Bretherton

infobox UK place|
latitude= 53.678313
longitude= -2.796266
official_name= Bretherton
population= 655 (2001 Census)
os_grid_reference= SD475205
civil_parish= Bretherton
shire_district= Chorley
shire_county = Lancashire
region= North West England
country = England
post_town= LEYLAND
postcode_area= PR
postcode_district = PR26
dial_code= 01257 or 01772
constituency_westminster= Chorley
static_

static_image_caption=Bretherton Parish Church
london_distance= Bretherton is a small village and civil parish of the Borough of Chorley, Lancashire, England. It is situated to the south west of Leyland and east of Tarleton.

The village for most of its existence was an almost self-supporting, self contained ‘subsistence agrarian economy’. Truly major changes to the village have occurred within living memory; well-paid employment opportunities coupled with rationalisation of farming facilitated people to escape their low income agrarian lifestile and move to local urban centres, such as Leyland, Preston and Chorley. However an influx of people has occurred, choosing to live in the village as a matter of choice rather than need. As with most British villages near centres of major employment, Bretherton now has become a dormitory village more akin to that of a wealthy suburb with very few residents engaged in agriculture or associated support industries as their main source of income. As you might expect with similar British communities many residents access support services such as shops, schools, medical services, employment and leisure pursuits outside the confines of the village.

It consists of four roads - North Road (B5248), South Road, Pompian Brow and Marl Cop. The village has easy links to the A59, and the Leyland area.

Although closely linked with Leyland, Bretherton is part of Chorley Borough's Lostock ward.

In December 2005, with the growing popularity of ‘sport flying’ and inline with trends published by the UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), plans for a 'microlight farm airstrip' located on the village ouskirts (approx 1.25 miles north of the ‘village heart’) to serve the area’s pilots and those residing in Chorley, South Ribble, Southport and Preston were put forward. However the plans for this farm diversification, sport facility and community asset were rejected by Chorley and South Ribble councillors.

Architecture

The country mansion house to the village of Bretherton is Bank Hall which originates from 1608, which makes the building Jacobean. Bank Hall was built on the banks of the River Douglas and was the first building to be featured on the first series of the BBC's "Restoration"

Bank Hall is open to the public on the last Sunday of every month and every Sunday throughout February for the snowdrop season as Bank Hall is home to many varieties of snowdrop. There are also plans to restore Bank Hall into flats and a visitor centre for the Bank Hall Action Group. The Bank Hall Action Group, Hertitage Trust for the North West, Urban Splash and English Heritage will be carrying out the restoration and management in the future.

References

External links

* [http://www.chorley.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1179 Bretherton] chorley.gov.uk
* [http://www.bankhallonline.2ya.com Bank Hall Website]