Wrn 
 
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DUKE 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 H5 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
HISTORY 
 
 li 
 
 OF THE 
 
 BOROUGH OF PRESTON 
 
 AND ITS 
 
 ENVIRONS, 
 
 IN THE 
 
 COUNTY OF LANCASTER; 
 
 BY 
 
 CHARLES HARDWICK, 
 
 MEMBER OF, AND CONTRIBUTOR TO, THE LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE 
 HISTORIC SOCIETY; AUTHOR OF “FRIENDLY SOCIETIES, 
 
 THEIR HISTORY, FINANCIAL PROSPECTS,” ETC. 
 
 “ Nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice.”— Shakespere. 
 “ The first object of History is Truth.”— Lamartine. 
 
 PRESTON: 
 
 WORTHINGTON & Co., TOWN HALL CORNER 
 LONDON: SIHPKIN, MARSHALL, & Co. 
 
 MDCCCLYII. 
 
■WORTHINGTON AND CO., 
 
 PRINTERS, 
 
 NO. 1, CHURCH-STREET, TOWN HALL CORNER, 
 PRESTON. 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2018 with funding from 
 Duke University Libraries 
 
 https://archive.org/details/historyofborough01 hard 
 
Photographed by S.Oglesby Preston. 
 
HIS WORSHIP THE MAYOR, 
 
 THE 
 
 ALDERMEN, 
 
 AND 
 
 COMMON COUNCILLORS, 
 
 OF THE 
 
 BOROUGH OF PRESTON, 
 
 THIS WORK 
 
 IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED, BY 
 
 THE AUTHOE. 
 
441.72 
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 Early in 1855, Messrs. John Worthington and Co. announced their 
 intention of publishing by subscription, a History and Topographical 
 description of the Borough of Preston and its Environs, before the 
 close of that year. Independently of the fact that a considerable 
 portion of the then projected work was unwritten at the time, other 
 circumstances afterwards transpired, which induced the publishers to 
 considerably enlarge their original design. Amongst these may he 
 mentioned the discovery, by the author, of a Homan station at Walton-le- 
 dalc, which necessitated a complete revision of the then presumed Itoman 
 topography of Lancashire; the excavations of the Castle Hill, Penwortham, 
 by the Lancashire and Cheshire Historic Society, where unique and most 
 interesting remains were discovered; and the probable connection, first 
 suggested by the author, of the Cuerdale treasure with the great battle of 
 Brunanburh. These and other important additions have necessarily 
 delayed the publication. The work was originally announced to consist 
 of upwards of four hundred pages, with sixty illustrations on steel. It is 
 now presented to the subscribers at the price first fixed, although the 
 letter-press has been extended to upwards of seven hundred pages, and 
 the pictorial illustrations augmented about fifty per cent. From these facts, 
 it will he evident that the publishers have no alternative, hut to slightly 
 increase the price of the work to non-subscribers, in order to avoid pecu¬ 
 niary loss. They trust, however, that the arduous exertions of the author 
 and themselves in the production of the work in its present more complete 
 form, will induce their fellow-townsmen especially, to liberally accord 
 their patronage to the undertaking, and thus compensate them by a more 
 extended circulation, for the additional labour and capital expended in the 
 production of the work. 
 
 Town Hall Corner, 1 
 Sep., 1857. I 
 
% 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 A correct appreciation of the Present is impossible without considerable 
 knowledge of the Past. Many of the most striking manifestations in the 
 existing generation, owe much of their peculiarities to influences long 
 since passed away, and which, except to the antiquary and the scholar, 
 arc practically expunged from the memory of mankind. Hence much of 
 the flimsy Utopism, superficial criticism, and self-sufficiency, of a large 
 section of the self-styled "practical men” of every age. Ho great step 
 in human progress has instantaneously resulted from the inspiration of 
 intuitive genius, however brilliant. Civilization is a process, which, year 
 by year, age by age, and century by century, is gradually unfolding 
 itself. The very recorded retrogressions arc but the partial ebbings of 
 the still onward tide of human advancement. A knowledge of how great 
 principles and results originated and became gradually developed, is 
 essential in order that man may proceed with wisdom and dignity 
 towards the ever-retreating goal of future excellence. 
 
 Much has been done for history during the past half century. It has 
 become gradually more and more emancipated from the thraldom of 
 temporary party feeling and existing political power. Its legitimate 
 objects and honours are no longer confined to the production of agreeable 
 narratives, or semi-romances, compounded from shi’eds of historic truth and 
 the playful vagaries of untrammelled fancy; nor to eloquent dissertations 
 on past events, elaborated in the spirit of the forensic advocate, for the 
 demonstration of some foregone conclusion. Each of these may be 
 valuable in its particular sphere ; but the true historic structure is still 
 incomplete. It must not hang pendent from the ornament of Art, 
 however gorgeous, however captivating, such ornament may be; its 
 foundations must rest upon the rock of Science. Before a judge sums up 
 a case, and leaves the verdict in the hands of a jury, it is not only 
 
Till 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 necessary that he should hear the arguments of advocates, but that he 
 should carefully examine and balance the evidence advanced. So with 
 history : the procuration and methodical digestion of facts form the base 
 of the gorgeous superstructure. The recent establishment of several local 
 archaeological and historic associations has already done good service to 
 the cause of truth. Each has furnished valuable contributions to the 
 rapidly increasing stock of material available for the construction of what 
 has long been pronounced a desideratum,—a more complete and truthful 
 histoiy of Britain. 
 
 All men naturally feel more interest in the historical associations of their 
 own race than they do in those of any other portion of mankind. The 
 study of that which immediately pertains to them and theirs is more 
 interesting, and therefore more pursued. If this be tine in a national 
 sense, it may be expected to operate even more powerfully within limits 
 still more contracted. The soil daily trodden by the foot of any reflecting 
 being; the locality, with whose present straggles, progress, or decay, he is 
 practically acquainted; whose traditions and “folklore” were fixed in 
 his memory and his heart, long before more exact knowledge or cultivated 
 judgment enabled him to test their accuracy or correctly weigh their 
 value ; must possess historic reminiscences, not only capable of commanding 
 his attention, by exciting in the imaginative faculty agreeable and healthy 
 sensations, but of teaching him valuable lessons in profound practical 
 wisdom. The dullest familiar scene is encircled with a sacred halo, when 
 associated with some mighty deed of a by-gone age. Its physical impress 
 may, perhaps, be superficially erased, but its spiritual influence still 
 permeates, with a subtlety cognizant only to cultivated intelligence, 
 the sentiment and aspiration of the mass of mankind. 
 
 Preston and its environs are rich in historic incident. When conjoined 
 to the fact that all works professing in any way to be a history of the 
 locality, were “out of print” at the booksellers’, this will, I conceive, be 
 a sufficient justification of the present undertaking. In the compilation 
 of the work, I have endeavoured to practically cany out the views above 
 enunciated. A local contributor is called upon, especially, to labour 
 diligently in what may be termed the production of the raw material 
 of histoiy. With its more profound philosophy he has relatively little 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 IX 
 
 to do; with romantic effect, artistic grouping, and brilliant word-painting, 
 still less. Whenever I have felt disposed to indulge in either the one or 
 the other, I have endeavoured carefully to keep it distinct from the main 
 body of known and acknowledged truths. How far I may have succeeded, 
 either in this or any other particular, is not for me to decide. That I have 
 done something towards the collection and arrangement of materials for 
 a history of my native town, will, doubtless, be acknowledged. I am, 
 however, fully sensible that such a work is, from its very nature, 
 imperfect even under the most favourable circumstances. The character 
 of the labour to be performed, itself necessitated the communication of 
 the author’s intention to the public; and, consequently, a very natural 
 desire has been several times expressed that the publication should take 
 place at as early a period as possible. From a desire to respond to this 
 feeling, I fear I may have been somewhat hurried and overtasked during 
 the time the work has been passing through the press. I mention this 
 not with the view to forestall legitimate criticism, but rather for the 
 purpose of respectfully soliciting such additional information, as well 
 as reference to materials, documentary or otherwise, as may be calculated 
 to throw further light upon any portion of my subject. I shall carefully, 
 from time to time, revise my own private copy, and append such further 
 information as may appear desirable, with the view that it may be 
 available for future publication. 
 
 I may as well here call attention to the fact, that much additional 
 matter relative to the Roman topography of Lancashire and the probable 
 site of the battle of Brunanburh, will be found in the appendix. 
 
 Nothing now remains but the pleasing duty of expressing my best thanks 
 to the many kind friends who have facilitated my investigations, and other¬ 
 wise aided me in the practical execution of the work. Without the least 
 invidious distinction, I especially beg to acknowledge my obligations to 
 Mr. Alderman Brown, the Rev. W. Thomber, Mr. William Dobson, 
 Mr. Charles J. Ashfield, and Mr. Dearden. To the following gentlemen 
 I am likewise deeply indebted for much courteous attention and most 
 valuable information:—Jno. Robson, esq., M. D., Warrington; the Rev. 
 A. Hume, D.C.L., etc., Liverpool; Charles Roach Smith, esq., F.S.A., 
 etc., etc., Strood, Kent; A. W. Franks, esq., M.A., of the British 
 
X 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 Museum; Treuliam Reeks, esq., of tlie Museum of Practical Geology, 
 London; and John Hodgson Hinde, esq., Felton, Northumberland. The 
 various authors consulted, and other sources of information, will he 
 found sufficiently indicated in the course of the work. 
 
 CHARLES HARDWICK. 
 
 Preston, August 9th, 1857. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 PART I.—HISTORICAL. 
 
 Page. 
 
 CHAPTER I.—BRITISH AND ROMAN PERIODS. 
 
 The Aborigines—-Celts?, Belgse, etc.—The Brigantes—The Setantii, or “dwellers 
 by the waters”—Conquest by the Romans—Agricola’s March—Remains of the 
 Ancient Inhabitants, etc.—Britain under the Romans—Remains of the Roman 
 Occupation of Lancashire—The Seteia, the Belisama, the Portus Setantiorum 
 and the Moricambe, of Ptolemy identified with the Dee—the Ribble, the Wyre, 
 and Morecambe Bay—Ribchester the Rigodunum of Ptolemy, and Walton-le- 
 dale the Coccium of Antoninus—The Route of the tenth Iter of the latter 
 authority—Discovery of a Roman Station at Walton—Ribchester not a Seaport 
 at the time of the Roman occupation . 1 
 
 CHAPTER II.—SAXON AND DANISH PERIODS. 
 
 Departure of the Roman legions—Struggles of the Britanni with the native popu¬ 
 lation—The Piets and Scots—The Anglo-Saxon invasion—The Battles of King 
 Arthur—The Saxon Heptarchy—The kingdom of Northumbria—Introduction of 
 Christianity—Battle at Whalley—Battle at Winwick, and death of King Oswald 
 —Danish Invasions—King Alfred—Grant of lands in “ Hacmundemes”—Rise of 
 Preston—Danish Ravages—Atlielstan’s grant of landson the Ribble—TheCuerdale 
 hoard—Battle of Brunanburh—Struggles with the Danes—Canute—Harold— 
 William the Conqueror—Condition of the people—The population of Lancashire 
 composed of varied elements. 55 
 
 CHAPTER III.—FROM THE NORMAN CONQUEST 
 TO THE ACCESSION OF JAMES I. 
 
 The County of Lancaster—Domesday Survey—Results of the Norman Conquest— 
 Roger de Poictou, and Warinus and Abardus Bussell—Value of the Land— 
 
 “ Castle Hill,” Penwortliam : Discovery of Remains—The Earl of Chester and 
 the Earl Ferrers—Theobald Walter—Charters—Henry Fitz Warren—Right of 
 Pasturage on Fulwood moor—Walter de Preston slain by Robert de Hylton— 
 
 The Grey Friars Franciscan Convent—The Magdalen Hospital—Ancient Military 
 Outwork on the Maudlands—Edmund Crouchback, earl of Lancaster—Edward 
 I. at Preston—Wars with the Scots—Bruce and Wallace—Plea against the king 
 —Thomas, Earl of Lancaster—Preston nearly destroyed hy Bruce—Adam de 
 Banistre and Thomas Earl of Lancaster: Battle near Preston—Edward III. at 
 Preston—Henry, earl of Lancaster and Derby made Duke of Lancaster—Value 
 of Property in Preston—John O’Gaunt—Bolingbroke’s Rebellion—Wars of the 
 Roses—Henry VI. taken prisoner at Clitheroe—Lambert Simnel—Sir William 
 Stanley—Henry VII. at Lathom and Knowsley—Henry VIII. Battle of Flodden 
 Field—The Reformation—The “ Pilgrimage of Grace ”—Decay of Preston and 
 other Lancashire Towns—Leland’s visit to Preston—Levy of Troops—Religious 
 Persecutions—The Spanish Armada—Camden’s Description of Preston—Feud 
 between Mr. Hoghton, of Lea, and Langton, Baron of Newton and Walton— 
 Condition of the People. 9 
 
xn 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER IV.—FROM JAMES I. TO THE “ RESTORATION.” 
 
 Lancashire gentry Knighted—Institution of the hereditary honour and title of 
 Baronet—Plague—Gunpowder Plot—Witchcraft—Dr. Dee and Edward Kelly : 
 Demonology at Walton-le-Dale—James the First’s progress through Lancashire : 
 Festivities at Myerscough, Preston, and Hoghton Tower—Alum Mines at Samles- 
 bury—Petition of Lancashire people in favour of Sunday recreation—Book of 
 Sports—Traditions relating to the Kipg’s visit to Hoghton—Civil War between 
 Charles I. and his Parliament—Meeting on Preston Moor—Seizure of Military 
 Stores at Preston, Liverpool, and Manchester—Alexander Rigby, M P., Sir Gil¬ 
 bert Hoghton, Bart,, Lord Strange, and Sir Thomas Tildesley, etc., at Walton 
 Hall—Threatened outbreak at Preston— Fracas at Manchester—Commence¬ 
 ment of Hostilities—Siege of Manchester—Battle of Edge Hill—Defeat of the 
 Earl of Derby, near Chowbent—Battles of Hinfield Moor and Ribble Bridge: 
 Defeat of Sir Gilbert Hoghton—Victory of the Earl of Derby’s troops, near 
 Wigan—Meeting of Royalists at Preston—Ruse at Salesbury Hall, near Ro¬ 
 chester—First siege of Preston: Surrender of the town to Sir John Seaton— 
 Death of Adam Morte—Surrender of Hoghton Tower to Captain Starkie : Dis¬ 
 astrous Explosion, and Destruction of the Fortress—Siege of Lancaster—Succes- 
 ful Surprise of Preston, by the E;u'l of Derby : Destruction of the Fortifications 
 —Wigan taken by Col. Ashton—Capture of Thurland Castle, by Col. Rigby— 
 Sequestration of Estates—Lord Byron’s Successes in Cheshire—Defeat of Byron 
 at Nantwich—First Siege of Lathoin House: Gallant Defence by the Countess 
 of Derby—Capture of Bolton by Prince Rupert and the Earl of Derby—Surrender 
 of Liverpool—Battle of Marston Moor—Retreat of Rupert into Lancashire— 
 Seizure of the Mayor and Bailiffs of Preston—Shuttleworth’s Victory at Ribble 
 Bridge—Defeat of the Royalists at Ormskirk, and re-capture of Liverpool, by Sir 
 John Meldrum—Distress in Lancashire—Battle of Naseby—Second Siege of 
 Lathom House: Capture of the Fortress—Surrender of the King—Great Battle 
 of Preston, in 1618: Defeat of Langdale and the Duke of Hamilton, by Oliver 
 Cromwell—Famine and Plague—Execution of Charles I.—Establishment of the 
 Commonwealth—Passage of Charles II. through Lancashire—Landing of the 
 Earl of Derby, at Wyre—Lilburne’s Pursuit of the Royalists to Ribble Bridge— 
 Battle of Wigan Lane : Defeat of the Earl of Derby, and Death of Sir Thomas 
 Tildesley—Battle of Worcester—Charles II. a fugitive—Capture and execution 
 of the Earl of Derby—Death of Cromwell—The Restoration—Value of Property 
 iu the Boroughs of Lancashire. 145 
 
 CHAPTER V.—FROM THE “RESTORATION” TO VICTORIA. 
 
 Profligacy of the Court—Test and Corporation Act—Act of Uniformity—Knights 
 of the Royal Oak—Value of Household Goods, etc—-Extinction of Feudalism— 
 Preston in the Seventeenth Century : Dr. Kuerden’s description—James II. at 
 Chester—The Revolution—Judge Jeffreys—Disaffection T>f the Romau Catholics 
 —The Lancashire Plot—Jacobite Rebellion in 1715—Invasion of England by 
 the Scotch Army—Siege of Preston—Surrender of Forster, Derwent water', and 
 other Stuart Partisans—Sale of Sequestered Estates—Claims of Prestonians for 
 Compensation—Second Jacobite Invasion—Prince Charles Edward Stuart at 
 Preston—Retreat of the Scotch Army—Battle of Culloden—Jacobite Club at 
 Walton-le-dale—Preston in the Eighteenth Century. 205 
 
 CHAPTER VI.—MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, GUILD MERCHANT, 
 
 ETC. 
 
 Origin of Municipalities and Guilds Merchant—Preston Charters—The Custumale 
 —The “ Law of the Bretons” and Traditional Customs: Probable Roman 
 Origin—Saxon and Norman Boroughs—Chart ers of Henry II., John, Henry III., 
 and Edward III.—Value of Property in the Lancashire Boroughs : Preston the 
 wealthiest town in the County—Charters of Richard II., Henry IV., Henry V., 
 and Elizabeth—Municipal Hospitality—“ Book of Orders”—By-laws against 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Xlll 
 
 Foreigners, Public-liouse Tippling, and Vagabonds—Charitable Bequests— Foes 
 of Inferior Officers — Civil War—Adam Morte’s Contumacy—Charities— 
 Imprisonment of Mayor and Bailiffs by Prince Rupert—Cock-fighting—Purchase 
 of Fee Farm Rent of Preston—Corporate Property in 1650—Grammar School¬ 
 master’s Salary—Public Wells—Regulations respecting Swine—Corporate Offi¬ 
 cers fined for neglect of Duty—Regulations respecting the “ Corporation Pew” 
 in the Parish Church — Workhouse Regulations—Grants to the Poor—Parliamen¬ 
 tary Franchise—Limitation of the number of Freemen—Charters of Charles II. 
 Disputes between the Burgesses and “Foreigners”—Early Guild Festivities— 
 Guilds of 1682, 1762,1782, 1802, 1822, and 184-2—Municipal Reform Act— 
 
 New Council—Freemen’s Rights of Pasturage on Moor and Marsh—Corporation 
 Regalia, etc —Corporate Property—Ribble Navigation—Post Office—Loyal 
 Addresses—Covered Market—Public Parks—Baths and Wash-houses—Queen 
 Victoria at Fleetwood and Preston—Public Health Act—Cemetery—New Town 
 Hall—Value of Corporate Property in 1855 — Russian War : Celebration of the 
 Peace—Guild Mayors—Mayors and Bailiffs since the commencement of the last 
 century—Police Commission and Improvement Act—Local Board of Health— 
 Waterworks—Sewerage of the Town—Parochial Affairs. 257 
 
 CHAPTER VII.—PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION. 
 
 Elective Principle of Anglo-Saxon Government—Norman Despotism—The Great 
 Charter of Henry I.—Parliaments Summoned by Henry I.—Henry II. and 
 Henry III.—The “ Reforming Barons”—Edward I.—Earliest Recorded Repre¬ 
 sentation of Preston, and the County of Lancaster—Boroughs — Lords and 
 Commons—Influence of the Crown—Payment of Members— Preston Unrepre¬ 
 sented through Poverty—Henry VI. — Forty Shilling Freeholders — Civil Wars 
 Cromwell’s Parliament—Annual, Triennial, and Septennial Parliaments — 
 Property Qualification—Universal Suffrage at Preston — Disputed Rights — 
 Resolutions of the House of Commons—Rivalry of the Corporation and the 
 Derby Family—The “ Great Election”—Serious Riots—Rise of the Manu¬ 
 facturing Interest—The Coalition—The Reform Bill — Election Details—List of 
 Parliamentary Representatives. 321. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII.—TRADE AND COMMERCE. 
 
 Early Trade—Portus Setantiorum—Roman Commerce—Trade of the Saxons— 
 Norman Conquest—Henry III —Preston the Wealthiest Town in Lancashire — 
 Edward III.—The Woollen Trade—The Flemmings—Condition of the People— 
 Henry VIII.—Woollen Cottons—Progress of Manchester—Revocation of the 
 Edict of Nantes—Assize and Assay—Ulnage and Sealing—Vegetable Cotton— 
 Fustians—Calieoes—Linen Trade—Refugees from the Spanish Netherlands— 
 Early Spinning Machines—British Exports—Rapid Progress of the Cotton Trade 
 —Inventions of Wyatt, Arkwright, Kay, Hargreaves, etc.—Disputed Claims— 
 Arkwright’s Early Difficulties—Opposition to the Introduction of Machinery— 
 Riots—First Cotton Factory in Preston—Further Improvements in Machinery— 
 Arkwright’s Success—Infringements of his Patents—Litigation—Arkwright’s 
 Claims as an Inventor—Further Improvements in Machinery—Power Looms— 
 Riots—The Steam Engine—Rapid Extension of Preston—Influence of Trade 
 upon the National Character—Internal Communication Transit of Goods and 
 Passengers—Roads during the Eighteenth Century—Coaches, Canals, etc. Pro¬ 
 gress of Trade and Commerce—Effects of War—Steam Vessels and Railways. 
 
 •*Ribble Navigation. Early Commerce—State of the River during the Past 
 
 Century—Surveys of Messrs. Stevenson, etc_New Company Improvements 
 
 Preston an Independent Port — Traffic, Tonnage, etc.—Sale of Land. Stkikes 
 and Lockouts. Condition of the People — Decline of Serfdom — Legislative 
 Interference with Labour and Capital — Singular Laws—Wages and prices of 
 Provisions, etc.—Competition—Early Strikes — Great Strikes in 1836 and 1853-4 
 —Additional Statistics with reference to Trade and Commerce .. 351 
 
XIV 
 
 CONTEXTS. 
 
 PART II.—TOPOGRAPHY, ETC. 
 
 General Aspect of the Town—Preston in the Seventeenth Century—Bucks' Prospect 
 in 172S—Lang’s Map in 1774—Shakeshaft’s Map in 1809—Miller's Map in 
 1S22—Survey bv J. J. Myres, in 1S36 and 1S46—Further Extensions—P ublic 
 Squares, Parks, etc.—Market-place—Winckley-square.—Stephenson’s Terrace, 
 Doepdale-road—Aveuham Walk—Moor Park—The Orchard_ Public Build¬ 
 
 ings, Institutions, etc.—The Town Hall—The Corn Exchange—The Court 
 House and Prison—Magistrates’ Court and Police Station—Baths and Wash¬ 
 houses—Fire Brigade Building—Overseers' Buildings— Workhouse—House of 
 Recovery—Dispensary—Gas-works—Water-works—Theatre Royal—Temperance 
 Hall—The Preston Railway Stations—Dr. Shepherd’s Library—Institution for 
 the Diffusion of Knowledge—Literary and Philosophical Institution—The 
 Winekley Club-Law Library.— The Press.—B anks—O ld Bank—Savings 
 Bank—Lawe and Company—Roskell and Arrowsmitli—Lancaster Banking 
 Company — Preston Banking Company.— Bridges—W alton, Penwortham, 
 Tram-road, Brockholes, North Union, East Lancashire.—C hurches, Chapels, 
 Schools, Charities, etc.—P arish Church—St. George’s—St. Peter’s—St. 
 Paul's—Christ Church—St. Mary’s—St. Thomas’s.—St. James's—All Saints’— 
 Roman Catholic Chatels—S t. Mary’s—St. Wilfrid's—St. Ignatius's—St. 
 Augustine's—St. Walburge’s.—C hapels of Protestant Dissenters— 
 Unitarian— Friend’s— Baptist— Methodist— Independent—Episcopalian—New 
 
 Jerusalem—Mormon, etc—The Cemetery_ Public Schools—E ducational 
 
 Statistics—Grammar School—Blue Coat School—Commercial—St. John’s— 
 Christ Church—St. Peter's—St. Paul's—St. James's—St. Mary’s—German’s— 
 
 All Saints'—Trinity.—R oman Catholic Schools—S t. Wilfrid’s—St. Augus¬ 
 tine’s—St. Ignatius’s—St. Walburge’s.—D issenters’ Schools, etc.—W esleyan 
 
 School—Friends'School—Ragged School—Private Schools_ Public Charities, 
 
 Provident Societies, etc.—Law—P ublic Offices—County Court, Wapentake 
 Court, etc. 426 
 
 PART III.—THE ENVIRONS. 
 
 CHAPTER I.—THE VALLEY OF THE RIBBLE. 
 
 A EAMBLE FEOM LYTHAH TO KIBCHESTER. 
 
 Situation of Preston—The Valley of the Ribble—The Coast of Lancashire—The 
 Horse Bank—Lvtham, Southport, etc.—St. Cuthbert—Lytham dock—Sub¬ 
 marine Forest—The “Neb of tbe Naze”—Drainage of Martin-mere—The 
 Douglas—Freckletou-pool—Portus Setautiorum of Ptolemy—Improvements in 
 tbe Navigation—Lea, Ashton, Penwortham, Tulketh, etc.—Roman outposts 
 —Singular tradition—Tbe Past and tbe Present—Preston—The River, Bridges, 
 etc.—Aveuham walk—Freuchwood—Walton—Historical Revery—Events which 
 have transpired near the Pass of the Ribble—Cnerdale, Hoghton Tower. Red 
 Scar—Ribhleton-moor— Pope-lane—Elston and Alston—Remains of the great 
 Forest of Oaks—Hothersall, Osbaldestone, Balderstone, etc.—Historical Events 
 —Ribchcster and Salesbury—Tbe Roman road over Longridge Fell—The 
 Country between tbe Ribble and tbe Mersey—View from Tootal Height— 
 
 Concluding Reflections.. 500 
 
 CHAPTER II.—THE HUNDRED OF AMOUXDERNESS. 
 
 Origin of the term Amoundemess—Boundaries of the Hundred—Norman Pro¬ 
 prietors—Harrison's description of Amoundemess—Leland's Ditto—The Fylde 
 —Parish of Preston—Fulwood and Myerscough—Parish of Kirkham—Lytham 
 —Bispham, including Blackpool—Poulton, including Fleetwood—St. Michael’s 
 —Garstang. 527 
 
 CHAPTER III.—THE HUNDRED OF BLACKBURN. 
 
 Blackburn Parish—Townships of Walton, Cuerdale, Samlesbury, Pleasington, 
 Balderstone, Osbaldestone, Salesbury.—Ribchcster Parish—Ribchester, Dilworth, 
 Dutton, Alston, and Hothersall.—Chipping Parish—Stonyhurst. 565 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 XV 
 
 CHAPTER IV.—THE HUNDRED OF LEYLAND. 
 
 Pcnwortham Parish—Howick, Hutton, Farington, and Longton—Brindle Parish 
 —Leyland Parish—Euxton, Cuerdeu, Whittle-le-woods—Clayton-le- 1 woods— 
 Heapy, Wheelton, Hoghton, Withnell—Rufford Parish—Much Hoole Parish— 
 Little Hoole—Tarleton Parish—Croston Parish—Southport . 588 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 The Roman Topography of Lancashire— Killingsough—Battle of the Vinwcd, or 
 Winvvcydc—The Battle of Billangahoh, near Whalley—The Battle of Brunan- 
 burh—The Min Spit Well—Corporation Seals —Election Expenses—Miscellaneous Go L 
 
 BIOGRAPHY. 
 
 Ainsworth Henry—Allen, Cardinal—Ambrose, Rev. Isaac—Arkwright, Sir Richard 
 Baines, Edward—Barton, Dr. William—Barrow, Thomas—Baxter, Rev. Roger 
 —Clayton, Dr. Robert—Clayton, Sir Richard—Dunn, Rev. J.—Fisher, Henry— 
 Foster, Captain—Gilbertson, William—Gradwell, Bishop—Haydock, Rev. Geo. 
 Leo—Hclme, William—Ilorrocks, Rev. Jeremiah—Horrocks, John—Kuerden, 
 
 Dr. Richard—Preston, John—Preston, Rev. Thomas—Rushton, Rev. Edward 
 Shepherd, Dr.—Sharrock, Dr.—Southworth, Rev. Richard—Tootel, Rev. Hugh 
 —Weever, Dr. John. 619 
 
 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 
 INDEX. 
 
LIST OF PLATES. 
 
 View oe Preston ebom the South . Frontispiece. 
 
