1934 Directory

RIBBY-WITH-WREA has a pleasant village called Wrea Green, 2 miles west of Kirkham, the atmosphere in this neighbourhood being of a most healthful nature. The township is in the parliamentary division of the Fylde, and in the Fylde county council division and Union. The parish council consists of five members. The line of railway from Kirkham to Lytham has a station here.

The township contains 1,389 acres, and the rateable value is £3,349. Its population 1851-1921 was:

1851	406
1861	444
1871	466
1881	392
1891	401
1901	475
1911	598
1921	674

The chief landowners are Mr. Charles E. Harwood, H. L. Birley, Esq., and W. Duckworth, Esq.

The principal residence in the township is Ribby Hall; belonging to W. Duckworth, Esq. The CHURCH is dedicated to St. Nicholas. The original church was built in 1715, and in 1849 it was rebuilt from a design by Mr. E. G. Paley, at a cost of £1,600.. It was consecrated in 1855. About 1857 the interior of the church was renovated and improved by the erection of a handsome stone plupit and a new organ chamber, the chancel tiled, and pitchpine choir stalls provided, and a new vestry was also provided, at a total cost of about £600. A beautiful painted window, to the memory of one of the Birley family, and another to that of Mrs. Fazackerley-Westby, were erected in 1884. In this year also a tower and spire, by Paley & Austin, were built at a cost of £1,300, thus improving greatly the appearance of the church as well as forming a handsome and effective feature in the landscape. A peal of tubular bells was placed in the tower in 1888 to commemorate Her late Majesty's Jubilee. In 1891, a painted window, in memory of the Earl of Carnarvon, was given by the Freemasons of Preston and the Fylde, presented by Sir M. W. Ridley, Bart. Another window was also erected in the same year to the memory of Mrs. Swan and Lieut. E. P. Homan, by the Rev. R. S. and Mrs. Stoney. A handsome coloured window has been placed on the north side in commemoration of the late Queen's Diamond Jubilee, and also one in memory of the late Vicar, at a cost of about £50. The church contains 300 sittings. The benefice is a vicarage of the annual value of £300, in the patronage of the Vicar of Kirkham, and held by the Rev. Charles J. Woodhouse, who resides in a good vicarage, built in 187o at a cost of £1,200. The Ecclesiastical population, which includes Westby, numbers 754.

An INFECTIOUS DISEASE HOSPITAL erected by the Fylde Joint Hospital Committee, is situated at Moss Side. It is arranged on the latest sanitary principles, and consists of seven isolated blocks to accommodate a total of 3o patients. Messrs. Haywood & Harrison were the architects, and Mr. S. Wilson the contractor, the cost being £17,146.

The ENDOWED SCHOOLS for boys and girls have an endowment of £2,113 yearly, arising from an original bequest of £800, left in 1716 by Nicholas Sharpies, a native of Wrea Green, and a sum of £200, left by James Thistleton in 1693. The two trusts were amalgamated in 1755. In 1894 new schools were erected, at a cost of £1,400, from a design by Messrs. Garlick & Sykes, of Preston, the contractors being Messrs. J. Fielding & Sons, of Blackpool.

Post. Money Order and Telegraph Office at Mr. Parrot's. Letters, via Kirkham, arrive at 7-0 a.m. and are despatched at 8-45 a.m. and 4-45 p.m.

Parish Council.—P. L. Birley,Esq., J.P. (chairman), J. Dagger, W. Eccles, C. E. Harwood and G. Cookson: Henry Miller, rating officer ; Rural District Councillor : C. E. Harwood

DISTRICT BANK Ltd. (sub-branch to Kirkham), open Wednesdays, 11-15 to 2-15, Saturdays 9-30 to 11-15

Haslam George, motor engineer, 1 Station road ; garage and works, Moor street, Kirkham. Tel. 138



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