View source for Wallasey

{{short description|Town in Merseyside, England}}
{{distinguish|Wallasea Island}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country                  = England
| official_name            = Wallasey
| type                     = Town
| coordinates              = {{coord|53|25|26|N|3|03|11|W|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| population               = 85,610
| population_ref           = (Built up area, 2021)<ref name="2021 Census">{{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 = [[Wallasey (UK Parliament constituency)|Wallasey]]
| post_town                = WALLASEY
| postcode_district        = CH44, CH45
| postcode_area            = CH
| dial_code                = 0151
| os_grid_reference        = SJ293923
| static_image_name        = Wallasey Town Hall.jpg
| static_image_caption     = [[Wallasey Town Hall]]
| london_distance          = {{convert|180|mi|km|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boulter.com/gps/distance/?from=53.423+-3.065&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 -->
'''Wallasey''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|w|ɒ|l|ə|s|i}}) is a town in the [[Metropolitan Borough of Wirral]], [[Merseyside]], England. It is at the mouth of the [[River Mersey]], on the north-eastern corner of the [[Wirral Peninsula]]. It lies within the [[Historic counties of England|historic county boundaries]] of [[Cheshire]], and became part of Merseyside in 1974. At the [[2021 United Kingdom census|2021 Census]], the built up area as defined by the [[Office for National Statistics]] had a population of 85,610.

==History==

===Toponymy===
The name of Wallasey originates from the [[Old English]] word ''Walh'', meaning a Briton, a Welshman, which is also the origin of the name [[Wales]]. The suffix ''-ey'' denotes an island or area of dry land. Originally the higher ground now occupied by Wallasey was separated from the rest of Wirral by the creek known as [[Wallasey Pool]] (which later became the docks), the marshy areas of [[Bidston|Bidston Moss]] and [[Leasowe]], and sand dunes along the coast.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/map/place/Cheshire/Wallasey|title=Key to English Place-names|first=University of Nottingham - Institute of Name Studies School of|last=English|website=kepn.nottingham.ac.uk}}</ref>

===Early history===
[[File:Wallasey, Wirral, Merseyside, England-14Sept2013.jpg|right|thumb|View from the top of St Hilary's Church Tower looking down Claremount Road]]
The area was sparsely populated before the 19th century and [[horse race]]s organised for the [[Earls of Derby]] on the sands at Leasowe in the 16th and 17th centuries are regarded as forerunners of the modern [[Epsom Derby|Derby]].<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.visitliverpool.com/site/welcome-to-liverpool/sport-in-liverpool/horse-racing |title=Horse racing|publisher=VisitLiverpool.com|access-date=2 August 2009}}</ref>

Old maps show that the main centre and parish church ([[St Hilary's Church, Wallasey|St Hilary's]]) were located at what is now called [[Wallasey Village]], and there were smaller hamlets at [[Liscard]], [[Poulton, Merseyside|Poulton]] and [[Seacombe]], from where there were occasional [[Mersey Ferry|ferries across the Mersey]]. There was also a mill (at Mill Lane), and from the mid-18th century a [[gunpowder]] store or [[magazine (artillery)|magazine]] at Rock Point, located well away from the built-up areas. {{Citation needed|date=March 2015}}
[[File:St Hilary's Church, Wallasey.jpg|thumb|St Hilary's Church]]

The main activities in the area were farming and fishing. The area also had a reputation for [[smuggling]] and “[[wrecking (shipwreck)|wrecking]]”,<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.smuggling.co.uk/gazetteer_wales_14.html |title=Northwest England|publisher=Smugglers' Britain|access-date=2 August 2009}}</ref> the act of luring ships onto rocks or sandbanks with false lights in order to raid their cargo. Underground cellars and tunnels, which were used to hide cargo pilfered from wrecked ships still exist in the town.<ref>{{cite book|title=Wirral Smugglers, Wreckers and Pirates|last=Chappell|first=Gavin|publisher=Countyvise|year=2009|isbn=978-1-906823-20-7}}</ref> As late as 1839, the “Pennsylvania” and two other ships were wrecked off Leasowe in a severe storm, and their cargoes and furnishings were later found distributed among local residents.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.mikekemble.com/mside/wallasey1.html|title=The Wallasey Wreckers and the USS Pennsylvania|first=Mike|last=Kemble|access-date=2 August 2009|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090722165224/http://www.mikekemble.com/mside/wallasey1.html|archive-date=22 July 2009|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

===Early 19th-century development===
By the early 19th century, the shoreline between Seacombe and Rock Point started to become an attractive area to which affluent [[Liverpool]] merchants and [[sea captain]]s could retire. {{Citation needed|date=June 2014}} Development at [[Egremont, Merseyside|Egremont]] began around this time, and gained pace with the introduction of steam ferries across the river. The area also had a defensive role overlooking the growing [[Port of Liverpool]]. In 1829, [[Fort Perch Rock]] was built, and in 1858 [[Liscard Battery]].

