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St
Helens to the north-east
of Liverpool, gives its name to the borough.
St Helens was created in the
early 19th century from the townships of Eccleston, Par, Sutton
and Windle. The new town
was named after St Helen's parish church in Hardshaw (within
Windle).
St Helens was at the forefront
of the Industrial Revolution. Because
of the availability of sand and coal, the glass industry became
very important here.
In 1757 the St Helens Canal was
built to transport raw materials and finished goods to and
from the River Mersey and in the 1830s this was augumented
by the St Helens and Runcorn Gap Railway.
Today the glass industry remains
very important to the town, with the large Pilkington plant
dominating the town.
The coal industry completely
disappeared when the last collliery at Newton-le-Willows,
just east of the town, closed in 1992.
St Helens has been regenerated
in the last 30 years and in now one of the finest towns in
the North West. Victoria Square, the location of the splendid
Victorian Town Hall, has been pedestrianised and the Theatre
Royal has been renovated with a glass exterior.
A tourist attraction, The
World of Glass Museum,
opened in 2000, gives visitors a fascinating insight into
one of the most common substances on earth and features live
glass-blowing demonstrations.
The St Helens Canal has been
cleaned up and now attracts wildlife and the
St Helens Transport Museum, opened in 1980, has been redeveloped.
St Helens is popular shopping
centre - three indoor shopping malls and many retail streets.
Over the last ten years the town
has become known for its nightlife with new bars opening up
and people from a wide area travelling into St Helens to experience
its delights.
The town is also famous for Rugby
League team.
Haydock
Park horse racing course is to the east of the town, just
off Junction 23 of the M6
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St
Helens
