SOUTHPORT, a chapelry in the parish of NORTH-MEOLS,
hundred of WEST-DERBY, county palatine of
LANCASTER, 9 miles (N. W.) from Ormskirk, and 22
(N.) from Liverpool. The population is returned with
the parish. This place, situated at the mouth of the
Ribble, on the shore of the Irish sea, has of late years
been much resorted to for sea-bathing, and possesses
most of the usual accommodations for visitors; it
consists of one principal street, formed by handsome
houses of brick, with gardens in front, and is sur-
rounded by meols, or sand hills, resembling small tumuli.
A theatre, news-rooms, and libraries, with other
places of public resort, supply the means of amusement
and relaxation. An episcopal chapel, called Christ
church, was built in 1820, the right of presentation to
which belongs to - Hesketh, Esq. There are places
of worship for Independents and Wesleyan Methodists.
The Strangers' charity furnishes to the sick poor the
means of obtaining the benefits of sea air and bathing;
and a dispensary, erected in 1823, supplies the requisite
medical aid.