The Woodcote Hotel (Image: LIVERPOOL ECHO/Colin Lane)
Hooton, a small village on the Wirral, began with just nine homes and eventually boasted its own .
The village, located in the southern part of the peninsula, was first mentioned in the Domesday Book as Hotone. It was reportedly owned by Richard de Vernon and comprised only nine houses.
William the Conqueror granted Hooton’s lands to Adam de Aldithly in 1070, and they were later passed down to the Stanley family. Over the years, Hooton underwent numerous transformations, including the construction of Hooton Hall for the fifth Baronet Sir William Stanley.
However, after Sir Massey Stanley went bankrupt due to his extravagant lifestyle in the 19th century, the family decided to sell the estate. The hall was subsequently abandoned when the last private owner, Richard Naylor, relocated due to the Manchester Ship Canal’s construction.
During WWI, the hall served as a military hospital and officers’ mess, reports . Sadly, the neglected hall was demolished in 1932. Interestingly, a part of Hooton now resides in Wales, as Hooton Hall’s facade was rebuilt as The Gloriette in the tourist village of Portmeirion.
Hooton village (Image: LIVERPOOL ECHO/Colin Lane)
Additionally, the tiny village once had its own RAF base, initially a racecourse that became an aerodrome in 1917. It served as a training site for the army and pilots. In 1930, 11 years after the Royal Flying Corps left the area in 1919, Hooton officially became Liverpool Airport, serving the Northwest.
The Hooton site held the title of Liverpool’s airport for three years until Speke, now known as Liverpool John Lennon Airport, claimed it in July 1933. With the onset of WWII, Hooton transformed into a bustling industrial hub, housing bombers such as Fairey Battles, Hurricanes and Spitfires.
Patrol flights took off from Hooton across the Irish Sea, and RAF aircraft were assembled and repaired there. One of its most significant moments during WWII was during the Dunkirk retreat in 1940 when a diverse range of aircraft landed at Hooton.
Although aircraft repair work continued post-war, the site closed in 1957 and was later purchased by Vauxhall Motors in 1962. As Hooton Park fell into disrepair, The Hooton Park Trust was established in 2000 to save the historic site.
Upon acquiring the expansive site, the trust aimed to preserve the Hangars for future generations. However, due to the buildings’ condition, they were added to Historic England’s ‘at risk’ list in 2003.
In 2018, thanks to repairs funded by Historic England, WREN (landfill tax), Vauxhall matching funding and the dedicated team of the Hooton Park Trust, Buildings 17 (Central) and 18 (Southern) GS sheds were removed from the register. These two sites now host heritage open days, and the trust supports restoration efforts by storing cars for a fee.
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Picturesque Hooton village (Image: LIVERPOOL ECHO/Colin Lane)
The Hooton Park Trust has recently unveiled Building 16, a significant addition to the local heritage that has also influenced the proprietors of Hooton’s sole hotel in their enterprise.
Chip Cobb, alongside his wife Tina, has helmed The Woodcote Hotel for half a decade. Nestled on Hooton Road, this establishment offers a convenient stopover for dining, drinking, or staying overnight, catering to both travellers and residents.
At 66, David ‘Chip’ Cobb recounted their acquisition of the hotel five years prior and their ambition to renovate it. In an interview with the ECHO, he shared: “Initially we had considered closing and completing all the work without the additional concern of customers. However, we realised that there were too many advanced bookings for events. Not a good thing to tell a customer that their wedding is cancelled because we were decorating.”
He continued: “The decision was made to co-ordinate around the hotel’s events, this led to many wonderful challenges. We completed our refurbishment after 12/18 months and began to plan for promoting the business. Then we were introduced to , and the business closed.”
Post-pandemic, the hotel faced the hurdle of staff turnover, as David explained: “We reopened after , and sadly discovered that some of the staff had moved on to other careers. It has been quite a challenge to assemble a new staff, however, this has been achieved and we are ready to forge forward and become the shining star in Hooton.”
David spoke about the rich history of Hooton and its influence on their establishment, The Hotel. He revealed: “To this end, we have decided to rename our restaurant and bar. After much research of Hooton’s history, we discovered that we are a hop, skip and jump from what was Hooton Park Airfield.
“The airfield was built in 1917 for training WW1 pilots and after the war became a commercial airfield with the longest runway in Europe. It was the primary airfield of the North serving Liverpool and surrounding areas. With the advent of WW2, it once again became an RAF facility with Meteor jets, hurricanes and spitfires along with the 610 squadrons assigned from Chester.”
“The squadron fought in the Battle of Britain with many brave fighter pilots serving. The history of the airfield is very replete with many stories of Hooton and its community. With this in mind, our new restaurant and bar will be named ‘The 610 Squadron’ in memory of Hooton’s Airfield and all the amazing history that surrounds it.
“Even though we are now open for business, the new restaurant and bar will have a soft launch in August. Hopefully, the business will take off.”
Residents describe Hooton as a “small” and “lovely” village, home to approximately 400 people. Notable landmarks include The Chimney Pub situated across the bustling New Chester Road and near Hooton Green, surrounded by more homes.
Upon visiting the quaint village of Hooton, ECHO reporters observed the flurry of traffic whizzing through Hooton Road, connecting to the bustling New Chester Road and onto the M53 motorway. Echoing the thoughts of the community, one local articulated that the road “can be busy” at times.
A mother of two, firmly rooted in Hooton for nearly three decades, painted a charming picture of the village life and mentioned: “I have had a lot of friends who have lived here. Some of them have downsized and I am getting to that situation myself in a couple of years because my kids are 25 and 21. Sometimes this road can be a bit busy but it is lovely.”
She expressed some trepidation to the ECHO regarding forthcoming developments encircling the village, hinting at a cautious eye on its future growth.
Hooton train station (Image: LIVERPOOL ECHO/Colin Lane)
Alan Knight, a fellow villager who paused his dog-walking for a brief exchange with ECHO, shared: “We have been here 30-odd years and it is a lovely place. The neighbours are nice and everyone keeps their gardens tidy. It’s a nice place. You have a restaurant, and pub which is OK as well. They do well, they do a lot of functions there.”
Emphasizing the community spirit, he added: “I find people are very nice here and it’s nice and quiet here as well. We used to live in Great Sutton and it could get a bit rowdy there. Plus where we are it has got a little bit more room.”
Hooton, much like other small villages, isn’t brimming with commercial amenities such as shops and supermarkets, making a car essential for residents. For everyday essentials, villagers often travel to the nearby Spar located in Willaston or opt for one of the three Tesco Express stores situated in Little Sutton and Great Sutton.
A local resident spoke to the ECHO about the realities of living in a place like Hooton, saying: “You need to get in your car, but I didn’t mind that. I just think if you want to live somewhere like this you have to be prepared to get in your car. When they built the new housing estate people were saying ‘where do you go shopping’ and I said ‘you have to do what we did and get in your car or don’t live there’.”
Hooton boasts a train station situated at one end of Hooton Road, providing some connectivity for residents. The area has seen recent development with the construction of Palladian Gardens, a new housing estate.
Additionally, the Church of St Mary of the Angels is located nearby. The village also features an industrial aspect, with the Hooton Works Training Estate and Oaklands Business Park positioned close to the train station, offering employment opportunities and contributing to the local economy.