Fleetwood 783835 225685737 2008-07-14T22:06:45Z Stevew2022 4625427 [[WP:UNDO|Undid]] revision 225673420 by [[Special:Contributions/81.141.3.187|81.141.3.187]] ([[User talk:81.141.3.187|talk]]) :''See [[Fleetwood (disambiguation)]] for other meanings {{Infobox UK place | official_name= Fleetwood | static_image= [[Image:Fleetwood - Mar 2008 - Marine Hall and Gardens from the Mount.jpg|240px]] | static_image_caption= <small>Fleetwood - The Marine Hall and Gardens from the Mount</small> | country= England | region= North West England | population= 26,840 | os_grid_reference= SD333479 | latitude= 53.923 | longitude= -3.015 | post_town= FLEETWOOD | postcode_area= FY | postcode_district= FY7 | dial_code= 01253 | constituency_westminster= [[Blackpool North and Fleetwood (UK Parliament constituency)|Blackpool North and Fleetwood]] | shire_district= [[Wyre]] | shire_county= [[Lancashire]] }} '''Fleetwood''' is a town within the [[Wyre]] district of [[Lancashire]], [[England]], lying at the northwest corner of [[the Fylde]]. It has a population of 26,840 people as of the [[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 Census]].<ref> {{cite web | title = Lancashire Profile | publisher = [[Lancashire County Council]] | url = http://lancashire.gov.uk/office_of_the_chief_executive/lancashireprofile/monitors/populationurban.asp | accessdate = 2007-09-19 }}</ref> It forms part of the [[Blackpool Urban Area|Greater Blackpool conurbation]]. The town was the first planned community of the [[Victorian era]]. For most of the twentieth century, Fleetwood was a prominent [[Commercial trawler|deep-sea fishing]] port, but, since the 1970s, the fishing industry has declined precipitously and the town has undergone economic difficulties. Fleetwood is also a [[seaside resort]], serving as a quiet contrast to nearby [[Blackpool]]. ==Location and Geography== ===Topography=== Fleetwood is located on the Fylde peninsula, eight miles (13 km) north of [[Blackpool]], on the western side of the mouth of the [[River Wyre]]. The town itself is on a peninsula, almost two miles (3 km) wide, bounded to the west by the [[Irish Sea]], to the north by [[Morecambe Bay]], and to the east by the River Wyre. Access to Fleetwood is thus restricted, and for many years there were only two roads into and out of the town. A large sandbank, the North Wharf, extends some two and a quarter miles north into Morecambe Bay, and is exposed at low tide. The river channel forms the eastern boundary of the bank, and, together with the larger Bernard Wharf on the other side of the river, this makes navigation of the river difficult. Conversely, the port is highly sheltered from the prevailing westerly winds. Like the remainder of the Fylde, the land is extremely flat, the highest point being The Mount, a large sand-dune in the northern part of the town, which was the original centre from which the town radiated. Parts of Fleetwood, especially to the north and west, are barely above [[sea level]] at high tide, and a large retaining sea-wall runs along much of the western edge of the town. Nevertheless, Fleetwood was flooded in 1927, and again in 1977. The latter flood, although much smaller, affected more properties as there had been considerable development in the 1960s in the lower-lying parts of the town. The soil is broadly sandy, but there is considerable [[marsh]]-land to the south and east, by the river. The town itself encompasses an area of just under four square miles. ===Climate=== In common with the rest of the coastal areas of the UK, Fleetwood has an [[Oceanic climate|maritime climate]]. Prevailing winds and weather patterns are north-westerly, leading to a slightly higher average precipitation than the country as a whole, although the absence of high ground in the immediate vicinity moderates this. As with most coastal areas, [[frost]] and [[snow]] are uncommon. Temperatures are close to the national average.<ref name=MET001> {{cite web | url =http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/mapped.html | title = Met Office - Mapped Averages | accessdate = 2008-05-22 | publisher = [[Met Office]] | language = }}</ref> <!--Infobox begins-->{{Infobox Weather |metric_first=yes <!--Entering Yes will display metric first. Leave blank for imperial--> |single_line=yes <!--Entering Yes will display metric and imperial units on same line.--> |location =Fleetwood, England, United Kingdom |Jan_Hi_°C =6.8 |Feb_Hi_°C =7.1 |Mar_Hi_°C =9.1 |Apr_Hi_°C =11.6 |May_Hi_°C =15.2 |Jun_Hi_°C =17.3 |Jul_Hi_°C =19.4 |Aug_Hi_°C =19.4 |Sep_Hi_°C =17 |Oct_Hi_°C =13.7 |Nov_Hi_°C =9.8 |Dec_Hi_°C =7.6 |Year_Hi_°C =12.9 |Jan_Lo_°C =1.7 |Feb_Lo_°C =1.6 |Mar_Lo_°C =3.1 |Apr_Lo_°C =4.2 |May_Lo_°C =6.9 |Jun_Lo_°C =10 |Jul_Lo_°C =12.4 |Aug_Lo_°C =12.3 |Sep_Lo_°C =10.2 |Oct_Lo_°C =7.3 |Nov_Lo_°C =4.3 |Dec_Lo_°C =2.5 |Year_Lo_°C =6.4 |Jan_Precip_mm = 81.1 |Feb_Precip_mm = 58.7 |Mar_Precip_mm = 68.3 |Apr_Precip_mm = 48.9 |May_Precip_mm = 49 |Jun_Precip_mm = 59.8 |Jul_Precip_mm = 59.5 |Aug_Precip_mm = 73.4 |Sep_Precip_mm = 82.5 |Oct_Precip_mm = 97.9 |Nov_Precip_mm = 94 |Dec_Precip_mm = 98.3 |Year_Precip_mm = 871.3 |source =UK Met. Office <ref name=MET002> {{cite web | url =http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/sites/blackpool.html | title = Blackpool 1971-2000 averages | accessdate = 2008-05-22 | publisher = [[Met Office]] | language = }}</ref> | accessdate = 2008-05-22 }}<!--Infobox ends--> ==History== [[Ptolemy]]'s ''[[Geographia (Ptolemy)|Geographia]]'' in the 2nd century AD records a tribe known as the [[Setantii]] living in what is believed to be present-day West Lancashire, and a seaport called ''PORTVS SETANTIORVM'' ('the port of the Setantii') abutting ''Moricambe Aestuarium'' (presumably Morecambe Bay). This, together with evidence of a [[Roman road]] running from [[Ribchester]] to [[Kirkham, Lancashire|Kirkham]] (twelve miles south-east of Fleetwood) which then makes a sharp turn to the northwest, suggests that Fleetwood may well have been the location of this Roman port. However, no direct evidence has been found. There is evidence that the eastern side of the River Wyre was occupied during the [[Viking|Danish]] invasions of the 9th and 10th centuries, and by the time of the [[Domesday Book]] in 1086, the land on which Fleetwood now stands was part of the [[Hundred (county subdivision)|Hundred]] of [[Amounderness]]. A [[Manor House]] at present-day Rossall, in the southwest of the town, was in the possession of the Allen family by the time of [[Henry VIII]]. The Allens were prominent [[Roman Catholic]]s, and Henry VIII repossessed the land. Cardinal [[William Cardinal Allen|William Allen]] was born at the Manor House in 1532. It was ultimately sold to Thomas Fleetwood, [[Comptroller]] of the [[Royal Mint]], whose son Edmund, expanded the house into Rossall Hall. The land remained in the Fleetwood family for 300 years. By the 1830s, the house and estate was in the ownership