Prescot 300795 224003065 2008-07-06T22:10:56Z Paypwip 1230570 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 }} <!-- start of article --> '''Prescot''' is a town and [[civil parish]], within the [[Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley]] on [[Merseyside]], [[England]]. It is 8&nbsp;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]] [[ro:Prescot]] [[vo:Prescot]]