Goosnargh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Goosnargh |
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| Village | |
 Goosnargh Parish Church, St Mary the Virgin |
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 Goosnargh
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| Population | 1,072 |
| OS grid reference | SD557367 |
| Civil parish |
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| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | PRESTON |
| Postcode district | PR3 |
| Dialling code | 01772 |
| Police | Lancashire |
| Fire | Lancashire |
| Ambulance | North West |
| EU Parliament | North West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Goosnargh (pronounced GOOZ-nər) is a lovely village in Lancashire, England. It's part of the City of Preston area.
This village is located between Broughton and Longridge. Most of Goosnargh is actually in the nearby area of Whittingham. However, the oldest part of the village is still in the Goosnargh civil parish. In 2011, the village had about 1,072 people living there.
Contents
What's in a Name? Goosnargh's History
The name Goosnargh means "Gosan's or Gusan's hill pasture." It comes from an old Irish name, Gosan or Gusan. The word erg is an old Norse word for "hill pasture."
In the Domesday Book, a famous survey from 1086, the name was written as Gusansarghe. By 1212, it had changed to Gosenargh, which sounds much more like today's name. Some people think Gusansarghe might have meant "at the idol's temple" in Old Norse.
Exploring Goosnargh Village
Goosnargh has a beautiful Anglican church called St Mary the Virgin. You can find it on Church Lane. There's also Trinity Methodist Church on Whittingham Lane, which was built in the early 1880s.
The village has two public houses, The Grapes and The Stags Head. There's also a Post Office, a hairdresser, a pharmacy, and a fish and chip shop. You can also visit the Whittingham and Goosnargh Social Club.
Goosnargh's Fun Festival
Every year, Goosnargh holds a special festival. It happens on the first Saturday after the Spring Bank Holiday. During the festival, there's a big procession through the village. You can see decorated floats, people in fancy dress, and even maypole dancing! Marching bands also join the fun.
Local Delights and History
Goosnargh is famous for its special Cornfed Chicken and Duck. Even well-known chefs like Gordon Ramsay love it!
The oldest house in the village is Stone Cottage on Goosnargh Lane. It's over 339 years old! The old church in Goosnargh is about 900 years old. Its wooden beams have traces of sea salt. Some people believe these beams might have come from old Viking longboats!
Getting Around Goosnargh
There are two bus services, numbers 45 and 46, that go through Goosnargh every hour. Bus 45 connects the village to Preston city centre, Fulwood, Longridge, and Blackburn. Bus 46 goes to Preston, Cottam, and Longridge. Several school buses also run through the village.
Schools in Goosnargh
Goosnargh has its own primary school called Goosnargh Oliversons C of E. For older students, Broughton High School, Longridge High School, and St Cecilia's RC High School are the main high schools for children from Goosnargh.
Famous People and Old Buildings
Two famous footballers, Lily Parr and Peter Corr, both passed away in Goosnargh.
Bushell House, which used to be called Bushell's Hospital, is a historic building on Mill Lane. It was built in 1722 and is now a retirement home. It's also a Grade II listed building, meaning it's protected for its special history and architecture.
The Famous Goosnargh Cake
The village is also known for the Goosnargh cake! This is a type of shortcake biscuit made with caraway seeds. These biscuits were traditionally sold during the Whitsun festival.
In 1846, a newspaper reported that thousands of these cakes were sold at the Annual Club Day in Goosnargh. Sellers couldn't even keep up with the demand! In 1896, it was said that cakes with the "real Goosnargh flavour" could only be bought in the village. A photo from 1937 even showed a Mrs. Davis from Goosnargh sugaring the cakes. She sent them all the way to Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa for Christmas!
Goosnargh Parish: A Wider Look
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Goosnargh
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Civil parish
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St. Francis Church
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| Country | England |
| Primary council | Preston |
| County | Lancashire |
| Region | North West England |
| Status | Parish |
| Settlements | Goosnargh, Inglewhite and Whitechapel |
| Area | |
| • Total | 33.68 km2 (13.00 sq mi) |
| Population
(2011)
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| • Total | 1,316 |
| • Density | 39.074/km2 (101.20/sq mi) |
| Website | http://www.goosnarghpc.co.uk/ |
The Goosnargh parish is a larger area that includes the small villages of Inglewhite and Whitechapel. It also includes the beautiful Beacon Fell Country Park. The northern part of the parish, with Whitechapel and Beacon Fell, is inside the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The River Brock forms part of the parish border on the north and northwest sides.
The parish is home to the Roman Catholic church of St Francis, Hill Chapel. Right next to it is a Catholic primary school with the same name. A Catholic martyr from the 16th century, George Beesley, was born at this very spot.
Waddecar Scout Activity Centre
The Waddecar Scout Activity Centre is located in the parish. It's on Snape Rake Lane, next to the River Brock. This center has been a popular place for Scouts since the mid-20th century.
Why "Goosnargh and Whittingham"?
It can be a bit confusing because almost all of Goosnargh village is actually in the nearby Whittingham parish. Only one side of one road in Goosnargh village, including the parish church, is within Goosnargh parish itself. This is why you sometimes see "Goosnargh and Whittingham" on road signs or hear people refer to them as "twin villages." However, modern maps usually only show "Goosnargh" as a village.
In 1894, an area called Newsham was separated from Goosnargh parish. It became part of the Barton parish instead. Goosnargh parish was part of the Preston Rural District until 1974. Then, it became part of the Borough of Preston, which later became a city in 2002.
Local Businesses in the Parish
Goosnargh parish is famous for its cheese! In 2009, five of the ten Lancashire cheese dairies listed on the British Cheese Board's website were located right here. These include Butler's, Greenfields, Mrs Kirkham's, Shorrocks, and Carron Lodge.
The parish is also where Goosnargh Gin is made. This gin is inspired by the beautiful Bowland Fells nearby. About two miles from Goosnargh village, you'll find Ye Horns Inn.
In July 2015, there was a health concern at a poultry farm in the parish. A type of animal flu was found, and steps were taken to safely manage the situation. Health officials confirmed there was very little risk to people's health.
A Secret Cold War Bunker
During the Second World War, a secret operations bunker for RAF Barton Hall was located on Langley Lane. This bunker was right on the border of the Goosnargh and Whittingham parishes.
After the war, this bunker became a key control center for the United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation. This group was in charge of the famous "four-minute warning" air-raid system for the UK. This system would warn people if an attack was coming. The bunker even had the backup national control for this warning system! The bunker closed between 1991 and 1995. Today, the building is used as a veterinary practice.
See also
In Spanish: Goosnargh para niños
