West Derby

Mentioned in the Domesday Book, West Derby achieved significance far earlier than Liverpool itself.{{citation|url=http://www.btinternet.com/~m.royden/mrlhp/students/westderby/westderby2.htm|title=The Decline of the Manor of West Derby and the rise of Liverpool...|first=Norman|last=Blake|publisher=Mike Royden's local history pages|date=April 2003|access-date=27 June 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070621175054/http://www.btinternet.com/~m.royden/mrlhp/students/westderby/westderby2.htm|archive-date=21 June 2007}} The name West Derby comes from an Old Norse word meaning "place of the wild beasts" or "wild deer park" and refers to the deer park (now Croxteth Park) established there by King Edward the Confessor. West Derby became the main administrative area in today's Liverpool for the Norman Conquest and was the largest area within the West Derby Hundred which covered most of south west Lancashire.{{cite web|url=http://historyofliverpool.com/west-derby-castle-text/|website=History Of Liverpool |title=History Of Liverpool – West Derby Castle page }}

Contrary to popular belief, the original Earls of Derby were not conferred their title from West Derby, but from the county of Derbyshire, Robert de Ferrers being the first Earl. Subsequent titles were created and bestowed on the Stanley Family. The Derby (horse race) is named after the 12th Earl.

Note that the term 'local Derby' actually comes from the town of Derby{{cn|date=June 2025}}, though it may also derive from the Earldom family's interest in sport.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/oct/10/wigan-st-helens-local-products-super-league-grand-final-|title=Wigan and St Helens grow own products for Super League Grand Final|first=Andy|last=Wilson|date=10 October 2014|work=The Guardian}}

There still remains a courthouse built in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I: the first (Wapentake) court in West Derby was established around 1,000 years ago.{{citation|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool/localhistory/mersey_times/issue_05/west_derby_village/court_house.shtml|title=Mersey Times: Court House|publisher=BBC Liverpool|access-date=27 June 2008}} The West Derby Courthouse, built in 1586, was restored and conserved in 2005 and is the only freestanding post-medieval courthouse in Britain.{{citation|url=http://www.croxteth.co.uk/news/2007/Court.asp|title=West Derby Courthouse (News 2007)|publisher=croxteth.co.uk|access-date=27 June 2008}} The tiny Grade II* listed building is open to the public between 2 pm and 4 pm every Sunday except Easter from April to October inclusive, admission free.

Opposite the courthouse is a set of Victorian cast iron stocks once used as a public restraint for offenders. Villagers used fruit and rotten vegetables to throw at the offenders. The stocks were placed in their current position to commemorate the coronation of Edward VII in 1902. Temporarily removed in 2008 whilst the site was renovated, the stocks have since been put back in place.

The area was home to the Earls of Sefton (family name Molyneux), whose house, Croxteth Hall, and the surrounding countryside estate now forms Croxteth Park, an attractive public space.

In 1835 and 1895, Liverpool boundaries expanded to include West Derby.{{cite web |title=Townships: West Derby {{!}} British History Online |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol3/pp11-19 |website=www.british-history.ac.uk}}

From 1894 to 1895 West Derby was an urban district.{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10027408|title=Relationships and changes West Derby UD through time|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=29 September 2024}} In 1921 the civil parish had a population of 168,915.{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10347464/cube/TOT_POP|title=Population statistics West Derby AP/CP/Ch through time|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=29 September 2024}} On 1 April 1922 the parish was abolished and merged with Liverpool.{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10347464|title=Relationships and changes West Derby AP/CP/Ch through time|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=29 September 2024}}

File:Westderbycastle.gif]]

{{Main|West Derby Castle}}

West Derby once had a motte-and-bailey castle, now completely disappeared, at Castlesite Road and Meadow Lane{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Meadow+Ln+%26+Castlesite+Rd,+Liverpool+L12+5EJ,+UK/@53.4338907,-2.9097378,171m/|title = Google Maps}}{{cite web |title=West Derby Castle |url=https://historic-liverpool.co.uk/west-derby-castle/ |website=Historic Liverpool |access-date=31 January 2022 |date=19 May 2020}} In 1327 it was reported to be in ruins.{{cite book |last1=Fishwick |first1=Lieut-Colonel |last2=Ditchfield |first2=Rev PH |title=Memorials of Old Lancashire, Vol 2 |date=1909 |publisher=Bemrose and Sons |location=London |page=17}} There is also some suggestion of a Roman site on a street called Castlesite (nicknamed "The Rosies" by some locals). The site is now a small public park, the shape and dimensions of which are similar to that of a Roman barracks or castra. The remnants of a wooden castle were unearthed on this plot during excavations in the mid 1930s.

