Our Area, Poulton
Poulton has been a
settlement of note since late Saxon and early Medieval times. The Domesday
Book of 1086 notes a wealthy and thriving Manor at Poulton, and the Gorton
Map of 1824 still shows the manor as a focal point for the fishing and
agricultural community of Poulton-le-Sands, set in its radial system of
narrow medieval fields close to the shores of Morecambe Bay, and
pre-dating the development of Morecambe itself.
The small cottages housing this community were built using the materials
readily available at the time: sand, gravel and cobbles from the seashore,
and stone flags or thatch for the roofs.
With the advent of the railway Poulton-le-Sands quickly expanded outwards
from its core, initially along the original lanes but soon developing into
the traditional grid pattern favoured by the Victorians. The railway
enabled the import of building materials from further afield – Yorkshire
stone, brick and Welsh slate – to construct the two, three and four
storey terrace housing that accommodated additional residents and the many
visitors to the new sea-side resort.
The majority of these pre-1919 houses within Poulton are built with
coursed stone fronts, brick-built rendered backs, and slate covered roofs.
Within the existing Poulton Conservation Area, however, there are also a
number of houses which are Grade II listed, recognising their own
importance architecturally with their dressed ashlar facades and stone
detailing.
Further expansion of Poulton took place in the 1930's, at the time of the
upgrade and improvements to the promenade, with the building of typical
inter-war semi-detached houses to the east of the original village. These
houses are of brick cavity wall construction, rendered or pebble-dashed
and with clay tiled or slated roofs.
Since then little new building has taken place in Poulton. The most
significant addition has been some small-scale sheltered housing schemes
(most of which lie just outside the NRA area boundary) and a 34 unit
development of social housing, all again of traditional build with brick
cavity walls and tiled or slated roofs.
This is a Map of the Area, showing the Parish Boundaries.
