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Merseyside: Local History Resources

 Merseyside is a metropolitan county in the region called North West England. We start with some general videos showing events in Merseyside. Then this page gives a brief introduction to the area before listing a wide range of local history and family history resources about the area.

Archive Films of Merseyside

Other pages have archive films of specific places, but this collection relates to a number of Merseyside locations in one newsreel.

Wartime Visit by King & Queen (1940)

In 1940, as Merseyside civilians became casualties of the Second World War, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited Birkenhead, Wallasey, and Liverpool.



King And Queen Tour Merseyside (1940) - British Pathé on YouTube


Merseyside Is A Metropolitan County

We'll start this page by explaining what a metropolian council is, and what areas are included in the county.

What Are Metropolitan Councils?

In 1974, six counties were created as both metropolitan and county councils to cover the six largest urban areas in England outside London. Merseyside was one of them.

Each metropolitan county was divided into metropolitan boroughs, which were subdivisions of the metropolitan county.

They were different in various technical ways to the historic and ceremonial county councils that cover most communities across the country. But they had a similar local government function of providing the area’s services for education, social services etc. 

In 1985, the metropolitan counties were abolished as county councils. The relevant local government responsibilities were passed to the metropolitan boroughs or to specialist join boards, such as the Passenger Transport Authorities.

In law and geographic reference, such as for statistical purposes, the metropolitan counties still exist. But you’ll not find buildings or people offering services as a metropolitan county unless in respect of the specialist joint-borough boards. 

There is much confusion amongst the general public as to what these are and what the correct terminology is, but it’s rare for the distinction to be important. Most people would understand Merseyside to be the communities in and close to Liverpool, and that is usually enough for everyday purposes.

What Areas Are In Merseyside?

Merseyside has 5 metropolitan boroughs representing the areas of:

  • City of Liverpool
  • Knowsley
  • St Helens
  • Sefton
  • Wirral

Is Liverpool in Merseyside or Lancashire?

The City of Liverpool is in Merseyside. It is not in nearby Lancashire, where you will find the City of Manchester.

Why is Liverpool called Merseyside? 

Liverpool is not called Merseyside. Liverpool is the city, Merseyside is the area in which the city is located and of which the city only forms a part.

Cities, Towns And Villages In Merseyside

  • Aigburth - Ainsdale - Aintree - Allerton - Anfield
  • Barnston - Bebington - Beechwood - Belle Vale - Bidston - Billinge - Birkdale - Birkenhead - Blowick - Blundellsands - Bold - Bootle - Bowring Park - Brighton le Sands - Brimstage - Broadgreen - Bromborough - Bromborough Pool
  • Caldy - Canning - Childwall - Churchtown - Claughton - Clock Face - Clubmoor - Crank - Cressington - Crosby - Crossens - Croxteth - Croxteth Park Estate
  • Dentons Green - Dingle - Dovecot
  • Earlestown - Eastham - Eccleston - Eccleston Lane Ends - Eccleston Park - Edge Hill - Egremont - Everton
  • Fairfield - Fazakerley - Ford - Ford Estate - Formby - Frankby - Freshfield
  • Garston - Gateacre - Gayton - Gillmoss - Golborne Dale - Grange - Grange Park - Grassendale - Greasby - Great Altcar - Great Meols
  • Halewood - Halsnead Park - Haydock - Heswall - Higher Bebington - Higher Tranmere - Hightown - Hillside - Hoylake - Hunts Cross - Huyton
  • Ince Blundell - Irby
  • Kensington - Kings Moss - Kirkby - Kirkdale - Knotty Ash - Knowsley Village - Knowsley Park
  • Landican - Larton - Leasowe - Liscard - Litherland - Little Altcar - Little Crosby - Liverpool - Lunt - Lydiate
  • Maghull - Marshside - Melling - Meols - Moreton - Mossley Hill -
  • Netherley - Netherton - New Brighton - New Ferry - Newton - Newton-le-Willows - Noctorum - Norris Green -
  • Old Roan - Old Swan - Orrell Park - Oxton
  • Page Moss - Parr - Pensby - Port Sunlight - Poulton - Prenton - Prescot
  • Raby - Raby Mere - Rainford - Rainhill - Roby - Rock Ferry
  • Saughall Massie - Seacombe - Seaforth - Sefton - Southport - Speke - Spital - St Helens - Stockbridge Village - Stoneycroft - Sutton Leach - Sutton Manor
  • Tarbock - Thatto Heath - Thingwall - Thornton - Thornton Hough - Thurstaston - Toxteth - Tranmere - Tuebrook
  • Upton
  • Vauxhall
  • Waddicar - Wallasey - Wallasey Village - Walton - Waterloo - Wavertree - West Derby - West Kirby - Whiston - Windle - Wolverham - Woodchurch - Woodvale - Woolton