{{clear}}

West Derby is mostly within the Liverpool West Derby Parliamentary constituency currently represented by Ian Byrne.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000796|title=Liverpool West Derby parliamentary constituency - Election 2019|work=BBC News |access-date=25 June 2023}}

The part of West Derby that is in the Croxteth Country Park ward is within the Liverpool Walton Parliamentary constituency currently represented by Dan Carden.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000794|title=Liverpool Walton parliamentary constituency - Election 2019|work=BBC News |access-date=28 March 2024}}

The district is covered by the Sandfield Park, West Derby Deysbrook, West Derby Leyfield, West Derby Muirhead, and the Croxteth Country ParkRight outside the Croxteth Park estate is a City of Liverpool - West Derby sign. The properties on the estate have West Derby in their address, and every property within the ward has an L12 postcode. wards.

As of the 2023 elections West Derby is represented on Liverpool City Council by:{{cite web |url=https://councillors.liverpool.gov.uk/mgFindMember.aspx |title=Liverpool City Council - Find Your Councillor}}

Until 2023 West Derby was represented on the council by the West Derby ward.

Alder Hey Children's Hospital is located on the south side of West Derby, at Eaton Road.

Both Everton and Liverpool football clubs located their training grounds in West Derby, Everton at Bellefield and Liverpool at Melwood. However, Everton moved to their new complex in south Liverpool called Finch Farm in 2007 and Liverpool announced the sale of the Melwood training ground in August 2019.{{cite news |title=Liverpool sell Melwood training ground 'with heavy heart' |work=BBC News |date=August 2019 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-49191871 |access-date=1 August 2019}}

The West Derby Society was founded in 1977 and holds regular monthly meetings and outings. It lobbies on planning and environmental issues. The West Derby Community Association, a registered charity, owns Grade II-listed 'Lowlands' in West Derby. This 1846 mansion underwent restoration and renovation with the help of a £1 million Heritage Lottery Fund grant.{{citation|url=http://www.lowlands.org.uk/History.html |title=Lowlands: History|publisher=West Derby Community Association|access-date=17 August 2009}}

West Derby is home to a number of schools that have produced famous pupils:

• St. Edward's College produced Sir Terry Leahy{{cn|date=June 2023}}, former England rugby union player Mike Slemen{{cn|date=June 2023}} and actor Michael Williams{{cn|date=June 2023}}.
• Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School includes Liverpool footballer Steven Gerrard,{{cite book |last1=Gerrard |first1=Steven |last2=Winter |first2=Henry |title=Gerrard: My Autobiography |isbn=978-0-59305-475-8 |page=31-32}} professional boxer David Price{{cn|date=June 2023}} and musician Mike di Scala{{cn|date=June 2023}}. Previously called Cardinal Allen Grammar School, it was attended by Everton footballer Colin Harvey{{cn|date=June 2023}}, United States Eagles rugby player, Michael Caulder{{cn|date=June 2023}}, who played in the first Rugby World Cup in 1987, and actor Paul McGann.{{cite news|last1=Jones|first1=Catherine|title=Liverpool actor Paul McGann talks about his 30-year stage and screen career ahead of Club Geek Chic In Conversation appearance at St George's Hall|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/liverpool-actor-paul-mcgann-talks-3354175|work=Liverpool Echo|date=8 May 2013}}
• Broughton Hall High School former pupils include singer Natasha Hamilton of Atomic Kitten,{{Cite web|url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/showbiz-news/schools-liverpools-biggest-celebrities-sports-17628392|title=Schools Liverpool's biggest celebrities and sports stars went to|first=Sophie|last=McCoid|date=26 January 2020|website=liverpoolecho}} and actress Jennifer Ellison, who later moved to St. Edward's College for sixth form.

