Does Freshfield exist as more than just a train station?

There seems to be a 'Great North/South divide' in Formby. A debate has been going on between people as to even whether the area of Freshfield actually exists. We can tell you that it most certainly does exist. Freshfield runs from the Pinewoods on Victoria Road to Dobbs Brook, better known as the ditch on Long Lane.

Freshfield is an area of Formby, in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, Merseyside, England, situated at the northern end of the town. It has no local political distinction or representation and is included as part of the two council wards which make up Formby (Harington and Ravenmeols), nor is it separated in any physical sense from the town.

The name did not exist until Formby's second railway station, Freshfield, was built in 1854. The name was chosen, as the local landowner, Thomas Fresh, owned the adjacent model farm and fields. Fresh was Inspector of Nuisances in Liverpool and was one of the celebrated trio of pioneering officers appointed in 1847 by the Borough of Liverpool's Health of the Town Committee; the others being William Henry Duncan, the UK's first Medical Officer of Health, and James Newlands, Borough Engineer (though it was recently discovered that Fresh had been in a similar post for several years before this).

Thomas Fresh (3 September 1803-1861) was a pioneer in British environmental health. In 1844, he became Liverpool's first public health officer.

A Blue Heritage Plaque was erected on the house of Thomas Fresh on November 15, 2014. The heritage plaque celebrates the life of Thomas Fresh, who gave Freshfield it's name. This was Formby's first plaque and is attached to the house that Thomas Fresh lived in at 95 Freshfield Road.

Freshfield Rd No 95 - Blue Plaque Thomas Fresh Public Health Pioneer 1803 to 1861

Formby Civic Society -

"Thomas Fresh made a very significant contribution to the improvement of living conditions and health of the inhabitants of central Liverpool in the mid 19th Century. Remarkably he was also the person who obtained the construction of a new railway station at Freshfield. This in turn led to the growth of the area of Formby which since his time has been known as ‘Freshfield’."

A process of reverse naming seems to have occurred with some people referring to the area of Formby around this station as "Freshfield". The title originally proposed was "Freshton". It exists from Freshfield beach - situated beyond the pinewoods to Dobb's Brook or Gutter which is commonly referred to as Long Lane "Ditch".

Do you live in Freshfield and hate people saying you live in Formby or don't you care?

Please tell us.