Formby is a town and
civil parishIn England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and in some places the lowest tier of local government, below districts and counties. A civil parish can alternatively be known as a town, village, neighbourhood or community by resolution of its parish council; and in a limited number of...
in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in
MerseysideMerseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. Taking its name from the River Mersey, Merseyside came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974, after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, and the county consists of five metropolitan...
, England.
HistoricallyThe historic counties of England are ancient subdivisions of England established for administration by the Normans and in most cases based on earlier Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and shires. They were used for various functions for several hundred years and continue to form, albeit with considerably...
a part of
LancashireLancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Lancashire County Council is based in Preston. However, Lancaster is still considered to be the county town...
, it now forms part of the Liverpool City Region. Formby was built on the plain adjoining the
Irish SeaThe Irish Sea also known as the Mann Sea or Manx Sea, separates the islands of Ireland and Britain. It is connected to the Atlantic Ocean in the south by St George's Channel, and in the north by the North Channel...
coast. Largely a residential town, Formby becomes a tourist hot spot during the summer months, with day trippers attracted to its
beachA beach is a geological landform along the shoreline of a body of water. It usually consists of loose particles which are often composed of rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles, or cobblestones...
es, sand dunes, and wildlife - most particularly the red squirrels and natterjack toads.
History
Erosion of sand on the beach at Formby is revealing layers of mud and sediment, laid down and covered in the late
NeolithicThe Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BCE in the Middle East that is traditionally considered the last part of the Stone Age...
/early
Bronze AgeThe Bronze Age of a culture is the period when the most advanced metalworking in that culture utilised bronze. This could either have been based on the local smelting of copper and tin from ores, or trading for bronze from production areas elsewhere...
, approximately 3,500 - 4,000 years ago. These sediments often contain the footprints of humans and animals (most commonly
aurochsThe aurochs or urus was a type of wild cattle, the ancestor of domestic cattle. It inhabited Europe, Asia and North Africa, but is now extinct; it survived in Europe until 1627....
) from that period.
The common place-name ending
-by is from the Scandinavian
abyr meaning "homestead", "settlement" or "village". The village of Formby was originally spelt
Fornebei and means "village belonging to Forni". At that time
Fornibiyum was a well-known
NorseNorsemen is used to refer to the group of people as a whole who speak one of the North Germanic languages as their native language. The meaning of Norseman was "people from the North"...
family name. He could have been the leader of the invading expedition which took possession of this coast. Until its closure in 1998,
Oslo AirportOslo Airport, Fornebu was the main airport serving Oslo and Eastern Norway from 1 June 1939 to 7 October 1998. It was then replaced by Oslo Airport, Gardermoen and the area has since been redeveloped. The airport was located at Fornebu in Bærum, from the city center. The airport had two runways,...
in Norway was situated in a town called
FornebuFornebu is a peninsular area in the suburban municipality of Bærum in Norway, bordering western parts of Oslo.Oslo Airport, Fornebu served as the main airport for Oslo and the country since before WWII and until the evening of October 7 1998, when it was closed down...
. It was from Ireland in about 960 AD that these Norsemen or Vikings first came to the west coast of Lancashire, first trading or raiding and then settling. Tradition says that the Viking invaders failed to defeat the native Anglo-Saxons on the coast of Formby, so they sailed inland, up the
River AltThe River Alt is in Merseyside, England.The Alt runs from Hag Plantation in Huyton at 125ft , through Croxteth Park, roughly follows the M57 motorway south of Kirkby, then flows north of Aintree and south of Maghull...
, and attacked from the rear. It is more probable that the Viking invaders simply found that the area was thinly populated and took control without any blood being shed. It is thought that the Romans used Formby as a major pass through for their troops during the time of their settlement.
Formby HallFormby Hall is located to the north-east of Formby in the English county of Merseyside, in secluded woodland adjoining the Formby Hall Golf and Country Club. The present house, built for William Formby, dates back to 1523 but it is believed that the Formby family has occupied the site since the...
is a Grade II listed building dating back to 1223. It has traditionally been the home of the Lords of the Manor. Much of the land around it is now a golf course.