In 1835 Liscard Hall was built by another merchant, [[Sir John Tobin]]. Its grounds later became Central Park. His family also developed a “model farm” nearby.
[[File:East Float Dock, Wallasey - geograph.org.uk - 335724.jpg|thumb|left|[[Great Float|East Float Dock]]]]
With the expansion of trade on the Mersey, new docks were constructed between 1842 and 1847 in the Wallasey Pool, and by 1877 the dock system between Wallasey and neighbouring [[Birkenhead]] was largely complete. The area around the docks became a centre for [[engineering]] industries, many associated with [[shipbuilding]], and other activities including [[sugar]] refining and the manufacture of [[cement]] and [[fertilisers]]. [[Bidston Dock]], the last in the area, was opened in 1933, but was filled in during 2003.<ref name=MerseysideViews>{{citation|url=http://www.merseysideviews.com/Merseyside%20Docks/Birkenhead/pages/Bir%20Dks%20018.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061023150538/http://www.merseysideviews.com/Merseyside%20Docks/Birkenhead/pages/Bir%20Dks%20018.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=23 October 2006|title=Birkenhead Docks (photo18)|publisher=Merseyside Views|access-date=3 February 2009}}</ref>

===Later growth and the 20th century===
During the latter half of the 19th century New Brighton developed as a popular seaside resort serving [[Liverpool]] and the [[Lancashire]] industrial towns, and many of the large houses were converted to inexpensive hotels. A pier was opened in the 1860s, and the promenade from Seacombe to New Brighton was built in the 1890s. {{Citation needed|date=August 2014}} This served both as a recreational amenity in its own right and to link up the developments along the estuary, and was later extended westwards towards Leasowe. The [[New Brighton Tower]], the tallest in the country, was opened in 1900 but closed in 1919 and dismantled shortly afterwards. However, its ballroom continued as a major venue, hosting numerous concerts in the 1950s and 1960s by local Liverpool bands as well as other international stars. {{Citation needed|date=March 2015}}

After 1886, with the opening of the [[Mersey Railway]] allowing access via a tunnel to Liverpool, the pace of housing development increased, particularly in the Liscard and Wallasey Village areas. {{Citation needed|date=March 2015}} The area now called Wallasey comprises several distinct districts which gradually merged to form a single built-up area during the 19th and early-20th centuries. {{citation needed|date=March 2015}} Further growth continued well into the 20th century and eventually spread into the Leasowe area and beyond to [[Moreton, Merseyside|Moreton]].

The UK's first [[guide dog]] training school, [[the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association]], was founded in the town in 1931.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/guide-dogs-week-wirral-pioneer-10199681|title = Guide Dogs Week - the Wirral pioneer who founded a life-changing organisation|date = 5 October 2015}}</ref> A statue sits outside the [[Floral Pavilion Theatre]] to celebrate this.

The Wallasey Golf Club is where club member, Dr Frank Stableford, developed the [[Stableford]] system of points scoring. This was first used in competition in 1932.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wallaseygolfclub.com/stableford.html |title=Dr Frank Stableford |publisher=Wallasey Golf Club |access-date=21 July 2009}}</ref>

Because of its docks and proximity to Liverpool, parts of the area suffered aerial bombing in 1940–41. After the [[Second World War]], the popularity of New Brighton as a seaside resort declined dramatically, as did the use of the docks, and Wallasey gradually became more obviously a residential suburb for [[Liverpool]], [[Birkenhead]], and the other towns in the area.

[[The Beatles]] played some of their first shows outside Liverpool at the Grosvenor Ballroom in Liscard in 1960, and over the next few years also played several times at the Tower Ballroom in New Brighton. {{citation needed|date=March 2015}} On 12 October 1962, they played there as the support act for [[Little Richard]]. Wallasey was also the home base of two other leading [[Beat music|Merseybeat]] groups, [[The Undertakers (band)|the Undertakers]] featuring [[Jackie Lomax]], and the [[Derry and the Seniors|Pressmen]] featuring Ritchie Prescott and [[Phil Kenzie]] who later became a successful saxophone soloist.

