Historical Heysham

The little church at Heysham in its picturesque and dramatic setting overlooking Morecambe Bay must be one of the most important historical buildings in Lancashire, if not the country. It's certainly an impressive sight. Even though the ruined neighbouring St Patricks Chapel is probably older, St Peters, although modified over the years, is still fully intact and still in use today as the parish church.

Parts of the church date back to the 7th century, around the time St Cuthbert settled on Lindisfarne in Northumberland, and the bulk of the church is from the 14th and 15th century.

The site shares some similarities to Lindisfarne, being an isolated rocky outcrop overlooking the sea, and being reachable over dangerous sands at low tide (although in Heysham's case there are other ways to get there!).

St Peters is a grade 1 listed building and a scheduled monument - a nationally important historic building afforded additional protection above ordinary listed status.

There's a simple walk to be done around the headland, which takes in the very old and also the modern (power station and ferry terminal), in a circuit of only a couple of miles. From a photography point of view there's plenty photo opportunities, and if the light's right it's well worth a visit.