Heysham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Heysham |
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 St Peter's Church |
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 Heysham
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| Population | 17,016 |
| OS grid reference | SD415615 |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | MORECAMBE |
| Postcode district | LA3 |
| Dialling code | 01524 |
| Police | Lancashire |
| Fire | Lancashire |
| Ambulance | North West |
| EU Parliament | North West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Heysham (pronounced HEE-shəm) is a village on the coast in Lancashire, England. It looks out over Morecambe Bay. Heysham is an important ferry port. Ferries travel from here to the Isle of Man and Ireland. It is also home to two nuclear power stations.
Contents
History of Heysham
Ancient Graves and Chapels
Heysham has some very old stone graves carved right into the rock. These graves are found near the ruins of St. Patrick's Chapel. People think they are from the 11th century, which is over 900 years ago!
A local story says that St Patrick himself landed here after coming from Ireland. He is said to have started the chapel. However, experts have found that the chapel was built about 300 years after St Patrick died. These unique stone graves even appeared on the cover of a Black Sabbath music CD!
Viking and Saxon Discoveries
The area around St Peter's Church has many old items from the Saxon and Viking times. Inside the church, you can see a special Viking stone called a hogback stone. These strange stone carvings are found mostly in northern England. They are also in Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and some parts of southern England where Vikings lived.
Some people believe the four figures on the hogback stone are the four dwarfs from Nordic mythology. These dwarfs, named Norðri, Suðri, Austri and Vestri, are said to hold up the sky. Heysham is also one of only three places in Britain and Ireland with a very old labyrinth carving. This carving is from before the Roman times.
Stone Age Finds
The Lancaster Museum has many old tools found in the Heysham area. These include stone axe and hammer heads. Some of these tools weigh up to 4 kilograms (about 9 pounds). They date back to the New Stone Age, which was thousands of years ago.
Many of these finds suggest that Heysham was once an ancient burial ground. This type of burial mound is called a barrow. The area is still known by local people as "The Barrows." The Barrows are the only sea-cliffs in Lancashire. They have woodlands, open grassy areas, sandy beaches, and deep rock pools.
Heysham Heritage Centre
The Heysham Heritage Centre is located in an old barn on Main Street. This building is owned by the Heritage Trust for the North West. The Heritage Centre is run by volunteers from the Heysham Heritage Association. They help visitors learn about the history of the area.
Heysham's Population and Local Government
Heysham is part of the City of Lancaster district. It is divided into three areas called wards: Heysham Central, Heysham North, and Heysham South. In 2011, the total population of these wards was about 17,016 people. The village of Heysham itself has about 6,500 residents.
From 1899 to 1928, Heysham had its own local council. Later, it became part of the Morecambe and Heysham Council. Since 1974, Lancaster City Council has been in charge of the area.
Community Life
Heysham is an important place for energy. It is where an oil pipeline from the Stanlow Refinery ends. There is also a gas pipeline that comes from the Morecambe gas fields in the Irish Sea.
Industry and Transport
Heysham Port started operating in 1904. It offers ferry services to the Isle of Man. It also handles freight (goods) going to Ireland. The port supports the Irish Sea and Morecambe Bay gas fields. In 1999, a SeaCat ferry service to Belfast began. Some ferries connect with trains from Heysham Port railway station to Lancaster.
There used to be an oil refinery in Heysham, which operated from 1941 to 1976. In October 2016, a new road called the Bay Gateway opened. This dual carriageway connects Heysham directly to the M6 motorway, making travel easier.
Nature and Wildlife
The Lancashire Wildlife Trust manages a nature reserve near the nuclear power stations. It is about 3 hectares (7.4 acres) in size. Birds like whitethroats build their nests here.
Close to the sea shore, there is a rocky area called Red Nab. Many waders (birds that feed in shallow water) and gulls rest here. The power stations release warm water into the sea. This warm water helps more food grow, which attracts migratory seabirds. These include little gulls and Mediterranean gulls. In winter, you might also see kittiwakes and purple sandpipers.
Notable People
The famous artist J. M. W. Turner visited Heysham in the 1790s. He made sketches in August 1816 that he used for his painting Heysham and Cumberland Mountains. This painting shows the village with the beautiful Lakeland mountains in the background.
Professional football player David Perkins was born in Heysham.
Gallery
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Anglo-Saxon carved stone cross base
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Heysham Harbour
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Sunset across 'The Barrows' on Heysham Nature Reserve
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Faces of the hogback stone
Images for kids
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Stone-hewn graves overlooking Morecambe Bay
See also
In Spanish: Heysham para niños
