Salvation Data 0800 075 0720

Poulton-le-Fylde
Poulton-le-Fylde  Poulton-le-Fylde shown within Lancashire
Population	19,480 (2001 Census)
OS grid reference	SD3439
District	Wyre
Shire county	Lancashire
Region	North West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	POULTON-LE-FYLDE
Postcode district	FY6
Dialling code	01253
Police	Lancashire
Fire	Lancashire
Ambulance	North West
EU Parliament	North West England
UK Parliament	Lancaster and Wyre
List of places: UK • England • Lancashire

Poulton-le-Fylde

The town gained its name from the Wyre estuary, which lies less than 2 kilometres to the north-east at Skippool. The name Poulton was created by combining the Old English words Pol, for pool or creek, and Tun,A saxon word meaning a farmstead or enclosure. Thus the name signifies "settlement by the pool". In 1842 the suffix 'le-Fylde' was added to distinguish the village from Poulton-le-Sands, a community since renamed to Morecambe and Poulton located on the Wirral. The suffix comes from the Fylde peninsula, although the town is not in the modern day local government area of Fylde, which covers only the southern part of that peninsula.^[1]

By 2009, the town of Poulton-le-Fylde is expected to join the Wyre and Preston North constituency of the UK Parliament.

During the Roman era, the area around this location is believed to have been marshy ground, and was sparsely settled. The village was likely inhabited during the Anglo-Saxon period^{[citation needed]}, and its name appears in the Domesday Book. A church is thought to have been located in the village since before the Norman Conquest^{[citation needed]}

By the mediæval era, Poulton-le-Fylde served as a market town for the local area, and the town square has been used as a market dating from at least 1348^{[citation needed]} The ports on the River Wyre were later used for trade during the 18th century. These were supplanted by Fleetwood and Glasson Dock near Lancaster.

Stocks were added to the square in 1351^{[citation needed]} as a punitive measure. Wrongdoers were locked in the stocks and had rotten eggs and other food items thrown at them. Both the stocks and whipping post were used up until the 19th century. These historical features are now preserved in the Market Square.

In March, 1752, a fire swept through the west part of the village, burning buildings to the ground. These structures were later rebuilt after a national collection raised the funds. Poulton-le-Fylde remained a farming community centre for the area throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

In 1970, the nearly intact skeleton of an elk (nicknamed 'Harold') was discovered in the vicinity. The skeleton was dated at 12,000 years of age, and contained the remains of weapon tips embedded in the legs. This skeleton is evidence that human hunters dwelt here during that prehistoric period. The skeleton is now located in the Harris Museum in Preston.

The Wyre Borough Council was formed during a local reorganization in 1974, with Poulton-le-Fylde acting as the administrative centre.

St. Chad's Church - Located near the market square, this Georgian-style Parish church was built of red sandstone and dates back to 1094. In early spring the church yard provides a display of purple and yellow crocuses.

Railway Station - The railway station now has services to Blackpool North, Preston, Leeds and Manchester and stations in between. A station first opened in 1840, 400 yards northeast of the current station which replaced it in 1896. Formerly the station supported a branch line via Thornton to Fleetwood. Services were discontinued under Beeching, but the line was kept open for freight access to and from a works belonging to ICI. There was another station, Poulton Curve Halt, for Fleetwood to Blackpool trains, between 1909 and 1952.

Market Square - The square is now closed to traffic and contains several features of historical note. There is an island in the centre with the old stocks, whipping post, fish slab, and market cross.

Pubs and clubs - Poulton is known for its many drinking establishments, restaurants and nightclubs. These include "The Golden Ball", the town's most notable public house, where victory over Napoleon at Waterloo was announced^{[citation needed]} and "The Bull Inn" once one of Poulton's three Coaching inns. Other pubs include "The Thatched House", "The Bull", "The Grapevine", "The Edge" (formerly Lawdy Miss Clawdys, then Bedd), "The Cube" and "The Old Town Hall".

John Curtis - former professional footballer

Ian Stuart Donaldson - punk rock and later Racist white power musician, frontman of now-defunct band Skrewdriver

George Formby - musician and actor - famous for his ukulele - lived on Mains Lane in Poulton in later years

Keith Harris - ventriloquist, lives in Poulton with his wife and children

Georgie Mee - former professional footballer

Fred Pagnam - former professional footballer

Section 25 - post-punk band originally on Factory Records although more usually associated with Blackpool, actually from Poulton

Rachel Iddon - nee Collier - musician and actor - famous for performing on the QE2 - lived in Carleton in Poulton in her early years

Paul Stewart - former professional footballer

Andy Summers - Rock musician, guitarist with band (The Police)

Tessie O'Shea - former Hollywood actress and music hall entertainer lived in "Mulberry Cottage" on Breck Road for many years

Johnnie Brannigan - Professional wrestler also known by his ring name, Heresy. Has an address in Poulton.

Breck Primary School,^[2] on Fouldry Avenue, holds around 500 children and about 20-30 teachers. It also has a new Breck Beanies nursery.

Baines High School and Baines Sixth Form was opened in 1717 by James Baines. The present headteacher is Roddy McCowan.

Hodgson School, Moorland Road. Over 1200 students. Renamed, as of September 2007, to 'Hodgson School', from the previous 'Hodgson High School Technology College'. The head teacher is now Mr Tony Nicholson, a former assistant Head at the school.

Carr Head Primary School, Carr Head Lane.

Poulton C.E. Primary School

St. John's Catholic Primary School, Breck Road.^[3]

Emmanuel Christian School. A small independent school with pupils from reception age up to year 11.