Formby beach is the location of the first
lifeboatThe meaning of lifeboat or motor lifeboat, for the purposes of this article, is that of 'a shore-based boat designed with special features for searching for, rescuing and saving the lives of people in peril at sea in inshore waters'. This is in contrast to a survival craft type of lifeboat that is...
station in the UK. Established perhaps as early as 1776 by
William HutchinsonWilliam Hutchinson was born in September 1716, the son of a Smith in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, who went to sea as a boy, probably when his father died in January 1727....
, Dock Master for the Liverpool Common Council. It was the first lifeboat station in the United Kingdom, and possibly the world. The foundations of the last of the lifeboat station buildings remain on the beach. The last launch took place in 1916. Remarkably a film survives of this event.
Formby is home to
RAF WoodvaleRAF Woodvale is a Royal Air Force airfield located four miles south of Southport, Merseyside in a village called Formby. Although constructed as an all-weather night fighter airfield for the defence of Liverpool, it did not open until 7 December 1941. This was just after the Liverpool Blitz, which...
, a small RAF station on the outskirts of the town. The airport, opened in 1941, is a former WW2 fighter base with three active runways, the main runway being a mile in length. It is used by RAF for light aircraft and fighter training, as well as a few civilian aircraft. The station is also home to
Merseyside PoliceMerseyside Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing Merseyside in North West England.The force area is 647 square kilometres with a population of around 1.5 million...
's helicopter, known as 'Mike One'. The RAF Station was also home to the last ever operational service of the British legend, the
SpitfireThe Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries through the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used into the 1950s both as a front line fighter and in secondary roles...
. In 1957 the last Spitfire was to fly with military markings in British took of from Woodvale on an operational mission. Woodvale is also home to the Woodvale Rally, one of the biggest shows on an active MOD station in the North West.
Governance
Until 1974, Formby was an
urban districtIn the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, an urban district was a type of local government district that covered an urbanised area. Urban districts had an elected Urban District Council , which shared local government responsibilities with a county council.-England and Wales:In England...
(Formby Urban District) within the
administrative countyAdministrative counties were a level of subnational division of England used for the purposes of local government from 1889 to 1974. They were created by the Local Government Act 1888 and abolished by the Local Government Act 1972...
of
LancashireLancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Lancashire County Council is based in Preston. However, Lancaster is still considered to be the county town...
. Since 1 April 1974, it has formed part of the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, in
MerseysideMerseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. Taking its name from the River Mersey, Merseyside came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974, after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, and the county consists of five metropolitan...
.
Formby forms part of the
constituencyA constituency is any cohesive body of people bound by shared identity, goals, or loyalty. Constituency can be used to describe a business's customer base and shareholders, or a charity's donors or those it serves...
of
CrosbyCrosby is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- Boundaries :...
and is represented in the
House of CommonsThe House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 646 members, who are known as "Members...
by
LabourThe Labour Party is a centre-left political party in the United Kingdom. Founded at the start of the 20th century, it has been seen since 1920 as the principal party of the Left in England, Scotland and Wales, but not Northern Ireland, where it has only recently begun to organise again...
Member of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a parliament. In many countries the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a unique title, such as senate, and thus also have unique titles for its members, such as senators. Members of...
Claire Curtis-ThomasDr. Claire Curtis-Thomas, previously known as Claire Curtis-Tansley is a British politician and engineer. She is the Labour Member of Parliament for Crosby.-Early life:...
.
In the last
local electionLocal elections vary widely across jurisdictions. In electoral systems that roughly follow the Westminster model, a terminology has evolved with roles such as Mayor or to describe the executive of a city or town or region, and Reeve, Alderman or Councillor to describe the legislators who...
in 2006, the Labour Party won with 48.2% share of the vote, some 17,000 votes, while the
ConservativesThe Conservative and Unionist Party, more commonly known as the Conservatives, the Conservative Party, or Tory Party is a conservative political party in the United Kingdom...
