Torrisholme village debate

The village debate has been a hot topic in The Visitor over the past couple of weeks. Many readers got in touch to discuss the titles of Bare, Poulton and Torrisholme.

Last week the Visitor looked at Bare and many residents and small businesses emphasised Bare was indeed a village. This week we look at the origins of Torrisholme.

Here is what some residents on Lancaster Road had to say.

Ian Brookes, 73, has lived in Torrisholme for six years, said: “I do think it is a village, we are a small knit community. But I never put Torrisholme as my address though, I put Morecambe. It is small and self-contained and handy for everything.”

Carol Brodie, 50, from Ryelands, said: “I come to Torrisholme for my shopping and to walk the dog and get the dog cut. I think it’s a village because of the compact shops and houses. It is just a nice area.”

Heather Merrill, 71, lives on Broadway, said: “I think it is a village, I always thought it was a strong well knit community. It has a village feel with all the shops. It is a handy place to live, small businesses, you can get to anywhere, it has great people and is convenient.”

Maria Sornosa, 35, moved to Torrisholme nine months ago from Spain, said: “I moved here to be with my husband and family. It is a little village with all the shops, the pub. It is one of the areas of Morecambe but it is still a village. It is a great place for families I have three children and they all go to school around Torrisholme.”

Local historian David Hodgson researched his family history and discovered a census of Hodgsons names in Torrisholme dating back to 1841.

Like the Bare census it too titled Torrisholme as a ‘township’ or ‘hamlet.’ The word township refers to different kinds of settlements in different countries and hamlet refers to a small settlement, smaller than a village, and strictly (in Britain) one without a church.

In 1841 Torrisholme had a population of 217 and by 1851 this increased to 305 but was included with the Bare population.

By 1861 Torrisholme’s population had been grouped with Bare and Torrisholme with 991 residents.

Many of the residents in Torrisholme were lodgers, housekeepers, fishermen, railway workers and paupers. In 1851 the area had two fisherman and four paupers.

In 121 Torrisholme was held by John de Torrisholme and the area also has an ancient monument, the bowl barrow.

A village or not, the area has certainly provoked serious debate.