Visit Skelmersdale Places

Welcome to Visit Skelmersdale Places
The Walkfo guide to things to do & explore in Skelmersdale

  

Skelmersdale Places Overview: History, Culture & Facts about Skelmersdale

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Skelmersdale history

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Toponymy

Skelmersdale means “Skjaldmarr’s valley” The name was recorded as Skalmeresedel in 1136. It is locally known as “Skem”, with a distinction being made between “Old Skem” and the broader development on the east side of town.

Early history

Until the end of the 19th century, Skelmersdale was part of the West Derby hundred, an ancient subdivision of Lancashire, covering the southwest of the county. In the mid-14th century the manor of the town was held by William Dacre, 2nd Baron Dacre.

Modern history

In 1880 there were 14 Skelmersdale collieries, most of them closed in the 1920s and ’30s. The miners brought with them their own brand of Nonconformist Christianity. Today, there is little to remind people that the town was part of the once great Lancashire Coalfield.

New town

In 1961 Skelmersdale was designated a new town designed to house overspill population from the north Merseyside conurbation. The town endured mixed economic fortunes during the last three decades of the 20th century. With the economic downturn in the late 1970s, large industrial employers left the town en masse, resulting in an increase in crime, drug abuse and poverty. 2006 saw a regeneration drive for the town coordinated through English Partnerships and the Northwest Regional Development Agency. In 2012, a £20m vision to create a regenerated town centre was revealed.

Skelmersdale economy & business

Town centre

Skelmersdale’s town centre is made up of the Concourse Shopping Centre, (colloquially known as “the Connie”) as well as an Asda supermarket, a library, a swimming pool and gym named after former Minister of Health Aneurin Bevan. The Concourse is home to a number of national chain stores such as Poundland, Home Bargains and Argos.

Skelmersdale geography / climate

Skelmersdale is situated in a small valley on the River Tawd. The town was designed to accommodate nature and compact housing estates. The Beacon Country Park lies to the east of the town, where the Beacon Point lies, along with a golf club. The M58 runs through the town to Liverpool, and is located on the outskirts of Wigan and Greater Manchester.

You can visit Skelmersdale places with Walkfo Skelmersdale to hear history at Skelmersdale’s places whilst walking around using the free digital tour app. Walkfo Skelmersdale has 13 places to visit in our interactive Skelmersdale map, with amazing history, culture & travel facts you can explore the same way you would at a museum or art gallery with information audio headset. With Walkfo, you can travel by foot, bike or bus throughout Skelmersdale, being in the moment, without digital distraction or limits to a specific walking route. Our historic audio walks, National Trust interactive audio experiences, digital tour guides for English Heritage locations are available at Skelmersdale places, with a AI tour guide to help you get the best from a visit to Skelmersdale & the surrounding areas.

“Curated content for millions of locations across the UK, with 13 audio facts unique to Skelmersdale places in an interactive Skelmersdale map you can explore.”

Walkfo: Visit Skelmersdale Places Map
13 tourist, history, culture & geography spots

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Skelmersdale historic spots	Skelmersdale tourist destinations	Skelmersdale plaques	Skelmersdale geographic features
Walkfo Skelmersdale tourism map key: places to see & visit like National Trust sites, Blue Plaques, English Heritage locations & top tourist destinations in Skelmersdale

  

Best Skelmersdale places to visit

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Skelmersdale has places to explore by foot, bike or bus. Below are a selection of the varied Skelmersdale’s destinations you can visit with additional content available at the Walkfo Skelmersdale’s information audio spots:

Lathom House Lathom House was a large country house in the parish of Lathom in Lancashire. Built between 1725 and 1740, the main block was demolished in 1925.

Roby Mill Roby Mill is a village in the West Lancashire district of Lancs, England. The estimated population is 405. The population of the village is estimated to be 405.

Visit Skelmersdale plaques