The world's first passenger [[hovercraft]] service operated from July 1962 to September 1962 between Leasowe and [[Rhyl]] in [[North Wales]]. Local MP [[Ernest Marples]] was responsible as [[Minister of Transport]] (1959–64) for introducing [[parking meter]]s, yellow lines, and seat belt controls to the UK.

The "Solar Campus" on [[Leasowe]] Road was the first building in the world to be heated entirely by [[solar heating|solar energy]]. It was formerly St George's Secondary School, and was completed in 1961 to the designs of Emslie Morgan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://c20society.org.uk/building-of-the-month/the-solar-campus-former-st-georges-school-wallasey-merseyside|title=Building of the month {{!}} April 2023 - The ‘Solar Campus’, former St George’s School, Wallasey, Merseyside|website=[[The Twentieth Century Society]]|access-date=2024-09-22}}</ref> The solar panels on this establishment have since been removed due to high costs and has been renamed.

Wallasey was struck by [[1981 United Kingdom tornado outbreak|an F1/T3 tornado]] on 23 November 1981, as part of the record-breaking nationwide tornado outbreak on that day.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.eswd.eu/cgi-bin/eswd.cgi|title = European Severe Weather Database}}</ref>

==Governance==
There is one main tier of local government covering Wallasey, 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]]. Wallasey gives its name to the [[Wallasey (UK Parliament constituency)|Wallasey constituency]], which has been held since the [[1992 United Kingdom general election|1992 general election]] by [[Angela Eagle]] of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Election Maps |url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/ |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref>

===Administrative history===
[[File:St Hilary's Church - panoramio.jpg|thumb|[[St Hilary's Church, Wallasey|St Hilary's Church]]: Surviving tower from earlier building destroyed in fire in 1857 and the new church built to replace it]]
Wallasey was an [[ancient parish]] in the [[Wirral Hundred]] of Cheshire. The parish was subdivided into three [[Township (England)|townships]]: [[Liscard]], [[Poulton-cum-Seacombe]], and a Wallasey township covering the area around [[Wallasey Village]] and stretching westwards along the north coast of the peninsula as far as [[Leasowe Castle]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Book of Reference to the Plan of the Parish of Wallasey |date=1976 |publisher=Ordnance Survey |location=London |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Book_of_Reference_to_the_Plan_of_the_Par/39QHAAAAQAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=RA8-PP13&printsec=frontcover |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Cheshire Sheet VII |url=https://maps.nls.uk/view/102340972 |website=National Library of Scotland |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=2 March 2025 |date=1882}}</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 Wallasey, 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 the townships 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>

To better administer the area in light of development in the early 19th century, including at [[New Brighton, Merseyside|New Brighton]] in the Liscard township, a body of [[improvement commissioners]] was established in 1845. Their district covered all of the Liscard and Poulton-cum-Seacombe townships and most of the Wallasey township, excluding only the westernmost part of the latter township around Leasowe Castle.<ref>{{cite book |title=Wallasey Improvement Act |date=1845 |pages=31–32 |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Local_and_Personal_Laws/EnEwAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA949&printsec=frontcover |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref> The commissioners' district was converted into a [[Local board of health|local board district]] in 1853, administered instead by an elected local board. The district was extended in 1877 to include the remaining part of the Wallasey township, and thereafter matched the ancient parish. Such districts were converted into [[Urban district (England and Wales)|urban districts]] under the [[Local Government Act 1894]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Local Government Board's Provisional Orders Confirmation (Caistor Union &c.) Act 1877 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Vict/40-41/227/pdfs/ukla_18770227_en.pdf |website=legislation.gov.uk |publisher=The National Archives |access-date=2 March 2025 |page=35}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Kelly's Directory of Cheshire |date=1896 |page=537 |url=https://specialcollections.le.ac.uk/digital/collection/p16445coll4/id/60183/rec/1 |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref>

