Woolston
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- For other uses, see Woolston (disambiguation).
Woolston is a large modern parish in the English town of Warrington, Cheshire. The area is officially in the Woolston and Rixton district, however this term is rarely used. The historic districts of Paddington and Martinscroft are in the Woolston and Rixton district, however they are widely regarded as being in Woolston. The areas north and west of Spittle Brook are not considered parts of Woolston.
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History
Throughout time its name has changed often. At time of the Vikings it was called Wulfiges Town (probably because of the wolves that occupied the land).
Woolston appeared as Ouston on Lancashire's very first road map published in 1675.
It is a parish which has grown at an astonishing rate in the 20th century. The population – only 451 in 1921 – now stands at some 53,450 making the area the largest parish of Warrington.
Economy
A large area of the district is covered by warehousing districts. The largest by far is the "Grange" this is an area of modern warehousing and light manufacturing built next to the M6 motorway. This area is home to a large Safeway distribution depot and other major business. There is also an industrial estate to the south called the "New Cut industrial estate", this features a large wire works (Capper Neils) and several small offices and small holdings. The estate gets its name from the canal which borders it and the "new cut" of the River Mersey.
The main retail areas are at Paddington, Dam Lane and Parksway.
Geography
The area has two main natural areas: Woolston Linear Park and the Woolston Eyes Nature Reserve—a Site of Special Scientific Interest. As it is on the rural-urban fringe there is also some countryside between the eastern edge of Woolston and the start of Rixton (although they are politically in the same ward).
Woolston is situated in the Mersey Valley and so there is a very slight lowering in height between it and the surrounding areas. The highest point is on the Woolston Eyes (two man-made areas formed by large embankments for the dispersement of dredging waste). The lowest point is the marshland formed by the dereliction of the Woolston New Cut Canal and Woolston Old Canal. Woolston has plenty of waterways including the aforementioned canals; the new cut of the River Mersey; and the Manchester Ship Canal.
Demographics
Information is available from http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/ [1] (http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/)
Transport
The nearest rail station(s) to Woolston are Padgate and Birchwood. Mainline services are available from Warrington Bank Quay (2-3 miles away).
The M6 motoway runs down the eastern edge of the district and the A57 to Manchester and Liverpool runs directly through the district. There is also a road running from the motorway past the Grange to Birchwood and Longbarn: two areas built during the New Town initiative.
Warrington Borough Transport and Bennetts Busses provide transport. Warrington Borough Transport run the 3 and 4 services to the area. The new Bennetts Busses run the 103 and 104 mirror services.
The Penny Ferry (now 24p) can be used to cross the Manchester Ship Canal to Thelwall.
Manchester Airport is the closest airport to Woolston.
Services
The area is served by an ante-natal clinic on Holes Lane and a GP doctors surgery located close by.
Education is provided by Epping Drive Church of England Primary School, St. Peters' Catholic Primary School and Woolston Community Primary School. Secondary Education is provided for by Woolston Community High School.
Warrington's Direct Services are based in Woolston and provide services to the local community.
There are no local fire and police services. The nearest providers are at Risley Police Station and Birchwood Fire Station.
There are three churches in Woolston: the Church of The Ascension and St Martin's Methodist Church (both modern) and a small but old Roman Catholic church, St Peter's, in Martinscroft.
Culture
There is one local library , most cultural services are provided for in Warrington Town Centre itself.
Entertainment
Entertainment is provided for in Warrington.