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Scarisbrick () is a village and
civil parish In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties, or their combined form, the unitary authorit ...
in
West Lancashire West Lancashire is a local government district with borough status in Lancashire, England. The council is based in Ormskirk, and the largest town in the borough is Skelmersdale. At the 2011 Census, the population of the borough was 110,68 ...
, England. The A570, the main road between
Ormskirk Ormskirk is a market town in the West Lancashire district of Lancashire, England, north of Liverpool, northwest of St Helens, southeast of Southport and southwest of Preston. Ormskirk is known for its gingerbread. Geography and administr ...
and
Southport Southport is a seaside town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. At the 2001 census, it had a population of 90,336, making it the eleventh most populous settlement in North West England. Southport lies on the Iris ...
, runs through Scarisbrick, and much of the village lies along it. As a result, it does not have a traditional village centre, though the junction with the
A5147 The A5147 is a road in northern England that runs from Maghull in Merseyside to Scarisbrick in Lancashire. Route Merseyside It begins off the A59 road in Maghull, where it is called Liverpool Road North. After leaving the town, it crosses ov ...
is close to the geographic centre.


Toponymy

Scarisbrick literally means "Skar's slope" and comes from the
Old Norse Old Norse, Old Nordic, or Old Scandinavian, is a stage of development of North Germanic dialects before their final divergence into separate Nordic languages. Old Norse was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and their overseas settlemen ...
''Skar'' (a personal name) + ''-es'' ( possessive) + ''brekka'' ("slope"). It is thought that the personal name is
Danish Danish may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark People * A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark * Culture of Denmark * Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish a ...
, though the second element suggests
Norwegian Norwegian, Norwayan, or Norsk may refer to: *Something of, from, or related to Norway, a country in northwestern Europe * Norwegians, both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway * Demographics of Norway *The Norwegian language, including ...
settlement. The "slope" may refer to a slight incline between two streams near the site of
Scarisbrick Hall Scarisbrick Hall is a country house situated just to the south-east of the village of Scarisbrick in Lancashire, England. History Scarisbrick Hall was the ancestral home of the Scarisbrick family and dates back to the time of King Stephen (113 ...
. The name was recorded as ''Scharisbrec'' c.1200, ''Skaresbrek'' in 1238, and finally ''Scarisbrick'' c.1240.


History

In its early history, travellers tended to avoid Scarisbrick
parish A parish is a territorial entity in many Christian denominations, constituting a division within a diocese. A parish is under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of a priest, often termed a parish priest, who might be assisted by one o ...
.
Martin Mere Martin Mere is a mere near Burscough, in Lancashire, England, on the West Lancashire Coastal Plain. The mere is a vast marsh, around that was, until it was drained, the largest body of fresh water in England. History Martin Mere was formed ...
, a large lake with associated marshlands and peat bogs, made the immediate area quite difficult to cross. Much of the flat land between Southport and
Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a populat ...
is polder reclaimed from marshes and the lake. The modern-day
hamlets A hamlet is a human settlement that is smaller than a town or village. Its size relative to a parish can depend on the administration and region. A hamlet may be considered to be a smaller settlement or subdivision or satellite entity to a lar ...
of Barrison Green, Bescar, Carr Cross,
Drummersdale Drummersdale is a hamlet in the civil parish of Scarisbrick, West Lancashire, England. Etymology The etymology is doubtful, although the final element of the name is certainly either Old English ''dæl'' "dale, valley" or the cognate Old Norse ...
, Hurlston, Pinfold, and Snape Green were formed from the early farms and settlements that did arise in the area. Scarisbrick still contains many structures and artefacts from its past. The Old School House, constructed in 1809, has served several roles in its history and now contains two residences. A
pillbox Pillbox may refer to: * Pill organizer, a container for medicine * Pillbox hat, a woman's hat with a flat crown, straight upright sides, and no brim * Pillbox (military) A pillbox is a type of blockhouse, or concrete dug-in guard-post, norm ...
constructed during
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
can be found near a bridge over the
Leeds and Liverpool Canal The Leeds and Liverpool Canal is a canal in Northern England, linking the cities of Leeds and Liverpool. Over a distance of , crossing the Pennines, and including 91 locks on the main line. The Leeds and Liverpool Canal has several small branc ...
. It was from Pinfold, where the canal is closest to Southport, that William Sutton picked up waterway passengers for transport to his "Original Hotel", known better as "Duke's Folly" - the foundation of Southport. The canal now is used for recreational purposes. The only Catholic church there, St Elizabeth's, was founded by the Marquis of Casteja and was named after his wife. There are many other churches there as well. "Wheelwrights House", a former workshop located on Southport Road, is another of the many listed buildings in Scarisbrick.


