Ormskirk: Markets, Churches and Green Trails

Ormskirk combines a compact town centre that is easy to explore on foot with a long history of markets and churches. Clock Tower, Parish Church and the historic passages bring several distinctive aspects of the town close together. If you’d like to add some time in green surroundings to your stay, Coronation Park and Ruff Wood offer two different landscapes: a central town park and woodland to the east of Ormskirk.

Market Life and Town History

Ormskirk Market takes place on Thursdays and Saturdays. On market days, there are up to 100 stalls in the pedestrianised areas of Moor Street, Aughton Street and Church Street. The selection may vary from one market day to another. Stalls sell fresh cakes, fish, meat, fruit and vegetables, cheese, bread and pasties. A visit to the market can be combined with a stroll through the streets that are part of its daily life.

The market’s history dates back to 1286. At that time, the monks of nearby Burscough Priory received a royal charter for a weekly open-air market. Ormskirk Market is one of the oldest and most traditional street markets in the country. The Clock Tower in the town centre dates from 1876 and is also the starting point of the Ormskirk Heritage Trail. The trail takes in twelve sights around the town.

Churches and Historic Routes

Ormskirk Parish Church is known for its unusual roofline: it is one of only three churches in England to have both a tower and a spire. Unusually, both stand at the same end of the building. The chapels also preserve specific links to the history of local families. The Derby Chapel vault was the burial place of the Derby family until 1851; from the 16th century onwards, the Scarisbrick Chapel became the burial place of the Scarisbrick family.

The historic townscape also includes passages that are still used by pedestrians. A restored cobbled passage between Clarks Shoes and Heyes Opticians on Moor Street has information boards explaining its history. The Heritage Trail starts at the Clock Tower and connects twelve sights; the passages offer another perspective on the routes through the town. This makes it possible to take in the market, the church’s architecture and smaller historic details during the same visit.

Green Spaces and Outdoor Trails

Coronation Park covers 20 acres of urban green space in the centre of Ormskirk. Ruff Wood lies to the east of the town and covers 19 acres of mixed woodland. The woodland is designated a Biological Heritage Site because of the presence of squirrels. A circular trail and numerous connecting paths run through Ruff Wood; surfaces and trail conditions may vary. The park and woodland differ in both location and landscape: one is a central green space, the other a larger area of mixed woodland on the eastern outskirts of the town.

For another perspective on the surrounding area, the Yellow Hammer Route starts and ends at Ormskirk train or bus station. In the area around the town, it leads to the gate marking the entrance to Gorse Hill Nature Reserve, then follows public footpaths and minor roads towards Clieves Hill. The route therefore links its starting and finishing point in Ormskirk with a course through local paths and roads.

Seasonal Event

Every summer, the Ormskirk Gingerbread Festival features market stalls, entertainment and community celebrations. If you’d like to plan your trip around the festival, check the dates for the relevant year. Along with the regular market days, it offers a seasonal reason to time your visit; the churches, Clock Tower and green spaces provide different ways to enjoy your stay at other times too.

Discover more destinations: Claughton-on-Brock, Euxton, Calder Vale, Kirkham, Barton, Hornby, Rawtenstall, Foulridge.

For the main travel overview: Lancashire.