' share was 32.1% and the
Liberal DemocratsThe Liberal Democrats, often shortened to Lib Dems or just Liberals, are a centre-left political party in the United Kingdom, formed in 1988 by a merger of the Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party; the two parties had been in alliance for seven years, from shortly after the formation of...
receiving 17.4% of the vote. There is also small support for the
United Kingdom Independence PartyThe United Kingdom Independence Party is a conservative, Eurosceptic political party. Its principal aim is the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union. UKIP currently holds thirteen seats in the European Parliament and two in the House of Lords...
in Formby; with 1.3% of the votes.
Geography
Formby is a coastal town roughly 7 sq miles (17km²) and part of Sefton in the north west of
MerseysideMerseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. Taking its name from the River Mersey, Merseyside came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974, after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, and the county consists of five metropolitan...
. The town is built upon the west of a large flat area of land called the
West Lancashire Coastal PlainThe West Lancashire Coastal Plain is a large area in the south west of Lancashire, England.The plain stretches from the Rimrose Valley in Seaforth, near Liverpool on the Mersey, to the south, to Preston on the Ribble, to the north. To the east, the plain is bounded by the foothills of the Pennines,...
. The town is 1.5 feet (0.5 metres) below
sea levelMean sea level is the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation.- Measurement :...
at its lowest point. Formby's highest point is within the sand dunes that separate the
Irish SeaThe Irish Sea also known as the Mann Sea or Manx Sea, separates the islands of Ireland and Britain. It is connected to the Atlantic Ocean in the south by St George's Channel, and in the north by the North Channel...
from Formby, sand dunes are ever changing in shape and formation so there is no fixed point. The
River AltThe River Alt is in Merseyside, England.The Alt runs from Hag Plantation in Huyton at 125ft , through Croxteth Park, roughly follows the M57 motorway south of Kirkby, then flows north of Aintree and south of Maghull...
runs in to the Irish Sea just south of Formby at Hightown.
The town is rurally
landlockedA landlocked country is commonly defined as one enclosed or nearly enclosed by land. As of 2008, there are 44 landlocked countries in the world. Of the major landmasses that have more than one country, only North America does not have a landlocked country....
; the land between Formby and the areas of
SouthportSouthport is a seaside town within the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, in Merseyside, England. The town is located on the Irish Sea coast, to the north of Liverpool and west-southwest of Preston...
,
OrmskirkOrmskirk is a market town in West Lancashire, England. It is situated north of Liverpool, northwest of St Helens, southeast of Southport and southwest of Preston.-Geography and administration:...
and
LiverpoolLiverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
is
green beltA green belt or greenbelt is a policy and land use designation used in land use planning to retain areas of largely undeveloped, wild, or agricultural land surrounding or neighbouring urban areas. Similar concepts are greenways or green wedges which have a linear character and may run through an...
land and is used for
arableAgronomy is the science and technology of using plants for food, fuel, feed, and fiber. Agronomy encompasses work in the areas of plant genetics, plant physiology, meteorology, and soil science. Agronomy is the application of a combination of sciences like biology, chemistry, ecology, earth...
agricultural purposes. The areas around the
urbanAn urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
fringe are drained by
irrigationIrrigation is an artificial application of water to the soil. It is usually used to assist in growing crops in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
ditches are open areas get boggy in the winter months. Earth in urban areas is well drained, very loose and sandy.
The section of land between Formby and the coast is varied in
vegetationVegetation is a general term for the plant life of a region; it refers to the ground cover provided by plants. It is a general term, without specific reference to particular taxa, life forms, structure, spatial extent, or any other specific botanical or geographic characteristics. It is broader...
, wildlife and
terrainTerrain, or relief, is the third or vertical dimension of land surface. When relief is described underwater, the term bathymetry is used...
. This area includes
pinePines are coniferous trees in the genus Pinus , in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Distribution:...
forests: natural and
man-madeArtificial flowers and imitations of natural flowers are sometimes made for scientific purposes , but more often as articles of decoration and ornament.Materials used in their manufacture have included painted linen and shavings of stained horn in Egypt, gold and silver...
, sand dunes,
marram grassAmmophila is a genus consisting of two or three very similar species of grasses; common names for these grasses include Marram Grass, Bent Grass, and Beachgrass...
