Willaston, Cheshire West

Willaston (or Wilaveston) was the earlier name[http://opendomesday.org/hundred/willaston/ Open Domesday Map: Willaston Hundred] of the Wirral Hundred (Hundred of Wilaveston), the peninsula's former administrative division,{{citation|title=Pictures From The Past: Book 3|last=Young|first=Derek & Marian|pages=20, 25–26}}{{citation|url=http://willaston.majicweb.net/history.htm|title=Willaston in Wirral: History|accessdate=6 September 2007}} and one of the Hundreds of Cheshire.

The Hundredal name is often taken from the administrative area for the Hundred, suggesting Willaston was once of some importance in the post-Roman period as the meeting place of the hundred court.

Later the village became a township and chapelry within the parish of Neston,{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/place/3170|title=History of Willaston, in Ellesmere Port and Neston and Cheshire|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=2 September 2023}} the largest settlement on the Wirral until the early 19th century. In 1866 Willaston became a civil parish,{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10092978|title=Relationships and changes Willaston Tn/CP through time|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=2 September 2023}} 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=2 September 2023}} Willaston included part of the hamlet of Badgers Rake, which became part of the civil parish of Ledsham in 1933. The population of Willaston was recorded at 196 in 1801, 317 in 1851, 597 in 1901 and 1,458 in 1951.{{citation|url=http://www.ukbmd.org.uk/genuki/chs/willaston2.html|title=Cheshire Towns & Parishes: Willaston|publisher=GENUKI UK & Ireland Genealogy|accessdate=6 September 2007}}

The half timbered building, the 'Red Lion' was an inn built in 1631, although possibly a significant enlargement of an earlier construction. Located opposite the village green, it remained a public house until 1928 and was eventually renovated as a private residence.{{citation|url=http://willaston.majicweb.net/redlion.htm|title=Willaston in Wirral: The Old Red Lion|accessdate=6 September 2007}}

Willaston Windmill, built in 1800, was the largest windmill in Wirral. During the early 20th century it was used for the production of flour and to grind cattle food. It remained working until about 1930, when its sails were destroyed in a storm. The windmill has also since been converted into a private dwelling.{{citation|url=http://willaston.majicweb.net/windmill.htm|title=Willaston in Wirral: Windmill|accessdate=6 September 2007}}

Hadlow Road railway station, which served the village until its closure in 1955, became part of Wirral Country Park in 1973. The station building, signal box and eastbound platform have been renovated to their former 1950's condition. The former trackbed has become a public pathway, known as the 'Wirral Way'.

The local school, Willaston Church of England Primary School, is the only educational establishment in the village, though there are several playgroups in the area.

[http://www.willastonceprimaryschool.co.uk Willaston CofE Primary School] . retrieved May 18th 2010.

Although there are no secondary schools in the area, Wirral Grammar School for Girls and Wirral Grammar School for Boys are situated nearby, as well as Neston High School and South Wirral High School - both a short car journey from the village.

Willaston's local football club plays in the West Cheshire Amateur Football League Division 2.

The nearest railway station is Hooton, part of the Merseyrail network.{{cite web |url=http://www.merseyrail.org/ |title=Home |website=merseyrail.org}}

Als Coaches serves the village with the 2-hourly bus service 22 to Chester, Heswall and West Kirby.

{{Portal|Cheshire}}

• Listed buildings in Willaston, Cheshire West
• Willaston Old Hall
• Christ Church, Willaston

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Category:Villages in Cheshire

Category:Former civil parishes in Cheshire

Category:Unparished areas in Cheshire

Category:Cheshire West and Chester