Bickerstaffe
{{For|people with the surname|Bickerstaff}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2015}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2013}}
{{Infobox UK place
| official_name = Bickerstaffe
| country = England
| region = North West England
| population = 1,180
| population_ref = (2011 Census)
| os_grid_reference = SD445045
| coordinates = {{coord|53.534|-2.838|display=inline,title}}
| static_image_name = The Old Windmill at Bickerstaffe - geograph.org.uk - 2098845.jpg
| static_image_caption = The old windmill
| constituency_westminster = West Lancashire
| post_town = ORMSKIRK
| postcode_area = L
| postcode_district = L39
| dial_code = 01695
| civil_parish = Bickerstaffe
| shire_district = West Lancashire
| shire_county = Lancashire
| pushpin_map = United Kingdom Borough of West Lancashire
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in West Lancashire
| static_image_2_name =
}}
Bickerstaffe is a village and civil parish in the West Lancashire district of Lancashire, England. According to the 2001 Census the population of the civil parish was 1,196,{{citation|url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=795830&c=bickerstaffe&d=16&e=15&g=464322&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1232907963306&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779|title=2001 Census: Bickerstaffe (Parish)|publisher=Office for National Statistics|access-date=25 January 2009|archive-date=26 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526034028/http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=795830&c=bickerstaffe&d=16&e=15&g=464322&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1232907963306&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779|url-status=dead}} reducing to 1,180 at the 2011 census,{{NOMIS2011|id=E04005301|title=Bickerstaffe Parish|access-date=26 March 2021}} although the population of the electoral ward, which includes Lathom South, was slightly greater at 2,013,{{citation|url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=3&b=6095285&c=bickerstaffe&d=14&e=15&g=464320&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1232908109600&enc=1 |title=2001 Census: Bickerstaffe (Ward)|publisher=Office for National Statistics|access-date=25 January 2009}} reducing to 1,988 at the 2011 census.{{NOMIS2011|id=E05005380|title=Bickerstaffe Ward|fewer-links=y|access-date=26 March 2021}}
The village is near junction 3 of the M58 motorway, and is about four miles west of Skelmersdale.
History
Its name may come from Anglo-Saxon bïcera stæþ = "the beekeepers' landing-place".{{Cn|date=December 2021}}
The moated site of the original Bickerstaffe Hall is situated about {{convert|70|m}} south-west of the present building. A trapezoidal island with maximum dimensions of around {{convert|68|x|68|m}} is surrounded by a partially infilled moat between about {{convert|3|and|6|m}} wide and up to {{convert|1.3|m}} deep.{{NHLE|num=1011999|desc=Moated site at Bickerstaffe Hall|access-date=11 December 2021}} The current hall may date to 1667 and was built for a member of the Stanley family, however it was re-built or heavily modified in 1772.{{NHLE |num=1230796 |desc=Bickerstaffe Hall |access-date=11 December 2021 |fewer-links=yes}}
Bickerstaffe Stocks are one of the listed structures of historical importance in the village.[http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-503011-bickerstaffe-stocks-bickerstaffe Bickerstaffe stocks] at britishlistedbuildings.co.uk
In the seventeenth century, Bickerstaffe was an important local centre of the Quakers in West Lancashire.{{Cn|date=December 2021}}
The parish church is dedicated to the Holy Trinity. Being built in 1843, and then extended in 1860, with a bell tower and spire to the west. It was designed by architect Sydney Smirke, with multiple examples of fine masonry. Such as the carved angles above the doorway, as well as royal heads carved into the accent stones either side of each of the northern and western windows.{{NHLE |num=1230794 |desc=Church of Holy Trinity, Bickerstaffe |access-date=11 December 2021 |fewer-links=yes}}
Until October 1936 Bickerstaffe Colliery was located just south of M6 junction 3.{{cite web|url=http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/sidebyside.cfm#zoom=15&lat=53.5334&lon=-2.8333&layers=171&right=BingHyb |title=Side by side georeferenced maps viewer - Map images - National Library of Scotland |publisher=Maps.nls.uk |access-date=2017-01-19}}{{cite web|url=http://www.aditnow.co.uk/mines/Bickerstaffe-Coal-Colliery/ |title=Bickerstaffe Coal Colliery information and photos |publisher=Aditnow.co.uk |date=1936-10-24 |access-date=2017-01-19}}
2012 saw the start of United Utilities £63m scheme at Bickerstaffe Water Treatment works to reduce the reliance of the local water supply on the River Dee{{citation needed|date=July 2018}}. That initiative comes in two parts: drilling new boreholes to find new water sources, and extending Bickerstaffe Water Treatment Works to cope with the rising demand for water.
Sport
The grounds of Bickerstaffe AFC are at Hall Lane next to Bickerstaffe C.E school.{{Cn|date=December 2021}}
Culture
Public houses and restaurants in the area include The Stanley Gate, The Sandpipers and Quattros.
An annual music festival, [http://www.bickerstock.org Bickerstock], takes place in the summer season, featuring local and international artists, and drawing in increasingly large crowds.
Notable people
See also
{{portal|Lancashire}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category-inline|Bickerstaffe}}
{{Geography of West Lancashire}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Villages in Lancashire
Category:Civil parishes in Lancashire
Category:Geography of the Borough of West Lancashire
{{Lancashire-geo-stub}}