 Map of Lancashire ... ... ... ... ... ... ... opposite page 1 
 
 British and Roman Remains. Plate 1 ... ... ... ... ... 5 
 
 Site of Roman Station at Walton-le-dale. Plate 2 ... ... ... ... 38 
 
 Roman Remains found at Walton-le-dale. Plate 3 ... ... ... ... 42 
 
 Roman Pottery (Samian Ware) found at Walton-le dale. Plate 4 ... ... 43 
 
 Roman Pottery found at Walton-le-dale. Plate 5 ... ... ... ... 44 
 
 Remains found at Castle hill, Penwortham. Plate 6 ... ... ... ... ... 104 
 
 Remains found at Castle lull, Penwortham. Plate 7 ... ... ... ... ... 108 
 
 Bull Hotel, and Messrs Ilorrockses, Miller, and Co’s Factory Engine Room ... 338 
 Messrs. Ilorrockses, Miller, and Co’s and Messrs. Swainson, Birley, and Co’s 
 
 Cotton Mills ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 425 
 
 South prospect of Preston, 1728 . . 428 
 
 Map of Preston, in 1774 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 429 
 
 Market-place, and House of Correction and Court house ... .. ... ... 434 
 
 Winckley-squarc, and Stephenson’s terrace ... ... ... ... ... ... 435 
 
 Bank-parade, and Avenham-walk ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 436 
 
 Town Hall, and residence of W. Ainsworth, esq. ... ... ... ... ... 436 
 
 Grammar School, and Institution for the Diffusion of Knowledge ... ... ... 449 
 
 Philosophical Institution, two Engravings ... ... ... ... .. ... 451 
 
 Old Bank, and Preston Bank ... ... ... ... ... ... ... , . 456 
 
 Penwortham Bridge, and view from Avenham-walk ... ... . ... 459 
 
 Parish Church, and Christ Church ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 468 
 
 St. George’s Chapel, and St. Agustine’s Catholic Chapel ... ... ... ... 474 
 
 St. Peter’s Church, and St. Mary’s Church ... ... ... ... ... ... 476 
 
 St. Paul’s Church, and All Saints’Church ... ... ... ... ... ... 478 
 
 St. Walburge’s Catholic Church, two Engravings ... ... ... ... ... 480 
 
 Lytham Beach, and Clifton Arms Hotel, Lytham .. ... ... ... ... 502 
 
 Ashton Park, and River Ribble ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 508 
 
 Preston from the South, and Tulketh Hall and Victoria Quay ... ... ... 509 
 
 View from Bushell-place, and the valley of the Ribble from the Vicarage ... ... 510 
 
 Wliinfield, Ashton, and Walton-le-dale ... ... ... ... ... .. 518 
 
 Red Scar, and view from Red Scar, Grimsargh ... ... ... ... ... 520 
 
 Fulwood Barracks, two Engravings ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 537 
 
 St. Michael’s Church, and Church of the Holy Cross, (Catholic) Kirkham... ... 541 
 Goosnargh Hospital, and Clifton Hall ... ... ... ... ... ... 544 
 
 St. Cuthbert’s Church, Lytham, and St. John’s Church, Lytham ... ... 548 
 
 The Terrace, Blackpool, and Blackpool from the Sea ... ... ... ... 550 
 
 Royal Hotel and Queen’s Place, and Rossall’s Hotel and Albert Terrace, Blackpool 551 
 Independent Chapel, and South Shore, Blackpool ... ... ... ... ... 552 
 
 The Northern Church of England School, Rossall, and North Euston Hotel and 
 
 Public Baths, Fleetwood... 
 
 Fleetwood, and Pier Head, Fleetwood 
 Walton-le-dale Church, and Cuerden Hall 
 French wood, and Cooper Hill, Walton-le-dale 
 Stonyhurst College, and Samlesbury Hall 
 Penwortham Church, and Penwortham Priory 
 Worden Hall, Leyland, and View of Penwortham ... 
 
 Astley Hall, Chorley, and Entrance Hall of ditto 
 Astley Hall, Chorley, and Whittle Springs Hotel and Baths 
 Entrance Hall, Hoghton Tower, and Banqueting Hall of ditto 
 Iloghton Tower—Inner Court and Entrance 
 Southport, Six Engravings 
 
 ... 555 
 ... 556 
 ... 566 
 ... 568 
 .. 572 
 ... 596 
 ... 608 
 ... 611 
 ... 613 
 .. 616 
 . . 617 
 ... 627 
 
ERRATA AND ADDENDA. 
 
 In chapter 1, for Ptolomy, read Ptolemy. 
 
 At line 1, page 18, for is supposed to have been read was. 
 
 At lines 10, and 16, page 41, for earthern read earthen. 
 
 At lines 10, 11, and 12, page 46, for Beyond Bomber-bridge , its line is indicated by a road marked 
 “ Cinder Path ,” in Cuerden Hall Parky read It appears to have been continued in a straight line to 
 near the Parker's Arms Inn, where the Roman road and the present highway become nearly identical. 
 In note k, at page 62, for In the year 601.— Ethelwerd's Chron ., read In the year 596.— Saxon Chron. 
 
 According to Ethelwerd, Pope Gregory in 601, “sent to Augustine the pall of apostleship.” 
 
 At line 31, page 81, for on this spot read near this place. 
 
 At the end of the first paragraph on page 111, add see page 591. 
 
 At page 146, line 7, for 1616 read 1611. 
 
 At line 6, page 150, for 1663, read 1633. 
 
 At the fifth line from the bottom of page 152, for see page 4, read see page 41. 
 
 At line 20, page 156, for 1752, read 1572. 
 
 At page 172, fourth line from the bottom, for Cheetham read Chetham. At the last line of page 
 177, ditto. At page 202, ditto. 
 
 At page 197, third line from bottom, for Mossap read Mossop. 
 
 At page 208, lines 4, and 43, for Herald's College read Heralds’ College. 
 
 At page 210, sixth line from the bottom, for Woodcock read Kellet. 
 
 At line 20, page 236, after the words Mathematician insert and — M'Intosh. In the same line for 
 names read heads , as suggested in the note. 
 
 At line 15, page 269, for 1565, read 1566. 
 
 At line 10, page 306, for Edward III. read Edward I. 
 
 At page 316, second line from the bottom, fill the blank with James ; in the fourth line with Richard; 
 
 in the sixth line with John ; and in the eight line with Jonathan. 
 
 At page 334, third line from the bottom, for 1834, read 1804. 
 
 At line 34, page 336, for 1837, read 1857. 
 
 After line 11, page 350, add 1762, Nicholas Fazakerley, Edmund Starkic. 
 
 At page 353, fifth line from the bottom for c read d. 
 
 At line 29, page 369, for Gardens read Garden. 
 
 At line 22, page 373, for Dr. Cartwright was not, however , read It has been asserted that Dr. 
 Cartwright , etc. The date of Kinlock’s first loom is eight years posterior to the doctor’s earliest 
 patent, as shown in the preceding paragraph. 
 
 At page 394, line 11, move the first letter, p, to the commencement of the line above. 
 
 At page 432, ninth line from the bottom, for Jno. Able Smith read Jno. Abel Smith. 
 
 At line 438, page 22, for 1734, read 1732. 
 
 At page 473, remove one of the marks of quotation, after the word vain, in the twenty-first line, 
 and place the double apostrophe (”) after the word mistaken, in the following line. 
 
 At line 4, page 478, for Saint's read Saints'. 
 
 At line 14, jxige 510, for J'unish raid furnish. 
 
 At page 511, second line of note, for Reliquce read Reliquice. 
 
 At line 10, page 516, for is read are. 
 
 At line 14, page 559, insert the word who married a before the word cousin. 
 
 At page 568, line 36, strike out and a Unitarian chapel. The building has been converted into 
 cottages. 
 
 At page 575, line 13, for alter read altar. 
 
 At line 11, page 597, for Edward VII. read Edward VI. 
 
 At line 30, page 602, for fay ry read fayr. 
 
 At page 636, fifth line from the bottom, for nearer the latter town read nearer to that town. 
 
 At line 28, page 640, for 68, read page 66. 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
%i£2ai no * 
 
 mM)KTnwi 
 
 •nmi 
 
 f;I 
 
PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 PART I-HISTORICAL. 
 
 CHAPTER I.—BRITISH AND ROMAN PERIODS. 
 
 The Aborigines—Celtse, Belgse, etc.—The Brigantes—The Setantii, or “ dwellers by the 
 waters”—Conquest by the Romans—Agricola’s march—Remains of the ancient 
 inhabitants, etc.—Britain under the Romans—Remains of the Roman occupation of 
 Lancashire—The Seteia, the Belisama, the Portus Setantiorum and the Moricambe, 
 of Ptolomy identified with the Dee, the Ribble, the Wyre, and Morecambe Bay— 
 Ribchester the Rigodunum of Ptolomy, and Walton-le-dale the Coccium of 
 Antoninus—The route of the tenth iter of the latter authority—Discovery of a 
 Roman station at Walton—Ribchester not a seaport at the time of tho Roman 
 occupation. 
 
 The early history of any locality presents but inconsiderable modifications 
 of the more prominent characteristics pertaining to the community of 
 which it forms a part. A history of Preston and its neighbourhood is, 
 therefore, of necessity, to some extent, a history of Lancashire; and, 
 though in a still more limited sense, of the British Empire. 
 
 The testimony of ancient historians, as well as its geographical position, 
 indicates that Britain was originally peopled by successive migrations of 
 the Celt® or Iveltac, the Cimbri or Kimbri, and the Bclgae, from the north¬ 
 western portion of the continent of Europe. Many writers contend that 
 the island was likewise peopled by Teutonic, or German tribes, at or 
 previous to our earliest historic period. a Caesar, indeed, speaks of the 
 
 a Dr. Eobson, in Lancashire and Cheshire Historic Society’s Proceedings and Papers, vol. 5, 
 p. 208.—Mr. Thomas Wright, do., vol. 8, p. 141. 
 
 B 
 
2 
 
 PRESTOS AXD ITS ENTTRONS. 
 
 Belgae as of German origin, somewhat intermixed with the Celtae, of Gaul. 
 The Belgae are believed by others to have been a mixed race of Kimmerians 
 and Germans. The locality occupied by the Cimbri, after their settlement 
 in the north-west of Europe, still remains a matter of conjecture. Strabo 
 places them on the north of the river Elbe, and includes them amongst the 
 German tribes. b The advent of the Angles, the Saxons, and the Jutes, 
 after the departure of the Romans, does not therefore necessarily constitute, 
 as is often supposed, the first infusion of Teutonic blood into the inhabi¬ 
 tants of Britain . 0 Some commercial intercourse existed between the 
 Phoenicians, the Greek and Roman merchants, and the aborigines, anterior 
 to the age of Julius Caesar, especially upon the southern and eastern coasts; 
 where agricultural pursuits and more settled habits had enhanced the 
 wealth of the community, and developed, relatively, a higher degree of 
 civilization. Certain localities are described by Herodotus as the “ Tin 
 Islands,” (Cassiterides) whence the merchants of Carthage and Massalia 
 (Marseilles) procured large quantities of that metal. These are supposed 
 to have been the Scilly Islands, and the south-western promontory of 
 Britain, or Cornwall. J The natives, generally, and especially those in¬ 
 habiting the midland and northern portions of Britain, were described by 
 the early traders as a most ferocious people, who disfigured themselves by 
 a species of tattooing. An infusion or the juice of a sea-weed called woad 
 was employed to discolour the skin with bluish streaks, for the purpose of 
 rendering their aspect terrible to their enemies. e They were partially 
 clothed with the skins of wild animals, and dwelt chiefly in hovels amongst 
 morasses and dense forests. Like most other uncivilized tribes, they were 
 
 b “ It is probable tbe Cimbri who invaded Italy were composed of mixed tribes, both Teutonic and 
 Celtic, for in their war with Marius, the description of their arms and the name of their chief, 
 Bojorix, appears to designate them as Celt®.—Knight Pen. Cyclop. Art. Cimbri. 
 
 c Mr. J. Hodgson Hinde (Lan. and Ches. His. Soc. Trans, vol. viii, p. 2) inclines, however, to the 
 opinion that the Belgae, on their migration to Britain, included but little of .the Teutonic element. 
 He says, “ Even in Caesar’s time the Germans were but recent colonists in their adopted country, 
 and it is more probable that the Belgce were the last remnant of the original Celtic population of 
 Germany, and were driven across the Rhine by the invading Germans, than that they were them¬ 
 selves a portion of the invading host.” 
 
 d “ Till the Belgae came over into Britain, either no commerce at all was pursued by the islanders, 
 or the commerce was confined to a few promontories on the south-west and a few vessels from 
 Phoenicia. The Belgae were strongly actuated by a commercial spirit, and pursued its directions so 
 vigorously, that, within a century from their first entrance into the Island, the most westerly tribes 
 certainly carried on a considerable commerce with the Phoenicians, and all of them afterwards a 
 much more considerable one with the Romans of Narbonne and the Greeks of Marseilles. In con¬ 
 sequence of the latter, the native commodities of the island in the time of Augustus were regularly 
 exported into Gaul, and conveyed by barges upon the rivers, or by horses upon the roads, across the 
 Gallic continent to both. * * * 
 
 “The Belg® settled in Britain about three hundred and fifty years B. C.”—Rev. John Whitaker’s 
 nistory of Manchester. 
 
 e Mr. Thomber says a species of woad yet grows upon the coast of Morecambe Bay. 
 
BRITISH AND ROHAN PERIODS. 
 
 3 
 
 seml-nomadic in their habits, and existed principally on the produce of 
 the chase, pasturage, and plunder. 
 
 The ancient Britons were not only a warlike, hut, relatively, a free and 
 liberty-loving people. Though divided into many small tribes or petty 
 states, governed by transient military despotisms or more regularly 
 constituted authority, the people do not appear to have been subjected to 
 servile degradation in an equal degree with their relatives and neighbours, 
 the continental Gauls. Yet they were not the less superstitious idolaters. 
 Notwithstanding them military courage and physical prowess, they quailed 
 with infantile terror beneath the anathemas of Druidical priests, who shed 
 the blood of their fellow-men as a sacrifice to their savage deities,—personi¬ 
 fications of the worst passions of a ruffian humanity. 
 
 The “ Country of the Brigantes” is the name by which that portion of 
 the island was distinguished, which included the Lancashire of the present 
 day. The Brigantes occupied the territory which lies between the Scottish 
 border on the north, and the Mersey and Humber on the south. Tacitus 
 says the tribe of the Brigantes was the most numerous in the whole pro¬ 
 vince of Britain. In a further sub-division, the inhabitants of the western 
 coast between the Cumbrian and Welch mountains, were called the Volantii 
 and the Setantii, Sistuntii, or Segantii, “the dwellers in the country of 
 the waters.” The Setantii were, therefore, the principal ancient inhabi¬ 
 tants of Lancashire. The Bev. John Whitaker is of opinion that about the 
 commencement of the Christian era the Setantii and Volantii acknowledged 
 the supremacy of the Brigantine chiefs. 
 
 Dr. T. Dunham Whitaker, speaking of the Setantii, says,—“Thus 
 situated, on an elevated level, along the sources of numerous brooks and of 
 some considerable rivers, their name may be referred to the great character¬ 
 istic feature of their country, So cond uii ,—the Head of the Waters.” 
 
 The Volantii most probably occupied the hilly portion of the country to 
 the north and east, and the Setantii the more level and marshy country 
 near the coast. f 
 
 Little is known of this people, distinctive from the general aboriginal 
 character, previously to the conquest of the country by the Homans. The 
 polished southern warriors eventually introduced amongst the rude 
 savages the arts and luxuries of civilized life, as some compensation for the 
 loss of national liberty. The Britons, though often defeated in bloody 
 battles, were, however, not easily subdued. They contrived to harass and 
 
 f The Rev. John Whitaker says the name is expressive of a maritime situation. “It is compounded 
 of SE, TAN, TIU; or, S, IS, TAN, TIU, signifying either simply The Country of Water, or 
 discriminately The Inferiour and Southerly Country of Water, and expresses the particular 
 position of Lancashire with respect to the Volantii and the sea.”—His. Man. vol. 1, p. 7. 
 
4 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 disquiet the enemy to such an extent that the acquisition of any portion of 
 Britain remained more a nominal than a tangible achievement till about a 
 century after the arrival of Julius Caesar. This renowned commander first 
 landed on the British coast in the fifty-fifth year before Christ. In the 
 year 43, during the reign of Claudius, the Eomans, under Plautius, 
 again invaded Britain. He was followed by Ostorius Scapula and 
 Suetonius Paulinus. The former defeated Caractacus, and sent him in 
 chains to Borne. The latter, after many sanguinary conflicts, finally 
 routed the army of Boadicea, Queen of the Iceni, who, rather than grace 
 the triumph of the conqueror, committed suicide. The combined efforts of 
 these generals completely subdued the southern Britons. The Druids were 
 put to the sword, or burnt upon their own altars. The sacred groves 
 were destroyed, and the performance of their religious rites prohibited 
 imder severe penalties. Such extreme violence towards the faith of a 
 conquered people was never indulged in by the Bomans in any other 
 instance; and was evidently an act of stem political necessity, arising from 
 the abject deference paid by the inhabitants to the dictum of the Druidical 
 priesthood, rather than one of simple religious intolerance. 
 
 The Brigantes are first mentioned by the Boman historians as in active 
 collision with the imperial troops during the reign of the Emperor Claudius. 
 They espoused the cause of the Iceni, and were defeated by Ostorius. 6 
 After the death of Galba, an insurrection broke out amongst them. 
 Yenutius, one of their most distinguished chieftains, had married the 
 Queen Cartismandua, who had basely betrayed the brave Caractacus. The 
 lady proved equally false to her husband; but Fortune refused to smile 
 upon her second perfidy. She escaped with difficulty to her Boman allies, 
 and Yenutius not only remained master of the Brigantine territory, but for 
 a considerable period successfully resisted the progress of the imperial 
 arms. In the reign of Yespasian, the praetor Petilius Cerealis defeated 
 the Brigantes, after a sanguinary struggle, and added the greater portion 
 of their territory to the Boman province. 
 
 The Boman domination was not, however, fully established in the north¬ 
 west of England till the reign of Domitian, when the civil and mili tary 
 government was entrusted to Julius Agricola. Under his commanding 
 genius the whole country was systematically reduced to submission. 
 Agricola entered the territory of the Setantii, according to his son-in-law, 
 Tacitus, in the year 79. The previous iU success of the Brigantine arms 
 dispirited the Setantii, and Lancashire became an easy acquisition. Tacitus 
 says,— 
 
 g The Iceni inhabited the modern counties of Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridge, and Huntingdonshire. 
 

 
 
 
 / 
 
 
 
ABOUT TWO THIRDS 
 
 FIG 9 
 
 ONE HALF SIZE 
 
BRITISH AND ROMAN PERIODS. 
 
 5 
 
 “Id tlie early part of the summer. Agricola personally inspected his soldiers, praised 
 the forward, stirred up the slothful, and marked out the stations himself. He explored 
 the estuaries and woods, and kept the enemy in continual alarm hy sudden incursions. 
 When he had completely over-awed the people, he stayed his operations in order to 
 exhibit to them the blessings of peace. By these means many cities, which till then had 
 been free, submitted and gave hostages, and were surrounded hy posts and fortified 
 places. These were selected with so much skill and judgment that no newly-explored 
 part of Britain was ever before so peaceable. The following winter was spent in the 
 execution of the wisest designs. To pacify men rejoicing in warfare, and to incline them 
 by idleness to pleasure, he exhorted them privately, and assisted them publicly, to erect 
 temples, courts of justice, and habitations. By praising the forward and chastising the 
 slothful, he diffused a spirit of emulation which operated like a sense of duty. He 
 instructed the sons of their chiefs in the liberal arts ; and professed to prefer the genius 
 of the Britons to the attainments of the Gauls. Thus, those who lately disdained the 
 Roman language began to cultivate its beauties. Our dress became the fashion, and the 
 toga was frequently seen. By degrees they yielded to the charms of vice, the porch, 
 baths, and elegant banquets; and that was called humanity by the simple-minded natives 
 which in truth was but a link in the chain of slavery.” 
 
 Within four years, Agricola extended his conquests northward to the 
 Firth of the Tay. He afterwards instituted a line of garrisons extending 
 from the Clyde to the Forth, so as effectually to protect the Homan province 
 from the forays of the fierce barbarians who preferred the barren hills 
 and liberty to “ inglorious ease ” purchased by submission. Although 
 Agricola’s civil administration was of so prudent and conciliatory a 
 character that he established, on a permanent foundation, the authority 
 his military genius had achieved, his brilliant services, imfortunately 
 for himself, were more valuable than even princely munificence could 
 adequately recompense. The jealousy of the Emperor Domitian, there¬ 
 fore, repaid him with regal ingratitude. 
 
 Many remains of the ancient inhabitants have been discovered in the 
 neighbourhood of Preston. About fifteen years ago, a very superior bronze 
 celt or axe, and a spear head of similar metal, were found at Cuerdale, by 
 Mr. Richardson, the late tenant of the estate, while making a deep drain 
 in what he termed the “cars or red water land.” This celt was forwarded 
 to London for the inspection of some archaeological society, and a common 
 one of the form of fig. 6, plate I, returned in its stead. It is probably of 
 British manufacture. The Rev. W. Thornber and others have discovered 
 several remains of the aborogines in the “ Fylde country,” consisting of 
 bronze celts, paalstabs, or battle and other axes ; spear and arrow heads, a 
 bronze knife, amulets, “Druids’eggs” or “adder stones,” skin canoes, 
 “Beltain” or “Tcanla cairns” formed of “fire-broken stones;” bone needles, 
 rude urns, etc. Several of Mr. Thornber’s celts are large and of superior 
 workmanship. Fig. 4, plate I, is an excellent specimen of this species of 
 implement. It was found near the Roman agger in the Fylde. Mr. 
 Thornber mentions, likewise, some remains of supposed British hovels near 
 Pilling, and a singular pathway, buried above six feet deep in Rawcliffe 
 
6 
 
 PEESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 moss, which is generally regarded to be either of British or Romano-Britisli 
 construction, hut more probably the latter. It is fashioned of rude oaken 
 planks, laid upon sleepers of the same material. “ Sometimes,” says 
 Mr. Thornber, “ it is composed of one huge tree, at others of two or three, 
 and its -width varies from 20 inches to something more. It has been 
 traced by Mr. Banister and myself for a mile and a half in the interior of 
 the moss; but to pass over the sullen desolation, it will have to run about 
 the same distance farther.” This singular road is named “Kate’s” or 
 “Danes’ pad;” but all ancient remains are invariably attributed to the 
 Danes in this part of the county. Some writers are of opinion that 
 this road was constructed by the Romanized Britons and Roman legionaries 
 in the reign of Severus. The folio-wing extract from Herodian’s description 
 of this emperor’s expedition to subdue the revolted barbarians in the 
 north, demonstrates that this conjecture is by no means improbable, 
 lie says,— 
 
 “ He more especially endeavoured to render the marshy places stable by means of 
 causeicays, that his soldiers, treading with safety, might pass them, and having firm 
 footing, fight to advantage. Tor many parts of the British country being constantly 
 flooded by the tides of the ocean, become marshy. In these the natives are accustomed 
 to swim and traverse about, being immersed as high as their waists : for, going naked 
 as to the greater part of their bodies, they contemn the mud. # * * Of a breast¬ 
 
 plate or a helmet they know not the use, esteeming them as impediments to their 
 progress through the marshes; from the vapours and exhalations of which the atmos¬ 
 phere in that country always appears dense. * * * His army having passed 
 
 beyond the rivers and fortresses which defended the Roman territory, there were 
 frequent attacks and skirmishes, and retreats on the side of the barbarians. To these, 
 indeed, flight was an easy matter, and they lay hidden in the thickets and marshes 
 tlirough their local knowledge; all which things being adverse to the Romans, served 
 to protract the war.” 
 
 Those who arc acquainted with the Eylde country, and especially the 
 neighbourhood of Pilling and Rawcliffe, nail readily perceive that a truer 
 picture of the locality could not have been painted had the author specially 
 alluded to this swampy district. Mr. Thornber describes the course of this 
 singular road as “ across the mosses of Rawcliffe, Stalmine, and Pilling, to 
 the ancient sea beach of Scronka.” The same authority mentions a singu¬ 
 larly formed iron or steel fibula, a wooden drinking bowl, “hooped with 
 two brass bands, and having two handles,” found in Stalmine moss, 
 together with a pewter “ colon ” or wine strainer, which he considers to 
 have been used by the “Romanised Britons.” “But,” he adds, “the 
 greatest treasure disclosed here was taken out of a ditch by Richard 
 Fairclough. It consists of an anvil, scissors or shears, and many thin 
 plates of brass. And the greatest curiosity is a brass stirrup of good work¬ 
 manship.” The stirrup is of singular form, and quite unique. It is 
 difficult to decide by what people it was manufactured. Mr. Thornber 
 asks, “Is it Roman?” On the line of the Roman agger from Kirkliam 
 
BRITISH AND ROMAN PERIODS. 
 
 7 
 
 to Poulton, called likewise “Danes’ pad,” Mr. Thornber has collected 
 many remains, including iron galloway shoes, fragments of peculiarly 
 formed panniers, and a curious vehicle (a kind of sledge), preserved in the 
 dry gravel or the surrounding peat, which he attributes to the ‘ ‘ Roman¬ 
 ised Britons.” Querns or hand com mills have likewise been found near 
 the line of the Roman agger. A Celtic stone hammer was found some 
 years ago at Longridge. It is at present deposited in the museum of 
 the Institution, Avenham. A somewhat similar hammer was found in the 
 neighbourhood of Garstang, and near Winmarley, in the same parish, a 
 “ rude oaken box, fastened together by pins of the same material, containing 
 a fine collection of celts and other instruments.” Dr. Whitaker, in 
 reference to these articles, says,— 
 
 “ It is not improbable that they are partly Roman and partly British, as there are 
 spears’ heads exactly resembling those of the lower empire, while the celts decidedly 
 belong to the original inhabitants of the country, but it may be difficult to fix the 
 antiquity, or to decide the use of the tubes which appear amongst them. These instru¬ 
 ments, with the remains of the box hi which they were contained, still continue hi the 
 possession of the farmer’s servant by whom they were discovered.” h 
 
 It is much to be regretted that relics of this description are not immedi¬ 
 ately, on their being discovered, deposited in some public museum, not 
 simply to ensure then preservation, hut for their intrinsic value with 
 reference to archaeological and historical investigation. Bronze celts, etc., 
 have at various times been taken from the Ribble, and indications of 
 British location have been found at Walton-le-dalo and other places. The 
 ordinary celt, fig. 6, plate I, was found at Walton, together with the bronze 
 articles, figs. 3, 5, and 9. They were deposited in the museum of the 
 Literary and Philosophical Institution, Preston, by Mr. Adam Lambster, 
 and are described as Roman. They belong to that class of articles to which 
 it is difficult to assign a precise date. They are generally described, in con¬ 
 sequence, as “ Romano-British.” Dr. Robson and others are of opinion 
 that the bronze celts are not “British battle axes,” but Roman chisels and 
 carpenters’ implements. The chief of these are most probably of Roman 
 manufacture. Some antiquaries regard the term “Greaves town’’ in the 
 township of Ashton, as indicative of the presence of the Druidical priest¬ 
 hood. ‘ This conclusion is, however, not veiy satisfactory. In 1854, 
 two curious glass beads were found near the house of Mr. Henry Threlfall, 
 at Hollowforth, near Broughton. The workmen were digging for “subsoil,” 
 in which the beads were deposited. One is nearly spherical, but irregular 
 in form, owing to some imperfection in the workmanship. The other is 
 cylindrical, with the perforation scarcely in the centre, from a similar 
 
 h His. Richmondshire, vol. 2, p. 457. 
 i Whittle’s His. of Preston, vol. 1, p. 10. 
 
8 
 
 rRESTON AND IIS ENVIRONS. 
 
 cause. The colours are yet very brilliant. The spherical one has yellow 
 zigzag marks upon the dull green ground of the glass, and the other is still 
 more elaborated. The circular edges are ornamented with a band of 
 brilliant yellow, and the intermediate space is filled with white, green, 
 and red waved lines. Plate I, figs. 1 and 2. 
 
 Mr. Edward Penn, in a paper read before the Lancashire and Cheshire 
 Historic Society, in January, 1855, after exhibiting several curious beads 
 of this description, which had been found in Ireland, expresses a doubt 
 whether any of a similar character had been “ discovered in the ground 
 elsewhere,” and concludes that “till such shall prove the fact they must 
 be classed as Irish.” He expresses a hope that “those who are in pos¬ 
 session of facts confirming what is stated or otherwise, will make this 
 information known, as it is only by such co-operation that the truth can 
 be reached.” Erom this it would appear that specimens of these abori¬ 
 ginal ornaments are very rare in this country. Mr. Bonn further adds, 
 “ These articles are found under such circumstances as would lead one to 
 infer that they belonged to an age so distant as to seem quite incredible;— 
 in those localities, indeed, in which are discovered those great fossil teeth, 
 said to have been of an extinct horse. * * I do not mean to assert that 
 the teeth have been found in absolute connection with the beads, but both 
 have been discovered at the same depth in the subsoil and in the alluvial 
 soil, as I have taken pains to ascertain.” 
 
