View source for Hoylake

{{Short description|Seaside town and home of the Royal Liverpool golf club, in Wirral, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country                  = England
| official_name            = Hoylake
| coordinates              = {{coord|53.390|-3.180|display=inline,title}}
| population               = 5,315
| population_ref           = (Built up area, 2021)<ref>{{cite web |title=Towns and cities, characteristics of built-up areas, England and Wales: Census 2021 |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/housing/articles/townsandcitiescharacteristicsofbuiltupareasenglandandwales/census2021 |website=Census 2021 |publisher=Office for National Statistics |access-date=8 August 2023}}</ref>
| metropolitan_borough     = [[Metropolitan Borough of Wirral|Wirral]]
| metropolitan_county      = [[Merseyside]]
| region                   = North West England
| constituency_westminster = [[Wirral West (UK Parliament constituency)|Wirral West]]
| post_town                = WIRRAL
| postcode_district        = CH47, CH48
| postcode_area            = CH
| dial_code                = 0151
| os_grid_reference        = SJ215888
| static_image_name        = Hoylake Beach.jpg
| static_image_caption     = Hoylake beach, looking towards [[Hilbre Island]]
| london_distance          = {{convert|183|mi|km|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boulter.com/gps/distance/?from=53.390+-3.180&to=51.507+-0.127&units=m|title=Coordinate Distance Calculator|work=boulter.com|access-date=6 March 2016}}</ref>
| london_direction         = SE
| iso_code                 = GB-WRL
}}
<!--start of article-->
'''Hoylake''' ({{IPAc-en|h|ɔɪ|ˈ|l|eɪ|k}}) is a [[coast|seaside]] town in the [[Metropolitan Borough of Wirral]], [[Merseyside]], England. It is at the north west of the [[Wirral Peninsula]], near [[West Kirby]] and where the [[River Dee, Wales|River Dee]] meets the [[Irish Sea]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visitwirral.com/explore/towns-and-villages/hoylake|title=Hoylake Tourist Information & Visitor Guide|publisher=Wirral Council|website=www.visitwirral.com|language=en-GB|access-date=29 May 2017}}</ref> At the [[2021 United Kingdom census|2021 census]], the built up area had a population of 5,315.

In the nineteenth century, the town grew up around the small fishing village of Hoose ({{literal translation|hollows}}), a settlement that was recorded in the [[Domesday Book]] of 1086 within the [[Hundreds of Cheshire|Hundred]] of [[Wirral Hundred|'Wilaveston']] ([[Historic counties of England|historically]] part of [[Cheshire]]). The town takes its name from 'Hoyle Lake', a nearby channel of water out towards [[Hilbre Island]] that provided a safe anchorage for shipping.

==History==
In 1690, [[William III of England|William III]] set sail from Hoylake, then known as ''Hyle'' or ''High-lake'',<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/sailingdirectio00denhgoog|quote=high lake ireland william iii.|title=Sailing directions from Point Lynas to Liverpool|via=[[Internet Archive]]|page=[https://archive.org/details/sailingdirectio00denhgoog/page/n144 95]|first=Henry Mangles|last=Denham|publisher=Mawdsley|location=Liverpool|year=1840|access-date=27 August 2015}}</ref>{{efn|''High lake'' is also mentioned, with regard to William III's army travelling to Ireland, in the BBC programme [[Who Do You Think You Are? (UK TV series)|Who Do You Think You Are?]], Series 12, Episode 3, about [[Derek Jacobi]].<ref>{{cite episode|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0684z6q|title=Derek Jacobi|access-date=27 August 2015 |series=[[Who Do You Think You Are? (UK TV series)|Who Do You Think You Are?]]|network=[[BBC]]|date= 27 August 2015|series-no=12 |number=3 |time=52:50}}</ref>}} with a 10,000-strong army to [[Ireland]], where his army was to take part in the [[Battle of the Boyne]]. The location of departure remains known as King's Gap.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lmu.livjm.ac.uk/LHOL/content.aspx?itemid=217 |title=Walker Art Gallery (Frieze of King William III setting sail to Ireland from Hoylake) |publisher=International Centre for Digital Content |access-date=22 February 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060924232541/http://www.lmu.livjm.ac.uk/lhol/content.aspx?itemid=217 |archive-date=24 September 2006 |df=dmy }}</ref>{{verification needed|date=August 2019}} The previous year a large force under [[Marshal Schomberg]] had also departed from Hoylake on 12 August,<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MPZiWhhAmXAC&q=marshal+schomberg+hoylake&pg=PA193|title=A Military History of Ireland|first1=Thomas|last1=Bartlett|first2=Keith|last2=Jeffery|date=9 October 1997|publisher=Cambridge University Press|page=193|isbn=9780521629898|access-date=3 September 2015}}</ref> crossing to Ireland to [[Siege of Carrickfergus (1689)|capture Carrickfergus]].

