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Situated midway between St.
Helens and Ormskirk, Rainford was originally an Urban District in the County of Lancashire, but
now forms part of the Metropolitan Borough of St. Helens. Its main access routes
are via
the A570 Rainford by-pass, the B5205 and B5203.
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| Rainford from the air |
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It
is a semi-rural residential district of some 5,877 acres and is the northern
most
point in the borough of St. Helens. A
slight ridge runs across the district rising to 300 feet above sea level near
Crank - a bare exposed spot. The main village is found below this ridge
fringed on its western edge by the Rainford Brook. |
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Pasture Lane,
c. 1907. with
Rainford Brook running alongside. |
The
geological formations consist mainly of coal measures, but from Rainford village
westward there is a wide belt of Triassic sandstones. Varying
thicknesses of boulder clay cover the basic rocks; to the north, east and west
there are extensive areas of moss lands which are raised to produce a gentle
undulating landscape.
With a
population of about 12,000 the village provides a much needed green
belt area between the industry of St. Helens and the new towns of Kirkby and
Skelmersdale.
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Rainford's Name
The
leading authority on place names, Professor E. Ekwall, states that the first
element of Rainford is an Old English personal name: Regna, a short form of
names such as Regengar, Regnheah and Regnhere. Thus: Regna's ford. It must
be noted that it is not mentioned by name in the Domesday Survey and no record
of its existence has been found before 1189.
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Entry into Rainford
Village -
Taking a northerly route
along the A570 and leaving it before reaching the B5203, the first
lane upon entry is known as Pasture Lane, (as pictured above). This
continues into Church Road and then Ormskirk Road before leaving the
village to rejoin the A570 to continue further north.
Being a main route through the village it has many
adjoining lanes and roads, some leading into housing estates whilst
others lead to the more outlying areas such as Bushey Lane, Rainford
Junction
and the surrounding areas of Crawford, Crank, Kings Moss, Mossborough and
Bickerstaffe.
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| A JOURNEY THROUGH THE VILLAGE,
circa 1907 - 1935 |
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| 1.
Church Road. |
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2. The junction
with Rookery Lane. |
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| 3. Continuation of Church Road. |
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4. Thickwood Moss
Lane on the right |
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| 5. Continuing
along Church Road. |
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6. Houses
known as Derby Terrace |
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| 7. Church
Road and All Saints Church |
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8. Ormskirk
Road |
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| 9. Continuing
Ormskirk Road. |
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10. A
little further along |
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| 11. Passing over Randle Brook. |
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12.Leading towards Bickerstaffe |
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| 13. Hydes
Brow and the road to Crawford |
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14. Higher
Lane. |
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Copyright © 2005 Rainford History.
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