[[File:County Borough of Wallasey, Cheshire (1970).svg|thumb|right|210px|Wallasey CB within Cheshire in 1970]]
Wallasey Urban District was incorporated to become a [[municipal borough]] in 1910. The three civil parishes within the borough were united into a single parish of Wallasey matching the borough in 1912. In 1913, the borough was raised to the status of a [[county borough]], taking over county-level functions from [[Cheshire County Council]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Wallasey Urban District / Municipal Borough / County Borough |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10094148 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref> Wallasey Borough Council built itself [[Wallasey Town Hall]] to serve as its headquarters; the building was officially opened in November 1920. The parish and borough boundaries were expanded in 1928 to take in [[Moreton, Merseyside|Moreton]] and in 1933 to take in [[Saughall Massie]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Wallasey Ancient Parish / Civil Parish |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10046841 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref>

The borough of Wallasey 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>

==Geography==
Wallasey is situated at the north-east of the Wirral Peninsula, on the western side of the [[River Mersey]] and adjoining the [[Irish Sea]]. The area is approximately {{convert|9.5|km|mi|abbr=on}} east-north-east of the [[Dee Estuary]] at [[Hoylake]]. Wallasey is at an elevation of between {{convert|0-50|m|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level, with the highest point being around [[St Peter and St Paul's Church, New Brighton|St Peter and St Paul's Church]] in New Brighton.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.osola.org.uk/elevations/|title=SRTM & Ordnance Survey Elevation Data in PHP|access-date=6 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>

{{Geographic location|width=auto
|title = '''Neighbouring places'''
|Northwest = [[Liverpool Bay]]<br />''([[Irish Sea]])''
|North = [[Formby]]<br />''(across [[Liverpool Bay]])''
|Northeast = [[Bootle]]<br />''(across [[River Mersey]])''
|West = [[Leasowe]]
|Centre = Wallasey
|East = [[Liverpool]]<br />''(across [[River Mersey]])''
|Southwest = [[Bidston]]
|South = [[Birkenhead]]
|Southeast = [[Liverpool]]<br />''(across [[River Mersey]])''
}}

The area now called Wallasey comprises several distinct districts - Egremont, Liscard, New Brighton, Poulton, Seacombe and Wallasey Village. These gradually merged to form a single built-up area during the 19th and early 20th centuries. {{Citation needed|date=March 2015}}

Unlike in most other towns, there is no single Wallasey town centre, although the main shopping area is centrally located at Liscard. Both the parliamentary constituency and the former County Borough of Wallasey also include (or included) [[Leasowe]], [[Moreton, Merseyside|Moreton]] and [[Saughall Massie]], which are now usually regarded as separate settlements.

The town forms part of the wider [[Birkenhead Built-up area|Birkenhead Urban Area]], which in 2011 had a population of 325,000.

=== Liscard ===
{{Main|Liscard}}

[[File:Liscard Hall, Central Park-by-Sue-Adair.jpg|right|thumb|Liscard Hall (demolished)]]
This contains the main shopping area, with the covered Cherry Tree precinct and an extensive shopping parade outside. Central Park, originally the grounds of Liscard Hall, is the largest park in the town. Much of the area is residential and contains mainly high-density semi-detached housing with some terraces. The gatehouse of the old Liscard Battery remains.

Liscard Hall was destroyed by a fire on 7 July 2008. The damage was so severe, the whole building had to be demolished.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2008/07/07/fire-wrecks-listed-house-100252-21275005/ |title=Fire wrecks listed house|publisher=[[Liverpool Echo]]|date=7 July 2008|access-date=17 July 2008}}</ref><ref>{{citation|url=http://www.historyofwallasey.co.uk/wallasey/liscard_hall/index.html|title=Liscard Hall|access-date=17 July 2008}}</ref>

=== Wallasey Village ===
{{Main|Wallasey Village}}

Wallasey Village has a mixture of mostly 20th century semi-detached and detached housing, a shopping street, with a floral roundabout in the centre. [[St Hilary's Church, Wallasey|St Hilary's Church]] is an ancient foundation; the old tower is all that remains of a 1530 church building which burned down in 1857. There are two [[railway station]]s, [[Wallasey Village railway station|Wallasey Village]] and [[Wallasey Grove Road railway station|Wallasey Grove Road]]. At the north end of Wallasey Village, the main street leads to the promenade and coastal park, and two golf courses. The promenade passes here, running from the 'Gunsite' around to Seacombe, a total of over {{convert|7|mi|0|abbr=on}}.

