragher (Liverpool FC player) probably more, but I can't think of them right now.

Half Man Half Biscuit!

And Kevin Sampson's novel 'Awaydays' (which is basically about growing up while mixed up with football hooliganism) is set on the Wirral.

Oh, and I think St Helens is just inside the Merseyside border - in which case they can claim one of the most successful Rugby League sides of recent years

Indeed it is - St Helens is definitely Merseyside.

Paully

Merseyside is made up of five key areas:

- Knowsley
- Liverpool
- Sefton
- St Helens
- Wirral

I Live in Knowsley, and Knowsley is made up of the towns of Kirkby, Stockbridge Village, Huyton, Prescot, Whiston, Halewood, Knowsley Village, Cronton and Tarbock.

Knowsley is famous for Football players like Peter Reid and Steven Gerrard... and loads of others that I can't remember off the top of my head...

I'll add more later...

I'm delighted to announce that we already have two County entries in Peer Review, waiting to receive any bouquets or brickbats that people might lob in their general direction! If you're currently either working on or contributing to a County entry of your own right now, you might like to have a quick look to see how some other researchers have tackled this challenge. They are: County Fermanagh (A6092606) and Norfolk (A6108473).

Hope you enjoy reading them!

Paully

Anyone willing to take this on? We're offering T-shirts as rewards for anyone who can help us fill in these gaps in the EG.

If you're seriously offering a t-shirt I'll find the time to write this .

Without the t-shirt, I could write it, it just might take me longer.

Iago

The offer is serious! We may even through in a badge - no promises mind.

I'll do it then. Got a lot on in RL though, so it might take a few weeks.

There's no huge hurry, it's taken us a year or so to get round to seeing what's left.