Liscard battery

Liscard is an area of the town of Wallasey, in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, Merseyside, England. The most centrally located of Wallasey's townships, it is the main shopping area of the town, with many shops located in the Cherry Tree Shopping Centre. At the 2001 Census the population was recorded at 14,301.

History
The first mention of the settlement was circa 1260 as Lisnekarke. The name derives from the Irish words lios na carraige, with the name meaning "hall at the rock". In the past the name has been spelt as Liscak (1260), Lisecair (c.1277), Lysenker (1295) and Lyscart (1417).

Liscard Hall was built in 1835 by a Liverpool merchant, Sir John Tobin. Its grounds later became Central Park, and the building itself later became an art college. A “model farm” was also developed nearby by his family. The former Grade II listed arts building within the grounds of Central Park was destroyed by fire on 7 July 2008, and has been completely demolished. The decision has not yet been made as to what will be done with the site.

Liscard Battery was built in 1858 to help protect shipping on the River Mersey and defend the port of Liverpool. It was equipped with seven 10-inch guns. Set back from the river and hidden by new building, it was known as "the snake in the grass" to local inhabitants. The battery was obsolete by 1912, and sold on, and houses were erected on top, and now the site has an odd appearance with only the curtain wall and ornate crenellated gatehouse surviving.

The area originally had a railway station as part of the Wirral Railway. Known as Liscard and Poulton railway station, it was part of a branch line which included Seacombe railway station as its terminus. This branch is long-closed and its route now forms the approach to the Kingsway Tunnel.

Description
Liscard is situated three miles from Birkenhead, and four miles from Liverpool (via the Kingsway Tunnel). The area is largely residential and contains mainly high-density semi-detached and terraced housing.

Central Park is now the largest park in Wallasey, It has two areas for young children, with swings, slides and other games, large areas of greenery and a popular walled garden. There is also a cricket ground and a large duck pond. It links Liscard to Poulton and Egremont.

Education
Liscard includes the Oldershaw School, a secondary school with specialist status as a Business and Enterprise College and Liscard Primary School

Governance
Liscard is part of the Wallasey parliamentary constituency and represented since 1992 by Angela Eagle, a Labour Party MP, who retained her seat in the 2010 UK general election.

The area is also a local government ward of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, taking in the majority of Egremont, and is represented by three Labour Party councillors Darren Dodd, Bernie Mooney and Janette Williamson. The most recent local elections took place on 3 May 2012.

~ indicates retiring councillor