Exploring North West England's Towns
A Journey Through Skelmersdale and Surrounding Areas Year 7 Geography
What is North West England?
Region including Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cumbria, and Cheshire Known for industrial heritage and beautiful countryside Home to major cities like Manchester and Liverpool Mix of urban areas, market towns, and rural villages
Skelmersdale: A New Town Story
Where is Skelmersdale?
Located in West Lancashire, North West England About 20 miles northeast of Liverpool Close to the M58 motorway for good transport links Population of approximately 40,000 people Built on former mining and farming land
Skelmersdale: Past vs Present
{"left":"Mining and farming community before 1960\nSmall rural village with traditional cottages\nAgricultural economy\nLimited transport connections","right":"Modern planned town since 1960s\nConcrete architecture and roundabouts\nMix of residential and commercial areas\nGood road and rail connections"}
Spot the New Town Features
Look at this image of Skelmersdale Can you identify the typical 'New Town' features? Hint: Look for roundabouts, concrete buildings, wide roads, and planned housing estates Discuss with a partner what you notice
Nearby Towns and Cities
Liverpool - Major port city 20 miles southwest Wigan - Historic market town known for rugby and pies Ormskirk - Market town famous for its clock tower Southport - Seaside resort on the Irish Sea coast Preston - County town of Lancashire
Why Build New Towns?
Think about the problems of overcrowded cities in the 1960s What advantages might a planned town have over an old city? What challenges might new towns face?
Economic and Cultural Features
Originally designed to house Liverpool 'overspill' population Home to various industries and business parks Skelmersdale United FC - local football team The Concourse - main shopping and community center Good transport links to major cities for work
Summary: North West England's Towns
Skelmersdale represents post-war urban planning New Towns were built to solve housing shortages Each town in the region has unique history and character Geography influences how towns develop and connect Modern transport links towns across North West England