Burscough () is a town and civil parish in West Lancashire in the ceremonial county of Lancashire, England. It is located to the north of Ormskirk and northwest of Skelmersdale. The parish also includes the hamlet of Tarlscough and the Martin Mere Wetland Centre. The population taken at the 2011 Census was 9,182. History and growth A substantial Roman fort with an area of 30,000 m2 and dating from the 1st century was located here, as recently confirmed by geophysical survey and aerial photos. This was linked to neighbouring forts in the region, especially the nearest at Wigan and Ribchester, and provides insight into Roman military strategy. The area was then occupied over the course of hundreds of years, as shown by the variety of pottery found at the site. Burscough developed later as a small farming village on a low ridge above the West Lancashire Coastal Plain, and has Viking roots – Burh-skogr = fortress in the woods. Of early importance to the village was Burscough Priory, the ruins of which stand to the southwest of the current settlement. The priory formerly housed the tombs of the Earls of Derby, a prominent family in the region, which are now to be found in Ormskirk parish church. With the building of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the coming of the railways in the mid-18th century new developments took place north of the original village, in what came to be called Burscough Bridge, though the two communities have long since melded together. For over a hundred years (from ) there was an Ordnance Depot on the eastern edge of Burscough, but this closed in 1996 and the site has been redeveloped into housing. RNAS Burscough (HMS Ringtail) There was an operational Fleet Air Arm air station, RNAS Burscough (HMS Ringtail), southwest of the town. It was active between September 1943 and May 1946. Community Schools Burscough has a number of primary schools: Lordsgate Township C of E St. John's Church of England Burscough Village (formerly Colburne Close Primary) Burscough Bridge Methodist St. John's Roman Catholic There is also a secondary school, Burscough Priory Academy (formerly Burscough Priory High School and Burscough Priory Science College) and also a small public library. Retail and commercial Shopping in the town is provided for by a large Tesco supermarket, a Booths, an Aldi and some other smaller shops including a Spar, as well as