=== New Brighton ===
[[File:New Brighton Lighthouse 1243656.jpg|thumb|right|New Brighton Lighthouse on Perch Rock.]]{{Main|New Brighton, Merseyside}}
New Brighton was a popular seaside resort after the mid-19th century, but declined in popularity after the 1950s. Nevertheless, the marine promenade is part of a walkway and the areas near the sea offer a much improved beach and many leisure activities.{{citation needed|date=July 2019}} The Floral Pavilion plays host to regular productions and national stars such as [[Ken Dodd]], and [[Vale Park, New Brighton|Vale Park]] is a public park. Housing here ranges from large villas near the sea to suburban semi-detached homes, and some terraces in parts of the area. New Brighton is served by a [[New Brighton railway station|railway station]] of the same name.

=== Poulton ===
{{Main|Poulton, Merseyside}}

Poulton was originally a small fishing and farming hamlet beside the Wallasey Pool (hence its name). It developed with the growth of the docks, mainly as an industrial and terraced housing area.

=== Egremont ===
{{Main|Egremont, Merseyside}}

Egremont developed as an affluent residential area in the early 19th century, and was named by one Captain Askew who built a house in the area in 1835 and named it after his [[Egremont, Cumbria|Cumberland birthplace]].

=== Seacombe ===
{{Main|Seacombe}}

Seacombe, the most southeasterly section of Wallasey, is best known for its [[Mersey Ferry]] terminal, with regular ferry boat departures to [[Pier Head]] in [[Liverpool]] and [[Woodside, Merseyside|Woodside]] in Birkenhead. There is a commuter ferry service direct to Liverpool during peak hours, while for the rest of the day the ferries are geared to serving tourists with a circular cruise visiting Birkenhead Woodside ferry terminal as well. Seacombe is the last remaining of the three ferry terminals which used to connect the Borough of Wallasey, the others being Egremont Ferry and the New Brighton Ferry, which operated from its own pier, running parallel to the New Brighton pleasure pier. Seacombe Ferry is also the starting point of a {{convert|4|mi|km|0|abbr=off|spell=on|adj=on}} unbroken promenade, mostly traffic-free, running alongside the River Mersey to Harrison Drive beyond New Brighton.

Local landmarks are [[St Paul's Church, Seacombe|St Paul's Church]], standing on its own traffic island, and the ventilation tower for the [[Kingsway Tunnel]] with its huge extraction fans. As with Poulton, the area developed with housing for the dockworkers and nearby industries, and much of the housing is owned by Magenta Housing or is terraced. The Guinea Gap swimming baths are located between Seacombe and Egremont.{{citation needed|date=September 2025}}

==Education==
When compared to the national average, the schools of Wallasey slightly underperform on GCSE results. However, they are above the national average on 'A' Level results.

=== Primary schools ===

*Egremont Primary School
*Greenleas Primary School
*Kingsway Primary School
*Liscard Primary School
*Mount Primary School
*New Brighton Primary School
*Park Primary School
*Riverside Primary School
*St Albans Catholic Primary School
*St George's Primary School
*St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
*Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School
*Somerville Primary School

=== Secondary schools ===
*[[The Kingsway Academy]] (in [[Leasowe]])
*[[The Mosslands School]]
*[[The Oldershaw Academy]]
*[[St Mary's College, Wallasey|St Mary's Catholic College]]
*[[Weatherhead High School]]
*St Georges Secondary Modern School

=== Voluntary aided schools ===

*St Alban's Catholic Primary School
*St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
*Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School
*[[St Mary's College, Wallasey|St Mary's Catholic College]]

==Media==
===Television===
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=10 January 2024}}</ref> and the Storeton relay transmitter.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Storeton |title=Full Freeview on the Storeton (Wirral, England) transmitter|publisher=UK Free TV |access-date=10 January 2024}}</ref>

===Radio===
Local radio stations are [[BBC Radio Merseyside]], [[Heart North West]], [[Capital North West & Wales]], [[Smooth North West]], [[Greatest Hits Radio Liverpool & The North West]], InDemand Radio and Wirral Wave Radio, a community based station.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://wirralwave.co.uk/ |title=Wirral Wave Radio |access-date=10 January 2024}}</ref>

===Newspapers===
The town is served by the local newspaper, ''Wirral Globe'' which publishes on Wednesdays.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishpapers.co.uk/england-nw/wirral-globe/|title=Wirral Globe|date=17 October 2013|website=British Papers|accessdate=10 January 2024}}</ref> ''[[Liverpool Echo]]'' also covers the area.

