Howick Cross is a landmark and small hamlet in Penwortham, South Ribble, Lancashire, England. It is located just over 2 miles south west of the city of Preston. The hamlet is predominantly made up of a small community, a primary school, various farms and an electrical substation. The community had a population of 354 people in 2001.[2]

Howick Cross
Howick Park Drive, Howick Cross
Howick Cross Shown within South Ribble Show map of the Borough of South Ribble Howick Cross Location within Lancashire Show map of Lancashire
Population	354 (2001 Census)
OS grid reference	SD506276
Civil parish	Penwortham[1]
District	South Ribble
Shire county	Lancashire
Region	North West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	PRESTON
Postcode district	PR1
Dialling code	01772
Police	Lancashire
Fire	Lancashire
Ambulance	North West
UK Parliament	South Ribble
List of places UK England Lancashire 53.743°N 2.749°W / 53.743; -2.749

The wayside cross, probably medieval, was restored 1919. Only the base is original, a roughly hewn cubeshaped block 75 cm wide and 60 cm deep; this stands on stone plinth which has an inscription stating that it was restored to commemorate peace, 1919; and it carries a cross 1 metre high. (Henry Taylor Ancient Crosses and Holy Wells 1906.

It is located near the village of Hutton. Other nearby communities include the village of New Longton.

Howick was a civil parish from 1866 until 1 April 1934, when it was absorbed into the parish of Penwortham. Howick parish was part of Preston Rural District.[3] The former parish name survives in Howick C E School,[4] the Hutton and Howick Women's Institute (the oldest in Lancashire, founded by suffragette Edith Rigby)[5] and the former railway station.

Hutton and Howick railway station opened on 1 December 1897, on the Preston to Southport railway line. It was renamed New Longton and Hutton on 3 November 1934 and closed, along with the line, on 7 September 1964.[6]

References

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