Nothing much is known of the history of Abbeystead before the Norman Conquest, except that it was occupied from at least the middle of the prehistoric period. The name is derived from "The site of the Abbey" and relates to the short-lived presence of a house of Cistercian monks in the reign of Henry II. The traditional site of the monk's house is just below the junction of the Marshaw Wyre and the Tarnbrook Wyre, on the north side of the Reservoir.There are a number of notable buildings in the Abbeystead area - the Cawthorne Endowed School rebuilt in the 19th century, Holme Farm opposite also 19th century and Abbeystead House built in 1886 by the Earl of Sefton. Records trace the chapel to the west of Abbeystead back to the 14th century. The church was rebuilt in 1733, with a spire and new chancel added during restoration in 1894. The Abbeystead reservoir was built in 1855 by the Corporation of Lancaster to supply mills lower down the River Wyre in the dry season. Although the reservoir is no longer in service it still features an attractive curved overflow weir visible from the footpath.