The present-day township grew up in the nineteenth century around the small [[fishing]] village of Hoose,<ref name="Merseyside Views: Hoylake">
{{cite web|url=http://www.merseysideviews.com/Wirral%20Views/Hoylake/index.htm |title=Hoylake |publisher=Merseyside Views |access-date=1 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927174419/http://www.merseysideviews.com/Wirral%20Views/Hoylake/index.htm |archive-date=27 September 2007 |url-status=usurped |df=dmy-all }}</ref> 
the name of which means "hollows".<ref>
{{cite web|url=http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/map/place/Cheshire/Hoose%20(lost) |title=Key to English Place Names: Hoose|publisher=University of Nottingham|access-date=17 August 2020}}</ref>
The 1848 ''Topographical Dictionary of England'' described the inhabitants of Hoose as:
{{Blockquote|"...principally boatmen and fishermen, who have frequently evinced the greatest courage and alacrity in rescuing mariners from the horrors of shipwreck; large banks of sand, extending for miles on the northwest, being annually the scene of most fatal disasters to shipping."<ref name=BHO>
{{cite web|url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/topographical-dict/england/pp542-545a#h3-0012 |title=Hoo - Hope-Baggot: Hoose|work=A Topographical Dictionary of England|date=1848|publisher=British History Online|access-date=17 August 2020}}</ref>}}

The name Hoylake was derived from Hoyle Lake, a channel of water between [[Hilbre Island]] and Dove Point.<ref name="Pictures From The Past: Book 3">{{cite book|last1=Young|first1=Derek|last2=Young|first2=Marian|title=Pictures From The Past: A unique collection of photographs of old Hoylake, Meols and West Kirby|year=1984|asin=B001KA5LEY|asin-tld=co.uk}}</ref>  Protected by a wide [[sandbank]] known as Hoyle Bank and with a water depth of about 20 feet, it provided a safe [[anchor]]age for ships too large to sail up the Dee to [[Chester]].<ref name="Hoylake History">{{cite web|url=http://www.hoylakegolfopen.co.uk/id13.html|title=Hoylake History|publisher=HoylakeAndWestKirby.com|access-date=23 December 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071208195738/http://www.hoylakegolfopen.co.uk/id13.html |archive-date = 8 December 2007}}</ref>

==Landmarks==
The [[Hoylake and West Kirby War Memorial]] is a notable local landmark, as it was designed in 1922 by the British sculptor [[Charles Sargeant Jagger]] who was responsible for a number of war memorials around the world, including the [[Royal Artillery Memorial]] at [[Hyde Park Corner]] in [[London]].

The former [[Hoylake Town Hall]], on the corner of Albert Road and Market Street, is due to be converted to a new arts centre, known as The Beacon, with craft workshops, restaurant, and flats above.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Lauren |title=Plans approved to transform Hoylake's former town hall into 'The Beacon Arts Village' |url=http://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/16391198.plans-approved-to-transform-hoylakes-former-town-hall-into-the-beacon-arts-village/ |publisher=Wirral Globe|access-date=2 August 2018}}</ref>

Kings Gap roundabout is home to a sculpture by Scottish sculptor [[David Annand]]. Called 'Knots', it consists of seabirds looping around four poles. It was commissioned by the council as part of the regeneration of Hoylake and was installed in June 2006 in time for the [[2006 Open Championship]].<ref>{{cite web|title=REPORT OF THE DEPUTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE/DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE SERVICES HOYLAKE MARKET STREET IMPROVEMENTS – CONTRACT FOR ART WORK|url=http://democracy.wirral.gov.uk/Data/Executive%20Board/20060619/Agenda/execcs060619rep1_20597.pdf|publisher=Wirral Council|access-date=12 February 2017}}</ref>

