Weeton, Lancashire

Infobox England and Wales civil parish | Parish = Weeton-with-Preese| Status = | Population = | District = Fylde | County = Lancashire | Region = North West England | Constituency = Fylde | Euro = North West England
Website = | Coordinates = coord|53.805|-2.937|display=inline,title Location map
Lancashire
label="Weeton"
align=left
background=white
lat= 53.805
long=-2.937
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"Location within the districts of Lancashire"

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Weeton is a village on the Fylde in Lancashire, England, beside the Blackpool to Preston railway line and the M55 motorway, just east of Blackpool and 3.5 miles northwest of Kirkham.cite web
title = Church of St.Michael's, Weeton
publisher = GENUKI
url = http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/LAN/Weeton/
accessdate = 2008-01-29]

Geography and administration

The village is part of the Borough of Fylde. The area is mostly rural. Weeton is in the Fylde parliamentary constituency and is in the "Staining and Weeton" electoral ward.cite web
title = Staing and Weeton
publisher = Fylde Borough Council
url = http://www.fylde.gov.uk/Councillors.aspx?ward=Staining%20and%20Weeton
accessdate =2008-01-29 ]

History

The village was originally known as Weeton-with-Preese. In 1835, Weeton-with-Preese was a township in the parish of Kirkham. The manor belonged to the Earl of Derby. Weeton has a traditional triangular village green. The village also had a windmill, "Weeton Windmill", which was built in 1812. It fell into disrepair and was demolished in the 1950s.cite news
title = Windmills in mind
publisher = Blackpool Gazette
date = 2001-06-06
url = http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpoolnews/Windmills-in-set-mind.147938.jp
accessdate = 2008-01-29]

Modern day village

The village has one primary school, Weeton St. Michael's Church of England Junior School and one church.

The one public house in the village, the Eagle & Child, dates back to 1585 and takes its name from the family crest of Lord Derby who once owned most of the surrounding land. In front of the pub stands the old mounting steps, dating back to 1755 and the only part of the premises which are officially listed. During the years of the English Civil War Oliver Cromwell is reputed to have stayed at the premises.cite web
title = Welcome to the Eagle & Child
publisher = The Eagle & Child Pub
url = http://www.theeagleandchild.co.uk
accessdate =2008-02-15 ]

Each year the village hosts the "Weeton Gala" with a parade through the village and a garden party.cite news
last = Robinson
first = Joe
title = Weeton Gala
publisher = Blackpool Gazette
date = 2007-07-09
url = http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpoolnews/weeton-Gala.3014119.jp
accessdate = 2008-01-29] On 18 December 2007 it was revealed that developers propose to convert Preese Hall, located on Singleton Road into office space with a cafe and meeting room.cite news
title = New offices set for Weeton
publisher = Blackpool Gazette
date = 2007-09-12
url = http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/kirkham-and-rural/New-offices-set-for-Weeton.3601881.jp
accessdate = 2008-01-29]

Weeton Army Barracks

One mile from the village is the "Weeton Army Barracks".cite web
title = Weeton HIVE
publisher = Ministry of Defence
url = http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceFor/ServiceCommunity/Hive/NorthernEngland/WeetonHive.htm
accessdate = 2008-01-29] which is currently home to the 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment.cite news
last = Butler
first = Heather
title = Kids' farewell as regiment prepares for tour of duty
publisher = Blackpool Gazette
date = 2007-09-12
url = http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpoolnews/Kids39-farewell-as-regiment-prepares.3192266.jp
accessdate = 2008-01-29]

The Church

The Church of St. Michael's which was founded in 1843 and has a number of historic gravestones in the graveyard.cite web
title = Church of St. Michael's, Weeton
publisher = GENUKI
url = http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/LAN/Weeton/StMichael.shtml
accessdate = ] cite web
title = SD3834 : Church of St. Michael's, Weeton
publisher = Geograph British Isles
url = http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/415780
accessdate = 2008-01-29]

Notable people

*Bob Birkett - former professional footballer, born in Weeton in 1876 and spent his entire career at Blackpool F.C.

References