Morecambe (
Name
The first use of the name was by John Whitaker in his
History of Manchester (1771), when he refers to the "æstury of Moricambe". It next appears four years later in
Antiquities of Furness, where the bay is described as "the
Morecambe Bay".
That name is derived from the Roman name Moriancabris Æsturis shown on maps prepared for them by Claudius Ptolemœus (Ptolemy) from his original Greek maps. At this distance in time it is impossible to say if the name was originally derived from an earlier language (e.g. Celtic language) or from Greek. The Latin version describes the fourth inlet north from Wales on the west coast of England as Moriancabris Æsturis. Translated, this gives a more accurate description than the present name of Morecambe Bay as the Latin refers to multiple estuaries on a curved sea, not a bay, as then the word sinus or gulf would have been used.
The name appeared in March 1862 on a steam locomotive built for the South Durham and Lancashire Union Railway, which could indicate it was already in unofficial use for the area.
It was not until 1889 that the necessary legislation was passed to officially name the area Morecambe, comprising the hamlets of Poulton-le-Sands, Bare and Torrisholme (a township for the purposes of the Census of 1841 but shown as separate townships in the previous Census of 1831). In 1894, the Urban District Council was formed, thus freeing Morecambe completely from its governance by the Borough of Lancaster until 1974 when Lancaster again took charge.
Before the creation of Morecambe, Poulton acquired two suffixes, "le Sands" and briefly "by Sands". The reason for these additions stems from the dearth of names of townships in earlier times with the same name recurring over again. In the days before free movement of people, this was not so important. As travel became easier through first the turnpikes and later the railways, it became necessary to differentiate between the various towns with the same name, hence the additions.
On 3 August 1928, the name changed again when the Corporation of Morecambe amalgamated with Heysham Urban District Council to form the Municipal Borough of Morecambe and Heysham.
History
In 1846, the Morecambe Harbour and Railway Company was formed
[Awdry, C. (1990), Encyclopaedia of British Railway Companies, Patrick Stephens Ltd, Wellingborough, .] to build a harbour on Morecambe Bay, close to the fishing village of
Poulton-le-Sands, and a connecting railway. By 1850, the railway linked to
Skipton,
Keighley and
Bradford in the West Riding of Yorkshire, and a settlement began to grow around the harbour and railway to service the port and as a seaside resort. The settlement expanded to absorb Poulton and the villages of Bare and
Torrisholme. The settlement started to be referred to as "Morecambe", possibly after the harbour and railway. In 1889, the new name was officially adopted.
Morecambe was a thriving seaside resort in the mid-20th century. It was home to the largest Pontins resort in the country. Pontins closed in 1993. While the resort of Blackpool attracted holiday-makers predominantly from the Lancashire mill towns, Morecambe had more visitors from Yorkshire (due to its railway connection) and Scotland. Mill workers from Bradford and further afield in West Yorkshire would holiday at Morecambe, with some retiring there. This gave Morecambe the nickname "Bradford on Sea".
Morecambe suffered a decades-long decline after a series of incidents that damaged tourism and the local economy.[Alan Cowell, Postcard From Ailing British Coasts: Wish You Were Here, The New York Times, 12 April 2007.] Two were lost: West End Pier was partly washed away in a storm in November 1977, and the remnants were demolished in 1978; Central Pier, damaged by fire in 1933, was removed in 1992. In 1994, The World of Crinkley Bottom attraction in Happy Mount Park closed only thirteen weeks after opening. The ensuing Blobbygate scandal, a financial disaster after projected visitor numbers did not materialise, led to a legal battle between Lancaster City Council and TV star Noel Edmonds, costing North Lancashire taxpayers £2.6 million.
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Morecambe was selected by the RNLI as the location for its first active life-saving hovercraft. (Griffon 470SAR) H-002 "The Hurley Flyer", which became operational on 23 December 2002, was housed in a temporary garage next to the Yacht Club until a permanent building could be designed and built. Work on the latter began in 2008, and it officially opened on 12 June 2010.[Visitor Newspaper,[2], Visitor, 28 July 2008.]
On 5 February 2004, there was a major loss of life in Morecambe Bay when at least 21 Chinese immigrant shellfish harvesters were drowned after they became trapped by the incoming tide.
