Lytham St.Annes Coat of Arms

 
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Lytham St.Annes, Lancashire, England
 

 

 KIRKHAM IN 1934

THIS is an ancient market town, 8 miles W. from Preston, and 11 miles S.S.E. from Blackpool, and in the Fylde parliamentary division. It is in the Fylde county council division and Union, and is governed by a district council of nine members. Considerable improvements have been made here within the last few years, and a good deal of trade is carried on in the town and neighbourhood. The railway station is an important one. The township contains 857 statute acres, and its rateable value is £18,780. The principal land-owners are the Earl of Derby, J. T. Clifton, Esq., and the Birley family. Population in 1851, 2,799 ; 1861; 3,370 ; 1871, 3,593 ; 1881, 3,840 ; 1891, 4,003 ; 1901, 3,693 ; 1911, 3793 ; and 1921, 3,815.

The CHURCH was conferred by Roger de Poictou on the Abbey of Shrewsbury. It is dedicated tq St. Michael, and existed in 1066 ; but all except the tower and part of the chancel was rebuilt in 1825, at a cost of £5,000. The chancel was restored in 1857, and the whole of the interior has been reseated and the walls ornamented, at a cost of £800. The tower was rebuilt in 1843-4, and, with the spire, is 156 feet high. The windows are lancet-formed, and that in the east end is of stained-glass, presented by the late A. L. Birley, Esq. The lectern is a brass eagle with expanded wings, and is to the memory of the late T. L. Birley, Esq. The church is spacious, being capable of accommodating 1,400 persons, and there are 750 free sittings. The benefice is a rectory, value £600, in the patronage of Christ Church, Oxford, and is held by the Rev.

The schoolroom at Wesham, where service was formerly held, having become quite inadequate to supply the spiritual needs of the increasing population of this neighbourhood, a new church in Garstang Road North, Wesham, was erected to supply the deficiency. It was named CHRIST CHURCH, and used as a chapel-of-ease to Kirkham until 1913, when it was made a separate parish. The foundation stone was laid June 30th, 1892, by the late Lady E. C. Clifton, and the church was consecrated by Bishop Moorhouse, September 27th, 1894. The cost of the building was £3,350. The structure is of the 14th century style of architecture,and is built of brick, with Runcorn stone dressings, and the roof with red tiles. The church is seated with open pine benches, and will accommodate 440 persons. The designs were supplied by Messrs. Paley & Austin, of Lancaster. In 1927 a church spire and porch were erected and a new chancel added at a cost of £5,000. Rev. Henry Broadbent, M.A., is vicar.


The CATHOLIC CHURCH at the Willows is dedicated to St. John the Evangelist, and consists of nave, aisles, chancel, south porch, and a graceful octagonal spire, 110 feet in height, with a peal of six fine-toned bells. On the south side of the chancel is the Lady Chapel, and on the north the Chapel of the Sacred Heart. The former contains two elegantly-painted windows ; and the altar, which is of Caen stone, is most artistically carved. The window in the Chapel of the Sacred Heart is also of a very gorgeous description, and is divided into three lights ; the centre one contains a full -length figure of St. Helena bearing the true Cross, and the side lights are emblazoned with flaming cherubim holding the emblems of the passion and crucifixion. The high altar, of Alabaster stone, is exquisitely sculptured, and the reredos and tabernacle are richly gilt.

In 1894 a large gilt statue of St. Peter was placed in the church, and in 1896-7 the church was greatly improved. The floor was lowered and the sanctuary opened out by the removal of a screen. New Stations of the Cross were erected, and new Sacristies added from the designs of Pugin. The Church was designed by the elder Pugin, who has left upon it the impress of his great mind, and built by Father Sherburn, who lived at the Willows over 40 years, and died in 1854. It was consecrated April 22nd, 1845, and is capable of accommodating nearly 500 persons. It has superseded the chapel at the Willows, which was built in 1809, the ancient chapel having been at Mowbreck Hall. Rev. Wilfrid J. Alcock (rector) and Rev. John McGavney.