== Transport ==
[[File:Wallasey Corporation Ferries.jpg|thumb|Wallasey Corporation Ferries advert]]

===Roads===
The following roads connect to Wallasey:
* The [[Kingsway Tunnel]] was opened by [[Queen Elizabeth II]] when it was completed in 1971. Its roadway route via Poulton leads to its entrance in Seacombe, which links Wallasey with the centre of [[Liverpool]].
* The [[M53 motorway]] begins in Poulton; it leads south through the centre of the Wirral Peninsula to [[Chester, England|Chester]] and into the [[M56 motorway]], which continues to [[Manchester Airport]].
* The North Wallasey Approach Road begins in Wallasey Village and ends in [[Bidston]] at junction 1 of the M53.
* Leasowe Road gives access to Leasowe and Moreton to the west, and to Wallasey Village to the east.

===Railway===
The town has three [[railway station]]s: {{rws|New Brighton}}, {{rws|Wallasey Village}} and {{rws|Wallasey Grove Road}}. [[Merseyrail]] operates electric trains to {{rws|Liverpool Central}} on the [[Wirral line]] every 15 minutes during the day; this reduces to 30 minutes in late evenings and on Sundays.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Timetables |work=Merseyrail |date=12 October 2024 |access-date=25 December 2024 |url= https://www.merseyrail.org/journey-planning/plan-your-journey/timetables/}}</ref>

===Buses===
Bus services in the area are operated primarily by [[Arriva North West]], [[Stagecoach Merseyside]] and Al's Coaches. Routes connect Wallasey with nearby towns including Birkenhead, Leasowe and Moreton; the 423 provides a regular service to [[Whitechapel, Liverpool]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wallasey bus services |website=Bustimes.org |access-date=25 December 2024 |url= https://bustimes.org/localities/wallasey}}</ref>

Until 1969, Wallasey had its own corporation bus service; from this date, the operation was taken over by [[Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive]]. The Wallasey bus service was relatively constrained within the borough boundaries and had two distinctive features. One was the unusual livery, which appeared to be two shades of yellow (officially it was ''sea green and rich cream'', but it always looked yellow and the service was generally known as the "yellow buses"). Secondly, the services mostly radiated from Seacombe Ferry terminal across the borough and bus departures coincided with the arrival of the ferry. Vehicles were lined up facing outwards from the kerb and, every 10–15 minutes, the passengers (several hundreds at peak hours) would arrive from the ferry boat. When all had boarded their respective routes, the inspector in charge would blow a whistle and there would be a [[24 Hours of Le Mans|Le Mans]]-style start with up to fifteen [[double-decker bus]]es, including racing engines, close manoeuvring and competitive gestures between the crews for the first few hundred yards until the routes gradually diverged across the borough.{{citation needed|date=September 2025}}

