Editing Lytham St Annes (section)

==Towns and districts==
Lytham St Annes consists of four main areas: Lytham, Saint Annes-on-the-Sea, Ansdell and Fairhaven.

=== Lytham ===
The name Lytham comes from the Old English ''hlithum,'' plural of ''hlith'' meaning '''(place at) the slopes'.''<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Everett-Heath|first=John|title=The Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2014|isbn=978-0-19-175139-4|edition=Third|location=Oxford|chapter=Lytham St Anne's|oclc=881848068}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Mills|first=Anthony|title=A Dictionary of British Place-Names|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2003|isbn=0-19-852758-6|location=Oxford|chapter=Lytham St Anne's|oclc=59290127}}</ref>

The Green, a strip of grass running between the shore and the main coastal road, is a notable Lytham landmark—the restored [[Lytham Windmill|Windmill]] and [[Lytham Lifeboat Station|Old Lifeboat House Museum]] are here.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.greatbritishlife.co.uk/people/the-lifeboat-museum-reopens-in-lytham-6988584|title=The Lifeboat Museum reopens in Lytham|date=1 June 2016|newspaper=Lancashire Life|access-date=8 February 2022|archive-date=8 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220208095947/https://www.greatbritishlife.co.uk/people/the-lifeboat-museum-reopens-in-lytham-6988584|url-status=live}}</ref> The Green overlooks the estuary of the [[River Ribble]] and the Welsh mountains. The centre of Lytham contains many notable buildings, such as the former Lytham public library, [[Lytham railway station]], market hall, the Clifton Arms Hotel and Lytham Methodist Church.<ref name=methodist>{{cite web|url=https://www.explorechurches.org/church/lytham-methodist-church-lytham-st-annes|title=Lytham Methodist Church|publisher=Explore Methodist Churches|access-date=8 February 2022|archive-date=8 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220208101213/https://www.explorechurches.org/church/lytham-methodist-church-lytham-st-annes|url-status=live}}</ref>

Until the middle of the 20th century, the Clifton family was the leading family in Lytham and two of the town's main thoroughfares are named in their honour, with the main shopping street being named Clifton Street and one of two roads to Blackpool being Clifton Drive. Their estate on the outskirts of Lytham and Ansdell originally occupied a large area. [[Lytham Hall]], the family seat, remained in the family's ownership until 1963, after which time it was passed on to Guardian Royal Exchange Insurance, and then to Lytham Town Trust in 1997. The grounds of the Hall are open during the week and on Sunday and events are organised, such as open-air plays and car shows. Several of the ornate gates to the estate and much of the distinctive pebble-bricked boundary wall survive. The [[parish church]] for Lytham is [[St Cuthbert's Church, Lytham|St Cuthbert's Church]], on Church Road.<ref>{{NHLE |num= 1196361|desc= Church of St Cuthbert|access-date= 6 April 2015|mode=cs2}}</ref>

Lytham is the location of the Foulnaze cockle fishery. The fishery has only opened the cockle beds on the Lancashire coast three times in twenty years, most recently in August 2013.<ref>{{cite news|title=Eyewitness: Lytham, Lancashire|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/picture/2013/aug/13/eyewitness-lytham-lancashire|access-date=14 August 2013|newspaper=The Guardian|date=13 August 2013|author=Christopher Thomond|format=Image upload|archive-date=4 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304203853/http://www.theguardian.com/world/picture/2013/aug/13/eyewitness-lytham-lancashire|url-status=live}}</ref>

Lytham Library closed in September 2016 as part of [[Lancashire County Council]] budget cuts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/final-chapter-for-lytham-and-freckleton-libraries-1-8152590|title=Final chapter for Lytham and Freckleton libraries|date=29 September 2016|access-date=23 October 2016|archive-date=23 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161023200240/http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/final-chapter-for-lytham-and-freckleton-libraries-1-8152590|url-status=live}}</ref>

