Knowsley

Knowsley is a metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. Its main towns are Kirkby, Huyton, Prescot and Halewood. It is named for Knowsley Hall and has its own radio station, Knowsley Community Radio.

Knowsley pre-dates the neighbouring city of Liverpool by hundreds of years—it was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, whereby it was known as Chenulveslei. The name went through many different incarnations as the English language evolved, from a root phrase that meant something akin to “The Glade of the Wolves.”

Due to this, pronunciation can vary when referring to the name “Knowsley”—it can be pronounced “Nowsley” or “Nosely,” though inhabitants of Knowsley Village and the surrounding area usually use the latter.

History

There are a few notable entries in Knowsley's history— Henry VII visited in 1495; Shakespeare is said to have performed in a play held in Knowsley in 1589 and Capability Brown is responsible for some of the fine landscaping of Knowsley in the 1700s. Edward Lear wrote "The Owl and The Pussycat" whilst staying at Knowsley Hall.

Recently, former US president Bill Clinton was a guest at Knowsley Hall.