Whitechapel, Lancashire
Encyclopedia
Whitechapel is a tiny hamlet in the civil parish
of Goosnargh
in Lancashire
, England. It lies on the border of the Forest of Bowland
near the foot of Beacon Fell
, and close to the neighbouring village of Inglewhite
. Its name is marked as White Chapel on some maps.
The area was known as "Threlfall" in the Domesday Book
. A tiny 27×13-foot private chapel was built for the Threlfall family in Elizabethan times, and was rebuilt as St James' Church about 1738. The churchyard contains a sundial dated 1745 which is a Grade II listed building.
The name "Whitechapel" came into use in the early nineteenth century, named after the church. It was originally a part of Goosnargh ecclesiastical parish, but acquired independent parish status in 1846.
The village primary school originated in 1705, within the church, acquiring its own building in 1810.
On Pancake Day the children of Whitechapel, Inglewhite and the surrounding area keep alive an age-old tradition that was once more widespread in the Goosnargh
, Garstang
and Fylde
areas of Lancashire. They visit local households and ask "please a pancake", to be rewarded with oranges or sweets. It is thought the tradition arose when farm workers visited the wealthier farm and manor owners to ask for pancakes or pancake fillings. In 1888, Richard Cookson wrote, "The children go from house to house and are treated with ginger-bread, toffies and other sweet meats."
WICE (Whitechapel and Inglewhite Community Enterprises) is a community organisation to enable a sustainable and resilient community.
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...
of Goosnargh
Goosnargh
Goosnargh is a village and civil parish on the north side of Preston, Lancashire, England. The village lies between Broughton and Longridge, and mostly lies in the civil parish of Whittingham, although the ancient centre lies in the civil parish of Goosnargh...
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. It lies on the border of the Forest of Bowland
Forest of Bowland
The Forest of Bowland, also known as the Bowland Fells, is an area of barren gritstone fells, deep valleys and peat moorland, mostly in north-east Lancashire, England. A small part lies in North Yorkshire, and much of the area was historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire...
near the foot of Beacon Fell
Beacon Fell Country Park
Beacon Fell is a fell in the civil parish of Goosnargh in Lancashire, England. It has been a Country Park since 1970. It falls within the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty although it is separated from the other hills in the Forest...
, and close to the neighbouring village of Inglewhite
Inglewhite
Inglewhite is a small village in the parish of Goosnargh in Lancashire, England. It lies at the intersection of the roads from Longridge to Garstang and from Broughton to Beacon Fell.-Etymology:...
. Its name is marked as White Chapel on some maps.
The area was known as "Threlfall" 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...
. A tiny 27×13-foot private chapel was built for the Threlfall family in Elizabethan times, and was rebuilt as St James' Church about 1738. The churchyard contains a sundial dated 1745 which is a Grade II listed building.
The name "Whitechapel" came into use in the early nineteenth century, named after the church. It was originally a part of Goosnargh ecclesiastical parish, but acquired independent parish status in 1846.
The village primary school originated in 1705, within the church, acquiring its own building in 1810.
On Pancake Day the children of Whitechapel, Inglewhite and the surrounding area keep alive an age-old tradition that was once more widespread in the Goosnargh
Goosnargh
Goosnargh is a village and civil parish on the north side of Preston, Lancashire, England. The village lies between Broughton and Longridge, and mostly lies in the civil parish of Whittingham, although the ancient centre lies in the civil parish of Goosnargh...
, Garstang
Garstang
Garstang is a town and civil parish within the Wyre borough of Lancashire, England. It is ten miles north-northwest of the city of Preston and eleven miles south of Lancaster, and had a total resident population of 4,074 in 2001....
and Fylde
The Fylde
The Fylde ; Scandinavian: "field") is a coastal plain in western Lancashire, England. It is roughly a 13-mile square-shaped peninsula, bounded by Morecambe Bay to the north, the Ribble estuary to the south, the Irish Sea to the west, and the Bowland hills to the east...
areas of Lancashire. They visit local households and ask "please a pancake", to be rewarded with oranges or sweets. It is thought the tradition arose when farm workers visited the wealthier farm and manor owners to ask for pancakes or pancake fillings. In 1888, Richard Cookson wrote, "The children go from house to house and are treated with ginger-bread, toffies and other sweet meats."
WICE (Whitechapel and Inglewhite Community Enterprises) is a community organisation to enable a sustainable and resilient community.