From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Coordinates: 53°20′10″N 2°58′41″W / 53.336°N 2.978°W / 53.336; -2.978

Bromborough
Bromborough Cross
Bromborough  Bromborough shown within Merseyside
Population	12,630 (2001 Census)[1]
OS grid reference	SJ349825
Metropolitan borough	Wirral
Metropolitan county	Merseyside
Region	North West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	WIRRAL
Postcode district	CH62
Dialling code	0151
Police	Merseyside
Fire	Merseyside
Ambulance	North West
EU Parliament	North West England
UK Parliament	Wirral South
List of places: UK • England • Merseyside

Bromborough is a small town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the Wirral Peninsula, to the south of Bebington and to the north of Eastham. In the 2001 Census, the population of the township was 12,630 (6,050 males, 6,580 females),^[1] although the total number of people within the larger Bromborough Ward was 13,963.^[2] Before local government reorganisation in 1 April 1974, it was part of the urban district of Bebington, within the county of Cheshire.

History

Bromborough is a contender for the site of an epic battle in the year 937, the Battle of Brunanburh, which confirmed England as an Anglo-Saxon kingdom.^[3] Reconstructed from fragments, an Anglo Saxon cross is in the churchyard of local parish church St Barnabas.^[4]

A charter for a market to be held each Monday was granted by Edward I in 1278 to the monks of St. Werburgh's Abbey. It was hoped that in establishing the market in the vicinity of Bromborough Cross would promote honest dealing. The market cross was the traditional centre of the village and also an assembly point for local farm labourers available for hire. The steps of the cross are from the original 13th century monument. The cross itself is a more recent reproduction, presented to the town by the Bromborough Society.^[5][6]

With a watermill having been recorded at Bromborough at the time of the Domesday Survey, Bromborough watermill was likely to have been the oldest mill site on the Wirral.^[7] Located at what was known as Spital Dam, it was worked until 1940 and demolished in 1949.^[8] The site is now a sewerage pumping station. A windmill, built in 1787, existed on higher ground also at the same location. Having fallen into disuse and much deteriorated, it was destroyed by gunpowder in about 1878.^[6]

An increase in vehicular traffic passing through the area precipitated in Bromborough undergoing extensive redevelopment in the 1930s. Bromborough Hall, built in 1617, was demolished in 1932 to make way for a by-pass and a number of farmhouses and cottages in the area of Bromborough Cross were replaced with shops.^[6]

Community

The boundary between the council wards of Bromborough and Eastham is Acre Lane.

To the west of the A41 New Chester Road, Bromborough is mainly residential development started in the 1930s, centred around the original village centre with its market cross.

East of the A41 road, towards the River Mersey, is industrial development and includes Bromborough Pool,^[9] an early industrial village built in 1854 by Price's Candles. Part of the industry is connected to the former Bromborough Dock and includes a controversial ammonium nitrate warehouse and the main landfill site for the Wirral. Cereal Partners employ 340 people and produces Cheerios and Corn Flakes, among other breakfast cereals in a factory formerly owned by Viota. Rank Hovis McDougall briefly owned the business in the 1990s.

The Croft Retail & Leisure Park is located off the A41 and contains an eleven-screen Odeon cinema, a bowling alley 'The Bowl', a Gala Bingo, a 24 hour Asda supermarket and a Tesco Homeplus store. Other major retailers in the area include Argos, Boots, Currys, Halfords, Matalan and Next. Bromborough also contains the Fitness First and a DW (formerly JJB Sports) fitness club.

There are a number of pubs in Bromborough: 'The Bromborough', 'The Archers', 'Royal Oak' and the local British Legion social club are situated in Bromborough Village. On the outskirts, bordering Eastham, is the 'Merebrook'.

The local newspapers are the Bromborough and Bebington News and the Wirral Globe.

Transport

Bromborough and Bromborough Rake railway stations are both situated on the Wirral Line of the Merseyrail network. Trains run every 15 minutes to Liverpool and every 30 minutes to either Chester or Ellesmere Port.

See also

• St Barnabas' Church, Bromborough

References