 There is considerable difficulty in determining the precise date of any 
 ancient beads. They appear to have been used from the earliest known 
 period. Some may have been manufactured in the countries where they 
 are found, but the greater probability is that the bulk were made by the 
 Homans and more civilised people of the continent, and exported to Britain 
 and the provinces. Venice has been, from time immemorial, celebrated 
 for the manufacture of such articles. At the present day, trinkets, beads, 
 and other rude ornaments, as well as tomahawks, and, it is said, wooden 
 idols, are fashioned in England for the barbarian tribes of America and the 
 east. The two beads, figs. 7 and 8, plate I, were found by Mr. Thomber, 
 near the base of the Homan agger in the Eylde. Ho. 8 exactly resembles 
 the centre one figured by Mr. Bonn. It is likewise of terra cotta, and has 
 been of a beautiful azure colour. Beads of this character are often found 
 in connection with Homan interments. Eig. 7 is made apparently from a 
 piece of “ spar,” the parallel bands are merely the veins in the original 
 stone. In the tombs of the pagan Saxons, beads of a somewhat similar 
 character are often found. Several are preserved in the British museum, 
 and in the Eaussett collection. 
 
 The Hev. John Whitaker says, “The large branching horns of the segh” 
 
BRITISH AND HOMAN PERIODS. 
 
 9 
 
 (wild deer) “ have been found oftener in this than in any other county 
 in the kingdom.” k Dr. Leigh mentions one dug up towards the end of the 
 17th century, at Larbrick, near Preston, having the entire head of the stag, 
 and even the vertebra) of the neck, adhering to it; and another, still larger, 
 found a few years before “in the moss at Meales.” J. Whitaker alludes to 
 a third, fished out of the sea, in 1727, near Cartmel. 
 
 Homs of the segh and other extinct animals have since been dredged 
 from the bed of the river. Many similar relics were discovered amongst 
 the alluvial detritus accumulated in the valley of the Itibble, when digging 
 for the foundations of the North Union and East Lancashire railway 
 bridges. Amongst others are remains of the gigantic ox (Bos primi- 
 geniusj, skulls and horns of the long-faced ox f Bos longifrons), skulls of 
 the wild boar fSus scrofaj, skulls of the wild bear (Ursus arctosj, etc. 
 Several specimens are preserved in the museum of the Literary and 
 Philosophical Institution, at the Institution for the Diffusion of Know¬ 
 ledge, Avenham, and at the Dibble Navigation Company’s office. 
 
 Dr. Leigh figures the skull of a rhinoceros belonging to the “anti- 
 diluvian period,” found “under a moss in Lancashire,” which is copied by 
 Buckland, in his “ Reliquiae Biluviance.” Leigh likewise mentions that, 
 during the drainage of Martin Mere, by “ that Ingenious Gentleman and 
 Generous Undertaker, Thomas Fleetwood, of Bank, Esq.,” no less than 
 eight canoes were found, cut from the solid tree, one of which he figures. * 1 
 He likewise engraves a bronze celt and a “ stone not milike a whetstone,” 
 found in a “ morass, in SawicTc, about nine miles distant from the Meer.” 
 
 Leigh further adds: “I have likewise seen a Brass Kettle, which was 
 given me by Major George Wesiby, and a small Mill-stone, found in those 
 places, as likewise Beads of Amber. ’Tis plain these could not be brought 
 there by Noah’s Deluge, since in those early days the Defining of Metals 
 was not known, and ’tis very probable such kind of Mill-stones were not 
 made use of.” m 
 
 Several of the articles recently discovered on the site of the “Saxon castle,” 
 at Penwortham, mentioned in the Domesday survey, will be found fully 
 described in the third chapter of the present work. Fig. 1, plate YI, 
 represents what has been pretty generally pronounced to be a portion of an 
 ancient British canoe paddle. 
 
 The names of the principal rivers, hills, and valleys in the county, as 
 well as some other local appellations, still exhibit distinct evidence of 
 
 k History of Manchester, vol. 1, p. 352. 
 
 1 Nat. His. of Lan., Ches., etc., pages 18 and 181. 
 m Ibid, p. 59. Leigh’s work was published in the year 1700. 
 
10 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 British origin. The Bev. J. Darios, in an interesting dissertation on the 
 “ Baces of Lancashire,” gives, amongst others, the following, as derived 
 from the ancient Celtic language, represented by the Welsh, the Irish, and 
 the Gaelic of the present day:— 
 
 “ The Douglas, flowing into the estuary of the Ribble: Welsh du, black, and glas, a 
 greenish blue, or sea green, so called from the colour of the stream.—The Ribble: The 
 name of this well-known river has much perplexed antiquarian philologists. I can only 
 venture to suggest that it may be compounded of rhe (active, fleet), and bala (a shooting 
 out, a discharge, the outlet of a lake), and may refer to its rapid course as an estuary.— 
 The Calder, a tributary of the Ribhle : Mr. Baxter describes the first part of this word 
 from calai, muddy. In Welch llai (pr. somewhat like the English clay) signifies “mud,” 
 and also “gloom;” but this is not, I think, the origin of “cal” in Calder. More proba¬ 
 bly from Welch call, what goes or turns about, n The latter part is doubtless from the 
 Welch dyr, a stream.—The Darwen, another tributary of the Ribble: Welch dyr, and 
 gwen, white, beautiful.—The Lune, on which the town of Lancaster stands : This word 
 is probably the same as Alun in Wales, from Welch al, chief, and aun, un, a contraction 
 of afon, a river. This contraction of “afon” is not uncommon; it is found in Combrook, 
 near Manchester (Cor aun, narrow stream).—The Wyre, a river that flows into More- 
 cambe Bay: Welch gwyr, pure, fresh, lively.—Loud, Welch Uwth, glib, slippery.—Bay 
 of Morecambe, Welch mawr, Gaelic mor, great, and cam, crooked, winding; and Winau- 
 der, or Winder Mere, Welch gwn, fair, beautiful, and dyr, water, stream.—Crag Valley, 
 a long irregular valley near Blackstone Edge: Welch craig, a rock. This valley is also 
 called the Vale of Turvin: Welch terfyn (pr. turvin), a boundary, terroe finis. This 
 valley was probably in old time the boundary in this part between the Sistuntii of Lan¬ 
 cashire and the Brigantes of Yorkshire.—Pendle Hill: Welch pen, head or summit, a 
 common name in Wales for a lofty summit, as Penmaenmawr, Penrhyn, &c.; Gael, ben, 
 binnear, hill. This word is written in our old records “ Penhull,” and is an instance of 
 three parts of a single name, all having the same meaning, and marking three successive 
 changes of language: Welch pen; Anglo-Saxon hull; English hill.—Coniston Old Man: 
 a corruption, as Dr. Whitaker has pointed out, of alt maen, lofty hill.—Rivington Pike: 
 Welch pic or pig, a pointed end, a beak; Armorican picq; French pic, as in the Pic du 
 Midi.—Mellor, near Blackburn: Welch maelawr, a mart or market.—Catterall, near 
 Garstang: Welch cad or cat, war, and rhail, a fence. There was doubtless a British 
 encampment here.—Peel, on the Roman road from Manchester to Blackrod : Welch pill, 
 a small fortress, a stronghold. This word is common in the county as a local name. 
 There is an ancient British encampment near Stockport (the moat of which is still 
 visible), wliich the country people call the Peel. The rude towers to which the northern 
 borderers brought their prey, after a foray, are still called by this name.—Rossall, on the 
 moorland, near Fleetwood: Welch rhos, a moor.—Carnforth and Scotforth, in the north 
 of the county: Welch earn, a heap of stones, fordd, a road. The Celtic word “ fordd,” 
 now appropriated to a road over a stream, means simply “ a road ” or “ passage.” The 
 ■word “ Scot ” may be a sign of the ancient Irish Scoti, of w-hose permission to dwell in 
 the country the Welch Triads have given us an account.—Penketh, Pendleton, Pen- 
 wortham: here the first syllable is the Welch pen, head or summit. There are some 
 other names of places which may probably be referred to a Celtic origin, as Heskin, 
 Hesketli (Welch hesg, sedge, rushes).—The number of Celtic names of places is much 
 less than of the names of natural objects, or of the Celtic words found in the dialect. 
 The Saxons or Danes gave their own names to the town or village of which they took 
 possession, while the river that flowed by, or the hill that rose above it, retained its 
 original Celtic appellation.” 
 
 Britain, -whilst under the Boman dominion, was visited by the Emperors 
 Hadrian and Severus, both of whom, together with Lollius TJrhicus, the 
 general in command under Antoninus Pius, recovered several revolted 
 
 n Dr. Whitaker prefers “ col ” or narrow as the interpretation. 
 
BRITISH AND ROMAN PERIODS. 
 
 11 
 
 provinces, and strengthened the northern defences, by the erection of military 
 posts, earthem ramparts, and stone walls, extending from the Irish Sea to 
 the German Ocean. 
 
 In the reign of Antoninus Pius, the Brigantes again rebelled, and made 
 an aggressive movement into the neighbouring district of the Gemania, 
 then subject to the Homans. They were, hi turn, attacked and defeated 
 by the Roman General. Severus died a.d. 210, or 211, at Eboracum, 
 (York), the capital of the Brigantes. Three large hills yet point out 
 the spot where his funeral obsequies are said to have been celebrated. 
 After the death of Severus, his son Caracalla made peace with the Cale¬ 
 donians, and Britain appears to have enjoyed the blessings of internal 
 tranquillity during the reigns of several succeeding emperors. In the joint 
 reign of Diocletian and Maximian, the Roman Admiral, Carausius, suc¬ 
 cessfully assumed the purple in Britain (a.d. 288). On his death the 
 province was re-united to the empire, and was afterwards, on its division, 
 included in the possessions of Constantius Chloras. The latter died at 
 York, hi the year 307, at which city his son, Constantine the Great, was 
 proclaimed emperor. Constantine divided the Roman territories into the 
 Eastern and Western Empires. From this period the power of the Roman 
 people in Britain began sensibly to decline. The northern barbarians 
 infested the interior, and the coasts were ravaged by Saxon pirates. The 
 usurper Maximus first raised the standard of revolt in Britain hi the year 
 381, and passed over to Gaul, carrying with him, according to some 
 authorities, the flower of the British youth. He was defeated by Theo¬ 
 dosius. Similar usurpations, including the temporarily successful one 
 by Constantine, followed with similar results. 0 Britain suffered severely 
 in the conflicts which preceded the final departure of the Romans from 
 the island. 
 
 In the division of the British territory made by Severus, Lancashire 
 formed part of the province Britannia Superior, of which Eboracum (York) 
 was the principal city. In the reign of Constanthie a new division was 
 introduced, when the county was included in the province named Maxima 
 Csesaricnsis. 
 
 The religion of the Romans during their occupation of Britain was the 
 Pantheistic idolatry. Some writers assert that Christianity was preached 
 in the island as early as the time of the Apostles. A British Christian 
 church, certainly, was founded centuries before the advent of Augustine 
 
 o The British troops, which followed the usurpers to the continent, were permitted to retain 
 possession of Armorica, in the north-west of Gaul, where they founded the modern Bretagne cr 
 Brittany. Their number was further increased by the emigration of British people from Cornwall, 
 and other places in the island, on the success of the Saxon invaders. 
 
12 
 
 PHESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 and Paulinus. The precise amount of truth there may be in the former 
 statement it is now difficult to determine. p However this may he, the little 
 light of Christian revelation which glimmered during the latter portion of 
 the Homan period, was soon absorbed in the huge darkness of the succeed¬ 
 ing Saxon idolatry. In a few generations the retrograde movement had 
 annihilated the best portion of the Homan civilization. Internal wars and 
 domestic treason completed the work, and Britain relapsed into barbarism.' 1 
 
 Notwithstanding the destructive influence of time, and of agricultural 
 improvement, indubitable remains of several Roman roads and stations can 
 yet be traced in various parts of Britain. As might be anticipated, from the 
 imperfect character of the few ancient records which have descended to us, 
 considerable difference of opinion has been expressed by antiquaries 
 respecting the identity of existing localities -with those of the Homan 
 topography. 
 
 In this respect Lancashire appears to be rather more unfortunate than 
 many other portions of Great Britain. The venerable Camden expressed a 
 fear that he would “give little satisfaction either to him self or his readers,” 
 when he entered upon the consideration of the archaeological remains 
 pertaining to this county. 1 Although much has been discovered and 
 written since his time, the subject still remains enveloped in considerable 
 obscurity, the more eminent modem antiquaries and historians by no 
 means agreeing even in the general outline. 
 
 "What Byron so eloquently says of Home itself, and the mystery still 
 enshrouding many of its colossal remains, applies with two-fold force to 
 the difficulties which present themselves to the local antiquarian topo¬ 
 grapher in one of the most remote provinces of the empire:— 
 
 “ The double night of ages and of her 
 Night’s daughter. Ignorance, hath wrapt and wrap 
 All round us; we but feel our way to err : 
 
 The Ocean has his chart, the stars their map. 
 
 And Knowledge spreads them on her ample lap; 
 
 But Rome is as the Desert, where we steer 
 Stumbling o’er recollections; now we clap 
 Our hands and cry ‘ Eureka! ’ it is clear— 
 
 When but some false mirage of ruin rises near.”s 
 
 p In the year 1702, while removing the rubbish from the chief tribunal of the Druids in Anglesea, 
 a brass medal of our Saviour was found, on which was inscribed in Hebrew—“ This is Jesus the 
 Mediator,” from which it is inferred the Christian religion had been preached here in the early part 
 of the first century; and it seems probable that this medal was the property of some of its ministers 
 who had been condemned and sacrificed by the Druids.—Burton’s Mon. Ebor. b. 1, p. 3. 
 
 q Mr. Kemble is of opinion that the population of Britain at the termination of the Roman occupa¬ 
 tion was as numerous as at the latter portion of the seventeenth century, 
 r Gough’s edition, vol. 3, p. 127. 
 s Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage, canto 4th. 
 
BRITISH AND HOMAN PERIODS. 
 
 13 
 
 The ancient Geographer, Ptolomy, mentions three estuaries and one 
 “portus,” which are, by universal consent, assigned to the coasts of Lan¬ 
 cashire and Cheshire; hut still, notwithstanding their strongly marked and 
 distinctive characteristics, little approaching to a unity of opinion respect¬ 
 ing their precise identity has yet been arrived at by those most conversant 
 with the subject. 4 The “ Seteia vEstuarium” has pretty generally been 
 assigned to the Dee, and the “Morieambe PEstuarium" to Morecambe Day. 
 Dut the “Belisama vEstuarium,” and the “Setantiorum Portus" have been 
 shifted from place to place, according to the judgment or caprice of the 
 several antiquarian topographers. The Belisama is identified with the 
 Kibble by Camden and Dr. T. D. Whitaker; and with the Mersey by the 
 Kev. John Whitaker, Horsley, Mr. Edward Daines, and others. The 
 “Portus Setantiorum" is the Kibble, in the opinion of John Whitaker, 
 Horsley, and Daines; while Stukeley and T. D. Wliitaker place it on the 
 Lune. Daxter supposed it to be the mouth of the Mersey; and Kuerdcn 
 quaintly says, “ They (the Komans) had likewise their Limen or Portus 
 Setantiorum at or near the now Pyle of Foudra upon the river Ken.” 
 Camden fancied there was some error in the expression “ Limen,” and 
 that Windermere lake was alluded to by the ancient geographer. And 
 lastly, Percival, Mr. Thomber, Mr. Just, and others, identify it with the 
 Wyre. 
 
 Ptolomy mentions a town or city on the Delisama, named Kigodunum. 
 This has been variously placed upon the Mersey, at Warrington, and at 
 Kibchester, on the Kibble. Dr. Kuerden enters into a long series of argu¬ 
 ments to show that Preston occupies the site of this Roman city. John 
 Wliitaker regards Kigodunum and the Coccium of Antoninus as one and 
 the same place, and fixes the site at Dlackrod. He says “ Caer Cocciu 
 imports literally the City of Supremacy,” and that “ Kigodunum literally 
 signifies the ‘Fortress of Royalty.’ ” Dr. T. D. Wliitaker gives a totally 
 different derivation, but still fuses the two names into one, and places the 
 compound at Kibchester. Ancient authorities mention other places besides 
 those referred to in the Itinera of Antoninus which are believed to pertain 
 to Lancashire, namely, Veratinum, which has been placed at Warrington; 
 Colunium, or Calanea, at Colne; the Ad Alaimam of “ Richard of Cirences¬ 
 ter,” and the Longovicus of the “Notitia,” at Lancaster; on account of 
 the supposed retention of portions of the Roman names in the modern 
 designations. 
 
 According to Ptolomy the latitudes and longitudes of the following 
 places on the coast are,— 
 
 t Ptolomy’s work was compiled about the year 130. 
 
14 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Ituna. 
 
 Roman east long. 
 
 North lilt. 
 ... 58° 45' 
 
 Moricambe iEstuarium... 
 
 . 17 30 . 
 
 ... 58 
 
 20 
 
 Setantiorum Portus . 
 
 . 17 20 . 
 
 ... 57 
 
 45 
 
 Belisama iEstuarium ... 
 
 . 17 30 . 
 
 ... 57 
 
 20 
 
 Seteia iEstuarium. 
 
 . 17 — . 
 
 ... 57 
 
 — 
 
 He places Iiigodimum at 57° 30’ north latitude, and 40 minutes to the 
 east of the “portus.” It must be understood, however, that Ptolomy’s 
 figures are all much too high; and from his limited means of information, 
 and the imperfect state of geographical and astronomical science at the 
 period in which he lived, the relative positions of towns, &c., are often 
 very erroneous. This, of course, materially increases the difficulty of local 
 identification at the present day. The loth degree of east longitude from 
 Ferro, on the modem maps of the ancient world, crosses Horecamhe Bay; 
 Ptolomy is, therefore, two degrees and a half in excess. The mouth of the 
 Itihhle is about 53° 40' north latitude. If the nibble he the Belisama, 
 the ancient geographer is in excess 3 3 40'. 
 
 Assuming the Seteia estuary to he the Dee, Ptolomy’s figures would 
 place the Belisama at about Longton, on the Bibble; the Portus in the 
 midst of Morecamhe Bay; the Moricambe iEstuarium near the centre of 
 the Cumberland and "Westmoreland hills! and the Ituna not only a few 
 miles to the north of the Solway, but about a degree to the east of Carlisle! 
 The “ Itinerary of Antoninus ” docs not mention any of these names. 
 
 There is another, although a doubtful authority, in whom, however, the 
 nev. John "Whitaker appears to have placed unbounded confidence, viz., 
 “ Bichard, of Cirencester,” or “ Bicardus Corinensis,” a monkish writer of 
 the fourteenth century. The history of his famous work is somewhat 
 singular. Mr. Charles Julius Bertram, professor of the English Language 
 at the Boyal Marine Academy, Copenhagen, in 1747, sent to Dr. Stukeley 
 a copy of a manuscript which he stated he had discovered at Copenhagen, 
 entitled “ De Situ Britannia ,” purporting to he written by Bichard. 
 Stukeley published an analysis of the work, with the ‘'Itinerary,” in 1755; 
 and the same year Bertram published the original at Copenhagen. Bichard 
 professes to have compiled his “itinera” from certain fragments ■written 
 by a Boman general, and from Ptolomy and other authors. Antonine only 
 gives fourteen routes, and one hundred and thirteen stations, in his Itinerary; 
 while Bichard has eighteen journeys, and one hundred and seventy-six 
 stations. Some parties regard the manuscript as a forgery, and Bertram 
 himself as the compiler of it. Dr. T. D. Whitaker considers Bichard 
 to he entitled to no more respect as an authority than a modem historio¬ 
 grapher. He says:— 
 
BRITISH AND ROMAN PERIODS. 
 
 15 
 
 “ He may be proved to have had no ancient materials which we have not, and he 
 wanted some that we possess. The Fragmenta qutedam a Duce quodatn Romano consig- 
 nata appear to have been the Itinerary of Antonine; the basis of his map was that of 
 Ptolomy, whom he expressly mentions; and his general divisions of Roman Britain were 
 taken from the Notitia. To have adjusted all these, and to have formed an account of 
 Roman Britain from the result, -would have required a judicious and faithful hand. 
 This last the Monk had not: on the contrary, he was possessed with the general spirit of 
 his profession in the middle ages—something between hold conjecture and inventive 
 fraud. He laid out new itinera ; he imagined colonies, towns invested with Jus Latii, 
 and others merely stipendiary, long after these distinctions were abolished; he inserted 
 some names which, though real, were posterior to the Roman empire in Britain, and 
 some which may safely he affirmed to have been fabricated by himself.” u 
 
 Richard asserts Coccium to have been one of the cities that enjoyed the 
 privilege alluded to, which implies that the native inhabitants were not 
 governed by a Roman praefect and quaestor, but by officers elected from 
 amongst themselves. 
 
 The Itinera of Antoninus make no mention of the Portus Setantiorum, 
 or of the town of Rigodunum; * v * * * * x but Richard has the following iter com¬ 
 mencing at the former place, and passing across the country to York:— 
 Iter YII. Richard. 
 
 A Portu Sistuntiorum Eboracum usque sic. 
 
 Rcrigonio...m. p. w 23. 
 
 Ad Alpes Peninos . ,, 8. 
 
 Alieana . ,, 10. 
 
 Isurio* . ,, 18. 
 
 Eboraco . ,, 16. 
 
 It is by some believed that Richard (or Bertram), either by accident or 
 design, substituted Rcrigonium for the Rigodunum of Ptolomy. ? The 
 Rerigonius Sinus he has correctly placed near the mouth of the Clyde, 
 which circumstance undoubtedly tends to confirm the opinion that its 
 introduction into the Lancashire iter is an error. The elder Whitaker, 
 however, accepted the alteration, and placed Rerigonium at Ribchester, 
 and the '‘Portus Setantiorum” at the “Neb of the Naze,” near Ereckleton, 
 on the Ribble. 
 
 u History of Whalley, p. 13. 
 
 v The “work of Antoninus is merely what its name imports, an itinerary or road book; hut it 
 extends over the whole Roman empire in its widest sense. * * The name of Antoninus, under 
 
 which it now passes, has been retained, perhaps, more from the convenience of having.some con¬ 
 ventional author to refer it to, than from any good reason for believing that such was really the 
 author’s name. In the different MSS. of the work it is variously ascribed to Julius Caesar, Antonius 
 Augustus, Antoninus Augustalis, and Antoninus Augustus.” The entire work has been assigned to 
 iEtliicus, “ a geographical writer of uncertain date, but not later than the fourth century.” Tho 
 Itinerary must, from its nature, have received many additions subsequent to its original compilation. 
 
 Some of the routes in Britain could not have been inserted prior to the erection of the wall of 
 
 Severus, as that rampart is mentioned therein.—See Pen. Cyclop.—Art. Antoninus, 
 
 w M. P. signifies Millia Passuum, or miles intervening, 
 
 x Dr. Stukeley’s copy says,—Isurio—19. 
 
 y Dr. Robson,—Lan. and Cheshire Historic Society’s Transactions. 
 
16 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 The existence of a Roman road from Ribchester to Kirkham, and the 
 near agreement of the distance between the “Neb of the Naze ” and the 
 former place, with the figures in Richard’s iter, appeared very conclusive, 
 and consequently the Ribble for a long period remained in comparatively 
 undisputed possession of the distinction of being the Roman “ portus.” 
 The Belisama was removed to the Mersey, and Ptolomy himself made 
 answerable for errors in the distances which could not be overlooked. 
 But in the early part of the present century, another champion appeared, 
 who impugned the authority of Richard. Dr. T. Dunham 'Whitaker 
 fancied the portus at the Lurie. Others, and especially the Rev. W. 
 Thomber, having discovered that no traces whatever existed of a Roman 
 highway from Kirkham to the “Neb of the Naze,” while an agger, 
 evidently of Roman construction, continued the road from Kirkham to 
 near Poulton, consequently claimed the portus for the Wyre. 
 
 Dr. Whitaker exposes the error of the Historian of Manchester, 
 with respect to the distance between the Dee and the Mersey, and 
 replaces the Belisama at the Ribble. The elder Whitaker certainly 
 “ strained a point ” to suit his theory, when he said, “from the Seteia, 
 advancing twenty miles to the north, Ptolomy goes thirty to the east to the 
 JEstuary Belisama. This is plainly the Mersey, "because Belisama is at the 
 distance of the Mersey”! The fact is, as has been previously stated, 
 Ptolomy’s distance accords with the Ribble as nearly as possible. r His 
 successor, however, commits himself in a similar manner, at the opposite 
 end of the line, or what becomes of the thirty-five geographical miles 
 from the portus to Moricambe, if the former be on the Lune ? Indeed, the 
 Dune and the Wyre both discharge themselves into the bay of Morecambe; 
 the latter certainly at its extreme southern point. Some, however, are of 
 opinion that a channel of the Wyre formerly entered the Irish sea between 
 Rossall College and “ Cleveleys.” But for the embankments artificially 
 constructed, the high spring tides would at the present time force a passage 
 in this direction. The truth of this was practically demonstrated during 
 the heavy gale a few years ago. 
 
 Ptolomy makes the portus twenty-five minutes north of the Belisama, 
 and ten minutes to the west. These figures exceed the distance of both 
 Wyre and Lune, and indicate the port to be at Dr. Kuerden’s locality, near 
 the “Pyle of Foudra.” But, if such be the case, where is the Moricambe 
 iEstuarium? By this arrangement we have the portus on the northern shore 
 
 z At so high a latitude, a minute of longitude is hut about one half a geographical miie. John 
 Whitaker appears not to notice this fact. He continually speaks of Ptolomy’s minutes as miles, 
 whether of latitude or longitude. 
 
BRITISH AND ROMAN PERIODS. 
 
 17 
 
 of Morecambe Bay, and can scarcely be expected to travel thirty-five 
 miles further in that direction, with the hope of finding the Moricambe 
 -ZEstuariuin! 
 
 The elder Whitaker’s argument that so considerable an object as the 
 Mersey could not be overlooked, is valueless, from the simple fact that, 
 under any arrangement, a “considerable object” has been overlooked by 
 the geographer; and why not the Mersey as well as any other ? It is 
 probable, for more than one reason. The present embouchure of that river 
 is, from the sea, a much less “considerable object” than Morecambe Bay, 
 the mouth of the Bibble, or that of the Dee. Kb Homan remains of any 
 description have ever been found at or near Liverpool; and none of their 
 roads tend towards that port. Again, it is the opinion of some that the 
 rivers Mersey and Dee once united, the promontory of the Wirral being a 
 large island in the estuary common to both. a However this may be, it 
 does not require any very great stretch of the imagination, on looking at 
 a map at the present time, to regard the bay included between Formby 
 Point and the Point of Ayr as the “ Seteia iEstuarium,” into which 
 debouche both the Mersey and the Dee. It must not be forgotten that 
 Ptolomy speaks, not of rivers, but estuaries , under which term he includes 
 the large bay of Morecambe. The latter receives the Lune, the Wyre, the 
 Kent, and the Leven. The Bibble estuary conducts into the Irish Sea, 
 not only the waters of the stream of that name, but likewise those of the 
 Douglas. The “Tortus Setantiorum” implies not necessarily either 
 estuary or river,—of any importance at least,—but simply a commercial 
 harbour. 
 
 According to the Historian of Whalley, the word Belisama signifies 
 “Head of the Waters;” and “Bhiu-bel, from which the present name is 
 obviously formed, has exactly the same meaning, namely, the Head Eiver.” 
 The elder Whitaker calls Belisama, the “Head Stream, or King of the 
 Currents,” and “Bhi-bcl, King Biver.” Leigh says “ Bellisama, in 
 the Phoenician language, signifies the Moon, or the Goddess of Heaven," 
 and that “ Ribel, now the name of the same river, in the Armenian Tongue, 
 signifies Heaven .” b He contends that the Brigantcs were a mixed people, 
 composed of Britons, Phoenicians, and Armenians. Mr. Thornbcr says 
 that Belisama means “ Queen of Heaven,” and that the Bomans paid 
 divine honours to the Bibble under the title of “ Minerva Belisama.” The 
 
 a See Ormerod’s History of Cheshire, vol. 2. A large tract of country, extending from the con¬ 
 fluence of the Mersey and the Weaver to Helsby and Frodsham, is still occasionally subjected to 
 inundation. If this theory be correct, the mouth of the Mersey must have been originally very 
 shallow, as well as narrow, from the weaker action of the fresh water current. In Grose’s map 
 the embouchure is partially blocked by a small island, 
 b Natural History of Lan. and Ches., and Peak of Derbyshire, p. 76., book 3. 
 
 C 
 
18 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 temple at Ribchester is supposed to have been dedicated to this goddess. 
 The deification of rivers was common to the Roman people; the Wharfe, 
 in Yorkshire, whose source is almost identical with that of the Ribble, was 
 endowed with celestial attributes under the name “ Verbeia.” Camden 
 says, “After the Mersey this is the next river that falls into the ocean, the 
 old name whereof is not entirely lost, for Ptolomy calls the estuary here 
 Belisama, and we the Ribell, perhaps by joining to it the Saxon word Rhe, 
 which signifies a river.” c 
 
 If there be much weight in etymological evidence, the identity of the 
 Ribble with the Belisama estuary would seem clearly demonstrated. The 
 inconsistency of the elder Whitaker, in his interpretation of the terms 
 Rhibel and Belisama, and his investment of the Mersey with the Roman 
 title, is self-evident. But this semi-romance writer had a pet theory to 
 substantiate. He was determined upon fixing the portus at Ribble; con¬ 
 sequently every other fact or argument is tortured into subserviency to this 
 purpose. 
 