of Edmund's descendant [[Peter Hesketh]], High [[Sheriff]] of the County of Lancashire and [[Member of Parliament (UK)|MP]] for [[Preston]], who later changed his name to (Sir) Peter Hesketh-Fleetwood. A man of somewhat liberal views for his time, Hesketh believed that the sheltered harbour and views over Morecambe Bay gave the area the makings of a busy sea port and popular resort for the less-affluent. With no rail link between [[London]] and [[Scotland]], He envisaged Fleetwood as the transfer point between the rail and the steamers to Scotland, and set about encouraging a railway link from [[Preston]]. In 1836, after considering the names ''Wyreton'' and ''New Liverpool'' he named the new town ''Fleetwood'', and hired his friend, the prominent architect [[Decimus Burton]], to lay out what would be the first planned town of the Victorian era. [[Image:Fleetwood - Mar 2008 - North Euston from Jubilee Gdns2.jpg|thumb|left|The North Euston Hotel (1841) as seen from Jubilee Gardens.]] Burton's plan was that of a half-wheel along the sea-front, with the Mount as the hub, the main residential streets as the spokes, and the main commerce areas (originally East Street and West Street, now Lord Street and North Albert Street) as the rim of the wheel. The oldest surviving building in the town, once the Custom House, later the Town Hall, and latterly Fleetwood Museum, dates from 1838 and housing stock from as early as 1839 still exists in the town. The crown jewel was the North Euston Hotel, built in 1841, a fine semi-circular building close to the [[Fleetwood railway station|railway station]]. This was to mark the northernmost point of the train service from [[Euston Railway Station|Euston]], and the point of departure for the steamers to Scotland. This journey was made by [[Queen Victoria]] in 1847, but by the mid-1850s the completion of the western railway link between London and Scotland over [[Shap Fell]] rendered Fleetwood's role as a transportation terminus obsolete. [[Image:PharosFwdJun2004.jpg|thumb|right|The upper (Pharos) Lighthouse (1840)]] Burton designed two [[lighthouse]]s for the town, the ''[[Pharos Lighthouse (Fleetwood)|Pharos]]'' and ''[[Beach Lighthouse (Fleetwood)|Beach Lighthouse]]'', both opened in 1840. Ships sailing down the Wyre channel line up the two lights, one above the other, to guide them. The Pharos is the only functioning lighthouse in the [[United Kingdom]] (UK) built in the middle of the street. It now forms a traffic roundabout. A third lighthouse, [[Wyre Light (Fleetwood)|Wyre Light]], was built in the 1840s by [[Alexander Mitchell (engineer)|Alexander Mitchell]] offshore on the north-east corner of North Wharf. Fleetwood Market, still a prominent permanent market, first opened in 1840. By 1844, Hesketh had run into serious financial difficulties. He had engaged Frederick Kemp as his agent and the two had considerable financial differences of opinion. Kemp borrowed against the estate revenues to finance the expansion of the town, and Hesketh became over-leveraged. He was obliged to sell much of the estate, together with Rossall Hall itself. The Hall was taken over by Rev. St Vincent Beechey and converted into a [[Church of England]] boarding [[school]], designed as a Northern equivalent of Beachey's [[Marlborough]] School and later to become [[Rossall School]]. By 1847, Hesketh was virtually bankrupt and retired to [[Brighton]]. Meanwhile, Kemp's influence expanded. He set up the ''Fleetwood Estates Company'' to manage the land, and the ''North Lancashire Steam Navigation Company'' in 1843 to manage the expanding steamer trade. However, by the late 1850s, the combination of the new western railway route and the rise of neighbouring [[Blackpool]] as a prominent [[seaside resort]] signalled a decline in the town's fortunes. From the 1860s Fleetwood expanded its port activities. Steamers began pleasure and commercial services to the [[Isle of Man]], [[Ardrossan]], and [[Belfast]]. Half a mile of stone quays were built along the riverfront, and the railway line was extended to the steamer pier opposite Queen's Terrace, where an imposing new [[Fleetwood railway station|passenger station]] was built in 1883. The port was still mainly a cargo terminal at this time, but the fishing industry began to grow as vessels expanded their catchment area from the [[Irish Sea]] fishing grounds first fished in the 1840s, to the [[haddock]] grounds of the [[North Atlantic Ocean]]. At this time, all the fishing vessels out of Fleetwood were sail-powered fishing smacks, few being over 40 tons [[deadweight]]. The [[Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway]] Company constructed Wyre Dock in 1877, and heavy industry came to the area in the late 1880s with the construction of a [[salt]]-processing works on the South-Eastern edge of the town by the ''Fleetwood Salt Co. Ltd'', utilizing salt mined in [[Preesall]], across the river. By the early 1890s, the construction and expansion of rival cargo ports in the North-West and the building of the [[Manchester Ship Canal]] heralded the decline of Fleetwood's prominence as a cargo port. However, this was more than offset by a simultaneous period of rapid expansion the fishing industry, signalled by the launch in 1891 of the first steam-powered [[Commercial trawler|trawler]], the ''Lark''. All the other major fishing ports in Britain, [[Kingston upon Hull|Hull]], [[Grimsby]] and [[Aberdeen]], were on the east coast, so there was a competitive advantage for a west-coast port with good rail links. By the turn of the century, Fleetwood's position as one of the three major fishing ports in England was cemented. James Marr brought a fleet of steam trawlers to Fleetwood and actively started to change the port by selectively fishing for [[hake]], which until then had been treated as a much less desirable catch. Much of the housing stock in the old area of town around The Mount and Lord Street was built in the 1890s. In keeping with the thriving economy, these terraced houses were large for their era. An electric [[Blackpool tramway|tramway]] link to Blackpool was constructed in the 1890s and remains operational to this day. Fleetwood is the only town in Britain with trams running the full length of its main street, sharing road-space with cars. Plans for a pier were first made in the 1890s but building did not start until 1909 and it was opened in 1910. It was the last new seaside pier to be built in the United Kingdom.