The TOWN of NESTON

At one time the town of Neston was the most important and populous place in South Wirral. Its prosperity resulted from the silting up of the River Dee, which rendered the Port of Chester inaccessible to large sea-going vessels. Thus, in the sixteenth century, collections were made in churches throughout Cheshire for the building of a 'New Quay' at Neston, which when completed, brought a considerable amount of trade to the area.

The New Quay became the point of embarkation for the regular service to Ireland, and Neston eventually became a coaching station with a thrice weekly coach running direct to London via Chester. The number of Inns in the area increased to accommodate travellers, who were sometimes delayed on their journeys by inclement weather. This served to increase the income of the innkeepers: but, by the beginning of the eighteenth century, the New Quay had been abandoned because of further silting.

Neston became a coal-producing area when a colliery was opened in 1765, but Neston's prosperity further declined.

Since the 1960's due to the town being situated on the banks of the River Dee, with wonderful veiws of North Wales and it's mountains, there has been considerable residential development, and light industry has come to the area.
Meanwhile, the nearby villages of Ness and Little Neston have also grown in size. The latter is now really merged with Neston, but the former, whilst linked, still remains a character of its own.

Click here for Neston's local Tourist attraction Ness Gardens