 An eminent modem archaeologist d would, however, extract from the 
 name Ribble a character directly opposite to that of “ Head River” or 
 “ Ring River.” After demonstrating that Don or Tan is often applied to 
 a superior stream, and Dee or Tee to a relatively inferior one in its vicinity, 
 he applies the Belisama to the Mersey, for the purpose of furnishing the 
 necessary complement to the river Dee ! But, independently of the impor¬ 
 tant fact that Bel is neither Tan nor Don, the reasoning is unsatisfactory, 
 inasmuch as a “disparaging diminutive” in the modem word Ribble, might, 
 equally with Dee, indicate the presence of a superior stream in its neigh¬ 
 bourhood. This, therefore, is but shifting the difficulty from one river to 
 the other. But supposing the term “ripple” does not, like “Dee,” imply 
 a comparative quality, the fact that the term Ri-bel, or Rhi-bel, is con¬ 
 tinually used by the older writers speaks infinitely louder for its origin 
 than the Norman-Latin “Ripa” of the Domesday surveyors. Again, 
 Ribble is precisely such a river as would demand the superior appellation, 
 inasmuch as it is the chief current into which four lesser, but 
 not, relatively, insignificant streams, discharge themselves, viz:—the 
 Hodder, the Calder, the Darwen, and the Douglas. The ancient name of 
 the Mersey seems to be lost. Might it not, if found, furnish the necessary 
 
 c Mr. Davis’s opinion has been previously given. It is by no means either decisive, or even satis¬ 
 factory to himself. He says, “ I can only venture to suggest that it may be compounded of rhe (active 
 fleet,) and bala (a shooting out, a discharge, the outlet of a lake,) and may refer to its rapid course 
 as an estuary.” The Ribble, however, can by no means be caUed a rapid stream; many of its 
 tributaries exceed it in this particular. 
 
 d W. Bell, Phil. Dr. and Secretary to the British Archaeological Society for Foreign correspon¬ 
 dence. Paper read before Lan. and Ches. His. Soc.—Session 3, 1851. 
 
BRITISH AND ROMAN PERIODS. 
 
 19 
 
 complement to the Dee in the presence of the word Don, or Tan, or some 
 of their variations, without troubling the Belisama at all ? Baxter calls it 
 Tinna, which has been identified with Tyne. The present name of the 
 Mersey from its source to Stockport is “ Tame.” Dr. Bell himself makes 
 Tyne a variation of Tan. If “Tame” will not answer the purpose, it is, 
 at least, much nearer the mark than Belisama. But the strongest evidence 
 against Dr. Bell’s position is furnished by the fact that the Dee and the 
 Mersey, as the slightest glance at a map will show, are so nearly of equal 
 magnitude, that the terms Don and Dee, as interpreted by him, cannot 
 with propriety be applied to them. In Knight’s Pen. Cyclop., both rivers 
 are stated to be fifty-five miles in length! e 
 
 It is necessary to bear in mind that the Mersey is but a modern seaport, 
 and depends much upon artificial adjuncts for its safety as a harbour. 
 When Humphrey Brereton undertook the dangerous task of carrying des¬ 
 patches from Lord Stanley and Elizabeth of York to the Earl of Richmond, 
 in the reign of Richard III., he embarked at Liverpool, “ a port,” says 
 Agnes Strickland, “then little known to the rest of England;” and, for 
 which reason, together with the circumstance that “ the shipping and all 
 matters there were at the command of the house of Stanley,” f doubtless it 
 was selected. Its character was so low as late as the end of the seventeenth 
 century, that William III. preferred Hoylake, on the coast of Cheshire, for 
 the embarkation of the troops with which he defeated James II. in Ireland. 
 
 “ Mere” is a term generally applied to lakes in Lancashire and Cheshire, 
 as Windermere, Marton Mere, Martin Mere, Rosthorn mere, Mere-mere, 
 etc., etc. May not the term Mersey be derived from mere and sea, or sea- 
 lake, from the peculiar form of its estuary and narrow embouchure ? This, 
 of course, is merely a conjecture, and may possibly justify a polite intima¬ 
 tion that, in this interpretation of the difficulty, the suggester is a long 
 way “at sea” himself. Etymological evidence is, unquestionably, of the 
 greatest value to the antiquarian topographer; but, like many other 
 precious articles, it is, on account of its very importance, more subjected to 
 the risk of being counterfeited than gross or vulgar material.® 
 
 e Article,—“Cheshire.” The same work, article, “Dee,” states : “ The whole course of this river, 
 from Bala pool to the beginning of the actuary, may be about seventy miles,” thus making the Dee 
 the larger instead of the lesser river. The Severn being a much more important stream than the 
 Dee, would better answer Dr. Bell’s purpose. One of its chief affluents is named the Teme. 
 f Lives of the Queens of England, vol. 4, p. 15. 
 
 g Since the above was written, the author noticed for the first time, the term “ Sea-lake” applied 
 to the estuary of the Mersey, on a “ plan of Liverpool and the pool, as they appeared about the year 
 1650,” re-published opposite page 82 of the 6th session of the Transactions of the Lan. and Ches. 
 His. Society. South of Manchester, at this day, the river is not known by many of the peasantry as 
 the Mersey. It is called by them the “ Cheshire waters.” The modern name appears to have been 
 derived from the estuary, and not from the fresh water stream. 
 
20 
 
 TRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 There could scarcely be a doubt as to the identity of the Moricambe 
 iEstuarium with the present Morecambe Bay, if it were known with 
 certainty that such was its designation anterior to the time of Camden. 
 Some parties, however, entertain an opinion that this learned antiquary 
 may have been the first to apply the name to what was previously termed 
 Lancaster Bay, from a conviction of its identity with Ptolomy’s iEstuary, 
 because an etymological rendering of the term Moricambe (“great bend”) 
 described its peculiar form and character. The universality of its present 
 appellation by the most illiterate of the peasantry of the neighbourhood is, 
 however, decidedly against this supposition. Lancaster Bay is a smaller 
 inlet on the southern shore of the larger indentation. A map of Lancashire, 
 dated 1598, numbered 6159, HL. MSS., and re-published in 1821, in 
 “ Gregson’s Fragments,” gives the name “Morcalm Bay.” Lancaster 
 Bay is not mentioned. 
 
 Dr. Whitaker’s affection for the Lune as the portus appears to have 
 mainly resulted from a desire to reconcile, as nearly as possible, its latitude, 
 as given by Ptolomy, with that of York, according to the same geographer. 
 Yet he confesses that Ptolomy “is known to have taken his accounts of 
 our British coasts from the observations of mariners.” Consequently, 
 relying upon various imperfect authorities, he may rationally be supposed 
 much more likely to err in the relative positions of two localities, the one 
 situated near the eastern and the other on the western coast, than he would 
 respecting the distances of four “considerable objects” within a few 
 miles of each other. Besides, the high latitude of Moricambe must be an 
 error of Ptolomy, if the estuaries described belong to the coasts of Lancashire 
 and Cheshire , which is not denied. This can be demonstrated from his 
 own figures and a reference to the local facts. He makes the entire dis¬ 
 tance from the “ Seteia” to “Moricambe” 1° 20', or eighty geographical 
 miles; while the real distance, including both extremities, is little if any 
 more than fifty! Ptolomy’s distances, being derived from early mariners, 
 and being generally in excess, might, perhaps, with some probability, be 
 regarded as sailing routes rather than geographical measurements. With 
 a very slight allowance on this score, if the Dee and the Mersey be con¬ 
 sidered as one, or the latter overlooked, the relative positions of the Seteia, 
 the Belisama, and the Portus will accord with the Dee, the Bibblc, and 
 the Wyre. Moricambe, however, will still show a considerable excess, 
 unless the deep indentation of the coast line he assumed as a compensation. 
 But this does not satisfactorily meet the difficulty. Ptolomy, or some of 
 his transcribers, has evidently recorded a blunder in the latitude of Mori¬ 
 cambe, for he makes it but twenty-five miles south of the Ituna, which is 
 acknowledged to be the Solway. The entire latitude distance from Seteia 
 
BRITISH AND ROMAN PERIODS. 
 
 21 
 
 to Ituna agrees with that of the Dee and Solway, quite as near as can be 
 expected from the imperfect character of Ptolomy’s information. 11 The 
 Wyre, likewise, accords with the distance (one degree) of the portus from 
 Ituna. The chief confusion arises from the latitude assigned to Moricambe. 
 If this were corrected so as to agree with Ituna, there would be no difficulty, 
 the breadth of the bay being still sufficient to give to its centre a consider¬ 
 ably higher latitude than the Wyre, and thus preserve the sequence of 
 Ptolomy, which would not be done if the portus were placed at the “Pyle 
 of Poudra,” or scarcely so if at the Lune. This arrangement implies an 
 error of half a degree in the latitude of Moricamle. The relative longitudes 
 of all the places, on this supposition (with the exception of the Ituna, 
 where there is an evident blunder of one degree,) coincide, considering the 
 circumstances, remarkably well. Under any other theory, the two corrections 
 suggested are necessary, while the remaining figures do not present anything 
 like so near an approximation. 
 
 Dr. Whitaker, not wishing his own arrangement to be disturbed, affects 
 to ridicule the claims of Wyre. There is, however, little grace and less 
 logic exhibited in the effort. He says,— 
 
 “About three miles south of the town of Poulton, the agger of a Roman road was 
 distinctly visible till within the last ten or twelve years, since which time immense 
 quantities of gravel have been conveyed away for repairs of the roads and garden walks. 
 Its direction was such as to show that it had been a branch from the road now visible on 
 Fulwood Moor; which led from Ribchester to the neb of the Naze, tending to the 
 estuary of Wyre. It does indeed prove, beyond a doubt, that the Romans had a settle¬ 
 ment, as it was antecedently probable, that they would have, on that estuary, as well as 
 on those of the Lune or Ribble; i but it neither proves nor renders probable, that the 
 mouth of the Wyre was the Setantiorum Portus.” k 
 
 The circumstance would, doubtless, have possessed considerably more 
 value in the estimation of the learned doctor, if it had assisted in the 
 demonstration, and not tended to the overthrow, of his favourite hypothesis. 
 The single fact that the best constructed Homan road in Lancashire passed 
 through the Fylde country to Hibchester and York, is of more value as 
 evidence relative to the site of the portus than the whole presented by any 
 other existing remains. Why should the Homans construct such a work ? 
 It could not be for the purpose of simply occupying the then swampy 
 district. Or, if so, how does it happen that the precisely similar tract of 
 
 h The excess is not more than eight or ten miles. 
 
 i “I agree with Mr. Whitaker that there has been a Roman port about Freckleton, towards 
 ■which the Watling-street, as it is called, first described by Dr. Leigh upon Fulwood Moor, evidently 
 tends.”—His. Whalley, p. 13. 
 
 The road in question was described before Leigh’s time by Dr. Kuerden, and pronounced Roman 
 by Dugdale. 
 
 k Richmondshire, vol. 2, p. 443. 
 
22 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 country between the Ribble and Mersey has hitherto yielded no such 
 evidence of permanent occupation by the Romans? The inference is 
 obvious. It was not the bogs and morasses of the Fylde, but the estuary 
 of the Wyre that gave value to the district in the estimation of the Roman 
 people. 
 
 There is yet another important fact in favour of the Wyre. Ptolomy 
 places Rigodunum at fifteen minutes south of the portus, and forty minutes 
 to the east. Dr. Whitaker, himself, identifies Rigodunum with Ribchester. 
 Although these figures are slightly in excess (as is usual with Ptolomy,) for 
 the mouth of the Wyre, the alternative of any other Lancashire harbour, 
 except Peel,—and that has previously been disposed of,—but increases the 
 discrepancy, especially with respect to longitude. 
 
 Again, Wyre is not an “ insignificant river]' as is sneeringly asserted by 
 Dr. Whitaker; at least, its harbour is not, and that is the question at 
 issue. It possesses one quality not likely to be overlooked by a people 
 who could never entirely overcome their dread of tidal seas: “As safe as 
 Wijre ” has been a proverb from time immemorial amongst the denizens of 
 the Fylde country. Wyre is, at present even, unquestionably the best 
 natural harbour on the coast of Lancashire, and is large and deep enough 
 to accommodate vessels of much greater burthen than any chartered by the 
 Greek or Phoenician merchants, or built by the Roman people for either 
 naval or commercial purposes. The Roman ships of war were merely 
 galleys propelled by oars. The fleets were composed of large numbers of 
 vessels, but the individual ships were small in comparison with the craft 
 of the present day. The vessels with which Julius Caesar invaded Britain 
 were so small, that he was enabled to have the whole dragged upon shore 
 in a few days. The great bulk of the Danish vessels, which scoured the 
 seas centuries after the departure of the Romans, were probably not above 
 thirty tons burthen. Snorre says the largest of them did not cany more 
 than from twenty to forty men and a couple of horses. 1 Camden speaks 
 of “ eight hundred vessels larger than barks” being annually laden by the 
 Romans with grain at the British ports,” for the supply of their garrisons 
 upon the frontiers of Germany. The “ Portus Setantiorum,” doubtless, 
 was frequented by vessels of this class. 
 
 Dr. Whitaker’s attempt to invalidate the term Berge-rode is equally 
 unsatisfactory, and, by its weakness, rather tends to strengthen the position 
 of his opponents than otherwise. In reply, the Rev. W. Thornber 
 pertinently observes:— 
 
 1 Heimskringla, vol. 1, p. 317. 
 
BRITISH AND ROMAN PERIODS. 
 
 23 
 
 “ I cannot but remark here that Dr. Whitaker seems to write with some asperity, 
 when he refers to this subject. The manner in winch, by substituting W for B, he reads 
 Werge-rode for Berge-rode, thus discarding the antient name given to the coast along 
 the Wyre by Harrison, our oldest topographer, and by Saxton, our first national surveyor; 
 and affirming that the former of these inscribed the title of Berge-rode, m in small 
 characters as if in doubt, and that the latter servilely followed, is really unworthy of 
 that most erudite antiquarian.” n 
 
 Several Roman remains have been discovered in the bride, near the line 
 of the road and the hanks of the Wyre, as well as at Kirkham. Amongst 
 others, two copper coins of Hadrian were found near the church at Poulton, 
 and a large medal of Gennanicus in a garden behind the Market-place. A 
 coin of Domitian has likewise been discovered at the “ Brcck,” which is 
 nearer the “ Skippool,” or estuary of the “Skippon” brook, at its junction 
 with the Wyre. From the direction of the road, and the natural advantages 
 of the locality, it is probable the Roman vessels were “beached” not far 
 from the “ Skippool.” 
 
 Other important remains likewise attest the Roman occupation of the 
 country at the mouth of the Wyre. Some parties conjecture, and not 
 without reason, that they may have had a landmark, or even a pharos, at 
 Fenny. If the port were on the Wyre, something of the kind would be 
 necessitated. The country people to this day pronounce Fenny as if spelt 
 “Phancy.” 0 In 1840, some brickmakers discovered about four hundred 
 silver denarii between Rossall Point and Fenny. This treasure consisted of 
 coins of Trajan, Hadrian, Yespasian, Titus, Domitian, Antoninus, Severus, 
 Caracalla, Sabina, Faustina, etc., about forty of which are in the possession 
 of the Rev. W. Thornber. p This gentleman, likewise, mentions several 
 other interesting relics of the Romans or Romanised Britons, found in the 
 neighbourhood of the Wyre estuary. A curious road, previously mentioned, 
 called Kate’s or Danes’ Pad, considerable remains of which have been found 
 by Mr. Thornber, Mr. Banister, and others, several feet below Rawcliffe 
 moss, appears to have traversed the swamps in the direction of the Wyre 
 from Lancaster. As the Danes were not road makers, this path is generally 
 regarded as of Roman or ancient British construction. Tradition has so 
 strongly preserved the memory of Danish ravage in the Fylde country, 
 that the native inhabitants instinctively refer all matters ancient or 
 mysterious, to the Scandinavian marauders. 11 
 
 m “The Romans termed castles and towns ‘Bergiand rode signifies a station for ships.” 
 n His. Blackpool, p. 15. 
 
 o Mr. Thornber, however, thinks the name “ Fenny ” originated from the swampy nature of 
 the district. 
 
 p The remaining portion of these coins was purchased at the sale of the effects of Sir Hesketh 
 Fleetwood, Bart., at Rossall Hall, by Mr. Alderman Brown, of Preston, of whose collection they at 
 present form the chief feature. 
 
 q See Lan. and Ches. His. Soc. Proceedings, Session 3rd, 1851, and page 6, of the present work. 
 
24 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 The identity of the stations mentioned in the tenth iter of Antoninus 
 lias equally provoked much learned disquisition, some of which has tended 
 to envelope the question in still deeper obscurity, rather than to shed 
 additional light upon it. 
 
 The Tenth Iter reads as follows :— 
 
 A Glanoventa Mediolanum, m. p. C L. 
 
 Galava... 
 
 
 XVIII.' 
 
 Alone . 
 
 
 XII. 
 
 Galacum . 
 
 
 XIX. 
 
 Bremetonacis . 
 
 
 XXVII. 
 
 Coccio . 
 
 
 XX. 
 
 Mancimio. 
 
 
 XVII. 
 
 Condate . 
 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 Mediolano . 
 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 Some authorities consider this iter to commence at Lanchester, in the 
 county of Durham; others somewhere upon the Solway, and that it 
 traverses the “Lakes District.” All agree that it proceeds southwards 
 through Lancashire and Cheshire. 
 
 Richard of Cirencester gives a somewhat similar route, but the discre¬ 
 pancy is such as to admit of no reconciliation with the northern portion of 
 the iter of Antonine. He says,'— 
 
 Luguballia 
 
 Brocavonacis. XXII. 
 
 Ad Alaunam. . 
 
 Coccio . 5 
 
 Mancunio. XVIII. 
 
 Condate .XXIII. 
 
 Mediolano.XVIII. 
 
 r The Roman mile consisted of eight stadia, measuring about 1,618 yards. It was consequently 
 less than an English mile hy nearly one-twelfth.—Penny Cyclop. 
 
 I'rom a careful measurement between existing col umn s on the Appian Way in the neighbourhood 
 of Rome by Bianchini, and from other sources, M. DanviUe estimates the Roman mile at 755 toises, 
 or 1,593 yards, English measure.—Hist, de 1’Academic, t. 88, p. 661. 
 
 s The elder Whitaker says Dr. Stukeley’s copy fills up the blank after Coccio with sixty-six miles ! 
 Mr. Edward Baines (His. Lan., vol. 1, p. 15) gives a portion of Richard’s iter as follows :— 
 
 Brocavonacis 
 
 Ad Alaunam. m. p. XXXXVII. 
 
 Coccio. XXXVI. 
 
 Mancunio . „ XVIII. 
 
 Condate. ,, XXIII. 
 
 This, though not so indicated, is, however, evidently “corrected” to suit the elder Whitaker’s 
 theory, who placed Coccium at Blaekrod. 
 
BRITISH AND ROMAN PERIODS. 
 
 25 
 
 Referring to these itinera, and other inland stations supposed to pertain 
 to Lancashire, the elder Whitaker observes:— 
 
 “The Sistuntii had the towns of Coccui, Bremetonac, Eerigon, Veratin, and our own 
 Mancenion : all acknowledging the first to be, what the name Coccui, or supreme, 
 undeniably imports it to have been, the British metropolis of Lancashire. Such was the 
 principality of the Sistuntian Britons, subject to its own capital, and governed by its own 
 regulus.” 
 
 He then proceeds to assign to each of these “towns” a precise locality; 
 and, with a daring dogmatism, utterly repugnant to the true spirit of 
 antiquarian research, asserts that such and such places “must” be the 
 localities stated by him, though often upon the flimsiest of evidence, and 
 sometimes even from the merest conjecture. Blackrod was both Coccui 
 and Rigodunum; Overborough, Bremetonac; Ribchester, Rerigon; War¬ 
 rington, Yeratin; and Mancenion, Manchester. 
 
 Mr. Edward Baines adopts this arrangement, as he had previously done 
 the dictum of the same authority respecting the portus and estuaries; that 
 is, so far as he appears to follow any given system. By a singular incon¬ 
 sistency, he makes, on the same page, Coecium to be both at Blackrod 
 and Ribchester. t 
 
 Watson and Percival fixed Coccium at Blackrod. u Camden placed 
 Rigodimum at Ribchester, and Coccium at Cockey. Kuerden thought 
 Preston occupied the site of Rigodunum. Horsley gave Coccium to Rib¬ 
 chester, and Rigodimum to Warrington. The Rev. T. Sibson assigned 
 Coccium to Wigan, and Dr. Robson placed it a little to the north of 
 Preston. John Whitaker calls Colne, by etymological inference, the 
 Roman Colunium or Calanea. From a similar mode of reasoning, he makes 
 the Ad Alaunam of Richard, which some regard as identical with the 
 Longovicus of the Notitia, to be Lancaster. * * * v 
 
 Dr. Whitaker, after soundly rating Richard for presuming to substitute 
 Rerigonium for Rigodunum, makes the latter and Coccium identical, and 
 gives the twin-named city a “local habitation” at Ribchester. For this 
 he advances the following arguments :— 
 
 “ Without repeating reasons so lately adduced for restoring the Ribble to its ancient 
 name of Belisama, I shall now assume the point as proved, at least with the degree of 
 evidence which such investigations admit of; and shall merely state, that upon this 
 river Ptolomy places his Rigodunum; and upon this river also the Itinerary of Antonine, 
 if the line of the tenth Iter and the two given stations between which it is interposed, 
 
 t His. Lan., vol. 1, p. 15. 
 
 u Watson was the first to adopt this arrangement, nearly a century ago. Jno. Whitaker followed, 
 
 but shifted the station a mile further north to the banks of the Douglas. 
 
 v The Notitia Imperii was compiled at the very close of the Roman domination in Britain, and 
 gives the titles and countries of the legionaries and their auxiliaries, which held the garrisons 
 and the more important military posts at that period. 
 
26 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENTIRONS. 
 
 together with the incontrovertible evidence of remains, (I draw no argument from the 
 numbers which upon every hypothesis are allowed to be corrupt,) be allowed to interpret, 
 has fixed the station of Coccium. Yet no concurrence of roads, no discovered remains, 
 lead to the supposition that two stations or towns of eminence in the age of Ptolomy or 
 of Caracalla were planted on the banks of the Ribble. How then is this apparent 
 difficulty to be solved ? A little attention to British etymology and to the obvious 
 appearance of the place will remove every doubt. In the first place let the name as it 
 stands in Ptolomy be stripped of the Roman termination dunum; and with a British 
 aspirate at the end it becomes Rigoch. In the next place cut off from the itinerary 
 name its Roman generic termination, and we have Cochiu. G and C are convertible; 
 some manuscripts of the Itinerary read Goccium, and the radical syllable Coch or Gosh 
 is the same in both. Gosh in the British language, is red— Rhigoch, Red River; and 
 Gochiu or Cochiu, Red Water. And accordingly, the stone, the sand, the soil of Ro¬ 
 chester, are alike distinguished by this very colour, which would naturally arrest the 
 attention of the first inhabitants, and occasion a name peculiarly significant and 
 proper, w 
 
 It appears, however, from some observations in bis History of Rich- 
 mondshire, x published afterwards, that misgivings had arisen in his 
 mind as to the route of the tenth iter of Antonine. He says,— 
 
 “ That this place (Ribcliester) was the Coccium of the Itinerary is proved by the 
 distances (f) and illustrated by the etymology of the name coch ui, or red water, which 
 is the general complexion of the shelving banks of the Ribble, above and beneath the 
 station. That it was one of Agricola’s stations is evident, not only from its coinciding 
 with his acknowledged line of march to subdue the Brigantes, but from coins as early as 
 Vespasian, and other remains of the Higher Empire there discovered. That it was not 
 merely a military post, but a city of great elegance and wealth, is evident, not only from 
 the numbers, but the superior style and workmanship of the remains which have been 
 brought to light. That notwithstanding the opulence of Ribchester, the great line of 
 march northward, from Mancunium to Bremetonacce, was carried in the Lower Empire 
 through the low country by Preston and Lancaster, in order to avoid the difficulties of 
 the Bowland Fells, has been elsewhere proved.” 
 
 It is almost a pity to disturb a theory so nicely expressed and apparently 
 so clearly demonstrated. But facts and dispassionate investigation are 
 often stem enemies to fanciful speculation. The learned doctor does not 
 inform us how the distances had contrived to assimilate, since his anterior 
 expression of indifference to the test which they furnish. He had like¬ 
 wise previously stated that the higher line was a firmer and a better road, 
 but this is emphatically denied by the Rev. Mr. Sibson. By the latter 
 authority, Blackrod is shown, in contradiction to John Whitaker’s 
 assumption, to possess no military road near it, but merely a “vicinal 
 way;” although Mr. Edward Baines, misquoting the historian of Manches¬ 
 ter, who alluded to his own location at Castle-field, discourses of “Roman 
 roads expanding like radii from a centre,” still to be seen in the neigh¬ 
 bourhood ! Dr. Whitaker speaks of the “ mile-stone ” found a little to the 
 south of Lancaster, inscribed to the emperor Julius Philipus, who reigned 
 between the years 244 and 249, as probable evidence that the road was 
 
 w History of Whalley, p. 12. 
 x Vol. 2, p. 458. 
 
BRITISH AND ROMAN PERIODS. 
 
 27 
 
 constructed during his life-time. y It is equally probable, however, that 
 mile-stones might be placed upon any given route, years after a road was 
 first constructed, and very certain that the ruggedness of the country over 
 Bowland Fells would be quite as objectionable during the higher as during 
 the lower empire. The doctor’s namesake, notwithstanding his sturdy 
 determination to make the most of Manchester, which was the true cause 
 of many of his errors, candidly acknowledges that, in his judgment, 
 “ Agricola’s main body advanced by way of Warrington,” and that 
 “a detachment ” went by Manchester, Ribchester, etc., and afterwards 
 “re-united with the army in the county of Cumberland!” But, supposing 
 the first construction of the road by Julius Pliilipus be conceded, it may 
 still be the tenth iter of Antonine, the work known by that name having 
 received, as has been previously shown, many additions after his 
 reign. From the face of the country it is evidently the natural route. It 
 formed part of a great line of British road from Cornwall to Cumberland, 
 previous to the Roman occupation, similar to the Ermyn-street on the 
 eastern coast, and the Watling-street from London to North Wales. Several 
 authorities contend that the Romans merely adopted and improved many 
 such aboriginal tracks. To crown the whole, considerable remains of a 
 Roman station have lately been discovered on the lower route at Walton- 
 le-dale, near Preston. This important disclosure relieves the antiquarian 
 topographer from the disagreeable necessity of confounding the Cocciiun of 
 Antoninus with the Rigodunum of Ptolomy, the red rock, earth, etc., 
 characterising the Ribble near Preston, as markedly as at Ribchester. 
 Amongst the remains already discovered are coins of the higher empire,— 
 Titus Vespasian, Domitian, and Antoninus Pius,—the former of which 
 coincide with the date of Agricola’s march. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Sibson, of Ashton-in-Mackerfield, made a very minute 
 survey of the Roman road which enters the county at Warrington, and 
 passes through Haydock to Standish and Wigan. He describes its 
 appearance in almost every field on a largo portion of the route, and 
 anticipated the recent discovery at Walton. “ From Standish,” he says,— 
 
 “The Roman road then passes through Welsh Wliithill, Euxton Burgh, Rose Whit- 
 hill, Bamber Green to Walton, where it is probable there has been a fortified camp to 
 protect the pass of the Ribble. The Roman road from Preston to Lancaster appears to 
 have gone over Fulwood Moor, Cadley Causeway, z through Broughton, Barton, and 
 Bilsborough, along Fleet-street in Claughton, and through Borough, near Lancaster. 
 * * * * The road runs through a level country, on hard and dry ground; tills 
 
 road is much broader and better constructed than that through Ribchester; and it has 
 
 y Mr. Baines mentions another Roman Milliarium, found at Burrough, a few miles south of 
 Lancaster. — His. Lan,, vol. 4, p. 544. 
 
 7. This is an error. Cadley causeway formed a part of the Watling-street, which crossed the road 
 from the south to the north, on Fulwood moor, nearly at right angles. 
 
28 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 been shown that this road passes through a continual line of small fortresses from Man¬ 
 chester to Lancaster.” a 
 
 A Roman highway from Manchester unites with this road near Wigan, 
 and here Mr. Sibson placed Coccium. 
 
