Dalton is a village and civil parish in West Lancashire, England, near Skelmersdale and south of the River Douglas. Dalton was listed in the Domesday Book, and soon after the Norman conquest became part of the Barony of Manchester. It remained part of the Manchester fee as late as 1733. Dalton had a population of 348 (2001 Census),[1] increasing to 383 at the 2011 Census.[2]

Dalton
Ashurst's Beacon, on the summit of Ashurst Hill
Dalton is located in the Borough of West Lancashire
Dalton
Dalton
Location in West Lancashire
Dalton is located in Lancashire
Dalton
Dalton
Location within Lancashire
Population383 (2011)
OS grid referenceSD494081
Civil parish
  • Dalton
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townWIGAN
Postcode districtWN8
Dialling code01695
PoliceLancashire
FireLancashire
AmbulanceNorth West
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Lancashire
53°34′01″N 2°45′47″W / 53.567°N 2.763°W / 53.567; -2.763

The local landscape is dominated by Ashurst Hill, which rises 570 feet (170 m) above sea level and is crowned by Ashurst's Beacon. The beacon once formed part of a relay league stretching from Everton Brow above Liverpool to Lancaster Castle, which was in place (though unused) during the Anglo–Spanish War of 1585. The current structure dates from around 1800, when local landowner Sir William Ashurst decided that a more permanent beacon was needed for the oncoming Napoleonic Wars.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Parish Profile - People (Dalton CP), Office for National Statistics. Retrieved on 29 May 2008.
  2. ^ UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – Dalton Parish (E04005304)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  3. ^ Ron Freethy, "Beacon watched over troubled past", The Bolton News, 9 February 2002. Retrieved on 26 March 2008.
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