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Iron Age people
constructed a fort on Helsby Hill.
The earthworks consist of a bank 65ft wide and 4ft high enclosing
an area of around 3½ acres.
The Saxons gradually cleared the forests and homes were established in
the clearings. Later, Norse
colonists from the Isle of Man and Ireland arrived.
Helsby grew up at the foot of the hill, above the level of
undrained marshland. The
area has now been extensively drained.
Helsby is described as ‘Hellesby’ in 1216 which may have been
derived from the old Scandinavian ‘hellir’ for cave, or ‘hiallr’
for a ledge on the side of a hill and the old English ‘by’ which is
derived from old norse ‘byr’ meaning village.
The
northern crags of Helsby Hill bear a strong resemblance to a human face
and are a favourite haunt of rock climbers.
The summit affords magnificent views ranging from the Bickerton
Hills to the Clwydian Range to the Pennines.
For
all the local news on Helsby visit
www.helsbynews.org
Helsby
Station is supported by the
North
Cheshire Rail Users' Group.
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