 Dr. Robson, in a paper read at a meeting of the members of the Lan¬ 
 cashire and Cheshire Historic Society, held at Warrington, after a visit of 
 inspection, says, the road at Haydock is formed of a “ substructure of rude 
 masses of sand-stone built up together, is six or seven yards wide, and 
 covered with a thick bed of gravel, while, in some places, the sod has 
 been previously removed, and a layer of sand spread below. The depth 
 of the road in the centre is between two and three feet, the stone foun¬ 
 dation being about one-half.” The late Rev. Mr. Just, of Bury, surveyed 
 the road from Manchester by Rihchester to Overborough, which he con¬ 
 sidered to he the tenth iter of Antoninus. Roman roads possess distinctive 
 characteristics, and are not easily confounded with modern highways. 
 Their formation and peculiarities are thus described by Mr. Just:— 
 
 “ Tlie Romans constructed three kinds of ways or roads, the first kind dining conquest 
 was the ‘via militaris’ properly so called, or the elevated highway from military station 
 to station. The second was the ‘via publica,’ or public road, made subsequently for 
 intercourse from one place to another, and to facilitate the arts of peace, and communi¬ 
 cation with the Roman capital. The third were the private roads, or ‘vise private,’ 
 called also ‘vi® vicinales,’ because, according to Ulpian, ‘ad agros et vicos ducunt.’ 
 He further adds that the military ways were elevated three feet and upwards above the 
 surface of the ground. They were paved on their summits throughout their whole 
 length, and were hence also called ‘ via; strata;,’ whence we derive our word street. 
 From their elevation likewise we term them highways. Their direction was generally in 
 perfectly straight lines, from one high point of ground to another. This arose from 
 their being lines of defence to the troops, as well as of passage. # * The average 
 
 width of such roads was about twenty-one feet or a little more; and the line chosen out 
 for them, was on the highest ground that their direction would permit. The public 
 ways, except in the vicinity of Rome, or the head quarters of their provinces, were not 
 paved, nor elevated above the surface of the ground. They were not laid out on the 
 high grounds, between place and place, but on lower grounds, and were not necessarily 
 straight. They were covered with ‘glare®’ or gravel, and were fourteen feet wide, 
 sufficient to allow two carriages or vehicles to pass one another. The private or vicinal 
 ways were less broad, seldom exceeding seven feet in width. They had here and there 
 broader places to allow vehicles to pass, in case two should meet, travelling in opposite 
 directions. They had also cross roads or ‘diverticula,’ leading to less frequented places 
 than the ordinary roads. Many of our high roads, public roads, and bye and cross roads, 
 were on the lines laid out by the Romans.” b 
 
 Amongst such a mass of uncertain evidence, daring conjecture, and 
 conflicting opinion, it is difficult to arrive at a very satisfactory conclu¬ 
 sion. The great errors of the elder antiquaries appear to have resulted 
 
 a “Mr. Sibson says Ex-tun-burh is Saxon for Water town fort; Bamberg is War-town; and 
 Walton, Val-tnn, or fortified town. The Rev. J. Whitaker says Gual is the British word for ram¬ 
 part, and is formed into Wall, Val, Sal, and Ual or al ."—See Mr. Sibson’s communication, pub¬ 
 lished in Baines’s Lan., vol. 3.—Ashton-in-Mackerfield. 
 b Lan. and Ches. His. Soc., vol. 1, p. 69. 
 
BRITISH AND ROHAN PERIODS. 
 
 29 
 
 from a determination to map out distinctly the entire neighbourhood, not¬ 
 withstanding the paucity and imperfect character of their materials. All 
 topography which depends primarily on the discovery of antiquarian 
 remains, must, of necessity, for a long period, be imperfect and progressive. 
 The discovery of unquestionable relics in a few localities does not invali¬ 
 date the possibility, or even probability, that similar evidence of Roman 
 occupation may hereafter he brought to light in other places. Could the 
 roots of the trees that now penetrate the then crust of the soil communicate 
 the secrets of their dark homes to mankind, we might possibly leam that 
 the Roman remains hidden from human ken considerably exceed in impor¬ 
 tance those already discovered. 
 
 The documentary evidence relating to this period is likewise very scanty 
 and imperfect, and the best of it acknowledged to be, to some extent, 
 corrupted. For a lengthened period yet to come, the most rational con¬ 
 clusions can hut bo regarded in the light of probabilities, which may, in 
 turn, he required to give way beforo facts presented by future discovery. 
 
 Many historians regard the Itinera of Antoninus as purely military 
 routes, although the fact is by no means certain. After the first conquest 
 of a country, the social necessities of the people and the government 
 administration would demand some system of internal communication, 
 altogether independent of military matters. Modem authors, as well as 
 the promiscuous public, are too much in the habit of associating the clang 
 of arms and the murderous battle struggle with everything pertaining to 
 the “world’s conquerors.” To contemplate the Roman people quietly 
 governing a subjugated territory, and encouraging the arts of peace, in any 
 comer of the earth, would be, in the estimation of many parties, simply 
 to nx-Romanise the imagination! Yet the fact is undeniable, nevertheless. 
 The military routes would doubtless bo used for public transit as well as 
 the vice pullicolce, when long peace had rendered them unnecessary for 
 their original purpose. The massive ramparts which surround old cities, 
 such as Chester, York, Calais, etc., have been converted into public prome¬ 
 nades under similar circumstances. The military roads in Russia are post 
 routes, and are maintained by the government. It is highly probable the 
 stations in the Itinerary were of a somewhat similar character; and 
 although many would he located near the camps or garrisons, others would 
 be simply stations for convenience on the road. Such is the case under 
 the present railway system. Preston is a large and flourishing town; hut 
 “Lea Road” is equally a station, notwithstanding its relative insignifi¬ 
 cance. Dr. Robson contends strongly against the assumption that the 
 Itinera of Antoninus were merely “routes of the Roman legions on march,” 
 
30 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 and supports his position by reference to classic writers of undoubted 
 authority. He says,— 
 
 “ I would suggest that the Itinerarium of Antoninus is nothing more or less than the 
 book of the Imperial posts, a curious subject, and well worth more attention than I can now 
 bestow upon it. Suetonius tells us that the Emperor Augustus first placed young men 
 at short intervals on the military roads, and afterwards carriages, that he might have 
 the more speedy intelligence of what was doing in every province. It would seem that 
 these couriers were at first merely bearers of despatches which were transferred from one 
 to another on the route, but were afterwards themselves conveyed in carriages so as to 
 give the Emperor an opportunity of examining them personally, if he wished to do so. 
 * * * Continual allusions are made to these posts in the classic authors, especially 
 
 in such works as the epistles of Pliny and Symmachus. But we have in the Tlieodosian 
 code, which dates about 430, most minute directions and instructions issued by various 
 Emperors, with reference to the service of the Cursus Publicus, which I will venture to 
 translate the ‘ Imperial Post.’ About a century later, we have the following remarkable 
 account from the Anecdota of Procopius:—‘ The Roman Emperors of former times 
 devised a plan by which whatever was doing amongst their enemies,—any sedition in 
 states, anything connected with the governors, or whatever else might happen, should be 
 told them, and come to their knowldge as soon as possible. The conveyance of the 
 annual tribute was also safely and rapidly managed by the same means, which was a 
 public course. They appointed stations—eight,—never less than five,—as a day’s 
 journey, for a well girt man. In each station or stable were forty horses, and stable 
 men in proportion ; and thus the couriers, having a constant change of trained horses, at 
 times go ten day’s journey in a single day.’ * * * The great object of these posts 
 
 was to convey regular and sure intelligence to the seat of government ; and officers called 
 Agentes in rebus and Curiosi, who seem to have combined the functions of high police, 
 post masters, and imperial messengers, had the superintendence of them. They included 
 horses, mules, asses, and oxen; with the farriers, smiths, and hostlers requisite for such 
 an establishment; carriages of various sorts, both light and heavy, the weight allowed 
 for each being fixed by the Imperial Rescript. Certain officers (in the fourth century,) 
 the Prsetorian Prefect, and the master of the Palace, were, besides the Emperor, the only 
 persons who could grant warrants for the use of the Imperial Posts, and then merely to 
 the highest officers. Any attempt to abuse this privilege was severely punished. Thus, 
 stations or stages were fixed only upon certain roads, very few indeed compared with the 
 number of military ways we have in the kingdom, and seeming to bear the same relation 
 to them, as the later mail coach routes to the highways. ” c 
 
 The Itinerary of Antoninus contains two of these routes, which are 
 universally admitted to have passed through Lancashire. One (the second 
 iter) crosses the country from York, by Manchester to Chester; and the 
 other traverses the county from north to south. The latter is the tenth iter, 
 concerning which antiquaries are so much divided in opinion. Jno. 
 Whitaker “must,” of course, take it through Manchester, which he 
 seemed determined should be the great centre. To effect this, he had to 
 pursue an extremely irregular route, and disregard materially the distances. 
 The figures in the itinera are acknowledged to be, to some extent, corrupt, 
 as they vary in the different MSS. So each antiquarian topographer 
 accepts or rejects them as best suits his convenience! Nevertheless, in 
 the absence of better information than mere conjecture, the distances, in 
 
 c “Cod. Theod., Tom. 2, Art. Cursus Publicus.—See Lan. and Ches. His. Soc. Trans. ; Session 3, 
 p. 75, and Ses. 5, p. 201. 
 
BRITISH AND ROMAN PERIODS. 
 
 31 
 
 the main, must be regarded as the best available evidence for the demon¬ 
 stration of the identity of any route. 
 
 The second iter of Antoninus, commencing at Deva (Chester,) and pro¬ 
 ceeding east, gives the next station at Condate, and the one following at 
 Mamicium, or as it is written in some MSS., MaNutium. The tenth iter, 
 travelling northward, begins with Mediolanum, and proceeds to Condate, 
 Mancunium (or as it is sometimes written, Mancocunium,) Coccium, 
 Bremetonacis, etc. Jno. Whitaker assumed that Mamucium and Manco¬ 
 cunium were one and the same place, and made the itinera become 
 identical from Mamucium to Condate, notwithstanding the glaring 
 improbability of such a circumstance. The tenth iter, by this interpreta¬ 
 tion, traverses a portion of the line of the second. To effect this thoroughly 
 inexplicable feat, it is required to depart nearly at right angles from its 
 direct course. In this singularly ingenious theory he was supported by 
 his namesake and successor, the Historian of Whalley. Every other con¬ 
 sideration is, by these winters, rendered subservient to this assumption. 
 Since their time, however, important discoveries have been made in South 
 Lancashire and Cheshire, which refute some of the elder Whitaker’s 
 daring assertions and conjectures, and have given birth to another and a 
 more probable theory on this subject. 
 
 Dr. Robson contends that the tenth iter refers to the road which enters 
 the county at Warrington, and proceeds by Standish and Preston to 
 Lancaster; that the crossing with the second is at Condate, and that 
 Mamucium and Mancocunium are two distinct places. 4 This interpretation 
 makes the iter traverse the two counties in a very direct line, and avoids the 
 twist necessitated by the single road for both routes between Condate and 
 Mamucium, on the Whitaker theory. After repudiating the authority of 
 Richard of Cirencester, Dr. Robson thus demonstrates his position:— 
 
 “ I have already alluded to the evidence, and the necessity of adhering strictly to it till 
 some new proof is exhibited. All that we have at present is the Itinera of Antoninus, 
 and if, without altering in any way that evidence, we find it accordant with existing 
 remains, we do all that can be done towards identifying a route so described. The 
 second iter of Antoninus, in describing the road from York to Chester, has the last station 
 hut one, Mamucium, or Manutium, as written in some MSS. No one has ever doubted 
 that this place was Castlefield, near Manchester; and between this place and Chester, at 
 eighteen miles from the former, and twenty miles from the latter, is Condate, which 
 agrees with great precision with the position of Stockton Heath [near Warrington.] If, 
 again, we take the tenth iter, and reverse it, beginning at Middlewich, and considering it 
 
 d The name of the modern town of Manchester was written Mamchester till near the end of the 
 fifteenth century. In the Saxon Chronicle it is Mameceaster. The name or termination, 
 “caster,” or “Chester,” is indicative of the presence of a Roman castrum or camp, at the period 
 when the Saxon nomenclature was introduced. Sara, street, stone and stane, with Strat and 
 Stan—when compounded as in Stratford, Standish, etc.,—generally indicate the course of a Roman 
 or ancient British road. 
 
32 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 as Mediolanum, we have seventeen miles to the north, on the line of a great Roman road, 
 Condate at Stockton Heath—proceeding along the same road direct north, in eighteen 
 miles we arrive at Mancunium, or, as read in other MSS., Mancocunium, which would 
 take us to Standish ; seventeen miles farther north brings us to the Lancashire Watling- 
 street,” e (on Fulwood Moor, near Preston,) “and where we should naturally expect to 
 find a post of some sort: this would be Coccium; and at twenty miles beyond this is Lan¬ 
 caster, or the station of Bremetonax, or Bremetonacse. Now, in this statement I have 
 changed neither names nor figures. The existence of the road no one doubts, and I feel 
 confident that proofs of Roman occupation will be found at Standish, aud at the inter¬ 
 section of the roads to the north of Preston, if carefully looked for. And when we 
 know that such proofs have been found only lately in Middlewich and Stockton Heath, 
 we may confidently expect that a proper search will be followed by successful results, 
 not merely at the two spots already named, but at other places on the line of road.” f 
 
 The elder antiquaries appear to have fancied that the towns mentioned 
 by Ptolomy must have formed stations in the itinera. But this is evidently 
 untenable, as the Itinerary mentions only a portion of the Homan roads in 
 Britain. The very fact that Ptolomy mentions Bigodunum and that 
 Antoninus does not, is better evidence than any other extant that the tenth 
 iter of the latter did not pass by that place. The Itinerary did not 
 necessarily, out of mere compliment, include “ all places of importance.” 
 As the work was compiled chiefly for government purposes, the direct 
 line, other facts being equal, must logically command the preference; 
 and especially so in this instance, where diversion not only falsifies 
 the distances and increases the difficulty of transit, but carries the line 
 through a country less likely to have been populous. The better condition 
 of the remains of the higher Homan road, at the present time, may he 
 attributed to the circumstance that, being off the great line of more modern 
 traffic and agricultural improvement, it has suffered less from the depreda¬ 
 tions of road makers and road repairers, as well as enterprising formers, 
 who arc generally very active in clearing away all such impediments to 
 the progress of the plough. 
 
 Although the evidences of Homan occupation have been discovered at 
 Walton, instead of at Pulwood, as was anticipated by Mr. Robson, still the 
 general distances of the stations present a much nearer approximation to 
 the figures in the iter than those on any other route. Had the remains 
 been found about a mile to the north instead of to the south of Preston, all 
 the figures would have satisfactorily coincided. Homan coins have been 
 
 e The Rev. John Whitaker makes Guetheling derived from “the Guetheli, or Gatheli, of Ireland.” 
 He considers the name of the road to be derived from the place or people to which it led, and that it 
 was used by the British, previous to the Roman era. He says “the Guethling, or '\Vatling-street, 
 must have been originally denominated by the Britons, Sarn Guethelin, or the road of the Irish. 
 
 * * * * From the joint testimony of Richard’s Itinerary, and Bede’s History, it appears that the 
 Roman road, which reaches from Sandwich to Caernarvon, was distinguished among the Romans 
 by the British name of Guetheling, or Watling-street.” This solution, however, is by no means 
 considered satisfactory. The question still continues to puzzle the learned. The Lancashire Watling 
 street does, certainly, cross the county from York to the coast opposite to Dublin, 
 f His. Soc. Lan. and Ches. Proceedings ; Session 3, 1850-1, p. 76. 
 
BRITISH AND ROMAN PERIODS. 
 
 33 
 
 found at Standish, and it is just possible the distance of the crossing of the 
 roads on Fulwood moor, from Bremetonicis, may have been marked 
 instead of the station opposite the ford below; or, it may simply be one 
 of the many acknowledged errors in the work itself. 8 
 
 Camden placed Coccium at Cockey, simply on account of the similitude 
 of the names. Some little enquiry by the author, as to the existence of 
 local terms which may have been corrupted from words indicative of the 
 presence of the Roman people at Walton, has, he fears, not been very 
 successful. This, at the best, is dangerous ground to tread upon. The 
 following observations may, however, perhaps suggest something more to 
 the purpose. 
 
 It has previously been intimated that Mr. Sibson thought it probable 
 there had been a “fortified camp,” at Walton, “to protect the pass of the 
 Ribble.” He adds, that Walton is Val-tun, or fortified town. The Rev. 
 Jno. Whitaker says Gual is the British word for rampart, and is formed 
 into Wall, Val, Bal, and JJal or Al. Dr. Kuerden, in his description of 
 Preston, near two centuries ago, says: “ There is, likewise, below the 
 Churchgate barrs, another public foot-way, southward, leading towards the 
 bridge over Bible into London road; and this passage, at its entrance, out 
 of town, was called Cocker-hole.” Many elderly inhabitants remember 
 the term “Cocker-hole-lane” being the common name applied to the 
 present Water-street. If by this we are to understand that the road led to 
 a “Cocker Hall,” or to a hollow place named “Cocker-hole,” it would 
 exactly identity the neighbourhood of Walton with the word. This is 
 by no means improbable, as will appear from the following presentment 
 at the Court Leet, at Preston, in the year 1657 :— 
 
 “We find that a comon footpath & highway to Ribble bridge, down by Albon Steepe, 
 up a baulke lying between the lands late of John Slidell, fellmaker, & a field called 
 waterwillows & the said Albon Steepes to Cockerhole.— 
 
 Ordered to maintain a style.” 
 
 On a map of the township, of the date of 1774, in the possession of Mr. 
 Philip Park, some fields, between Albyn bank and Church-street, are 
 described as “ Waterwillows.” A wood behind the Roman station is 
 
 g Mr. Robson has since concluded it probable that Wigan, in the neighbourhood of Standish, 
 may be the site of the Roman Mancocunium. Mr. Sibson had previously selected this site for Coc¬ 
 cium, regarding Mancocunium as Manchester. There is a good Roman way from Manchester to 
 Wigan, and several remains have been found near the church. Standish, from its elevated position, 
 may have been a “ specula ,” or out-post of observation, in connection with the station. Dr. Leigh 
 describes minutely the contents of a “copper urceolus,” found near Standish. He likewise mentions 
 “ an Idol,” found near Up-holland, in the neighbourhood, concerning which, he says, “ this I take 
 to be Victory, the Genius of that Place.” The “ urceolus ” contained “ Two Hundred Soman Coins, 
 and two Gold Rings, of the Squites Aurati, or Soman Knights,” together with a “ signet,” the 
 figure upon which he describes as “ Mars leaning with his Left Hand upon a Spear, holding in his 
 Right Hand a Tictoriola, or small Victory, with a Target at his Right Foot.” 
 
 D 
 
34 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 named, on the ordnance map, Cockshot’s wood, though this is doubtless 
 modem. A station on the East Lancashire Railway, not very far from 
 Walton, on the road towards Ormskirk, is called Cocker-bar. Dr. 
 Kuerden’s footpath evidently traversed the Roman way to the ford at 
 Ribble. It was joined, at the ford over the Swilbrook, by another track 
 of a similar character, which he thus describes:—“Another remarkable 
 foot passage toward Rible Bridge is through the church yard southward, 
 by the publiq schoole and antient place called Chappel of Avenam, over 
 the Swilbrook southward, by west field to the aforesaid Bridge of Rible; 
 and this passage is called the Stoneygate, being the greatest foot tract to 
 the Burrough of rreston.” Walton-le-dale is the present title of the 
 village, the valley being named Cuerdale. This, too, has but a limited 
 signification, the more comprehensive title being Ribblesdale. The Roman 
 station is only about a mile distant from the spot where the immense 
 Saxon and Danish treasure was found a few years ago. May not Cuer¬ 
 dale be a corruption of Caer dale, the dale of the camp, or fortified town ? 
 Walton is written in the Domesday survey Waletune. The neighbouring 
 townships are not named, the great portion of Blackburn hundred being 
 waste or forest. In the sixteenth century map, re-published in “Gregson’s 
 Fragments,” Cuerdale is written Coverdale (pronounced Couerdale), while 
 Cuerden, in the immediate neighbourhood, is styled Kerdon. 
 
 The discovery of a second station on the Ribble, completes a double line 
 of forts, to guard the passes over the principal rivers in Lancashire. One 
 is at the head of the tidal estuaries of the Mersey, the Ribble, and the 
 Lune, which, Tacitus observes, Agricola himself “ surveyed and fixed the 
 stations;” namely, Condate at Stockton-heath, near Warrington; Coccimn 
 at Walton, near Preston; and Bremetonacis at Lancaster, on the Lune. 
 The higher, or inland line, on the same rivers, is formed by Mamutium, 
 at Manchester; Rigodunum at Ribchester; and Ad Alaunum at Over¬ 
 borough, near Ivirkby Lonsdale. For precisely a similar reason to that 
 advanced in favour of Lancaster, by Jno. Whitaker and others, Ad 
 Alaunum may be placed at Overborough. If this assumption be granted, 
 there will remain no difficulty in the reconciliation of this portion of the 
 tenth iter of Richard with that of Antoninus. The first may have pro¬ 
 ceeded through the eastern portion of Westmoreland, and the latter 
 by the coast of Cumberland; the routes only becoming identical at 
 Lancaster, where, according to Perceval and others, a third joins them 
 from Carlisle, Penrith, and Kendal. Presuming Antonine’s iter to have 
 passed through the centre of the “Lakes district,” the Roman camp, allu¬ 
 ded to by West, the Historian of Furness, near the head of Windermere 
 
BRITISH AND ROMAN PERIODS. 
 
 35 
 
 Lake, will accord with the distance of the station mentioned after Breme- 
 tonacis, namely—Galacum, twenty-seven Roman miles. The direct line 
 would still be nearly preserved hy way of Keswick, and Old Carlisle, to 
 the Solway, opposite Annan. On this supposition, however, the distance 
 between Bowness, at the western extremity of the Piets’ Wall and Old 
 Carlisle, would not agree with the figures in the iter. 
 
 It is much more probable that Agricola would first secure the estuaries 
 along the coast of Cumberland, as well as Lancashire, before he operated 
 in the interior of the country; and that Antonine’s route commenced at 
 Maryport, and proceeded hy Egremont, Mimcaster, and Dalton, to Lan¬ 
 caster. The distances, hy this route, very nearly accord. The Roman 
 road through Dalton, and along the coast, is well known, h and Maryport 
 abounds with remains. This is the easiest route for transit, and was most 
 probably an ancient British trackway. Dr. Giles, in his commentary on 
 Richard of Cirencester’s itinerary, says : “A road appeal’s to have skirted 
 the western coast, as the Ermyn Street did the eastern. Besides these, 
 there is reason to conjecture, from several detached pieces, that another 
 road followed the shores round the island.” Referring to the former, he 
 states that portions of it were “never adopted hy the Romans.”' Its 
 course is thus described :— 
 
 “ It appears to have commenced on the coast of Devon, perhaps not far from the 
 mouth of the Ex, and to have gone hy Exeter, Taunton, Bridgewater, Bristol, Gloucester, 
 Kidderminster, Claverly, Weston, High Otfley, Betley, Middlewich, Northwich, War¬ 
 rington, Preston, Lancaster. Here probably dividing into two branches, one ran by 
 Kendal, Penrith, and Carlisle, to the extreme parts of the island, while the other passed 
 by Kirkby Lonsdale, and Orton, to Kirkby Thure, from whence it continued under the 
 name of the Maiden Way, by the Wall and Bewcastle, into the interior parts of Scotland. 
 On this street were Isca, Exeter, Uxella, possibly near Bridgewater, Glevum, Gloucester, 
 Branogenium, Worcester, Salincc, Droitwieh, Coccium, Blackrode,j and Lugaballium, 
 Carlisle.”k 
 
 Richard’s tenth iter proceeds thi’ough Scotland, to Luguballium, 
 (Carlisle) Brocavonacis, Ad Alaunum, and Coccium. From this point, 
 southward, the route is identical with that of Antoninus. The figures in 
 Richard’s iter, under every theory, are very unsatisfactory. It is pro¬ 
 bable that the ancient British road, through Lancashire towards Carlisle, 
 was not converted into a regular Roman highway till the reign of Julius 
 
 h See West’s History of Furness; and “A Day in Low Furness,” by James Stonehouse, in Lan. 
 and Ckes. His. Soc. Trans., vol. viii., p. 228. 
 
 i Doubtless the Romans used these roads. By non-adoption must be understood that they were 
 not re-constructed on the Roman military system. 
 
 j Now corrected to Walton, near Preston. Evidence of British occupation beneath the Roman 
 remains, at the confluence of the Ribble and Darwen, strengthens the claim of Walton to the site of 
 Coccium. 
 
 k Bohn’s edition, p. 479. 
 
36 
 
 PBESTOX -VXD ITS EXVTKOXS. 
 
 Philippus, and apparently not then further than Lancaster; although 
 unquestionable remains near Kendal, Penrith, etc., attest to their occupa¬ 
 tion of the country. The Setantian Britons apparently submitted to 
 Agricola without a serious struggle, in consequence of the previous sub¬ 
 jugation of the superior Brigantine tribes. Fnder these circumstances, 
 the existing British track, with slight improvements, may have served the 
 purpose of the Boman general. With reference to the difficulties in this 
 portion of the tenth iter of Richard, Dr. Giles says:— 
 
 " As we have none of the intermediate stations between Carlisle and the Wall ” (of 
 Antoninus Pins, between the Firths of Forth and Clyde), “every commentator may 
 choose what route he pleases, although none will coincide with the distances of the 
 Itinerary. From Carlisle, if we place any reliance on the numbers, the next station, 
 Broaiconacis, can only be fixed at Brougham. Thence the road to the banks of the 
 I.une, as well as the station on it, is uncertain; for, whether we choose Overborough or 
 Lancaster, we know of no road ” (of Roman construction) “ to direct us; and the only 
 reason for preferring the Latter is the supposed sate of the next station, Coccium., at 
 Blaekrode, and the course of the road through Lancaster, tending more immediately to 
 that point than the road through Overborough.”! 
 
 This, in conjunction with the known remains of a road of Roman con¬ 
 struction, in Furness, tends to confirm the opinion that the main line of 
 communication followed the coast to Maryport, and hence its obtaining a 
 record in the Itinerary of Antoninus. Several remains have been found 
 in Furness. Amongst others, a silver coin of the reign of Otho, which 
 would lead to the presumption that the district was occupied by the troops 
 of Agricola. The invasion by that general did not take place until about 
 ten years after the death of Otho, who only reigned ninety-five days. 
 Hence the great scarcity of coins minted by him. 
 
 Roman remains have been found at Kirkham , and other places in Lan¬ 
 cashire, and probably many remain yet undiscovered, of which the names 
 of the locations even, are not recorded in any of the extant writings of the 
 Roman historians or topographers. 
 
 Till better evidence be produced to support the claims of other places, 
 the following may be regarded as the most probable interpretation of the 
 Roman topography of this part of Britain :— 
 
 Seteia aEstuarium.Estuary of the Dee. 
 
 Belisama JEstuarium...Estuary of the Ribble. 
 
 Portus Setantiorum .Wyre Harbour. 
 
 Moricambe -Estuarium.Morecambe Bay. 
 
 Bremetonacis.Lancaster. 
 
 Coccium.Walton, near Preston. 
 
 Mancoeunium. or Haneunium, Wigan. 
 
 Condate.Stockton-heath, near Warrington. 
 
 Mediolanum .Middlewich. 
 
 1 Bohn's Edition, p. 492. 
 
BRITISH AND ROMAN PERIODS. 
 
 37 
 
 Mamucium.Manchester. 
 
 Rigodunum .Ribchester. 
 
 “ Ad Alaunam ” .Overborough. 
 
 Calunium, or Calanea .Colne. 
 
 Veratinum.supposed Warrington (very doubtful). 
 
 Longovicus.the “Ad Alaunam” of Richard, or 
 
 unknown. 
 
 “Ad AlpesPeninos” of Richard, near Pendle Hill. 
 
 THE TEETH ITER OF AXTOXIXUS. 
 
 A Glanoventa Mediolanum, m. p. CL. 
 
 Glanoventa . Maryport. 
 
 Galava. m. p. XVIII., near Egremont. 
 
 Alone . XII. Muncaster. 
 
 Galacum . XIX. Dalton. 
 
 Bremetonacis . XXVII. Lancaster. 
 
 Coccio . XX., Walton, near Preston. 
 
 Mancunio. XVIL, m Wigan. 
 
 Condate. XVIII., Stockton-heath, near 
 
 Warrington. 
 
 Mediolano.XVIII., Middlewich. 
 
