Heswall is close to the River Dee, extending from the estuary shoreline inland towards greenbelt land, rising to 350 feet, making it the highest part of the Wirral Peninsula.

Heswall has views across the estuary to North Wales
• 30 minutes drive from the Roman town of Chester
• 20 minutes drive from Liverpool
• Magnificent views of Welsh Hills
• Access to North Wales
• Closest major town of Birkenhead, just 15 minutes away

CLIMATE: Moderate - higher than average sunshine and lower than average rainfall.

CHARACTER: Thriving community - Approx 31,000 residents and 300 businesses.
Heswall has two main parts - the upper and lower village.

Upper village - busy, bustling - wide variety of shops, restaurants, takeaways and community facilities

Lower village - older, quaint, quieter, designated a conservation area in April 1979 where is has maintained much of its original distinctive character.

The lower village was originally small fishing village which pre-dated the suburban expansion of Heswall after the arrival of the railway in the late nineteenth century.

Village hall, shops and groups of cottage scale dwellings, Farm buildings such as Lydiate Farm and The Old Smithy, Dawstone Park and Red sandstone buildings.

    


CONSERVATION
Dee Estuary - Mudflats or saltmarsh. During the winter the estuary
supports over 15% of the UK population of wader and wildfowl with up to 130,000 birds. The River Dee is one of the UK's most highly protected wildlife resources.
There are 7 Local nature Reserves, 14 RIGS, 10 SSSI's and 70 SBI's. GAYTON

Gayton Village Conservation Area was designated in April 1979. While the original settlement is of mediaeval origin and can be traced back to the Domesday Book, the oldest buildings which remain relate to the seventeenth century.

    

The Area contains much of the original township and largely retains the character of a small farming community, based around the manorial estate of Gayton Hall.
This appearance is enhanced by the scale and character of the buildings themselves, their vernacular form and construction in common local materials, their relationship to the Hall, with its extensive grounds, and their wooded, rural setting. Set within the Dee Coast Area of Special Landscape Value the Village also offers attractive views across the Dee Estuary.

Rural charm and woodland setting, distinctive features, such as cobbled streets, unmade paths and country lanes,
boundary walls, hedges and cottage gardens, and views across the Dee.
Quiet, domestic character of the settlement.

    

COMMUNITY

Heswall Library - spacious - lending and reference, talking books, free public access to computers, computer-based Learn Direct courses, exhibition room, Council One-Stop Advice Shop. Children's Story Times, special summer activities and adult reading group. Tel: 0151 342 4552

Heswall Hall - multi-purpose. Stage for concerts, meetings, film shows, yoga, exhibitions, plays etc. Local Information - 0151 342 2614

Alexander Hall - civic hall complex, close to library, used by local groups,
hobbyists, concerts, theatrical productions, business forums, local societies, private parties and weddings, available for hire.
Quaker meeting house
Citizens Advice Bureau 0151 342 6371
No public recreation centre - excellent facilities in Pensby
Pensby sports complex - indoor and outdoor - Irby Road, - Monday to Friday
6pm - 10pm.
Weekends 10am- 4pm Tel - 0151 929 5918

West Kirby - swimming pool, badminton, basketball, local societies - 0151 929 7801
Neston - Indoor and outdoor - swimming pool - 0151 336 5741
Heswall Squash courts
Pinewood Tennis courts
Crown Bowling Green - front of Heswall Hall

CLUBS AND GROUPS
The Riverside Players - Amateur theatrical groups.
The Woolgatherers - Amateur theatrical group
Heswall Operatic Society
Pinewood Tennis club
Heswall Squash and Racquet Club - Tai Chi and Qi Gong - 7pm - 8pm
Kung Fu - Children 6 - 7pm adults 8 - 9pm
Yogadoesit and Yogastars - Thurs 8.15 - 9.35 - 0151 677 2563

    


HISTORY - TIMELINE
Pre 1277 - Domesday Book - recorded as Eswelle - owned by Robert de Rodelent
1277 - Became property of Patrick de Haselwall - Sheriff of Cheshire.
1801 - population recorded as 168.
1841 - population recorded as 398.
1886 - Railway connection opened and closed in 1956. The old track is now a footpath, part of the Wirral Way.
1896 - Additional railway connection opened in response to demand by wealthy Liverpool merchants, who were using location as a retreat which is still operational today.

Pre 1897 - Known as Hestlewelle or Hesselwelle.
Pre 1974 - Part of County of Cheshire
Post 1974 - Government reorganisation - Metropolitan Borough of Wirral.

OPEN SPACES
Dee Estuary - Mudflats and Saltmarsh
Heswall Dales - dry, sandy heathland, overlooking River Dee. Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and local Nature Resrerve (LNR). Colour coded paths.
Beacons - pinewood - sandstone outcrops
Poll Hill (Highest point on the Wirral Peninsula)
Puddydale - large grassed area near upper village - Football pitch, swings and slide
Whitfield Common - Tennis courts

Wirral Way is approx 13 miles long; West Kirby to Hooton with access on foot, by bike or horse. Route to West Kirby passes through Thurstaston Country Park - views of Dee Estuary and visitor centre.

Route to hooton passes Parkgate, famous for Ice Cream and views over to Wales. Wirral Country Park Opened in 1973, one of the first designated country parks in Britain.

Wirral Way is situated on the route of an old railway line along the Dee Estuary coast, has a 12 mile footpath and bridleway and has magnificent views. The estuary is a crossroads for bird migrations. It has a visitor centre with bird hide, snack shop and rest room. It has 250,000 visitors every year.
Cycle hire for Wirral Country Park - Tel 0151 512 6046

Royden Park
Local attractions
Parkgate - famous for Ice-Cream and views over to Wales.
Thurstaston Common - Spectacular views of North Wales and Liverpool
Wirral Country Park - visitor centre
Hilbre Island

Ness Gardens
Cheshire Oaks - Outlet village
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Town bus station - Merseytravel - 236 7676
Train station - Heswall Hills - 08457 484950
Taxis

PUBLIC HOUSES
Devon Doorway
Jug and Bottle
Black Horse
Harvest Mouse
The Ravenscroft (Named after the late John Peel, who was born John Robert
Parker Ravenscroft).

RESTAURANTS / TAKE-AWAYS
The Olive Grove 342 9100
Whats Cooking 342 1966
Gem 342 4811
Sheldrakes 342 1556
Pisces
Est, est, est
Ego's
Domino's
Heswall Tandoori
Indian Fusion
Devon Doorway
Jug and Bottle
Black Horse
Harvest Mouse

SCHOOLS
Wirral Education
Cheshire Education

High standard of education.
3 Primary schools
Secondary schools
Within 5 miles of 3 Grammar Schools.

University of Chester.
Liverpool University.

SHOPS
Linghams - events, book signing, arts, poetry, live music
Supermarkets - Tesco - Aldi
Cheshire Oaks - outlet village
Useful numbers and contacts

Medical
Arrowe Park Hospital 0151 678 5111
Heswall Health Clinic 0151 342 3551
Silverdale Medical Centre 0151 42 6128

Dentist
Travel
Merseytravel 0151 236 7676
Train Information 08457 48 49 50
Wirral Borough Council - 0151 606 2000
Cheshire County Council

Trivia
Born - Ian Botham, John Peel, Fiona Bruce.
Resident - Footballers - John Barnes, Barry Horne, Paul McCartney,