Walton-le-Dale is a large village in the borough of South Ribble, in Lancashire, England. It lies on the south bank of the River Ribble, opposite the city of Preston, adjacent to Bamber Bridge. The population of the South Ribble Ward at the 2011 census was 3,792. To the west of Walton-le-Dale is the residential area of Walton Park.

History

Toponymy

Walton is derived from walh and tun and means the farmstead or settlement of the Britons. It was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Waletune. In the 13th century it was recorded as Waleton and since about 1300 Waleton in le (la) Dale, or Walton in the valley.

Early history

The remains of a Roman fort at the junction of the River Darwen and River Ribble at Walton-le-Dale were discovered by accident in the mid 19th century. Roman remains found here include pottery and coins. The fort may have been the Rigodunum of Ptolemy,

Industrial Revolution

During the Industrial Revolution there were four cotton mills, including Flats Mills belonging to William Calvert which employed 400 workers and James Livesey and Son's Moon Mill employing 130 workers. There was a cotton printing business and in 1800 Robert Whittaker established an iron foundry. A local board was formed in 1877, and in 1894 an urban district council of twelve members representing four wards was formed. The Capitol Centre is a large retail and leisure facility, which was built on the site of the former Flats Mills.

Religion

The church of St Leonard, situated on high ground to the east of the village, was originally erected in the 11th century. The earliest portions of the present building are the Perpendicular chancel and tower, the nave having been rebuilt in 1798, while the transepts were erected in 1816.

There are a number of interesting old brasses and monuments.

The church of Our Lady and St Patrick is located on Higher Walton Road in the village. Originally formed in 1855 by the Benedictine order, the Parish of Our Lady and St Patrick (originally the Mission of St Patrick) includes both The Pugin Church of Our Lady and St Patrick and St Patrick's RC Primary School, and has served Walton-le-Dale and surrounding area for over 150 years.

Culture

In 1701 some of the local gentry including the Duke of Norfolk, the Earl of Derwentwater and other Jacobites formed the Mock Borough of Walton, a social club, which lasted for about 50 years, and met in the Unicorn Inn, near Darwen Bridge.

  • Edward Baines (1774–1848), newspaper proprietor and politician.
  • Joseph Livesey (1794–1884), temperance campaigner, social activist, writer and local cheese seller.
  • Nicholas Rigby (1800–1886), an English Roman Catholic priest.
  • Alfred Borron Clay (1831–1868), an English painter of portraits.
  • Samuel Ryder (1858–1936), sponsor of the golfing Ryder Cup and Mayor of St Albans in 1905
  • John McNamara (1887–1918), Army corporal, recipient of the Victoria Cross
  • Albert McInroy (1901–1985), football goalkeeper who played about 490 games
  • Kathleen Ferrier (1912–1953), an English contralto singer
  • Joan Knight (1924–1996), a British stage manager and director.
  • Ian McCulloch (born 1971), former snooker player, World Snooker Championship semi-finalist in 2005

See also

  • Listed buildings in Walton-le-Dale

References

  • Walton le Dale Web Site