Prescot
300795
224003065
2008-07-06T22:10:56Z
Paypwip
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Reverted to revision 222120089 by [[Special:Contributions/Nono64|Nono64]]; Vandalism. ([[WP:TW|TW]])
{{infobox UK place|
|country= England
|latitude= 53.4220
|longitude= -2.8140
|map_type= Merseyside
|official_name= Prescot
|population= 11,184 ([[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 Census]])<ref name="2001 Census: Prescot">{{citeweb|url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=790599&c=prescot&d=16&e=15&g=357983&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1211835210468&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779|title=2001 Census: Prescot|work=Office for National Statistics|accessdate=26 May|accessyear=2008}}</ref>
|metropolitan_borough= [[Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley|Knowsley]]
|metropolitan_county= [[Merseyside]]
|region= North West England
|constituency_westminster= [[Knowsley South]]
|post_town= PRESCOT
|postcode_district= L34
|postcode_area= L
|dial_code= 0151
|os_grid_reference= SJ4692
}}
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'''Prescot''' is a town and [[civil parish]], within the [[Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley]] on [[Merseyside]], [[England]]. It is 8 miles to the east of [[Liverpool]], and lies within the [[Historic counties of England|historic boundaries]] of [[Lancashire]]. At the [[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 Census]], the population was 11,184 (5,265 males, 5,919 females).<ref name="2001 Census: Prescot" /> Prescot is the start of the [[A58 road]] which runs all the way to [[Wetherby]], [[West Yorkshire]].
The town is served by [[Prescot railway station]].
==History==
Prescot's name is believed to be derived from the [[Old English language|Anglo-Saxon]] ''prēost'' "priest" + ''cot'' "cot", meaning a cottage or small house owned or inhabited by a priest, a "priest-cottage". ([[Middle English|ME]] prest, preste, priest, [[Old English|OE]] prēost, [[Late Latin|LL]] presbyter, [[Greek language|Gk]] πρεσβύτερος presbýteros "elder, priest").<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.history.knowsley.gov.uk/information/print_text.msql?name=Prescot&ref=ptorigins |title=Prescot Origins and History|work=Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council|accessdate=29 December|accessyear=2005}}</ref>
From c1593, into the early years of the 17th century, Prescot was home to the [[Prescot Playhouse]], a purpose-built [[Shakespearean]] [[theatre]].
During the 18th and 19th centuries it was at the centre of the [[watch]] and [[clock]]making industry. This ended with the failure of the [[Lancashire Watch Company]] in 1910. In later years BICC Cables was the main employer in the town.<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.lmu.livjm.ac.uk/BICC|title=BICC was Prescot, Prescot was BICC|accessdate=9 June|accessyear=2006}}</ref>
==Governance==
The town was contained in the [[Prescot Urban District]] in the [[administrative county]] [[Lancashire]] from 1894. When the [[administrative county|administrative counties]] were abolished in 1974 the district became part of the [[Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley]] in the [[metropolitan county]] of [[Merseyside]].
==Places of Interest==
The town's main tourist attraction is now the local clock [[museum]]. On the edge of the town is the famous estate of [[Earl of Derby|Lord Derby]], which includes [[Knowsley Safari Park]].There is also a Local football team, [[Prescot Cables F.C.|Prescot Cables]], who currently play in the [[Unibond League]] and host players such as former Swansea man Karl Connolly
==Notable residents==
*Screenwriter [[Peter Briggs]] who wrote the film [[Hellboy (film)|''Hellboy'']], was born in neighbouring Whiston and grew up in Prescot.
*Actor [[Daniel Craig]] ([[James Bond]] 007), spent at least part of his childhood growing up in Prescot.
*Actor [[Sue Johnston]] (''[[Brookside]]'', ''[[The Royle Family]]'').
*Shakespearean actor [[John Philip Kemble]] was born in Prescot. His house has since been demolished, but the road has been renamed Kemble Street. The John Kemble Pub stands on this street in his memory.
*Actor [[Sam Kelly]] ([[Porridge (TV)|''Porridge'']], ''[[The Two Ronnies]]'', [[All or Nothing (film)|''All or Nothing'']])
*Nonsense-poet and artist [[Edward Lear]].
*Classical pianist [[Paul Lewis (pianist)|Paul Lewis]], who featured as a soloist at the 2005 [[Last Night of the Proms]], was a student at [[Prescot Grammar School]].
*[[David McCabe]] - Lead singer of the Merseyside Band [[The Zutons]].
*[[Danny McCall (actor)|Danny McCall]], former ''[[Brookside]]'' actor and star of West-End hit ''[[The Sound of Fury]]'', based on the life of [[Billy Fury]]
*[[Frederick Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby|Lord Stanley]], one-time [[Governor General of Canada]] after whom the [[Stanley Cup]] and [[Stanley Park]] in [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]], was named
*[[Stuart Sutcliffe]], early member of [[The Beatles]] attended [[Prescot Grammar School]]
*Organist Professor [[Ian Tracey (organist)|Ian Tracey]] of [[Liverpool Cathedral|Liverpool Anglican Cathedral]]
*Professor [[Sid Watkins]], world-renowned [[neurosurgeon]] who served twenty-six years as the FIA [[Formula One]] Safety Delegate and Medical Delegate, head of the Formula One on-track medical team, and first responder in case of a crash.
*[[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] [[Harold Wilson]] was once a [[Member of Parliament]] for Huyton, incorporating Prescot
==References==
{{reflist}}
==See also==
*[[Prescot Parish Church]]
==External links==
*[http://www.artsinprescot.org.uk Arts in Prescot] News about arts and entertainment in the area, including the Annual Prescot Festival of Music and the Arts
*[http://history.knowsley.gov.uk/prescot.html Historical Archives] Local government collection of pictures, photos and information about the town
*[http://www.prescotian.info The Prescotian] Site for alumni of the historic Prescot Grammar School
*[http://www.prescotchurch.merseyworld.com/ Prescot Parish Church]
[[Category:Towns and villages in Knowsley]]
[[Category:Towns in Merseyside]]
[[Category:Liverpool Urban Area]]
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