<ref name="Walton01"> {{cite book | last = Walton | first = John K | title = The British Seaside: Holidays and Resorts in the Twentieth Century | publisher = [[Manchester University Press]] | date = 2000 | page = p105 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=uydACzcGjQEC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_summary_r&vq=Fleetwood&cad=0#PPA105,M1 | isbn =0719051703 | accessdate =2008-07-11 }}</ref> By the 1920s, the [[fishing industry]] was at its height, employing over 9,000 people. Over the next few years, the sea front along the north shore was developed in resort fashion, to encourage visitors for whom the brashness of Blackpool was too daunting. The Marine Hall entertainment complex (1935), [[golf course]] (1931) and Model Yacht Pond (1932) all date from this era. In the 1920s, the salt works, by now owned by the [[United Alkali Company]] (after 1926 part of [[Imperial Chemical Industries|ICI]]), was considerably expanded, and became an [[ammonia]]-processing plant. ICI built an adjacent chemical processing plant, known as ICI Hillhouse. ICI would become the town's third-largest employer, after the fishing and [[tourism]] industries. The town was hit by a huge flood in October 1927, which put 90% of the area of the town under water. Only the higher lying areas around the Mount escaped. Additional housing was built in the 1920s and 1930s in the less developed central areas of the town, and a further development boom occurred in the 1960s in the lower lying western portion of the town (Larkholme). Many industries ancillary to fishing grew up along the rail corridor on the eastern side of the town, and a number of unrelated industries also moved to the area to take advantage of the availability of labour. By the 1960s, however, Fleetwood began to decline economically. The last ferry to the [[Isle of Man]] sailed in 1961. The sailings have been revived periodically since. The main [[Fleetwood railway station|railway station]] was closed in 1966 as a result of the [[Beeching Axe|Beeching]] cuts, and the passenger terminus was moved to [[Fleetwood Wyre Dock railway station|Wyre Dock station]]. This in turn was closed in 1970, as the [[Fleetwood Branch Line|branch line]] from Poulton was taken out of service. Additional [[light industry]] developed along the former railway bed. The rise of package holidays abroad led to fewer visitors generally to British resort towns. As Blackpool expanded its attractions, fewer day visitors came to Fleetwood, and as transportation became more efficient, more overnight visitors became day visitors. The Hillhouse plant was heavily downsized, and was finally closed in 1999. Most serious, however, was the collapse of the fishing industry, which was largely destroyed in the late 1960s and early 1970s by the [[Cod War]]s, a dispute over fishing rights between [[Iceland]] and the UK. As Fleetwood's trawlers mainly fished the North Atlantic Ocean in search of cod, the loss of the fishing grounds hit the town hard. The last deep sea trawler left the town in 1982 and now only inshore fishing boats fish out of the port, although trawlers registered in other places can still be seen taking advantage of the fish market. Fish is still a big industry in the town, though the jobs are mainly in processing rather than fishing. A pair of bronze [[Media:Family waving goodbye.JPG|figures]] on the Promenade by the pier reflect the idea of families welcoming back the fishermen from sea. [[Image:Fwd Marina and Freeport Jul06.jpg|thumb|right|Fleetwood Freeport and Marina (1995) is built on the site of the former Wyre Dock]] In 1973, the area around the old railway station was developed into a [[containerization|container]] port facility, with [[P & O]] operating container service to [[Larne]] in [[Northern Ireland]]. In 1975, this became a [[ro-ro]] service. This development led indirectly to some renewal of the then largely derelict Dock Street area, and improved road access to the town to support the container traffic. Twice-daily container service continued until 2004 when [[Stena Line]] bought the route and increased the service to three times a day.<ref name="P&O001"> {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Larne-Fleetwood at 30 | work = | publisher = Larne Ferry Web | date = [[2005-03-26]] | url = http://www.larneferryweb.com/routes/lafr/fw_30/fleetwood30.htm | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-10-09 }}</ref> Since the 1970s there have been several attempts to enhance Fleetwood's economic profile, In 1995, the now-deserted Wyre Dock was developed into a marina. The derelict dock landing area was developed into ''Fleetwood Freeport'', a retail centre, and housing has been built at the north end of the marina. Most recently, in July 2007, a new ''Masterplan'' for revitalizing the waterfront and town centre was submitted to the Wyre Borough Council. ==Economy and Industry== Fleetwood's economy still revolves around the traditional areas of fishing, tourism, port activity and light industry, but since the early 1970s the town has continued to struggle economically. A [[British Government|Government]] report in 2006 stated that three of the towns five wards fall into the 5% to 10% most deprived wards in England.<ref name="WBC001"> {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Memorandum by Wyre Borough Council (CT 49) | work = | publisher = Select Committee on Office of the Deputy Prime Minister: Housing, Planning, Local Government and the Regions | date = [[2006-04-18]] | url = http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmselect/cmodpm/1023/1023we65.htm | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-09-16 }}</ref> The same Government report noted that the demise of the fishing industry cost Fleetwood some 8,000 jobs, employment in fishing-related industries falling from 9,000 to less than 1,000, mostly in the fish-processing sector. The closure of the ICI Hillhouse works cost the region a further 4,500 jobs. Industrial and commercial development has been at a standstill for fifteen years and only a single commercial employer based in the town has more than 200 employees. The stock of both commercial and residential property is in decline.<ref name="WBC001"/> While Wyre Borough in general has a lower unemployment rate than the rest of the [[United Kingdom]], Fleetwood's is considerably higher. Using figures indicating benefit claimants as a percentage of total population (usually considered to be about half the 'actual' unemployment rate)<ref name="LCC001"> {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Lancashire Profile | work = | publisher = [[Lancashire County Council]] | date = | url = http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/office_of_the_chief_executive/lancashireprofile/unemployment/cccomments.asp | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-09-19 }}</ref> the figures for August 2007 are<ref name="LCC002"> {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = County Profile | work = | publisher = [[Lancashire County Council]] | date = | url = http://www.lancscc.gov.uk/office_of_the_chief_executive/lancashireprofile/unemployment/ccwy.asp | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-09-19 }}</ref> {| class="wikitable" ! || Male || Female || Total |- | [[United Kingdom]] || 3.2% || 1.4%|| 2.3% |- | [[Lancashire]] || 2.6%|| 1.0% || 