==Notable people==
<!-- please keep in alphabetical order and only add notable people; your mates and enemies are probably NOT notable. -->
The following people were from Wallasey:
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
* [[Mabel Esther Allan]] (1915–1998), children's author 
* [[John Baker, Baron Baker|John Baker]] (1901–1985), structural engineer and inventor of the [[Morrison shelter|Morrison indoor shelter]]
* [[Shirley Ballas]] (b. 1960), dancer
* [[Ann Bell]] (b. 1938), actress
* [[Peter Benson (actor)|Peter Benson]] (1943–2018), actor
* [[Elizabeth Berrington]], (b. 1970), actress
* [[Lamorna Birch|Samuel John "Lamorna" Birch]] (1869–1955), painter
* [[Michael Carson (author)|Michael Carson]] (b. 1946), writer
* [[Jayne Casey]] (b. 1956), singer (member of [[Big In Japan (band)|Big In Japan]])
* [[Walter Citrine|Walter McLennan Citrine]], Baron Citrine (1887–1983), trade unionist and politician
* [[Heather Couper]] (1949–2020), astronomer and broadcaster
* [[Charles Crichton]] (1910–1999), film director (''[[The Lavender Hill Mob]]'', ''[[A Fish Called Wanda]]'')
* [[Neil Cross (cricketer)|Neil Cross]] (b. 1972), cricketer
* [[Dickie Davies]] (1933–2023), TV sports journalist and presenter
* [[Louise Delamere]] (b. 1969), actress
* [[General (United Kingdom)|General]] [[Miles Dempsey|Sir Miles Dempsey]] (1896–1969), commander of the [[British Second Army]] during the [[D-Day landings]]
* [[Frank Doel]] (1908–1968), bookseller in London, whose story is told in ''[[84 Charing Cross Road]]''
* [[Jenny Frost]] (b. 1978), singer (member of [[Atomic Kitten]])
* [[Maxwell Fry]], (1899–1987), modernist architect
* [[Shaun Garnett]] (b. 1969), [[Tranmere Rovers]] footballer and coach
* [[Sidonie Goossens]] (1899–2004), [[harpist]]
* [[Leslie Graham]] (1911–1953), world champion motorcycle racer
* [[Robbie Green]] (b. 1974), Professional darts player
* [[Deryck Guyler]] (1914–1999), actor and comedian
* [[Austin Healey]] (b. 1973), [[Leicester Tigers|Leicester]] and [[England national rugby union team|England]] [[Rugby Union]] player
* [[Annie Higdon]] (1864–1946) Schoolteacher and social activist
* [[George Noel Hill]] (1893–1985), architect
* [[Paul Hollywood]] (b. 1966), TV personality, baker
* [[Geoffrey Hughes (actor)|Geoffrey Hughes]] (1944–2012), actor
* [[Rita Hunter]] (1933–2001), opera singer
{{col-break}}
* [[Eric Idle]] (b. 1943), [[Monty Python]] actor and comedian
* [[Arthur Johnson (footballer, born 1879)|Arthur Johnson]] (1878-1929), Irish born [[Real Madrid CF|Madrid FC]] footballer and coach
* [[Hetty King]] (1883–1972), [[music hall]] performer
* [[Felice Lascelles]] (1904–1961), [[music theatre|musical comedy]] actress
* [[Saunders Lewis]] (1893–1985), Welsh politician and writer
* [[Jackie Lomax]] (1944–2013), singer-songwriter
* [[Malcolm Lowry]] (1909–1957), writer (''[[Under the Volcano]]'')
* [[Wilfrid Lowry]] (1900–1974), [[Birkenhead Park FC]] and England [[rugby union]] player
* [[Frances Macdonald (English artist)|Frances Macdonald]] (1914–2002), painter
* [[Donald McMorran]] (1904–1965), New Classical architect
* [[Raymond Moore (photographer)|Raymond Moore]], (1920–1987), photographer
* [[Tyler Morton]], (b. 2002), [[Liverpool F.C.]] footballer
* [[John Mungo-Park]] (1918–1941), wartime flying ace
* [[Tom Murphy (artist)|Tom Murphy]] (b. 1949), sculptor
* [[Nigel Olsson]] (b. 1949), rock drummer ([[Elton John]])
* [[Vincenzo Pellegrino]] (b. 1967), actor
* [[Fred Perry]] (1909–1995), Wimbledon tennis champion
* [[Dominic Purcell]] (b. 1970), actor
* [[The Boo Radleys]] (formed 1988), [[Alternative rock]] band
* [[Brian Reece]] (1913–1962), actor
* [[Simon Rimmer]] (b. 1963), chef, TV presenter
* [[Alan Rouse]] (1951–1986), mountaineer
* [[Matthew Smith (games programmer)|Matthew Smith]] (b. 1966), games programmer, creator of [[Manic Miner]]
* [[Jay Spearing]] (b. 1988), [[Blackpool F.C.]] footballer
* [[Olaf Stapledon]] (1886–1950), science fiction writer and philosopher
* [[Graham Stark]] (1922–2013), actor
* [[Ralph Steadman]] (b. 1936), artist and cartoonist
* [[Ray Stubbs]] (b. 1956), TV sports presenter
* [[Major (United Kingdom)|Major]] [[Bill Tilman]],  (1898–1977), mountaineer and explorer
* [[Victor Tindall]] (1928–2010), England rugby player
* [[Peter Watson (photographer)|Peter Watson]] (b. 1952), photographer 
* [[Aeneas Francon Williams]], (1886–1971), minister of the Church of Scotland, missionary, chaplain, writer, poet
* [[Robert Williams (English chemist)|R.J. P. (Bob) Williams]] (1926–2015), inorganic chemist
* [[Fortunatus Wright]] (1712–1757), [[privateer]]
{{col-end}}

