FLEETWOOD

fleetwood, a seaport and watering-place in the blackpool parliamentary division of lancashire, england, at the mouth of the wyre, 230 m. n.w. by n. from london, the terminus of a joint branch of the london & north-western and lancashire & yorkshire railways. pop. (1891) 9274; (1901) 12,082. it dates its rise from 1836, and takes its name from sir peter hesketh fleetwood, by whom it was laid out. the seaward views, especially northward over morecambe bay, are fine, but the neighbouring country is flat and of little interest. the two railways jointly are the harbour authority. the dock is provided with railways and machinery for facilitating traffic, including a large grain elevator. the shipping traffic is chiefly in the coasting and irish trade. passenger steamers serve belfast and londonderry regularly, and the isle of man and other ports during the season. the fisheries are important, and there are salt-works in the neighbourhood. there is a pleasant promenade, with other appointments of a watering-place. there are also barracks with a military hospital and a rifle range. rossall school, to the s.w., is one of the principal public schools in the north of england. rossall hall was the seat of sir peter fleetwood, but was converted to the uses of the school on its foundation in 1844. the school is primarily divided into classical and modern sides, with a special department for preparation for army, navy or professional examinations. a number of entrance scholarships and leaving scholarships tenable at the universities are offered annually. the number of boys is about 350.