Originally a standalone village, Woolton was incorporated into Liverpool in 1913. The area was referred to as "Uluentune" in the
Domesday Book, with the name translating as "farm of Wulfa". Shortly after the Domesday survey, which was completed in 1086, Woolton became part of the
Barony of Halton and Widnes. In 1189, a charge was granted by John, Constable of Chester, to the order of
Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, a religious order who protected the routes for Christians on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The Knights held land in Woolton for over 350 years, until it was confiscated from them in 1559 by
Queen Elizabeth I. The manorial rights to Woolton passed from Queen Elizabeth to
James I, who sold them to
William Stanley, 6th Earl of Derby. Woolton then passed to Isaac Green, then his daughter, then her son
Bamber Gascoyne of Childwall (MP for Liverpool 1780–1796 and an ancestor of longtime
University Challenge host
Bamber Gascoigne), and is now owned by the
Marquess of Salisbury. Housing is primarily
detached and
semi-detached, although some
terraces survive in Woolton Village (the centre of the suburb). Pubs in the area include The Cobden, The Elephant, The Grapes, The Victoria, and The White Horse, with more within walking distance. Other notable buildings include the
Victorian public swimming baths and the public library, which was converted from a
Methodist chapel but closed in 2012 as part of Liverpool City Council's cost-cutting measures. Woolton has a number of churches, including
St Mary's (
Catholic), St Peter's (
Anglican), and St James's (Methodist). The Catholic schools
St Francis Xavier's and
St Julie's are also located in Woolton.
Hunts Cross Station is the nearest railway station on the southern boundary of Woolton, with local services on the
southern route of the Manchester to Liverpool line between
Liverpool Lime Street and
Manchester Oxford Road, and also
Merseyrail's
Northern Line to
Liverpool Central and
Southport.
Liverpool South Parkway, one and a half miles to the west of Woolton, serves the same lines in addition to
Crewe and
Birmingham stopping services. Bus services provide connections with
Liverpool John Lennon Airport, the city centre, neighbouring districts and the broader Liverpool area.
Gateacre (for Woolton) also served passengers from 1879 until its closure in 1972. All three elected councillors for the
Woolton ward (Malcolm Kelly, Kris Brown, and Barbara Mace) are
Liberal Democrats. ==Beatles landmarks==