Waterloo, Merseyside

Waterloo was historically part of Lancashire and originally an area of Crosby, named Crosby Seabank. At that time it consisted mostly of cottages, the beachfront, sand-hills and fields.{{cite web | url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/nostalgia/battle-waterloo-merseyside-township-celebrates-9400012 | title=The Battle of Waterloo: Merseyside township celebrates battle's bicentennial | publisher=Liverpool Echo | access-date=4 November 2016}} The area grew in popularity with wealthy visitors from Liverpool, prompting the planning and construction of a large hotel in the Georgian style to be named the Crosby Seabank Hotel. The grand opening coincided with 18 June 1816, the first anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, and was named the Royal Waterloo Hotel in honour of the event. Gradually, as the population increased and the area became an identifiable location it became known as Waterloo, with several streets taking the name of names associated with the battle cementing the association.

Some of the buildings in Waterloo such as the Grade II Listed Potters Barn park buildings are replicas of those found in Waterloo, Belgium.{{NHLE | num=1257626 | desc=Potter's Barn | access-date=25 May 2015}}

{{See also|Church (Sefton ward)|Bootle (UK Parliament constituency)}}

On 31 December 1894 Waterloo became a civil parish, formed from the part of Great Crosby parish in Waterloo with Seaforth Urban District, and subsequently became part of the municipal borough of Crosby in 1937.{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10384539|title=Relationships and changes Waterloo CP through time|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=29 September 2024}} In 1951 the parish had a population of 16,997.{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10384539/cube/TOT_POP|title=Population statistics Waterloo CP through time|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=29 September 2024}} On 1 April 1974 the parish was abolished{{cite web|url=https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/crosby.html|title=Crosby Registration District|publisher=UKBMD|accessdate=29 September 2024}} and the Municipal Borough of Crosby became part of the newly created Metropolitan Borough of Sefton.

From 1918 until 1950 Waterloo was within the Parliamentary seat known as the Waterloo constituency, a safe seat for the Conservative Party. From 1950 until 2010 Waterloo was within the boundaries of the Crosby constituency. From 1997 to 2010 the Member of Parliament (MP) was Claire Curtis-Thomas, a member of the Labour Party; prior to her election the Crosby seat was generally considered to be a safe Conservative Party stronghold, like its predecessor seat, with Tory MPs elected at every election barring the 1981 Crosby by-election where Shirley Williams of the Social Democratic Party was elected to represent the constituency. As a result of boundary revisions for the 2010 general election, the Crosby constituency was abolished and Waterloo was included in the expanded Bootle constituency. The town has been represented by Labour MP Peter Dowd since 2015.

For elections to Sefton Council, the southern part of Waterloo is within the electoral ward of Church and is represented by three councillors. The northern part from St John's Rd to Queensway is in Victoria ward and is represented by another three councillors.

File:Waterloo-merseyside.JPG

File:ironman-crosby.JPG sculpture by Antony Gormley]]

Waterloo is made up of predominately Georgian, Edwardian and Victorian villas, mews and terraces, facing the sea. The South Road offers shops and restaurants. A series of public gardens – built as a job creation scheme during the 1930s Great Depression – run adjacent to the esplanade that abuts the marina leading to the coast and beach.

Chaffers Running Track was established in the early 1960s.{{Cite web |last=Edey |first=Sarah |date=2020-08-14 |title=The Rimrose Valley Chaffers Running track: A History |url=https://www.saverimrosevalley.org/post/the-rimrose-valley-chaffers-running-track-a-history |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=Save Rimrose |language=en}} Southport Waterloo Running Club used the cinder track as their base for about 15 years until the Litherland Park Sports Centre was built in 2007.{{Cite web |date=July 2020 |title=A Brief History of Southport Waterloo AC |url=https://www.southportwaterlooac.co.uk/Aboutus/history/A%20Brief%20History%20of%20Southport%20Waterloo%20AC.pdf |archive-date= |access-date=12 February 2024 |website=Southport Waterloo Athletic Club}} Chaffers fell into disuse until plans were announced in 2020 to restore it.{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Olivia |date=2020-05-25 |title=Jamie Carrgher's charity steps in to restore Rimrose Valley track |url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/rimrose-valley-running-track-restored-18298297 |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=Liverpool Echo |language=en}} It is now the home of the Marsh Lane Harriers running club.{{Cite web |title=About us - Marsh Lane Harriers - Community Running Club – Liverpool |url=https://marshlaneharriers.co.uk/about-us/ |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=Marsh Lane Harriers |language=en-GB}}

In 2019, a 3 acre wildflower meadow was established instigated by local resident Linda Gaskell with help from Sefton Councillor Michael Roche. The meadow is located within the former athletic track At Chafer's Fields. The varieties were selected by Richard Scott of the Eden Project and include Cornflower, sunflower, field marigold, camomile and poppies. It is planned to extend the meadow each year along the Valley.

The Marina is a stretch of fields and protected natural wildlife area near the Marina Lake. The area begins adjacent to the Royal Seaforth Dock. A path runs through the Marina toward the sand dunes of Crosby Beach, it is the main route taken by foot to get to the beach, beginning at the top of South Road, Waterloo. The Marina has a café (Waterloo Place opened in 2015) and the Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre (opened in early 2010).