Merseyside History Facebook Groups

  • Friends of Williamson’s Tunnels
  • North Meols Local History Exhibition
  • Old Photographs Of Liverpool Liverpool Picturebook
  • RAF Burtonwood Heritage Centre
  • University of Liverpool History Society
  • Woolston / Martinscroft, Local History, Nature, Community Projects Page

Merseyside History Resources And Groups

  • Anfield Cemetery
  • Bebington Family History Society
  • Bidston Community Archaeology
  • Bidston Lighthouse
  • Big Heritage
  • Birkenhead History Society 
  • Birkenhead Priory & St Mary's Tower
  • Bob Dobson Books
  • Bromborough Society
  • Burton & Neston History Society
  • Cheshire Local History Association
  • Calderstones - Chambered Tombs
  • Conservation Areas Wirral (forum of all 26 Conservation areas)
  • Crosby Village
  • Daniel Adamson Preservation Society 
  • Eastham Archives Group
  • Eastham Village Preservation Association
  • Fort Perch Rock
  • Friends of Burton Manor Gardens
  • Friends of Egremont
  • Friends of Leasowe Lighthouse
  • Friends of Liverpool Airport (FOLA)
  • Friends of Rake Lane Cemetery
  • Friends of St Georges Hall
  • Friends of the Ferries  
  • Friends of Williamson Art Gallery  
  • Friends of Williamson Tunnels
  • Heswall Society
  • Hooton Park Trust
  • Hoylake Historical Society
  • Irons in the Fire
  • Liverpool Archive Catalogue
  • Liverpool Family History Society
  • Liverpool Heritage Forum
  • Liverpool History Society
  • Liverpool Museums.org.uk
  • Liverpool Nautical Research Society
  • Liverpool Pictorial
  • Liverpool Picturebook
  • Liverpool Record Office
  • Maritime Archives and Library (Merseyside Maritime Museum)
  • Maritime Volunteer Service
  • Mayer Community Heritage Centre 
  • Merseyside Industrial Heritage Society
  • Merseyside Maritime Museum
  • Merseyside Record Office
  • Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society
  • Neston Civic Society
  • New Brighton Heritage and Information Centre
  • One Borough Group Volunteers
  • Oxton Society
  • Port Sunlight Museum
  • RAF Burtonwood Heritage Centre
  • Rainhill Railway & Heritage Society
  • Rock Ferry Local History Research Group
  • Saughall Massie Village Conservation Area Society
  • Star Yachts Appreciation Society
  • Swan Movie Makers Wirral
  • Tam O'Shanter Urban Farm
  • Wallaseyans' Club
  • Wallasey Civic Society
  • Wavertree Society
  • Wirral Ancient Egypt Society
  • Wirral Archaeology
  • Wirral Archives
  • Wirral Heritage Tramway and Transport Museum
  • Wirral History & Heritage Association
  • Wirral & North Wales Archaeology
  • Wirral Postcard Club
  • Wirhalh Skip Felagr
  • Wirral Society
  • World Ship Society (Merseyside) Branch
  • Wallasey Family History Society 
  • Wallasey Historical Society
  • Williamson Tunnels Heritage Centre (Joseph Williamson Society)
  • Wirral Local History Group
  • West Kirby Museum
  • www.old-merseytimes.co.uk 
  • www.visitliverpool.com
  • WW2 Air Raid Shelters
  • 610 (County of Chester) Squadron Association
Labels:
Location: Merseyside, UK

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