Editing Haydock (section)

==Community and Culture==

Before [[National Coal Board|nationalisation of the coal industry]] in 1947, Haydock's collieries were principally operated by [[Haydock Collieries#Evans family|Richard Evans]] & Co,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.old-merseytimes.co.uk/haydockexplosion1878.html|title=Haydock Colliery explosion 1878|website=www.old-merseytimes.co.uk|access-date=2017-07-14}}</ref> whose name can be found today in two of the village's schools, Richard Evans [[Infant School]] and Richard Evans [[Junior School]], which closed in 2006 due to falling pupil numbers.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/1813682._Outstanding__school_wins_Ofsted_salute/|title=Outstanding school wins Ofsted salute|work=St Helens Star|date=2007-10-07|access-date=2010-12-10}}</ref> The school is now used as a music centre by the local Valley Brass Band who take their name from the Grange Valley area of Haydock.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://valleybrassband.webplus.net/valleybrass.html|title=Valley Brass History|publisher=Valley Brass Band|access-date=2010-12-10|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724130332/http://valleybrassband.webplus.net/valleybrass.html|archive-date=2011-07-24}}</ref>

Other schools in the area include [[Outwood Academy Haydock]], Legh Vale Primary School, St. James' [[Church of England]] Primary, Grange Valley Primary School and English Martyrs Primary School. Outwood Academy Haydock was previously named Haydock Secondary Modern School and then Haydock High School. Haydock has many sport facilities including Haydock Park Racecourse, Haydock Cricket Club, Haydock leisure centre. Haydock is also home to Independent Futsal Club the first 5v5 [[Futsal]] Club in the county.

In 2007 a [[Tesco]] supermarket was built on the site of former coal industry workshops.<ref>{{Cite web|date=21 November 2007|title=Tesco’s right grand opening |url=https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/1837192.updated-tescos-right-grand-opening |access-date=14 December 2024|website=St Helens Star}}</ref> This development led to the demolition of the old [[Association of Conservative Clubs|Conservative club]] building. Nearby are [[Iceland (supermarket)|Iceland]] and [[Aldi]] supermarkets and other shops and restaurants. This area is now considered the main [[retail]] section of Haydock.

Haydock has a country park, known as the Lyme and Wood Pits Park. It is situated on the side of the hill that is home to the landfill site. In 2009 local schools from Haydock and [[Earlestown]] planted a variety of trees on the hill as part of the plans. The park includes many walks, ponds and a memorial to the 189 miners who lost their lives in the Wood pit explosion in 1878. Haydock Forest was awarded Green Flag status in early 2012.

King George V Playing Fields houses a play area and astro-turf pitch, and is home to Haydock Juniors and local open age football teams.
In 2009, Brazilian Soccer Schools was launched in Haydock for local junior players which grew and became a Football and Futebol de Salao centre for Lancashire and Merseyside.

Haydock is the home of the [[Haydock Park Racecourse]]. It was built between 1898 and 1899 on 127 acres of the historic Haydock Park land granted by [[Thomas Legh, 2nd Baron Newton|Lord Newton]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.haydock-park.co.uk/racing/feature-race-days/old-newton-cup-day|title=Old Newton Cup day}}</ref> to replace the older Newton le Willows course (home of the Newton Races) which was situated on Newton Common adjacent to Swan Lane and was closed in 1890.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newton-le-willows.com/history/viewtopic.php?t=1318&highlight=race|title=Historical recreation of site|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714174950/http://newton-le-willows.com/history/viewtopic.php?t=1318&highlight=race|archive-date=2011-07-14}}</ref> The origins of the Old Newton Cup can be traced back to 1752, when racing was taking place on Golborne Heath, not far from the present course. On 16 June that year a £50 Cup was competed for at Golborne, sponsored by the Newton Hunt. The races subsequently moved to Newton le Willows early in the 19th century.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.the-racehorse.com/breeding/whats_in_a_name/julys_races| title=July's races – Old Newton Cup, Haydock Park| publisher=the-racehorse.com}}</ref>

