Preesall

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Preesall
Preesall shown within Lancashire
Population	5,314 (2001 Census)
OS grid reference	SD365471
District	Wyre
Shire county	Lancashire
Region	North West
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	POULTON-LE-FYLDE
Postcode district	FY6
Police	Lancashire
Fire	Lancashire
Ambulance	North West
European Parliament	North West England
List of places: UK • England • Lancashire

Coordinates: 53°55′00″N 2°58′00″W / 53.916667, -2.966667

Preesall (until 1910 known as Preesall with Hackensall) is a village and civil parish in Lancashire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 5,314. The parish covers the eastern bank of the estuary of the River Wyre, including Knott End, Pilling Lane and the village of Preesall itself.

1 History
2 Governance
3 Geography
4 See also

[edit] History

There is evidence that the eastern side of the River Wyre was occupied during the Danish invasions of the 9th and 10th centuries. Preesall is mentioned in the Domesday Book (1086) as being a part of the Hundred of Amounderness. The names 'Preesall' and 'Hackensall' are both probably Norse in origin, 'Preesall' meaning 'a hill and a heath' and 'Hackensall' probably deriving from 'Haakon', a Viking seafarer who sailed up the River Wyre and set up an encampment in the 10th century. In 1190 the land was granted to a bowman in the service of Prince John, and in the 16th century, the land, like much in this area, passed into the possession of the Fleetwood family. Richard Fleetwood built Hackensall Hall in 1656 after their home at Rossall Hall was flooded. Nearby Parrox Hall was built about the same time, and has been in the possession of the Elletson family since 1690.

[edit] Governance

Preesall was an urban district from 1900 to 1974. [1]. It was amalgamated under the Local Government Act 1972 to form part of the district of Wyre, but retained its own mayor and town council.

[edit] Geography

The beach surrounding Pilling, Preesall and Knott-End is known as Preesall Beach. Preesall is protected from high tides by a sea defence known as the "Sea Wall." There is a path on this sea wall that leads from Knott-End to Pilling and at a point next to Preesall pumping station, the sea wall goes over an old, now filled in, stone pillbox from WWII which is camoflauged among the rocks.

West of the village itself lies a number of bodies of water, known locally as The Flashes. These are a remnant of the brine mining industry which flourished in the area.

Preesall until recently had four pubs, The Saracens Head, The Fernhill, The Ranchhouse and The Black Bull. Last year, however, the Fernhill and the Black Bull shut down; the Ranchhouse too is now fighting for survival. The village also has three schools: a secondary comprehensive and two primary schools.