Fleetwood

"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.