 The elder Whitaker regarded Coecium as the capital of the Setantian 
 territory. He asserts that Caer Coccui imports literally the “ City of 
 Supremacy.” ! This is, however, rather a different interpretation to the 
 “red-water” of the erudite gentleman’s successor, the equally learned 
 Historian of Whalley. Truly, the “city of supremacy” of a tribe of 
 ancient Britons, would present but a very poor figure, in comparison with 
 a third-rate modem village. If there be any truth in John Whitaker’s 
 interpretation of the term Coccium, it can only apply to the location of the 
 Aborigines, and not to that of the Roman people. Chester appears to 
 have been their most important military station in this district, and Ro¬ 
 chester perhaps the next. Camden says, in his quaint and careful man¬ 
 ner ,—“ The British towns, before the invasion of the Romans, were only 
 woods, fortified with a ditch and rampire, according to Caesar and Strabo, 
 whose evidence is unexceptionable.” 0 The low mound, at Walton, situ¬ 
 ated near the confluence of the rivers Ribble and Darwen, is a locality very 
 likely to have been selected for a stronghold by the Aborigines, and its 
 central position amongst the Setantian people is in favour of John Whita- 
 
 m Richard gives XVIII. This is probably correct. Antonine’s total, CL., being one mile in excess 
 of bis details. 
 
 n “ Their towns or villages were a confused parcel of huts, placed at a distance from each other, 
 generally in the middle of a wood, of which the avenues were defended with slight ramparts of earth, 
 or with the trees cut down to clear the ground.”—Aspin’s Complete Chronology. 
 
38 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 ker’s supposition. When the surrounding country was clothed with 
 primseval forest, it must have presented the very model of a fastness to 
 the eyes of a people who dwelt for security amongst morasses and dense 
 woods. The broad stream of the Ribble forms a natural fosse on the north 
 and east, while the lesser, though not insignificant, Darwen, encloses the 
 site on the west, and partially on the south. The lower lands, in the 
 immediate vicinity of the streams, would, doubtless, at the period referred 
 to, be sufficiently swampy to accord with the most fastidious ancient 
 Briton’s taste, with respect to fortification. A glance at Robert Porter’s 
 map, (plate II) published in 1738, will show that the locality must 
 formerly have presented even more attractions of this character than at pre¬ 
 sent. The Darwen, in its course from the site of Walton Hall, towards its 
 junction with the Ribble, made an elliptical curve eastward, something 
 like that of the latter river at “Red Scar,” only of smaller dimensions. 
 This formed an additional double moat, which protected the mound on the 
 south. The present straight course of the Darwen, to its embouchure, is 
 artificial. The remains of the old channel may yet he distinctly seen. 
 The centre of the curve reaches nearly to the weaving shed, lately erected 
 by Mr. Calvert. The site likewise commands the natural ford, or 
 “ pass of the Ribble,” a circumstance of the highest importance in a mili¬ 
 tary point of view. A foundation wall, about eight yards long, eighteen 
 inches in breadth, and nearly a foot in depth, was discovered below the 
 level of the Roman remains, during the recent excavation, at the south¬ 
 western comer of the mound. The wall was formed of irregularly shaped, 
 hut perfectly adjusted, fragments of the red sandstone rock, of the 
 neighbourhood, which had become partially disintegrated. The Romans 
 first taught the British people the use of mortar. As no mortar or other 
 cement had been employed in the construction of this foundation, the 
 presumption is, that it was the work of the original inhabitants. Axes, 
 spear heads, and other bronze articles, supposed to he British, or 
 “ Romano-British,” had previously been found at Walton. Some remains 
 of this class are preserved in the museum of the Literary and Philosophical 
 Society. See plate I, figs. 3, 5, 6, and 9. Figs. 3 and 5 appear to have 
 been used in connection with harness. The latter is probably a portion of 
 a “ bit.” There are no specimens in the British Museum precisely similar, 
 hut many somewhat resembling them in general character. The Romans 
 often selected the sites of the native towns or encampments, for their 
 stations. Similar remains of the Aborigines have been found at Castle- 
 field, Manchester, and other places. The probability, therefore is, that 
 Agricola, in this instance, merely retained possession of a fortress pre¬ 
 viously occupied by the discomfited native inhabitants. 
 
PLATE 2 
 
 reference. 
 
 n° i. m'Puvinp' in which the Rowan remains were found. 
 
 I Nl R MAITLAND S GARDEN IN WHICH REMAINS WERE FOUND 
 3. A. 5 THE THREE TERRACES. 
 
 6 T A E 21 G-ZAG INDENTATION 
 
 7 LARGE GRAVEL BED AND FORD 
 
 8 SUPPOSED ROMAN ROAD 
 
 9 HI* CALVERTS WEAVING SHED, IN WHICH THE WORKMEN FOUND REMAINS OF ROAD 
 
 10 OLD COURSE OF THE DARWEN, ACCOROIN6 TO ROBERT PORTER'S MAP PU8US 0 IN 1138 
 
 II PRESENT COURSE OF THE DARWEN. 
 
 it The Ribble 
 
 13 NEW ROADS 
 
 IT NEW BRIDGES 
 
 It OLD VILLAGE OF WA LTO N-LE-DA EE 
 
 IB STRONG EARTHEN RAMPART 
 
 --- THE SOLID LINES ARE FROM ROBERT PORTERS MAP. 
 
 - THE BROKEN LINES INDICATE SUCH MODERN ADDITIONS AS ARE NECESSARY 
 
 TO THE PRESENT INQUIRY. 
 
 . THE DOTTED LINES INDICATE THE ROMAN REMAINS. 
 

BRITISH AND ROMAN PERIODS. 
 
 39 
 
 These interesting relics of past ages were brought to light, like many 
 others, by purely fortuitous circumstances. The author of this work being 
 aware of the existence of a tradition which identified a mound, planted 
 with trees, and known by the name of “The Plump,” on “ Walton Flats,” 
 with the burial place of the “Scotch warriors,” slain in Cromwell’s cele¬ 
 brated victory over the Duke of Hamilton, in 1648, visited the spot 
 several times in June, 1855, for the purpose of examining its structure, 
 and ascertaining whether or not existing remains countenanced the 
 tradition. Some workmen, employed by the highway surveyor, had com¬ 
 menced digging for stones and gravel. This, fortunately, afforded an 
 excellent opportunity for a minute inspection. The labourers, being resi¬ 
 dent in the neighbourhood, were aware of the tradition, and fully expected 
 to meet with some memorials of the “great battle.” 
 
 During the temporary absence of the excavators, the author picked up 
 a curious piece of metal, which, from its configuration, had evidently 
 formed part of some manufactured article. It seemed too thin to be either 
 a fragment of a skull-cap, or a piece of plate armour. It, however, 
 distinctly bore the impression of a blow from a pointed instrument, and 
 some stains upon it appeared like clotted blood. The metal itself, likewise, 
 was peculiar,—apparently a mixture of tin and lead. It served to stimu¬ 
 late further investigation." 
 
 Three brass coins were next found by the workmen, one of which was 
 illegible from corrosion. The second merely exhibited the general form 
 of the head of the potentate in whose reign it had been coined; but, on the 
 reverse of the third, the letters S. C. were distinctly visible, which at once 
 demonstrated its Roman origin.>’ The labourers thought it a Scotch penny, 
 from the imperfect figure on the reverse bearing some resemblance to a 
 kilted highlander. Thus, whilst searching for relics of the Commonwealth 
 period, proofs of Roman occupation were disclosed. Instead of the debris 
 of a sanguinary struggle, which a lapse of two centuries has invested with 
 traditionary interest and historic dignity, the earth disgorged food for the 
 archaeologist, which must have been entombed in her capacious and ever- 
 hungry maw, upwards of fourteen hundred years. q 
 
 Remembering Mr. Robson’s injunction, the author immediately institu¬ 
 ted a stricter search. Specimens of Roman pottery were found in abun- 
 
 o This fragment proved to be a portion of a Roman pewter vessel. It had probably been used for 
 cooking purposes. 
 
 p The S. C. signifies Senatus Consultum, which imports that the coin was issued by decree of the 
 senate. 
 
 <1 The Roman dominion in Britain was entirely extinguished before the middle of the fifth 
 century. 
 
40 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 dance, after the attention of the labourers had been directed to its peculiar 
 character and importance. During this exploration, an area of nearly one 
 hundred superficial yards was excavated, to the depth of about three feet. 
 Above the original vegetable soil, resting upon a yellow loamy clay, or 
 “ sea sludge,” as the labourers termed it, on which lay the British foun¬ 
 dation wall, previously alluded to,—was spread a mass of boulders, mixed 
 with glarece, or gravel. In and upon the surface of this stratum, the 
 Boman remains were discovered. The stones and gravel only extending 
 to a certain distance, the excavators relinquished their task, and filled up 
 the cavity, or, doubtless, many other interesting relics would have been 
 procured. The workmen, who were accustomed to dig for road materials, 
 from the first pronounced the stone and gravel layer to be of artificial con¬ 
 struction. The discovery of the red-rock foundation wall, below this 
 stratum, confirmed their opinion. The mound extends considerably 
 further to the east, north, and west of the excavation. Two, or even 
 three, separate terraces may still be distinctly perceived, descending 
 towards the Bibble, notwithstanding the garden cultivation to which the 
 greater portion has been subjected for some years past. This peculiar, and 
 evidently artificial, formation of the ground, Dr. Bobson remarked, bore 
 great resemblance to the site of the Boman station at Caer-rhun, near Con¬ 
 way, the Conovium of Antoninus. 1, On digging a small hole, on the 
 extreme west side of the mound, it was ascertained that the Boman 
 remains extended fifteen yards further in that direction. Mr. Martland, 
 of the Bridge Inn, Walton, the tenant of the adjoining garden land, had 
 previously exposed a large quantity of bright red clay, fragments of 
 pottery, etc., considerably to the east of the “Plump;” but not being 
 aware of their archaeological importance, the prettier portions of the “red 
 lustrous ware” were given to his children, and the remainder re-consigned 
 to the earth. Many fragments of Boman earthenware have since been 
 picked up at the eastern extremity of this garden. Beneath the trees in 
 the “Plump,” the vegetable soil and alluvial deposits had accumulated to 
 the depth of about two feet above the Boman remains. In the adjoining 
 garden, the stratum of boulders and gravel is nearer the surface. Much 
 of it has been removed during the last few years. This portion, being the 
 most elevated land in the immediate neighbourhood, has been rarely 
 covered by even the highest floods, and consequently but little river debris 
 is found upon the third or upper terrace. Such is not the case, however, 
 with the lower ones. Here the periodical deposits have formed a consider- 
 
 r On the author communicating the discovery to Dr. Robson, that gentleman immediately visited 
 Walton, inspected the excavation, the remains, and neighbourhood of the site; and courteously 
 communicated much valuable information on the subject. 
 
BRITISH AND ROMAN PERIODS. 
 
 41 
 
 able depth of soil. On stepping across these terraces, from south to north, 
 the highest and middle plateaux, are found to be each about thirty yards 
 in breadth, and the lower one from fifty to sixty,—in all about one 
 hundred and twenty yards. (Plate II, figs. 3, 4, and 5.) This does not 
 include the inner ditch and rampart, on the bank of the Kibble. The 
 terraces are elevated from two to three feet above each other. From the 
 western extremity of the mound to what appears to have been the earthern 
 vallum, skirting the main highway, from the south to the ford over the 
 Kibble, the distance is about three hundred yards. 
 
 Opposite to the centre of the station, on the north, the earthern rampart 
 rises about twenty feet above the ordinary level of the Kibble, and is nearly 
 forty yards in breadth! (Plate II, fig. 16.) A large edifice, called “Flatts 
 House,” and several outbuildings have been erected upon it. A portion 
 of this mound, on the eastern side of the house, has lately been removed. 
 A deep ditch, between it and the lower terrace of the station, may yet be 
 seen, as well as some remains of a strong earthern embankment, consider¬ 
 ably within the modem “ cop,” constructed to exclude the flood waters 
 of the Darwcn. As it is scarcely conceivable that so large a quantity 
 of earth would be removed, simply for the erection of modem buildings, 
 the presumption is, that the mound formed a portion of the original defence 
 of the station. From this plateau, the Koman garrison could effectually 
 protect the ford, or “pass of the Kibble.” Till about the end of the last 
 century, as elderly inhabitants yet remember, a warehouse stood upon this 
 mound. It was used to store alum, from the mines in Samlesbury, near 
 Hoghton Tower, previous to its being floated down the river in barges, 
 when the height of the tide permitted. At low water, remains of a strong 
 wall facing this mound, may yet be seen in the Kibble. Earges have, till 
 within a comparatively recent period, occasionally discharged coals, in the 
 Darwen, for Sir Henry Hoghton, Bart. Notwithstanding the obstruction 
 to the navigation of the river, between Walton and the quay at Preston, 
 Roman vessels would, at high springs and floods, be enabled to reach the 
 station. Doubtless, modem Walton occupies the site of the neighbouring 
 British village, town, or “city,” as the fancy of the antiquarian topo¬ 
 grapher may be pleased to designate it. It is, likewise, not improbable 
 that the residence of the governor of the station may have preceded 
 Walton Hall, a mansion of the Hoghton family, pulled down upwards of 
 twenty years ago. 
 
 Amongst the remains discovered, are five coins. One, a “second brass,” 
 is totally illegible. Another, a “first brass,” from the general configura¬ 
 tion of the head, on the obverse, is most probably a Titus Yespasian. 
 The third is a “ first brass,” of Domitian, much corroded. The fourth 
 
42 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 is a “ second brass,” of Domitian, Avith tbe name of the Emperor per¬ 
 fectly legible. Tbe fifth, which is in tolerable preservation, distinctly 
 presents the effigy of Antoninus Pius, with, apparently, the Antonine 
 column on the reverse. 6 
 
 The other metallic substances include fragments of two pewter dishes, 
 several large and smaller iron nails, a very small piece of copper, two or 
 three pieces of thin sheet lead, “crumpled up,” and another specimen, 
 the form of which, indicates previous fusion, like a brazier’s lump of 
 solder. The nails, from the oxidising of the iron, are thickly encrusted 
 with sand and gravel, and the lead is covered with a white coating, from 
 a similar cause. Fig. 5, plate III, shows the form of one of these nails, 
 when stripped of the sand and gravel. A bronze fibula, or toga button, 
 (as the fastening is in the centre,) was likewise found. It bears marks of 
 elegant and elaborate chasing, and some remains of purple enamel. (Plate 
 III, figs. 2 and 4.) Another fibula, of a different form and character, was 
 picked up by Mr. Martland’s son, together with a small rod or bar, of 
 iron, plated with silver. The rod is about three inches and a half long, 
 and one tenth of an inch in diameter. It is believed to have formed part 
 of a stylus, or, more probably, a lady’s hair pin. The fibula is of fine 
 brass. A small circle in the centre, is ornamented with brilliant red 
 enamel, resembling, in appearance, the stone setting of a modem finger 
 ring. (Plate III, figs. 6 and 7.) 
 
 Amongst the stone articles, are a large portion of the “ass,” or lower 
 stone of a quern, or hand corn-mill, formed of millstone grit, (plate III, 
 fig. 8); several large fragments of “ riders,” or upper millstones, cut from 
 lava, (plate I, fig. 1); and one small wheel, or “spindle head,” about an 
 inch and a half in diameter, fashioned from a very fine bluish stone. It 
 is perforated in the centre, and bears on one side, marks of friction, pro¬ 
 duced by rapid revolution. (Plate III, fig. 3.) 
 
 Mr. Pobson expressed an opinion, that some of the “blue lava” stones, 
 discovered at Walton, were fragments of potter’s wheels. 
 
 A precisely similar upper “ quern stone,” to the one figured on plate 
 III, was found at Pdbchester, in Mr. Patchet's garden, and deposited by 
 the late Dr. Moore, in the museum of the Literary and Philosophical 
 Institution, Preston. 1 
 
 s Other brass coins have since been found by the workmen. Some years ago, a silver coin, of the 
 higher empire, was discovered. The mound had evidently been previously disturbed in several 
 places, but by parties incapable of appreciating, or even recognizing the archaeological treasures it 
 contained. 
 
 t Mr. Joseph Clarke, F.S.A., in a valuable contribution to vol. 7, of the Lan. and Ches. Historic 
 Soc. Proceedings, has the following observations upon the hand corn-mills of the Roman people, and 
 the materials from which they were formed:—“ The querns or millstones discovered there (Colches- 
 
REMAINS FOUND AT WALTON-LE-DALE 
 
ROMAN POTTERY FOUND AT WALTON-LE-DALE 
 
BRITISH AND ROMAN PERIODS. 
 
 43 
 
 The specimens of earthenware discovered, are exceedingly numerous, 
 and appear to have been formed from five or six distinct clays, or compo¬ 
 sition pastes. Some pieces of “Roman red lustrous ware,” exhibit 
 elegant and well executed figures in relief, a few of which are represented 
 on plate IY. Many of the ornamental “patterns” on these fragments, 
 are identical with those on some specimens, figured in the catalogue of the 
 “ Museum of Practical Geology,” especially the bowls, numbered 28, 38, 
 39, and 80. The first three were found at Roman stations in Britain, 
 and the fourth near Cologne. One fragment, discovered at Walton, like¬ 
 wise exhibits, in relievo, a portion of the figure of the Medicean Yenus, 
 precisely similar to those depicted on one of the bowls referred to. (No. 28.) 
 Fig. 1, plate IV, resembles the figure, commonly known to artists as the 
 antique “ young Apollo; ” fig. 2, the Roman wolf; fig. 5, a Jupiter, or 
 some emperor; fig. 6, a deer; and fig. 7, a fighting gladiator. Other 
 specimens exhibit the forms of lions, birds, etc., common to Roman 
 “lustrous ware.” A single fragment presents a good example of a pecu¬ 
 liar species of Roman earthenware, often discovered in Germany and 
 Britain, on which, lines of dots and figures in relief, are added, after the 
 vase has been formed and turned in the lathe. This specimen is unglazed. 
 (Plate V, fig. 1). There are numerous fragments of amphora, mortaria, 
 and lesser vessels of great variety of form. A large amphora handle 
 exhibits the potter’s mark. From superficial decay, all the letters are not 
 very legible; but it appears to resemble P V C R M, F V C B M, or 
 E V C R. M. u (plate Y, fig. 3). The fragments of mortaria present the 
 
 ter), as elsewhere in deserted Roman habitations, are found to he a deposit of lava, from a quarry, 
 near Andernach, on the Rhine. The uppermost stone of a Roman quern very much reduced by 
 abrasion, the aperture for the stick used in turning it being worn through to the under surface, ren¬ 
 dering it useless, was lately (1855) found at Maidstone, and is now in the possession of Mr. C. Roach 
 Smith. It is pronounced by Mr. Brayley to be trachitic lava, containing pyroxene crystals of augite; 
 none of which substance is found in England, and but a very small portion in the north west of 
 Ireland ; though it is abundant at Andernach, and other places on the Rhine.” 
 
 Querns, or hand corn mills, have been used by primitive people from the earliest known periods. 
 They are yet to be found in India, Persia, Turkey, and Siberia ; in parts of Spain, Italy, Africa, and 
 Ireland. Dr. Johnson remarks, in his Tour in the Hebrides, that the housewives who were too far 
 distant from the water-mills, in Skye and Rassa, grind their oats in a quern or hand mill. 
 
 In the Hebrew language, the lower stone was called an ass, and the upper one a rider. “ Thus,” 
 says Dr. Hume, “when wc are told in Judges, c. ix, v. 53, and 2nd. Sam., c. xi, v. 21, that ‘a cer¬ 
 tain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech’s head, and all to break his skull,’ it is, in 
 reality, cast a piece of ruler , or a fragment from an upper millstone. Again, when it is related in 
 Matthew, c. xviii, v. 6, ‘that it were better that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that 
 he were cast into the sea,’ it is the ass millstone, in the original, that is the lower one. How natural 
 and forcible does the illustration thus become. The stone is of a suitable size to be brought, to be 
 s ustained, and to cause drowning; without being absurdly large as a modern millstone would be.” 
 
 u Mr. Roach Smith considers the last interpretation to be the most probable. It may be translated 
 as from the hand (maims) or manufactory of Eucranus. Another amphora handle, and a portion 
 of a Samian bowl, bear the potter’s name, but they are too much injured to admit of satisfactory 
 interpretation. 
 
44 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 peculiarities observable in this class of Roman earthenware. Grains of 
 quartz have been imbedded in the paste of the interior, apparently after 
 the bowl has been turned, for the purpose of producing a rubbing or 
 grinding surface. Two necks of vases, with single handles, (plate T, figs. 
 2 and 4) formed of rude clay, and unglazed, resemble those found at 
 Stockton-heath, and figured opposite to page 33, volume 2, of the “ Tran¬ 
 sactions of the Lancashire and Cheshire Historic Society.” Fragments of 
 a dark blue or black ware are very numerous. The clay is of a coarse 
 kind; the form of the vessels generally broad and shallow, with a plain, or 
 but slightly ornamented rim (fig. 5, plate Y). They appear to have been 
 used for cooking purposes. Large pieces of fine red clay, kneaded into a 
 paste, were likewise continually met with, as well as a few fragments of 
 Roman tiles and bricks. Some lumps of mixed clays, including brown, 
 white, and red, were picked up, apparently the refuse of a potter’s work¬ 
 shop. One of these lumps seems to have been cut with a knife, and is 
 curiously tinged with a pale pinkish or purple colour, as if the result of 
 fire or chemical action. A. fragment of vitreous material was likewise 
 found, resembling stone china, or very rude glass. It is, therefore, pro¬ 
 bable that a brick-kiln, and an establishment for the manufacture of the 
 coarser kinds of pottery existed at Y'alton. T 
 
 Amongst other miscellaneous articles, taken from the surface of the 
 Roman gravel, are two fragments of the jaw of some large herbaceous 
 animal. One consisted of the entire half of the lower maxillary bone, but 
 it was in such a decomposed condition that it broke into fragments on 
 removal. The teeth, however, are quite perfect. A few fragments of 
 other bones were met with, and a horn of the extinct ox, the Bos Lon- 
 
 v “The Romans appear to have had a brick-kilne at every stationary town. Their clay is gener- 
 all found to he finely tempered, compactly kneaded, beautifully red, and completely burnt. And 
 their bricks were constantly about sixteen English inches and three quarters in length, and eleven 
 and a quarter in breadth. But the Romans of the first century never raised any structures of these 
 materials. * » Bricks, as well as Stones, however, must have been used in the foundation of the 
 structures, and in the funnels of the chimneys.’—Rev. J. Whitaker. 
 
 The buildings, like those of the primitive Britons, were formed of wood. The greater part of the 
 edifices of Rome itself, were constructed of timber, at the time of Nero. Hence the terrific character 
 of the conflagration which occurred during his reign. 
 
 “ Roman red ware was not uncommonly known by antiquarians as Samian, from Samos having 
 been famous for its manufacture of a red pottery. The Samian potters were famous about B.c. 900; 
 but it may be doubted if any vessels, there manufactured, have ever been found at the Roman sta¬ 
 tions in England. * * It is not improbable that a considerable portion, at least, of this ware, was 
 derived from southern Germany. * * The manufacture and character of this bowl,” (No. SO) 
 “ closely agrees with the specimens of similar pottery found in England, where there is little evi¬ 
 dence of any of it having been made.”—Catalogue of Museum of Practical Geology, London, 1855. 
 
 “ Pottery can only be found, in any quantity, where there has been a regular settlement, and it 
 may be considered as a proof of a long established and quiet homestead.”—Dr. Robson: Lan. and 
 Ches. His. Soc. Papers, vol. 5, p. 304. 
 
PLATE 5. 
 
 F 10 I 
 
 nearly full 
 
 F 1C Z 
 
 ONE HALF 
 
 ROMAN POTTERY POUND AT YYALTON-LE-OALE 
 

BRITISH AND ROMAN PERIODS. 
 
 45 
 
 gifrons. The jaw, most probably, belonged to this animal. A precisely 
 similar horn, taken from the bed of the river, is deposited in the museum 
 of the Literary and Philosophical Society. The Rev. W. Tliomber has in 
 his possession, a skull of the Bos Longifrons, found in the Roman station 
 at Kirkham. Another specimen, discovered at the same place, .was rather 
 broader across the forehead (probably the Bos Latifrons). Near these 
 skulls was found an iron axe (a securis , or dolabra,) likewise in Mr. 
 Thomber’s possession." 
 
 The wood employed in the construction of the buildings on the station, 
 appears to have perished. A small piece, fossilised, bearing the marks of 
 a sharp instrument, was, however, picked from the heap of stones and 
 gravel, in August last, and deposited with the remains previously dis¬ 
 covered. The trees, which formed the “ Plump,” were cut down during 
 the winter following the discovery of the station, and its picturesque 
 aspect destroyed. The mound has likewise been slightly reduced by the 
 removal of the road materials, and a wider distribution of tho soil. 
 Further investigation will, doubtless, bring to light many other relics of 
 the Roman occupation, as a considerable portion of the ground yet 
 remains unexplored. 1 
 
 Notwithstanding the accumulation of alluvial deposit, a broad ridge is 
 still traceable, from the immense natural gravel bank or ford, at the 
 Ribble, towards the present bridge over the Darwen. The workmen 
 employed in the erection of Mr. Calvert’s weaving shed, which crosses its 
 line, came, at some distance below the surface, upon a compact mass of 
 road material, so hard that a pick-axe could scarcely enter it. The agger 
 is probably the remains of the original earth work, which protected tho 
 
 w The principal remains found at Walton, were exhibited in May, 1856, before the archaeological 
 section of the Lan. and Ches. His. Soc., by the author of this work, who read a paper on their dis¬ 
 covery, and afterwards deposited a portion in the museum of the society. It is intended to place the 
 remainder in some public institution in Preston. In the paper alluded to, the jaw is described as 
 that of a horse. An examination of some specimens of the Bos Longifrons, in the British Museum, 
 has since induced the conclusion that the horn and teeth belong to the same animal. The British 
 Museum contains, likewise, a Roman altar, described as “ for libations, ” on which are sculptured 
 two skulls of this extinct ox. From this circumstance, it would appear probable that Mr. Thornber’s 
 axe is a securis, or instrument of sacrifice. 
 
 x Some curious stories are related respecting the mound at Walton. Mr. Martland informed the 
 author, that about thirteen or fourteen years ago, a deep hole, near the site of the present cabin, 
 was dug by some unknown persons, in one night. The hole was nine or ten feet long, by about six 
 in width. The materials excavated were principally stones and gravel. Three days elapsed before ho 
 and his assistants completed the filling up of this trench. A silver coin, (supposed to be Roman) was 
 found at this time. Mr. Martland likewise remembers hearing of a large hole having been dug under 
 somewhat similarly mysterious circumstances, near the same spot, about sixty years ago. The place 
 was watched every evening for a fortnight, before the hole was filled up, with a view to ascertain 
 whether the midnight excavators would resume their labours. Nothing, however, was discovered 
 which either identified the parties, or explained their object. 
 
46 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 station on the east. The road to the ford appeal’s to have run parallel to 
 it on the eastern side. During the last summer, 1856, when the work¬ 
 men had removed the superior soil, previous to the formation of a new 
 road to the “ Platt’s House,” crossing the Roman line at right angles, the 
 author perceived, within a breadth of about six yards, some remains of 
 gravel, and many small fragments of ashlers, formed of Whittle gritstone, 
 partially disintegrated. The road materials in this place had evidently 
 been removed, these fragments alone remaining. Hear Brownedge chapel, 
 a little further south, a portion of the Roman road appears to still exist. 
 It is marked on the ordnance map as the “ Main way-gate.” Beyond 
 Bamber-bridge, its line is indicated by a road marked “ Cinder Path,” in 
 Cuerden Hall Park. On the north bank of the Ribble, opposite the ford, 
 a zigzag indentation in the face of the steep ascent may still be seen. This 
 hollow would appeal’, from the verdict quoted from the Preston Court Leet 
 record, at page thirty-three, to have been anciently termed “Cocker-hole”. 
 From this place, the road passed in a straight line, by the Swilbrook, and 
 Albyn bank, to Church street, in Preston, which it intersected near the 
 site of the Blue Bell Inn. Here it made a slight angle, passing to the 
 east of “ Patten House,” which probably occupied the site of Ergham’s 
 “ Manor House,” alluded to by Nichols. 5 ' On a map of Preston, dated 
 1774, a part of which will be found in the topographical portion of the 
 present volume, its course is indicated by the names, “Gt. Pathway Field,” 
 “Causeway Meadow,” and “Pathway Meadow,” to the Moor Brook, 
 which it crossed at Chamock Fold. This carries it in a straight line 
 to the remains described by Mr. Clay and Mr. Cartwright, on Preston 
 Moor. On the first cultivation of the moor, its course was distinctly 
 visible. It crossed the line of the present path from the principal 
 carriage-way to the lodge, near the artificial lake, making, with it, 
 a figure somewhat in the form of the letter X. During the construc¬ 
 tion of the sewerage of the “Freehold Park” estate, in Fulwood, remains 
 were discovered on the section allotted to Mr. Brewer. A small portion of 
 the Roman agger may yet be seen on Preston Moor, where the land slopes 
 towards the brook, opposite to Mr. Brewer’s plot. This road intersected 
 the one from the Portus Setantiorum, to Ribchester, and York, (the sixth 
 iter of Richard) on the line of the present “ Watling-street,” about midway 
 between the “Withy Trees Inn,” and Fulwood Barracks. 
 
 y “ The house that Ergham, Mayor of Preston, (in 1328) occupied, was entirely built out of the 
 remains of Ribble-cestre, and a princely mansion it was, erected at the end of Einkle-street, and 
 termed the ‘Manor House of Priest-town.' (Nicoll’s Researches.)”—Whittle’s His. of Preston, vol. 2, 
 p. 17.—When the above was written, the existence of a Roman station in the immediate neighbour¬ 
 hood, was u nkn own. Hence the supposition that the materials alluded to, were procured from 
 Ribchester. 
 