1.8% |- | [[Wyre]] || 1.8% || 0.8% || 1.3% |- | Fleetwood || 3.9% || 1.4% || 2.7% |- |} Average [[household income]] as of August 2007 is as follows)<ref name="LCC003"> {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Lancashire Profile | work = | publisher = [[Lancashire County Council]] | date = | url = http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/office_of_the_chief_executive/lancashireprofile/areas/wyincome.asp | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-09-19 }}</ref> {| class="wikitable" ! || Average household income in [[Pound (currency)|£]] |- | [[United Kingdom]] || 33,700 |- | [[Lancashire]] || 31,200 |- | [[Wyre]] || 30,900 |- | Fleetwood || 27,350 |- |} The town's largest and most prominent single employer is Lofthouse's of Fleetwood, Ltd., manufacturers of [[Fisherman's Friend]] — a [[menthol]] [[Throat lozenge|lozenge]] popular worldwide and especially in [[Japan]]. In July 2007, a new ''Masterplan'' for revitalizing the town around a vibrant waterfront and a revitalized town centre was submitted to the Wyre Borough Council. Some of the funding would come from an [[European Union|EU]] cash grant. The Masterplan was funded by Wyre Council, the [[Northwest Development Agency]] and [[English Heritage]].<ref name="Gazette3014253"> {{cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = Your chance to shape the future | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = [[Blackpool Gazette]] | date = [[2007-09-07]] | url = http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/fleetwood-news?articleid=3014253 | accessdate = 2007-09-16 }}</ref> The plan has three main areas for development: * ''Transport'' - Improvements to the A585 link road. Restoration of the railway link including a new railway station in Fleetwood. Improved links to the riverside coastal paths and ''Fleetwood Marsh Nature Reserve''.<ref name="Gazette3014253"/> * ''Seafront scene transformation'' - New waterfront environment with housing, beach sports, family area and bigger entertainment attractions. The original plan placed housing on land opposite the Mount Hotel on land currently used as a nine hole [[pitch and putt]] course, but, after opposition from residents, this part of the plan was dropped.<ref name="FWN3605659"> {{cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = Beach housing development idea scrapped | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = [[Fleetwood Weekly News]] | date = [[2007-12-19]] | url = http://www.fleetwoodtoday.co.uk/fleetwood/Beach-housing-development-idea-scrapped.3605659.jp | accessdate = 2008-05-29 }}</ref> The waterfront would have a discovery and entertainment centre focused around a re-fashioned Marine Hall, with better health and fitness facilities nearby.<ref name="Gazette3014253"/> * ''Attractive new look for centre'' - The Masterplan includes plans for more open spaces and more [[chain store|national name shops]] on Lord Street, with Albert Square and Station Road earmarked as public squares. A new landmark square and heart of the town is proposed on both Lord Street and London Street with cafes, bars and restaurants.<ref name="Gazette3014253"/> ==Government and Politics== Since the [[Local Government Act 1972]], effective [[April 1]], [[1974]], Fleetwood has been part of the [[Borough]] of [[Wyre]], together with the neighbouring communities of [[Thornton Cleveleys]] and [[Poulton-le-Fylde]], the [[Over Wyre]] villages, and [[Garstang]]. The administrative headquarters is in Poulton-le-Fylde. The borough is a constituent part of [[Lancashire County Council]]. The council has a [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] majority. Prior to 1974, Fleetwood had been a [[Municipal Borough]] since 1933, and from 1894 to 1933, an [[Urban District]]. The town is divided into five [[Wards of the United Kingdom|ward]]s, Mount, Pharos, Warren, Park and Rossall. Fleetwood has been part of the [[Blackpool North and Fleetwood (UK Parliament constituency)|Blackpool North and Fleetwood parliamentary constituency]] since 1997. During that time the seat has been held by [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]'s [[Joan Humble]]. Prior to 1997, Fleewood was part of the constituencies of [[Fylde North (UK Parliament constituency)|Fylde North]] and [[Wyre (UK Parliament constituency)|Wyre]], whose boundaries more closely matched those of Wyre Borough, and which consistently returned a [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] member. As of the next general election, Fleetwood will be separated from Thornton, Poulton and Blackpool, and joined with [[Lancaster, Lancashire|Lancaster]] and some [[Over Wyre]] locations to form the new [[Lancaster and Fleetwood (UK Parliament constituency)|Lancaster and Fleetwood constituency]]. ==Demographics== As of the [[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 Census]], Fleetwood had a population of 26,840. This is a decline of about 6% from the figures in 1971, at a time when the overall population of the Borough of [[Wyre]] rose by 11%.<ref name="WBC002"> {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Local Plan Review Chapter 1 | work = | publisher = [[Wyre]] Borough Council | date = | url = http://www.wyrebc.gov.uk/Council_Services/Planning_Services/Planning_Policy_and_Conservation/Wyre's_Development_Plan/Local_Plan_Review/Chapter_1_-_Introduction.asp | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-09-19 }}</ref> Wyre Borough is 98.8% [[Caucasian race|Caucasian]] in ethnic makeup. The remainder is split between [[British Asian|South Asian]] (0.4%), Mixed race (0.4%) [[British African-Caribbean community|Black]] (0.1%) and Other (0.3%)<ref name="LCC004"> {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Lancashire Profile | work = | publisher = [[Lancashire County Council]] | date = | url = http://lancashire.gov.uk/office_of_the_chief_executive/lancashireprofile/monitors/ethnicitycensus.asp | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-09-19 }}</ref> ==Culture== ===Tourism and Amenities=== [[Image:Fwd-Mount-2004-06-30(2).jpg|thumb|left|The Mount Pavilion (1902) is the highest point in the town]] The town's most prominent feature is [[The Mount (Fleetwood)|The Mount]] - a seven-[[acre]] (3 [[hectare]]) park facing the sea-front, laid out by Decimus Burton, and built on a large [[sand-dune]] originally known as Tup's Hill. It is surmounted by a [[pavilion (structure)|pavilion]] built in 1902 incorporating a [[clock]] added in 1919. The wall on the inland side of The Mount is built from pebbles, in traditional Fylde style.<ref name="FWDI001"> {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Visiting Fleetwood | work = | publisher = Fleetwoodi | date = | url = http://www.fleetwoodi.co.uk/visiting/index.html | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-11-02 }}</ref> Directly across The Esplanade from the Mount lies The Marine Hall and Marine Gardens, Wyre Borough's largest entertainment venue, opened in 1935.