One Merseyside town centre has an extensive history going back hundreds of years.
St Helens initially existed as four townships: Eccleston, Windle, Parr and Sutton. The name St Helens refers to St Elyn, and more specifically a chapel of ease dedicated to her, which was first mentioned in 1552.
The chapel was built where the road from Ormskirk to Warrington crossed the road from Prescot to Ashton. Maps from the time show that the chapel was on Chapel Lane, which is now the site of Church Street, right in the centre of the town.
