Bamber Bridge

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Bamber Bridge is a town to the south of Preston, Lancashire, England. The name derives from the Old English 'bēam' and 'brycg', roughly "tree-trunk bridge". Locally, there are many theories to the origin of the town's name, of which almost all are urban myths and approximations. The town is often referred to as "Brig" by residents, who are known as "Briggers".

The main employer was once Baxi, a heating company, but their collapse has consequently turned the region into a Preston and beyond commuter belt. The main road through Bamber Bridge is called Station Road, and was historically part of the A6 trunk road. Today there is a bypass, and Station Road has been downrated to a B-road.

There is a railway station with direct connections to Preston and Blackburn, along with indirect links to Leyland, Chorley and Blackpool. Other buildings to be found on Station Road include St Aidan's (the Anglican church in Bamber Bridge), a Catholic High School and take away shops.

Britain's first motorway, the "Preston bypass" runs close to Bamber Bridge. Now the M6 motorway it was opened by Harold Macmillan on 5 December 1958 and passes close by, and provides good transport links to Scotland and the Midlands. Other motorways in the locality are the M61 motorway and M65 motorway.

It is home to Bamber Bridge Football Club who play non-league football at the Irongate Ground.

Bamber Bridge is in the district of South Ribble council, and is currently represented by Mark Hendrick, the MP for Preston. Following their review of parliamentary representation in Lancashire, the Boundary Commission for England has created a modified Ribble Valley seat in which Bamber Bridge will move at the next UK general election.

There are many pubs to be found along Station Road. Starting from the southern end of Station Road, and heading North towards Preston are:

• The Hob Inn (a traditional pub with a thatched roof) Real Ale
• The Black Bull (refurbishment completed in early 2006) Real Ale
• "M in Brig" (previously known as The Mackenzie)
• The Lancs and Yorks (adjacent to the railway station, and named after the Lancashire to Yorkshire railway line - not the Wars of the Roses as the pub notice says!)
• The White Bull
• The Last Orders (This building used to be the police station. There is now a new police station next to the railway station.)
• Ye Olde Original Withy Trees ("Ye Olde Original" to distinguish it from the next entry) Real Ale
• The Top House (formerly known as "The Withy Trees")
• The Pear Tree

There are also a couple of pubs on School Lane:

• Tommy Tucker's (formerly called School Lane Hotel (but known as Tuckers); was for many years kept by the Tucker family, Tommy Tucker was landlord of the pub and used to be a well known local boxer in earlier years. After the family relinquished the license the pub was renamed in his honour)
• The Woodsman

Bamber Bridge is near to Higher Walton Lostock Hall, Walton-le-Dale, Gregson Lane, Preston, and Leyland.

Coordinates: 53°43′N 2°40′W