<ref name="FMH001"> {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Marine Hall The Waterfront Venue | work = | publisher = | date = | url = http://www.marinehall.co.uk/ | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-09-18 }}</ref> [[Fleetwood Pier]], also known as the Victoria Pier, was built in 1910 at the end of the golden age of [[pier]] building. Other than a 1957 pier built in [[Deal, Kent]] to replace a structure damaged in [[World War II]], it was the last pleasure pier to be built in the United Kingdom.<ref name="Walton01"/> At {{convert|492|ft|m|0}} in length, it is one of the shortest piers in the country. Currently closed, it has been at various times an amusement complex, [[bar (establishment)|bar]] and [[dance hall]]. In 1952 the pier was badly damaged in a fire which started in the cinema, and it did not reopen until 1958. Plans exist to convert the structure into an apartment complex.<ref name="Gazette3203481"> {{cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = No-one has come up with a better scheme | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = [[Blackpool Gazette]] | date = [[2007-07-14]] | url = http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/fleetwood-news?articleid=3203481 | accessdate = 2007-09-18 }}</ref> [[Image:Fleetwood - Mar 2008 - Fleetwood Market - Main Hall.jpg|thumb|right|Fleetwood Market has been in operation since 1840]] Fleetwood has two prominent retail locations. ''Freeport Fleetwood'', opened in 1995, is a waterfront [[outlet mall|outlet shopping village]], on the site of the former Wyre Dock, with 45 shops in a Marina setting. Freeport was re-branded and re-launched in 2006 at a cost of £8.6M.<ref name="Gazette1408048"> {{cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = Shopping mecca a huge boost for jobs | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = [[Blackpool Gazette]] | date = [[2006-03-29]] | url = http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/business/Shopping-mecca-a-huge-boost.1408048.jp | accessdate = 2007-09-16 }}</ref> Fleetwood Market on Victoria Street is one of the largest covered [[marketplace|market]]s in the North-West, with over 250 stalls. It was first opened in 1840, although the present stone building dates from 1892.<ref name="FM001"> {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Fleetwood Market | work = | publisher = | date = | url = http://www.fleetwoodmarket.com/ | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-09-18 }}</ref> ===Museums=== [[Image:Fleetwood - Mar 2008 - Fleetwood Museum.jpg|thumb|left|Fleetwood Museum, formerly the Customs House (1838), the oldest building in the town]] [[Fleetwood Museum]] lies on Queens Terrace. The building, designed by Decimus Burton, was completed in 1838 and is the oldest extant building in Fleetwood. It was originally the Customs House, and from 1894 to 1974, it served as Fleetwood Town Hall, until local government activity was moved to Poulton. The Museum tells the story of the fishing industry in the town.<ref name="FMT001"> {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Fleetwood Museum | work = | publisher = Fleetwood Museum Trust | date = | url = http://www.fleetwoodmuseum.co.uk/ | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-09-16 }}</ref><ref name="LCC002"> {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Lancashire Museums, Fleetwood Museum: A Voyage of Discovery | work = | publisher = [[Lancashire County Council]] | date = | url = http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/education/museums/fleetwood/index.asp | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-09-16 }}</ref> In January 2006, the museum was threatened with closure by owners [[Lancashire County Council]] (LCC).<ref name="Gazette1332404"> {{cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = Museum fate could lead to paintings row | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = [[Blackpool Gazette]] | date = [[2006-01-30]] | url = http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpool-news/Museum-fate-could-lead-to.1332404.jp | accessdate = 2007-09-16 }}</ref> However, volunteers helped re-launch the museum in April 2007, setting up the ''Fleetwood Museum Trust'' to run the museum in partnership with LCC for twelve months with the intention of the trust eventually running the museum themselves.<ref name="Gazette2230220"> {{cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = Back to future with museum's website | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = [[Blackpool Gazette]] | date = [[2007-04-06]] | url = http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpool-news/Back-to-future-with-museum39s.2230220.jp | accessdate = 2007-09-16 }}</ref> The Museum also operates The ''Jacinta'', the town's heritage trawler, stationed in the Wyre Dock Marina and open for public viewing throughout the year.<ref name="LCC081"> {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Fleetwood Museums: Netting the Bay: Trawlers - Fishing | work = | publisher = [[Lancashire County Council]] | date = | url = http://www.lancscc.gov.uk/education/museums/netting/galleries/boat/deepsea/fullsize/tw81.asp | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-09-16 }}</ref> Built in 1972, it was moved to Hull in 1982, before being handed over to the ''Jacinta Charitable Trust'' in 1995 when restoration work began on the trawler.<ref name="FWN3138197"> {{cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = Jacinta welcomes public from Friday | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = [[Blackpool Gazette|Fleetwood Weekly News ]] | date = [[2007-04-04]] | url = http://www.fleetwoodtoday.co.uk/fleetwood/Jacinta-welcomes-public-from-Friday.2221454.jp | accessdate = 2007-09-16 }}</ref> ===Churches=== [[Image:Fleetwood - Mar 2008 - St Nicholas Church, Broadway.jpg|thumb|right|St Nicholas' Church (1962), designed by Laurence King]] Fleetwood's Parish Church, St Peter's, designed by Decimus Burton in 1841, stands at the corner of Lord Street and North Albert Street. It formerly had a spire, but this was demolished in 1904.<ref name="LCH001"> {{cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = St Peter's Fleetwood | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = Lancahire Churches | date = | url = http://www.lancashirechurches.co.uk/fleetwoodstp.htm | accessdate = 2007-11-02 }}</ref> St Mary's, the town's senior [[Roman Catholic]] church, stands nearby. Built in 1867, it was designed by [[E.W. Pugin]]. A more modern church of interest is the [[copper]]-roofed St Nicholas, on Poulton Road, designed by Laurence King and completed in 1962.