Knotty Ash is an area of Liverpool, Merseyside, England and a Liverpool City Council Ward. At the 2001 Census, the population was 13,200.

Description

Knotty Ash is a small area on the eastern fringe of Liverpool and neighbouring districts include West Derby, Old Swan, Broadgreen and Dovecot.

It derived its name from a gnarled ash tree, and was made famous in the United Kingdom by stand-up comedian and local resident Ken Dodd and his Diddy Men concept. In 2004, Mr Dodd planted a new ash tree close to the site of the original (outside the Knotty Ash pub). According to the 1969 BBC children's television programme Ken Dodd And The Diddymen, the fictitious Diddyland, boasting the highest sunshine rate in the world, was situated in the centre of Knotty Ash.

Knotty Ash is mentioned in the lyrics of the song "Liverpool Lullaby" by Cilla Black.

Knotty Ash is also rumored to be mentioned in the nursery rhyme The Owl and the Pussycat, in the line "to the land where the bong tree grows". The bong tree is rumored to be the knotted Ash tree which once stood by an ancient row of cottages called the little bongs.

Knotty Ash was the site of the "Tiki" Murder in 1961.

Government

The elected councillors for Knotty Ash are Cllrs Dave Irving, Paul Twigger and Josie Mullen - each Liberal Democrats. The elected MPs are Jane Kennedy (Wavertree Constituency) and Bob Wareing (West Derby Constituency). At the next General Election, Knotty Ash will be wholly in the West Derby constituency.

Education

Knotty Ash contains the special needs family the Evans

Transportation

Knotty Ash railway station, on the North Liverpool Extension Line, once served the area.It is also the west end of the M62.

References

External links

• Liverpool City Council, Ward Profile: Knotty Ash
• Liverpool Street Gallery - Liverpool 14