===St Annes===
[[File:St annes.jpg|thumb|St Annes Square, 2006]]
St Annes-on-the-Sea (also known as St Annes-on-Sea or St Annes) was a 19th-century planned town. [[St Anne's Church, St Anne's-on-the-Sea|St Anne's Church]] was built as a [[chapel of ease]] in 1873, in which year [[St Annes-on-the-Sea railway station]] also opened. An official founding ceremony for the town was held on 31 March 1875, when the cornerstone of the St Anne's Hotel was laid.<ref>{{cite news |title=St. Anne's-on-the-Sea: Laying the foundation stone |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search-newspapers |access-date=9 October 2023 |work=Blackpool Herald |date=2 April 1875 |page=3 |archive-date=22 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230922095439/https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search-newspapers |url-status=live }}</ref> The town was developed from 1875 after Thomas Fair, agent to the Clifton Estate, sold leases to the [[St Anne's on the Sea Land and Building Company]]. Plans for the town were laid out by the Bury firm of architects [[Maxwell and Tuke]] who later went on to construct [[Blackpool Tower]].<ref name="Shakeshaft">P.Shakeshaft, ''St Anne's on the Sea: A History'', (Carnegie: Lancaster,2008), 141–164</ref> There was an open-air seawater swimming pool from 1916 until the mid-1980s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open-air baths, St Annes on Sea |url=https://redrosecollections.lancashire.gov.uk/view-item?i=231444 |access-date=2022-05-01 |website=Red Rose Collections from Lancashire County Council |language=en-GB |archive-date=26 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230826035413/https://redrosecollections.lancashire.gov.uk/view-item?i=231444 |url-status=live }}</ref>

St Annes is the original home of [[Premium Bonds]] and their prize-selecting computer ''[[ERNIE]]'', which were on a site between Shepherd Road and Heyhouses Lane. Premium Bonds operated from there for more than 40 years before moving to [[Blackpool]]. The shopping area declined towards the end of the 20th century and was redeveloped in an attempt to attract more retailers and shoppers. As part of this project, a restaurant quarter was established, centred around Wood Street. The work included a £2m restoration of Ashton Gardens, a park near the town centre, in 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=18 March 2009 |title=St Annes Carnival cancelled this year |url=http://www.lythamstannesexpress.co.uk/news/local/st-annes-carnival-cancelled-this-year-1-812756 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310161220/http://www.lythamstannesexpress.co.uk/news/local/st-annes-carnival-cancelled-this-year-1-812756 |archive-date=10 March 2016 |website=Lytham St Annes Express |via=Internet Archive}}</ref>

{{multiple image
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| image1 = George Formby - Blue Plaque, Inner Promenade, Lytham St Annes.jpg
| caption1 = [[Blue plaque]] at [[George Formby]]'s house "Beryldene", Inner Promenade
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| caption2 = George Formby's house 
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}}The beach to the north of [[St Anne's Pier]] was an internationally renowned [[Land yacht|sand yachting]] venue for many years, but this activity has been suspended since 2002 when a visitor to the beach died after being hit by a sand yacht. St Annes Beach hosts a number of [[kite flying]] events each year. In 2006 kite enthusiasts raised concerns about the future of these activities following a decision by Fylde Borough Council in 2006 to ban the flying of kites with two or more lines anywhere in the Fylde. Following representations from kite-fliers and completion of a risk assessment, the council rescinded the ban on condition that kite fliers remain at least 50m from the [[sand dune]]s.

A memorial statue of a lifeboatman looking out to sea was placed on the promenade at St Anne's after the [[Southport and St Anne's lifeboats disaster|Mexico Disaster]] of 1886. The original lifeboat station was established in 1881<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rnli.org.uk/rnli_near_you/north/stations/LythamStAnnesLancashire/history |title=Lytham St Annes History |access-date=5 April 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060925035324/http://www.rnli.org.uk/rnli_near_you/north/stations/LythamStAnnesLancashire/history |archive-date=25 September 2006  }}</ref> but closed in 1925 due to silting of the channel (a secondary channel of the [[River Ribble|Ribble]] that ran past the pier). A lifeboat continued to operate from Lytham, but the main channel of the river also became silted up, so the lifeboat was moved to a new all-weather [[RNLI]] base a few hundred yards south of St Annes pier which opened in 2000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legendol.freeserve.co.uk/lythrnli.html |title=Rnli Lytham St Annes Station |access-date=5 April 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205080621/http://www.legendol.freeserve.co.uk/lythrnli.html |archive-date=5 February 2007  }}</ref> [[St Annes-on-the-Sea Carnegie Library]] is just outside the town centre in an Edwardian, [[Andrew Carnegie|Carnegie]]-funded building.<ref>Urban District of St Anne's on the Sea, Proceedings of the Urban District Council 1903–04, St Anne's on the Sea, pp. 91–92</ref>

