Explaining the Fylde And Its Names
Anchorsholme
The name Anchorsholme is thought to derive from the Old Scandinavian word ‘holmr’ meaning a piece of dry ground in a marsh forming an island, with the ‘Anchors’ meaning a location where one would fasten up a boat. Suggesting that the whole name could mean ‘An island of dry land were boats are anchored’. In 1955 as the population of the Norbreck area grew, Norbreck Infants’ School was used for an afternoon Sunday school and evening service. Two years later, with the pressure from new housing in the Anchorsholme area the church applied to the Diocesan Pastoral Committee for a grant to build a Dual Purpose Pre-fabricated building on the site known as All Saints .
Bispham
Known as ‘Biscopham’ in the 1086 Domesday Book, meaning ‘ The Bishops Estate or House’. A church has existed on the site of All Hallows Church since the 13th century, being rebuilt in the 17th century and again in 1881. A little along the coast from Blackpool appealing to those who like things a little quieter. Redbank Rd the main shopping street leads up to the beach.
Blackpool
The original fishing village of Blackpool derived its name from ‘Black Poole’ the stream running from the one square mile Marton Mere to the sea at present day Manchester Square. This name was obviously derived from the discoloured water as the stream made its way through the peat bogs to the sea. Settlements of cobble & clay huts started to appear around 1602 with such names as ‘de Blackpoole’ & ‘Blackpoole’.
Carleton
Known in the Domesday Book as ‘Carlentun’ and in 1190 as ‘Carlton’ meaning ‘a farmstead of Freemen or peasants’ the village is now a quiet residential area. In the past excursions from Blackpool brought visitors to ‘Castle Gardens’ which offered an aviary, swing boats & afternoon tea with the public house in the village named ‘Castle Gardens’ being a reminder of these bygone days. Originally named ‘The Weld’s Arms’ the building is thought to date from around 1750. Finally demolished in 1886 Dick’s Mill in the village was burnt down in 1886 by a great storm catching the mills sails, the name however lives on through a carved stone which can be found on a row of nearby terraced cottages. Opposite the cottages stands Thornton Villas which served as the village smithy. Most of the property in the village dates from around 1970 when Carleton Green estate was built. The original village school was built in the late 17th century financed by a Elizabeth Wilson who lived at Whiteholme, however the present school now located relocated on Carleton Green replaced the earlier building. In 1970 the skeleton of a 12,000 year old elk was found, when the foundations for a new house on Blackpool Road Carleton were being excavated. This was an important find, in particular because hunting barbs were found in the leg bones of the animal, suggesting that man may have hunted in the area as far back as 10,000 BC. The skeleton can now be found in the Harris Museum in Preston.
Blackpool and The Fylde College was founded over 50 years ago as Blackpool College of Technology and School of Art. One of the largest further education colleges in the north-west of England, it is now the sixth largest provider of higher education (HE) programmes within a further education environment, with the first degree course being introduced in 1988. Blackpool and The Fylde is an Associate College of the University of Lancaster.
Layton
By its very nature, being ‘common’ meant that the Hawes suffered through the lack of structured management. The absence of an efficient land drainage system ensured that large areas of valuable land were rendered useless during periods of heavy rainfall. John Holt in 1794 reported that; “most of the ditches are nearly navigable, no attention being paid to gain an outfall, so they are full with putrid water” ….. “I believe they may be of service in keeping up the breed of water – rats.” The landowners abutting the Layton Hawes realised that with a little money and effort the 1800 acre tract could be transformed into valuable pasture land, and many attempts were made over the years to acquire it. Marton
Derived from the Old English words ‘mere’ and ‘tun’ believed to mean ‘a Farmstead by a pool’. The one mile square Marton Mere offers a home to many species of birds with the original stream from here to the sea providing the name of ‘Black Poole’ for present day Blackpool. Little Marton Windmill was built in 1838 and remained in use until 1923. In 1750 drainage dykes were cut from the Marton Mere to the River Wyre effectively reducing the size of the lake from around one square mile to 15 acres. Ancient axe heads and tools have been dredged from the bowels of Marton Mere, as also have the remains of coracles. A popular Holiday Park sits on the edge of the mere.
