Hale
OS Grid ref:- SJ 471 820
Hale Village is situated on the north bank of the River Mersey, about 2.5 miles from Speke.
Thatched cottage at Hale
John Middleton, the Child of Hale (1578–1623)
The village was home to allegedly the tallest man in England at 9 feet 3 inches, John Middleton (1578-1623), known as the Childe of Hale, was well known both in the area and to the then King James I. Because of his huge size, the Sheriff of Lancashire, Gilbert Ireland employed him as a bodyguard. Rumours reached the ears of James I regarding Middleton's height and the king invited Middleton to his court in 1620.
The Childe of Hale
In London, James presented Middleton with a dress of purple, red and gold. Brasenose College, Oxford has a portrait of him in this dress and the painted outline of his hand. Middleton beat the King's champion in wrestling and received £20, a large amount of money in those times. However, when Middleton was returning to Hale, his travelling companions stole the money. His grave are located in the village churchyard. Just outside St Mary's Church is a carving of the Childe Of Hale which is said to be life size.
Middleton's grave in the churchyard
A plaque on one of several quaint thatched cottages in the village of Hale relates that the 'Childe of Hale' lived there from 1578 to 1623. The pub, named "The Childe of Hale", has a copy of the Brasenose College portrait of Middleton as its sign.
The cottage at Hale where John Middleton lived
St Mary's Church is a handsome, red sandstone building. The tower dates from the 14th century and the rest of the church from 1758-59, replacing an earlier church on the site. The impressive oak pulpit dates from the 17th century stands on Tuscan columns, it came from York Minster. The church font dates from the 18th century and reputedly spent a century in a garden.
St. Mary's Church
Hale Manor House on Church Road dates back to the 17th century, the Building overlooks one of the village greens. The coat of arms of a former owner, Rev. William Langford, can be seen above the front entrance.
Hale Manor House
Hale Lighthouse, a grade II listed building, is located on the shoreline of the River Mersey, just to the south of the village. It was built on the site of an earlier lighthouse dating from 1838 and was completed in 1907. It is now a private residence. The lighthouse can be accessed by a short walk down the lane at the end of Church Road.
The village is also home to one of only three remaining duck decoys in the UK and also Pickerings Pasture, an award winning Green Flag Local Nature Reserve with views of the River Mersey estuary and the Welsh mountains to the west.
Nearby places of interest
Speke Hall is situated close to the John Lennon Airport and about 2 miles within Merseyside's border with Cheshire, the hall dates back to 1530.
Calderstones Park a stunning 94 acre family Green Flag park in Allerton, Liverpool boasting woodland, lake and fields, with botanical gardens and historical interest.