Flookburgh

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Flookburgh
Lancashire
St John's Church, Flookburgh.jpg
St. John's Church, Flookburgh
Location
Grid reference: SD365758
Location: 54°10’26"N, 2°58’19"W
Data
Post town: Grange-over-Sands
Postcode: LA11
Dialling code: 015395
Local Government
Council: Westmorland & Furness
Parliamentary
constituency:
Westmorland and Lonsdale

Flookburgh is an ancient village on the Cartmel Peninsula in Lancashire. Being close to Morecambe Bay, fishing plays a big part in village life. Cockle and shrimp fishermen still venture out onto the sands every day, though these days that have specially adapted tractors.

The origin of the name 'Flookburgh' is uncertain. Some say that it derives its name from a flat fish, known as the fluke, or summer flounder, which found in the area. Locally Flookburgh folk say that their village was not named for the fluke but the fluke was named after the village. The more likely suggestion is that the name is Norse, from 'Flugga's Town', or maybe 'Fly / gnat town'.

Flookburgh is also home to the Lakeland Willow water company. The famous Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding is made in Flookburgh.

Cark airfield, which is actually in Flookburgh, is home to the North West Parachute Centre and is where the Annual Steam Gathering takes place.

Tourism

Latterly, Flookburgh has become a centre for tourism as a number of large caravan sites have attracted increasing numbers of visitors to the area. At the end of Moor Lane, approximately £4 million has been spent in recent years, fortifying the sea wall to ensure that the nearby Lakeland Leisure Park is not flooded.

Flookburgh has been the starting point for the CancerCare Cross Bay Challenge - a run across the Morecambe Bay sands to Hest Bank, which was filmed in 2008 by ITV as part of its Human Guinea Pig fitness series.

Outside links

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