Preesall
Encyclopedia
Preesall is a town and civil parish
in Lancashire
, England. The parish (until 1910 known as Preesall with Hackensall) covers the eastern bank of the estuary of the River Wyre
, including Knott End-on-Sea
, Pilling Lane and the village of Preesall itself. The parish of Preesall had a population of 5,314 recorded in the 2001 census
,
was occupied during the Danish
invasions of the 9th and 10th centuries. Preesall is mentioned in the Domesday Book
(1086) as being a part of the Hundred of Amounderness
and the Domesday place name is given as Pressouede.
The names Preesall and Hackensall are both probably Norse
in origin, with Preesall meaning "a hill and a heath" and Hackensall probably deriving from "Haakon", a Viking
seafarer who sailed up the River Wyre and set up an encampment in the 10th century. In 1190 the land was granted to a bowman
in the service of Prince John
, and in the 16th century, the land, like much in this area, passed into the possession of the Fleetwood family. Richard Fleetwood built Hackensall Hall in 1656 after their home at Rossall Hall
was flooded. Nearby Parrox Hall was built about the same time, and has been in the possession of the Elletson family since 1690.
from 1900 to 1974. It was also known as Preesall-With-Hackensall. It was abolished in 1974 and amalgamated under the Local Government Act 1972
to form part of the district of Wyre
, but retained its own mayor
and town council
.
In 2009, Ian Stafford, mayor of Preesall, resigned after being charged with three counts of burglary
involving houses in Preesall, Poulton and Stalmine where he stole women's underwear. Stafford pleaded guilty to three of the charges, and on 5 February 2010 was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment by Judge Heather Lloyd, who described his actions as "bluntly revolting".
and at a point next to Preesall pumping station, the sea wall goes over an old, now filled in, stone pillbox from World War II
which is camouflaged among the rocks.
West of the village itself lies a number of bodies of water, known locally as The Flashes. These are a remnant of the brine
mining industry which flourished in the area.
and two primary schools. Saint Aidan's Technology College
, located on Cartgate, is a Church of England
secondary school. Preesall Fleetwood's Charity School is a Church of England primary school on Mill Street. Carter's Charity Voluntary Controlled Primary School, is located on Pilling Lane.
. However, the line closed to passengers on 29 March 1930.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, England. The parish (until 1910 known as Preesall with Hackensall) covers the eastern bank of the estuary of the River Wyre
River Wyre
The River Wyre is a river in Lancashire, United Kingdom, which flows into the Irish Sea at Fleetwood. It is approximately 28 miles in length...
, including Knott End-on-Sea
Knott End-on-Sea
Knott End-on-Sea is a village in Lancashire, England, situated on the southern side of Morecambe Bay, across the Wyre estuary from Fleetwood. Although there is no through road , the village is in fact the main commercial centre for the Over Wyre area...
, Pilling Lane and the village of Preesall itself. The parish of Preesall had a population of 5,314 recorded in the 2001 census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
,
History
There is evidence that the eastern side of the River WyreRiver Wyre
The River Wyre is a river in Lancashire, United Kingdom, which flows into the Irish Sea at Fleetwood. It is approximately 28 miles in length...
was occupied during the Danish
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
invasions of the 9th and 10th centuries. Preesall is mentioned in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
(1086) as being a part of the Hundred of Amounderness
Amounderness
Amounderness was a hundred of Lancashire in North West England. Formerly, the name had been used for territories now in Lancashire and north of the River Ribble that had been included in Domesday Yorkshire.-Etymology and history:...
and the Domesday place name is given as Pressouede.