Other schools in the area include Holly Lodge Girls' College, St. Marys Primary School, St. Paul's Junior School, Blackmoor Park Junior School and Emmaus Primary School.

Well known residents of West Derby have included:

• Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool F.C. was born in West Derby near the Melwood Training Centre.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/liverpool/story/3008300/trent-alexander-arnold-breaks-through-at-liverpool-despite-man-united-family-ties |title=Alexander-Arnold breaks through at Liverpool despite Man United links |first=Mark |last=Ogden |publisher=ESPN |date=30 November 2016 |access-date=25 June 2023}}
• Leslie Banks, Shakespearian actor {{cite book|url=https://archive.org/stream/whoswhointhethea011179mbp/whoswhointhethea011179mbp_djvu.txtl|title= John Parker: Who's Who in the Theatre: A Biographical Record of the Contemporary Stage (1925), pub Small, Maynard & Company, Inc.|publisher= Small, Maynard & Company|year= 1925}}
• Pete Best, original drummer of the Beatles, who lived in Haymans Green, the home of the Casbah Club, where members of the future Beatles—John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison, along with Ken Brown, as the Quarry Men were the original house band.{{cite book |last1=Best |first1=Pete |title=The Beatles: True Beginnings |date=2003 |publisher=Thomas Dunne Books |isbn=0-312-31925-8 |page=16, 21}}
• Eddie Braben, the scriptwriter for Morecambe and Wise{{cn|date=June 2023}}
• Bessie Braddock, Member of Parliament for Liverpool Exchange.
• Herbert Haresnape, Olympic swimmer 1908, 1912.England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index: Herbert Nickal Haresnape; Jul-Aug-Sep quarter 1880; District: West Derby; Volume: 8b; Page: 426.
• Albert Menotti Haynes was born and lived in West Derby, and worked as a railway clerk before emigrating to Argentina where he founded the Editorial Haynes publishing empire; he and his wife were also involved in founding Northlands School.{{cn|date=June 2023}}
• Alfred Lafone, leather merchant and MP.{{cite news

|title=New Members Of Parliament

|date=19 July 1895

|work=The Times

|page=15

|location=London

}}

• Carla Lane, scriptwriter lived in Sandforth Road{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/jun/01/carla-lane-obituary | title=Carla Lane obituary: Celebrated writer of TV sitcoms | newspaper=The Guardian | date=June 2016 | last1=Jeffries | first1=Stuart }}
• William Lassell, who built an observatory at his house "Starfield" in West Derby, a suburb of Liverpool. There he had a 24-inch (610 mm) reflector telescope, for which he pioneered the use of an equatorial mount for easy tracking of objects as the Earth rotates.{{cn|date=June 2023}}
• David Price (boxer), Olympic bronze medal boxer.{{cn|date=June 2023}}
• Bill Shankly the Liverpool F.C. football manager, whose house in Bellefield Avenue overlooked Bellefield, Everton's then training Ground.{{cite book |last1=Kelly |first1=Stephen F. |title=Bill Shankley: It's Much More Important Than That |date=1997 |publisher=Virgin Books |isbn=0-7535-0003-5 |location=London |page=306}}

West Derby railway station was located on the North Liverpool Extension Line. The station building has since become a shop and the access ramps to the former platforms remain, although one of the passages have been closed off to the public. The track has been lifted and the trackbed now forms part of National Cycle Network National Cycle Route 62 and a public footpath between Liverpool and Southport.

Bus routes 12, 13 and 15 run through West Derby and provide links to the City Centre, Huyton, and Stockbridge Village; the 15 bus also links to the nearby Alder Hey Children's Hospital. Bus route 61 also runs through West Derby, and provides a bus service to Bootle Strand and Aigburth Vale, to the south of the city. Bus route 18 runs from the Croxteth Park estate to Liverpool City Centre.

File:Brookside Close 14 09 2007.jpg

The former Channel 4 soap opera Brookside was filmed on a housing development built on part of Lord Sefton's estate.

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|West Derby}}

• [http://www.liverpool.gov.uk/Images/tcm21-29282.pdf Liverpool City Council, Ward Profile: West Derby]

{{Liverpool}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Areas of Liverpool

Category:Former civil parishes in Merseyside