SEFTON BUBBLE

Bootle

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Bootle has a combined population of around 75,000 people.

Bootle (pronounced /ˈbooːtel/), 'the Town' had a population of 51,394 in 2011; while the wider Bootle Parliamentary constituency had a population of 98,449. Bootle derives from the Anglo Saxon Bold or Botle meaning a dwelling. It was recorded as Boltelai in the Domesday Book in 1086. By 1212 the spelling had been recorded as Botle. The spellings Botull, Bothull and Bothell are recorded in the 14th century. In the 18th century, it was known as Bootle cum Linacre.

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Bootle was originally a small hamlet built near the 'sand hills' or dunes of the river estuary. Historically part of Lancashire, Bootle's development and history has been centred on its close proximity to the River Mersey and the industrial expansion of the city of Liverpool to the south. While originally a small hamlet, the town grew rapidly during the 1800's firstly as a dormitory town for wealthy merchants, and then later as a centre of commerce and industry in its own right following the arrival of the railroad and the expansion of the docks and shipping industries.

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During World War II the town was heavily damaged during Liverpool Blitz raids against the port and other industrial targets. Post war economic success in the 50's and 60's gave way to a downturn precipitated by reduction in the significance of the Liverpool Docks internationally, and changing levels of industrialisation, coupled with the development of modern suburbs and the expansion of industries into the Merseyside hinterlands. By the 1980's there had been a sharp spike in unemployment and a progressive population decline. More recently, large-scale renewal projects were begun to help regenerate the local economy.

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The expansion and increased trade from the second city of the empire, led to the building of new docklands and the expansion of the Liverpool Overhead Railway. Culturally, the town has remained a scouse suburb of Liverpool ever since.

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Bootle has one association football non-league team known as Bootle F.C. who currently play in the North West Counties League. They are a reformed version of the original Bootle F.C. (1879).

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Bootle has one further education college, Hugh Baird College, located on Balliol Road. The college delivers over 300 courses to more than 7,000 students with course levels from Entry Level to Level 3, A Levels, apprenticeships and university level courses and degrees.

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In January 2014, a multimillion-pound facility called the L20 Building located on Stanley Road was opened. This houses a dedicated University Centre with open-plan study areas for students studying University level courses.

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Bootle has a leisure centre located in the North Park area, which includes a modern gym, swimming pool, and various indoor sports halls. The Bootle New Strand shopping centre contains many of the regular high street stores, combined with a smaller collection of local businesses. For entertainment there is a wide variety of public houses, snooker clubs and late night bars. There are also a number of restaurants.

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Many notable footballers were born in Bootle. Jamie Carragher, Steve McManaman and Roy Evans came to prominence playing for Liverpool (with Evans later going on to become the club's manager) whilst Alvin Martin is regarded as one of West Ham United's greatest ever players. Former Evertonian Jose Baxter of Sheffield United was also born in Bootle.

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In the arts, Bootle has produced the comedian Tom O'Connor, the television presenter Keith Chegwin, Television Producer and Presenter Will Hanrahan and early rock and roll singer Billy J. Kramer.

The fashion retailer George Davies was educated in Bootle.

The linguist John C. Wells was born in Bootle.

Psychic medium Derek Acorah was born in Bootle.

The former Leader of the UK Independence Party, Paul Nuttall, was born in Bootle.

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Postcode districts are L20 and L30

 

Parlimentary Wards include:

Derby

Linacre

Orrel

St Oswald (Netherton)

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