,
deciduousDeciduous means falling off at maturity or tending to fall off and is typically used in reference to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally and to the shedding of other plant structures such as petals after flowering or fruit when ripe...
woodland, seasonal ponds and lakes. Large areas of this land are protected by the
National TrustThe National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
.
Formby is in a temperate climate zone, with mild winters and warm summers. Formby's biggest threat is
global warmingGlobal warming is the increase in the average temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and oceans since the mid-20th century and its projected continuation. Global surface temperature increased 0.74 ± 0.18 °C during the last century...
as the town is built on a flood plain, being situated next to the coast and being below sea level.
Economy
The main
shoppingShopping is the examining of goods or services from retailers with the intent to purchase at that time. Shopping is an activity of selection and/or purchase. In some contexts it is considered a leisure activity as well as an economic one....
area is locally known as The Village; here the town upholds an array of shops including a
BootsThe Boots Company, commercially known as Boots is a leading pharmacy chain in the United Kingdom, with outlets in most high streets throughout the country. Its parent company, Boots Group plc merged with Alliance UniChem plc on 31 July 2006 to become Alliance Boots.-History:Boots was established in...
,
Dorothy PerkinsDorothy Perkins, whose trading name was inspired by a rambler rose of the same name, is a large British women's clothing retailer, active mostly in the United Kingdom.- History :...
and a
New LookNew Look is an international fashion retailer with a chain of high street shops in Britain, Belgium, France, Republic of Ireland, and the United Arab Emirates.-History:...
. These shops are located around the main shopping street of Chapel Lane and Brows Lane. The tree lined
AvenueTraditionally, an avenue is a straight road with a line of trees or large shrubs running along each side, which is used, as its French source venir indicates, to emphasize the "coming to," or arrival at a landscape or architectural feature...
runs for about a third of a mile with shops either side for 325 yards of it. There are several other smaller shopping areas around Formby and Freshfield mostly convenience stores and some specialist outlets like independent Opticians Silver & Rose with both qualified Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians, and award winning independent booksellers, Pritchards. There are several other smaller shopping areas around Formby and
FreshfieldFreshfield is an area of Formby, in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, Merseyside, England, situated at the northern end of the town. It has no local political distinction or representation and is included as part of the two council wards which make up Formby , nor is it separated in any physical...
. Formby also has a main
post officeA post office is a facility authorised by a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail. Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
and two smaller post offices. Formby is generally considered to be one of the most affluent suburbs of
LiverpoolLiverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
.
The town also has a several supermarkets including a
TescoTesco plc is a UK-based international grocery and general merchandising retail chain. It is the largest British retailer by both global sales and domestic market share, with profits exceeding £3 billion. It is currently the third largest global retailer based on revenue, behind Wal-Mart and...
, an M&S Simply Food and more recently,
WaitroseWaitrose is an upmarket supermarket in the UK. Waitrose is the food division of the British retailer and worker co-operative the John Lewis Partnership. As of August 2009, there are 214 branches across the United Kingdom...
, previously a
SafewaySafeway was a chain of supermarkets and convenience stores in the United Kingdom. It started life as a subsidiary of the American Safeway Inc. before being sold off in 1987....
.
Formby has no major industries; however there is a small industrial estate on the outskirts of the town.
The most recent building to Formby is the new
swimming poolA swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is an artificially enclosed body of water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest and deepest is the Olympic size...
and
leisure centreA leisure centre in the UK and Canada is a purpose built building or site, usually owned and operated by the borough council or district council, where people go to keep fit or relax through using the facilities.- Typical Facilities :...
.
Tourism
Formby has a significant tourist industry most notably between the warmer months of May and September. In particular it's popular with day trippers from Liverpool and other industrial towns in Merseyside and West Lancashire. There are two main spots along the Formby Coast which are particularly popular with the public.
The Lifeboat Road site is about 1½ miles from the town centre; there are three linked unpaved car parks with several routes cascading out in to the sand dunes and woods. The car parks are about 900 yards from the beach.
