Preesall

Infobox UK place
official_name= Preesall
population= 5,314 (2001 Census)
country= England
os_grid_reference= SD365471
london_distance=
latitude= 53.916667
longitude= -2.966667
shire_district= Wyre
shire_county= Lancashire
region= North West England
post_town= POULTON-LE-FYLDE
postcode_area= FY
postcode_district= FY6
dial_code=
constituency_westminster=

Preesall (until 1910 known as Preesall with Hackensall) is a village and civil parish in Lancashire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 5,314. The parish covers the eastern bank of the estuary of the River Wyre, including Knott End, Pilling Lane and the village of Preesall itself.

History

There is evidence that the eastern side of the River Wyre 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. The names 'Preesall' and 'Hackensall' are both probably Norse in origin, '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.

Governance

Preesall was an urban district from 1900 to 1974. It was also known as Preesall-With-Hackensall.cite web
title = A vision of Preesall UD
publisher = Vision of Britain
date = 2004-12-02
url = http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit_page.jsp?u_id=10026994
accessdate = 2008-10-02] 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.

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 this sea wall that leads from Knott-End to Pilling and at a point next to Preesall pumping station, the sea wall goes over an old, now filled in, stone pillbox from WWII which is camoflauged 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.

Preesall until recently had four pubs, "The Saracens Head", "The Fernhill", "The Ranchhouse" and "The Black Bull". However the Ranchhouse is now fighting for survival.

Education

The village has three schools - a secondary and two primary schools.

Saint Aidan's Technology College, located on Cartgate is a Church of England secondary school.cite news
title = Saint Aidan's Church of England Technology College
publisher = BBC
date = 2004-12-02
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/education/04/school_tables/secondary_schools/html/888_4628.stm
accessdate = 2008-10-02] Preesall Fleetwood's Charity School is a Church of England primary school on Mill Street.cite web
title = Welcome to Preesall Fleetwood's Charity School
publisher = Preesall Fleetwood's Charity School
url = http://www.fleetwoods.ik.org/p_Home.ikml
accessdate = 2008-10-02] cite news
title = Preesall Fleetwood's Charity Church of England Primary School
publisher = BBC
date = 2004-12-02
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/education/04/school_tables/primary_schools/html/888_3572.stm
accessdate = 2008-10-02] Carter's Charity Voluntary Controlled Primary School, is located on Pilling Lane.cite news
title = Carter's Charity Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Preesall
publisher = BBC
date = 2004-12-02
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/education/04/school_tables/primary_schools/html/888_3126.stm
accessdate = 2008-10-02]

ee also

*Preesall railway station

References