===Lighthouses===
{{Infobox lighthouse
| qid             = Q26550860
| name            = Hoylake Lighthouse<br />''High''
| image           = Hoylake Lighthouse (1).jpg
| image_width     =
| caption         = The old upper lighthouse
| location        = Hoylake<br />[[Merseyside]]<br />[[England]]
| coordinates     = {{coord|53.392089|-3.182614}}
| yearbuilt       = 1764 (first)
| yearlit         = 1865 (current)
| automated       = 
| yeardeactivated = 1886
| foundation      = 
| construction    = brick tower
| shape           = octagonal prism tower with balcony and lantern attached to 2-storey keeper's house
| marking         = unpainted tower, black balcony, white lantern
| height          = {{convert|17|m|ft}}
| focalheight     = 
| lens            = 4th order fixed optic (azimuthal condensing)
| currentlens     = 
| lightsource     = 
| intensity       = 
| range           = 
| characteristic  = 
| fogsignal       = 
| racon           = 
| admiralty       = 
| canada          = 
| country         = 
| countrynumber   = 
| countrylink     = 
| managingagent   = private<ref>{{Cite rowlett|engnw|accessdate=2016-05-02}}</ref>
| heritage        = 
| module          =  
}}
To facilitate safe access into the Hoylake anchorage, two lighthouses were constructed in 1763,<ref>{{cite book|title=Lighthouses of Liverpool Bay |first1=John |last1=Robinson |first2=Diane |last2=Robinson |publisher=[[The History Press]] |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-7524-4209-9}}</ref> at the initiative of [[William Hutchinson (privateer)|William Hutchinson]].<ref name="MHVA">{{cite web |title=William Hutchinson (1715-1801) |url=http://www.bruzelius.info/Nautica/Biography/Hutchinson,_William.html |website=The Maritime History Virtual Archive |access-date=5 March 2019}}</ref> The lower light was a wooden structure that could be moved according to differing tides and shifting sands to remain aligned to the upper light, which was a permanent brick building. By the start of the 19th century each lighthouse was equipped with a single 3&nbsp;ft-diameter [[parabolic reflector|reflector]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Hoylake Lighthouses: the old high light |url=https://www.mycetes.co.uk/a/page148.html |website=Lighthouse Compendium |access-date=24 February 2019}}</ref> built to Hutchinson's design.<ref name="MHVA" />

Both of these structures were rebuilt a century later,<ref name="Hoylake Lighthouse">
{{cite web|url=http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/m0bnn/Page6.htm |title=Hoylake Lighthouse |access-date=23 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071113064031/http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/m0bnn/Page6.htm |archive-date=13 November 2007 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref> and in 1865 new lenses (a pair of [[Fresnel lens#Lighthouse lens sizes|fourth-order]] fixed [[Fresnel lens|optics]]) were designed and manufactured for the two towers by [[James Timmins Chance|James Chance]].<ref name="Chance 1902">{{cite book |last1=Chance |first1=James Frederick |title=The Lighthouse Work of Sir James Chance, Baronet |date=1902 |publisher=Smith, Elder & co. |location=London |page=166 |url=https://uslhs.org/sites/default/files/attached-files/The%20Lighthouse%20Work%20of%20Sir%20James%20T.%20Chance.pdf |access-date=24 February 2019}}</ref> 
The upper lighthouse, consisting of an octagonal brick tower, last shone on 14 May 1886 and is now part of a private residence in Valentia Road.<ref name="Hoylake Lighthouse" /> 
The building was given Grade II [[Listed building#England and Wales|listed status]] in 1988.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1259767|desc=Lighthouse and adjoining keepers house|access-date=17 August 2020}}</ref>
The lower lighthouse, closer to the shore in Alderley Road, was deactivated in 1908<ref>
{{cite web|url=http://www.lighthousedepot.com/database/uniquelighthouse.cfm?value=6261|title=Hoylake Low Light|publisher=lighthousedepot.com|access-date=23 December 2007}}</ref> and demolished in 1922.

===Former landmarks===
The Royal Hotel was built by Sir John Stanley in 1792, with the intention of developing the area as a holiday resort. The numerous [[steam packet]] vessels [[sailing]] between Liverpool and [[North Wales]] which called at the hotel provided valuable patronage. By the mid-19th century a [[racecourse]] was laid out in the grounds of the hotel. The hotel building was demolished in the 1950s.<ref name="Hoylake RFC History">{{cite web|url=http://www.hoylake-rfc.com/historypage1.htm|publisher=Hoylake RFC|title=Hoylake RFC History|access-date=8 May 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927104600/http://www.hoylake-rfc.com/historypage1.htm|archive-date=27 September 2007|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Hoylake's [[Lido (swimming pool)|lido]], located on the [[promenade]], was opened in June 1913 and rebuilt in the late 1920s. In 1976, the Hoylake Pool and Community Trust took over the running of the facility from Wirral Borough Council.<ref name="Hoylake History" />
The baths finally closed in 1981.<ref name=BBC20061019 >{{cite news |title=Hoylake Amateur Swimming Club has uncovered archive film of the town's outdoor Lido as part of its 75th anniversary celebrations. |date=19 Oct 2006 |newspaper=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool/content/articles/2006/10/19/hoylake_archive_swimming_feature.shtml}}</ref>

