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Jan 1, 1000
The first thousand years - Iron Age-Romans-Saxons-Vikings.
The Huyton area was originally thickly wooded towards the forest (now Knowsley park) with marshland (present Asda car park) forming the headwaters of the River Alt. During recent excavations for the M62/M57 interchange signs of an Iron Age settlement was found. It is with the arrival of the Saxons in the 6th /7th centuries a church was established on the highest ground. The origin of Blue Bell Lane was probably the track which led to the forest. -
Oct 14, 1066
Norman invasion by William of Normandy
William the Conqueror crowned King of England on Christmas day and progresses over the next few years to occupy the whole of England. On the arrival of the Normans Huyton was a small village under the Saxon lord, Dot. -
Jan 1, 1072
Lands between Mersey & Ribble given to Roger of Poitou
William the Conqueror subsequently gave the lands between the rivers Mersey and Ribble to his Norman supporter, Roger of Poitou. -
Jan 1, 1086
Domesday book – first mention of ‘Hitune’ and ‘Rabil’
The first reference to the settlement is found in the Domesday book of 1086 as ‘Hitune’ (possibly meaning high town) and ‘worth 20 shillings’. Nearby ‘Rabil’ (Roby) was originally held by the Saxon Uchtred. -
Jan 1, 1102
Stephen of Blois takes land from Roger de Poitou
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Jan 1, 1190
The Lathom family founded Burscough Priory to whom they gave Huyton church (originally founded by the Saxons)
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Jan 1, 1228
Huyton church appropriated by Burscough Priory
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Jan 1, 1304
charter for market and fair at Roby
At the end of the 12th century the de Lathom family were lords of Huyton also founding Burscough Priory to whom they gave Huyton Church. The church we see today is, of course, a new one built on the same site. -
Sep 1, 1349
The great plague (black death) hits Lancashire
Like the rest of Lancashire, and England, Huyton suffered the death of about a third of its population during the outbreak of bubonic plague carried by rats and brought to England on ships from Europe. It took a century to restore the population to previous levels. -
Jan 1, 1380
Harrington family inherited manor of Huyton - Stanley family acquired Roby through marriage
The Stanleys had a presence in Roby as early as1380 with the marriage into the Lathom family and, as the Earls of Derby from 1485 became landowners in Huyton. -
Aug 22, 1485
Sir John Stanley made Earl of Derby by Henry VII
After the Battle of Bosworth Field for his support in defeating Richard III to gain the crown of England. -
Jan 1, 1527
first reference to a school in the hamlet of Huyton
A new school was founded in 1555. This was established by local benefactors for the children of local people who mainly worked on the land in this rural community. -
Jan 1, 1536
Closure of Burscough Priory by Henry VIII – St Michael’s becomes the parish church
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Jan 1, 1555
Parishes become responsible for maintaining roads
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Outbreak of English Civil War between Parliament and Charles I
After 6 years of war King Charles I was captured, imprisoned and beheaded on 30 Jan 1649. Oliver Cromwell headed the army and Parliament eventually becoming Lord Protector. On the 15 October 1851 the 7th Earl of Derby was executed at Bolton after capture and trial by Parliamentary forces. -
William Bell becomes vicar of Huyton
At the Restoration he was ejected as vicar in 1662 for non-conformity with the Church of England and was instrumental in setting up the first non-conformist chapel in Huyton. -
Restoration of Charles II
After 11 years of rule by Parliament, known as the Commonwealth Period, during which time the status of the parish church was greatly affected by the Puritans – celebration of Christmas was abolished! -
Manor of Huyton passes to the Molyneux family
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Act for Liverpool-Prescot turnpike road –Huyton connected by a branch via Twig Lane to Blacklow Brow
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Turnpike Act - ‘the lane to the Blue Bell Inn’ is ‘turnpiked’ – it ceased in favour of Huyton Lane in 1802
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First national census of Britain’s population
A census has been taken every 10 years since. The population of Huyton showed an increase from 2,013 at the first census to 6,551 in 1901 due to the influx of wealthy residents in the 19th century. Housing developments in the 1930s and post WWII greatly added to the numbers. Today, the population is 58,600! -
Huyton railway station opens on Liverpool to Manchester railway, the first passenger railway in the world. Surburban development begins for the ‘out of town’ residences of Liverpool’s merchants and middle classes.
