Burscough facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Burscough |
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 The Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Burscough Bridge |
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 Burscough
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| Population | 9,935 (2021 Census) |
| OS grid reference | SD444118 |
| Civil parish |
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| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ORMSKIRK |
| Postcode district | L40 |
| Dialling code | 01704 |
| Police | Lancashire |
| Fire | Lancashire |
| Ambulance | North West |
| EU Parliament | North West England |
| UK Parliament |
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| Website | https://burscoughparishcouncil.org |
Burscough is a town and civil parish in West Lancashire, England. It is about 14 kilometres (9 miles) north of Liverpool. It is also about 13 kilometres (8 miles) southwest of Preston.
The northern part of Burscough is called Burscough Bridge. This used to be a separate area. The parish also includes small places like New Lane and Tarlscough. The Martin Mere Wetland Centre is also here. In 2021, about 9,935 people lived in Burscough.
Contents
Burscough's Past: History and Growth
Ancient Roots: Roman Fort and Viking Village
Long ago, a large Roman fort was built in Burscough. It covered an area of 30,000 square metres. This fort was started in the 1st century. It connected to other Roman forts nearby, like those in Wigan and Ribchester. Finding Roman sites in western Lancashire is quite rare. This fort is now a protected historical site.
Later, Burscough grew into a small farming village. It was built on a low hill above the West Lancashire Coastal Plain. The name Burscough comes from Viking words. Burh-skogr means "fortress in the woods."
Burscough Priory and the Stanley Family
An important early building was Burscough Priory. Its old ruins are still southwest of the town today. This priory once held the tombs of some of the Stanley family. They were powerful nobles known as Earls of Derby. Their tombs are now in Ormskirk parish church.
Canals and Railways: A Growing Town
In the mid-1700s, new things helped Burscough grow. The Leeds and Liverpool Canal was built through the area. Later, railways arrived. These new transport links led to new buildings north of the old village. This area became known as Burscough Bridge. Over time, the two parts of Burscough joined together.
For over 100 years, there was a large Ordnance Depot here. This was a military storage site. It closed in 1996, and houses were built on the land.
How Burscough is Governed
Burscough is part of the West Lancashire area. This area elects a Member of Parliament to the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
Lancashire has two levels of local government. This means Burscough is looked after by both a county council and a borough council. The town is part of the Burscough & Rufford area for Lancashire County Council. Burscough is also divided into two areas for West Lancashire Borough Council. These are Burscough Town and Burscough Bridge & Rufford.
The local civil parish of Burscough has its own council. This is called Burscough Town Council. It has up to 14 councillors who help manage local matters.
RNAS Burscough (HMS Ringtail)
There was once a naval air station near Burscough. It was called RNAS Burscough (HMS Ringtail). It was about 2.4 kilometres (1.5 miles) southwest of the town. This air station was busy between September 1943 and May 1946.
Community Life in Burscough
Schools for Young People
Burscough has several primary schools for younger children. These include Lordsgate Township C of E, St. John's Church of England, Burscough Village, Burscough Bridge Methodist, and St. John's Roman Catholic.
For older students, there is a secondary school called Burscough Priory Academy. The town also has a small public library.
Shopping and Local Businesses
You can find many shops in Burscough. There is a large Tesco supermarket, a Booths, and an Aldi. There are also smaller shops like a Spar, florists, and barbers.
Burscough Wharf: A Hub for Small Businesses
Burscough Wharf is a special place for shopping and fun. It opened in 2011. It is located by the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. The Wharf has about 30 small units. These are used by independent shops, cafes, and offices. You can find an instrumental music school, gift shops, and places to eat. There is also a burger restaurant, a gin bar, and a tea room. A market with handmade goods is held here every two weeks.
Churches in Burscough
Burscough has three churches. These are St John the Baptist Church, St John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, and Burscough Methodist Church.
Transport Links
The A59 main road goes through Burscough. The Leeds and Liverpool Canal also passes through the town. Another road, the A5209, brings a lot of traffic. This is because it connects to the A59. The local council says the town often has "severe congestion" (bad traffic jams).
The canal has a junction in Burscough. This is where the Rufford Branch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal meets the main canal.
Railway Stations
Burscough has two main railway stations. Burscough Junction is on the line from Liverpool to Preston. It opened in 1849. Today, this line ends at Ormskirk.
Burscough Bridge is on the line from Southport to Manchester. It opened in 1855. There is also a third small station called New Lane. It is about two miles from the town centre on the same line as Burscough Bridge.
Years ago, these railway lines had a connection called the Burscough curves. These curves were removed. Now, trains cannot go directly between Ormskirk and Southport or Southport and Preston. A train crash happened near Burscough Junction Station on January 15, 1880.
Victor Electrics: Local Vehicle Makers
Burscough Bridge was home to Victor Electrics. This company made battery electric vehicles. These included vans for delivering bread and milk floats. The company started in 1923. They built their own electric vehicles because they couldn't find affordable ones.
At first, their vans looked like regular vans with an engine bonnet. But from 1935, they switched to a "forward control" design. This is the common look for milk floats today. The company was later taken over by other businesses. One Victor milk float from around 1955 still exists. It is waiting to be restored at the Transport Museum, Wythall.
Windmill Farm Railway
The Windmill Farm Railway is a fun, small railway. It is located at the Windmill Animal Farm. The railway track is about 1.1 kilometres (0.7 miles) long. It uses special locomotives that used to run on the Fairbourne Railway.
Sports and Fun Activities
Burscough F.C.: The Local Football Team
Burscough F.C. is the town's football club. They play at New Victoria Park. In 2003, they won the FA Trophy. This is a big football competition. They beat another team called Tamworth in the final. In 2005-06, they also beat a professional team, Gillingham, in the FA Cup.
Allotment Society
Burscough has allotments where people can grow their own food. A society was formed in 2011 to help manage these allotments. They also work to get more land for growing.
Fishing Spots
There is a place to go fishing in Burscough at Warper's Moss Lane. It has four man-made lakes. These lakes are full of different types of fish, including carp that can weigh up to 9 kilograms (20 pounds). You can buy a day ticket to go fishing here.
Martin Mere Wetland Centre
WWT Martin Mere is a large wildfowl reserve. It is a popular place to visit on the edge of Burscough. The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust owns it. In 2006, Martin Mere was shown on the BBC television show Autumnwatch.
Gallery
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Burscough Parish Church
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Lathom and Burscough War Memorial
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Ainscough Flour Mill on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal
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Tesco supermarket in Burscough
See also
In Spanish: Burscough para niños