Hoohill
It is thought that the name Hoohill derives from the Old English words ‘hoh’ meaning a spur of land and ‘hyll’ obviously meaning a hill. Hoohill therefore is though to mean ‘a hilly spur of land’. Warbreck
The name ‘war’ is thought to derive from the Old English word ‘waer’ meaning a settlement by a weir, with the word ‘breck’ deriving from 19th century slang for break, meaning an area of land that has been broken up for cultivation. Warbreck Hill in north Blackpool is probably the highest point on the Fylde, it is believed to have been a beacon hill in ancient times, there is talk of it being used by the Druids; is it so inconceivable that the Romans also would have utilised its commanding position as a lookout post? Who knows what evidence may have been destroyed when in the 1920s the water board built a reservoir and the massive water tower which now occupies the crest of the hill, and why is the hill’s real name “Beryl Hill”? This suggests a link with celtic gods to me. Also worth mentioning is the fact that this hill was used along with Beacon Fell for triangulation purposes during the first ordnance survey of Lancashire; this is because from the hills Warbreck is easily seen, just as it was in Roman times.
Clifton
Meaning ‘a settlement near a cliff or bank’ from the Old English words ‘clif’ and ‘tun’ meaning cliff and town. Clifton and Salwick are two villages off the main A583 near to Newton with Scales and were formed from the old Clifton Estate. Salwick consists only of a few houses and a railway station used by commuters to the BNFL plant. The Windmill public house is a converted windmill set in the countryside away from the main road.
Elswick
Known as ‘Edelesuuic’ in the Domesday Book of 1086 which is thought to mean ‘the farm of a man named Aethelsige’ (A old English persons name). Traces of an earthwork thrown up by the earl of Derby’s troops on their march to Lancaster in 1643, can still be found, from were lead cannon balls have in the past been recovered. The heirs of Adam Frekelton held by Alicia, daughter of Henry de Lacy the manor house and lands in Frekilton (Freckleton), Whittingham, Newton and Elswick, as a fee of Penwortham, paying 20d for ward of Lancaster Castle. The lands were escheated (reverted to the property of) to the crown by the attainder of Edmund Dudley, in 1521 being held by Thomas earl of Derby. Dr. Leigh recorded that about 1692 “…in a small village called Elswick, upon a Sunday about three o’clock in the afternoon, happened a terrible tempest of lightning and thunder, which produced very dismal effects. After several amazing claps of thunder and dreadful flashes of lightning, at last struck through the air a blaze not unlike that of an artificial serpent; it took its course into a chimney, and beat down the bricks outwardly, seemed to burst like a squib upon the ground, and afterwards clouded the house with fumes, which had exactly the smell of sulphur. A man lying in the range of the chimney was killed, and lay as if he had been sleeping; the bench upon which he lay was split under him, and under that a hound bitch killed. Several other people in the room were greatly injured, but in the outward porch were sitting several persons, and a young man killed out of the midst of them, none of the rest being injured….” Today Elswick is a large village, can be found just off the A585 which provides easy access from the main towns in the area. The main attraction in Elswick is the Bonds Ice-cream parlour, famous for their home made ice-cream. The Restaurant at Bonds is adjacent to the parlour.
Freckleton
Is one of the oldest Fylde villages recorded in the Domesday Book as ‘Frechelton’ an Anglo-Saxon name meaning ‘enclosed space’ or a farmstead of a man named ‘Frecla’ an Old English persons name. For most of its history, Freckleton’s main industry was agriculture but many of the houses in the village bear testament to the time when Freckleton was a thriving sea port. Freckleton Marsh on the banks of the River Estuary is flanked by broad salt marshes and reclaimed marshes. Large flocks of lapwing and golden plover winter in the area. I the summer you should look out for yellow wagtails; now a fairly scarce breeding bird, it favours the marshes at Warton & Freckleton. It is possible to join the Lancashire Coastal Way at Freckleton for a walk along the Ribble Estuary. Freckletonians will never forget what happened on the 23rd August, 1944. Pariswas liberated on that date and the war in Europe was approaching its end, but for this Fylde village it was its darkest day. It was a Wednesday and the bright morning sunshine suddenly vanished as the sky went grey and a ferocious thunder-storm struck; so fiercely that twenty mature yew trees were torn out of the ground. A four-engined liberator Bomber of the U.S. Airforce undergoing a test flight was immediately re-called. On its descent to Warton airfield, it was struck by lightning. It crashed into a snack bar and some adjoining cottages whereupon part of a wing and the undercarriage hurtled across the road and tore into the village school. It was the children’s second day back after the summer holidays and 38 infants between the ages of four and five and two teachers lost their lives, including the American crew.