Parts of the ‘Orchard’ villa estate remain as a reminder but Sir Thomas Beecham’s ‘Ewanville’ was replaced by modern housing. -
Archway Road built with new railway bridge – level crossing at Derby Road later abandoned
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Turnpike Trust wound up – end of toll collection
The Huyton toll house was then converted to the Eagle and Child Inn. (Shown in the photo) The Inn was then demolished in 1932. -
Local Board formed
At the first meeting of the Huyton with Roby board held at Huyton and Roby schools in Dam House Lane (now Rupert Road) on Tuesday the 23rd October 1877 the 10 members of the board made and signed a Declaration in accordance with the Public Health Act 1875 -
Lancashire County Council formed
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End of villa developments for the wealthy
The most well known resident was Sir Joseph Beecham who purchased the Ewanville mansion and estate in Blacklow Brow, Huyton in 1885. This building was one of the first properties in Lancashire to be lit by electricity and it also had central heating installed. -
Huyton Urban District Council formed to replace local board
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The first electric tram cars reach Huyton
The first electric tram cars reach Huyton along the route of the old Prescot Turnpike road. The last tram ran in 1956 by which time the motor car and bus had taken over as prime forms of travel. This shows the number 34 tram passing the old Blue Bell Inn about 1910. The Inn was demolished and rebuilt in the 1930s. -
Visit of King Edward VII
The carriages used Blue Bell Lane to travel between Knowsley Hall and Huyton railway station. This photograph shows his royal visit to Huyton on 6 July 1909. King Edward VII was a frequent visitor to the Knowsley estate. -
Start of The Great War later known as World War I
Huyton provided its share of soldiers and sailors and suffered many casualties, commemorated on the war memorial now situated in front of the Huyton Suite. It also carries the names of those in the armed forces who died in World War II. -
Armistice Day - End of World War I
On this date every year those lost in all conflicts are remembered with a ceremony at the war memorial. -
‘Knowsley Estate’ in Huyton sold by the Earl of Derby for public and private housing by Liverpool Corporation and Huyton UD
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Mayfair cinema opened in Derby Road
The first film shown was "The Plainsman" starring Gary Cooper. It closed on the 30th April 1960 with the showing of "I'm alright Jack" starring Ian Carmichael and Peter Sellers. The building is now occupied by Boots the chemists. -
Start of World War II
Britan entered the war with Germany on the 3rd September 1939. This photograph shows bomb damage on Reva Road caused by a land mine dropped on the night of the 3rd/4th May 1941. -
Alien internment transit camp opened – closed in October 1941
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German prisoner of war camp established on corner of Longview Road and Huyton Lane – did not close until 1948
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US army transit camp opened on Brook House farmland later to be occupied by the Bluebell estate
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End of World War II
The war in Europe officially ended with the VE (Victory in Europe) day celebrations on 8 May 1945. Details of how the war affected Huyton are found elsewhere on this website. The war in the Far East did not officially end until the signing of the surrender document by the Japanese on 2 September 1945. -
Harold Wilson becomes MP for Huyton (until 1983)
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Abandoned US transit camp proposed for new community housing
Councillor Tutte raised the question of developing th army camp site for the purpose of municipal housing. -
Opening of the Alamein TA centre on Liverpool Road, Huyton
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Building started on the Bluebell estate – completed by 1966
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Start of demolition of Huyton village to provide a new town centre
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New police station, magistrates’ courts and leisure centre opened
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Knowsley Borough Council established incorporating the UDC under Merseyside County Council (later abolished).
