Cockle Hall

Cockle Hall

Photograph courtesy of Brian Hughes

Those of you who have ventured along the riverside path from The Wyre Ecology Centre at Stanah towards Ramper Pot may have

come across the name of Cockle Hall.  When the Hall was built remains a mystery, as does why it was named Cockle Hall, although 

the first part of the name would suggest that there was once a

cockle bed nearby.  You might 

imagine a grand 'Hall' having

once stood here overlooking the

Cockle Hall - 1912

estuary, but infact Cockle Hall was a fairly unassuming two storey cottage with a single storey side extension and a few outbuildings.  Remarkably at the turn of the

century this was home to a family

of thirteen headed by Thomas Lawrenson who was originally from Preesall.  Although there is no mention of him having any connection with the jetty or ferry,

it seems unlikely that he didn't have some role to play.

As you follow the path along from Stanah it soon enters a small wooded area and the path turns to the left, this is where Cockle Hall

 Cockle Hall approx Location

was situated.  A small orchard of mainly damson trees still lies to the side of where the house once stood.  Apart from the lack of any visible buildings, the area is still recognisable from the map above. 

A little further along the path are the steps which led down to where the jetty once stood for the ferry which sailed across to Wardley's Creek.  Interestingly it is shown offset from the path leading to the shore on the earlier 1892 map, shown by the orange line above.  This could possibly be an earlier jetty or just

 Steps down to the Jetty

an error made by the surveyor at the time.  To summon the ferry passengers would stand on the end of the jetty shouting and waving their arms to attract the attention of the ferry man at Wardley's. 

The pathway leading down across the fields still exists today, infact the only thing missing from the scene is Cockle Hall itself!  In its ruined state it became a favourite place for courting couples and I think we will leave that there. 

Cockle Hall was finally demolished around 1939 after being purchased by Thornton Cleveleys Council.