==Geography==
Hoylake is at the north-western corner of the Wirral Peninsula, and is situated on the eastern side of the mouth of the [[Dee Estuary]] and adjacent to the [[Irish Sea]]. Hoylake is approximately {{convert|11|km|mi|abbr=on}} west-south-west of the [[River Mersey]] at [[New Brighton, Merseyside|New Brighton]]. The centre of Hoylake is situated at an elevation of about {{convert|9|m|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.osola.org.uk/elevations/|title=SRTM & Ordnance Survey Elevation Data in PHP|access-date=1 November 2016|archive-date=27 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627005017/http://www.osola.org.uk/elevations/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

To the west of the town at Hilbre Point is [[Red Rocks (SSSI)|Red Rocks]], a designated [[Site of Special Scientific Interest]]. The area is an exposed [[sandstone]] outcrop consisting of [[sand dunes]], [[brackish marsh]] and [[reed beds]].<ref>{{cite web |title=1:50000 geology series, England and Wales sheet 96, Liverpool, Bedrock and Superficial deposits |url=http://www.largeimages.bgs.ac.uk/iip/mapsportal.html?id=1001584 |website=Maps Portal |publisher=British Geological Survey |access-date=23 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cheshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/nature-reserves/red-rocks-marsh |title=Red Rocks Marsh|publisher=Cheshire Wildlife Trust|access-date=23 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deeestuary.co.uk/nwirral.htm#hoylake |title=Hoylake and Red Rocks|first=Richard|last=Smith|work=Dee Estuary Birding|access-date=23 September 2020}}</ref>

{{Geographic location|width=auto
|title = '''Neighbouring places'''
|Northwest = [[Liverpool Bay]] (''[[Irish Sea]]'')
|North = [[Liverpool Bay]] (''[[Irish Sea]]'')
|Northeast = [[Hightown, Merseyside|Hightown]] (''across [[Liverpool Bay]]'')
|West = [[Hilbre Islands]] (''across [[Dee Estuary]]'')
|Centre = Hoylake
|East = [[Meols]]
|Southwest = [[Hilbre Islands]] (''across [[Dee Estuary]]'')
|South = [[West Kirby]]
|Southeast = [[Larton]] and [[Newton, Merseyside|Newton]]
}}

==Governance==
There is one main tier of local government covering Hoylake, at [[metropolitan borough]] level: [[Wirral Council]]. The council is a member of the [[Liverpool City Region Combined Authority]], which is led by the directly-elected [[Mayor of the Liverpool City Region]]. The town forms part of the [[Hoylake and Meols (ward)|Hoylake and Meols ward]] for elections to Wirral Council.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://democracy.wirral.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=WARD&VW=LIST&PIC=0 |title=Your Councillors by Ward|publisher=Wirral Borough Council|access-date=17 August 2020}}</ref>

For national elections, Hoylake is within the parliamentary constituency of [[Wirral West (UK Parliament constituency)|Wirral West]]. The current Member of Parliament is [[Matthew Patrick (British politician)|Matthew Patrick]], of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]].

===Administrative history===
Hoylake grew up straddling the [[Township (England)|townships]] of Hoose and Little Meols, which both formed part of the [[ancient parish]] of [[West Kirby]] in the [[Wirral Hundred]] of Cheshire.<ref>{{cite web |title=West Kirby Ancient Parish / Civil Parish |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10114482 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=19 February 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Book of Reference to the Plan of the Parish of West Kirby |date=1873 |publisher=Ordnance Survey |location=London |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Book_of_Reference_to_the_Plan_of_the_Par/hNMHAAAAQAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=RA1-PP41&printsec=frontcover |access-date=19 February 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Cheshire Sheet XII |url=https://maps.nls.uk/view/102340987 |website=National Library of Scotland |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=19 February 2025 |date=1881}}</ref> From the 17th century onwards, parishes were gradually given various civil functions under the [[poor laws]], in addition to their original ecclesiastical functions. In some cases, including West Kirby, the civil functions were exercised by each township separately rather than the parish as a whole. In 1866, the legal definition of 'parish' was changed to be the areas used for administering the poor laws, and so Hoose and Little Meols also became [[civil parish]]es.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Youngs |first1=Frederic |title=Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England: Volume II, Northern England |date=1991 |publisher=Royal Historical Society |location=London |isbn=0861931270 |page=xv}}</ref>

The population of the Hoose township or civil parish was recorded as 60 in 1801, 589 in 1851, and 1,658 in 1891.<ref name=GENUKIHoose/><ref>{{cite web |title=Hoose Township / Civil Parish |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10207680/cube/TOT_POP |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=19 February 2025}}</ref>

