Kirkham, Lancashire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kirkham |
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 Kirkham United Reformed Church |
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 Kirkham
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| Population | 7,883 (2021) |
| OS grid reference | SD426321 |
| 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 | PR4 |
| Dialling code | 01772 |
| Police | Lancashire |
| Fire | Lancashire |
| Ambulance | North West |
| EU Parliament | North West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Kirkham is a lively market town and civil parish in Lancashire, England. It sits between the towns of Blackpool and Preston. Kirkham grew up around Carr Hill, which was once home to a Roman fort. In 2021, about 7,883 people lived in Kirkham.
Contents
History of Kirkham
Kirkham is one of the oldest places in the Fylde area. Long ago, around 8,000 BC, people lived here. This is known from old tools found nearby.
Ancient Beginnings
The town's name comes from old words. Kirk is Danish for "church," and -ham is a Saxon word for "settlement" or "home." So, Kirkham means "church settlement." The town is even older than the Romans. It was built on Carr Hill, where the Romans later built a fort.
Kirkham is mentioned in the Domesday Book from 1086. It was called Chicheham back then. It was located on a Roman road that connected two important places. In 1269 or 1270, King Henry III gave Kirkham the right to hold a market.
Growth and Industry
For a long time, Kirkham was a small market town. But in the late 1600s, it started to grow. It became a busy place for making textiles, especially sailcloth. By 1830, people were weaving sailcloth in their homes. Later, a large flax mill was built in 1861.
Kirkham Grammar School is a very old school. It was started in 1549, but the first building is no longer there.
Roman Discoveries
In 1792, a Roman brass shield piece was found in a local stream. A schoolmaster named John Willacy found it. This shield piece was special because it had a human figure and an eagle on it. It is now kept in the British Museum.
Local Events and Landmarks
Horse races used to happen at Carr Hill in Kirkham in the 1850s. These races continued until World War II.
In 1887, a special memorial was put up. It celebrated Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, which was 50 years of her rule. This memorial is now near the United Reformed Church.
Looms, which are machines for weaving fabric, were used in Kirkham from about 1850 until 2003. At one point, the town had eleven mills. The last one was built in 1915. You can still see "The Last Loom" of Kirkham on Station Road. This old loom could make many different types of fabrics.
The famous artist L. S. Lowry drew and painted scenes of Kirkham's Church Street in the 1920s and 1930s.
After the Second World War, a new school was built in 1957. It was called Carr Hill Secondary Modern School. It was opened by the Duchess of Kent. Since the late 1900s, many new homes have been built around the town.
Town Governance
Kirkham has its own town council. This council has six elected members and is called "Kirkham Town Council." They help manage local services like keeping the town clean and looking after community spaces. They also have a say in planning new buildings.
Local councillors represent Kirkham at different levels. Stewart Jones is the Lancashire County Council councillor. In 2023, three independent councillors won the seats for Fylde Council.
Town Regeneration
Kirkham is currently undergoing a big improvement plan called "Kirkham Futures." This plan aims to make the town centre better. In 2022, the Fylde Borough Council bought two empty buildings. One was a former restaurant, and the other was an old bank. The old bank might become a place for hospitality.
The "Kirkham Futures" plan will last four years. It uses a £6.3 million grant from the government. The plan is a team effort between Fylde Council, Lancashire County Council, and Kirkham Town Council.
In January 2023, the town's Market Square closed for improvements. New street furniture and other public spaces are being updated. A new lighting system will also be added. These changes were finished in August 2024. Parking is now banned in the Market Square, but there are other free parking areas nearby.
In 2023 and 2024, special events took place. They were inspired by Kirkham's Roman past. These events included community archaeology and an art festival.
Education
Kirkham has several schools for young people.
Secondary Schools
- Carr Hill High School: This is a mixed comprehensive school.
- Kirkham Grammar School: This is an independent school.
Primary Schools
Children in Kirkham attend these primary schools:
- Kirkham and Wesham Primary School
- Kirkham Grammar Junior School
- St John the Evangelist (also known as "The Willows") Catholic Primary School
- Kirkham St Michael's C of E Primary School
There is also Pear Tree School, which provides special education for children aged 2 to 19.
Churches
Kirkham has several churches for different faiths.
- St Michael's Church: This is the Church of England parish church.
- United Reformed Church: Located on Poulton Street, this church was built in 1896. It is a Grade II listed building, meaning it is historically important.
- St John the Evangelist: This Roman Catholic church was built in 1845. It is often called "The Willows" by local people.
- Methodist Church: This church is on Nelson Street.
There was also an old Zion (Independent) Chapel, founded in 1818. The church building is gone, but its graveyard is still there and well looked after.
Location and Amenities
Kirkham is in an area known for farming. However, in the 1700s, making sail cloth and weaving flax became very important here. By 1876, nearly 1,000 people worked in factories making cotton and other goods.
Transport and Facilities
Kirkham and Wesham railway station opened in 1840. It was originally called "Kirkham Station." South of the town is Kirkham Prison, which is an open prison. It was built on part of an old Royal Air Force base.
The small library on Station Road has been open since 1939. It recently reopened after being updated.
Community Life
Kirkham has an annual event called Kirkham Club Day. It happens in early June and is celebrated with the nearby town of Wesham. On this day, different churches and their chosen "Rose Queens" walk in a parade. There are also floats, important people, and brass bands.
The town's War Memorial is in a small garden on Barnfield.
Media
People in Kirkham can watch local news and TV shows from BBC North West and ITV Granada.
Radio Stations
Local radio stations include:
- BBC Radio Lancashire
- Heart North West
- Smooth North West
- Capital Manchester and Lancashire
- Greatest Hits Radio Lancashire
- Central Radio North West (a community station from Preston)
Newspapers
Kirkham has its own free newspaper, the Kirkham and Wesham Advertiser. News about Kirkham is also covered by the Blackpool Gazette, the Lancashire Evening Post, and the weekly Kirkham and Fylde Express.
Sport
Kirkham has a strong connection to sports.
Football
The town's main football club is AFC Fylde. It used to be called Kirkham and Wesham F.C. The club changed its name to attract more fans from the wider Fylde coast.
AFC Fylde plays in the National League. In 2008, the team won the FA Vase at Wembley Stadium. They have also been promoted to higher leagues several times.
Other Sports
Kirkham Swimming Baths was a public swimming pool for over 100 years. It closed permanently in 2021 due to damage from a storm.
In May 2022, a fun event called British Lawn Mower Racing took place near Kirkham. It helped raise money for people in Ukraine.
Twin Towns
Kirkham has "twin towns" in other countries. This means they have a special friendship and often visit each other.
Kirkham is twinned with:
- Ancenis in France
- Bad Brückenau in Germany
Kirkham has an active Twinning Association that keeps in touch with both towns.
Places of Interest
Kirkham has 20 listed buildings. These are buildings that are important because of their history or special design. Most of them are from the Georgian and Victorian eras.
Some interesting places to see include:
- St Michaels Church, Church Street
- Kirkham United Reformed Church, Poulton Street
- Kirkham Windmill - Dowbridge (now a private home)
- St John the Evangelist R.C Church (The Willows Church)
- Ash Tree House - Church Street (built around 1765, now a doctor's office)
See also
In Spanish: Kirkham para niños
