Freckleton
Encyclopedia
Freckleton is a village and civil parish
on the Fylde coast in Lancashire
, England
, to the south of Kirkham
and east of the seaside resort of Lytham St. Annes. It has a population of 6,045.
Freckleton is near to Warton
, with its links to BAE Systems
. Warton Aerodrome's
2.4 km runway is partly within Freckleton's boundary.
The name of the village appears in the Domesday Book
as Frecheltun and is said to derive from "Farmstead of a man called Frecla", with Old English
tun and Nordic
personal name. An alternative spelling of Frequleton has been referred to in local history publications.
In the 19th century, Freckleton, already a place used to supply water to the Roman fort at Kirkham, was used as a port assisting the ship building industry. The local community helped making rope and sail cloth, remnants of which exist in local street names.
Freckleton has a parish council, and is part of the Fylde borough, and the Fylde
constituency.
, American forces from the neighbouring Warton Aerodrome
resided in the village. The most tragic event in the village's history was the Freckleton Air Disaster
, on 23 August 1944, when an aircraft attempting to land at Warton during stormy weather crashed onto Freckleton's Holy Trinity School. A total of sixty-one people lost their lives, including thirty-eight infants, their two teachers, and the three air crew. Other victims included several residents and US personnel in a snack bar across the road from the school. Annual commemorations still take place, attended by residents and US veterans.
The aerodrome was subsequently purchased by English Electric
, now BAE Systems
, and many BAE employees live in the village.
The first races took place on Saturday evenings, with the first being on Saturday 19 June 1965. The race was the brainchild idea of the Chairman of the Sport Committee, Dick Rhodes who was inspired by Ron Hill’s participation in the marathon in the 1964 Olympics
; Ron was invited and duly won the first race in a time of 65 minutes 44 seconds. Four years later he set a record time of 64:45, which still stands.
The race took place on Saturday evening until 1982; the entry had expanded to several hundred and the decision was taken to switch the Half Marathon to the Sunday afternoon in 1983. The race currently attracts 700 entrants and has been over subscribed in recent years.
There have been a number of organisers since 1965 - Denis Vickers, Ken Snibson, Peter Knott and Richard Lancaster. The latest is Brian Porter of Wesham Road Runners, assisted by a small, enthusiastic team.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
on the Fylde coast in Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, to the south of Kirkham
Kirkham, Lancashire
Kirkham, or as it once was known, Kirkam-in-Amounderness is a town and civil parish in the Borough of Fylde in Lancashire, England, midway between Blackpool and Preston and adjacent to the smaller town of Wesham. It owes its existence to Carr Hill upon which it was built and which was the location...
and east of the seaside resort of Lytham St. Annes. It has a population of 6,045.
Freckleton is near to Warton
Warton, Fylde
Warton is a village on the Fylde in Lancashire, England.The village is about six miles from Preston and eight miles from Blackpool. It is located on the banks of the River Ribble, close to its entry into the Irish Sea. It is best known for its airfield, BAE Warton and its associated aircraft works...
, with its links to BAE Systems
BAE Systems
BAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...
. Warton Aerodrome's
Warton Aerodrome
Warton Aerodrome is located near to Warton village on the Fylde in Lancashire, England. The aerodrome is west of Preston, Lancashire, UK.Today the airfield is a major assembly and testing facility of BAE Systems Military Air Solutions....
2.4 km runway is partly within Freckleton's boundary.
The name of the village appears in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
as Frecheltun and is said to derive from "Farmstead of a man called Frecla", with Old English
Old English language
Old English or Anglo-Saxon is an early form of the English language that was spoken and written by the Anglo-Saxons and their descendants in parts of what are now England and southeastern Scotland between at least the mid-5th century and the mid-12th century...
tun and Nordic
Nordic countries
The Nordic countries make up a region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and their associated territories, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland...
personal name. An alternative spelling of Frequleton has been referred to in local history publications.
In the 19th century, Freckleton, already a place used to supply water to the Roman fort at Kirkham, was used as a port assisting the ship building industry. The local community helped making rope and sail cloth, remnants of which exist in local street names.
Freckleton has a parish council, and is part of the Fylde borough, and the Fylde
Fylde (UK Parliament constituency)
Fylde is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-History:...
constituency.
Aviation
A military heritage runs through the history of Freckleton. In World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, American forces from the neighbouring Warton Aerodrome
Warton Aerodrome
Warton Aerodrome is located near to Warton village on the Fylde in Lancashire, England. The aerodrome is west of Preston, Lancashire, UK.Today the airfield is a major assembly and testing facility of BAE Systems Military Air Solutions....
resided in the village. The most tragic event in the village's history was the Freckleton Air Disaster
Freckleton Air Disaster
On 23 August 1944, an American United States Army Air Force Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bomber crashed into the centre of the village of Freckleton, Lancashire, England. The aircraft crashed into the Holy Trinity Church of England School, demolishing three houses and the Sad Sack Snack Bar...
, on 23 August 1944, when an aircraft attempting to land at Warton during stormy weather crashed onto Freckleton's Holy Trinity School. A total of sixty-one people lost their lives, including thirty-eight infants, their two teachers, and the three air crew. Other victims included several residents and US personnel in a snack bar across the road from the school. Annual commemorations still take place, attended by residents and US veterans.
The aerodrome was subsequently purchased by English Electric
English Electric
English Electric was a British industrial manufacturer. Founded in 1918, it initially specialised in industrial electric motors and transformers...
, now BAE Systems
BAE Systems
BAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...
, and many BAE employees live in the village.
Half marathon
Freckleton stages a half marathon each year in June. The race has been staged since 1965 and is the oldest half marathon in the UK.The first races took place on Saturday evenings, with the first being on Saturday 19 June 1965. The race was the brainchild idea of the Chairman of the Sport Committee, Dick Rhodes who was inspired by Ron Hill’s participation in the marathon in the 1964 Olympics
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
; Ron was invited and duly won the first race in a time of 65 minutes 44 seconds. Four years later he set a record time of 64:45, which still stands.
The race took place on Saturday evening until 1982; the entry had expanded to several hundred and the decision was taken to switch the Half Marathon to the Sunday afternoon in 1983. The race currently attracts 700 entrants and has been over subscribed in recent years.
There have been a number of organisers since 1965 - Denis Vickers, Ken Snibson, Peter Knott and Richard Lancaster. The latest is Brian Porter of Wesham Road Runners, assisted by a small, enthusiastic team.