Hesketh Bank

Hesketh Bank is a small agricultural village in Lancashire. It lies to the north-east of the town of Southport on the Irish Sea estuary of the River Ribble. The area falls under West Lancashire District Council for administrative purposes, and Hesketh-with-Becconsall parish council for parochial matters. It is in the South Ribble parliamentary constituency.

Hesketh Bank lies just to the north of the larger village of Tarleton and the small villages of North Meols. In common with these, its position on the West Lancashire coastal plain has left it with a rich soil suitable for the farming of flowers and vegetables - this is still the main economic activity in the area. Furthermore, its location just off the A59 Southport to Preston road has meant it has also developed as a commuter town.

Due to its geographical location, close to the cities of Preston and Liverpool, the village suffered during the Second World War. Stray bombs hit the old church in 1943, and landed along Becconsall Lane, causing extensive damage to the housing there.

Hesketh Bank railway station was once a stop on the West Lancashire Railway (which ran between Preston and Southport), but the line proved unsuccessful and was shut in 1964.

The village is home to football, cricket and badminton clubs, a brass band and the West Lancashire Light Railway.

External links

* [http://www.heskethbank.com/index.html Hesketh Bank website]
* [http://www.hwbpc.org.uk/ Hesketh Bank-with-Becconsall Parish council website]