The beach at Waterloo is the permanent home of Antony Gormley's Another Place.{{cite web|url=http://www.sefton.gov.uk/around-sefton/another-place-by-antony-gormley.aspx|title=Another Place by Antony Gormley|publisher=Sefton Council|access-date=12 December 2015}} The permanent art installation consists of figures of cast iron facing out to sea, spread over a 2 mile (3.2 km) stretch of the beach between Waterloo and Blundellsands.{{citation|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/6428935.stm |title=Gormley's statues stay out to sea|publisher=BBC News|date=7 March 2007|access-date=8 March 2007}}{{citation|url=http://icseftonandwestlancs.icnetwork.co.uk/iccrosby/news/tm_headline=iron-men-to-stay-in-crosby%26method=full%26objectid=18722126%26siteid=60252-name_page.html |title=Iron Men to stay in Crosby|publisher=Crosby Herald|date=8 March 2007|access-date=8 March 2007}}

The Plaza Cinema has been a part of the fabric of Waterloo since 1939. The opening coincided with the outbreak of World War II forcing it to immediately close its doors under wartime restrictions until the public order was rescinded by the government.{{cite web | url=http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/6527 | title=Plaza Cinema | publisher=cinematreasures.org | access-date=4 November 2016}}{{cite web | url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/local-news/crosbys-plaza-cinema-proves-great-6970577 | title=Crosby's Plaza cinema proves to be great survivor to stay in picture | publisher=Liverpool Echo | access-date=4 November 2016}} Originally named The Plaza, it has changed hands numerous times during its life, becoming known as The Odeon in the 1950s, The Classic in the 1970s and The Apollo in the 1990s.

In 1996 the cinema was closed when the owners decided to sell the property for redevelopment. After numerous petitions the cinema was reopened on 18 July 1997 under a community trust and its original name restored. After successfully raising money to secure equipment, the re-opened cinema was staffed entirely by volunteers apart from the projectionist. After the support of British Film Commissioner Sir Sydney Samuelson the cinema was able to secureThe Lost World: Jurassic Park as first film to be shown.{{cite web | url=http://plazacinema.org.uk/about/history | title=Plaza Cinema, History | publisher=plazacinema.org.uk | access-date=4 November 2016}} Since then The Plaza has been a focal community point in Waterloo, offering Autism friendly screenings, Kids clubs and social clubs.{{cite web | url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/waterloo-cinema-awarded-queen-voluntary-11420357 | title=Waterloo cinema awarded by the Queen for voluntary services | publisher=Liverpool Echo | access-date=4 November 2016}} In September 2009 the Plaza celebrated its 70th anniversary.

In May 2010, the venue hosted the celebration event for the Who I Am and Where I'm From project which showcased a collection of animations produced by the Polish Community in Sefton called Polska Tales.{{cite web | url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/local-news/crosby-event-marks-celebration-polish-6965459 | title=Crosby event marks celebration of Polish culture | publisher=Liverpool Echo | access-date=4 November 2016}}

In July 2011 the cinema completed an £80,000 refurbishment that saw Sir Sydney Samuelson attend its reopening ceremony.{{cite web | url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/local-news/review-2011-year-crosby-x-6964001 | title=Review of 2011: The year Crosby had the X Factor | publisher=Liverpool Echo | access-date=4 November 2016}}

In 2016 the Plaza was awarded a Queen's Award for Voluntary Service.

There are three primary schools: Waterloo Primary, St. Johns C of E Primary, and St Edmunds & St Thomas's RC. Local high schools are in Crosby.

The district is served by Waterloo station on the Northern Line of the Merseyrail network. Waterloo is connected to Liverpool by the Dock Road. The number 53 bus runs through South Road, Waterloo and into Liverpool City centre.

Waterloo was home to Waterloo rugby club who took their name from the area, having played there from 1884 until 1892 before moving back to Blundellsands. In 1992, they famously defeated then English champions and cup holders Bath 9-8 in a fourth round cup tie. The marina in Waterloo, and adjacent Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre, is home to the Crosby Scout and Guide Marina Club.

• Cherie Booth{{Cite web|url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/cherie-proud-scouse-roots-3540185|title=Why Cherie is proud of Scouse roots|first=Liverpool|last=Echo|date=23 September 2004|website=Liverpool Echo}}
• J. Bruce Ismay{{Cite web|url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/property/inside-historic-mansion-owned-founder-15962232|title=Inside historic mansion owned by founder of tragic Titanic shipping company|first=Emilia|last=Bona|date=17 March 2019|website=Liverpool Echo}}
• Charles Alfred Bartlett, captain of HMHS Britannic when she sank
• Edward Smith (sea captain), captain of RMS Titanic when she sank{{Cite web|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/waterloo-woman-living-titanic-captain-3347133|title=Waterloo woman living Titanic captain Edward Smith's former home to opens doors to history fans|first=Liverpool|last=Echo|date=12 April 2012|website=Liverpool Echo}}
• Josh Kirby{{cite web|url=http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/walker/exhibitions/joshkirby/|title=Josh Kirby|publisher=Liverpool Museums}}
• Frank McLardy, member of the British Union of Fascists and Waffen-SS British Free Corps{{Cite web|url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/local-news/waterloo-born-traitor-who-fought-6958022|title=The Waterloo born traitor who fought for the Nazis|first=Liverpool|last=Echo|date=14 November 2013|website=Liverpool Echo}}
• Nicholas Murray, locally born author
• Ward Muir, photographer and author
• Jean Davies, British Royal Navy Officer

A local charity, the Waterloo Partnership, fundraises for Waterloo, a city in the Western Area of Sierra Leone and the capital of that country's Western Area Rural District.{{citation|url=http://www.waterloopartnership.co.uk/ |title=Two Waterloos, One Hope|publisher=The Waterloo Partnership|access-date=28 March 2007}}

• Listed buildings in Great Crosby

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Category:Towns and villages in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton

Category:Former civil parishes in Merseyside

Category:Towns in Merseyside