This charming spot with dainty cottages and grander residences in the heart of the Lancastrian countryside, it has more than you would expect from a sleepy hamlet. As someone who grew up in one of the multiple neighbouring villages, I’ll be taking a moment to let you into a few of the local secrets which really help to put the ‘great’ into Great Eccleston.
Right: Road sign, Gt Eccleston - Geograph3762762-byBarbara-Carr
A historic place, rich in amenities With records of the village dating back as far as 1066, it has certainly stood the test of time. You can find mention of Great Eccleston in the Domesday Book of 1086 where its nomenclature was a little more olde worlde, and saw the village listed as ‘Eglestun’. This name of course didn’t stick, and documents from the 13th-century saw it labelled as ‘Ecclisto’ and ‘Ecleston’, before the name we know it as today finally cemented itself. Of course, Great Eccleston passed back and forth between different royals and ‘owners’ included Tostig Godwinson (the brother of King Harold II) and Roger de Poitou (am AngloNorman aristocrat). In 1974, the district merged with those of Fleetwood, Poulton-le-Fylde, Preesall and Thornton Cleveleys
to form Wyre Borough Council. Today, it is governed by a local parish council as part of this.
Below: The Black Bull, Gt Eccleston - Geograph5875790-by-IanGreig
With a long history as a market town (once even referred to as ‘Little London’), it is fitting that local traders and shoppers of Great Eccleston still congregate in the centre on a Wednesday for the weekly market. Suppliers of local produce, artisan fare and a variety of other goods can be found on the square, with stalls filled with their wares. This is a place which still very much has
a village centre and the locals most certainly make the most of it! Surrounding the square are many of the local amenities such as the bakery, a café, dental surgery, community centre, newsagent, chip shop and two bulls – the Black and the White Bull pubs! Time was, a police station was also situated right in the centre too, but that has long since been used as a private residence. Around the corner is a larger convenience store and two primary schools (one Catholic, one Church of England) are within the boundaries. There is also a fantastic health centre serving not only the ailments of Great Eccleston, but those of the wider area too.
The greatest show of all For anyone local to Gt Ecc, the annual agricultural show will be one of the events that makes it into your diary every year. Taking place on a weekend, usually in mid-July, The Great Eccleston Show attracts huge volumes of visitors to the area who will wander the showground and take in all the sights and sounds. Marquees are erected for the weekend to house all manner of displays, from flowers to fruit, cakes, cheeses and chutneys. There is also a large food hall where if you’re
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LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 67