Speke

Coordinates: 53°20′27″N 2°50′28″W / 53.3409°N 2.8410°W / 53.3409; -2.8410

Speke (/ˈspiːk/) is an area of Liverpool, Merseyside, England, close to the boundaries of the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley. It is 7.7 miles (12.4 km) south east of the city centre and to the west of the town of Widnes.

Speke is bordered by a number of other areas; Garston, Hunts Cross, Halewood and Hale Village and is located near to the widest part of the River Mersey.

History

The name derives from the Old English Spec, meaning 'brushwood'. It was known as Spec in the Domesday Book, which gave Speke Hall as one of the properties held by Uctred. (Today Speke Hall, now a Tudor wood-framed house, is open to the public.)

In the mid 14th century, the manors of Speke, Whiston, Skelmersdale, and Parr were held by William Dacre, 2nd Baron Dacre.

Until the 1930s, Speke was a small village with a population of 400; by the end of the 1950s more than 25,000 people were living in the area. The local All Saints Church was built by the last resident owner of Speke Hall, Miss Adelaide Watt.

Speke (disambiguation)

Speke may refer to:

Speke (1789)

The Speke was a 473 ton sailing ship built by Mr Gillet in 1789 at Calcutta, India.

Under the command of John Hingston, she sailed from Falmouth, England on 18 May 1808, with 99 female convicts. She arrived at Port Jackson on 16 November 1808. Two female convicts died on the voyage. Speke sailed on 12 January 1809 from Port Jackson to undertake whaling or sealing. Upon hearing of the story of the Boyd massacre, the Speke together with the Inspector, Diana, Atalanta and Perseveance attack Te Pahi's pa on Te Puna island killing approximately 60 Māori. Te Pahi was wounded and died a few weeks later.

On her second voyage, under the command of Peter McPherson, she sailed from England on 22 December 1820, with 156 male convicts. She arrived at Port Jackson on 18 May 1821. Two male convicts died on the voyage.

Her fate is unknown.

Citations