BRITISH AND ROHAN PERIODS. 
 
 47 
 
 It is highly probable, that an outwork existed near the angle in the 
 road at Church-street. Perhaps the Parish Church may have been erected 
 upon the site of some such post, or more probably, Ergham’s Manor 
 House replaced the ruined outpost. 
 
 The Rev. John Clay, in one of his interesting lectures upon the Kibble, 
 in 1845, gives some particulars respecting the destruction of these roads, 
 which are the more valuable and the more worthy of preservation, as the 
 progress of modem improvement has nearly obliterated all traces of them 
 in the immediate neighbourhood of the town. Mr. Clay says:— 
 
 “ In the course of our enquiries about these roads, we were fortunate in meeting a fine 
 old man, upwards of ninety years of age, named Richard Dewhurst, living on Cadley 
 Moor, in a cottage in which he and his father before him were born. His memory 
 respecting this road seemed very clear. He recollected ‘ hacking up ’ and carting away 
 —seventy years ago—the gravel of which it was formed, beginning from the Withy 
 Trees, crossing Cadley Moor, and continuing past Mrs. Grimsbaw’s house, in the direction 
 of Cottam Mill. There can be no doubt that this was a portion of the Watling-street j 
 for the old man’s memory brings it to Tanterton Hall, where its traces re-appear.— 
 Mr. Cartwright and I found faint evidences of it yet remaining near Plungington, and 
 also near the lodge of water belonging to Cadley Mill. Our informant also well remem¬ 
 bered that another road, constructed of similar materials, crossed Preston Moor, and 
 entered the Watling street. On this road, his fellow-workmen, employed in removing 
 the gravel, found some Roman coins.—The tradition which had come down to our 
 venerable informant was, that these roads stretched across the whole country. The 
 * one reaching from east sea to west sea, the other from the north sea to the south sea.’ 
 And as to the maker of the road3, tradition further declared that they were all made in 
 one night by the author of evil.” 
 
 Another old man, named Thomas Dewhurst, who died in 1855, upwards 
 of ninety years of age, frequently stated that, in his youth, he assisted to 
 cart away the gravel from off Watling-street. 
 
 Dr. Leigh visited Ribchester in 1699. He speaks of the Roman way 
 from thence to Preston, as well as one to Lancaster, and another to Man¬ 
 chester. He does not appear to have made any particular survey. Nichols, 
 in 1793, carefully traced the road from Wigan to Lancaster. It had, not 
 long previously, been the only highway from Preston to the south. Before 
 the first coach left Preston, in 1771, the traffic was performed by means of 
 “ strings of pack horses, thirty and forty in a gang;” and the causeway 
 had become so dilapidated in many places, as to be scarcely passable. 
 Hence numerous divergements from the direct line took place, which may 
 perhaps account for the otherwise apparently unaccountable meanderings 
 of some portions of the modern highway following its track. 
 
 Kuerden describes these roads as they appeared nearly two hundred 
 years ago. It has been previously observed he laboured hard to prove 
 that Preston occupied the site of the Rigodunum of Ptolomy. He makes 
 Ribchester the Coccium of Antoninus, and Lancaster the Longovicus of the 
 Notitia. Speaking of the road from the coast to Ribchester, he says :— 
 
48 
 
 PBESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 “ This highway by the country people at this day cald the Watling Street, & was wel 
 vewed by the learned and incomparable antiquary, William Dugdell, Norroy King of 
 Armes in his last visitation of the Gentry within the county of Lancaster, An. Do. 1664, 
 where by him and many other diligent observers there finding a rampire cast up with 
 gravel, & the largeness of the bulk thereof, was judged to he a Roman strata.—Besides 
 it was observed that from this Ribodunum [Preston] to the other Roman garrison, the 
 Longovicnm or Caerwerid of the Britons, their Green Citty, there was another lesser 
 strata leading betwixt them, as diuers signes of a like Rampire ouer Preston and Pul- 
 wood more, towards Garstang, by Broughton, are yet conspicuous to the inquisitive 
 observations of many learned men as well as vulgar people.” 
 
 Dr- Kuerden likewise mentions, that, not many years previously to his 
 recording the circumstance, “ a Roman Yrne, in which was found great 
 store of ancient coynes,” was dug up in Myerscough Park, near to the line 
 of the Roman road. The doctor states that he had himself seen most of 
 these coins, which were originally in the possession of “ that ingenious 
 gentleman, Edward Towneley, Esq., the proprietor & owner of the park 
 of ground where this vme was found.” Kuerden conjectured the locality 
 “to have been some Tabema, or bathing place for the Roman soldiers” on 
 march. 
 
 Some of the elder Lancashire antiquaries were of opinion that the 
 Roman road, from the south to the north, crossed the Ribble by the ford at 
 Penwortham, and passed between Tulketh and the Maudlands. This was 
 first conjectured by Percival. The notion was, however, immediately 
 ridiculed by J. Whitaker. Yet, with characteristic daring, he afterwards 
 mentions the circumstance as probable, when it did not affect his favourite 
 theory. 1 The notion has been followed by E. Baines, and others. The 
 recent discoveries at "Walton, however, point out the upper ford to have 
 been the locality where the great Roman road passed the Ribble. The 
 pretensions of the “ square area” on the Maudlands to Roman construction 
 have been fully exploded. 3 
 
 The lower ford may, however, have been used by the Romans, and 
 vicinal ways may have led to it, as to many other places not upon the line 
 of the principal highway. 11 The Domesday record testifies to a Saxon 
 Castle at Penwortham, and the site is termed “ Castle Hill” to this day. 
 From its position and scarped form, it is very probable this peaked hill 
 was used by the Romans as a “specula,” or out-post of observation, in 
 connection with the station at Walton. A similar mound on the nose of 
 the opposite promontory at Ashton, lately destroyed, may likewise have 
 been used for this purpose. From “Castle Hill” both the Kirkham and 
 Walton stations might be seen, while the Ashton mound commanded the 
 
 z History of Manchester, voL 1, ps. 117, and 168. 
 
 a See account of the Magdalen Hospital, in Chapter III of the present volume, 
 b Mr. Edward Baines mentions the discovery of a portion of a road of this character. 
 
BRITISH AND ROMAN PERIODS. 
 
 49 
 
 entire view of the estuary of the Ribble. The latter must not he con¬ 
 founded with the site of the temporary monastery. The ordnance map 
 marks this much nearer to Tulketh Hall. c 
 
 John Whitaker says :— 
 
 “ The Roman British chiefs had previously inhabited castles for their mansions, and 
 the Saxons followed their example. They equally possessed their fortresses on settling 
 in the provinces, which were also the houses of their lords, and the capitals of their 
 seignories. In Lancashire, particularly, they inhabited many, and some of them were 
 probably erected by themselves, but most by the Britons before them. They had in all 
 probability no less than twelve considerable ones to the south of the Ribble, Whall-ey, 
 Wal-ton, Child-wall, Win-wick, Black-bourne, Seph-ton, Stand-ish, and Penwortliam, 
 Wigan, Rochdale, Middleton, and Bury. * # * They became the origin of villages 
 
 and the groundwork of towns.” 
 
 In August, 1856, a vase, containing a hundred Roman denarii, was dis¬ 
 covered at the foot of the old “ Wery Wall,” Lancaster. They were of 
 the higher empire, the latest being of the time of Trajan. Roman tiles, 
 pottery, etc., have been frequently found at Lancaster. 
 
 In February, 1856, a large earthenware jar, of Roman manufacture, 
 was discovered in the neighbourhood of Hooley Wood, near Heywood, on 
 the property of Mr. Jno. Fenton. The vase contained about a thousand 
 small brass coins, chiefly of the lower empire. A somewhat similar 
 treasure was found in 1837, on removing the rock above the tunnel formed 
 for the canal at Whittle, near Chorley. Other proofs exist of the presence 
 of the Roman people on the line of the great road from Warrington to 
 Lancaster. An oaken box was found in Leyland moss, in 1820, contain¬ 
 ing about twenty-eight coins, chiefly of the higher empire, five of wliich 
 are in the collection of Miss Farington. This lady, likewise, possesses a 
 massive gold ring, hearing the letters S. P. Q. R., found at Leyland, and 
 a large portion of a hoard of about one hundred and twenty-six Roman 
 coins, discovered at Worden, in 1850. Roman coins are likewise said 
 to have been found at Woodplumpton, and at Longton, on the Ribble. d 
 
 c Particulars of the recent excavations at Castle Hill, and the objects discovered, are given in 
 Chapter III. The term “ castle ” must not be understood in a modern sense. The remains of 
 strong stone fortresses in this country are nearly all Norman. A fortified residence is all that is 
 implied, without any reference to its relative strength. 
 
 d “ In the month of July, 1820, a coin of the Emperor Vespasian was found of copper zinc,” 
 [probably Roman brass] “ near Woodplumpton Church, having the following inscription:— 
 ‘Imp. Cjesar vespastanus aug. pru. trp. cos. hi.* The head is good relief, and on the reverse 
 side a figure with the letters S. C. 
 
 “On the eighth day of May, 1819, seventeen Roman coins, of copper zinc, and eleven of silver; 
 they had been contained in a wooden box ; several of them were legible ; and are coins of Nerva 
 Trajan, Hadrian, Antonine, and Faustina, the daughter of Antonine, and wife of Marcus Aurelius. 
 These coins may be seen at Mr. Westmore’s, in the Friargate.”—Whittle’s His. of Preston, vol, 1, 
 p. 14. 1821. 
 
 The last named are doubtless,—those now in the possession of Miss Farington. They were 
 exhibited in the temporary museum formed at the Institution, Avenham, in June, 1856, on the 
 occasion of the visit of the Members of the Lan. and Ches. His. Soc., and described as found on Ley- 
 land Moss, in 1820. 
 
 E 
 
50 
 
 rKESTOTT AXD ITS EXTIRONS, 
 
 These hoards have most probably been buried by their owners in 
 the troubled period which preceded and followed the departure of the 
 Roman legions from the country. The localities may have been out¬ 
 posts of the neighbouring garrisons or stations, or more probably the 
 residences of governors, or other functionaries, or even wealthy natives 
 or colonists. 8 The discovery of the hoard of Roman coins at Whittle, 
 and the circumstance, that part of the quern found in the station at 
 Walton, is made of Whittle stone, render it probable that the quarries 
 were worked during the Roman occupation. It is by no means 
 improbable that either one or the other of the now celebrated alkaline and 
 chalybeate springs of Whittle, were likewise known to them. Remains of 
 a Roman way can be traced in the neighbourhood. In 1836, the work¬ 
 men employed in boring for coal, and through whose operations the 
 alkaline spring was discovered, found a silver denarius of the Emperor 
 Valerian, and a medal in silver of Philip the Elder, which bears the motto, 
 “ Salus Augusti.” “On the obverse is Hygeia, the Goddess of Health, 
 standing with her usual attributes, the serpent, etc.” f 
 
 According to the Notitia, the mere stations which had been erected by 
 the Romans in the interior of Britain, to secure their conquests, were 
 generally abandoned about the time of the second Theodosius, or duiing 
 the first half of the fifth oentury. The decay of Coccium may therefore be 
 presumed to have oommenced about this period. The larger towns pro¬ 
 bably flourished for some time after the departure of the Roman military 
 governors. They were eventually either destroyed or occupied by the 
 victorious Saxons. 
 
 Dr. Whitaker says :— 
 
 “ Ribeliester underwent a sudden and violent demolition about the close of the Roman 
 empire in Britain. In consequence of this, it must have been wholly abandoned, so that 
 the ancient name was lost; and when at some uncertain period in the Saxon era, a few 
 settlers began to gather about the spot, attracted, perhaps, by the remains of Roman 
 buildings, they could only describe it in general terms as the Chester or Roman fortress 
 on the Ribble.” S 
 
 A tradition still remains that Roman Ribehester was destroyed by an 
 earthquake ; and another that it was reduced to ashes, in the early part of 
 the fourteenth century, during the great inroad of the Scots under Bruce. 
 
 e “A. 418. In the ninth year, also, after the sacking of Rome hy the Goths, those of Roman race 
 who were left in Britain, not bearing the manifold insults of the people, bury their treasures in pits, 
 thinking that hereafter they might have better fortune, which never was the ease; and taking a 
 portion, assemble on the coasts, spread their canvass to the winds, and seek an exile on the shores of 
 Gaul.”—Ethelwerd’s Chronicle. 
 
 “A. 418. This year the Romans collected all the treasures that were in Britain, and some they 
 hid in the earth, so that no one has since been able to find them ; and some they carried with them 
 into Gaul.”—Saxon Chronicle. 
 
 f See “ Brief Account of Whittle-le-Woods Alkaline Springs,”—Galt, Manchester, 1856. 
 g Richmondehire, vol. 2, p. 458. 
 
BRITISH AND ROMAN PERIODS. 
 
 51 
 
 Both are highly improbable. Had Roman Bibchester remained a place of 
 any importance till the period referred to, it could scarcely have failed to 
 have attracted the notice of some of the elder chroniclers or topographers. 
 True, the Saxon village may have shared the fate of Preston, in the cele¬ 
 brated foray of our northern neighbours, and hence the tradition! An 
 earthquake in England, of sufficient magnitude to bury a Roman “city,” 
 (to use the elder Whitaker's emphatic style,) “must” have found some one 
 to record it. Other facts, however, demonstrate that this tradition can 
 have no better foundation than the vague conjecture of ignorant peasants; 
 who, on first discovering remains of ancient buildings beneath the soil, 
 naturally attributed their subterranean location to the action of some earth¬ 
 quake, in that mysterious period usually denominated the “olden time.” 
 
 Camden attributed the origin of Preston to the decay of Rihchester. 
 He says:— 
 
 “Then the Rhibel turning Westward, gives its name to a village called at this day 
 Rhibel Chester, where so many signs of Roman Antiquity, Statues, coins. Pillars, 
 pedestals of Pillars, Chapiters, Altai’s, Marbles, and inscriptions, are commonly dug up, 
 that this hobbling Rhyme of the Inhabitants does not altogether seem groundless :— 
 
 ‘It is written upon a Wall in Rome, 
 
 Ribchester was as Rich as any Town in Christendomo.’ 
 
 “ But when the Grandeur of the City, having come to its full period, was at last 
 destroyed by either Wars or Earthquakes (for so it is commonly supposed,) somewhat 
 lower, where the tide flows up the Rhibell, and is called by Ptolomy Belli-sama 
 eestuarium; from the ruins of Ribelchester sprang Preston, a large Town, handsome for 
 these parts, and populous, so call’d from the Religious, for the name in our language 
 signifies Priests’ Town.” 
 
 Rigoduuum may have been, relatively, an important and flourishing 
 place, during the latter portion of the Roman occupation of Britain; yet 
 it is highly probable the traditionary tales of its magnificence and extent, 
 owe more to the speculations of enthusiastic antiquaries, than to the 
 sober fact. The stupendous remains, which attest the massive grandeur 
 of the “ Eternal City,” have become, as it were, daguerreotyped upon the 
 public imagination, and have invested with a mystic and shadowy splen¬ 
 dour, almost everything which hears the name of Rome. It is very 
 evident, however, from the absence of remains, that a large portion of 
 Rigodunum must have been, like Rome itself, at the time of Hero, built 
 of wood. Even its most important public building could not, successfully, 
 compete with many an ordinary village church. With reference to the 
 remains of the temple supposed to have been dedicated to Minerva, Dr. 
 Whitaker, himself, confesses that “every appearance about this work, 
 indicated, at once, provincial barbarism, and a declining age of art. For 
 the column was ill wrought, and the different diameters so varied from each 
 other, as to show that it had never been struck from a centre.” ! The 
 columns taken from the river may still be seen at Ribchester. They form 
 
52 
 
 PRESTON AND IIS ENVIRONS. 
 
 the porch to the principal inn of the Tillage. * 1 ' They are not only very 
 diminutive in stature, but very contemptible in point of workmanship. 
 It is to be hoped, for the reputation of the defunct “city,” that these 
 paltry pillars did not form a portion of the vaunted “ Temple of Minerva.” 
 
 The discovery at "Walton throws considerable light upon the much 
 canvassed probability of Ribchester having been a “ sea-port, during the 
 Roman occupation of Eritain. The affirmative rested chiefly on a vague 
 tradition, and a conjecture of the ever daring elder Wliitaker, endorsed by 
 the Historian of Wlialley. The latter learned antiquary, however, 
 afterwards discovered that his position was not tenable, and honourably 
 acknowledged it. He observes :— 
 
 “All the nautical remains discovered about Anchor Hill prove nothing more than 
 the existence of a ferry, which the Romans must have had, and which our English ances¬ 
 tors enjoyed, as late as Edward III.; and with respect to the disclosure of an anchor, 
 I know of nothing to negative the opinion, that as the Calder rises in a valley abounding 
 with iron, the ore might he transported to Ribchester, and manufactured there for the 
 use of their port below.* 
 
 Both Dr. Leigh and Mr. Oddy, of Blackbtum, had, in 1699, decided 
 against the importance of the anchor, rings, etc. Mr. Oddy, in a letter 
 to the Dr., says :— 
 
 “ When we were at Ribchester together, and had carefully viewed the Place, you may 
 remember I gave you my Opinion and Reasons why Ribchester had never been Navi¬ 
 gable so high, and that Doubt raised about the place called Anchor.Hill, may easily he 
 solved; that that Bank was a Rampire of the Fortress is very visible, under which there 
 is yet a broad and deep Foss leading towards the River, serving, as I conceive, for a 
 double use, viz., as a Trench to Fortifie the Place, and a Canal (like to that up to 
 Holbourn-bridge, London,) for Boats for the Garrison upon all Occasions, to pass over 
 and re-pass the River, which is not fordable thereabouts but in dry Weather ; and we 
 may reasonably suppose there was a great Number of Boats of all sorts, belonging to so 
 large a Fort and City, the Anchor-Hill, so called, being as it were a little Dock or 
 Hithe, for the Building or Repairing them, and that the Anchors, Rings, and Nails 
 there found, were only for their use, and not for Ships, they being far too little either 
 for Ships of Burden or War.”j 
 
 Mr. Edward Baines, however, in 1836, published the following singu¬ 
 lar paragraph on this subject, from which we might infer that he thought 
 Ribchester had been a sea-port in the time of the Romans :— 
 
 “ It must be allowed Preston was not a Roman station, but that when, by the gradual 
 recession of the waters, or by that mighty convulsion of nature which threw up the huge 
 mass of Pendle, and deranged the whole system of plants and minerals in the vale of the 
 Ribble to a great extent, Ribchester sunk into decay, Preston rose upon its ruins, and 
 became the principal port of Lancashire.’’k 
 
 h The occupier of the inn informed the author, that one of these pillars is of modem construction, 
 fashioned in imitation of the other three, in order to complete the porch, 
 
 i His. of Richraondshire, vol. 2, p. 458. 
 j Nat. His. Lan. and Ches., etc., b. 3, p. 2. 
 k His. Lan : vol. 4, p. 293. 
 
BRITISH AND EOllAN PERIODS 
 
 53 
 
 He further adds in a note,—“No Roman remains have been found here,” 
 (Preston) “while at York, Lancaster, ltibchester, and Manchester, they 
 abound.” 
 
 Some antiquaries appear to expect that all remains ought to “come into 
 court,” at their bidding, or thenceforth “hold their peace.” Such a con¬ 
 dition would, unquestionably, free them from the occasionally somewhat 
 disagreeable necessity of reconciling their theoretical elaborations, with after 
 discovered facts. It would, however, have been very remarkable, indeed, 
 if any such remains could have survived the mighty convulsion alluded to! 
 In comparison with the elevation of the “huge mass of Pendle,” the Roman 
 occupation of England is but a thing of yesterday, as the veriest tyro in 
 geology can, at the present time, easily understand. But Mr. Baines 
 appears to have afterwards discovered himself, that his “ mighty convul¬ 
 sion” was a huge blunder; for the Rev. J. Clay, in 1845, quotes him as an 
 authority on the opposite side of the question. He then says, “ There is 
 geological demonstration that ltibchester was not a port in the time of the 
 Romans, derived from the fact that the Ribble passes not only over the 
 sand, but over the solid rocks, in its course between Ribckester and 
 Preston, in several places.” Mr. Clay ridicules this idea, and gives a 
 very elaborate essay on the geological structure of the valley of the Ribble, 
 and contends that the upper portion may have risen some twenty feet, 
 while the lower portion, about Lytham, “ which had felt less of the 
 earthquake, would retain its usual elevation above the sea.” 1 
 
 Mr. Clay, however, fell into an error, precisely similar, though less in 
 degree, to that of the Historian of Lancashire, with respect to the time 
 when these events took place. The very existence of the Roman ford, at 
 Walton, ought to have thrown grave doubt upon the assumption, and 
 have suggested that these great changes alluded to, must have been effected 
 anterior to the Roman occupation. Truly, with a view to sustain this 
 theory, it might be argued that the river was only crossed at low water, as 
 is still the case at Hesketh bank, a few miles lower down the stream, and 
 yet permit sufficient tidal influx to float the Roman vessels past, towards 
 Ribehestcr. m The discovery of the remains, in the centre of the alluvial 
 deposit, between the Ribble and the Darwen, opposite to the natural ford 
 over the former, and the horizontal position of the strata, furnish better 
 evidence, as to the condition of the valley, with respect to tidal action, 
 during the Roman occupation, than a thousand speculations, however 
 
 1 Lecture on the Ribble, at the Preston Literary anil Philosophical Institution, 
 m It is but simple justice to Mr. Clay, to state here, that further consideration had induced him 
 to abandon this position, previously to the discovery at Walton. The theory is, however, yet 
 maintained by many others. 
 
54 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 ingenious. Geological periods, and the dates of written chronicles, are 
 two widely distinct matters. All historical time is relatively included in 
 the last hour of geological existence. Evidence, as to when such events, as 
 those alluded to, occurred, must be produced, or the conclusion arrived at 
 remains unsatisfactory. The circumstance, that the red rock “crops out,” 
 as it is technically expressed, at an angle, while the immense depth of 
 river debris, in the valley, is stratified horizontally, is satisfactory proof 
 that the latter has been deposited since the elevation of the former, at 
 whatever period that event occurred. The discovery at "Walton may be 
 fairly said to set this question at rest; for, if the tide had, at the time 
 referred to, risen six feet higher, or, what would amount to precisely the 
 same thing, had the level of the valley been depressed but six feet, the 
 station could not have existed. Indeed, it must have required then as now, 
 to be well embanked, to ensure protection from the ravages of the winter 
 floods, proriding the river current and tidal flow were no greater than at 
 the present time. In all human probability, the valley of the Babble 
 presents, at the present hour, nearly the same general features as when the 
 Roman legions left the country. Its superficial aspect may have changed; 
 the alluvial deposits may have increased; the river channel may have 
 become “sanded up” or diverted; marshy swamps may have been con¬ 
 verted into solid earth; the dense oak forests, which once crowned its 
 banks, may have fallen beneath the axe of civilization; but no proof has 
 yet been advanced that its great outlines have changed since the day when 
 the painted Setantian warriors succumbed to Roman discipline and Roman 
 valour, and resigned their stronghold, in the midst of the swamps of 
 Walton, to the soldiers of the victorious Agricola. 
 
SAXON AND DANISH PERIODS. 
 
 55 
 
 PART I.—HISTORICAL. 
 
 CHAPTER II.—SAXON AND DANISH PERIODS. 
 
 Departure of tlie Roman legions—Struggles of the Britanni with the native population 
 —The Piets and Scots—The Anglo-Saxon invasion—The Battles of King Arthur— 
 The Saxon Heptarchy—The kingdom of Northumbria—Introduction of Christianity 
 —Battle at Whalley—Battle at Winwick, and death of King Oswald—Danish 
 Invasions—King Alfred—Grant of lands in “ Hacmundernes”—Rise of Preston— 
 Danish Ravages—Athelstan’s grant of lands on the Ribble—The C'uerdale hoard— 
 Battle of Brunanburh—Struggles with the Danes—Canute—Harold—William the 
 Conqueror—Condition of the people—The population of Lancashire composed of 
 varied elements. 
 
 "When the Roman empire began to be seriously threatened in its very 
 heart, by the fierce hoards from the north and east of Europe, the frontier 
 provinces were either conquered by the invaders, or deserted from necessity 
 by the imperial armies. The Romans finally evacuated Britain, after 
 nearly four centuries of domination. Some authorities state their depar¬ 
 ture took place in the year 410 ; others say nearer the middle of the fifth 
 century. The Saxon historians have almost unanimously asserted, that the 
 native inhabitants, accustomed to repose under the protection of the 
 invincible Roman legions, had lost all warlike spirit or training, and that 
 their newly-acquired liberty was, to them, a misfortune rather than a 
 blessing. They are described as unable to defend themselves from the 
 incursions of the Piets and Scots, who broke through the Roman lines of 
 defence, and plundered the northern portions of the country. A single 
 legion, or less than ten thousand men, granted by the generosity of their 
 former masters, is stated to have been sufficient to chastise the invaders; 
 yet, British com-age was at that time insufficient for the protection of its 
 native soil, against so paltry an enemy! When the legions retired, the 
 savage foe again raised his vanquished head. Rome was once more appealed 
 to for succour, and generously she granted it. The fierce Piet was again 
 discomfited, and the effeminate Briton re-presented with the liberty he was 
 still incompetent to preserve. In the meantime Alarm, one of the most 
 redoubtable of the barbarian chieftains, commenced his devastating career. 
 Rome had now occupation sufficient from her own foes, and could no longer 
 afford to fight the battles of others. The Britons, left to their fate, are 
 said to have cowardly fled into the mountains, leaving the best parts of 
 
56 
 
 PBESTON AXI) ITS ENVIEONS. 
 
 the country an undisputed prey to the predatory enemy. This, if true, 
 would indeed present the saddest, the most humiliating page in our 
 national history. 
 
 Modem historians, however, have endeavoured to erase some portion of 
 this stain from the conventional character of the aboriginal Britons. The 
 Bev. J. "Wliitaker denounces the whole story as devoid of truth, and 
 asserts that the native Britons fought valiantly, and themselves defeated 
 the Piets and Scots, in the first instance, without Bom an assistance. He 
 says: “ This false representation was begun by Hildas, and copied after¬ 
 wards by Bede; and has been faithfully transcribed by every historian 
 since.” The Britons applied, he confesses, to the consul ZEtius for 
 aid, but he asserts, that the Boman functionary was unable or indisposed 
 to spare the requisite troops. 
 
 According to Zosimus, who lived in the first half of the fifth century, 
 the Britons themselves revolted against the Boman authority and expelled 
 them from the island. He says,— 
 
 “ The Barbarians beyond the Rhine, ravaging everything at their pleasure, compelled 
 both the inhabitants of the Britannic islands as well as some of the Celtic nation, to 
 revolt from the empire of the Romans, and to live independent of them, no longer 
 obeying their laws. The people, therefore, of Britain taking up arms and braving 
 every danger, freed their cities from the invading barbarians, and the whole Armoric, 
 and other provinces of Gaul, imitating the Britains, liberated themselves in like manner 
 —expelling the Roman prefects, and setting up a civil polity according to their own 
 inclination. This defection of Britain, and of the Celtic nations, took place during 
 the time of Constantine’s usurpation, 407—411 ! the barbarians rising up in con¬ 
 sequence of the neglect of the government ” a 
 
 Sharon Turner, in his Histoiy of the Anglo Saxons, sums up the conflict¬ 
 ing evidence in the following terms :— 
 
 “ Thus the authentic history from 407, is, that the barbarians, excited by Gerontius, 
 assailed both Gaul and Britain ; that Constantine ” (the rival Emperor) “ could give no 
 help, because his troops were in Spain ; that Honorius could send none because Alaric 
 was overpouring Italy; that the Britons thus abandoned, armed themselves, declared 
 their country independent, and drove the barbaric invaders from their cities; that 
 Honorius sent letters to the British States, exhorting them to protect themselves, and 
 that the Romans never again recovered possession of the island.” 
 
 From about the year 410, Britain ceased to acknowledge the Boman 
 domination. Hengist and Horsa did not land in England till 449. The 
 country in the meantime was divided into a series of petty states, and the 
 national strength consequently weakened by disunion and intestine strife. 
 In this semi-defenceless condition the Piets and Scots successfully plun¬ 
 dered the northern provinces, while Saxon, Irish and other pirates occasion¬ 
 ally ravaged the coasts. Doubtless the narrative of Gildas has reference, 
 if correct, to this period and Borne may have been applied to for the aid 
 she was incapable of rendering. The previous repulses of the Piets and 
 
 a Mon. Hist., 778. 
 
SAXON AND DANISH PERIODS. 
 
