Garstang
| Garstang | |
|---|---|
 The market cross in Market Place | |
| Population | Expression error: "4,074 (2001 Census)" must be numeric |
| OS grid reference | SD495455 |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | PRESTON |
| Postcode district | PR3 |
| Dialling code | 01995 |
| Police | Lancashire |
| Fire | Lancashire |
| Ambulance | North West |
| UK Parliament | |
Garstang is a town 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 has a total resident population of 4,074.[1]
History
Garstang is mentioned in the Domesday Book as Cherestanc.[citation needed] Later recordings of the name include Geresteng, Grestein, 1204; Gayrestan, 1236; Gayerstang, 1246; Gayrstang, 1274; Gayrestang, 1292.[2]
A brief but comprehensive history of the parish, including the parish church of St Helens and Greenhalgh castle can be found on the link entitled 'The parish of Garstang', A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 7 in the 'References' section below. [3]
King Charles II is alleged to have spent the night in a town centre pub during the English Civil War.[citation needed]
Saint John Plessington was born at Dimples Hall, which is just outside the town.
Garstang was once served by Garstang and Catterall railway station which closed in 1969, and Garstang Town railway station which closed to passengers in 1930.
The town celebrates an arts festival and an agricultural show every year in August. In November 2001 Garstang declared itself "the world's first Fairtrade Town", influencing many other towns, cities and counties around the United Kingdom to work towards the same goal.[4] The Fairtrade Town status was renewed by the Fairtrade Foundation on August 13, 2003.
The local newspaper, the Garstang Courier, is available on tape free of charge to blind and partially-sighted people from Galloway's Society for the Blind.
Garstang won the Small Town category in the 2005 Britain in Bloom Awards.[5]
The town is overlooked by the ruined remains of Greenhalgh Castle, built in 1490 by Thomas Stanley, 1st Earl of Derby.
Local primary schools are Garstang Community Primary School, with approximately two hundred and forty-five pupils. St Thomas' CE School and SS Mary and Michael Catholic School. The local senior school is Garstang High School which does not currently (as of 2008) offer 6th form courses, pupils travel to Lancaster, Preston, Blackpool and further for A level courses.
One of Garstang's most famous buildings is its library. Due to large gang violence between the Garstang Bloods and the Chorley Cribs, Garstang Library was the first in the UK to be fitted with bullet-proof glass.
Garstang is referenced in episode 5 of the first series of the comedy Phoenix Nights. Brian Potter (played by Peter Kay) said "What have you called us? What have you called the best cabaret lounge this side of Garstang?" in reference to an alternative comedy night being run at his fictional club.
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The town hall from High Street -
The market cross and Royal Oak hotel -
The Wyre Aqueduct carries the Lancaster Canal over the River Wyre
Governance
From a very early time, Garstang lay within the Amounderness Hundred of Lancashire. From 1894 until 1974 Garstang formed its own local government district in the administrative county of Lancashire; "Garstang Rural District", [6] which extended beyond the current civil parish boundaries, including villages such as Pilling.
Since 1974, Garstang has formed part of the Wyre borough of Lancashire.
Geography
Lying on the course of the River Wyre, Garstang is situated close to the A6 road, between Lancaster and Preston, a short distance from Knott End-on-Sea and Myerscough College.
Garstang and the nearby villages of Bonds, Bowgreave and Catterall form an almost continuous built-up area, bypassed by the A6 road in 1926.[7].
References
- ^ United Kingdom Census 2001. "Garstang CP (Parish)". neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk. Retrieved 2007-06-12.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ From: 'Townships: Garstang', A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 7 (1912), pp. 311-313. URL:[1]Retrieved on 2007-10-25
- ^ 'The parish of Garstang', A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 7 (1912), pp. 291-300. [2]. Date accessed: 26 October 2007
- ^ Fairtrade Foundation. "Fairtrade Towns Campaign". Retrieved 2007-08-30.
- ^ RHS. "Britain in Bloom 2005 Winners". Retrieved 2007-08-30.
- ^ A vision of Britain through time. "A vision of Garstang RD". Retrieved 2007-06-12.
- ^ * Greenall, R. (2007), Garstang Past, At Heart Ltd, Altrincham, ISBN 978-1-84547-137-8, p.52
External links
- Garstang, GENUKI article.
- Community website from the Garstang and District Chamber of Trade and Commerce
- Garstang Fair Trade Town
- Galloway's Society for the Blind
- Garstang Country Hotel and Golf Club
- Community website
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