Haydock

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Haydock is a 'ward' within of the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens, Merseyside, England and is in the historic 'County of Lancashire'. It was one of the United Kingdom's richest areas in coal and coal mining. The last mine in Haydock closed in the 1960s bringing to an end coal mining in the area. Surrounded by farmland, much of the village's expansion was due to mining and canal transport. In the early 1900s Haydock had no fewer than three railway stations along the line passing through from St.Helens to Lowton.

Haydock was a township in the parish of Winwick before being made a Civil Parish in 1866. It was in the Poor Law Union of Warrington in the 19th Century before being created an Urban District in 1894 which it remained until being absorbed into the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens in 1974.

Haydock's last few Collieries were principally owned by Richard Evans (and Co), whose name can be found today in two of the villages schools: Richard Evans Infant and Richard Evans Junior Schools.

Other schools in the area include Haydock Sports College, formerly known as Haydock High School, and Legh Vale.

Haydock is the home of the famous Haydock Park Racecourse, which is situated north of the A580 (East Lancashire Road) and east of the M6 motorway.

Situated at the meeting point between the M6 Motorway and A580 (East Lancashire Road), it is close to within 20 miles of both Manchester and Liverpool and is known, nationally, as a regional road transport hub.

[edit] Place-name meaning

The place-name is from Celtic heidd, meaning "barley, wheat" with the suffix -aco meaning "place". An undated source refers to the name as Heidiog.

The village is often referred to by the colloquial name of 'Yick', and its inhabitants may be referred to as 'Yickers'.^{[citation needed]}