[[File:St Annes on the Sea rail station, 2009.jpg|thumb|right|St Annes railway station]]
[[File:St Annes on Sea town flag.svg|thumb|Flag since 2012]]
There is some confusion, even among residents of the town, about whether the correct name is "St Annes" or "St Anne's". The apostrophe has been dropped from the name by many residents and has long been absent in many formal uses, such as the ''[[Lytham St Annes Express]]'' newspaper,<ref name="LSA001">{{cite web|title=Lytham St Annes Express|publisher=[[Blackpool Gazette]]|url=http://www.lythamstannesexpress.co.uk/|access-date=23 September 2007|archive-date=18 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071018033731/http://www.lythamstannesexpress.co.uk/|url-status=live}}</ref> St Annes Parish Church,<ref name="SAPC001">{{cite web|title=St Annes Parish Church, St Annes|publisher=St Annes Parish Church|url=http://www.stannesparishchurch.org/|access-date=23 September 2007|archive-date=28 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928152814/http://www.stannesparishchurch.org/index.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Lytham St Annes High School]], although the spelling St. Anne's is still sometimes used.<ref name="LSAHTC001">{{cite web|title=Lytham St. Annes High Technology College|publisher=[[Lytham St. Annes High Technology College]]|url=http://www.lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/home.htm|access-date=23 September 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929161145/http://www.lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/home.htm|archive-date=29 September 2007}}</ref> The area takes its name from St Annes Parish Church.<ref name=":0" />

In October 2008, a bronze statue by sculptor [[Graham Ibbeson]] of comedian [[Les Dawson]], who lived in the town, was unveiled by Dawson's widow and daughter in the ornamental gardens next to St Annes Pier.<ref name="BBC7685723">{{cite news|title=Dawson statue unveiled by family|work=[[bbc.co.uk]]|date=23 October 2008|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/7685723.stm|access-date=13 November 2008|archive-date=9 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211109031512/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/7685723.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> Entertainer [[George Formby]] also lived in the town,<ref name="memories7">{{cite news|url=http://www.whirligig-tv.co.uk/tv/memories/memories7.htm|title=Gerry George's Memories|last=George|first=Gerry|publisher=whirligig-tv|access-date=28 December 2008|archive-date=5 July 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705102806/http://www.whirligig-tv.co.uk/tv/memories/memories7.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> and there is a plaque outside the house where he lived from 1953 until his death in 1961.<ref name=bbcformby>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-19286496|title=George Formby's last house at St Annes gets blue plaque|date=17 August 2012|publisher=BBC|access-date=8 February 2022|archive-date=8 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220208101611/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-19286496|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Ansdell===
Ansdell is a small district between Lytham and St Annes, on the landward side of the railway line. It has its [[Ansdell & Fairhaven railway station|own railway station (shared with Fairhaven)]], the Ansdell Institute club and a public library. It is named for [[Richard Ansdell]] (1815–1885), an artist who lived in the area and painted numerous oils depicting hunting scenes. Ansdell enjoys the distinction of being the only place in England to be named after an artist.<ref>'Treasures to be put on display at gallery', ''Blackpool Gazette'', 28 December 2006</ref>

