is a
Town in
Lancashire in north-western
England , at . The town has a population of 19,480 as of
2001 and occupies an area of 7.79 km², for a population density of 2500 people/km². It is situated about 5
Kilometres to the northeast of
Blackpool town and the
Irish Sea coast.
The town gained its name from the
Wyre Estuary , which lies less than 2
Kilometres to the north-east at Skippool. The name Poulton was created by combining the
Old English words ''Pol'', for pool or creek, and ''Tun'', meaning a farmstead or enclosure. Thus the name signifies "settlement by the pool". In
1842 the suffix 'le-Fylde' was added to distinguish the
Village from Poulton-le-Sands, a community since renamed to
Morecambe .
By 2009, the town of Poulton-le-Fylde is expected to join the
Wyre And Preston North constituency of the
UK Parliament .
During the
Roman era, the area around this location was believed to be
Marsh y ground, and was sparsely settled. The
Village was likely inhabited during the
Anglo-Saxon period, and its name appears in the
Doomsday Book . A church is thought to have been located in the village since before the
Norman Conquest .
By the
Mediæval era, Poulton-le-Fylde served as a market town for the local area, and the town square has been used as a market dating from at least
1348 . The ports on the
River Wyre were later used for trade during the 18th century. These were supplanted by
Fleetwood and
Glasson Dock near
Lancaster .
Stocks were added to the square in
1351 as a punitive measure. Wrongdoers were locked in the
Stocks and had rotten eggs and other food items thrown at them. Both the
Stocks and whipping post were used up until the 19th century. These historical features are now preserved in the Market Square.
In
March ,
1752 , a fire swept through the west part of the village, burning buildings to the ground. These structures were later rebuilt after a national collection raised the funds. Poulton-le-Fylde remained a farming community centre for the area throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
In
1970 , the nearly intact
Skeleton of an
Elk (nicknamed 'Harold') was discovered in the vicinity. The skeleton was dated at 12,000 years of age, and contained the remains of weapon tips embedded in the legs. This skeleton is evidence that human hunters dwelt here during that
Prehistoric period. The skeleton is now located in the Harris Museum in
Preston .
The
Wyre Borough Council was formed during a local reorganization in
1974 , with Poulton-le-Fylde acting as the administrative centre.
- - This was once one of Poulton's three Coaching Inn s.
- - The square is now closed to traffic and contains several features of historical note. There is an island in the center with the old Stocks , whipping post, fish slab, and market cross.
- - The railway station now only has services to Blackpool North and Preston . It was established in 1896 . Formerly the station supported a branch line via Thornton to Fleetwood . Services were discontinued under Beeching , but the line was kept open for freight access to and from a works belonging to ICI .
- - a mooring area for boats on the Wyre Estuary -- the name itself a corruption of the more accurate "ship-pool" -- where ships used to moor before the river Wyre silted up.
- - Located near the market square, this Georgian-style Parish church was built of red sandstone and dates back to 1638 . In early spring the church yard provides a display of purple and yellow Crocus es.
- - Poulton is known for its many drinking establishments and nightclubs. These include, The Thatched House, The Golden Ball, The Bull, The Grapevine, The Edge, The Cube and The Old Town Hall. There are two nightclubs in Poulton, The Peppermint Lounge (situated in the Teanlow Centre) and The Residence which once was owned by former television entertainer Keith Harris .
