Birkenhead

Coordinates: 53°23′35″N 3°00′50″W / 53.393°N 3.014°W / 53.393; -3.014

Birkenhead /ˌbɜːrkənˈhɛd/ is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in Merseyside, England. Historically in Cheshire, it is on the Wirral Peninsula, along the west bank of the River Mersey, opposite the city of Liverpool. At the 2001 Census, the town had a population of 83,729. By the time of the 2011 census Birkenhead had become an electoral ward of the Local Authority called Birkenhead and Tranmere. The total population of this ward taken at the 2011 Census was 15,879 Birkenhead is perhaps best known as a centre for ship building, as a seaport and its related industries.

History

Toponymy

The name Birkenhead probably means "headland overgrown with birch", from the Old English bircen meaning birch tree, of which many once grew on the headland which jutted into the river at Woodside. The name may also be related to the Birket, a stream which enters the Mersey between Birkenhead and Seacombe.

Early history

Birkenhead (disambiguation)

Birkenhead is a town on the Wirral Peninsula, in north west England.

Birkenhead may also refer to:

In places:

In ships:

Birkenhead (UK Parliament constituency)

Birkenhead /ˈbɜːrkənˌhɛd/ is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 1979 by Frank Field of the Labour Party.

History

Birkenhead was enfranchised in 1861 and was a single constituency for 57 years until it was split as a result of the Representation of the People Act 1918 which took effect from the 1918 general election. Birkenhead East and West constituencies then covered its area and certain smaller neighbouring communities of The Wirral until the single Birkenhead constituency was re-established at the 1950 general election. Since then it has returned only Labour MPs, being a safe Labour seat with large majorities apart from a 7% majority in 1955.

For the 2001, 2005 and 2010 general elections Birkenhead had the fewest candidates of any British constituency: only candidates for the Labour Party, Conservative Party and Liberal Democrat contested the seat.

Boundaries

The constituency covers the town of Birkenhead, on the Wirral Peninsula, and the Birkenhead suburbs of Bidston, Claughton, Oxton, Prenton, Rock Ferry and Tranmere. It is one of four parliamentary constituencies within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral.