The Fylde & Wyre Antiquarian

Preesall is a village that I’ve not paid much attention to while passing through on the way to Knott End motorbike meetings. From the air it looks quaint and interesting with a couple of pubs, and that strange building in the middle of a road junction. Does anyone know its history, why it’s there etc. I have also heard of Roman connections, is there any hard evidence? I know someone who says his father lives on Preesall hill, maybe that would be an opportunity for a test pit in the garden.

The building in the middle of the junction is known as the roundhouse, because of its shape at the western end. When I was at school (St Aidans), the rounded bit was a sweet shop. Then last time I walked by I noticed that it had been converted into an additional room for the house. I think it had been renamed, but I can't recall what to. That's about all I know about it. There's a not-to-clear photo that includes it at:

http://www.frithphotos.com/preesall/photos/the-village-c1955_p344003/

The two pubs that can be seen are The Black Bull (nearest) and The Saracen's Head. If I recall correctly, there's a 17th or 18th century farmhouse nestling between the two pubs. The white building jutting out into the road is the Post Office.

Frank,

Our Roman road in Stalmine (the one that we partially excavated last year) appears to have been heading in the direction of Preesall Hill, and a few years ago the now late Brian Pinney, who lived at the base of said hill, brought a large chunk of mortarum into Wyre Archaeology that he'd dug up from his front garden. Thornber also postulated that Preesall Hill had the remains of a Roman fort on top of it. Having climbed the hill on numerous occasions myself, (it's extremely steep sided and would have made an excellent fortification) I suspect he was correct.

Oh yes...and there were, of course, two large Roman coin hoards came out of the hill as well.

Excellent photos as always, by the way.