Metropolitan Borough of St Helens

The Metropolitan Borough was formed on 1 April 1974 as a merger of the former County Borough of St Helens, along with the urban districts of Haydock, Newton-le-Willows and Rainford, and parts of Billinge-and-Winstanley and Ashton-in-Makerfield urban districts, along with part of Whiston Rural District, all from the administrative county of Lancashire.

Between 1974 and 1986 (when it was abolished), the borough council shared functions with Merseyside County Council. After abolition, the functions of this body were in part devolved to the boroughs and in part transferred to ad hoc agencies.

The borough borders the borough of Knowsley, in the south-west, the district of West Lancashire in the north, the Borough of Wigan in the north-east, and to the south the boroughs of Warrington and Halton.

The St Helens Borough covers roughly 30 km² over an area of soft rolling hills used primarily for agricultural purposes, mainly arable. The highest point in the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens, and the whole of Merseyside, is Billinge Hill, 4.5 miles (7.2 km) north from St. Helens centre. The borough is landlocked with a stream running through, Mill Brook/Windle Brook running through Eccleston and connecting with the (disused) St. Helens Branch/Section of the Sankey Canal in the town centre. The centre of St Helens is around 160 feet (50 m) above sea level.

From the top of Billinge Hill the cities of Manchester and Liverpool are visible on a clear day as well as the towns of Bolton and Warrington.

Carr Mill Dam is Merseyside's largest body of inland water, offering picturesque lakeside trails and walks as well as national competitive powerboating and angling events.

The Burgies are two tailings on the site of the old Rushy Park coal mine. They were created by the dumping of toxic chemical waste from the manufacture of glass, they have since been covered with tall grass and woodland.^{[citation needed]}

Coat of arms of St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

Crest Issuing from an ancient crown Or a ram's head Argent armed Or charged on the neck with two fleur de lys Gules and holding in the mouth a slip of laurel Proper; mantled Azure doubled Argent. Escutcheon Argent two bars Azure overall a cross Sable in the first quarter a saltire couped Gules in the second quarter a griffin segreant Sable beaked and armed Or in the third quarter a cross flory Gules voided and in the fourth quarter a cross crosslet fitchy also Gules. Supporters On the dexter a lion guardant Or charged with seven fleur de lys Gules and on the sinister a griffin Sable armed Or the wings barry of seven Sable and Or.[11] Motto 'Ex Terra Lucem'[1]

The coat of arms of St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council was adopted in 1974. The crest above the helmet is that of Lord Newton representing Newton U.D.C. and Haydock U.D.C. The crest is suitably differenced by the inclusion of two red (gules) fleur-de-lys on the body of the ram.^[11]

The escutcheon is split into quarters by the Black (sable) Cross of Haydock & Eccleston and the Blue (azure) Bars of Parr. Each quarter contains a different charge:

• First Quarter: a saltire couped Gules - representing Ashton and Seneley Green,
• Second Quarter: a griffin Sable - representing Rainhill,
• Third Quarter: a cross flory - representing Windle,
• Fourth Quarter: a cross crosslet fitchy - representing Billinge.

Beneath the escutcheon is a scroll bearing the motto ' Ex Terra Lucem ' meaning 'From the Earth, Light'.^[1]

St Helens is twinned with:^[12]

• Stuttgart, Germany

The following people, military units and Organisations and Groups have received the Freedom of the Borough of St Helens.