A [[Local Government Act 1858|local government district]] was created in 1891, covering the townships or civil parishes of [[Meols|Great Meols]], Hoose, Little Meols, West Kirby and part of [[Grange, Merseyside|Grange]]. There was a dispute about whether the district's name should be 'Hoylake and West Kirby' or 'West Kirby and Hoylake'; the county council chose the latter.<ref>{{cite news |title=What people are saying |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0003040%2F18891109&page=5 |access-date=19 February 2025 |work=Birkenhead News |date=9 November 1889 |page=5}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Annual Report of the Local Government Board |date=1891 |pages=449, 451 |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Annual_Report_of_the_Local_Government_Bo/PhUwAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA449&printsec=frontcover&dq=Hoylake |access-date=19 February 2025}}</ref>

[[File:Former council offices, Hoylake (geograph 6737726).jpg|thumb|left|[[Hoylake Town Hall]]]]
Such districts were reconstituted as [[Urban district (England and Wales)|urban districts]] under the [[Local Government Act 1894]]. At the same time, the civil parishes within the district were united into a single civil parish called Hoylake-cum-West Kirby.<ref>{{cite book |title=Annual Report of the Local Government Board |date=1895 |page=238 |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Annual_Report_of_the_Local_Government_Bo/gFIwAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA238&printsec=frontcover |access-date=19 February 2025}}</ref><ref name=GENUKIHoose>{{cite web|url=https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/CHS/hoose |title=Hoose (Hoylake)|publisher=GENUKI UK & Ireland Genealogy|access-date=17 August 2020}}</ref> Although the order creating the district in 1891 had put the name West Kirby first, the council took to calling the district Hoylake and West Kirby. To resolve the ambiguity, the government formally confirmed the district's name as being Hoylake and West Kirby in 1897.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hoylake and West Kirby Improvement Act 1897 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Vict/60-61/101/pdfs/ukla_18970101_en.pdf |website=legislation.gov.uk |publisher=The National Archives |access-date=19 February 2025}}</ref> The council chose to base itself in Hoylake, building [[Hoylake Town Hall]] on Market Street in 1898.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mersey town hall transformation reveals historic features |url=https://lbndaily.co.uk/mersey-town-hall-transformation-reveals-historic-features/ |access-date=26 March 2024 |work=Liverpool Business News |date=13 July 2020}}</ref>

The urban district was enlarged in 1933 to take in the civil parishes of [[Caldy]], [[Frankby]], Grange,{{efn|Grange was enlarged at the same time to take in the western parts of the abolished parish of [[Saughall Massie]], not including the village.<ref>{{cite web |title=Saughall Massie Township / Civil Parish |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10065458#tab02 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=19 February 2025}}</ref>}} and [[Greasby]]. The urban district was renamed Hoylake at the same time.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hoylake Urban District |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10186833#tab02 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=19 February 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Cheshire: Diagram showing administrative boundaries |url=https://maps.nls.uk/view/241241767 |website=National Library of Scotland |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=19 February 2025 |date=1971}}</ref> The urban district council was granted a [[coat of arms]] in 1960, which featured two golf clubs, representing the Royal Liverpool Golf Club.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hoylake Urban District Council |url=http://www.civicheraldry.co.uk/cheshire_pre74.html#hoylake%20udc |website=Civic Heraldry |access-date=19 February 2025}}</ref>

Hoylake Urban District was abolished in 1974 under the [[Local Government Act 1972]]. The area became part of the [[Metropolitan Borough of Wirral]] in the new county of [[Merseyside]].<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government Act 1972|year=1972|chapter=70|schedule=1|access-date=15 January 2025}}</ref>

==Community==
[[File:Paradecentre2.jpg|thumb|left|[[Hoylake Parade community centre|Hoylake Community Centre]]]]
Hoylake is a largely residential area and there is an active nightlife in the town centre, which is located at the original village of Hoose.<ref name="Merseyside Views: Hoylake" />

The town supports a permanent [[Lifeboat (rescue)|lifeboat]] station, manned by the [[RNLI]]. Initially founded in 1803 by the [[Mersey Docks and Harbour Board]], it is one of the oldest in the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hoylakelifeboat.org.uk/history.htm |title=History |publisher=Hoylake Lifeboat website |access-date=23 December 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080305232649/http://www.hoylakelifeboat.org.uk/history.htm |archive-date=5 March 2008 |df=dmy }}</ref> 
In 2008, the RNLI began to raise £2 million for a new lifeboat station and new generation all-weather lifeboat, to facilitate a faster response time to emergencies and rescues in the Irish Sea and the rivers Dee and Mersey. The building was opened in November 2009.<ref>
{{cite web|url=https://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/8841553.former-hoylake-lifeboat-station-to-become-museum/ |title=Former Hoylake lifeboat station to become museum|publisher=Wirral Globe|date=9 February 2011|access-date=30 July 2020}}</ref>

The Kings Gap [[Conservation area (United Kingdom)|conservation area]] has been designated by Wirral Borough Council. Bounded by the coastline and the Royal Liverpool Golf Club, it consists of large nineteenth and early twentieth century houses, Hoylake Lighthouse and [[St Hildeburgh's Church, Hoylake|St Hildeburgh's Church]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wirral.gov.uk/planning-and-building/built-conservation/conservation-areas/kings-gap-conservation-area |title=Kings Gap conservation area|publisher=Wirral Borough Council|access-date=17 August 2020}}</ref>

==Education==
Hoylake includes the independent [[Kingsmead School, Hoylake|Kingsmead School]], which educates girls and boys from 2 to 16 years old. Hoylake Holy Trinity C of E Primary School is the town's main primary school, educating children from the ages of 3 to 11.

