Poulton-le-Fylde (/ˈpoʊltən li ˌfaɪld/), commonly shortened to Poulton, is a market town in Lancashire, England, situated on the coastal plain called the Fylde.

[6] Other finds have been made in Poulton and Skippool; in addition to coins, these have included a medal of Germanicus and a hipposandal (similar to a horseshoe).

[7] Although there is little archaeological evidence of Anglo-Saxon activity in the area following the departure of the Romans, local place names incorporate Old English elements like tūn (farmstead), suggesting that they were founded in that period.

Poulton was recorded in 1086 as Poltun; the name is derived from the Old English words pull or pōl + tūn meaning "farmstead by a pool or creek".

[2] The affix le-Fylde ("in the district called the Fylde") was added in 1842 with the arrival of the Penny Post, to distinguish the town from Poulton-le-Sands, a village that is now part of Morecambe.

[14][15] The dedication of Poulton's church to 7th century Anglo-Saxon saint Chad of Mercia lends weight to its pre-conquest foundation, although it is possible that it was built between 1086 and 1094.

[19] In 1268, King Henry III granted the wapentake of Amounderness to his son Edmund Crouchback, who became the 1st Earl of Lancaster around this time.

[22] In 1330, a compromise was made when two roads were built through Banastre's land which enabled the prior and his tenants to travel freely to Poulton.

[23] When the alien priories (those under control of religious houses abroad) were dissolved in 1415, the church at Poulton was conveyed to the Abbey of Syon in Middlesex.

[14] No battles occurred in or close to Poulton but the area was affected with the rest of the county by the widespread poverty that resulted from the wars.

[31] In 1732, during the procession preceding the funeral of Geoffrey Hornby, strong winds caused sparks to fly from the lighted tapers carried by mourners.

[32] The buildings on the west side of Market Place, low cottages with thatched roofs, caught fire and were destroyed.

[38] By the 18th century, markets for cattle and cloth were being held in the town in February, April and November, with corn fairs every Monday.

In 1836 the first building was constructed in the new, planned town of Fleetwood, 7 miles (11 km) north of Poulton, at the mouth of the River Wyre.

Fleetwood was conceived by local landowner and Preston Member of Parliament (MP) Sir Peter Hesketh-Fleetwood as a major port and a link for passengers travelling from London to Scotland.

[46] As Fleetwood and Blackpool's own commercial capabilities developed, and Kirkham's prominence in the linen industry continued to grow, Poulton's importance declined.

Since its creation for the 2010 general election, Wyre and Preston North has been represented at Parliament by Conservative MP Ben Wallace.

[23] Over the next centuries, the town became a commercial centre for the area, importing and exporting goods through harbours on the River Wyre at Skippool and Wardleys.

[2] This was a time when Poulton was still prominent among its near neighbours; David Foster commented in 1972 that not only was Thornber's description of the town no longer apt, it had ceased to be accurate even from 1850 with the rapid growth of the coastal resorts.

[76] In 2004 a group appointed by Wyre Borough Council carried out a study of Poulton as part of the Countryside Agency's Market Town Initiative.

[77] Their Health Check and Action Plan identified "economic, transport & accessibility, environmental and social strengths and weaknesses" of Poulton.

[86] In October 2011, Wyre Borough Council introduced the return of a weekly market which takes place in the centre of Poulton every Monday.

[92] The club, also based at Cottam Hall, was formed in 1994 after the break-up of the Over Wyre A and B teams and competed in the Fylde Cricket League.

After Myerscough College built a golf academy on the grounds, the club moved again to Baines School in Poulton-le-Fylde in 2000, and then in 2006 to its current home at Cottam Hall.

[98] It was also the meeting place of the local court, and at the end of the 19th century, the town's cattle market was moved behind the pub from the marketplace.

[105] In 1583, the family of Cardinal William Allen, a prominent opponent of the Reformation, were holding three or four masses daily at their home at nearby Rossall.

[111] Muslim residents made up 0.18% of respondents in Wyre, 0.15% were Buddhist, 0.14% were Hindu, 0.10% were Jewish and 0.05% were Sikh; these figures are all lower than the regional and national averages.

[112] Poulton-le-Fylde railway station, on the line between Kirkham and Fleetwood was originally situated at the bottom of the Breck, the road leading north out of Poulton.

In 1717, local woollendraper James Baines left money in his will to found three free schools in the parish: in Poulton, Marton and Thornton.

Acute medical cases are handled by Victoria Hospital in Blackpool and the North West Ambulance Service provides emergency patient transport.