Demography

According to the
United Kingdom Census 2011 A census of the population of the United Kingdom is taken every ten years. The 2011 census was held in all countries of the UK on 27 March 2011. It was the first UK census which could be completed online via the Internet. The Office for National ...
, Scarisbrick parish had a population of 3,554 people living in 1,505 households, with an almost even distribution between males and females. The parish covers an area of , giving a population density of . The increase in population from 3,204 in 2001 represents a growth rate of over ten years. A majority of of residents were born in the United Kingdom, and identified as being of "
White British White British is an ethnicity classification used for the native white population identifying as English, Scottish, Welsh, Cornish, Northern Irish, or British in the United Kingdom Census. In the 2011 census, the White British population ...
" ethnicity. Religion was recorded as Christian, with of residents being of no religion, and declining to state; only belonged to an alternative religion. Of the 2,695 residents aged between 16 and 74, were regarded as economically active, and of those were unemployed.


Transport

Scarisbrick is on the
A570 road A57 could refer to: * Benko Gambit, Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings code * Sony Alpha 57, a DSLT camera * ARM Cortex A57, a computer microprocessor architecture * Bartini A-57, a 1957 supersonic strategic bomber project * Chrysler A57 multibank, a ...
, which runs northwest through it between
Ormskirk Ormskirk is a market town in the West Lancashire district of Lancashire, England, north of Liverpool, northwest of St Helens, southeast of Southport and southwest of Preston. Ormskirk is known for its gingerbread. Geography and administr ...
and
Southport Southport is a seaside town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. At the 2001 census, it had a population of 90,336, making it the eleventh most populous settlement in North West England. Southport lies on the Iris ...
for . The
A5147 road The A5147 is a road in northern England that runs from Maghull in Merseyside to Scarisbrick in Lancashire. Route Merseyside It begins off the A59 road in Maghull, where it is called Liverpool Road North. After leaving the town, it crosses o ...
, which runs north from
Maghull Maghull ( ) is a town and civil parish in Sefton, Merseyside (historically a part of Lancashire). The town is north of Liverpool and west of Kirkby. The area also contains Ashworth Hospital. Maghull had a population of 20,444 at the 2011 Cens ...
through
Halsall Halsall is a village and civil parish in West Lancashire, England, located close to Ormskirk on the A5147 and Leeds and Liverpool Canal. Description Historically known as Heleshala, Herleshala, (Domesday Book); Haleshal, 1224; Haleshale, 1275; ...
, terminates at its junction with the A570 at Scarisbrick. There are also two B roads, the B5242 which leads towards
Burscough Burscough () is a town and civil parish in West Lancashire in the ceremonial county of Lancashire, England. It is located to the north of Ormskirk and northwest of Skelmersdale. The parish also includes the hamlet of Tarlscough and the Martin ...
, and the B5243 which provides an alternative route into Southport. The nearest
motorway A controlled-access highway is a type of highway that has been designed for high-speed vehicular traffic, with all traffic flow—ingress and egress—regulated. Common English terms are freeway, motorway and expressway. Other similar terms i ...
links are junction 3 of the M58, to the southeast at Bickerstaffe, and junction 27 of the M6, east at
Wrightington Wrightington is a civil parish in West Lancashire, England, with an area of 3,915½ acres. The surface is hilly, rising to over 400 ft. at Harrock on the border of Parbold, and then falling to the north, northeast and southeast. On the so ...
. operate several bus services in Scarisbrick. The 385 and 375 are hourly services from Southport to
Wigan Wigan ( ) is a large town in Greater Manchester, England, on the River Douglas. The town is midway between the two cities of Manchester, to the south-east, and Liverpool, to the south-west. Bolton lies to the north-east and Warrington t ...
which both follow similar routes; the 385 crosses Scarisbrick directly along the A570, while the 375 takes a diversion along the B5242 through the more rural parts of the parish, before rejoining the A570 at Ormskirk. The half-hourly 300 service from Southport to
Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a populat ...
also passes through Scarisbrick. Bescar Lane railway station, which opened in 1855, is managed by
Northern Trains Northern Trains, branded as Northern, (legally Northern Trains Limited) is a publicly owned train operating company in England. It is owned by DfT OLR Holdings for the Department for Transport (DfT), after the previous operator Arriva Rail N ...
on the
Manchester to Southport Line Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The tw ...
. As of May 2015, trains generally operate eight times a day Monday–Saturday in each direction, travelling westbound to
Southport Southport is a seaside town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. At the 2001 census, it had a population of 90,336, making it the eleventh most populous settlement in North West England. Southport lies on the Iris ...
(12–15 minutes) and eastbound to Manchester Oxford Road via
Wigan Wallgate Wigan Wallgate railway station is one of two railway stations serving the town centre of Wigan in Greater Manchester, England. The station serves two routes, the Manchester-Southport Line and the Manchester- Kirkby Line. It is 16 miles north-w ...
(65–70 minutes). There are no train services at Bescar Lane on Sundays. During the 2013–14
financial year A fiscal year (or financial year, or sometimes budget year) is used in government accounting, which varies between countries, and for budget purposes. It is also used for financial reporting by businesses and other organizations. Laws in many ...
, the station was used by an estimated 3,146 passengers. Heathey Lane Halt, a station on the Barton branch of the
Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (L&YR) was a major British railway company before the 1923 Grouping. It was incorporated in 1847 from an amalgamation of several existing railways. It was the third-largest railway system based in northern ...
, was on the boundary between Scarisbrick and Halsall, just to the north of the B5243 road bridge. The station was in operation between 1907 and 1938, and the line itself closed in 1952.


