Banks, Lancashire

infobox UK place
country = England
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static_image_caption =
latitude = 53.683
longitude = -2.917
official_name = Banks
civil_parish = North Meols
population =
shire_district = West Lancashire
shire_county = Lancashire
region = North West England
constituency_westminster= South Ribble
post_town = SOUTHPORT
postcode_district = PR8 and PR9
postcode_area = PR
dial_code = 01704
os_grid_reference = SD395212
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static_image_caption = St Stephen's Church, Banks

Banks is a large village in Lancashire, England. It lies just off the Irish Sea coast on the Banks Marsh and beach, four miles (6 km) north-east of the town of Southport. It is administered by West Lancashire District Council, and by North Meols parish council for parochial matters. It falls in the South Ribble parliamentary constituency.

Banks is the largest of the villages of the parish of North Meols on the West Lancashire coastal plain. Like most villages in the area, it was primarily an agricultural village thanks to the excellent soil round about, although there was also noticeable fishing activity for many years. Production of flowers and vegetables is still common in the farms which surround the village; however the proximity of the towns of Southport and Preston have led to Banks' recent rapid expansion as a dormitory town for commuters.

Its increased size has brought with it increased facilities: Banks is home to the North Meols Community and Sports Centre, Banks Methodist Primary School, Banks St Stephens Primary School, a small range of shops and a regular bus service linking it with Southport and Formby. The village is home to football, cricket and badminton clubs and a brass band.

History

Banks 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 also one of the remaining villages left in the parish of North Meols.

Greaves Hall

Thomas Talbot Leyland Scarisbrick was born in 1874. He grew up in Southport and was educated in Lancashire. In 1900 he had a mansion built at Greaves Hall on a convert|124|acre|km2|sing=on site. There was also a porter's lodge by the main entrance, a gardener's lodge, engineer's workshop, laundry and general workshop, all built in close proximity to the hall, in mock Tudor style. The mansion was surrounded by sculptured lawns, with separate gardens filled with ornamental trees and flowering shrubs. The hall had approximately 55 rooms, open areas situated on the ground, first, second and attic floors and a vast basement.

The Scarisbrick family enjoyed life at Greaves Hall until after the First World War when he moved to Scarisbrick Hall and negotiated the sale of the estate to a consortium of Banks farmers. The mansion stood empty for sometime while the land was cultivated by the consortium.

The mansion house and grounds were later occupied by Sherbrook School for Girls. The school was shut down when the Health Authority wanted to use the mansion house as a TB hospital and, later, to bring patients with mental health and learning disabilities from Liverpool during and after the Second World War. The mental health unit included extensive developments of maintenance buildings and wards built in the former leisure grounds of the mansion house. The hospital continued to grow and develop up until the early 1990s when it was moved to Southport.

The Greaves Hall mansion has suffered many fires and vandalism since and has become beyond repair. There has been talk of the building being demolished.

Banks Beach

Banks is well known in the local area for its untouched beach which lies on the coast of the Irish Sea. Banks Beach has recently been used for the test flights of the euro fighter which has also attracted numerous plane spotters to the area.

Wildlife

Banks is home to a medium sized population [The Banks Residents Group & the Ecological Group of Banks Parish Council (20th June 2008), Protection of Endangered Species & Associated Habitat] of Great Crested Newts, which is currently under threat by a controversial housing development.

References

External links

* [http://www.northmeols.com/index.html North Meols village website]
* [http://www.heskethbank.com/history/meolstoribble.html North Meols local history]
* [http://www.banksbrassband.com Banks Brass Band]
* [http://www.banksvillage.co.uk/ Banks Village Website]