<ref name="LCH002"> {{cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = St Nicholas Fleetwood | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = Lancahire Churches | date = | url = http://www.lancashirechurches.co.uk/fleetwoodstn.htm | accessdate = 2007-11-02 }}</ref> ===Other Buildings=== [[Image:Fleetwood - Mar 2008 - Queen's Terrace.jpg|thumb|left|Queen's Terrace (1844), designed by Decimus Burton]] Numerous other buildings designed by Decimus Burton remain in the town. Most prominent are The [[Pharos Lighthouse (Fleetwood)|Pharos]] and Lower [[Lighthouse]]s, opened in 1840; the North Euston Hotel, opened in 1841; and Queen's Terrace, completed in 1844 and regarded as an outstanding example of classical architecture. Now mostly accommodating offices and private flats, at various times it has been used as a school, hospital, railway offices and wartime consulates for European Nations. ===Media=== The ''[[Fleetwood Weekly News]]''.<ref name="FWN001"> {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Fleetwood Weekly News | work = | publisher = [[Johnston Press]] | date = | url = http://www.fleetwoodtoday.co.uk | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2008-05-21 }}</ref> is, as its name implies, a weekly newspaper covering the town and the North Fylde Area. The newspaper was founded in 1984, as a successor to the ''Fleetwood Chronicle'', which had ceased publication several weeks earlier.<ref name="LCC005"> {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Guide to the Local Collections - Fleetwood | work = | publisher = [[Lancashire County Council]] | date = | url = http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/libraries/services/local/fleetwood.asp | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2008-05-21 }}</ref> The ''Chronicle'' itself, founded in 1843, was the oldest newspaper in the Fylde. Daily newspaper coverage is provided by the ''[[Blackpool Gazette]]''.<ref name="BLG001"> {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Blackpool Gazette | work = | publisher = [[Johnston Press]] | date = | url = http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2008-05-21 }}</ref> Both papers are published by [[Johnston Press]]. The ''[[Lancashire Evening Post]]'' is an independent daily evening newspaper covering the county of [[Lancashire]]. Fleetwood falls within the coverage area of [[BBC Radio Lancashire]]. Commercial radio stations serving the area include [[Radio Wave 96.5|Radio Wave]] broadcasting from Blackpool, [[97.4 Rock FM]] and [[Magic 999]] broadcasting from Preston, and [[Smooth FM 100.4]] and [[105.4 Century FM]] broadcasting from [[Greater Manchester]]. Independent television service is provided by [[Granada]] - the ITV franchise holder for the North West region. [[BBC North West]] is the regional BBC station serving Fleetwood. ===Festivals=== The ''Fylde Folk Festival'' is held each year at the Marine Hall and other venues in the town. It is a festival of traditional and contemporary [[folk music]], song and dance. The 2007 festival, which ran from 31 August to 2nd September, was the festival's 35th anniversary.<ref name="Gazette3138197"> {{cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = What's on in September | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = [[Blackpool Gazette]] | date = [[2007-08-22]] | url = http://www.fleetwoodtoday.co.uk/fleetwood-events/What39s-on-in-September.3138197.jp | accessdate = 2007-09-16 }}</ref> The opening concert each year is staged aboard ''Jacinta'', the towns heritage trawler.<ref name="Gazette3138197"> {{cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = Heritage trawler hosts folk event | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = [[Blackpool Gazette]] | date = [[2007-08-22]] | url = http://www.fleetwoodtoday.co.uk/seascape/Heritage-trawler-hosts-folk-event.3138066.jp | accessdate = 2007-09-16 }}</ref> The 2008 festival is set to run from 29 - 31 August.<ref name="FFF001"> {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Fylde 2008 36th Anniversary | work = | publisher = Fylde Folk Festival | date = | url = http://www.fylde-folk-festival.com/ | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-09-16 }}</ref> ''Fleetwood Transport Festival'', also known as ''[[Tram]] Sunday'', has been held annually on the third Sunday of July since 1985. It is a festival of vintage vehicles highlighted by the presence of a number of historical tram-cars which parade along Lord Street.<ref name="FTF001"> {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Fleetwood Transport Festival Official Website | work = | publisher = | date = | url = http://www.fleetwoodtransportfestival.co.uk/ | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-09-18 }}</ref> ===Sport=== Fleetwood has had several [[Football (soccer)|football]] clubs over its history. The current club, dating from 1997, is now known as [[Fleetwood Town F.C.]],<ref name="FTFC001"> {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Brief History | work = | publisher = Fleetwood Town Football Club | date = | url = http://www.fleetwoodtownfc.com | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-10-02 }}</ref> and, as 2007-08 [[Northern Premier League Premier Division]] champions, will play in the [[Conference North]] in 2008-09. A previous incarnation of Fleetwood Town F.C. enjoyed a brief history from 1977, reaching the final of the [[FA Vase]] in 1985, before being wound up because of financial difficulties in 1996.<ref name="FTFC001"/> The same fate also befell the two previous town clubs. Fleetwood F.C. was founded in 1908 and wound up in 1976, having been several times [[Lancashire Combination]] cup champions in the 1930s, and founder members of the [[Northern Premier League]] in 1968.<ref name="FTFC001"/> Fleetwood Rangers, the town's first club, spent ten seasons in the Lancashire League and Lancashire Combination from 1889 to 1899.<ref name="FCHD001"> {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Fleetwood Rangers | work = | publisher = Football Club History Database | date = | url = http://www.fchd.btinternet.co.uk/FLEETWOR.HTM | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-10-02 }}</ref> Since 1934, home games have been played at [[Highbury Stadium, Fleetwood|Highbury Stadium]]. [[Blackpool F.C.]] Reserves also use the stadium for their home matches. [[Motorcycle speedway|Speedway]] racing was staged at Highbury Stadium from 1948 to 1952, with [[Fleetwood Flyers]] riding in the [[Speedway National League Division Two|Second Division of the National Speedway league.]]<ref name="Gazette1801146"> {{cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = Fleetwood Town's stand hit by hold-up | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = [[Blackpool Gazette]] | date = [[2006-10-03]] | url = http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=64&ArticleID=1801146 | accessdate = 2007-09-16 }}</ref><ref name="Gazette572864"> {{cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = Motorbiking ace dies at 90 | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = [[Blackpool Gazette]] | date = [[2003-08-08]] | url = http://www.blackpooltoday.