Greasby

The earliest known human settlement in Merseyside has been found at Greasby, believed to date from approximately 7000 BC.

{{cite web|url=http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/mol/archaeology/fieldarchaeology/prehistmrsygreas.asp|title=Prehistoric Merseyside: Greasby, Wirral|publisher=National Museums Liverpool|access-date=18 March 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117041925/http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/mol/archaeology/fieldarchaeology/prehistmrsygreas.asp|archive-date=17 November 2007|url-status=dead}}

A rectangular floor of sandstone slabs and pebbles suggests regular use by the nomadic hunters of that period.

{{cite book|title=A History of Britain|first=Richard|last=Dargie|date=2007|publisher=Arcturus Publishing|isbn=978-0-572-03342-2|page=11}}

The remains of burnt hazelnut shells found at the site were used for radiocarbon dating. The results specified a time period between 8300 BC and 8500 BC, even earlier than previously thought.{{cite web|url=http://www.greasby.btck.co.uk/Roadsigns|title=Prehistoric Archaeology: Gravesberie|publisher=greasby.info|first1=Ron|last1=Cowell|access-date=8 August 2020}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.domesdaybook.co.uk/cheshire1.html#greasby|title=Cheshire A-K|publisher=The Domesday Book Online|access-date=7 December 2007}}

Gravesberie derives from the Old English gräf (a grove) and burh (a fortified place). This has been recorded as meaning "grove farm/settlement",{{cite web|url=http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/map/place/Cheshire/Greasby |title=Key to English Place Names: Greasby|publisher=University of Nottingham|access-date=8 August 2020}}

or alternatively, a "stronghold or fortification by a grove, trench, canal or wood".{{cite web|url=https://pdfslide.net/documents/wirral-historic-settlement-study-national-museums-historic-settlement-study-merseyside.html |title=Wirral Historic Settlement Study: Greasby|publisher=National Museums Liverpool/English Heritage|pages=33|date=December 2011|work=Merseyside Historic Characterisation Project|access-date=8 August 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://www.greasby.btck.co.uk/greasbynameorigin |title=Greasby origin of the name|publisher=greasby.info|access-date=8 August 2020}}{{cite book|title=The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names|publisher=Oxford University Press (London)|edition=4th|first1=E|last1=Eckwall|date=1960}}

The name was Scandinavianised to Greasby, under the influence of Old Norse speakers in Wirral (gräf and býr, with býr meaning "settlement" or "farmstead").{{cite book|title=The Hundred of Wirral|first=Philip|last=Sulley|date=1889}}

The name of the village has been variously spelt over time, including: Grauesberi, Grauesbyri, Grauisby (1093), Grauesbi (c.1155), Grauesby (c.1170), Griseby (1280) and Graysby (1610).{{cite book|title=English Place-names: Wirral Hundred|first1=J|last1=Dodgson|date=1972}}

Before the Norman conquest of England in 1066, Greasby was owned by a man named Dunning, who may have been an official (bailiff or steward) for the earls of Mercia.{{harvnb|Randall|1984|pp=83–84}} After the invasion, all land in the area passed to Hugh d'Avranches.

{{cite web|url=http://greasby.btck.co.uk/Greasbyhistory|title=History of Greasby village|publisher=greasby.info|first=Mike|last=Curtis|access-date=7 December 2007}}

By the time of the Domesday Book (1086), Greasby was under the ownership of Nigel de Burcy and consisted of eight households.

{{cite web|url=https://opendomesday.org/place/SJ2587/greasby/ |title=Greasby|publisher=Open Domesday|first1=Anna|last1=Powell-Smith|access-date=8 August 2020}}

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.{{cite book|title=A History of Wirral|first=Stephen J.|last=Roberts|pages=140, 180|date=2002|publisher=Phillimore & Co. Ltd.|isbn=978-1-86077-512-3}}

Greasby was formerly a township split between the parishes of Thurstaston and West Kirby, within the Wirral Hundred. It held civil parish status between 1866 and 1974.

{{cite web|url=https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/CHS/Greasby|title=Greasby|publisher=GENUKI UK & Ireland Genealogy|access-date=8 August 2020}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10186833#tab02 |title=Greasby|publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth|work=A Vision of Britain through Time|access-date=9 June 2010}}

On 1 April 1974 the parish was abolished{{cite web|url=https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/wirral.html|title=Wirral Registration District|publisher=UKBMD|accessdate=28 September 2024}} and local government reorganisation in England and Wales resulted in most of the Wirral Peninsula, including Greasby, transfer from the county of Cheshire to Merseyside.

