A former station in St Helens holds the grim distinction of being the site where the first person was killed by a train in Britain. Liverpool MP William Huskisson was struck by the renowned Rocket train on 15 September 1830, during a procession to celebrate the inauguration of the Liverpool-Manchester line.

Parkside 1st station in St Helens was one of the original passenger stations of the famed Liverpool and Manchester Railway. An inquest into the tragedy concluded that the incident "was a mere accident." Although historically part of Lancashire, the area now falls within Merseyside. Mr Huskisson's death is widely considered to be the first fatality of the railway age, and a memorial was erected at the accident site the following year.

He is among several notable figures interred in St James Cemetery, located within the grounds of Liverpool Anglican Cathedral. His remains were entombed in a mausoleum in 1830.

On Saturday, September 18 1830, the London Evening Standard covered the inquest into Mr Huskisson's death. The report partially reads: "On the Earl of Wilton's arrival at one o'clock, his deposition was taken by the coroner."

It further stated that "He stated that Mr. Huskisson, with several other gentleman, were standing outside the royal car, of which the door was open.

"On the alarm being given that the Rocket engine was advancing upon them, he endeavoured to move round the edge of the door, and in doing so became by some means entangled with it.

"His movements then became confused and whilst in that state the Rocket passed him and knocked him down, and the consequence was that his left leg and thigh fell on the off rail of the way on which the Rocket was moving.

"His lordship stated that the disaster was mere accident - that no blame could attach to either the directors, engineers, or machinery."

Based on Historic England records, William Huskisson was born in 1770 at Birtsmorton Court, Worcestershire, and whilst widely recognised as the first fatality of the railway age, an earlier death was documented three years before his tragic demise.

Historic England's website states: "It was on September 15, 1830, at the opening ceremony of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, a project he had done much to promote, that Huskisson met his end, falling into the path of Stevenson's oncoming 'Rocket' engine during a stop at Parkside.

"Generally held to be the first fatality of the railway age, an earlier death on the Stockton and Darlington railway, in 1827, has been recorded. A memorial was placed on the site of Huskisson's accident in 1831."

In November 2020, Liverpool ECHO revealed that Liverpool Council was once again contemplating proposals to erect a statue of a notable Black Liverpudlian on a plinth previously occupied by a defender of slavery.

The idea of commissioning a statue for the William Huskisson plinth on Princes Boulevard was initially proposed at a full council meeting earlier in the year, before being passed on to the culture and tourism select committee.

The statue of Huskisson, an MP who defended slavery in parliament and received financial support from slave traders, has not been on the plinth for many years, having been taken down following the Toxteth Riots.

However, it wasn't until a refurbishment of the road in 2020 that an inscription was added, reflecting increased engagement with the L8 community.