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Most
of Prescot town centre is a conservation area, with
many buildings dating from the 18th and 19th century.
The town
was an important watch and clockmaking centre in the 18th
century. This industry came to an end at the beginning of
the 20th century and the Prescot
Museum, housed in a Georgian-style town house, illustrates
the history of clock and watchmaking in the area as well as
other aspects of local history.
Prescot
was well-known to Lord Nelson, who often came to the town
to visit Lady Hamilton. Her house still stands in the High
Street.
On the
outskirts of the Prescot is the estate of the Earls of Derby,
also the home of Knowsley
Safari Park. This popular tourist attraction (opened
in 1971) began life in the 19th century as the 13th Earl of
Derby's vast private zoo. The Earl was a patron of Edward
Lear, the artist and writer of 'nonsense verse', who was a
regular visitor to Knowsley Hall. Lear wrote the 'Owl
and the Pussycat' whilst staying here in 1867.
Nearby
Whiston was known historically for its coal mining and pottery.
Stadt
Moers Park, between Whiston and Huyton, was created on
the derelict ground in former coal mining and brickmaking
area. The attractive 220 acre park (named after Knowsley's
twin town in Germany) has meadows, woodlands and ponds.
The attractive rural settlement
of Cronton, south of Prescot, is an ancient village renowned
in the 16th century for the production of watches and watch
parts.
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Prescot