The population of the township/parish was 123 in 1801, rising to 177 in 1851, 290 in 1901 and significantly increasing to 4,367 in 1951.{{cite book|title=Pictures from the past: A unique collection of photographs of old Greasby, Irby, Woodchurch and Upton|at=sec. Greasby|first=Derek|last=Young|publisher=The author|year=1983|asin=B0016593RY|asin-tld=co.uk}}

File:Greasby pump (2).JPG

File:Greasby Cross 2.jpg

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.

{{Geographic location|width=auto

|title = Neighbouring places

|Northwest = Hoylake

|North = Saughall Massie

|Northeast = Upton

|West = Larton
Frankby

|Centre = Greasby

|East = Upton

|Southwest = Frankby

|South = Irby

|Southeast = Arrowe Park

}}

Greasby Cross is an iron cross on a sandstone plinth that was placed in the centre of the village in 1862 to replicate an earlier, possibly medieval, cross on the same site. A restored late nineteenth century water pump is on Old Pump Lane.

Greasby Old Hall on Frankby Road has been a Grade II listed building since 1953.{{NHLE|num=1242743|desc=Greasby Old Hall|access-date=8 August 2020}}

It is a seventeenth century sandstone house, although remnants of a possibly fifteenth century timber structure survive within.{{cite web|url=http://www.greasby.btck.co.uk/GreasbyOldHall |title=Greasby Old Hall|publisher=greasby.info|access-date=8 August 2020}}

Manor Farm is a red sandstone and brick building with associated barns and are all Grade II listed buildings.{{NHLE|num=1242806|desc=The Manor|access-date=8 August 2020}}{{NHLE|num=1242745|desc=Former barn to rear of the manor|access-date=8 August 2020}} Manor Farm has a date stone inscription of "IM 1680" and has been previously known as Greasby House and The Manor.

The village is within the parliamentary constituency of Wirral West. It is currently represented by Labour Member of Parliament Matthew Patrick.

At local government level, Greasby is incorporated into the Greasby, Frankby and Irby Ward of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, in the metropolitan county of Merseyside. It is represented on Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council by three councillors.

{{cite web|url=https://democracy.wirral.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=WARD&VW=LIST&PIC=0 |title=Your Councillors by Ward|publisher=Wirral Borough Council|access-date=8 August 2020}} The most recent local elections took place on 6 May 2021.

The village has four primary schools: Greasby Infant School,{{cite web|url=http://www.greasby-infant.eschools.co.uk/|title=Welcome to Greasby Infant School|publisher=Greasby Infant School|access-date=6 January 2015}} Greasby Junior School,{{cite web|url=http://www.greasby-junior.wirral.sch.uk/|title=Home|publisher=Greasby Junior School|access-date=6 January 2015}} Our Lady of Pity Primary School{{cite web|url=http://www.olopschool.co.uk|title=Welcome to our school |publisher=Our Lady of Pity Roman Catholic Primary School|access-date=6 January 2015}} and Brookdale Primary School.

Greasby has three churches: St. Nicholas' Church of England,{{cite web|url=http://www.achurchnearyou.com/greasby-st-nicholas/|title=St Nicholas, Greasby|publisher=A Church Near You|access-date=6 January 2015}} the Our Lady Of Pity Catholic Church,{{cite web|url=http://catholicdirectory.org/Catholic_Information.asp?ID=32737|title=Our Lady of Pity|publisher=Catholic Directory|access-date=6 January 2015}} and Greasby Methodist Church.{{cite web|url=http://www.greasbymethodistchurch.org.uk/|title=Home|publisher=Greasby Methodist Church|access-date=6 January 2015}}

The village has a library{{cite web|url=http://www.wirral.gov.uk/my-services/leisure-and-culture/libraries/find-library/greasby-library|title=Greasby Library|publisher=Wirral Borough Council|access-date=6 January 2015}} 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.