==Media==
Local news and television programmes are provided by [[BBC North West]] and [[ITV Granada]], the local television station [[TalkLiverpool]] also broadcasts to the area. Television signals are received from the [[Winter Hill transmitting station|Winter Hill]] TV transmitter.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Winter_Hill |title=Full Freeview on the Winter Hill (Bolton, England) transmitter|publisher=UK Free TV |access-date=1 January 2024}}</ref> With its close proximity with [[North Wales]], [[BBC Wales]] and [[ITV Cymru Wales]] can also be received from the [[Moel-y-Parc transmitting station|Moel-y-Parc]] TV transmitter.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Moel_Y_Parc |title=Full Freeview on the Moel-Y-Parc (Flintshire, Wales) transmitter|publisher=UK Free TV |access-date=1 January 2024}}</ref>

Local radio stations are [[BBC Radio Merseyside]], [[Heart North West]], [[Capital North West & Wales]], [[Smooth North West]], [[Greatest Hits Radio Liverpool & The North West]] and Wirral Wave Radio, a community based station.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://wirralwave.co.uk/ |title=Wirral Wave Radio |access-date=1 January 2024}}</ref>

The town is served by the local newspapers, ''Wirral Globe'' <ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.britishpapers.co.uk/england-nw/wirral-globe/|title=Wirral Globe|date=17 October 2013|website=British Papers|accessdate=1 January 2024}}</ref> and ''[[Liverpool Echo]]''.

==Sport==
===Golf===
[[File:Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake (1).jpg|thumb|left|The Royal Liverpool Golf Club]]
Hoylake is the home of the [[Royal Liverpool Golf Club]], built in 1869 on the site of the Royal Hotel racecourse.<ref name="Merseyside Views: Hoylake" /> It is the second oldest golf links in England, predated only by the [[Royal North Devon Golf Club]], in [[Westward Ho!]], [[Devon]].<ref name=A-Hoylake!>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/golf/5181708.stm|title=A-Hoylake!|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=15 April 2008 | date=17 July 2006}}</ref> 
It has hosted many major tournaments such as [[the Open Championship]] and the [[Walker Cup]]. The club is often referred to as "Hoylake". It hosted the Open again in July 2006, after a gap of almost 40 years, with [[Tiger Woods]] earning the [[Claret Jug]] for the second year in a row. The [[2014 Open Championship]] is the 12th time the event was held at Hoylake. This was won by [[Rory McIlroy]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Previous Opens - 143rd Open Royal Liverpool 2014 - The Open |url=https://www.theopen.com/previous-opens/143rd-open-royal-liverpool-2014 |access-date=2023-08-03 |website=www.theopen.com}}</ref> The [[2023 Open Championship]] is the most recent event to be held in Hoylake marking the 13th time it has returned to the town.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The 151st Open at Royal Liverpool |url=https://www.theopen.com/royal-liverpool-151st-open |access-date=2023-08-03 |website=The Open |language=en}}</ref> This was won by [[Brian Harman]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-23 |title=American Harman wins first major at The Open |url=https://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/38058950/american-brian-harman-wins-first-major-open |access-date=2023-08-03 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref>

Hoylake-born amateur golfer [[John Ball (golfer)|John Ball Jnr.]] won the Open in 1890, becoming the first Englishman to do so. Another local amateur, [[Harold Hilton]] became Open champion two years later. He won again in 1897 at his home club of Royal Liverpool.

On the other side of Meols Drive and the railway is Hoylake Municipal Golf course which is used by Hoylake Golf Club (since 1933), West Hoyle GC and Irby GC. It was used as the [[2006 Open Championship]] practice course.

===Rugby Union===
[[Hoylake RFC]] [[Rugby football|rugby]] club was founded in 1922. They currently play in [[Lancs/Cheshire Division Two|Counties 3 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire]] league, the [[English rugby union system|ninth tier]] of English rugby.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Diamond |first1=Sam |title=100 Club Spotlight - Hoylake RUFC |url=https://www.salesharks.com/2023/05/18/100-club-spotlight-hoylake-rfc/ |website=Sale Sharks |access-date=24 October 2025 |date=18 May 2023}}</ref> Its predecessor, connected with the Royal Liverpool Golf Club, had been founded in the 1890s. British Open golf champion Harold Hilton was also captain of the rugby team for the 1890–91 season.<ref name="Hoylake RFC History" />

===Swimming===
Hoylake ASC was founded in 1931. The club now trains at the [[West Kirby]] Concourse and the Calday Grange Swimming Pool.