Ansdell hosts the largest school in Lancashire, [[Lytham St Annes High School]], with around 1,500 students.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lytham St Annes High School |url=https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Establishments/Establishment/Details/119740 |access-date=2022-03-28 |website=get-information-schools.service.gov.uk |language=en |archive-date=28 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328173226/https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Establishments/Establishment/Details/119740 |url-status=live }}</ref> Ansdell also encompasses the southern end of [[Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club]]. Ansdell is also the home of [[Fylde Rugby Club]] (FRC), established in May 1920, later to be closed during the war effort, and re-opened in 1946. FRC has reared many eminent players, notably [[Malcolm Phillips]] (a former President of the club) and [[Bill Beaumont]].<ref name=beaumont>{{cite news|url=https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport/other-sport/sir-bill-beaumont-is-back-to-lead-team-focusing-on-future-of-fylde-rfc-3018034|title=Sir Bill Beaumont is back to lead team focusing on future of Fylde RFC|date=28 October 2020|newspaper=Blackpool Gazette|access-date=8 February 2022|archive-date=8 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220208095406/https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport/other-sport/sir-bill-beaumont-is-back-to-lead-team-focusing-on-future-of-fylde-rfc-3018034|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Fairhaven===
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}}Fairhaven is the district between Lytham and St Annes on the coastal side of the railway. It has been suggested it is named after Thomas Fair, the [[land agent]] for the Clifton estate. It is believed by other researchers that Thomas Riley named his Master Plan for Fairhaven after the Bible passage Acts 27 verse 8 referring to [[Acts of the Apostles|Paul's journey to Rome]]; many of the road names are connected to Paul and his journey.{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}}

Its main claim to fame is an artificial lake, known as Fairhaven Lake. In 1923 the new borough of Lytham St Annes was formed and subsequently purchased the lake with money quietly donated by Lord Ashton. In recognition of this, after extensive landscaping designed by T H Mawson, the lake was formally re-opened in 1926 and named Ashton Marine Park. After continuing confusion with Ashton Park in St Annes, in 1974 the name reverted to Fairhaven Lake. It is an important wildfowl habitat.

Its other famous landmark is the Fairhaven [[United Reformed Church]], which is of unusual design, being built in [[Byzantine]] style and faced with glazed white tiles, and commonly known as the White Church. Fairhaven contains the former [[King Edward VII and Queen Mary School]], which has now merged with [[Arnold School]] of Blackpool to become [[AKS Lytham]].

The sands and tidal mudflats of the area (the mouth of the [[River Ribble]]) are an important feeding area for wintering [[wader]]s. The [[RSPB]] operate a visitor centre from Fairhaven Lake to provide information and guided walks.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=January 2006 |title=The Ribble estuary |url=http://www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/projects/ribble/doing.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930184836/http://www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/projects/ribble/doing.asp |archive-date=30 September 2007 |website=The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds |via=Internet Archive}}</ref> The lake has been flooded by the sea in the distant past but is now protected by a substantial sea defence wall.

Fairhaven occupies an area of former sand dunes previously known as Starr Hills, which extended as far as St Annes town centre along the southern side of the railway. The name Starr Hills is still used for a residential home named after the eponymous residence constructed in the 1860s for Richard Ansdell, which was transformed into a hospital during [[World War I]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://amounderness.co.uk/lytham_&_fairhaven_-_tourist_info.html |title=Lytham & St.Annes on the Sea Lancashire, News, Weather, Hotels, Guest Houses, Transport & Local History Resources – Lytham & Fairhaven – Tourist Info |access-date=17 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303145652/http://www.amounderness.co.uk/lytham_%26_fairhaven_-_tourist_info.html |archive-date=3 March 2012  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://amounderness.co.uk/starr_hills_hospital,_ansdell,_1916.html |title=Lytham & St.Annes on the Sea Lancashire – Local History – Starr Hills Hospital, Ansdell, 1916 |website=Amounderness.co.uk |access-date=27 July 2016 |archive-date=2 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402121855/http://www.amounderness.co.uk/starr_hills_hospital,_ansdell,_1916.html |url-status=live }}</ref> before assuming its present use. The Fairhaven Estate was first laid out in 1892.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://amounderness.co.uk/fairhaven_estate.html |title=Lytham & St.Annes on the Sea Lancashire – Local History – Fairhaven Estate |website=Amounderness.co.uk |access-date=27 July 2016 |archive-date=26 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426055809/http://amounderness.co.uk/fairhaven_estate.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Beginning in 1895, the estate was divided into parcels of land which could be purchased or leased for residential development.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://amounderness.co.uk/fairhaven_estate_company_1895.html |title=Lytham & St.Annes on the Sea Lancashire – Local History – Fairhaven Estate Company 1895 |website=Amounderness.co.uk |access-date=27 July 2016 |archive-date=7 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307143358/http://www.amounderness.co.uk/fairhaven_estate_company_1895.html |url-status=live }}</ref>