Hesketh Bank

Hesketh Bank

All Saints Church, Hesketh Bank
Hesketh Bank
 Hesketh Bank shown within Lancashire
Civil parishHesketh with Becconsall
DistrictWest Lancashire
Shire countyLancashire
RegionNorth West
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post town PRESTON
Postcode district PR4
Dialling code 01772
Police Lancashire
Fire Lancashire
Ambulance North West
EU Parliament North West England
UK ParliamentSouth Ribble
List of places
UK
England
Lancashire

Coordinates: 53°42′23″N 2°51′33″W / 53.7064°N 2.8591°W

Hesketh Bank is a small agricultural village in Lancashire, England. It lies to the north-east of the town of Southport on the Irish Sea estuary of the River Ribble. The area falls under West Lancashire Borough Council for administrative purposes, and Hesketh-with-Becconsall Parish Council for parochial matters. It is in the South Ribble parliamentary constituency.

History

Due to its geographical location, close to the cities of Preston and Liverpool, the village suffered during the Second World War. Stray bombs hit the old church in 1943, and landed along Becconsall Lane, causing extensive damage to the housing there.

Landmarks

Becconsall Old Church in April 2010
Becconsall Pub derelict in April 2010

The village has some architectural gems such as Becconsall Old Church which was hit by bomb shrapnel during World War II, All Saints Church on Station Road replaced the old church and is of some architectural significance as is the Becconsall Public House, which shut in June 2009. Local Residents are campaigning to reopen the pub as it is feared the "community hub" will be lost.[1]

Geography

Hesketh Bank lies just to the north of the larger village of Tarleton and the village of Banks (North Meols).

Economy

Booths store under construction April 2010 on the railway station site

Due to the village's position on the West Lancashire Coastal Plain it has a rich soil, suitable for the farming of flowers and vegetables - this is still the main economic activity in the area.

A Booths supermarket opened on 11 November 2010.

Transport

The village is located just off the A59 Preston to Liverpool road and the A565 Southport Road has meant it has also developed as a commuter town.

Hesketh Bank railway station was once a stop on the West Lancashire Railway, which ran between Preston and Southport, but the line proved unsuccessful and was shut in 1964. The station site is now occupied by a housing estate.

A new SPAR supermarket is being developed on the former site of The Village Stor [Co-Operative Food] which was closed on 30 December 2011.

Leisure

Hesketh Bank Football Club in April 2010

The village is home to football, cricket, badminton and crown green bowls clubs, the Hesketh Bank Silver Band and the West Lancashire Light Railway.

References

  1. The Bill backs the Bec, Lancashire Evening Post

External links