Discover St Michael's On Wyre

St Michael's On Wyre brings together historic church traditions and buildings with a walk along the River Wyre and a cycling route. If you are planning a stay, these different highlights can help you choose a destination: they range from early local history and architecture to practical ways to get around on foot or by bike.

Church and local history

The historic Church of England parish church stands on the south bank of the River Wyre. According to local tradition, a church in St Michael's On Wyre is associated with the period around 640 AD and a safe crossing over the nearby river. 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 from the 13th century and possibly from even earlier. Its historic features include fragments of an early 14th-century Early Gothic wall painting of the Ascension. At the annual Heritage Weekend at St Michael's Church, old parish registers are displayed. The site therefore brings together architectural evidence from different periods and an annual event at which the registers are shown.

Bridge and other buildings

St Michael's Bridge is a sandstone ashlar bridge dating from 1803. Its design features two elliptical arches and triangular cutwaters. It is a Grade II listed structure. Its material, form and date make it a notable example of local architectural history.

St Michael's on Wyre War Memorial is also a Grade II listed structure. It commemorates 19 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The memorial site adds a history of remembrance to the area's architectural landmarks.

West of St Michael's On Wyre Village, a milestone 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 in rusticated sandstone ashlar stands beside the road. Their moulded bases and cornices, along with their ball finials, give them a distinctive architectural form.

On foot or by bike

The St Michaels Short Walk is a short countryside walk along the River Wyre. The route is rated easy and is two miles long. You can bring well-behaved dogs along. The riverside setting, length and difficulty rating give you practical details to consider if you want to include a manageable walk in your stay.

The 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 stretch of main road. The two routes therefore differ in how you travel and in the features described: the walk focuses on the riverside route, its length and easy rating; the cycling route on the suitable bike types and the mix of road types.

Discover more destinations: Barton, Garstang, Morecambe, Ormskirk, Calder Vale, Rawtenstall, Heysham, Wrea Green.

For the main travel guide: Lancashire.