Ormskirk Market Day

W Lancs coat of arms

News update

Next meeting...

Wednesday 28th May 2025 AGM & Raffle

"Celebrating 45 Years of ODFHS"

Family History and the Landmarks of West Lancashire

Find out more about some of West Lancashire's most iconic and lesser known landmarks

No need to book, just come along,

Guide Hut, Moorgate, Ormskirk (Opposite Hesford's) L39 4RU

Doors open 7pm, talk starts 7.30pm

All welcome, non-members £2.00 entrance

 

Next Ormskirk Library Family History Helpdesk

Monday 2nd June 2025

10.30 a.m.- 11.30 a.m.

 

 Out and About with ODFHS this Spring and Summer 

 

9th - 17th May Ormskirk Library, a display celebrating 45 years of ODFHS

Saturday 10th-Sunday 11th May, Ormskirk Medieval Festival Coronation Park 

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ODFHS 45th Anniversary Competition

2025 is the 45th anniversary of ODFHS and, in celebration, we’ve decided to mark this with a competition, open to both members and non-members. The subject of the competition is “Who is your most interesting West Lancashire ancestor?” or “What is your most interesting family discovery related to West Lancashire?”. Choose one of these and tell us about it in 300-750 words. Add photos and illustrations as you want.

Entries by email or post - any reasonable format accepted. The winner will get a year’s free membership. Entries must be received by 31st May 2025 and the results will be announced 1st August 2025.

The best entries will be published in the ODFHS Magazine “The Ormskirk and District Family Historian” (subject to space). Full competition rules can be found by following this link (click here).

 

 

Sharing People's History of West Lancashire projectIMG_9069.jpg

Family History and the Lost Buildings of West Lancashire

Family History and the Landmarks of West Lancashire

Our books are still available as a digital downloads, please follow this link

Family History and the Landmarks of West Lancashire

 

A Slice of Gingerbread

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A Slice of Gingerbread - the Ormskirk Gingerbread Sellers is available to purchase:

 A Slice of Gingerbread

 

 

 

See "Events" and "Meetings" pages for details of upcoming events.

A moment in time around Ormskirk town centre - April/May 2022

There is so much development work of Ormskirk town centre buildings at the moment, so our librarian Kathryn MacDonald took some photos in an attempt to capture a moment in time.

 

 April 2022 magistrates court

The former Ormskirk Magistrates' Court, Derby Street undergoing conversion to a hotel

 

 April 2022 Scotts of Ormskirk

Scott's of Ormskirk

 

April 2022 Regal Cinema

Church Street, Ormskirk redeveloped to accommodate shops, a cafe and student flats

 

April 2022 bus station

Ormskirk Bus Station awaiting demolition

 

April 2022 Windmill Inn

The historic Windmill Inn, Wigan Road, Ormskirk

 

April 2022 mural

A new mural in Aughton Street by artist Carrie Reichardt depicts a Viking figure known as "Orme" chasing a gingerbread man representing the town's past gingerbread making industry

 

April 2022 Coronation Park

Ormskirk and district Scouts and Guides congregate in Coronation Park after the St. George's Day Parade

 

 May 2022 Wheatsheaf1May 2022 Wheatsheaf2May 2022 Wheatsheaf3

Wheatsheaf Walk (off Burscough Street) after development and removal of the pagoda in 2021

 

May 2022 Buck1May 2022 Buck2

The Buck i' th' Vine, Burscough Street

 

May 2022 Jubilee flags

Jubilee Flags, Church Walks

 

May 2022 Former TSB

A new use for the former TSB building on Derby Street

 

May 2022 roadworks

Roadworks on Moor Street

 

May 2022 mural

A new mural in Burscough Street by Paul Curtis celebrates Ormskirk’s history of master watch and clockmakers. The mural depicts Thomas Barry and his Astronomical Clock.

 

 Springtime in Coronation Park, Ormskirk

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Ormskirk Hospital...

Wigan Rd 2

Ormskirk Hospital buildings, Wigan Road

 Wigan Rd 1

The former finance offices and board room, Ormskirk Hospital, Wigan Road 

 

 

Ormskirk station platform 

Ormskirk Station Platform

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A view from the bridge.  The train to Liverpool waits at Platform 1, Ormskirk station

One of the former Ormskirk railway buildings

One of the former Ormskirk railway buildings

 

Emmanuel Methodist United Reform Church Derby Street

Emmanuel Methodist United Reform Church, Derby Street

 

Corner shop Greetby Hill

Corner Shop - Greetby Hill

 

Old Ormskirk bus station

Old Ormskirk bus station

 

The Chapel Gallery St Helens Road

The Chapel Gallery, St Helens Road

Another Aughton Street

Some views of Aughton Street

e2ec3619 Aughton Street

Aughton Street

IMG 4488 Aughton Street

Aughton Street

IMG 4713 Aughton Street

Aughton Street

Work has started on the old Ormskirk Market Hall to create a food, drink and entertainment venue.  Ormskirk indoor market closed in 2019

IMG 4793 Market Hall sign

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Court 8 sign and Fogg gravestone outside what is now Morrison’s car park.  The Court 8 sign was restored and placed in its current position in 2018...

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IMG 4717 Fogg

Around Victoria Park, St. Helens Road

IMG 4726 Victoria Park

IMG 4727 Victoria Park

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IMG 4731 Victoria Park

 

IMG 4738 flags

Flags flying at West Lancashire Borough Council

IMG 4724 Chapel Street

Chapel Street, Ormskirk

IMG 4725 Chapel Street

Chapel Street, Ormskirk

IMG 4742 reg office

Ormskirk Registration Office, Derby Street

IMG 4736 Barbers

Kut-N-Dunn Barber’s on Moor Street still showing the signs of a car accident earlier in the year.

IMG 4743 Bath Springs

Bath Springs Brewery building

Ormskirk Market - 14 May 2022

IMG 4763 market

IMG 4757 market

IMG 4759 market

IMG 4761 market

 

Ormskirk Mediaeval Weekend, 14/15 May 2022, Coronation Park


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The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment parading through Ormskirk to exercise its Freedom of the Borough.

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Ormskirk Church
Ormskirk Parish
Church

Ormskirk railwaymen 1908
Ormskirk Station
1908

Scarisbrick Hall 1815
Scarisbrick Hall
1815

Skelmersdale Station
Skelmersdale
Station

Moor Street market
Moor Street
Market