Let's Have A Day Out - To Crosby

 

The coastal town of Crosby in the Borough of Sefton has Viking roots in common with Formby to the north and Kirkby to the east. It was known as 'Krossabyr' in Old Norse, meaning 'village with the cross' and was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as 'Crossebi' and was described as a great sea-bathing place, 6 miles NNW of Liverpool. The area is composed of a string of settlements along the Irish Sea coast, such as the main area, Great Crosby, a smaller village of Little Crosby which is considered the oldest Roman catholic village in England and where there still exists Ned Howerd's green-gabled cottage, in which, in 1708, a chapel was established and Mass said there in secret until 1720. Long before the Viking ships ran their prows into the sands of Crosby, a primeval forest stretched across what is now the Mersey mouth, from the Crosby and Hightown areas to New Brighton and Leasowe. You could have walked through this forest to the Wirral. At the southern section of Crosby beach is Waterloo followed by Brighton-le-Sands, Blundellsands and Thornton as you travel north/north east. By the middle of the late 18th century, Crosby was still merely a cluster of cottages, a chapel and a village green but the opening of the Liverpool, Crosby and Southport Railway in 1848 resulted in the growth of Crosby as a town. 

Crosby Channel forming the principal entrance to the Mersey is about three-quarters of a mile wide and it is due to the constant dredging that a sufficient depth of water for the passage of the great liners is maintained. There is also a lightship in the channel. The Crosby races used to be held once or twice a year—the first week of August was the proper time— on a course on the shore side of Great and Little Crosby, which had been 'stooped out' by William Blundell in 1654 at the request of Lord Molyneux. The grammar school was founded in 1619 by the will of John Harrison, citizen and merchant tailor of London, whose father had been born in Great Crosby and it was run under the auspices of the Merchant Taylors' Company until 1910.

The wide beach at Crosby, surrounded by dunes, is the permanent home of 'Another Place' - an art installation by Antony Gormley, the creator of 'Angel of the North'. Here you'll see 100 life-sized cast iron figures dotted along the beach marking the safe walking zone on the sand. The last figure is as far as you should go and it's something you need to keep an eye out for when you walk your dog on the beach. A lazy day at the beach here is a firm family favourite as you can just unwind and enjoy the sun to the sound of kids playing and waves washing on the shore. The tides at Crosby Beach are quite strong, so swimming is risky and going deep into the water is not recommended. However the sand is perfect for building sand castles and is perfect for dog walkers. If you fancy a longer walk, take the Coastal Path which offers great views and is perfect for spotting birds. A wander down to Crosby coast park is where you will be able to see wildlife at the marina such as Canada geese, swans, gulls, waders, curlews, long tail ducks and more different types of bird.

British Jet Ski Championships at Crosby Marina. ( picture by Gareth Jones )

Another small but significant attraction for visitors is that you are able to park in the free car park next to the leisure center, or there is the paid car park next to the coast guard's building with a really clean block of toilets and there are also toilets in the free car park by leisure centre. The wide prom goes on for a couple of miles with lots of benches to sit and take in the views. The sunsets at Crosby are often beautiful and groups gather to watch them, also enjoying the beautiful views of the Mersey Estuary and the Welsh Mountains. Meanwhile at Crosby Adventure Centre there are a whole raft of activities to take part in or watch. Jet-skiing, sailing, canoeing are some of them to be enjoyed at the centre which also has an activate fitness suite, accommodation and suites available to hire, along with a bar and bistro. Another firm favourite with sport enthusiasts of every age is the Leisure Centre which has a 25m swimming pool, specialist dance studio, sports hall, two squash courts, and a friendly onsite cafe.

see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2022/05/lets-have-day-out-to-rhyl.html