Haydock has several churches:
{|
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*Bethany Hall (Brethren)
*Christ Church (Haydock's tallest building, [[United Reformed Church]])
*Ebenezer Independent Methodist (Independent Methodist)
*Haydock Wesleyan Methodist ([[Methodist]]) Closed 2012
| style="width:120px;" |&nbsp;
| valign="top" |
*English Martyrs ([[Roman Catholic]])
*[[St James' Church, Haydock|St James' Church]] ([[Church of England]])
*St Marks Church, Haydock ([[Church of England]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stmarkshaydock.org/ |title = St Marks Church – Knowing Jesus, Loving Each other, Caring for our Community}}</ref>
|}

===Music===

The Valley Brass Band, recipients of the [[King's Award for Voluntary Service]], and formed in 1992 is significant in its community activities in the area, teaching approximately 120 children to play brass and percussion instruments. The band operate a community centre at a former primary school and support many local groups through this endeavour. The group have a close connection to Haydock Male Voice Choir and they perform regular concerts together.

Founded in 1923, the Haydock Male Voice Choir is one of the oldest choirs in [[North West England]] with a continuous record, apart from the early years of the [[Second World War]]. It performs in the UK as well as in Germany and the USA which the choir have visited many times. Current membership of 70 men is drawn from a 25-mile radius of Haydock. In recent times the choir has won a number of competitions including the Isle of Man festival of choirs 2019 and Choir of the festival in 2020. Since 2014 the Musical Director has been Dan Craddock, the 10th conductor in the choir's 97 year history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.haydockmvc.com/index.html|title=Haydock Male Voice Choir|access-date=28 March 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308185730/http://www.haydockmvc.com/index.html|archive-date=8 March 2012}}</ref>

The Haydock Brass Band, formed in 1861, is the oldest community run organisation in St Helens. It performs brass band music in contests, theatrical productions, performances with choral organisations and corporate events. It rehearses at Grange Valley Youth Centre, where the band has been based for the last five years. The band annually performs the ceremonial fanfares at the start and finish of the [[Grand National]] in Aintree. Haydock band has a strong relationship with [[Haydock Park Racecourse]]. It has one of the largest and oldest libraries of brass band music in the country.{{cn|date=December 2021}}

Since 2014, Haydock Park Racecourse has hosted music artists as one associate of ''The Jockey Club Live'', currently the UK's 6th largest music promoter, annually. Celebrities who've headlined at the course include [[Busted (band)|Busted]], [[Kylie Minogue]], [[Craig David]], [[Olly Murs]], [[Pete Tong]], a tribute to Manchester's [[The Haçienda|Haçienda]] nightclub and [[Tom Jones (singer)|Tom Jones]]. Haydock Park has since been described as a "hotspot for live music entertainment".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/live/visitor-information/about/|title=The Jockey Club Live - About Us|access-date=27 April 2025|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/live/events-tickets/past-events/|title=The Jockey Club Live - Past Events|access-date=27 April 2025|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/showbiz-news/most-famous-names-play-merseyside-23565611|title=Most famous names to play Merseyside racecourse venue|access-date=27 April 2025|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/haydock/events-tickets/live-music/|title=The Jockey Club (Official Haydock Park Racecourse Section)|access-date=27 April 2025|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/23872559.busted-perform-haydock-park-racecourse-2024/|title=Busted to perform at Haydock Park racecourse in 2024|access-date=27 April 2025|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://theguideliverpool.com/haydock-park-racecourse-presents-an-unforgettable-summer-of-live-music/|title=Haydock Park Racecourse presents an unforgettable Summer of live music|access-date=27 April 2025|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.northernchorus.co.uk/2024/07/22/busted-entertain-racegoers-at-haydock-park/|title=Busted Entertain Racegoers At Haydock Park|access-date=27 April 2025|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/live/news/craig-david-and-hacienda-classical-join-the-jockey-club-live-summer-2023-line-up/|title=Craig David and Haçienda Classical join The Jockey Club Live summer 2023 line up|access-date=27 April 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>