Greenhalgh
To the outskirts of the village of Garstang can be found Greenhalgh together with the ruins of Greenhalgh Castle, built by the Earl of Derby, Thomas Stanley in 1490, which was one of last two castles in Lancashire to surrender to Cromwell when the governor died in 1649. A ghost is said to haunt nearby Gubberford Bridge where a Soldier killed his estranged wife during the siege of Greenhalgh. Kirkham
Recorded as ‘Chicheham’ in the Domesday Book of 1086 from the Old English word ‘cirice’, laterly replaced by the word ‘kirkja’ from the Old Scandinavian, both meaning ‘A village with a church’, ‘ham’ being the Old English for a homestead or a village. Kirkham has been occupied at least since Roman times. Finds on Mill Hill prove the existence of a Roman settlement – probably a fort dating from the first century. In 1296 the Abbey of Vale Royal granted to Kirkham a Charter making its inhabitants free men with the right to hold a market and fair and to control trade and justice. Kirkham thus became a Seigniorial Borough with a Charter from its Lord. The ancient town was built in the form of a cross with the market place in the centre in which were installed, by the 19th Century, a Market Cross and Fish Stones. The ancient Fish Stones stand in the Market Square which is used for the weekly market held every Thursday. The village also enjoys a full range of quaint shopping facilities, established hostelries and eating houses. the parish church of St. Michaels is believed to date back to 608 AD. The early 1900’s saw Kirkham established as a typical Lancashire cotton mill town and was the main industry until the 1960’s. An archaeological dig in the area known as Dowbridge in 1993 discovered a number of artefacts dating from the time of the Roman occupation and since the early 1800’s many others have been unearthed including coins, pottery and roof tiles. Plans for a proposed museum have been unveiled utilising part of the old swimming baths where it is hoped to be able to display some of the finds.
Little Eccleston
Recorded as ‘Paura Eglestun’ in 1261 thought to mean ‘A farmstead by a Roman/English church’. The village of Little Eccleston is on the outskirts of the borough and some houses of historical interest can be found. Two facilities that cater for visitors are the Cartford Hotel, and Smithy’s Restaurant which can both be found on Cartford Lane. An old toll bridge at the end of Cartford Lane takes you into Wyre Borough at the cost of 10 pence. ( Great Eccleston )
Lytham
Recorded as ‘Lidum’ in the Domesday Book of 1086 meaning ‘a place by the dunes from the Old English word ‘hlith’ and later with the addition of ‘um’ to ‘hlithum’ from the dedication of a church. Lytham is a particularly attractive town on the Fylde Coast. Its tree lined streets, interesting specialist shops and the famous Lytham Green, complete with the distinctive Windmill , make Lytham a special place both for day visits and longer breaks. Experience the atmosphere of a bustling community. Sit in a pavement cafe with a distinctly continental feel and watch the world go by. Take a leisurely stroll along the promenade where the views across the Ribble Estuary to Southport can be quite breathtaking. The Ribble Estuary is also a haven for bird-watchers. It is the best site for wildfowl in the UK with over 250,000 wildfowl and shore birds in winter. Lytham has a fascinating history which comes to life in the surrounding buildings and landmarks. This guide is intended to give you a taste… just enough to tempt you to visit the real thing. A settlement at Lytham was established a thousand years ago by a Benedictine Monastic Cell. The monks controlled the town’s commerce and there has been a lifeboat at Lytham since 1851. The present lifeboat house, next to the fisherman’s jetty was built in 1961 and contains the inshore lifeboat and the boarding boat for the main lifeboat. The old lifeboat house adjacent to the windmill was built in 1860 and is now a museum open from the end of May until the end of September. The Lytham St Annes Nature Reserve was established in 1968 as a local nature reserve, and as a site of Special Scientific Interest in 1992 the area is the best surviving sand dune system on the Fylde Coast. The reserve is completely open and you may walk where you like, although take care not to damage anything. Lytham Docks was constructed over the period 1840 -1842 and was prosperous until the new Preston Dock diverted trade further up the Ribble. Some of the docks original features can still be seen including the remains of a railway branch line, wooden wharves and a large iron
