For almost two centuries, Freckleton Boatyard played a vital role in the maritime history of the Fylde Coast. Situated on the banks of the River Ribble at Naze Lane East, the yard was at the heart of a thriving river port that connected the rural village of Freckleton with ports around Britain and beyond. Long before the construction of Preston Dock or the dominance of road transport, Freckleton was a busy riverside settlement where shipbuilding, sail making and coastal trading formed an important part of the local economy. Although Freckleton had been used as a port for many years beforehand,…