Sands of time changed our coastal communities

SHIFTING sands of time reflect changes over centuries as communities grow or decline, like the grains in an hourglass measuring passing moments.

- Stephen Guy

The sweeping Mersey estuary boasts several fine stretches of sand hills, some protected nature reserves for plants and rare creatures such as natterjack toads.

Formby remains a stronghold of natural coastline with its woods and towering dunes.

Long before coastal defences were improved, living alongside vast amounts of sand could be a mixed blessing.

Formby's old churchyard is pictured (right) in an 1840 print, when it was surrounded by sandhills.

It had lain virtually unused since the original chapel on the site was destroyed in a sandstorm in 1739.

This location had been a place of worship since at least the 12th century.

A new church was built by the old churchyard - St Luke's, designed by Liverpool architect William Culshaw, was consecrated in 1854.