Victoria Road is north of Lifeboat Road and is busier due to the red squirrel reserve being here. From the junction of Larkhill Lane and Victoria Road is where the reserve begins and there is a charge to park from this point onwards. Parking is available adjacent to the reserve and at the end of the road there is a large unpaved car park for easier beach access, the beach from the car park is about 100 yards.
There is a privately run caravan park called Formby Point on Lifeboat Road, open between March and October. There are around 300 caravans on the park and 20 plots for touring caravans. There is a phone box on site, public toilets, a play area and until 1995 there was a small convenience store.
Notable residents
Due to its proximity to the city of Liverpool, various current and former Liverpool and Everton Football Club players have lived in the town, including
Steven GerrardSteven George Gerrard, MBE , is an English footballer who plays for English Premier League club Liverpool and the England national team. He is usually employed in the central midfield role, although under Liverpool F.C...
,
Alan StubbsAlan Stubbs is a former English footballer, playing in central defence. He was forced to retire from professional football due to a troublesome knee injury on the August 20 2008...
(who owns a
barA bar is an establishment that serves drinks, especially alcoholic beverages such as beer, liquor, and cocktails, for consumption on the premises....
in the Village)
Neil RuddockNeil "Razor" Ruddock is a retired English footballer, who played as a central defender.-Football career:...
,
Emlyn HughesEmlyn Walter Hughes, OBE was an English footballer who captained both the English national side and the much-decorated Liverpool F.C...
,
John ToshackJohn Benjamin Toshack OBE is a Welsh football manager and former player. He is the current manager of the Welsh national football team, having taken on this role in late 2004, and briefly managed the national side once before in the early 1990s...
,
Stig Inge BjørnebyeStig Inge Bjørnebye is a retired Norwegian footballer who played in Norway, England, and Denmark, most notably for Liverpool and Blackburn Rovers. His preferred position was left back, which he occupied for domestic clubs and the national team...
,
Ray ClemenceRaymond Neal "Ray" Clemence, MBE is one of English and European football's most decorated goalkeepers ever and was part of the Liverpool team of the 1970s.-Life and playing career:...
, as well as
Alan ShearerAlan Shearer, OBE DL is a retired English footballer.He played as a striker in the top level of English league football for Southampton, Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United and for the England national team. He is widely considered as one of the greatest English strikers of all time, being both...
, during his time at Blackburn Rovers. Footballer
Wayne RooneyWayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who currently plays as a striker for English Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team....
also lived there. Former Liverpool F.C. players
David FaircloughDavid Fairclough is a retired English footballer, most famous for playing for Liverpool as a striker during the 1970s and 80s.-Life and playing career:...
and
Phil NealPhilip George Neal is a much-decorated former footballer who is the only player to have appeared in the first five of Liverpool's European Cup finals, winning four of them. He was a dependable full back...
still live in the area. Other famous Formby residents include
snookerSnooker is a cue sport that is played on a large baize-covered table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each of the long side cushions. A regulation table is . It is played using a cue and snooker balls: one white , 15 worth one point each, and six balls of different ...
player
John ParrottJohn Parrott MBE is an English professional snooker player.He won the World Snooker Championship in 1991, defeating Jimmy White in the final. Two years earlier he had lost 18-3 to Steve Davis, the heaviest final defeat in modern times...
. St Lukes Parish Church in Formby is the burial place of the Irish songwriter and entertainer Percy French. Past residents include the novelist
Beryl BainbridgeDame Beryl Margaret Bainbridge, DBE is an English novelist.A five-time nominee for the Booker Prize, Bainbridge has never won. She has nonetheless been described as "a national treasure".- Biography :...
and John Birt the former Director General of the
BBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation, usually referred to by its abbreviation as the "BBC", is the longest established and largest broadcaster in the world...
along with Sir John Moores, the founder of
LittlewoodsLittlewoods is the name of a former retail and gambling company founded in Liverpool, Merseyside, England by John Moores in 1923.It started as a shopping catalogue company, processing orders by post in the early 1970's. In 1981, it expanded to a call center, processing orders via telephone. At its...
