Croston

Croston is a village in the United Kingdom between Chorley and Southport and is next to the River Yarrow. The St. Michaels and All Angels Church is at the centre of the village. At the end of Church Street there is a stone cross which was erected in 1953. There is a fifteenth century cobbled pack horse bridge which crosses the River Yarrow. The village green is used as a venue for the annual May Day Madness and Bastille Day celebrations.

1 History
2 Croston Old School
3 See also
- 3.1 External links

[edit] History

Croston began in the 7th century when St Aidan arrived at the riverside settlements. In the absence of a church a cross acted as a place of worship. Croston gets its name from 'cross' derived from the Irish and the Scandinavian word 'tun' which means town (cross-town). It is unique as there is no other Croston in the UK.

Centuries ago the parish of Croston was far larger than it is today. It included Chorley, Hoole, Rufford, Bretherton, Mawdesley, Tarleton, Hesketh Bank, Bispham, Walmer Bridge and Ulnes Walton. A charter granted by Edward I in 1283 allowed an annual medieval fair and market to be held on the village green. Ancient maps also depict a castle. It is believed to have been a wooden one because there is no evidence of a stone structure.

Croston has a large brick police station which has recently been refurbished and which was replaced by a smaller police station in the 1970s. It is similar in style to those in the surrounding areas, notably Bamber Bridge and Leyland police station.

[edit] Croston Old School

The Old School is a Grade 2 listed building which originates from 1660 .It is in the centre of the village at the end of Church Street next to the 900 year old church. Until 1999 the buildings were used as a school. Croston Old School Community Trust's grant from the National Lottery for £481,062 has funded the majority of a scheme to create a Community Resource Centre for Croston.

The building provides: