In St Michael's On Wyre, architectural history and activity along the River Wyre offer different ways to explore. St Michael's Bridge is a sandstone ashlar bridge dating from 1803, with two elliptical arches and triangular cutwaters. There is also a historic church, a riverside walk and a cycling route. If you are looking for a holiday rental, these themes can help you decide whether to focus your stay on culture, walking or cycling.
Church: Tradition and Architectural History
A local tradition links a church in St Michael's on Wyre to around 640 AD and to a safe crossing over the nearby River Wyre. The early date and the crossing belong to local tradition; they should be distinguished from the later written and architectural records. In the Domesday Survey of 1086, the church appears under the name “Michelescherce”. It was one of only three churches mentioned within the Hundred of Amounderness.
The church was rebuilt in the 15th century; parts of its fabric date to the 13th century and possibly earlier. The Church of St Michael may date from around 1500 and shows alterations from the 17th century. There are also fragments of an early 14th-century early Gothic wall painting depicting the Ascension.
Bridge, Commemoration and Architectural Details
St Michael's Bridge is also listed as a Grade II structure. The St Michael's on Wyre War Memorial has the same designation, but commemorates a different history: it remembers 19 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. A milestone west of St Michael's on Wyre Village bears inscriptions showing distances to Garstang, Lancaster, Great Eccleston, Poulton-le-Fylde and Blackpool.
North of St Michael's Hall, a pair of 18th-century gate piers stands beside the road. Built of rusticated sandstone ashlar, they have moulded plinths and cornices, as well as ball finials. Together with the milestone inscriptions, the piers add concrete details about architectural forms and place names to the broader historical landmarks.
Walks and Cycling Route
St Michaels Short Walk is a short scenic walk along the River Wyre. It is rated easy and is two miles long; well-behaved dogs are welcome. Its length, difficulty rating and dog-friendly status are practical points to consider when choosing a walk.
St Michael's to Pilling Circular is suitable for mountain bikes, hybrid bikes with off-road tyres, hybrid bikes with road tyres and road bikes. The route is mostly flat and uses minor roads, quiet roads and a short section on main roads. Bike type and road conditions answer different planning questions: which types of bike is the route suitable for, and what kinds of roads does it follow? The walking route is described by its length and difficulty; for the cycling route, bike types, terrain and the mix of roads are all relevant.
Heritage Weekend
Old parish registers are displayed at the annual Heritage Weekend at St Michael's Church. If this event matters to your stay, check the event dates before planning around it.
Discover more destinations: Oswaldtwistle, Hoghton, Hornby, Bickerstaffe, Hutton, Ellel, Bolton by Bowland, Ribchester.
For the broader travel overview: Lancashire.