Newton-with-Scales
Newton-with-Scales is a small village, situated on the A583 between Blackpool and Preston. There are two public houses which cater for families. The name Newton is extremely common in England and literally means ‘A new town’ from the Old English ‘niwe’ and ‘tun’. Scales was originally named ‘Skalys’ and means ‘The temporary huts or buildings’ from the Old Scandinavian word ‘skali’. The first recorded use of the name was in 1501. The combination of the two names together derives from the amalgamation of the townships in more recent times.
Rawcliffe Rawcliffe Listed in the Domesday Book as “Rodecliffe, two carucates, another Rodeclif, two or three carucates, a third Rodeclif, three carucates” and in the “Testa de Nevill” that Herveus, the father of Herveus Walter, and grandfather of Theobald Walter gave four carucates of land in Routheclive, Thistleton and Greenhele, on marraige of his daughter Aliz to Ornfr’ (Orm) Magnus. Roseacre Straddling the road between Wharles and Eslwick, the village was first recorded as ‘Rasaker’ in 1249 and ‘Raysacre’ in 1283 with various spellings of Rosakyr, Raysaker & Rozaker until 1633 when the name ‘Rosacre’ was recorded, meaning ‘a field with a cairn’ from the Old Scandinavian words ‘hreyi’ and ‘akr’. Salwick
Probably derived from the Old English words ‘salh’ and ‘wic’ meaning willow and ‘earlier Roman/English settlement’ respectively, translating as ‘A settlement where willow trees grow’. As early as 1100, William de Clifton had lands in Clifton-with-Salwick, and the manors descended in the same family until they were sold to the Duke of Lancaster and Mr. William Pickles. Few places can boast connections with the distant past and the future as can Newton-with-Clifton, for within its boundaries can be found evidence of the Romans and also the modern factory of British Nuclear Fuels limited at the internationally famous Springfields Works. As most of the workers travel from outside the area, the Parish remains predominantly rural. The Church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, is situated at Lund-in-Salwick, and, although the present building only dates from 1824, there is evidence of one on the site as early as 1349. A school, established about 1682 in connection with the Church, is no longer in use. It is recorded that in 1688 “Matthew Hall set up a scandalous trough for a font at Lund Chapel”. This “scandalous trough” is about eighteen inches long and a foot wide and stands on a pedestal of stone. On three sides can be traced the figures of men or women, and it has, by competent judges, been pronounced to be an ancient Roman altar. The Preston-Lancaster canal at Salwick is worth a visit for its picturesque setting and listed bridges which were designed and constructed by the noted engineer John Rennie in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Salwick Railway Station, now an unmanned halt on the Preston-Blackpool line, caters primarily for “Springfields” industrial workers. Singleton Picturesque Singleton is a charming village with quaint cottages, beautifully maintained gardens and is populated by outwardly friendly locals. These people have a strong sense of pride in their village, yet they are overjoyed to have their electricity sub-station standing prominently by the main road! Singleton lies off the main A585 between Blackpool and Preston on Lancashire’s Fylde Coast and
is a conservation area. Fittingly there is no ordinary sub-station it is a Victorian edifice built in the Tudor style with bold black beams framing delicate white plaster mouldings while the resplendent
Copyright Peter Mowbray Live In Blackpool
