Everything about Skelmersdale totally explained
Skelmersdale is a town in
West Lancashire,
England.
As of 2006, it had a population of 38,813, down from 41,000 in 2004. Designated as a
new town in 1961, Skelmersdale is situated south-southwest of the city of
Preston. Coal mining was once of great importance in the region; today, light industry is predominant.
History
Etymology
Skelmersdale means "Skjaldmarr's valley", from the Old Norse personal name Skjaldmarr + probably Old Norse
dalr (or Old English dæl) "dale, valley". The name was recorded as
Skalmeresedel in 1136. One place-name book suggests that it may be of Celtic origin, with the place-names being in Celtic place-name order, for example "Element/personal name/word", rather than "Personal name/word/element", as with
Old English place-names.
It is known locally as "Skem", with a further destinction being made between "Old Skem" (the area which was a small mining town prior to 1961) and the broader swathe of development which has now developed.
Early history
Until the creation of Skelmersdale Urban District Council at the end of the 19th century, the town was part of the Parish of Ormskirk in the
West Derby hundred, an ancient subdivision of Lancashire, covering the south-west of the county.
Skelmersdale's population in 1851 was only 760, but 50 years later it had increased to 5,699. It was a busy coal mining town. Sadly, there were over 100 fatalities in Skelmersdale collieries from 1851 to 1900, according to the Reports of the Inspectors of Coal Mines, and an unknown number of serious injuries. In 1880 there were 14 Skelmersdale colleries - most of them closed in the 1920s and 30s.
The miners, many of whom were Welsh immigrants, brought with them their own brand of non-conformist Christianity. By the start of the 20th century there were at least six dissenting chapels in the town: two Wesleyan (Berry Street, closed in the 1920s, and Liverpool Road, closed 1969), an independent Methodist, a
Primitive Methodist, a
Congregational, and a Welsh Chapel (closed in 1963).
Today, there's little to remind people that the town was ever associated with the once great Lancashire Coalfield. The
River Tawd flows through Skelmersdale into a country park. The main country park is at Ashurst Beacon, a hillside location that's also residence to a Golf Club.
New town
Skelmersdale was designated a
New Town in 1961, designed to house overspill population from the north
Merseyside conurbation. The town was the first in the second wave of designations.
Due to the arrival of a large number of former
Liverpool residents, the town retains a strong association with Liverpool to which it's linked via the M58 motorway.
Skelmersdale endured mixed economic fortunes during the last three decades of the 20th century. With the economic downturn in the late 1970s large industrial employers left town en masse, resulting in an increase in crime, drug abuse and poverty. Today, however,
West Lancashire has one of the lowest recorded crime rates in England.
2006 was to see a regeneration drive for the town coordinated through
English Partnerships and the Northwest Regional Development Agency and publicly headed by the designer
Wayne Hemingway. Among the proposals was a new central focus for the entertainment and commerce for the town in the evening.) The
Skelmersdale Branch previously connected Skelmersdale to
Ormskirk and Rainford Junction. The rebuilding of a dedicated connection linking the town to
Upholland has been proposed, which would result in the reopening of
Skelmersdale railway station.
Education
Skelmersdale has a number of primary schools, and has three high schools. These are Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic High School an Engineering College, Lathom High School a Technology College and Glenburn Sports College.
Skelmersdale also is home to a large public library whose facilities include free internet access and an extensive local history section.
Economy
Although consisting predominantly of housing estates, Skelmersdale's industry includes the
Co-operative Bank (Skelmersdale's single largest employer), the cosmetic manufacturer Constance Carroll, a distribution centre for
P&G,
potato snacks from
Walkers, the international headquarters and UK manufacturing centre of Turtle Wax and many others. Skelmersdale houses the corporate base and a distribution centre for
Matalan, the discount
clothing and homewares store. Skelmersdale is also home to
Frederick's Dairies who make ice cream for
Nestle and own several parlours across
Lancashire.
Shopping centres
Skelmersdale's town centre is made up of The Concourse Shopping Centre, colloquially known as "The Conny", and an
ASDA supermarket.
Sports
The town's football team,
Skelmersdale United, plays in the Unibond
Northern Premier League Division One North and was a
FA Vase winner in 1971. One of its former players was
Steve Heighway, who went on to play for
Liverpool F.C. for many years.
The town is also host to a quite famous
archery club, The Bowmen of Skelmersdale, whose members hold over 70 national records and Fourteen world records. The world records are held by three individuals from the same family.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Skelmersdale'.
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