In December 2017 a local general practitioner and community health activist
The "Morecambe Budget"
Enoch Powell made a speech in Morecambe on 11 October 1968 on the economy, setting out alternative, radical free-market policies that would later be called the Morecambe Budget.
Powell used the financial year 1968–69 to show how income tax could be halved from 8s 3d to 4s 3d in the pound (basic rate cut from 41% to 21%)
[Roy Lewis, Enoch Powell: Principle in Politics (Cassell, 1979), p. 69.] and how capital gains tax and Selective Employment Tax could be abolished without reducing expenditure on defence or the social services. These tax cuts required a saving of £2,855 million, and this would be funded by eradicating losses in the nationalised industries and denationalising the profit-making state concerns; ending all housing subsidies except for those who could not afford their own housing; ending all foreign aid; ending all grants and subsidies in agriculture; ending all assistance to development areas; ending all investment grants;
[Robert Shepherd, Enoch Powell. A Biography (London: Pimlico, 1997), p. 375 -->–6.] abolishing the National Economic Development Council; and abolishing the Prices and Incomes Board
[Heffer, p. 485.] The cuts in taxation would also allow the state to borrow from the public to spend on capital projects such as hospitals and roads and on the firm and humane treatment of criminals.
[Heffer, pp. 485–6.]
Governance
The town is in the Morecambe and Lunesdale parliamentary constituency; the Member of parliament following the 2024 general election is
Lizzi Collinge
Before Brexit, it was in the North West England European Parliamentary Constituency.
Morecambe is governed by three tiers of Local Government:
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Morecambe Town Council,
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Lancaster City Council (District),
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Lancashire County Council.
Economy
Morecambe's main central shopping area incorporates two markets—the Festival Market and the Morecambe Sunday Market—and the Reel Cinema complex.
Tourism
Morecambe Hotel and Tourism Association, which had forty members, has merged with the Bay Tourism Association. At a full meeting of the Morecambe Hotel and Tourism Association on Monday 8 March 2010, it was unanimously resolved that the MHTA would join with Bay Tourism to become one association under the name of the Bay Tourism Association and the MHTA would cease to operate as an association. The BTA works closely with Lancaster Chamber and organises joint promotional ventures with other tourism associations in the region. Recent tourism initiatives have made Morecambe a centre for
Ornithology with the Tern Project enhancing the town's heritage linked to the extensive natural landscape of Morecambe Bay and its diverse wildlife.
Eden Project Morecambe
In 2018, the Eden Project revealed its design for the Eden Project North (later renamed Eden Project Morecambe)
on the seafront in Morecambe. There will be biodomes shaped like mussels and a focus on the marine environment.
Grimshaw are the architects for the £80 million project,
which is a partnership with the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, Lancaster University, Lancashire County Council and Lancaster City Council.
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Education
Morecambe is served by a number of primary, secondary and tertiary educational establishments. These include Morecambe Bay Academy, Bay Leadership Academy, Morecambe Road School and Lancaster and Morecambe College.
Culture
Performing arts
Morecambe has two large live-music venues: the Platform and More Music. The Platform is a converted Victorian-styled building which used to be the old railway station. It also houses the Morecambe Tourist Information Centre. Morecambe has a number of bands playing in the town's pubs and music venues.
Morecambe is home to community music charity More Music. More Music was established in 1993 and is based in the Hothouse. The Hothouse is now a venue for live gigs.
Morecambe and Alan Bennett
The Yorkshire playwright and author Alan Bennett has enjoyed a long association with Morecambe and has often referred to the town in his work and writing. One of his early TV plays, Sunset Across the Bay (1975), is about a couple from Leeds who retire to Morecambe, leaving their old home with the words "Bye bye, mucky Leeds!"
Art
Morecambe was the birthplace of the artist William Woodhouse (1857–1939), who lived all his life in the town and is buried with his wife and daughter at St. Peter's Church in the village of Heysham, a little to the south of Morecambe.
Youth and Community
Stanley's Youth and Community Centre is based on Stanley Road in the West End of Morecambe. It offers the opportunity for young people aged 8–18 to play music, cook or just use the facilities to catch up with friends. There are also community sessions including community meal, women's group and 'Get Connected' information service.
