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Fleetwood

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FLEETWOOD, a town and a chapelry in Poulton-le-Fylde parish, Lancashire. The town stands on the river Wyre, within 2 miles of the open sea, and 18 NW of Preston. Its site, so late as 1836, was a mere rabbit warren; but was observed by its proprietor, Sir P. H. Fleetwood, to be situated so advantageously for inter-communication between the great marts of England and the seaports of the Isle of Man and the North of Ireland, that he determined to make it a seat of commerce. The town has a post office under Preston, a railway station with telegraph, good hotels, a good market-place, bazaars and fancy shops, a custom-house, gas-works, public bathing establishments, a coast-guard station, a large military school, extensive barracks, a large national school, a mechanics' institute, a literary institution, a church, and Independent, Wesleyan, Primitive Methodist, and Roman Catholic chapels. The literary institution was erected, in 1864, at a cost of about £3,000; and is in the Gothic style. The church is a stone edifice, in the early English style. A weekly market is held on Friday; various kinds of industry, suitable to a port, are carried on; and a weekly newspaper is published. The amount of customs, in 1867 was £3,716. Steam-vessels sail regularly to Belfast and Londonderry. Fleet-wood has been regarded as a good starting point for tourists from the south to the Lake district, by way of Piel pier and Furness. Pop. of the town, in 1861, 3,834. Houses, 546. The chapelry is part of the township of Thornton-with-Fleetwood-on-Wyre; and was constituted in 1841. Acres of the township, 9,730; of which 4,550 are water. Real property, £16,459; of which £200 are in gas-works. Pop. in 1851, 4,134; in 1861, 5,084. Houses, 708. Pop. of the chapelry, 4,258. Houses, 547. The living is a p. curacy in the diocese of Manchester. Value, £150. Patron, Sir P. H. Fleetwood.

John Marius Wilson, Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870-72) more ...

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Archives & Libraries

Central Library,
North Albert Street,
Fleetwood
FY7 6AJ

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Census

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Civil Registration

The Register Office covering the Fleetwood area is Blackpool & Fylde.

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Description & Travel

You can see pictures of Fleetwood which are provided by:

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Gazetteers

The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland - 1868

"FLEETWOOD-ON-WYRE, a market town and port in the parish of Poulton-le-Fylde, hundred of Amounderness, county palatine Lancaster, 6 miles N. of Poulton, 18 N.W. of Preston, and 228 from London. It is situated on the western coast, at the mouth of Wyre Water, and is open to Morecambe Bay and the Irish Sea. Until 1836 this place was merely a rabbit warren, when Sir P. H. Fleetwood, Bart., commenced the foundation of a future town, and by his energy and enterprise has succeeded in making it a flourishing watering-place and bonding port. Here are the terminus of a branch line of the West Lancashire and Yorkshire railway, and a quay of great length, from which steamers depart for Scotland, Ireland, and the Isle of Man; docks are in contemplation. A considerable amount of shipping business is carried on. The town contains some good shops and bazaars, a well-built market-house, gas works, a handsome institute founded by Mr. Whitworth, some excellent hotels, and every requisite for the accommodation of visitors, of whom there are large numbers during the summer season. A newspaper, the Fleetwood Chronicle, is published weekly on Friday. The large North Easton Hotel having been purchased by the government, is now used for barracks, and there is also a camp near the cemetery, with spacious quarters and handsome military hospital. The musketry ranges are very extensive, and 50 officers, with 300 men, are generally in each course. On the coast are two beacons for the safe guidance of the mariner. There is telegraphic communication here to all parts. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Manchester, value £150. The church is a modern stone edifice, dedicated to St. Peter. The Independents, Wesleyans, Primitive Methodists, and Roman Catholics have chapels, and there is a large collegiate school at Rossall Hall, the former seat of the Fleetwood family, known as the Northern Church of England School; also National and infant schools for both sexes.

"LARKHAM, a hamlet on the coast in county Lancaster, 5 miles N.W. of Poulton-le-Fylde."

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Historical Geography

Fleetwood was built in the township of Thornton in the parish of Poulton le Fylde.

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Maps

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View maps of Fleetwood and places within its boundaries.

A map of Fleetwood around 1890.

View a map of the boundaries of this town/parish.

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SD325477 (Lat/Lon: 53.920704, -3.028965), Fleetwood which are provided by:

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Probate Records

For probate purposes prior to 1858, Fleetwood was in the Archdeaconry of Richmond, in the Diocese of Chester. The original Lancashire wills for the Archdeaconry of Richmond are held at the Lancashire Record Office.

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Societies

You can also see Family History Societies covering the nearby area, plotted on a map. This facility is being developed, and is awaiting societies to enter information about the places they cover.