===Sailing===
[[File:Hoylake Sailing Club - geograph.org.uk - 1502495.jpg|thumb|right|The sailing club on North Parade]]
Hoylake Sailing Club was founded in 1887 and has a clubhouse and boatyard on North Parade. The club hosts an annual regatta and sends a team to the [[Southport 24 Hour Race]].

===Sand yachting===
Hoylake is one of the premier sites for [[Land sailing|sand yachting]] in Britain,<ref name="A-Hoylake!"/> with banks around a quarter of a mile offshore. The town's beach was the venue for the European Sand Yacht Championships in 2007, 2011, 2017 (with Laytown & Bettystown, County Meath) and 2025.<ref>
{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/merseyside/6997449.stm|title=Sand yacht championships to start|work=BBC News|date=16 September 2007|access-date=23 December 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Events|url=http://www.britishlandsailing.org.uk/events.html|website=British Landsailing - BFSLYC|access-date=29 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Heather |first1=Nick |title=Hoylake to host the European Sand Yacht Championships 2025 |url=https://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/290331/Sand-Yacht-Europeans-at-Hoylake-Preview |website=www.yachtsandyachting.com |access-date=25 October 2025}}</ref>

===Cricket===
[[Cricket]] was played at the now disused [[Ellerman Lines Cricket Ground]] from as early as the 1920s, when the then newly formed West Wirral Cricket Club played at the ground. It was later sold to [[Ellerman Lines]], who transformed the site into their social club. [[Cheshire County Cricket Club|Cheshire]] played [[Minor counties of English and Welsh cricket|minor counties]] cricket there from 1957 to 1968. The ground also held Cheshire's first ever appearance in [[List A cricket]] against [[Surrey County Cricket Club|Surrey]] in the first round of the [[1964 Gillette Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/538.html|title=Ground profile: Ellerman Lines Cricket Ground, Hoylake|publisher=CricketArchive|access-date=12 July 2012}}</ref>

The ground was later sold, with the site becoming a nightclub, before being demolished following a fire. In 2011 the site of the ground was selected for construction of 62 affordable homes.<ref>
{{cite web|url=http://www.wirral.gov.uk/planning/Docs/DMZfiles/8992_21.pdf|title=Supporting Planning Statement: Former Ellerman Lines Social Club, Carr Lane, Hoylake|date=October 2011|publisher=www.wirral.gov.uk|access-date=12 July 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810030908/http://www.wirral.gov.uk/planning/Docs/DMZfiles/8992_21.pdf|archive-date=10 August 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Planning permission for this, and a revised plan for 26 properties, were refused. In 2020 a further planning proposal was submitted for 30 semi-detached bungalows and up to 61 assisted living retirement apartments.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://westkirby.todaynews.co.uk/2020/10/19/news/new-bid-to-build-on-site-of-former-social-club-in-hoylake/ |title=New bid to build on site of former social club in Hoylake|publisher=Today News|date=19 October 2020|access-date=4 April 2021}}</ref>

==Transport==
[[Hoylake railway station|Hoylake]] and [[Manor Road railway station|Manor Road]] railway stations serve the town. Both are on the [[West Kirby railway station|West Kirby]] branch of [[Merseyrail|Merseyrail's]] [[Wirral line]].