The Exchange, which was set up in 2015 and is based on West Street in the West End of Morecambe, is a Community Arts CIC, offering free creative workshops to local residents. Promoting creativity as a means of well-being, it serves as a non-profit welcome space for all ages and abilities. In addition to workshops, The Exchange sells the artwork of local residents and hosts events such as the popular Soup Night.
Cuisine
Morecambe Bay Potted shrimps are a well known local delicacy throughout the country and were a favourite dish of Elizabeth II. Boiled in butter with a variety of spices until they are tender, when cooked they are sealed into pots.
Baylight
Baylight is an annual event established in 2023, with a trail of illuminated artworks on the Promenade for two nights in February and an associated parade.
Landmarks
Overlooking Morecambe Bay is a Statue of Eric Morecambe by Graham Ibbeson. The bronze sculpture commemorating Eric Morecambe (1926–1984), who was born in the town, was unveiled by Elizabeth II in July 1999.
Two fairgrounds existed in the town: a small one to the north of the railway station, which closed down in the 1980s, and a larger one to the south of the station, which ultimately became Frontierland and closed in 1999. The last remaining landmark on the site was the Polo Tower, left standing only because of the contract for the phone mast on top.
Near the promenade is the Morecambe and Heysham War Memorial commemorating the men of Morecambe who lost their lives in the two and the Korean War.[ Morecambe and Heysham War Memorial. United Kingdom National Inventory of War Memorials. UKNIWM Ref: 3332. Retrieved 16 August 2012.] The memorial differs from most as it lists the First World War as 1914 to 1919 rather than 1914 to 1918.
In March 2019 a Time and Tide Bell designed by Marcus Vergette was installed beside the Stone Jetty as part of a national public art project.
Midland Hotel
The Midland Hotel is an art deco hotel on the seafront. It contains interior design and art pieces by artist Eric Gill. In 2009 it underwent a £7m restoration, headed by Manchester company Urban Splash. The hotel re-opened for business in June 2008.
Sport
Football
On 20 May 2007 Morecambe F.C. (known as 'the Shrimps') won the Conference National playoffs to earn promotion to the Football League for the first time in their history. They had a successful first season in the Football League and in the 2009–10 season they reached the play-offs, only to lose 7–2 on aggregate to eventual winners Dagenham & Redbridge. At the end of the 2009–10 season the club moved from Christie Park to a new home, the Globe Arena. The old stadium was demolished to make way for a Sainsbury's supermarket. On 31 May 2021, Morecambe won the League Two play-off final at Wembley Stadium, beating Newport County 1-0 after extra time to win promotion to League One for the first time in their history. They were relegated back to League Two in 2023, and, two seasons later, they were relegated again, bringing their 18-year stay in the EFL to an end. Set to play in the National League for the 2025–26 season, they were suspended from the competition in July 2025 due to financial and ownership issues.
Rugby league
When the rugby football schism occurred in 1895, the now defunct team of Morecambe RFC joined the Northern Rugby Football Union (now Rugby Football League) in its second season. Morecambe played for eight of the ten seasons from the 1896–97 season through to the end of 1905–06 season. Morecambe finished 14th of 14 in its first three seasons of the Lancashire Senior Competition, withdrew for the 1899–1900 and 1900–01 seasons, finished 11th of 13 in the Lancashire Senior Competition, then finished 17th of 18, 16th of 17, 13th of 14 in Division-2, and finally 30th of 31 in the recombined league, after which Morecambe withdrew from the Northern Rugby Football Union.
The town still hosts a rugby league team, with Heysham Atoms playing from their Trimpell Sports and Social Club base. The Atoms finished joint top of division three in the North West Counties in 2012.
Boxing
World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Tyson Fury lives in Morecambe and owns a gym in the town. Morecambe is also home to Commonwealth Featherweight Champion, Isaac Lowe, who beat Marco McCullough in the 8th round with in one minute and 56 seconds on the Frampton Vs Quigg Under-card.
Running
A 5 km parkrun event takes place every Saturday morning on the Promenade.
