In 1984, 16 people were killed by a gas explosion in the Abbeystead disaster, during a visit by a party from St Michael's to a waterworks 10 miles (16 kilometres) up the River Wyre.
Following severe flooding in 2015 which resulted in the evacuation of the villagers, Prince Harry visited the village to meet with residents affected and reopen the refurbished village hall.[2][3][4][5]
Today
The small village has its own pub, car garage, school, village hall (with a post office), tennis club, bowling club and nearby Myerscough College.[6] The parish church of St Michael is the village's most prominent landmark. The nave and chancel date from the 14th century, and the tower from the 16th. It is one of two Grade I listed buildingsin the Borough of Wyre.[7]
On 19 February 2023, the body of 45-year-old Nicola Bulley was found in the Wyre about one mile (1.5 kilometres) downstream of the village,[8] where she had disappeared while walking her dog on 27 January.[9] An inquest into her death determined that she had accidentally drowned.[10]Lancashire Constabulary were criticised for their handling of the case, including releasing private details of Bulley's health,[8] and users of social media were criticised for travelling to the area during the search and were described as "[playing] private detectives".[9]
Transport
St Michael's microlight airfield is about one mile (1.5 kilometres) southeast of the village, south of St Michael's Road. It has three grass runways, and its airport code is GB-0398.[11] It is the home of Northern Microlight School, founded in 1982.[12] Queen Elizabeth II visited the airfield in May 2015.[13]