The names Preesall and Hackensall are both probably Norse
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
in origin, with Preesall meaning "a hill and a heath" and Hackensall probably deriving from "Haakon", a Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
seafarer who sailed up the River Wyre and set up an encampment in the 10th century. In 1190 the land was granted to a bowman
Bowman
-Places:Antarctica* Bowman Island* Bowman PeninsulaAustralia* Bowman Park, South Australia* Division of Bowman, an electoral district in the Australian House of RepresentativesCanada* Bowman, Quebec* Bowman BayUnited States* Bowman, Chicot County, Arkansas...
in the service of Prince John
John of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
, and in the 16th century, the land, like much in this area, passed into the possession of the Fleetwood family. Richard Fleetwood built Hackensall Hall in 1656 after their home at Rossall Hall
Rossall School
Rossall School is a British, co-educational, independent school, between Cleveleys and Fleetwood, Lancashire. Rossall was founded in 1844 by St. Vincent Beechey as a sister school to Marlborough College which had been founded the previous year...
was flooded. Nearby Parrox Hall was built about the same time, and has been in the possession of the Elletson family since 1690.
Governance
Preesall was an urban districtUrban district
In the England, Wales and Ireland, an urban district was a type of local government district that covered an urbanised area. Urban districts had an elected Urban District Council , which shared local government responsibilities with a county council....
from 1900 to 1974. It was also known as Preesall-With-Hackensall. It was abolished in 1974 and amalgamated under the Local Government Act 1972
Local Government Act 1972
The Local Government Act 1972 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974....
to form part of the district of Wyre
Wyre
Wyre is a local government district with borough status in Lancashire, England. Its council is based in Poulton-le-Fylde.The district is named after the River Wyre, which runs through the district...
, but retained its own mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
and town council
Town council
A town council is a democratically elected form of government for small municipalities or civil parishes. A council may serve as both the representative and executive branch....
.
In 2009, Ian Stafford, mayor of Preesall, resigned after being charged with three counts of burglary
Burglary
Burglary is a crime, the essence of which is illicit entry into a building for the purposes of committing an offense. Usually that offense will be theft, but most jurisdictions specify others which fall within the ambit of burglary...
involving houses in Preesall, Poulton and Stalmine where he stole women's underwear. Stafford pleaded guilty to three of the charges, and on 5 February 2010 was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment by Judge Heather Lloyd, who described his actions as "bluntly revolting".
Geography
The beach surrounding Pilling, Preesall and Knott-End is known as Preesall Beach. Preesall is protected from high tides by a sea defence known as the "Sea Wall". There is a path on the sea wall that leads from Knott End-on-Sea to PillingPilling
Pilling is a village and civil parish within the Wyre borough of Lancashire, England. It is north-northeast of Poulton-le-Fylde, south-southwest of Lancaster and northwest of Preston, in a part of the Fylde known as Over Wyre....
and at a point next to Preesall pumping station, the sea wall goes over an old, now filled in, stone pillbox from World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
which is camouflaged among the rocks.
West of the village itself lies a number of bodies of water, known locally as The Flashes. These are a remnant of the brine
Brine
Brine is water, saturated or nearly saturated with salt .Brine is used to preserve vegetables, fruit, fish, and meat, in a process known as brining . Brine is also commonly used to age Halloumi and Feta cheeses, or for pickling foodstuffs, as a means of preserving them...
mining industry which flourished in the area.
Public houses
Preesall has three pubs: the Saracens Head, the Fernhill and the Black Bull. The Fernhill is currently closed.Education
The village has three schools—a secondarySecondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
and two primary schools. Saint Aidan's Technology College
Saint Aidan's Technology College
Saint Aidan's Church of England Technology College is a Church of England voluntary aided school located near Preesall and Poulton le Fylde, England. It is a mixed comprehensive school with Technology College status. In its most recent Ofsted report in 2009, the school was rated 'good'.-External...
, located on Cartgate, is a Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
secondary school. Preesall Fleetwood's Charity School is a Church of England primary school on Mill Street. Carter's Charity Voluntary Controlled Primary School, is located on Pilling Lane.
Transport
Preesall used to lie on the long closed Garstang and Knot-End Railway which was built to provide an outlet for farmers in Over Wyre to transport their produce up and down the country. This section of the line opened on 30 July 1908, along with Preesall railway stationPreesall railway station
Preesall railway station served Preesall in Lancashire, England....
. However, the line closed to passengers on 29 March 1930.