Kirkham is a small market town located in the Fylde coast area of West Lancashire lying between Blackpool to the West and Preston to the East. In 1996 the town celebrated the 700th Anniversary of the granting of the towns Charter by the Abbey of Vale Royal in Cheshire in 1296, although the town actually dates back to before William the Conqueror and the parish church of St. Michaels is believed to date back to 608 AD. An archaeological dig in the area known as Dowbridge in 1993 discovered a number of artifacts dating from the time of the Roman occupation and since the early 1800's many others have been unearthed including coins, pottery and roof tiles.