Stalmine with Staynall is situated on the east bank of the River Wyre Estuary; the Wyre is unusual in the UK in that it enters the sea in a northerly direction. The river at times experiences a tidal bore, something it has in common with the Severn Estuary. It may not be as dramatic as the Severn bore but nevertheless it is an unforgettable experience when seen.

Stalmine with Staynall is part of the area generally known as "Over Wyre", including the villages of Hambleton, Out Rawcliffe, Pilling and the township of Preesall.

Our Location

The Parish of Stalmine with Staynall lies between the Grange Pool water course in the north and the Wardleys watercourse in the south, forming roughly a V shape, the widest point being in the west.

Although the landscape is predominately rural, the topography from west to east is varied; in the west on the estuary are the internationally recognised salt marshes of Burrows Marsh and Barnaby's Sands, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, part of the Morecambe Bay special areas of protection and conservation.

Costal Defences

The coastal defences have advanced and new defences put in place on numerous occasions. In the 1840's Sir Peter Fleetwood Hesketh, a local landowner, reclaimed and drained the area known as Knepp's salt marsh, an area of land to the east of the present Barnaby's Sands. Following the reclamation, an extensive area of salt marsh established to the west of the sea defences and it is in this area that rare species of salt marsh plant life, such as the sea lavender, can be found.

When standing on the sea defences in this area which is part of the National Coastal Footpath, it can be noted that the estuary salt marsh is considerably higher than the land that lies to the east behind the sea defences.

The East Of The Parish

Travelling east two small hills rise, approximately 40 feet above sea level. These are glacial deposits from the last ice age. The land then rises again to the village of Stalmine and the hamlet of Staynall and to the south is the former port of Wardleys, now Wardleys Creek marina.

The village of Stalmine is dissected by the A588 linking the Fylde Coast and Fleetwood peninsular with Lancaster.

The eastern part of the parish is comprised of land drained and brought into agricultural production during the latter part of the 19th century, formerly known as Stalmine Moss.