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=62&ArticleID=572864 | accessdate = 2007-09-16 }}</ref> The Flyers started the 1948 season as Wigan Warriors but moved to Fleetwood after racing a few away fixtures billed as Wigan. The Flyers raced in the National League Division Two from 1948 to 1951 without enjoying any great success. In 1952 the venue staged a number of open events with the team re-named the Fleetwood Knights.<ref name="CAS001"> {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = The Speedway Researcher, Fleetwood | work = | publisher = The Speedway Researcher | date = | url = http://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/fleetwood.html | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-09-16 }}</ref> Details of the meetings at Fleetwood can be found on www.speedwayresearcher,org.uk An odd fact about Fleetwood Speedway is that it was visited by the young John Lennon who holidayed with relatives in the town. Fleetwood Rugby Union Football Club is an amateur [[Rugby union]] club, first registered in 1932 as Fleetwood Old Boys, with the Old Boys title being dropped in the 1950s.<ref name="FRUFC001"> {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = History of the club | work = | publisher = Fleetwood Rugby Union Football Club | date = | url = http://www.frufc.com/tpg.php?tid=clubh&p=clubh | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-09-16 }}</ref> Fleetwood Cricket Club, based at Broadwater, are affiliated with the Lancashire Cricket Board and compete in the [[Northern League (cricket)|Northern League]].<ref name="FC001"> {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = About Us | work = | publisher = Fleetwood Cricket Club | date = | url = http://fleetwood.play-cricket.com/home/aboutUs.asp | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-09-16 }}</ref> [[Image:Fleetwood - Mar 2008 - Model Yacht Pond.jpg|thumb|right|The Model Yacht Pond, one of Europe's largest, built in 1932]] From the 1930s to the present, the Model Yacht Pond, one of Europe's largest, has been host to numerous National and International Championships, held under the aegis of the Fleetwood Model Yacht and Power Boat Club.<ref name="FMYPBC001"> {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Club History Page | work = | publisher = Fleetwood Model Yacht and Power Boat Club. | date = | url = http://www.fleetwoodmypbc.org.uk/html/history.htm | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-10-05 }}</ref> Fleetwood Reservoir on Copse Road also provides the local community with coarse fishing facilities. The fishing club club is affiliated to the National Federation of Anglers. Matches are run every Sunday and Friday during the summer months. Fleetwood is a popular location for [[kitesurfing]] and other [[powerkite]] sports. There are several suitable beaches and training is available at the local kite school.<ref>{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Kitesurf school | work = | publisher = Hangtime Kites | date = | url = http://www.hangtimekites.com/kiteschool.html | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2008-04-02 }}</ref> ==Transport== Fleetwood lies at the northern end of the [[Blackpool tramway]], which is operated by [[Blackpool Transport]].<ref name="BTRAN001"> {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Metro CoastLines | work = | publisher = [[Blackpool Transport]] Services Ltd | date = | url = http://www.metrocoastlines.com/ | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-10-30 }}</ref> It is about {{convert|12|mi|km}} from Fleetwood to the southern terminus at Starr Gate, and about {{convert|8|mi|km}} to Talbot Square, Blackpool. Trams run the full length of both Lord Street and North Albert Street, undivided from regular road traffic, cars passing trams on the curb side. Bus service to Blackpool is provided by Blackpool Transport and [[Stagecoach North West|Ribble]], who also provide service to [[Preston]] and other local destinations. There are frequent ferry sailings from Fleetwood across the [[River Wyre]] to [[Knott End-on-Sea]]. Passenger sailings to [[Douglas, Isle of Man|Douglas]] are not currently on regular operational schedule. Ferries were operated by the [[Isle of Man Steam Packet]] Company from 1876 to 1961, and again periodically from 1971. However, in recent years the service has been restricted to once or twice per year. Since 2004, however, [[Stena Line]] has provided some passenger accommodation on its thrice daily service to [[Larne]] in [[Northern Ireland]]. The town being built on a peninsula, for many years there were only two roads into and out of Fleetwood; Broadway/Rossall Road, through [[Cleveleys]], designated as the [[A587 road|A587]], and Fleetwood Road, through [[Thornton, Lancashire|Thornton]], designated as the [[A585 road|A585]]. To cater for container traffic, the dual-carriageway Amounderness Way was built in the late 1970s and re-designated as the A585. In the 1990s, Amounderness Way was extended into town to the end of Dock Street along the former railway bed. The town was for several years the northern terminus of the [[Fleetwood Branch Line|railway line]] to [[London]], hence the hotel opposite the site of the now demolished [[Fleetwood railway station]] is called ''The North [[Euston railway station|Euston]]''. There has been no railway service to Fleetwood since 1970. [[Poulton-le-Fylde railway station|Poulton-le-Fylde]] or [[Blackpool North railway station|Blackpool North]] are the nearest stations. ==Education== The most prominent school in Fleetwood is [[Rossall School]],<ref name="ROSS001"> {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Welcome to Rossall School’s Website | work = | publisher = [[Rossall School]] | date = | url = http://www.rossall.co.uk/home | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-11-23 }}</ref> a [[Coeducation|co-educational]], [[Independent school|independent]], [[Day school|day]] and [[boarding school]] catering to ages 5 to 18. It was founded in 1844 on the site of Rossall Hall in the south west of the town. The only tertiary educational institution in Fleetwood is the Nautical Campus of [[Blackpool and The Fylde College]], located at Broadwater. There are two [[state school|public-sector]] [[secondary school]]s in the town. Fleetwood Sports College (formerly Fleetwood High School)<ref name="FSC001"> {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Fleetwood Sports College | work = | publisher = Fleetwood Sports College | date = | url = http://www.fleetwoodsc.org.uk | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-09-16 }}</ref> on Broadway was founded in 1977 as a [[comprehensive school|comprehensive]] non-denominational secondary school, a successor to Fleetwood Grammar School (1921-77) and Bailey School. It was ‘re-branded’ as Fleetwood Sports College in 2005 when the school was given [[Specialist