Bispham Green

Bispham is a village and civil parish in the West Lancashire district of Lancashire, England. The village has a population of 207 (2001 Census), [citeweb|url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=795831&c=bispham&d=16&e=15&g=464471&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1217171096019&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779|title=2001 Census: Bispham|work=Office for National Statistics|accessdate=27 July|accessyear=2008] and is located convert|1|mi|km south of Mawdesley and convert|5|mi|km north of Parbold.

Bispham is one of over twenty towns and villages which, together, make up the West Lancashire District Council. It is the only parish in the West Lancashire district that is served by a parish meeting instead of a town or parish council. The surrounding areas was once popular for osier (willow growing) for the basket weaving trade, but since the 1950s the land has reverted solely to agricultural use. There are no industrial buildings and no future planning for any extensive development.

Geography

Bispham is south of Croston, Mawdesley and Tarleton, north of Hilldale and Parbold, west of Heskin, Wrightington and Eccleston. The River Douglas travels through Bispham and it is a tributary to the River Ribble and has two tributaries itself, the River Tawd and the River Yarrow. It shares its local parish with Mawdesley as Bispham has no actual churches on its land. The land around Bispham is both pastoral and arable and abundant with wildlife. Bispham covers an area of approximately convert|1000|acre|km2 of grade 2 agricultural land. Rising to 80 metres above sea level at its eastern tip, it is bounded on the south side of the River Douglas, and on the north side of Bentley Brook.

Richard Durning's Endowed Primary School

It was known as Bispham Free Grammar School up until 1951. The name was changed to Richard Durnings because Richard Durning himself had funded the building of the school in his will after he died in 1692. He had set aside £100 for the school and the land (known as Higher Jacks field) was purchased for £10.He also left the money to be invested in parish activities and the education of pupils.It is located on Chorley Road, in Bispham. Richard Durning was a local yeoman, who was born in 1616 and died in 1691 at the age of 75. He is buried in the Chancel of St Michael an All Angels Parish Church in Croston. ["The Hundred Pound School", Robert Skipworth]

References