Garstang

Garstang is an ancient market town and civil parish within the Wyre borough of Lancashire, England.

[3][4] Later recordings of the name include Geresteng, Gairstang in 1195; Grestein, 1204; Gayrestan, 1236; Gayerstang, 1246; Gayrstang, 1274; Gayrestang, 1292.

The town is overlooked by the ruined remains of Greenhalgh Castle, built in 1490 by Thomas Stanley, 1st Earl of Derby, at about the same time as the first stone bridge over the River Wyre.

[12] Garstang's traditional market day on Thursdays dates back to the early-1300s and stretches the length of street.

In 2011, a 518-foot (158 m) wind turbine, the UK's largest, was built in the town to provide power for Dewlay, a local factory producing the award-winning Garstang Blue cheese.

Until 1881, Garstang's official parish church was St Helen's, 2 miles (3 km) away in Churchtown.

Since 1974, Garstang has formed part of the Wyre borough of Lancashire, although it retains an elected Town Council with limited jurisdiction.

Garstang and the nearby villages of Bonds, Bowgreave, Catterall and Western Claughton-On-Brock form an almost continuous built-up area, bypassed by the A6 road in 1928[20] (incorrectly given as 1926 in[21]).

Local news and television programmes are provided by BBC North West and ITV Granada.

In 2014, the town's local newspaper was the Garstang Courier,[23] which has since been absorbed into the Lancashire Evening Post.

A view of Garstang Town Hall from the High Street
Market cross and Royal Oak Hotel