Freckleton

Freckleton is a village on the Fylde coast in Lancashire, England, to the south of Kirkham and east of the seaside resort of Lytham St Annes. Template:GBthumb Freckleton is near to Warton, with its links to BAE Systems. Warton Aerodrome's 2.4 km runway is partly within Freckleton's boundary.

The name of the village appears in the Domesday Book as Frecheltun and is said to derive from "Farmstead of a man called Frecla", with Old English tun and Nordic personal name. An alternative spelling of Frequleton has been referred to in local history publications.

In the 1800s, Freckleton, already a place used to supply water to the Roman fort at Kirkham, was used as a port assisting the ship building industry. The local community helped making rope and sail cloth, remnants of which exist in local street names.

A military heritage runs through the history of Freckleton. In World War II, American forces from the neighbouring Warton Aerodrome resided in the village. The most tragic event in the village's history was the Freckleton Disaster of 1944-08-23, when an aircraft attempting to land at Warton during stormy weather crashed onto Freckleton's Holy Trinity School. A total of sixty-one people lost their lives, including thirty-eight infants, their two teachers, and the three air crew. Other victims included several residents and US personnel in a snack bar across the road from the school. Annual commemorations still take place, attended by residents and US veterans.

The air base was subsequently purchased by English Electric, now BAE Systems, and many BAE employees live in the village.

Freckleton is a parish council, and is part of the Fylde District Council and Parliamentary Constituency.

External links

• Freckleton Community Web Site
• Freckleton Air Disaster

[Category:Towns in Lancashire]]