{{cite web|url=http://www.greasbycommunity.uk/The-Greasby-Centre.php|title=The Greasby Centre|publisher=Greasby Community Association|access-date=8 August 2020}}

The 2nd Greasby Scout Group is also within the village, having been established in 1954.{{cite web|url=http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/stand2/West/g2.html|title=2nd Greasby Scout Group|publisher=West Wirral Scouts|access-date=6 January 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://www.wirralnews.co.uk/news/local-news/esther-mcvey-lots-cheer-wirral-7428145|title=Esther McVey: There was lots to cheer about in Wirral over the weekend|first=Nicola|last=Oakley|newspaper=Wirral News|publisher=Trinity Mirror Merseyside|date=15 July 2014|access-date=6 January 2015}}

File:Coach & Horses, Greasby 2019.jpg

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.greasby.btck.co.uk/newinn|title=New Inn|publisher=Greasby on the Wirral peninsula|access-date=6 January 2015}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.pub-explorer.com/merseyside/pub/twelfthmangreasby.htm|title=The Twelfth Man|publisher=pub-explorer.com|access-date=6 January 2015}} The pub was renamed The Gravesberie Inn in 2019.{{cite web|url=https://whatpub.com/pubs/WIR/072/gravesberie-inn-greasby |title=Gravesberie Inn (formerly Twelfth Man)|publisher=WhatPub?|access-date=8 August 2020}} The Greave Dunning was an 18th-century farmhouse, and it was opened as a pub in 1981.{{cite web|url=http://www.greasby.btck.co.uk/pubs|title=Pubs in Greasby|publisher=Greasby on the Wirral peninsula|access-date=6 January 2015}}

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.

JFC Greasby is a youth football club based in Greasby, which was founded in 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.jfcgreasby.org.uk/|title=About Us|publisher=JFC Greasby|access-date=6 January 2015}} Greasby Livery caters for dressage and showjumping.{{cite web|url=http://www.greasbyshow.co.uk/|title=Greasby Hall Farm|publisher=greasbyshow.co.uk|access-date=6 January 2015}} The community centre also has a karate club.{{cite web|url=http://www.greasbycommunity.uk/Weekly-timetable.php|title=The Greasby Centre: weekly timetable|publisher=Greasby Community Association|access-date=8 August 2020}} Greasby FC were a small football club, which played in the West Cheshire League between 1951 and 1958.{{cite web|url=https://www.fchd.info/GREASBY.HTM|title=Greasby|publisher=Football Club History Database|access-date=6 January 2015}}

File:Greasby Road Shops. - geograph.org.uk - 889669.jpg

The village contains a post office, a branch of Nisa, 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.greasbycommunitycentre.org/news.htm|title=Latest information around the community|publisher=The Greasby Centre|access-date=6 January 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.strategicteamgroup.com/casestudies/the-red-cat-greasby/129|title=The Red Cat, Greasby|publisher=Strategic Team Group|access-date=6 January 2015}} These were opened in new retail unit, after many parts of the local community opposed the construction of the new building.{{cite news|url=http://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/9969695.Villagers__fury_as_Government_rules_Sainsbury_s_can_build_in_Greasby/|title=Villagers' fury as Government rules Sainsbury's can build in Greasby|newspaper=Wirral Globe|first=Craig|last=Manning|date=5 October 2012|publisher=Newsquest (North West) Ltd|access-date=6 January 2015}} Greasby also has a number of other small shops including butchers, florist, greengrocer's, estate agents and a number of fast food takeaways.

Greasby is situated on the B5139, which runs between Upton and West Kirby.{{cite web|url=http://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/index.php?title=B5139|title=B5139|publisher=Sabre|access-date=6 January 2015}} 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{{cite web|url=http://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/index.php?title=A5027|title=A5027|publisher=Sabre|access-date=6 January 2015}} approximately {{convert|1|km|order=flip}} from the junction with the B5139.

Upton railway station on the Borderlands line is the closest station to the village. Meols railway station on the Wirral line of the Merseyrail network is several miles to the north west.

• John Bowe, English actor, born in Greasby
• Mark Head, literary critic, born in Greasby
• Craig Lindfield, English footballer, born in Greasby
• Bill Rigby, English footballer, died in Greasby
• James Hype, English DJ, raised in Greasby

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{cite book|title=The Search for Old Wirral|first=David|last=Randall|publisher=Countryvise|date=1984|isbn=9780907768807|oclc=263480984}}

• {{cite book|title=The History of the Hundred of Wirral|first=William Williams|last=Mortimer|year=1847|publisher=Whittaker & Co.|location=London|url=https://archive.org/stream/historyhundredw01mortgoog#page/n312/mode/2up|id=p.273}}

{{Wikivoyage}}

{{commons category|Greasby}}

• [http://www.greasby.btck.co.uk/ Greasby website]

{{Populated Places in Wirral Borough}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Towns and villages in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral

Category:Former civil parishes in Merseyside