==See also==

*[[Listed buildings in Wallasey]]
*[[Wallasey power station]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin|40em}}
*{{cite book|first=Carol E.|last=Bidston|title=Wallasey of yesteryear|publisher=Metropolitan Borough of Wirral|location=Birkenhead|year=1980|isbn=9780904582017|oclc=16543770}}
*{{cite book|first=Ian|last=Boumphrey|title=Yesterday's Wallasey & New Brighton : including : Moreton Leasowe & Saughall Massie : a pictorial history 1860 to 1960|publisher=Ian & Marilyn Boumphrey|location=Prenton|year=2008|isbn=9781899241286|oclc=652015249}}
*{{cite book|first1=Ian|last1=Boumphrey|first2=Marilyn|last2=Boumphrey|title=Yesterday's Wirral 5 : Wallasey, New Brighton & Moreton|year=1988|isbn=9780950725543|oclc=655904123}}
*{{cite book|first1=P. A.|last1=Carson|first2=C. R.|last2=Garner|title=The silver screens of Wirral : (a history of cinemas in Wallasey, Hoylake, West Kirby and South Wirral)|publisher=Countyvise and Metropolitan Borough of Wirral|location=Birkenhead|year=1990|isbn=9780904582109|oclc=24736612}}
*{{cite book|first=Ian|last=Collard|title=Wallasey from old photographs|publisher=Amberley|location=Stroud|year=2009|isbn=9781848682849|oclc=403496622}}
*{{cite book|first=Ian|last=Collard|title=Wallasey through time|publisher=Amberley Publishing|location=Chalford|year=2009|isbn=9781848684256|oclc=701103642}}
*{{cite book|first=John V.|last=Davies|title=Wallasey Golf Club : 1891–1991|publisher=Grant Books|location=Worcestershire|year=1991|isbn=9780907186144|oclc=29219804}}
*{{cite book|first=R.|last=Dutton|title=Sixteen Decades In Wallasey|publisher=Infodial Ltd.|year=2013|isbn=9780955655463|oclc=861542666}}
*{{cite book|first=Les|last=Jones|title=Wallasey, the postcard collection|publisher=Amberley Publishing|year=2014|isbn=9781445636641|oclc=869344484}}
*{{cite book|first=T. B.|last=Maund|title=Local transport in Wallasey|publisher=Omnibus Society|location=London|year=1969|isbn=9780901307019|oclc=54692}}
*{{cite book|first=T. B.|last=Maund|title=The Wallasey Bus|publisher=Ian & Marilyn Boumphrey|location=Wirral|year=1995|isbn=9781899241057|oclc=500164440}}
*{{cite book|first1=T. B.|last1=Maund|first2=Martin|last2=Jenkins|title=The tramways of Birkenhead and Wallasey|publisher=Light Rail Transit Association|location=London|year=1987|isbn=9780948106033|oclc=19849706}}
*{{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/n330/mode/2up|id=pp. 290–297}}
*{{cite book|first=Ralph|last=Rimmer|title=Around Wallasey and New Brighton|publisher=Chalford|location=Stroud|year=1996|isbn=9780752401560|oclc=36760307}}
*{{cite book|last=Wallasey Council|title=New Brighton, Wallasey : Cheshire's popular family resort.|publisher=Wallasey Corp.|location=Wallasey|year=1969|isbn=9780901649003|oclc=316232689}}
*{{cite book|last=Wallasey Historical Society|title=Wallasey at War 1939–45 including Moreton & Leasowe|year=2003|publisher=Ian & Marilyn Boumphrey|location=Prenton|isbn=9781899241149|oclc=751486916}}
*{{cite book|first=William|last=Wilson|title=A century of local government in Wallasey 1835–1935|publisher=Wallasey Corp.|location=Wallasey|year=1936|oclc=15229488}}
*{{cite book|first1=Edward Cuthbert|last1=Woods|first2=Percy Culverwell|last2=Brown|title=The rise and progress of Wallasey, a history of the borough|publisher=Wallasey Corp.|location=Wallasey|year=1960|oclc=9434957}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Wallasey}}
{{EB1911 poster|Wallasey}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
{{Merseyside}}
{{Populated Places in Wirral Borough}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Wallasey| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Merseyside]]
[[Category:Towns and villages in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Merseyside]]
[[Category:Unparished areas in Merseyside]]
[[Category:Former civil parishes in Merseyside]]