Upton, Merseyside

In Norman times, Upton was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Optone and was written as being in the possession of William Malbank.

Five important local roads converged on the village, and its main thoroughfare was the place of a weekly market, recorded as being held from 1662.

Two notable examples are the Stone House at the top of the village, on Ford Road, and the Old Smithy on Rake Lane.

The highest point in Upton is 32 metres (105 ft) above sea level,[20] just off the junction with the A551 and the B5139, at Moreton Road, in the centre of the village.

A further prominence of 26 metres (85 ft) above sea level is at Upton Manor, 0.8 kilometres (870 yd) from the centre of the village.

Due to its inland location and elevation Upton is not prone to coastal flooding, which can happen at West Kirby, Hoylake, Meols and New Brighton.

Upton Meadow Millennium Wood is an ancient, semi-natural woodland, a community forest and a county wildlife site which has informal public access.

The nearest official weather station, as the crow flies, is at Hall Road in Crosby,[22] which is about 12.1 kilometres (7.5 mi) away.

[29] The village has newsagents, food retailers including a branch of Domino's Pizza,[33] three restaurants, which provide Mediterranean, Kerala and Balti cuisine,[34][35][36] a cafe[37] and an award-winning fish and chip shop.

[39][40] The British Red Cross and Age UK charity shops,[41][42] and Sayers bakery all have premises within the village.

A building, constructed following demolition of the old Horse and Jockey pub, has been used by branches of the Co-op supermarket and the Ethel Austin clothing retailer.

Spar has also operated a supermarket in the village, firstly following Lipton's in the same building, and then at the bottom of Arrowe Park Road.

Businesses, at the site, now include a furniture retailer,[47] a recording studio and rehearsal room,[48] a hydroponics store[49] and a self-storage facility[50] amongst others.

[51] Arrowe Park Hospital is barely a mile from the centre of the village, and includes an Accident and Emergency department.

The original school building still stands in Rake Lane and was used as a church hall for teenagers, prior to the opening of "The Bank".

Upton is also home to Wirral's only bilingual day nursery, Habla[56] which caters for children aged 6 months to 5 years.

The 1837 tithe map of the area indicates a half-circle of standing stones, around a wooded hollow which was situated next to the church, at a diameter of 350 metres (380 yd).

The club runs various events for the community, including a popular annual fair, situated at Overchurch Primary School each summer.

Salacre common was originally the front garden of a large house and is the closest green space to the centre of the village.

The village is represented in sport by Upton Cricket Club, which was established in 1901 by William Hannay, following a lease of land from Lord Leverhulme.

[78] Upton Victory Hall Lawn Tennis & Badminton Club was established in 1919,[79] and was situated behind a large house on the corner of Salacre Lane, known as "The Elms".

[79] The clubhouse is a separate building from Victory Hall, and has its own bar,[79] function room and an entrance on Rake Lane.

Upton is situated at the junction of roads from Birkenhead, Moreton (the A551), Greasby (the B5139), Saughall Massie and Arrowe Park (the A551).

[82] Until deregulation of the bus services, in 1986, Upton was served by both the forerunner to Merseytravel, the Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive (MPTE) and the separate operator, Crosville.

Merseytravel's daily "Saveaway" Area B and All Zones tickets are valid to use from any bus stop in Upton, on the basis of being for the passenger of relevant age, in-date and for use after 9:30am.

[83] Upton is not part of the major electrified Merseyrail Wirral line from Birkenhead to West Kirby, which instead passes around the more densely populated coast Upton railway station exists as part of the Borderlands line between Bidston and Wrexham and is operated by Transport for Wales, with a diesel service.

This is a reasonably priced ticket, and allows unlimited travel within the Merseytravel area, for one day, as far afield as Chester, Southport, Ormskirk and Newton-le-Willows, as well as Birkenhead and Liverpool.

[84] Whilst the most notable person to have an association with Upton is Dixie Dean, the professional footballer who holds the league record for the most goals scored in one season.

[86] Danny Harrison, an English footballer who previously played for both Tranmere Rovers and Chester, has also lived in Upton.

[citation needed] In religion, notable Anglican priests, who have both been incumbent at St. Mary's Church, are Cecil Druitt and George Aickin.

Upton Manor.
The population, by age, at the 2011 census.
The care home on Salacre Lane.
Upton Hall School.
St. Mary's Church.
Holmleigh, Church Road.
Upton Library.
The Eagle and Crown.
Victory Hall.
The B5139, Old Greasby Road, heading towards Upton village.