Medlar-with-Wesham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Medlar-with-Wesham |
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 War memorial, the Square, Wesham |
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 Medlar-with-Wesham
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| Population | 3,584 (2021) |
| OS grid reference | SD418330 |
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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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Medlar-with-Wesham is a small area in Lancashire, England. It includes the town of Wesham and is located on a flat area called the Fylde. It's part of the Borough of Fylde. In 2021, about 3,584 people lived here in 1,511 homes.
Contents
A Look Back: History of Wesham
Long ago, in 1794, maps showed Medlar and Wesham as two separate places. An old book from 1848 says that the land here once belonged to a group called the Knights Hospitaller. Later, it was given to Cockersand Abbey. When monasteries were closed down, the land went to the Westby family. They lived at a place called Mowbrick Hall, which is now a farmhouse.
The area has been lived in since before the Normans came to England. There were small settlements like Bradkirk, Medlar, Wesham, and Mowbreck. There was even a farm surrounded by a moat (a water-filled ditch) called Pasture Barn.
How Wesham Grew
The modern town of Wesham is only about 160 years old. It started to grow quickly when the railway expanded. This was because popular seaside towns like Blackpool needed train connections. From the 1920s to the 1950s, many steam trains passed through Kirkham and Wesham railway station.
In the 1800s, Wesham grew a lot because of jobs in the cotton mills. The population jumped from 170 people in 1851 to 563 in 1861. At that time, Mowbreck Hall, a large house made of red brick, was owned by J. T. Fazakerley-Westby. It even had a private Roman Catholic chapel.
A large school was built in Wesham in 1864. Today, that site is used as a shop. The borders of Wesham have mostly stayed the same for over 100 years.
Wesham Park Hospital
In the early 1900s, a new workhouse (a place where poor people could live and work) was built in Wesham. It was designed in a modern way, with separate areas for men and women, and even a small house for married couples.
During the First World War, these buildings were used as a military hospital. Later, they became Wesham Park Hospital, which helped older people and those with mental health needs. The hospital closed in 2011. Now, the land is being used to build new homes. In 2023, plans were made for a new health center and a care home on the old hospital site.
Places of Worship: Churches in Wesham
Wesham has two main churches. Christ Church is a Church of England church, built in 1894. It's a special building because it's listed as Grade II, meaning it's historically important. The church has a graveyard and a junior school next to it.
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Church was started in 1885. The land for the church was given by the Billington family. It was officially opened in 1886. St Joseph's also has a graveyard and a junior school nearby. In 2013, St Joseph's joined with another church in Kirkham to form one larger parish called the Parish of the Holy Cross.
There was also a Primitive Methodist chapel built in 1895. It's now been turned into homes, but you can still see its original features.
Local Businesses and Industry
The biggest business in Wesham today is the Wesham Bakery, which is now part of Fox's Biscuits. It opened in 1957 and is where the famous Fox's "Rocky" biscuit is made.
You'll also find many smaller shops and some newer light industrial businesses in the north of the area, close to the M55 motorway. There's even a private home on Fleetwood Road that has a Bell UH-1 Iroquois helicopter, which is the only flying one in the UK!
In 2020, Bradkirk Business Park opened. It uses old farm buildings for different businesses, like making saddlery and light engineering.
Things to Do and See: Amenities
In the center of Wesham is a small war memorial with a statue of a First World War soldier. Every year, a special service is held here on Remembrance Sunday. Around the memorial, you'll find the old fire station, the busy post office, a Co-op supermarket, and a hair salon.
On Church Road, there's a popular community centre. Nearby are the outdoor bowling club and the newly rebuilt Scout hut. The community center is used by many local groups and is also where people go to vote. Wesham also has a modern fire station and an ambulance station on Fleetwood Road.
Parks and Green Spaces
The town has a recreation field on Fleetwood Road with a new skateboard park. Local teams often play football here. The playground has new equipment, and there are outdoor fitness stations around the field. There's also a small park called a "doorstep green" on Derby Road.
