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West Kirby

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"KIRBY (WEST), a parish in the lower division of the hundred of WIRRALL, county palatine of CHESTER, comprising the townships of Great and Little Caldey, Frankby, Grange, Greasby, Hoose, Great Meolse, Little Meolse, Newton with Larton, and West Kirby, and containing 1140 inhabitants, of which number, 172 are in the township of West Kirby, 7½ miles (N. W. by N.) from Great Neston. The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Chester, rated in the king's books at £28. 13. 4., and in the patronage of the Dean and Chapter of Chester. The church, dedicated to St. Bridget, was rebuilt in 1786. A free grammar school was founded at Caldey-Grange, in 1636, by William Clegg, Esq., who endowed it with premises now producing from £30 to £40 a year, to which an annuity of £30 was added in 1677, by a Mr. Bennett, who also left £24 per annum to buy gowns for twenty-four poor persons, and an estate at Neston cum Larton, the annual proceeds of which, amounting to £200, are distributed among the poor on Good Friday. The parish lies at the entrance to the river Dee, which bounds it on the west, and on the north is the Irish sea. At Little Meolse are two hotels well frequented, and affording good accommodation for visitors during the bathing season." [From Samuel Lewis A Topographical Dictionary of England  (1831) ©Mel Lockie]

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  • West Kirby, also a township in West Kirby ancient parish, Wirral hundred (SJ 2186), became a civil parish in 1866.
  • The civil parish was abolished in 1894 to become part of Hoylake cum West Kirby.
  • It included the hamlet of Darmonds Green.
  • The population of West Kirby was 148 in 1801, 435 in 1851, and 4542 in 1901.
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Civil Registration

  • Wirral (1837-94)
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Court Records

  • Wirral (1828-94)
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Description & Travel

You can see pictures of West Kirby which are provided by:

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Gazetteers

The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland - 1868

"WEST KIRBY, a parish in the lower division of the hundred of Wirrall, county Chester, 8 miles W. of Birkenhead, and 8 N.W. of Great Neston. It is situated at the mouth of the river Dee, and contains the chapelry of House, or Hoy lake, with eight townships. The village of Kirby West is a favourite resort for bathers, and commands extensive views of the Irish Sea, the river Dee, and the Flintshire and Carnarvonshire hills. At Little Merles are two hotels, affording good accommodation to visitors. The living is a rectory* in the diocese of Chester, value £703, in the patronage of the Dean and Chapter of Chester. The parish church, dedicated to St. Bridget, is situated near Grange Hill, and was rebuilt in 1786. It has lately been restored and refitted with additional seats. In addition to the parish church there are two district churches, the livings of which are perpetual curacies, value £100 and £203. The parochial charities produce about £250 per annum, of which £56 gees to Clegg's free grammar school, and £187 for the poor, &c. There is a Church day school for both sexes, also a Sunday-school.

"CALDY, (or Caldey), a township in the parish of West Kirby, hundred of Wirral, in the county palatine of Chester, 7 miles to the N. of Great Newton. It is situated near the mouth of the river Dee.

"FRANKBY, a township in the parish of West Kirby, lower division of the hundred of Wirrall, county palatine Chester, 5 miles S.W. of Birkenhead."

"GRANGE, a township in the parish of West Kirby, lower division of the hundred of Wirrall, county palatine Chester, 7 miles S.W. of Birkenhead. It is situated near the river Dee. Grange Hall is the principal residence."

"GREASBY, a township in the parish of West Kirby, lower division of the hundred of Wirrall, county Chester, 5 miles S.W. of Birkenhead, and 7 N.W. of Great Neston."

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Historical Geography

Places associated with West Kirby ancient parish with separate pages

 

  • 1894 — Abolished and incorporated into Hoylake cum West Kirby (pop. 4542 in 1901)
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Maps

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SJ235878 (Lat/Lon: 53.381931, -3.151102), West Kirby which are provided by:

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Politics & Government

  • Wirral Rural Sanitary District (1875-91)
  • West Kirby & Hoylake Urban Sanitary District (1891-94)
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Poor Houses, Poor Law

  • Wirral (1836-94)
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Voting Registers

  • South Cheshire (1832-67)
  • West Cheshire (1868-85)
  • Wirral (1885-94)