Old Swan is centred on the road junction between Prescot Road, running east to west, Derby Lane (from the north) St Oswald Street (from the south) and Broadgreen Road (from the south-east). It is named after a public house called the Three Swans,[3] which served the pack-horse route along Prescot Lane (now Prescot Road) in the 18th century. The name was derived from the coat of arms of local landowners, the Walton family.[4]
The inn stood at the corner of Prescot Lane and Pettycoat Lane (now Broadgreen Road). The junction later acquired two more pubs, the Swan Vaults (now called the Old Swan) and the Cygnet (now closed), while the original pub was replaced by another, the Red House (now closed); this has become a branch of Costa Coffee.[5][6]
Housing in the district is mostly in densely packed terraced houses, though there are exceptions.[8]Doric Park is tucked away behind rows of terraced houses. Liverpool Shopping Park runs parallel to Old Swan. The retail park is currently being improved and phase 2 opened in autumn 2020.
Health
There are numerous primary care services located within Old Swan, including a NHS walk-in health centre, along with an urgent care unit, a GP practice on Derby Lane, and several pharmacies and opticians.[9]
There are also several dentists practices within the ward.[10]
Old Swan also has an emergency ambulance station which is located on St. Oswalds Street.
Government
Old Swan's representation on Liverpool City Council is largely through the Old Swanward, though parts also lie in Tuebrook and Stoneycroft ward.
The elected councillors for Old Swan ward are Councillor William Shortall (Labour Party), Councillor Joanne Calvert (Independent) and Councillor Rona Heron (Liverpool Community Independents).[11]
Old Swan library is managed by Liverpool City Council. It was built with Victorian black and white features, originally opening in 1913 as a reading room, and has its own garden, the entrance to which is on the A57.
Economy
Costa Coffee
Old Swan has a varied collection of clothes and food shops situated along Prescot Road serving local residents. In addition, the area is also served by a large Tesco supermarket and an Aldi facing it across St. Oswald Street. Further down Prescot Road, away from the city centre, is a Sainsbury's supermarket in neighbouring Knotty Ash ward. During 2011, Asda took over the Netto premises, and it is now an Asda supermarket. In July 2015, work began refurbishing the Red House pub and a Costa Coffee store was opened later the same month.
The Old Swan Tramway was one of the first street tramways in Britain, opening in 1861.
Education
There are six schools in Old Swan, including Broadgreen Primary School, St Anne's Stanley C of E Primary, St Oswald's Catholic Primary, Corinthian Avenue Primary, St Cuthbert Catholic Primary and Dixons Broadgreen Academy, a secondary school with an adjoining sixth form.[14] There are also three nurseries in the area.
Places of worship
The Parish Church is St Anne's on Prescot Road. In September 2022, Lady Dodd endowed stained glass windows at St Anne's Church, in memory of her late husband, Sir Ken Dodd.[15]
Notable residents
Former Manchester United manager Ron Atkinson was born in Old Swan.[16]
Judith Berry (nee. Hawkins), mother of Academy Award-winning American actress Halle Berry, was born in Old Swan.
Alan Caldwell, known as Rory Storm, rock 'n' roll singer of the late 1950s and early 1960s. He was born in Old Swan in 1939,[17] was a member of Old Swan Boys' Club (1956–57) and attended St Margaret's Anfield School.
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