You can find public allotments (small plots of land for gardening) between St. Joseph's churchyard and the recreation ground. There's also a public area for dog walking off Mowbreck Lane.
Wesham has three pubs: the Lane Ends, the Stanley Arms, and the Royal Oak Hotel. There are also three special natural areas called Biological Heritage Sites: Medlar Ditch, Medlar Meadows, and Wesham Marsh.
Annual Events
Wesham has an annual event called Club Day in early June, which it shares with Kirkham. On this day, different churches and their chosen "Rose Queens" walk in a parade through the town. There are also floats with Bible scenes, important local people, and brass bands.
Health Services
In 2011, a special 40-bed center for older people's rehabilitation on Mowbreck Lane closed. However, in 2020, work began to turn it into a new 28-bed mental health rehabilitation service called "Moving on." This center helps people learn to live independently. It opened on March 14, 2022.
Transport
Regular bus services are provided by Stagecoach Buses. The Kirkham and Wesham railway station, which the town shares with Kirkham, was updated in 2011 with a major refurbishment.
Recent Developments
In January 2021, Bradley's Bar, located inside AFC Fylde's Mill Farm Stadium, was turned into one of the North West's COVID-19 vaccination centers. This helped deliver vaccines safely.
Local Government and How Wesham is Run
The local government for Wesham includes councillors from Lancashire County Council and Fylde Borough Council. In the 2023 local elections, Liz Bickerstaffe (Independent) and Jordan Ledger (Labour Party) won the two Fylde Council seats.
The mayor of Wesham is Cllr Linda Nulty, and her deputy is Cllr Louise Walker. The town also has a town clerk, Angela Hunter, and other councillors who help run the area.
In 2008, a plan for the parish was created after asking all Wesham residents for their ideas.
New Buildings and Town Growth
Recently, Wesham has seen a lot of new housing built. One development of 74 homes was built on greenfield land (land that hasn't been built on before) near the old Wesham Park Hospital. Another 208 houses were built on "Willow Fields," which was brownfield land (land that was previously developed). A third development, "Crossing Gates," has 109 houses on greenfield land.
There have been plans for even more houses, up to 264, on another greenfield site near Wesham Marsh. This plan caused a lot of discussion because many people felt it would change the rural feel of the town. Surveys found special animals like the Natterjack Toad and the Great Crested Newt living there.
In 2010, the local council rejected the plan. The developer appealed, and after a public meeting, the appeal was dismissed in 2011, meaning permission was refused. However, the developer tried again with a plan for 100 homes on part of the same site. This was also refused by the council, but the developer appealed again and won in 2013. Despite this, another application for 264 homes on the site was refused.
In 2013, local businessman David Haythornthwaite announced plans for a large £12 million development called Mill Farm. This plan included a 6,000-seat stadium for AFC Fylde, sports facilities, a hotel, a supermarket, a pub, and a petrol station. Work on this site began in 2015.
Football in Wesham
The town's main football team is AFC Fylde, which used to be called Kirkham and Wesham F.C. They play in the National League. In 2008, the team won the FA Vase at Wembley Stadium. They had a big victory parade through the town, and many people came out to cheer for them.
AFC Fylde moved to their new home ground, Mill Farm, in Wesham in 2016. Before that, they played at Kellamergh Park in Warton.
Wesham also has other football teams, including Wesham FC and a Sunday league team called Wesham Town FC.
Special Buildings: Listed Buildings
Wesham has three buildings or structures that are listed as Grade II. This means they are important and protected because of their history or special design:
- Bradkirk Hall Farmhouse, on Weeton Road (built in 1754).
- Christ Church, on Church Road.
- The War memorial with its railings, on Garstang Road South.
News and Media
Wesham has its own free weekly newspaper called The Kirkham and Wesham Advertiser. Other local newspapers include the daily Blackpool Gazette and Lancashire Evening Post, and the weekly Kirkham and Fylde Express.
Images for kids
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Wesham Rehabilitation Centre, March 2022
