Much Woolton (Liverpool ward)

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Much Woolton
Suburban Area
Merseyside UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Much Woolton
Location within Merseyside
OS grid reference SJ412889
•  London 179 mi (288 km)  South
Metropolitan borough
Metropolitan county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town LIVERPOOL
Postcode district L25
Dialling code 0151
Police Merseyside
Fire Merseyside
Ambulance North West
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Merseyside
53°23′48″N2°53′20″W / 53.3967°N 2.8888°W / 53.3967; -2.8888

Much Woolton is a historic area in Liverpool, located in Merseyside, England, and part of the Liverpool Wavertree parliamentary constituency. Much Woolton is bordered by the suburbs of Allerton to the south, Hunt's Cross to the southeast, and Childwall to the north. It has a rich history, dating back to the medieval period, and was historically part of Lancashire before the creation of Merseyside. The area is known for its picturesque village, beautiful parks, and notable landmarks such as the Church of St Peter and St Paul.

Contents

Overview

Much Woolton ward was an electoral division of Liverpool City Council covering the Woolton Village area, created in 1918 and abolished in the 1953 boundary review to merge into the expanded Woolton ward. Initially represented by a single councillor, its representation grew to two seats by 1920 and three seats by 1929, reflecting local population growth. [1] Elections were suspended during World War II from 1939 to 1944 due to the conflict . Notable councillors included John Hinshaw, Robert Gladstone and Caroline Whiteley—the first woman to represent the ward . After abolition, Much Woolton’s territory formed part of Woolton ward (1953–2023) and, since 2023, falls within the new Much Woolton & Hunts Cross ward. [2]

Elections

1919

No. 35 Much Woolton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative John Buchanan Hinshawunopposed
Registered electors
Conservative win (new seat)

[3] [4]

1920

No. 36 Much Woolton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Thomas Harrison75663%
Labour Charles Jabez Edwards43837%
Majority318
Registered electors 1,585
Turnout 1,19475%
Conservative hold Swing

1921

No. 36 Much Woolton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
National Liberal Robert Gladstone77662%
Labour Charles Jabez Edwards47538%
Majority301
Registered electors 1,600
Turnout 1,25178%
National Liberal hold Swing

1923

No. 36 Much Woolton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative John Francis Roskell Reynoldsunopposed
Registered electors
Conservative hold Swing

1924

No. 36 Much Woolton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Robert Gladstone *78569%
Labour Charles Jabez Edwards34631%
Majority439
Registered electors 1,691
Turnout 1,13167%
Independent gain from National Liberal Swing

1926

No. 36 Much Woolton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative John Francis Roskell Reynolds *60069%
Labour William Henry Paulson27131%
Majority329
Registered electors 1,735
Turnout 87150%
Conservative hold Swing

1927

No. 36 Much Woolton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative William Edward Stirling Napier68372%
Labour Frederick Stapleton26228%
Majority421
Registered electors 1,801
Turnout 94552%
Conservative gain from Independent Swing

1929

No. 36 Much Woolton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Charles Stuart Pethick *77355%
Conservative John Francis Roskell Reynolds *73653%
Labour John Reginald Bevins 51337%
Labour Robert Edward Cottier49536%
Liberal Edward Alexander Ferguson1088%
Majority260
Registered electors 2,046
Turnout 1,39468%
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

1930

No. 36 Much Woolton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative William Edward Stirling Napier *75374%
Labour William Robert Snell25826%
Majority495
Registered electors 2,136
Turnout 1,01147%
Conservative hold Swing

1931

No. 36 Much Woolton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Herbert Neville Bewley 88552%
Independent Ernest Whiteley82148%
Majority644%
Registered electors 2,299
Turnout 1,70674%
Conservative hold Swing

1932

No. 36 Much Woolton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Mrs. Caroline Whiteley85052%
Conservative Edwin Phillips Thompson74045%
Labour Arthur Lumb523.2%
Independent Democratic LabourPatrick O'Brien Hendley73.2%
Majority110
Registered electors 2,371
Turnout 1,64970%
Independent gain from Conservative Swing

1933

No. 36 Much Woolton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Joseph Butterfield75946%
Independent Ernest Whiteley74545%
Labour John Reginald Bevins16310%
Majority14
Registered electors 2,558
Turnout 1,66765%
Conservative hold Swing

1934

No. 36 Much Woolton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Ernest Whitley73140%
Conservative Isaac Robinson72440%
RatepayersCharles Frederick Hind22712%
Labour Andre John Holman1408%
Majority7
Registered electors 2,591
Turnout 1,82270%
Independent gain from Conservative Swing

1935

No. 36 Much Woolton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Isaac Robinson1,01351%
Independent Mrs. Caroline Whiteley *85343%
Liberal John Richard Jones1236%
Majority160
Registered electors 2,747
Turnout 1,98972%
Conservative gain from Independent Swing

1936

No. 36 Much Woolton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Joseph Butterfield *1,10477%
Labour William Smith Fraser33123%
Majority773
Registered electors 2,828
Turnout 1,43551%
Conservative hold Swing