.
The notable music hall entertainer
George Formby, Sr.George Formby, Sr. was the father of George Formby, Jr., and a star in his own right. Heperformed in the Edwardian music halls...
adopted his stage name when he was waiting for a train and saw a goods train on its way to Formby. His son George Formby, Jr. used the same stage name.
Transport
The Formby
BypassA bypass is a road or highway that avoids or "bypasses" a built-up area, town, or village, to let through traffic flow without interference from local traffic, to reduce congestion in the built-up area, and to improve road safety....
(
A565The A565 is a road in England that runs from Bootle in Merseyside to Tarleton in Lancashire.It starts off on Old Hall St. Bootle near Princes Dock crossing a number of traffic lights and running parallel with 'Regent Road'...
) was built over fifty years ago to take the major
LiverpoolLiverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
to
SouthportSouthport is a seaside town within the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, in Merseyside, England. The town is located on the Irish Sea coast, to the north of Liverpool and west-southwest of Preston...
route out of Formby and cut alongside the fringe of the town. The
bypassA bypass is a road or highway that avoids or "bypasses" a built-up area, town, or village, to let through traffic flow without interference from local traffic, to reduce congestion in the built-up area, and to improve road safety....
is a
dual carriagewayA dual carriageway or divided highway is a road or highway in which the two directions of traffic are separated by a central barrier or strip of land, known as a central reservation or median...
with two roundabouts and two sets of traffic lights. It has been the scene of many accidents, some fatal and there are calls from some for the scrapping of a proposed motorway link as a result. The B5195 links Formby with
OrmskirkOrmskirk is a market town in West Lancashire, England. It is situated north of Liverpool, northwest of St Helens, southeast of Southport and southwest of Preston.-Geography and administration:...
and
MaghullMaghull is a town and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, in Merseyside, England. It is north of the city of Liverpool and south of Ormskirk in West Lancashire...
.
MotorwayThe OECD has defined a motorway as:Motorways are identical to freeways as a road type, and comparable to the United States's Interstate Highways as a classification....
s are easily accessible, the
M58The M58 is a motorway passing through Merseyside and Lancashire, terminating at Greater Manchester, England. It is 12 miles long and provides a link between the M6 motorway and the area north of Liverpool.-Route:...
and
M57The M57 motorway, also known as the Liverpool Outer Ring Road, is a road in England. Designed as a bypass road for Liverpool, it is 14 miles long and links various towns east of the city, as well as the M62 and M58 motorways.-Route:...
are both 8 miles from Formby.
With the town's major growth period around the early 20th century and Formby never really having any major industry, the road system followed an American style method of road building. Major roads in the town are wide and in an almost block formation with housing estates being built in to those blocks. The vast majority of
residencesA house is generally a shelter, building or structure that is a dwelling or place for habitation by human beings. The term includes many kinds of dwellings ranging from rudimentary huts of nomadic tribes to high-rise apartment buildings...
have drive-ways for parking. Thus traffic congestion is rare in the town and usually only experienced in the town centre locally known as The Village.
There are two railway stations, the first being
Formby railway stationFormby railway station is a railway station in the town of Formby, Merseyside, England. The station is located on the Southport branch of the Merseyrail network's Northern Line.The station has a car park and a newsagent.-History:...
and the second less than a mile north,
Freshfield railway stationFreshfield railway station serves the Freshfield district of Formby, Sefton, Merseyside, England. The station is located on the Southport branch of the Merseyrail network's Northern Line.-History:...
. Both are on the
Northern LineThe Northern Line is one of the two commuter lines operated by Merseyrail on Merseyside, England, the other being the Wirral Line . It connects the centre of Liverpool with Hunts Cross to the south and Southport, Ormskirk and Kirkby to the north...
of the
MerseyrailMerseyrail is the name given to the electric commuter rail network, centred on Liverpool in the metropolitan county of Merseyside in England. The system has 67 stations spread across 75 miles of track, and runs underground and overground, carrying over 100,000 passengers each day...
network, which runs from Liverpool to Southport. Trains are frequent and are a popular way of
commutingCommuting is regular travel between one's place of residence and place of work or full time study. Institutions that have few dormitories or near-campus student housing are called commuter schools in the United States....