school]] status in sport. Cardinal Allen Catholic High School<ref name="CAHS001"> {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Welcome to Cardinal Allen Catholic High School | work = | publisher = Cardinal Allen Catholic High School | date = | url = http://www.cardinalallen.lancs.sch.uk | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-11-23 }}</ref> is a [[Roman Catholic]] high school, founded in 1963 as a [[secondary modern]] school. Fleetwood has seven public sector [[primary school]]s. Chaucer Community Primary School<ref name="CHAU001"> {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Chaucer School | work = | publisher = Chaucer School | date = | url = http://www.chaucer.lancsngfl.ac.uk/ | doi = | accessdate = 2007-11-23 }}</ref> serves the oldest part of the town, around the Mount. Shakespeare Primary School serves the north-west part of the town. Flakefleet Primary School<ref name="FLAK001"> {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Flakefleet Primary School | work = | publisher = Flakefleet Primary School | date = | url = http://www.flakefleet.lancsngfl.ac.uk/ | doi = | accessdate = 2007-11-23 }}</ref> serves the south-central Flakefleet area. Charles Saer Primary School<ref name="CSAER001"> {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Charles Saer Community Primary School | work = | publisher = Charles Saer Community Primary School | date = | url = http://www.charlessaer.co.uk/ | doi = | accessdate = 2008-07-11 }}</ref> and Larkholme Primary School<ref name="LARKH001"> {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Larkholme Primary School | work = | publisher = Larkholme Primary School | date = | url = http://www.larkholme.lancsngfl.ac.uk/ | doi = | accessdate = 2008-07-11 }}</ref> serve the western part of the town, around West View and Larkholme. Additionally, there are two [[Roman Catholic]] primary schools: St Mary’s,<ref name="SMRCS001"> {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = St Mary’s Catholic Primary School | work = | publisher = St Mary’s Catholic Primary School | date = | url = http://www.st-marys-rc34.lancsngfl.ac.uk/ | doi = | accessdate = 2007-11-23 }}</ref> founded in 1870, which serves the northern part of the town, and St Wulstan’s and St Edmund's,<ref name="SWSERCS001"> {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = St Wulstan's and St Edmund’s Catholic Primary School | work = | publisher = St Wulstan's and St Edmund’s Catholic Primary School | date = | url = http://www.st-wulstans-rc12.lancsngfl.ac.uk/ | doi = | accessdate = 2008-07-10 }}</ref> serving the southern part of the town and formed in 2006 from a merger of two existing schools. The town is also home to a large public library, which as well as lending print and audio-visual material also has an extensive reference and local studies collection.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/libraries/librarydetails/libsearch1.asp?name=Fleetwood | title=Welcome to the Library and Information Service web site - Fleetwood Home Page | accessdate=2008-02-26 | publisher=Lancashire County Council}}</ref> ==Miscellany== Fleetwood was a holiday destination for a young [[John Lennon]].<ref name="BBC001"> {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Where I Live - Lancashire | work = | publisher = [[BBC]] | date = [[2006-06-30]] | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/lancashire/content/articles/2005/06/30/coast05walks_stage6_feature.shtml | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-10-09 }}</ref> [[Alan Partridge]] writer [[Peter Baynham]] is a former student of the Nautical College.<ref name="TOS001"> {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = The Oscar Site | work = | publisher = | date = |url = http://theoscarsite.com/whoswho9/baynham_p.htm | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-10-01 }}</ref> Novelist [[Robert Carter (English novelist)|Robert Carter]] was educated at the former Grammar School.<ref name="FGS001"> {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = The Language of Stones | work = | publisher = Fleetwood Grammar School | date = [[2004-04-05]] | url = http://www.fgsonline.co.uk/user/article.php?id=368 | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-11-16 }}</ref> The town was the home of the first fully automated [[telephone exchange]] in Britain, put in operation on [[July 15]], [[1922]].<ref name="BT001"> {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = BT Archives: Events In Telecommunications History (1922) | work = | publisher = [[British Telecom]] | date = | url = http://www.btplc.com/Thegroup/BTsHistory/1912to1968/1922.htm | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-11-16 }}</ref> The town is featured in the supernatural horror novel ''A Haunted Man'', by [[Stuart Neild]]. Scenes set in Fleetwood include a haunted tram ride and a ghostly visitation on Fleetwood Pier. Fleetwood is the setting for Juliet McKoen's ghost story/murder mystery ''[[Frozen (film)|Frozen]]''. ==Notable people== *[[William Cardinal Allen]] - English [[Catholic]] [[priest]] and [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|cardinal]]. *[[Alfie Boe]] - [[Opera]]tic [[tenor]]. *[[Stuart Chatwood]] - [[The Tea Party]] bass player and [[videogame]] soundtrack composer. *[[Jane Couch]] - former [[Women's International Boxing Federation]] [[welterweight]] champion. *[[Kelsey-Beth Crossley]] - [[Emmerdale]] [[actress]]. *[[Peter Hesketh-Fleetwood]] - [[landed gentry|landowner]], [[real-estate developer|developer]] and [[Member of Parliament (UK)|Member of Parliament]], best known as the founder of Fleetwood. *[[Percy C. Mather]] - pioneer English [[Protestant]] [[Christian]] [[missionary]] to [[China]], the second [[China Inland Mission]] missionary to [[Eastern Turkestan]]. *[[Wes Newton]] - [[Professional]] [[Darts]] player, born in Blackpool, now resides in Fleetwood. *[[Charles Kay Ogden]] - English [[linguist]], [[philosopher]], and [[writer]]. Inventor and propagator of [[Basic English]]. *[[Jean Rigby]] - [[Opera]]tic [[mezzo-soprano]]. *[[George Smith (footballer born 1921)|George Smith]] - former professional footballer for [[Manchester City]]. *[[Harry Stirzaker]] - former professional footballer for [[Blackpool FC|Blackpool]]. ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.wyrebc.gov.uk Local authority - Wyre Borough Council] *[http://www.freeport-fleetwood.com/ Fleetwood Freeport official website] *[http://www.fleetwoodmuseum.co.uk/ Fleetwood Museum Trust website] *[http://www.fleetwoodres.co.uk Fleetwood Resevoir Angling Club website] {{Lancashire}} [[Category:Seaside resorts in England]] [[Category:Towns in Lancashire]] [[Category:Ports and harbours of Lancashire]] [[Category:Wyre]] [[Category:The Fylde]] [[Category:Irish Sea]] [[Category:Fishing communities]] [[de:Fleetwood]] [[no:Fleetwood]] [[pl:Fleetwood]] [[ro:Fleetwood]] [[sv:Fleetwood]] [[vo:Fleetwood (Lancashire)]]