Transport
Rail
The present-day Morecambe station opened in 1994, replacing an older station once known as , built by the Midland Railway on its North Western Line from Skipton in Yorkshire. A former station at , built by the rival London & North Western Railway, was closed in 1963. Regular rail services are provided to and from , with some trains running direct from and . Trains also run to Heysham, where they connect with the ferry service to the Isle of Man. A further railway station at Bare Lane serves the suburb of Bare. As of 2021 Northern Trains were given a contract by the Department for Transport to run services for three years, with an optional extension of a further two years.
Bus
Bus services in the area are operated mainly by Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire & other local companies. Direct services link the town with Windermere and Bowness-on-Windermere via Carnforth, Milnthorpe and Kendal (755), Lancaster with connections to Keswick via Carnforth, Milnthorpe, Kendal, Windermere, Ambleside and Grasmere.
Morecambe in popular culture
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Morecambe and the neighbouring village of Heysham are the setting of the Cthulhu Mythos novel The Weird Shadow over Morecambe, published by the writer Edmund Glasby in 2014.
[[4] The Weird Shadow over Morecambe at Amazon.co.uk] The title of the book is a reference to H.P. Lovecraft's story "The Shadow over Innsmouth", which is also set in a seaside town.
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Morecambe was mentioned in an episode of the prison-set television comedy Porridge first broadcast in 1973: "... Fletcher's old woman said she wasn't returning, cos she was going to live with that Maltese ponce in Morecambe.".
[[5] "Morecambe" mentioned in Porridge]
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The 1960 film The Entertainer, starring Laurence Olivier and Joan Plowright, was filmed on location in the town. Morecambe-born actress Thora Hird co-starred.
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Sunset across the Bay is a play by Alan Bennett written in 1975 for the BBC Play for Today strand, set and filmed in Morecambe.
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Morecambe is extensively written about in Bill Bryson's Notes from a Small Island. (1995).
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The ITV series, The Bay, is set and filmed in Morecambe. Series 1 was first aired in March 2019 and Series 2 was first aired in January 2021. Series 3, filmed in and around Morecambe, was first aired in January 2022.
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Morecambe is the setting for the first half of Sarah Hall's book, The Electric Michelangelo.
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Morecambe features in The Acoustics of Morecambe Bay, a music theatre piece by Peter McGarr which evokes the sound contrast between bay and town.
Notable people
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Albert Modley (1901–1979), was an English variety entertainer and comedian.
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Janette Scott (born 1938), actress
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Dame Thora Hird (1911–2003), actress
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Eric Morecambe (1926–1984), comedian, who took his stage name from the town's name
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Patrick Kelly (born 1938), Roman Catholic Archbishop of Liverpool, 1996-2013
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Helen Worth (born 1951), actress, portrayed Gail Platt in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street
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Sir Peter John Ratcliffe (born 1954), a physician-scientist who is trained as a nephrologist
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Wayne Hemingway (born 1961), designer, founder of Red or Dead and Northern Soul DJ
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Geraldine Smith (born 1961), politician, MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale, 1997 to 2010.
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Paul Hayes (born 1970), antiques expert, TV personality
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Busta Rhymes (born 1972), rapper, lived there for some time as a child with his aunt
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Cherylee Houston (born 1974), actress, she plays Izzy Armstrong in Coronation Street
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Emma Atkins (born 1975), actress, played Charity Dingle in Emmerdale
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The Heartbreaks (2009-2015), a local alternative rock band
Sport
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Joe Walton (1881–1962), footballer, who played 211 games
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Jack Bartholomew (1888–1965), rugby league footballer, played 309 games
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Jamie McGowan (born 1970), footballer, played over 310 games in the Scottish leagues
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John McGuinness (born 1972), motorcycle racer, specialist at the Isle of Man TT
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Dave Chisnall (born 1980), professional darts player with the PDC, lives in Morecambe.
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Graham Hicks (born 1985), an English strongman and Powerlifting
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Garry Hunter (born 1985), footballer who played 277 games for Morecambe
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Tyson Fury (born 1988), boxer (World Heavyweight Champion 2015–16, 2020–24) lives in Morecambe.
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Isaac Lowe (born 1994), Commonwealth Featherweight boxing champion
Climate
See also
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Listed buildings in Morecambe
Notes
Further reading
External links
