Bretherton

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bretherton a small village west of Leyland is situated south of the River Ribble on the northern edge of the Southwest Lancashire Plain. The village for most of its existence was an almost self-supporting, self contained ‘subsistence agrarian economy’. Truly major changes to the village have occurred within living memory; well-paid employment opportunities coupled with rationalisation of farming facilitated people to escape their low income agrarian lifestile and move to local urban centres, such as Leyland, Preston and Chorley. However an influx of people has occurred, choosing to live in the village as a matter of choice rather than need. As with most UK villages near centres of major employment Bretherton now has become a dormitory village more akin to that of a wealthy suburb with very few residents engaged in agriculture or associated support industries as their main source of income. As you might expect with similar UK communities many residents access support services such as shops, schools, medical services, employment and leisure pursuits outside the confines of the village.

It is part of Lancashire. It consists of four roads - North Road (B5248), South Road, Pompian Brow and Marl Cop. The village has easy links to the A59, and the Leyland area.

Although closely linked with Leyland, Bretherton is part of Chorley Borough's Lostock ward.

In December 2005, with the growing popularity of ‘sport flying’ and inline with trends published by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), plans for a 'microlight farm airstrip' located on the village ouskirts (approx 1.25 miles north of the ‘village heart’) to serve the area’s pilots and those residing in Chorley, South Ribble, Southport and Preston were put forward. However the plans for this farm diversification, sport facility and community asset were rejected by Chorley and South Ribble councillors.

The Country Mansion House to the village of Bretherton is Bank Hall which originates from 1608, which makes the building Jacobean. Bank Hall was built on the banks of the River Douglas and was the first building to be featured on the first series of the BBC's "Restoration"

Bank Hall is open to the public on the last sunday of every month and every sunday throughout february for the snowdrop season as Bank Hall is home to many varieties of snowdrop. There are also plans to restore Bank Hall to its former glory with help from the Heritage Lottery Fund. It is understood that the building will be developed (with the help of 'Urban Splash’) into executive apartments but allowing controlled access to certain areas of the site by the general public upon completion of the project.

For more information, a full history and events list on Bank Hall please visit www.bankhallonline.2ya.com

or email bankhallbretherton@hotmail.com

Coordinates: 53°40′N 2°48′W