Aintree
Aintree
is a village and civil parish in Sefton. It lies between Walton and
Maghull on the A59 road, about 6.5 miles (10.5 km) north
of Liverpool city centre, in the northwest of England.
It is best known as the site of Aintree Racecourse, which since
the 19th century has staged the Grand National horse race. During
the 1950s and '60s, there was also a three-mile-long motor racing
circuit on the site, which used the same grandstands as the horse
race. A shorter form of the racing circuit is still used for
various events, although car racing ceased in 1982.
History
The name Aintree, thought to be of Saxon origin, means "one
tree" or "tree standing alone." In 1999, the parish council decided
to revert back to its original name of Aintree Village; this
request was granted by Sefton Council. Local legend held that a
tree on Bull Bridge Lane, one of the oldest parts of the village,
was "the Ain tree". The tree had to be cut down in 2004 because it
had become diseased.
Today
The village itself has two primary schools, Aintree Davenhill
and Holy Rosary; five churches, St. Giles (Anglican), Holy Rosary
(Roman Catholic), Old Roan Methodist Church, Old Roan Baptist
Church and Aintree Village Family Church (a Baptist church,
meeting at St. Giles Church); and two small local shopping areas
(on Altway and at the Old Roan). The village also has a
public library. A retail park along Ormskirk Road on former
industrial land has brought a significant number of major
out-of-town shops to the area.
The Racecourse
Unusual for racecourses or circuits, the site of Aintree
Racecourse is split by Melling Road; Grand Prix cars (and Grand
National horses) have to cross the (closed) public road twice on
each trip.
Transport
The main road from Liverpool to Aintree is the A59 (known as
Ormskirk Road as it passes through Aintree). The M57, M58, A59, and
A5036 meet at a complex junction called Switch Island, between
Aintree and Maghull.
The village is closer to Old Roan railway station, although
Aintree railway station is convenient for the racecourse, both on
the Merseyrail Northern Line's Ormskirk branch, with regular
service between Liverpool Central and Ormskirk.
In the past, it was also served by Aintree Central railway
station on the North Liverpool Extension Line, located behind
Aintree railway station. The North Mersey Branch also runs through,
close to the station, and had Aintree Racecourse railway
station.
Bus services through the village itself are regular: a bus every
20 minutes to Liverpool runs through the village, while various
other routes to Liverpool and destinations to the north—including
Maghull, Ormskirk, and Southport—stop near the Old Roan.
The Leeds and Liverpool Canal runs through the village.
Further Information
Please find links below relevant to your area;
For information on Conservation, Ward Boundaries, Civil Parish
Boundaries, Parliamentary Constituencies, Planning
Applications and Enforcements please go to Sefton online
maps.
Information on Nurseries/ Preschool Playgroups, Children’s
Centres, Sports Centres, Residential Care Homes, Nursing Homes,
Doctors, Dentists, Opticians and Pharmacies can also be found
there.
Last Updated on 3/4/2013