Parbold

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 53.597
longitude= -2.764
official_name= Parbold
population = 2,700 (settlement) 3,890 (ward) (2001 census)
shire_district= West Lancashire
shire_county = Lancashire
region= North West England
constituency_westminster= West Lancashire
post_town= WIGAN
postcode_district = WN8
postcode_area= WN
dial_code= 01257
os_grid_reference= SD495115

Parbold is a large commuter village and civil parish in the county of Lancashire in England.

Local government

The 83 hectares of the 'urban settlement' of Parbold has a population of 2,700. [ The 2001 census; ] This settlement forms part of the larger Parbold ward (pop. 3,890 [ The 2001 census; ] ), one of 25 wards that make up West Lancashire District Council.

West Lancashire is also divided into 19 parish councils, the first tier of local government. Parbold Parish Council is bordered by the Hilldale Parish in the north, Wrightington in the east, Dalton in the south and Newburgh in the west.

Until the late 19th century, Parbold was part of the parish of Eccleston and the Leyland Hundred, or Leylandshire, an ancient subdivision of Lancashire that included Brindle, Chorley, Croston, Penwortham and Standish. From 1894 to 1974 Parbold was part of the Wigan Rural District, along with Dalton, Haigh, Shevington, Worthington and Wrightington.

Parbold in brief

Location

Parbold is at the bottom of Parbold Hill, in the valley of the River Douglas. It is about three miles west of junction 27 of the M6 motorway, on the A5209; the Leeds-Liverpool Canal passes very close to the village centre. The village can also be reached by rail on the line from Manchester to Southport. The nearest sizable towns are Skelmersdale (about 3 miles away 'as the crow flies'), Burscough (3.5 miles), Ormskirk (6 miles), and Chorley (7 miles).

The village is dominated by Parbold Hill, on which lies the famous Parbold Bottle, now restored. This is a stone monument about 6.5 feet high, so called because it vaguely resembles a giant bottle. Built in 1832 to commemorate the Reform Act, the Bottle is visible from the canal. Also significant to Parbold's heritage is the stunning Wood Lane, just off the Main road, and which arguably boasts some of the best views of the surrounding countryside.

History

The earliest known reference to Parbold is in the late 12th century, where grants of land were made to nearby Burscough Priory (pronounced "Bursk-owe"). After the Norman Conquest, Parbold was part of the Barony of Manchester. Little development occurred from this time to the mid 18th century. Parbold became a civil parish in 1894.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, a number of coal mines worked nearby, rather meagre, seams; hard sandstone was also quarried. Both coal and sandstone could be exported over the waterways; boat-building was a minor economic activity in Parbold around this time.

Parbold railway station, built in the mid 19th century by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, radically altered the village; it allowed middle class workers to live in Parbold and commute to urban areas throughout the north-west. The railway station also provided a natural centre for the village which it still is today.

Parbold's war memorial is in the local Anglican church, Christ Church, near the top of Parbold Hill.

Amenities

Parbold has two churches, two primary schools, a [http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/libraries/librarydetails/libsearch1.asp?name=Parbold library] , a purpose-built community centre, a telephone exchange, a doctor's surgery [http://www.parboldsurgery.co.uk] , a bank, a sub post office, and a number of other shops including a chemist, a newsagent, two hairdressers and both Chinese and Indian takeaways, and a green grocers. There are three pubs along the main road through the centre of the village – "The Railway", "The Windmill" and "The Stocks Tavern". The village has a windmill (built in 1794) which has not milled since about 1850. It is now a gallery for James Bartholomew.

Football teams

Parbold has a successful local amateur football team, Parbold FC who play in the South Lancashire Counties League. In 2005/06 they were crowned Division 3 Champions, and promptly gained a further promotion in 2006/07 finishing runners-up of Division 2. For the 2008/09 season Parbold it was rumoured that the village would be without a football team as the club were feared to be forced to relocate outside the boundaries due to excessive fees. The issue has now been resolved and the 'Cherries' will continue to ply their trade at Alder Lane for years to come

The nearest (as the 'crow flies') professional football clubs are Wigan Athletic FC (8 miles), Preston North End FC (12 miles), Bolton Wanderers FC (14 miles), Everton FC and Liverpool FC (15 miles) and Blackburn Rovers FC (16 miles). The nearest professional rugby league clubs are Wigan (8 miles), St Helens (10 miles), Leigh (10 miles), Warrington (16 miles), and Widnes (16 miles).

Two semi professional football clubs are significantly closer than the nearest professional club: Skelmersdale United F.C. (Northern Premier League Division One North) and Burscough F.C. (Conference North).

References

External links

* [http://www.parbold.org Parbold Village Website]
* [http://www.parboldfc.co.uk Parbold FC]
* [http://www.towpathtreks.co.uk/LLC/burscough_wigan.html#parbold Photographs of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal at Parbold]
* [http://www.multimap.com/map/photo.cgi?client=public&X=350000&Y=411000&width=700&height=400&gride=350000&gridn=410000&srec=0&coordsys=gb&db=&pc=&zm=0&scale=25000&multimap.x=212&multimap.y=214 Aerial photo of Parbold from Multimap.]
* [http://www.parboldsurgery.co.uk Parbold Surgery]