==Notable people==
*Joshua Armitage, pen-name "Ionicus" (1913–1998), the "Punch" artist and designer of covers for Penguin's editions of [[P.G. Wodehouse]]. He was born in Hoylake, where he lived and worked all his life.
*[[Julian Budden]], Italian opera scholar and BBC radio producer (1924–2007), born in Hoylake
*The former [[Olympic Games]] cyclist [[Chris Boardman]] (1968–), born in Hoylake
*Author [[Jane Campbell (writer)]] (1942–), born in Hoylake
*[[James Bond]] actor [[Daniel Craig]] (1968–), grew up in Hoylake<ref>
{{cite web|url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/daniel-craig-spy-who-loves-3470115 |title=Daniel Craig: The spy who loves Hoylake|publisher=Liverpool Echo|date=20 October 2008|access-date=30 July 2020}}</ref>
*[[Lieutenant Colonel]] [[Jack Armand Cunningham]] (1890–1966), the World War I [[flying ace]]. He retired to Hoylake and eventually died there.
*Author [[Helen Forrester]] (1919–2011), born in the town<ref>
{{cite web|url=http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/f/helen-forrester/ |title=Helen Forrester|publisher=Fantastic Fiction|access-date=29 August 2007}}</ref>
*Pianist [[Stephen Coombs]] (1960–), grew up in Hoylake
*The former actress and [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] MP [[Glenda Jackson]] (1936–2023), grew up in Hoylake
*[[John Lennon]]'s first wife [[Cynthia Powell|Cynthia]] (1939–2015). She grew up in Hoylake and returned there after their divorce in 1968. Their son [[Julian Lennon|Julian]] (1963–) spent much of his early life in Hoylake.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lennon.net/lennons/julian_lennon.shtml |title=Julian Lennon Biography |publisher=lennon.net |access-date=1 May 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070509215424/http://www.lennon.net/lennons/julian_lennon.shtml |archive-date=9 May 2007 |df=dmy }}</ref>
*[[Eric Morecambe]], comedian. He won a local amateur talent contest, held at Hoylake's Kingsway Cinema in 1940.<ref>
{{cite book|title=Morecambe & Wise - Behind The Sunshine |last1=Morecambe|last2=Sterling|first1=Gary|first2=Martin|page=19|publisher=Robson Books|year=2001|isbn=1-86105-462-9}}</ref>
*[[Mike Rutherford]] (1950–) of [[Genesis (band)|Genesis]]. He was a boarder at the Leas School, formerly on Meols Drive.
*[[Curtis Warren]] (1963–), Merseyside gangster, formerly featured in the [[Sunday Times Rich List]]. He owned a house on Meols Drive.
*[[Cliff Williams]] (1949–), bassist of [[AC/DC]], grew up in Hoylake.
*Indie rock bands [[The Rascals (English band)|The Rascals]] and [[The Little Flames]]. They are from Hoylake.
*[[James Skelly]], Ian Skelly, [[Bill Ryder-Jones]], Nick Power, Lee Southall, Paul Duffy and John Duffy, from the band [[The Coral]]. They were also brought up there.

==See also==
*[[Listed buildings in Hoylake]]
*[[Hoylake Holy Trinity C of E Primary school|Hoylake Holy Trinity C of E Primary School]]
*[[Hoylake Holy Trinity Church]]
*[[Hoylake Parade community centre|Hoylake Parade Community Centre]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book|title=Hoylake and West Kirby: Official Guide|author=Anon.|publisher=Burrow|date=1951|asin=B0000CJ89L|asin-tld=co.uk|oclc=810774865}}
*{{cite book|title=Yesterday's Wirral: West Kirby and Hoylake|first1=Ian|last1=Boumphrey|first2=Marilyn|last2=Boumphrey|publisher=Ian & Marilyn Boumphrey|date=1984|isbn=9780950725529|oclc=655410017}}
*{{cite book|title=The Antiquities found at Hoylake in Cheshire|first=Abraham|last=Hume|location=London|date=1847|asin=B0014I23CK|asin-tld=co.uk|oclc=47290451}}
*{{cite book|title=The History of the Hundred of Wirral|first=William Williams|last=Mortimer|year=1847|publisher=Whittaker & Co.|location=London|url=https://archive.org/stream/historyhundredw01mortgoog#page/n316/mode/2up|id=pp276-278}}
*{{cite book|title=West Kirby to Hoylake|first=Jim|last=O'Neill|publisher=Nonsuch Publishing|date=2006|isbn=9781845883317|oclc=33046870}}
*{{cite book|title=Hoylake Then & Now|first=Jim|last=O'Neill|publisher=The History Press|date=2012|isbn=9780752467931|oclc=766318454}}
*{{cite book|title=Victorian Hoylake: Recollections of Hoylake, 1865-1915|first=Charles|last=Roberts|publisher=Ceejay Publishing|date=1986|isbn=9780948805004|oclc=15658615}}
*{{cite book|title=Hoylake and Meols Past|first=Stephen|last=Roberts|publisher=Phillimore & Co Ltd.|date=1992|isbn=9780850338270|oclc=30029021}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Hoylake}}
*[http://www.hoylakelifeboat.org.uk/ Hoylake Lifeboat] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124034838/http://www.hoylakelifeboat.org.uk/ |date=24 January 2016 }}
*[http://www.hoylakevision.org.uk/ Hoylake Vision Community Planning Forum]

{{Merseyside}}
{{Populated Places in Wirral Borough}}
{{Lighthouses in England}}

{{Authority control | additional=Q26550860}}

[[Category:Hoylake| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Merseyside]]
[[Category:Towns and villages in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral]]
[[Category:Seaside resorts in England]]
[[Category:Beaches of Merseyside]]
[[Category:Unparished areas in Merseyside]]
[[Category:Former civil parishes in Merseyside|Hoose]]