Westby-with-Plumptons

Westby-with-Plumptons
Westby-with-Plumptons

 Westby-with-Plumptons shown within Lancashire
Population 1,107 (2001 UK census)
OS grid reference SD384318
    - London  196 miles (315 km) 
Parish Westby-with-Plumptons
District Fylde
Shire county Lancashire
Region North West
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town PRESTON
Postcode district PR4
Post town BLACKPOOL
Postcode district FY4
Post town LYTHAM ST. ANNES
Postcode district FY8
Dialling code 01772
Police Lancashire
Fire Lancashire
Ambulance North West
EU Parliament North West England
UK Parliament Fylde
List of places: UK • England • Lancashire

Westby-with-Plumptons is a civil parish in Lancashire, North West England. The parish is in Fylde district and contains the hamlets of Great Plumpton, Little Plumpton, Lower Ballam, Higher Ballam, Moss Side (formerly Brown Moss Side), Peel, and Westby.[1] As of the 2001 census, the parish had a population of 1,107.[2] Westby and Plumpton were both mentioned in the Domesday Book, as "Westbi" and "Pluntun".[3]

Westby-with-Plumptons is part of the Warton and Westby ward, which is represented by three councillors on Fylde Borough Council[4] On Lancashire County Council it is part of Fylde West ward, which elects one councillor.[5]

The parish is generally low-lying, with arable land in the south and pasture in the north, which rises to 100 feet (30 m) above sea level at Great Plumpton in the north-east of the parish.[3][6]

The railway from Preston to Blackpool South runs through the parish, with one station in the parish, at Moss Side where the railway crosses the B5259 Lytham to Kirkham road at a level crossing.

The parish is now the home of the steel farm-building construction company J. Wareing & Son (Wrea Green) Ltd [1], which was for many years based in the neighbouring village of Wrea Green.

St. Anne's Church

Westby is notable for the fine Catholic church of St. Anne's, designed by E. W. Pugin and built in 1860.

The conventional church exterior does not prepare the visitor for the striking interior with its elaborate timber roof [2]. Above the altar the timbers follow the apse and form a frame or focal point. At the west end is a gallery.

Despite the unusual shape of the nave windows, the stained glass is largely unspectacular. But two of the windows are noteworthy - the Pre-Raphaelite styled "St Cecilia" in a wonderful green gown, with delicate roses in the cusps, and the "Millennium" window with its inscription.[7].

References

  1. ^ "Map of Westby-with-Plumptons CP". Lancashire County Council. http://mario.lancashire.gov.uk/lccbasemap/?box=333811:428695:340362:434445&tools=yes&layeron=parish. Retrieved 2008-07-17. 
  2. ^ "2001 Census: Key Statistics: Parish Headcounts: Area: Westby-with-Plumptons CP (Parish)". Office for National Statistics. http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=795707&c=Westby&d=16&e=15&g=462066&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1216332859708&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779. Retrieved 2008-07-17. 
  3. ^ a b "Townships: Westby-with-Plumptons". A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 7. British History Online. 1912. pp. 174–176. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=53212. Retrieved 2008-07-17. 
  4. ^ "Council and Democracy: Councillor Search: Warton and Westby". Fylde Borough Council. http://www.fylde.gov.uk/Councillors.aspx?ward=Warton%20and%20Westby. Retrieved 2008-07-17. 
  5. ^ "County Councillors by Area (A-Z)". Lancashire County Council. http://www3.lancashire.gov.uk/council/councillors/councillorsAreas.asp. Retrieved 2008-07-17. 
  6. ^ "Westby-with-Plumptons Parish Council". Lancashire Parish Portal. Lancashire County Council. http://www.lancashireparishcouncils.gov.uk/parishes/parish_display.asp?parishid=18. Retrieved 2008-07-17. 
  7. ^ St. Anne's Westby