1937

No. 36 Much Woolton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Vivian Forsyth Crosthwaite *1,45371%
Labour Andrew Campbell58629%
Majority867
Registered electors 2,911
Turnout 2,03970%
Conservative hold Swing

1938

No. 36 Much Woolton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Isaac Robinson *1,14476%
Labour Daniel Whelan35924%
Majority785
Registered electors 2,975
Turnout 1,50351%
Conservative hold Swing

1945

Much Woolton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Reginald Wm. Stewart1,54159%
Labour Griffith D. Ellis1,08441%
Majority457
Registered electors 5,180
Turnout 2,62551%

1946

Much Woolton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Vivian Forsyth Crosthwaite1,88663%
Labour Griffith Daniel Ellis1,12837%
Majority758
Registered electors 5,387
Turnout 3,01456%

1947

Much Woolton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Isaac Robinson2,33174%
Labour Noel Arthur Pinches83826%
Majority1,493
Registered electors 5,463
Turnout 3,16958%
Conservative hold Swing

1949

Much Woolton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Reginald William Stewart *2,26178%+19%
Labour Noel Arthur Pinches64622%−19%
Majority1,615
Registered electors 5,547
Turnout 2,90752%−1%
Conservative hold Swing +19%

1950

Much Woolton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Vivian Forsyth Crosthwaite2,05480%+6%
Labour William H. Sefton50920%−6%
Majority1,545
Registered electors 5,790
Turnout 2,56343%−15%
Conservative hold Swing

1951

Much Woolton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Joseph Norton (PARTY)2,39982%+8%
Labour Alan Frank Skinner52318%−8%
Majority1,876
Registered electors 6,367
Turnout 2,92246%−8%
Conservative hold Swing +8%

1952

Much Woolton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Reginald William Stewart2,22472%−6%
Labour Thomas Keith Williams84628%+6%
Majority1,378
Registered electors 6,525
Turnout 3,07047%−5%
Labour hold Swing

1918–1919 (1 seat): John Hinshaw (Conservative) served as the inaugural councillor, elected unopposed in both the 1918 and 1919 elections .

1920–1928 (2 seats): A second seat was added for the 1920 election, with Thomas Harrison (Conservative) joining John Hinshaw. Thereafter, representations included Robert Gladstone (National Liberal/Independent) alongside Harrison or John Reynolds (Conservative) in successive years .

1929 onwards (3 seats): A third councillor position was introduced in 1929; early holders included Charles Pethick (Conservative) alongside William Napier and John Reynolds. By 1932, Caroline Whiteley became the first woman to represent the ward, serving as an Independent councillor.

No elections were held between 1939 and 1944 as a result of the Second World War, with sitting councillors’ terms extended under wartime legislation.

Post‑war representation: After wartime suspension, Reginald Stewart (Conservative) held one of the three seats from 1945 until the ward’s abolition in 1952.

Woolton ward (1953–2023): Covered an expanded area including former Much and Little Woolton, remaining a three‑member ward until 2023.

Historical and Geography

The ward was officially established in 1918 to represent the Woolton Village area in the south‑east of Liverpool . Woolton Village itself stands approximately 2 miles north‑north‑east of Garston railway station and about 5 miles south‑east of Liverpool city centre, historically part of the Much Woolton township in the parish of Childwall, Lancashire. [5]

In its early years, Much Woolton ward covered the main thoroughfares and residential streets of the village, reflecting its role as a suburban district within the County Borough of Liverpool. [6] The ward fell within the Liverpool Garston parliamentary constituency throughout its existence. [7] The 1953 Liverpool City Council election implemented widespread boundary changes under the Local Government Act 1952, resulting in the deletion of several wards, including Much Woolton. [8] In its place, Little Woolton and Much Woolton wards were combined to form the new Woolton ward, which elected three councillors from 7 May 1953. [9] [10]

References

  1. ↑ Greaney, Martin (23 October 2014). "Historic Liverpool - Much Woolton Cross". Historic Liverpool. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  2. ↑ GENUKI. "Genuki: St Peter, Much Woolton, Church of England, Lancashire". www.genuki.org.uk. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  3. ↑ "Liverpool City Council - Proceedings of the Council 1918-1919 page 1" . Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  4. ↑ "Liverpool City Council - Proceedings of the Council 1918-1919 page 2" . Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  5. ↑ "Genuki: Much Woolton, Lancashire". www.genuki.org.uk. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  6. ↑ "Townships: Much Woolton | British History Online". www.british-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  7. ↑ GENUKI. "Genuki: Much Woolton Census, Lancashire". www.genuki.org.uk. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  8. ↑ "A History of the County of Lancaster | British History Online". www.british-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  9. ↑ GENUKI. "Genuki: Much Woolton, Lancashire". www.genuki.org.uk. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  10. ↑ GENUKI. "Genuki: Much Woolton Township Boundaries, Lancashire". www.genuki.org.uk. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
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