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The History of Heysham  :  Timeline

Heysham’s history spans many centuries and we have created a timeline that you can use to see Heysham’s history in context with notable dates.
You may also wish to see our Images of old Heysham, or take a look at our list of  publications which are of value to anyone researching the history of Heysham.
We have recently started to add some  recorded interviews of Heysham residents recalling life in Heysham.

Click the numbers below to jump directly to the start of the century required or scroll down to browse the timeline

700

800

900

1000

1100

1200

1300

1400

1500

1600

1700

1800

1900

2000

700

Initial phase of St Patrick’s Chapel constructed.
Rock cut graves adjacent to Chapel

Initial phase of St Peter’s Church constructed

c750

c800

800

829

886

Egbert conquers Mercia

Alfred, King of Wessex, agrees treaty to divide England

900

Battle of Brunenburh (there is speculation that Brunenburh was Brown Rock, later known as Red Nab)

St Peter’s Church first registered as an Anglican place of worship,

937

967

954

Eric Bloodaxe forced out of Yorvik (York)

Roger de Poitou is granted land, including Heysham

County of Lancashire established

Heysham raided by Scots

Royal Hotel built (initially as a grain store)
            Note: so far unsubstantiated

Bells installed in St Peter’s Church

1000

c1090

1016

1066

1086

1096

1100

1182

1170

1200

1215

1245

1300

1322

1338

1399

1400

1500

1502

1600

1700

1724

1715

1759

1800

Cnut of Denmark becomes King of the English

Battle of Hastings

Domesday Book completed

Oxford University is founded

Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, killed

Magna Carta signed

Henry III rebuilds Westminster Abbey

Hundred years war starts

Richard II dies

Jacobites defeated at Preston

Manchester ship canal designed

1769

Heysham School founded; became the National School from 1817 in the 19th century and subsequently St Peter’s Primary School

Henry I invades Wales

1114

1453

Hundred years war ends

Brazil discovered

1500

1564

Birth of William Shakespeare

1598

Heysham Old Hall completed

1620

Pilgrim Fathers settled in New England

1629

Row of cottages built at the entrance to Main Street

1666

Great Fire of London

Greese Cottage built

16588/0

Heysham Parish Registers began

1629

Yew Tree Cottage built

1680

Heysham Hall constructed on site of existing building.

Morecambe Harbour and Railway Company formed

North aisle of St Peter’s Church added

1816

1838

1848

1864

1807

1878

1900

Slave trade abolished in British Empire

Electric light invented

Final Voyage of S.V. Vanadis

Heysham’s harbour officially opened, 1st September

White Lund explosion

Morecambe Bay Holiday Camp opens at Heysham Tower

Attempt is made to destroy the oil refinery at Middleton

St. Peter’s Church holds Millennium celebrations

Archaeological dig at St Patrick’s Chapel ruins

Heysham Heritage Association formed

Heysham Heritage Centre opens

1903

1904

1917

1925

1926

1941

1967

1977

1990

2000

1914

1918

1939

1944

1945

1989

Britain enters First World War

World War One ends

Britain declares war on Germany

Allied forces liberate France

Victory over Japan Day marks the end of World War Two

World wide web invented

2000

HTNW purchases Cottage (22 Main Street)

Cottage restored & new floor added to Heritage Centre

2005

2010

700

800

900

1000

1100

1200

1300

1400

1500

1600

1700

1800

1900

2000

Heysham Tithe Map and Valuation Schedule

1915

Heysham Rectory Hospital Opens

1857

Birth of Heysham artist William Woodhouse

Village Committee

Heysham Head Pleasure Park opens

1836

Tithe Commutation Act

The title ‘Morecambe’ officially adopted for the new town

1889

Archaeological dig on Heysham Head

1992

Heysham Tower added to existing building

c.1829

Opening of St John the Divine, Sandylands

1901

J M W Turner visited Heysham and made sketches for Heysham and Cumberland Mountains

1894

Yacht Matchless capsized on holiday trip to Silverdale

757

Offa comes to the throne of Mercia

   Heysham Tower used for Officers Training Unit

1940

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  Heysham Tower home to a group of Spanish anti-fascists

1945