Notable people

*
Derek Acorah Derek Francis Johnson (27 January 1950 – 4 January 2020), known professionally as Derek Acorah, was a British spiritual medium. He was best known for his television work on ''Most Haunted'', broadcast on Living TV (2002–2010). His career ...
(1950–2020), spirit medium and television personality known for his work on the series ''
Most Haunted ''Most Haunted'' is a British paranormal reality television series. Following complaints, the broadcast regulator, Ofcom, ruled that it was an entertainment show, not a legitimate investigation into the paranormal, and "should not be taken ser ...
'', lived in Scarisbrick. *
Michael Hastings, Baron Hastings of Scarisbrick Michael John Hastings, Lord Hastings of Scarisbrick (born 29 January 1958) is currently the Professor of Leadership at the Stephen R. Covey Leadership Centre at Huntsman Business School, USA, and sits on the Concordia Leadership Council. He ser ...
, CBE (born 1958), life peer educated at Scarisbrick Hall School. *
John Lennon John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 19408 December 1980) was an English singer, songwriter, musician and peace activist who achieved worldwide fame as founder, co-songwriter, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of ...
(1940–1980), singer-songwriter and co-founder of
the Beatles The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the developmen ...
, employed as a labourer at Mill Brow waterworks in 1959. *
Johnny Mitchell Johnny Mitchell Jr. (born January 20, 1971) is a former American football tight end in the National Football League for the New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints. He played college football at the University of Nebraska. Early ye ...
(born 1971), former professional
American football American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team wi ...
player, coaches American sports at Scarisbrick Hall School. *
Samuel Nevill Samuel Tarratt Nevill (13 May 183729 October 1921), was the first Anglican Bishop of Dunedin, before becoming Primate of New Zealand. Life A scion of the ancient Nevilles, he was educated at Nottingham High School, before attending St Aidan's ...
(1837–1921), first
Bishop of Dunedin The Diocese of Dunedin is one of the thirteen dioceses and ''hui amorangi'' (Māori bishoprics) of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. The diocese covers the same area as the provinces of Otago and Southland in the South ...
in New Zealand and former curate of Scarisbrick. *St
John Plessington John Plessington (c. 1637 – 19 July 1679), also known as John Plesington, William Scarisbrick and William Pleasington, was an English Catholic priest who was executed by the English Crown for violating the ban on the presence of Catholic pri ...
(c.1637–1679), priest educated at Scarisbrick Hall, canonised as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales in 1970. *
Will Sergeant William Alfred Sergeant (born 12 April 1958) is an English guitarist, best known for being a member of Echo & the Bunnymen. Born in Walton Hospital, he grew up in the village of Melling and attended nearby Deyes Lane Secondary Modern. He is th ...
(born 1958), musician and guitarist with Echo & the Bunnymen, lives in Scarisbrick. *
James Valiant James Valiant (17 July 1884 – 28 October 1917) was an English cricketer. Valiant's batting and bowling styles are unknown. He was born in Wavertree, Liverpool, Lancashire. The son of a Liverpool butcher, Valiant played Second XI cricke ...
(1884–1917), cricketer formerly of the Morris Dancers public house, died of wounds during
World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
.


See also

*
Scarisbrick Hall Scarisbrick Hall is a country house situated just to the south-east of the village of Scarisbrick in Lancashire, England. History Scarisbrick Hall was the ancestral home of the Scarisbrick family and dates back to the time of King Stephen (113 ...
* Scarisbrick Hall School * St Mark's Church, Scarisbrick * Listed buildings in Scarisbrick * Aspinwall (surname)


References


Bibliography

* *


External links


Scarisbrick Today
– Community website
St Marks Church
– Parish church website {{authority control Villages in Lancashire Civil parishes in Lancashire Geography of the Borough of West Lancashire