A plot of ground situated to the south of the Catholic Church was purchased for the sum of £300, and has been converted into a cemetery. It has been walled round, and catacombs have been built in the centre, under the cemetery cross. It is a great addition to the town of Kirkham, and is ornamented with a variety of shrubs, which greatly enhance its beauty. The whole expense incurred was about £1,200. The Catholic population of the parish is about 1,000.

A new CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, situated in Poulton Street, the foundation stone of which was laid on July 2nd, 1896, was opened June 19th, 1897. It is a neat building in the Elizabethan' style of architecture, and the total cost of the edifice and site was £3,500. This has superseded the old Independent Chapel, first built in 1793, and rebuilt in 1820. A Sunday school, opened in March, 1914, which cost £3,500, exclusive of site, was the gift of the late Mr. A. C. Bowdler, of Blackburn, a former scholar and teacher. Rev. Herbert Mills, minister. The METHODISTS have also a good chapel here. The CHURCH OF ENGLAND SCHOOLS at Kirkham have been enlarged at a cost of £925 and at the Willows is an ENDOWED CATHOLIC SCHOOL ; a new girls' school was added in 1871, so that there is now room for 340 children.

The GRAMMAR SCHOOL is a very old and well-endowed foundation. It dates from 1549, and was a free Grammar School till remodelled by the Endowed Schools' Commissioners in 1880. In 1911 the buildings situated near the Parish Church were superseded by new buildings erected in Ribby Road, at a cost of £10,000, and are replete with every modern convenience. The Governors award annually a number of free place scholarships which are open to boys educated at elementary schools in the ancient parish. The Lancashire Education Committee, since 1928, have undertaken financial responsibility. The school is recognised as efficient by the Board of Education. The head master is the Rev. Cresswell Strange, M.A. Accommodation is provided for 190 pupils, including 38 boarders.

The GASWORKS, erected in Orders Lane, in 1839, and reconstructed in 1882, contains two holders, and the annual consumption of gas is about 27,000,000 cubic feet, and the number of consumers is 1,340. Frank Ashton, secretary and manager.

The CONSERVATIVE CLUB has a reading room well supplied with newspapers, etc., and a billiard room. KIRKHAM SAVINGS BANK, established in 1844, was merged into the Preston Savings Bank in November, 1912. The FYLDE INDUSTRIAL CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY, LTD., Poulton Street, was formed in 1868, The MIDLAND BANK CO., LTD., and the DISTRICT BANK, LTD., have each a branch at Kirkham and sub-branchs at Wesham and Freckleton. PETTY SESSIONS are held at the Court House every third Thursday, and the clerk is Mr. R. C. Dickson, who is also clerk to the Urban District Council. The COUNTY CONSTABULARY OFFICE is in Freckleton Street.

The INSTITUTE, (Lancashire No. 3 Area) Wesham, for the Fylde Union, was built in 1900 at a cost of £50,000. There is accommodation for 320 inmates. This building supersedes the one dating from 1844, which was pulled down, and Children's Cottage Homes erected on the site, and is in connection with the Union. Mr. Fred H. Brown is clerk to the Guardians Public Assistance Committee (No. 3 Area) and superintendent registrar.

Urban District Council.

Rev. C. Strange (chairman), J. Postlewhite, J. R Yates, H. Marquis, J. Ward, T. Jackson, J. W. Sutton, T. W. Hodgson and J. F. Hornby. Rating Officer : F. Pickup ; Clerk : R. C. Dickson ; Surveyor and Sanitary Inspector : Jas. R. Holmes.

Post, Money Order and Telegraph Offices at Joseph Whiteside's, 83 Poulton street, Kirkham, and Mr. Parker's, Station road, Wesham. Letters arrive, via Preston, at 5-0 a.m., and 1.45 and are despatched at 10-30 a.m., and 7-40 p.m.