, especially to Liverpool.
Bus services in the town are provided by
ArrivaArriva plc is a British-based international public transport operator, headquartered in Sunderland, Tyne & Wear. It has bus and/or rail operations in Denmark, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the United Kingdom...
,
StagecoachA stagecoach is a type of four-wheeled closed coach for passengers and goods, strongly sprung and drawn by four horses, usually four-in-hand. Widely used before the introduction of railway transport, it made regular trips between stages or stations, which were places of rest provided for stagecoach...
and Merseytravel. These include services to Southport, Ince Blundell, Liverpool, Southport and Formby District Hospital and Merseytravel's Formby circular routes.
The nearest airport is
Liverpool John Lennon AirportLiverpool John Lennon Airport is an international airport serving the city of Liverpool and North West England. Formerly known as Speke Airport and RAF Speke, the airport is located within the City of Liverpool adjacent to the estuary of the River Mersey some southeast of the centre of...
which is 25 miles away. Manchester Airport seconds that, which is 43 miles away.
In addition to motorized transport, Formby is served by excellent cycle routes, mainly centring around the pinewoods along the coast leading to both Southport and Liverpool. There are also many cycle lanes on the roads leading to the larger conurbations to the north and south.
Education
There are seven primary schools in Formby; Woodlands, Redgate CP, Our Lady's, St Jerome's, Trinity St Peters, Freshfield CPS and
St Luke's C. of E.ST Luke's is a Church of England primary school located in Formby, Sefton, England. It is one of seven primary schools in Formby. The school is 2 form entry with a staff of 14 teachers....
Trinity St Peters in Formby is the amalgamation of two former primary schools - Holy Trinity and St Peters - which closed down in July 2006. The school was formed as part of a major reorganisation of primary education in Sefton. In 2006 Our Lady's performed has the best results with a Key Stage 1 and 2 combined averages of 289, way above the national average of 242. Ravenmeols primary school closed as a school and is now used as the Raven Meols Community Centre.
Formby has two large high schools,
Formby High SchoolFormby High School is a comprehensive secondary school located in the town of Formby, Merseyside. The school is one of two comprehensive secondary schools in Formby, of which Range High School is the second. In 2002 the school was awarded specialist school status of a Arts College which allows the...
and
Range High SchoolRange High School is located in Formby, Sefton, England and is one of two secondary comprehensive schools in the area . The high school caters for roughly 1300 students aged 11-18 . The current headteacher is Graham Aldridge.The local primary schools St...
, both schools are high performers. With a national average of 45.8% of students gaining five or more A*-C at GCSE, Range scored 74% and Formby scored 76% in 2006. Formby High School saw one of the biggest increases in grades in the country in 2006. After years of hovering around 50-60% mark the school increased 20% outdoing their rival Range.
Wildlife
To the west of the town lie pinewoods and sand dunes. The whole of the coastline here is managed as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) for its important wildlife reserves by Sefton Coast Partnership. The pine woods at Victoria Road have been established as a
National TrustThe National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
reserve for the
red squirrelThe red squirrel or Eurasian red squirrel is a species of tree squirrel . A tree-dwelling omnivorous rodent, the red squirrel is common throughout Eurasia....
, listed on the
endangered speciesAn endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters. Also it could mean that due to deforestation there may be a lack of food and/or water...
list. Formby is one of several sites in Britain were the
red squirrelThe red squirrel or Eurasian red squirrel is a species of tree squirrel . A tree-dwelling omnivorous rodent, the red squirrel is common throughout Eurasia....
can still be found although it is now being threatened by the grey squirrel. .
Formby is also famous for the presence of
natterjack toadThe Natterjack Toad is a toad native to sandy and heathland areas of Northern Europe. Adults are 60 - 70 mm in length and are distinguished from the common toad by a yellow line down the middle of the back...
s. Formby is only one of a few sites in England where they will breed. Later in the evening the male's distinctive song can be heard and is known locally as the ‘
BootleBootle is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, in Merseyside, England. It is
4 miles to the north of Liverpool city centre, and has a total resident population of 77,640....
