Banks, ENG - Postcode - PR9 8RG

Banks, Lancashire

Banks, pronounced is a sizable coastal community in Lancashire, England, located about four miles (about six kilometers) north-east of Southport and south of the Ribble estuary. West Lancashire Borough and North Meols Parish Council are responsible for the village's administration. Specifically, it falls within the boundaries of the South Ribble parliamentary constituency. The population of the North Meols civil parish increased from 3,792 in the time of the 2001 census to 4,146 in the time of the 2011 census. 

Banks, a village in West Lancashire, is the main settlement in the parish of North Meols. Due to the high quality of the soil, the majority of the population engaged in farming, however fishing was also popular for a long time. Farms in the area typically grow flowers and vegetables. Thanks to its convenient location between Southport and Preston, it has grown as a bedroom community for those who work in both cities.

History of Banks

The name "Banks" is thought to have originated from the numerous man-made embankments constructed in the northern part of the village to protect it from the River Ribble and the tide during the winter. The historic embankments are visible when entering Banks via Marsh Road and again at the end of George's Lane. The River Ribble's retreat in the twentieth century rendered these embankments unnecessary; larger ones had already been built to the north, expanding the arable land there. The locals still pronounce the name of the town with the Middle English pronunciation: Bonks /bks/.

In 1154, during the reign of Henry II, a deed was made pertaining to Far Banks, marking the beginning of written history. Travelers from the Fylde to North Meols would stop at this Guide House on their way across the River Ribble. The nearby area was known as meles, which means sand dunes, during this historical period, and was located on the northernmost edge of the ancient division of West Derby.

In 1719, the sea banks burst and flooded 5,000 acres of the Ribble estuary, from Crossens to Hesketh Bank and Tarleton, causing the worst coastal disaster in the area. The tidal flood swept out a total of 47 homes. Nine individuals were killed by the flood, and many animals and crops perished.

Otegrimeles, from the Norse term melr, meaning sand dunes, was the name given to this collection of minor farming and fishing communities before the Norman conquest. For many years, the spiritual life of the people of North Meols revolved around St. Cuthbert's Church in Churchtown, with satellite congregations at Crossens, Banks, and Birkdale. Before Martin Mere and other wetlands in the parish were drained, large swaths of the parish were totally encircled by water. Thomas Fleetwood of Bank Hall accomplished this in 1692 through the use of irrigation and sluice ditches he built. Crossens pumping station was built in the 19th century to finish the drainage. The result was rich farmland that is still being put to use; agriculture, particularly flower and vegetable production, is the region's principal economic activity.

Passengers and goods bound for the town markets could take use of the newly opened West Lancashire Railway station in Banks on the line between Southport and Preston on February 19, 1878. In this station, coal merchants could use the depot and goods yard. There were staffed level crossings where the railway crossed Hoole Lane, Long Lane, and Square House Lane. The drop in ridership caused by low population growth culminated in the Beeching Axe's 7 September 1964 deadline for closing failing railways. Station platform and the stone abutments of the bridge that once carried the track across the sluice ditches in Banks are still there.

Economy of Banks

Farming remains at the heart of the town even if modern Banks is predominantly a commuter village for Southport, Liverpool, and Preston. Once sold at farmers' markets, most farm-grown food is now shipped to big grocery chains like Marks & Spencer or exported to countries in the European Union.

Banks used to have a robust shrimping business, but it has nearly collapsed owing to cheaper overseas competition. The delicious seaweed samphire has recently garnered attention on Banks Marsh (locally known as Sampi). Only a small fraction of Europe's coastline has it. During the summer, locals harvest it and sell it to grocery stores like Booths, where it is displayed with other fresh goods.

There are two commercial districts where mostly small enterprises offering regional products and services can be found. Both are in Southport; one is on the A565 (Southport New Road) and the other, Granite House, is located on the site of the historic Greaves Hall. There is a hair salon, a newsstand, a Co-op, and a post office in Banks. The North Meols Medical Centre on Church Road houses a pharmacy and doctor's office. In August of 2014, construction on a brand-new nursing facility was finished (located just off Guinea Hall Lane on Greaves Hall Lane). A short time later, a learning and head injury home was constructed right next door to the care facility. Hoole Lane is home to a community hub as well.