Dolphinholme is a historic village in Lancashire, North West England.

Dolphinholme
St Mark's Church, Dolphinholme
Dolphinholme is located in the Borough of Wyre
Dolphinholme
Dolphinholme
Shown within Wyre Borough
Dolphinholme is located in the City of Lancaster district
Dolphinholme
Dolphinholme
Shown within the City of Lancaster district
Dolphinholme is located in Lancashire
Dolphinholme
Dolphinholme
Location within Lancashire
OS grid referenceSD518536
Civil parish
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townLANCASTER
Postcode districtLA2
Dialling code01524
PoliceLancashire
FireLancashire
AmbulanceNorth West
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Lancashire
53°58′30″N 2°44′17″W / 53.975°N 2.738°W / 53.975; -2.738

History

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In the 18th and 19th centuries the village played an important part in the Industrial Revolution. Thomas Hinde founded a mill in Lower Dolphinholme in 1795. This worsted mill prospered and in 1811 the lower village was amongst the first in the United Kingdom to have gas lighting.[1] The Pollution was fed away from the village underground to the mill's chimney which was located in a nearby field.

Geography

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The village, designated as a historic conservation area, is split into two parts – a higher village and a lower part, called Lower Dolphinholme, situated on the River Wyre. The river is the boundary between the Lancaster and Wyre districts. Dolphinholme sits on the edge of the Forest of Bowland and is less than five miles away from Lancaster.

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It is only 2+12 miles from Junction 33 of the M6 motorway. The nearest railway station is Lancaster.

There are no public transport links apart from a public school bus which comes once a day and only during term time.

Community

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The village has a school (Dolphinholme Church of England Primary School), a village hall, a parish church (St Mark's C of E), a Methodist chapel, a pub (the Fleece Inn), a recreational ground, a tennis court and a bowling green. A Post Office visits the village hall on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 10:00 am to midday.

Most of the historic lower village is still intact, the remains of the mill are in what is now a private garden but the chimney is still standing, in a nearby field. A warehouse, associated with the mill has been converted into housing although it has been (somewhat confusingly) named 'The Mill'.

There is a village show that takes place on the second Saturday of September each year in the village hall. It features vegetables, flowers, cooking, photography and a children's section.

A village breakfast takes place in the Chapel on the second Saturday or every month (except July and August) from 8:30 am to 10:30 am and is open to all without booking. The Chapel also hosts a coffee morning every Tuesday from 10:00 am until midday which is also open to all without booking.

See also

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  Media related to Dolphinholme at Wikimedia Commons

References

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  1. ^ "Dolphinholme Worsted Mill: World's oldest surviving gasworks protected". BBC News. 15 July 2020.