OrganThe organ is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet...
’. In spring the males gather at the edge of shallow pools in the dune slacks and sing to attract a mate. The Sefton Coast and Countryside Service are working hard to keep these pools from growing over so that that they are ready each spring for this annual event.
Sport
This stretch of coast is famous for links golf courses such as
Southport & AinsdaleSouthport and Ainsdale Golf Club is situated near the Merseyside towns of Southport and Ainsdale on the north west coast of England, not far north of the city of Liverpool. It has a single 18 hole course set amongst ranges of tall sandhills and smaller sand dunes.It was founded in 1906 and hosted...
,
HillsideHillside Golf Club is located near Southport, England. It lies almost side by side with the Royal Birkdale course, amid a stretch of sandhills, and the quality of the individual holes is such that golfers may find it difficult to separate the two...
, West Lancashire, Hesketh and Royal Birkdale. Formby is home to another championship quality golf course -
Formby Golf ClubFormby Golf Club is a golf links in Formby, Merseyside, England.Founded in 1884, the course was redesigned by Willie Park in 1912, but has, over the years seen some changes since, including some in 1922 by James Braid....
. However, the club, unlike its neighbour Royal Birkdale, does not have the capacity to host large events such as The Open Championship. It also has a cricket club based down Cricket Path in Freshfield; this also has squash courts and a large
AstroTurfAstroTurf is a brand of artificial turf. Though the term is a registered trademark, it is sometimes used as a generic description of any kind of artificial turf...
hockey pitch. Formby has a football team called
Formby F.C.Formby F.C. are an English football club based in Formby, Merseyside. They currently play in the North West Counties Football League Premier Division and are members of the Liverpool County Football Association. They play their home games at Altcar Road in Formby.-History:The club were established...
who play in the
North West Counties Football LeagueThe North West Counties Football League is a football league in North west of England. As of 2008, the league covers the whole of the North West England region, and part of the West Midlands region, from Stoke-on-Trent, the Peak District in Northern Derbyshire up to the Lake District...
Division OneThe North West Counties Football League Premier Division is a football competition based in England. It sits at step 5 of the National League System. The top club gets promoted to the Northern Premier League Division One North or Northern Premier League Division One South. The bottom club will get...
. They play at Altcar Road, behind Tesco just off the A565 Formby Bypass. In the summer of 2002, the club left their previous home at Brows Lane. The site is now occupied by Formby Pool which opened on 27 January 2007.
In addition a variety of youth sporting groups are based in Formby. These include Formby Junior Sports Club (FJSC) known locally as "Rourke's League" after Jim Rourke
MBEMBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business and Engineering* Mean Biased Error...
(1912-2006) who founded the club on 2 January 1959. Jim continued to attend the club into his 90s. Over 600 children ranging in age from 5 to 16 years meet at Deansgate Lane Playing Fields to play football at various times throughout Saturday mornings during the football season. The club welcomes children of all abilities, there are no trials or criteria to meet; every member plays every week. The club also fields numerous representative teams in local junior leagues (e.g. the Craven Minor League). Formby is also home to Deansgate Rovers and Redgate junior football clubs.
In 2007, Formby Vikings Rugby Union Team was established to include a wide range of ages including a colts first 15 team.
A Snooker Coaching Academy was established by Jimmy Tristram in 2006. It's held at the Gild Hall Club, Church Road each Sunday morning by head snooker coach Jimmy Tristram, and assistants Anthony Scorgie, Dudley Lidiard and Colette Kolassa (who are all volunteers). The club has been teaching youngsters from the ages of 9 to 19. At present, the pupils are making good progress having made breaks of 43, 47, 58 and the highest of 64.
External links
History
Media
Information
- Sefton Coast Metropolitan Borough of Sefton's website]
- Formby station timetable from National Rail
National Rail is a title used by the Association of Train Operating Companies as a generic term to define the passenger rail services operated in Great Britain...
's Live Departure Boards
Community