 57 
 
 Scots by a single Roman legion, alluded to by the same writer, may have 
 had reference to the victories of Theodosius over the combined forces of 
 the Saxon pirates and the northern hoards, in the preceding century. 
 
 Many writers are of opinion that by the term Picti or Piets, the painted 
 men or semi-savage natives are described, and that the Eritanni consisted 
 of the Roman colonists and the “Romanised Britons,” who endeavoured 
 to retain their authority in the island for some time after the departure of 
 the imperial troops. The revolted natives, joined by the northern barba¬ 
 rians, appear to have triumphed over the Eritanni. The Teutonic element 
 of the population, aided by the adventurous Angles, Saxons, and Jutes, 
 however, eventually acquired the supreme authority, and Britain was 
 again subjected to foreign domination. This seems the most consistent 
 interpretation of this somewhat obscure chapter in the national history. 
 Mr. Thomas Wright, indeed, contends that:— 
 
 “ The Britons, who struggled against the invasions of the Piets and Scots, and Saxons, 
 were a mixture of races foreign to the island, and lived congregated in towns, and that 
 when the Anglo-Saxons at last obtained the ascendency, the remains of this population 
 continued to exist among them, and became part of the Saxon states, while the peasantry 
 probably continued to exist hi the same servile condition as before. In fact, that the 
 popular story that the people who resisted the Saxons was the ancient Celtic population 
 of the island, aud that it retired before the conquerors, until it found a last refuge in 
 Wales, is a mere fiction.” b 
 
 According to Gildas, the succour denied at Rome was granted by the 
 Anglo-Saxons, and the northern plunderers were speedily ejected. This, 
 however, has been disputed by some modern historians. Hengist and 
 Horsa brought with them hut three ships, calculated to convey only a very 
 few troops. Sharon Tinner says:— 
 
 “As their numbers were too few for conquest, their visit must have been either a 
 matter of accident, or for the purpose of transient depredation. Nennius says they were 
 exiles. Many authorities mention that the Saxons were invited, and many that they 
 came accidentally. It is most likely that the first arrival off the island was casual, but 
 that their landing and subsequent increase were the result of invitation.” 
 
 Another author says:— 
 
 “Hengist and Horsa are poetical names (both in the Anglo-Saxon denoting a horse); 
 and their exploits are, if not entirely fabulous, of so doubtful a character as to deserve 
 little credit. * * * Hengist died, leaving a reputation out of all proportion to the 
 
 real extent of his achievements. The ravages of others seem to have been ascribed to 
 him, and his pre-eminence has probably resulted from his priority in point of time, rather 
 than from the udder extent or greater destructiveness of his devastations. Even their 
 priority in point of time is questionable; for it has been supposed that during the decline 
 of the Roman power, the east coast, or the Saxon shore, had been to a considerable 
 extent colonized by Saxons. Hengist’s dominion never extended beyond Kent, and it 
 may be questioned if he ever took the title of king.” c 
 
 Be that as it may, the British chiefs soon discovered they had entered 
 into an alliance with their future most implacable enemy. The Saxons, 
 
 b Lan. and Ches. His. Soc. Transactions, vol. 8, p. 147. 
 c Pen. Cyclop., Art. Kent. 
 
58 
 
 PHESTON AND ITS ENTIBONS. 
 
 having fulfilled the letter of their contract, speedily ignored both its spirit 
 and purpose. A fertile, and, for the period, a well cultivated country, was 
 virtually in their possession. Might and right are synonymous in the 
 lexicon of barbarian military adventurers. The slightest excuse, real or 
 imaginary, sufficed to induce a complication and a quarrel with the people, 
 whose interests they affected to defend. For nearly a century and a half, the 
 country became the theatre of a series of fierce and sanguinary combats. 
 Some of the more resolute of the native inhabitants yielded their liberty but 
 with their lives. The ultimate subjugation of the Britons cost the best 
 blood of their ferocious invaders. Northumberland and part of the Low¬ 
 lands of Scotland, were subdued by a body of Angles, under their chief 
 Ida, who founded the kingdom of Bemicia. On his death, one of his 
 subordinate chieftains, named Ella, entered the British territory called 
 Deifyr, in 559, and established the Saxon kingdom of Deira. When 
 Adelfrid, king of Bemicia, married Acca, daughter of fiElla, the Deirian 
 monarch, he banished his infant brother-in-law, Edwin, and formed, by 
 the union of all the counties lying between the then Scottish border and the 
 Mersey and the Humber, the kingdom of Northumbria, which thus became 
 one of the most powerful of the heptarchy. Dr. Whitaker, the historian 
 of Whalley, however, advances what he considers satisfactory proof, that 
 the southern portion of the county belonged to the neighbouring kingdom 
 of Mercia; or, in other words, that the Nibble, and not the Mersey, 
 formed the southern boundary of the Northumbrian territory near the west 
 coast. Mr. Baines, however, rejects the learned doctor’s inference. He 
 says:— 
 
 “This argument he” (Dr. Whitaker) “rests principally on the authority the Status de 
 Blaekburnshire, from which it appears that the parish of Whalley was, from the earliest 
 times, a portion of the diocese of Litchfield; which diocese, as he contends, never passed 
 the Mercian kingdom. It is further urged that the peculiar dialect of the Northum¬ 
 brian kingdom ceases on the confines of the parish of Whalley, where the Mercian dia¬ 
 lect commences. On the first of these points, (the historical argument as it is called,) it 
 is well known that in the early ecclesiastical division of Britain there was great eccen¬ 
 tricity, and that it is extremely difficult to fix the limits of the respective dioceses at 
 this distant period: and on the second, it would be unsafe to draw a conclusion of this 
 nature from the variety of dialects in the different parts of Northumbria, seeing that 
 there is a still more marked difference between the dialects of the West Riding of York¬ 
 shire, than exists between those to the north and to the south of the Ribble. To these 
 theories are opposed the generally received opinion, that the kingdom of Mercia was 
 terminated on its north western boundary by the river Mersey; and the positive fact 
 that in the Saxon chronicle, the highest existing authority perhaps upon this subject, 
 Manchester is said to be in Northumbria. The passage is conclusive upon this point:— 
 
 ‘ This year went king Edward with an army, late in the harvest, to Thelwall; and 
 ordered the borough to be repaired, and inhabited and manned. And he ordered 
 another army also from the population of Mercia, the while he sat there, to go to Man¬ 
 chester, in Northumbria, to repair and to man it.’ 
 
 “ To contend, in opposition to this evidence that the Saxon Chroniclers did not know 
 the limi ts of their own kingdom within nearly a degree of latitude, and to compare their 
 records with the vague notions of certain of the uninformed inhabitants of the south of 
 
SAXON AND DANISH PERIODS. 
 
 59 
 
 England, who call all persons born north of the Trent, Yorkshiremen, is to push a 
 favourite theory to the confines of absurdity. A line in Nennius would seem to favour 
 a conclusion of quite an opposite nature, by representing Mercia as included in Northum¬ 
 bria : ‘ Pendor primus separavit regnum Merciorum a regno Nordorum.’ But it would be 
 as unjust to appropriate Mercia to the Deiri on this unsupported evidence, as to appro¬ 
 priate the most important part of the county of Lancaster to Mercia, on the authority 
 of a vague ecclesiastical division, which might or might not be co-extensive with the civil 
 jurisdiction of that kingdom, d 
 
 The boundary of the Mercian and the Northumbrian kingdoms may 
 have varied at different periods. The Domesday survey incorporates the 
 northern part of Lancashire with Yorkshire, and describes that portion 
 south of the Dibble, as though it formed an apanage to Cheshire. Lanca¬ 
 shire is not described by its present name. The Dibble, according to 
 Palgrave’s map, formed the southern boundary of the Cumbrian princi¬ 
 pality, at the time of Edmund I., who conferred it upon Malcolm, king 
 of Scotland, and united the land between the Dibble and Mersey to the 
 Northumbrian territory. Sharon Turner says :— 
 
 “ This kingdom of Mercia made the eighth which these bold adventurers succeeded 
 in founding. It was formed the latest of all. The first enterprises of the Angles against 
 the district in which it was raised, were those of inferior chieftains, whose names have 
 not survived their day ; and it seems to have been at first considered as a part of Deira , 
 or an appendage to it, Its foundation is dated in 586. But although Crida is named 
 as its first sovereign, yet it was Ills grandson, Penda, who is represented as having first 
 separated it from the dominion of the northern Angles.” 
 
 The country which eventually formed the Saxon heptarchy, was but 
 gradually wrenched, in fragmentary portions, from the dominion of the 
 native inhabitants. In the west, and in the north especially, the Saxons 
 were oftimes defeated by Ambrosius and his brother Uter, in the country 
 of the Deiri. e 
 
 Doth at Manchester and York their leaders submitted, and, with chains 
 in their hands, and ashes upon their heads, ignominiously sued for mercy 
 from the previously despised Dritons. Dut the most redoubtable British 
 warrior of this period, was the renowned king Arthur, the son of Uter 
 and the Lady Igren, Duchess of Cornwall. The exploits of this chieftain 
 have furnished themes for so many bards, romance writers, and retailers 
 of legendary lore and supernatural adventures, that sober history has, to 
 some extent, become inextricably blended with the fictions engrafted upon 
 it. It is said that he was victorious in every battle. The Dev. J. 
 Whitaker contends that four of these celebrated conflicts were fought upon 
 the banks of the Douglas, a small river which rises amongst the mosses in 
 
 d His. Lan., vol. 1, p. 51. 
 
 e Bernicia comprised the lowland country of Scotland, lying between the Forth and the Tweed 
 and the county of Northumberland. The boundaries of the Kingdom of the Deiri about coincide 
 with those of the country of the Brigantes, and include the counties of Lancashire, Yorkshire, and 
 Westmoreland, Cumberland, and Durham. The Kingdom of Northumbria was formed by the 
 union of Bernicia and the country of the Deiri. 
 
60 
 
 PRESTOX AXD ITS EXVIROXS. 
 
 the neighbourhood of Blaekrod, and empties itself into the estuary of the 
 Bibble, opposite to the Naze Point. According to Xennius, the second, 
 third, fourth, and fifth battles of Arthur were fought upon a “ river, 
 by the Britons called Duglas, in the region Linnuius.” The Rev. J. A. 
 Giles, D.C.L., in his annotations to Xennius, gives a variation in the 
 name of the river, namely, Dubglas. He considers it to refer to the 
 “ little river, Dunglas,” which formed the southern boundary of Lothian. 
 Ho, however, records "Whitaker’s opinion in favour of the Lancashire 
 stream. Xennius says the tenth battle was fought on the banks of the 
 river Trat Treuroit. Dr. Giles gives “Ribroit” as a varied reading of 
 this name, and refers it to the “ Brue, in Somersetshire, or the Ribble, in 
 Lancashire.” 
 
 Jno. Whitaker advances, amongst much conjectural matter, as to the 
 Douglas battles, the following interesting historical and antiquarian 
 details :— 
 
 “ The name of the river concurs with the tradition, and three battles prove the 
 notice true. On the traditionary scene of this engagement, remained till the year 1770, 
 a considerable British barrow, popularly denominated Hasty Knoll. It was originally 
 a vast collection of small stones taken from the bed of the Douglas; and great quantities 
 had been successively carried away by the neighbouring inhabitants Many fragments 
 of iron had been also occasionally discovered in it, together with the remains of those 
 military weapons which the Britons interred with their heroes at death. On finally 
 levelling the barrow, there was found a cavity in the hungry gravel, immediately under 
 the stones, about seven feet in length, the evident grave of the British officer, and all 
 filled with the loose and blackish earth of his perished remains At another place, near 
 Wigan, was discovered, about the year 1741, a large collection of horse and human 
 bones, and an amazing quantity of horse shoes, scattered over a large extent of ground 
 —an evidence of some important Battle upon the spot. The very appellation of Wigan 
 is a standing memorial of more than one battle at that place; Wig signifying, in Saxon, 
 a fight, and Il'iy-eii being its plural. f According to tradition, the first battle fought 
 near Blaekrode, was uncommonly bloody, and the Douglas was crimsoned with blood 
 to Wigan. Tradition and remains concur to evince the fact, that a second battle was 
 fought near Wigan Lane, many ages before the rencontre in the civil wars. * * * 
 
 The defeated Saxons appear to have crossed the hill of Wigan, where another engage¬ 
 ment or engagements ensued ; and in forming the canal there about the year 1735, the 
 workmen discovered evident indications of a considerable battle on the ground. All 
 along the course of the channel, from the termination of the dock to the point of Pool- 
 bridge, from forty to fifty roods in length, and seven or eight yards in breadth, they 
 found the ground everywhere containing the remains of men and horses. In making 
 the excavations, a large old spur, carrying a stem four or five inches iu length, and a 
 rowel as large as a half-crown, was dug up; and five or six hundred weight of horse 
 shoes were collected. The point of land on the south side of the Douglas, which lies 
 immediately fronting the scene of the last engagement, is now denominated the Parson's 
 meadow; and tradition very loudly reports a battle to have been fought in it. * * * 
 
 f It is somewhat singular, that Lancashire people, especially in the middle and southern portions 
 of the county, use the term “ JTtpeii,” or “ Wigan,” at the present time, as nearly synonymous with 
 “a sound thrashing,” or at the least “a tremendous onslaught.” A Lancashire seaman in the 
 Black Sea fleet, previously to the late siege of Sebastopol, writing to his uncle in the Fylde country, 
 promised that his venerable relative’s advice “ to give the Russians Wiggen and no mistake,” should 
 be carried out to the letter. The Rev. T. Sibson, however, gives a very different interpretation to 
 the term. He says, “ Wigan, or Wag-on, is Saxon for Way-on, a town on the Roman way.” 
 
SAXON AND DANISH PEBIODS. 
 
 61 
 
 “ These four battles were fought upon the river Douglas, and in the region Linuis. 
 In this district was the whole course of the current from its source to the conclusion, 
 and the words ‘ super flumen quod vocatur Duglas, quod est in Linuis,’ shew the stream 
 to have been less known than the region. This was therefore considerable ; one of the 
 cantreds or great divisions of the Sistuntian Kingdom, and comprised, perhaps, the 
 western half of South Lancashire. From its appellation of Linuis, or the Lake, it seems 
 to have assumed the denomination from the Mere of Marton, f which was once the most 
 considerable object within it, and was traversed by the Romans in canoes of a 
 single tree.” S 
 
 Geoffrey of Monmouth speaks only of one battle on the hanks of the 
 Douglas. He says :— 
 
 “ The Saxons, under the command of Colgrin, were attempting to exterminate the 
 whole British race. They had also entirely subdued all that part of the Island which 
 extends from the Humber to the sea of Caithness. * * * Hereupon assembling the 
 
 youth under his command, he” (Arthur) “marched to” (towards) “York, of which, 
 when Colgrin had intelligence, he met him with a very great army, composed of Saxons, 
 Scots and Piets, by the river Duglas; where a battle happened with the loss of the 
 greater part of both armies. Notwithstanding, the victory fell to Arthur, who pursued 
 Colgrin to York, and there besieged him.”h 
 
 But the prowess of king Arthur, and his famous “Knights of the Round 
 Table,” aided by the magical lore of “ the gi'cat and skilful Merlin,” could 
 oppose no more than a temporary harrier to the progress of the Saxon 
 arms. After the death of Arthur, the country, exhausted even by his 
 successful efforts, gradually succumbed to the authority of the indomitable 
 and implacable foe.‘ 
 
 Notwithstanding the sanguinary ferocity, and the grovelling and 
 remorseless character of their heathen superstitions, the Saxon heart 
 enshrined an instinctive love of personal liberty. A modem writer perti¬ 
 nently remarks, that, “ The system of government established by our 
 Saxon ancestors, had in it the germ of freedom, if it did not always 
 exhibit the fruits.” j The truth of this is attested, not only by the wise 
 laws and constitutional government of the Great Alfred, hut by the gene¬ 
 rous and patriotic sentiment, expressed in the will of this enlightened 
 ruler, namely, “It is hut just, the English people should remain as free 
 as their own thoughts.” Hume says, respecting the religion of the 
 Saxons:— 
 
 “They believed that if they obtained the favour of this divinity,” (Woden, their God 
 of War, and chief idol) “by their valour,” (for they made less account of the other vir¬ 
 tues) “they should be admitted after their death into his hall, and, reposing on couches, 
 
 g Martin Mere is evidently here alluded to. Marton Mere is situated on the northern bank of the 
 Ribblc, a little to the eastward of Blackpool. Both of these shallow lakes have latterly been subjec¬ 
 ted to extensive draining operations, and considerable quantities of valuable land rescued from the 
 waves, and brought into profitable cultivation, 
 h His. Britain, book 9, c. 1. 
 
 i Neither Bede nor Gildas make any mention of Arthur. Some writers regard him as a purely 
 fictitious or poetical personage, embodying the national characteristics of valour and superstition. 
 Some of the genuine exploits attributed to him, may have been performed by others, as in the case 
 of Hengist and Horsa. 
 j Baines’s His. of Lan. 
 
62 
 
 rHESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 should satiate themselves with ale from the skulls of their enemies whom they had slain 
 in battle. * * * We know little of the other theological tenets of the Saxons; we 
 
 only learn that they were polytheists; that they worshipped the sun and moon; that 
 they adored the god of thunder, under the name of Thor; that they had images in their 
 temples; that they practised sacrifices, believed firmly in spells and enchantments, and 
 admitted a general system of doctrines which they held as sacred, but which, like all 
 other superstitions, must carry the air of the wildest extravagance, if propounded to 
 those who are not familiarized to it from their earliest infancy.” 
 
 The time, however, approached when the Saxons became converts to 
 Christianity. Ethelbert, king of Kent, had married the French princess, 
 Bertha, only daughter of Caribert, king of Paris. This lady, being a 
 Christian, stipulated for the free exercise of her religion. She brought 
 with her a French bishop, and by her own exemplary conduct, her piety, 
 and womanly tact, she impressed upon her husband and immediate atten¬ 
 dants, a favourable sense of the power and influence of the Christian 
 doctrines. 
 
 Gregory the Great soon afterwards was induced to send missionaries 
 to England, for the conversion of the Saxons. k He had seen exposed for 
 sale, in the Roman market place, some beautiful children, the offspring 
 of mercenary parents, in the kingdom of Northumberland. These chil¬ 
 dren were Angles, from the district of the Deiri. * 1 
 
 Augustine, a Roman monk, with about forty associates, arrived in Kent 
 in the year 596. The king was converted, and the men of Kent followed 
 his example. Augustine was made archbishop of Canterbury. 
 
 Edwin, after defeating his treacherous brother-in-law, Adelfrid, ascen¬ 
 ded the Northumbrian throne. This talented and popular prince espoused 
 Ethelburga, the daughter of the Christian queen of Kent. This pious 
 lady successfully imitated the example set by her mother. Through the 
 instrumentality of Paulinus, a zealous and intelligent ecclesiastic, not only 
 her warlike and prudent husband, but the high priest of the Saxon pagan¬ 
 ism, the nobles, and the bulk of the people of his kingdom, were con¬ 
 verted to the Christian faith. Paulinus was made bishop of Northum¬ 
 bria in the year 627. Paulinus is believed to have visited "Whatley, 
 though upon very doubtful evidence. The “ Status de Blaclcburneshire'’ 
 mentions a tradition, that Augustine preached there, and that one of the 
 crosses, in the church-yard, was erected to commemorate the event. Dr. 
 Whitaker thinks Augustine to be a mistake for Paulinus. The conversion 
 of the people of Lancashire is generally attributed to the preaching and 
 example of this prelate. Ethelwerd and the Saxon Chronicle record, how¬ 
 ever, that in 565, Columba “ came from Scotia (Ireland) to preach to the 
 
 k In the year G01. Etlielwerd’s Cliron. 
 
 1 The settlers in Kent, and the Isle of Wight, were principally Jutes. The remainder of the 
 southern counties, excepting Cornwall, were peopled by Saxons ; Mercia and Northumbria were 
 inhabited by Angles. 
 
SAXON AND DANISH PERIODS. 
 
 63 
 
 Piets.” Bede attributes the conversion of the “ Southern Piets ” to the 
 ministration of Ninias, from North Wales, at even an earlier period. 
 Mr. Thomber is of opinion that the locality near Lytham, called Kilgrimol, 
 is the site of a Culdee cell or cemetery, and that it was founded by the 
 disciples of Columba. We are informed by Bede, that the lands at 
 Ripon were first “given to those that followed the doctrine of the Scots, 
 to build a monastery upon.” Prom the same authority, we learn that in 
 635, Aidan was sent, at the request of king Oswald, from Iona, “ to 
 administer the word of faith to him and his nation.” According to Bishop 
 Turner, the “lands in Amoundemess, on the Ribble,” were first granted 
 to Eata, a Culdee abbot, of Mailros, on the erection of the monastery at 
 Ripon. If such were the case, it is highly probable that the doctrines of 
 Columba were taught in this neighbourhood. m The lands are said to have 
 been afterwards transferred to Wilfred, an opponent of the Culdee apostle. 
 According to Dr. Giles, “ the ancient name of Iona was I, or Hi, or Aoi, 
 which was Latinized into Hyona, or Iona. The common name of it now 
 is, I-colum-kill, the Island of Colum of the Cells.” The term Kilgrimol 
 is certainly suggestive of the location of a “ Culdee cell, or cemetery.” It 
 is regarded in this light by Ormerod, the historian of Cheshire. Mr. 
 Thornber says, the place retains the name of “ Church and Cross Slack to 
 this day,” and that the foundation deed of Richard Pitz Roger, who after¬ 
 wards erected a “cell” on the site of the present church, states, that 
 “over the ditch of the previous cell, or cemetery, there was thrown by 
 him a cross.” Mr. Thomber is inclined to think a wooden church existed 
 at the time of the Domesday survey. He says :— 
 
 “ We have tlie name of Reginald of Durham for recording that the grandfather of the 
 founder of the Norman priory at Lytham, at the end of the reign of Richard the Lion, 
 had pulled down the ancient church, which had been constructed of shingles, and had 
 built another of stone. This, then, is an undoubted fact, though the Domboc mentions 
 no churcb, because there was no endowment land to be taxed; and it does not deterio¬ 
 rate from the wooden one having been of Culdee origin, when we read in Bede, that 
 “after the manner of the Scots Lilian built Lindisfarne, not of stone, but of hewn oak, 
 and covered it with reeds, n 
 
 This, however, is not absolutely conclusive. The Domesday book men¬ 
 tions none of the places of worship in Amoundemess, in connection with 
 the land. It merely intimates that the latter belonged to Preston, together 
 with three churches upon it. These there is no difficulty in identifying 
 
 m “ Churches were huilt in several places ; the people joyfully flocked together to hear the word ; 
 money and land were given of the King’s bounty to build monasteries ; the English, great and small, 
 were, by their Scottish masters, instructed in the rules and observance of regular discipline, for 
 most of them that came to preach were monks. Bishop Aidan was himself a monk of the Island 
 called Hii.”—Bede’s Eccles. His. 
 
 n Lecture delivered at Preston, on “ The Lands and People on the Ribble before the Conquest,” 
 Feb., 1856. 
 
64 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 with Preston, Kirkham, and St. Michael's Church Town. Is it not more 
 probable, that the “ cell, or cemetery,” of the disciples of Eata, at Kil- 
 grimol, gradually fell into decay, after the transfer of the “lands on the 
 Ribble,” to the rival sect, headed by Wilfred ; or, may it not have been 
 destroyed in one of the many incursions of the heathen Danes ? There 
 is no evidence to show that the “ancient church, constructed of shingles,” 
 was not erected after the Norman invasion. Richard I. died in 1199, one 
 hundred and nineteen years after the commencement of the compilation of 
 the Domesday survey. 
 
 A farm, in Fulwood, bears the name of Killingsough. Gossips say that 
 it acquired this title from the circumstance that a large number of human 
 bones were exhumed, during some draining operations. As the act for 
 enclosing Eulwood Moor, of which it forms a part, was not obtained till 
 1811, this is highly improbable. The term is evidently of much older 
 date. The spot is not very far distant from another deep ravine, from one 
 side of which, numerous small cannon balls have been taken. The latter 
 are undoubtedly relics of Cromwell’s victory over Langdale, in 1648. 
 Killingsough may be the burial place of the slain, though it is scarcely 
 probable the bodies would be removed so far from the dingle where the 
 struggle took place. May not Killingsough, like Kilgrimol, indicate the 
 site of a Culdee cell, or cemetery, or indeed of the earliest place of Chris¬ 
 tian worship, after the grant to Eata, abbot of Mailros ? The church at 
 Stalmine, is dedicated to St. Oswald, and that at Poulton to St. Chad, 
 another disciple of the Culdee apostle. 
 
 On the death of Edwin, who fell whilst fighting against the army led 
 by Penda, the pagan king of Mercia, and the Welsh monarch, Cadwallon, 
 the Northumbrians relapsed into heathenism. 
 
 Paulinus retired with the queen dowager to Kent. Eanfrid, son of 
 Ethelfrith, succeeded to the throne of Bernicia, and Osric, grandson of 
 Ella, to that of Deira. Osric fell in battle with Cadwallon, and Eanfrid 
 was cruelly butchered by the same “hero,” while treating for peace, and 
 defended by only twelve soldiers. 0 Oswald, the brother of Eamfrid suc¬ 
 ceeded, and amply avenged this treachery. After a fierce struggle on the 
 banks of the Denise, Cadwallon, and the flower of his army were destroyed. 
 Bede says, that owing to the talents of Oswald, the provinces of the Deiri 
 and the Bemicians, which, till then, had been at variance, were peace¬ 
 fully united, and moulded into one people. Oswald re-established Chris¬ 
 tianity in his dominions. He was regarded as a person of great sanctity. 
 Oswald eventually perished in a battle against Penda, the heathen Mercian 
 
 o Bede. 
 
SAXON AND DANISH PERIODS. 
 
 65 
 
 ruler. He was slain, according to the Saxon Chronicle, “ on the nones of 
 August, 642, at Maserfield.” Camden, Capgrave, etc., place Maserfield 
 near Oswestry, in Shropshire ; hut Archbishop Usher, Alban, Butler, 
 Powell, Dr. Cowper, and others, are of opinion the engagement took place 
 near Win wick, in the county of Lancashire. The name is still retained 
 in the title of the neighbouring district, Mackerfield. The church at 
 Win wick is dedicated to St. Oswald, and an inscription, on the outside of 
 the south wall, supports the tradition. On the death of Oswald, his 
 brother Oswy ascended the Northumbrian throne. He placed Oswin, son 
 of Osric, over the Deiri; but afterwards repenting of the act, caused him to 
 be murdered. Oswy defeated Penda, and introduced Christianity into the 
 Mercian territory. The bishopric of Litchfield was shortly afterwards 
 established. The scene of Pcnda’s defeat is supposed to have been that 
 of his previous victory over Oswald. A local historian says:— 
 
 “ Peuda and upwards of thirty of his principal officers were drowned in their flight, 
 having been driven into the river Winweyde, the waters of which were at that time much 
 swollen by heavy rains. There is no stream in England which is more liable to be sud¬ 
 denly flooded than the stream which joins the Mersey below Winweck, and there both 
 the resemblance of the names, and the probability of the fact, induce me to think that 
 Penda met with his death within two or three miles of the place at wdiich Oswald had 
 fallen.” p 
 
 Camden, Dr. Giles, and others, however, place this battle at Winwid- 
 field, near Leeds. It is not certainly known at what period the chrect 
 government of the western portion of the kingdom of Deira first passed 
 from the native British princes to the Northumbrian monarchs. Mr. 
 Hodgson Hinde says :— 
 
 “ The reign of Osric extended from the year 642 to 684, during which period, what¬ 
 ever might be his success against the Piets and Scots, we have no record of any attempt 
 to bring the British population of his own dominions under his more immediate control. 
 This work seems to have been reserved for his son and successor, Ecgfrith, to whose 
 reign may he ascribed, with tolerable certainty, the complete subjugation of the Britons 
 of Lancashire, Cumberland, and Galloway, the entire remnant of the native population 
 within his limits, with the single exception of Strathclyde.”<I 
 
 There are some errors iu this paragraph. Osric I. succeeded Edwin in 
 634. On the death of Oswald in 642, “Oswy, his brother, succeeded to 
 the kingdom of the Northumbrians, and he reigned two less (than) tliirty 
 years.” The same authority says: “670. Tliis year Oswy, king of the 
 Northumbrians, died, and Egfrid, his son, reigned after him. 685. * * 
 
 And the same year, on the third of June, Egfrid was slain, near the 
 North sea, and a great army with him.” r Bede says, Egfrid was slain 
 
 p Historical Notes on the Valley of the Mersey, by Thomas Baines.—Lan. and Ches. His. Soc. Pro., 
 Session 5. 
 
 q Paper on “ State of the Western Portion of the Ancient Kingdom of Northumberland, down to 
 the period of the Norman Conquest.”—Trans. Lan. and Ches. His. Soc., vol, 8. 
 
 r Saxon Chronicle. 
 
 F 
 
G6 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 on the 20th of May,” and adds, “from that time the hopes and strength 
 of the English” (Northumbrian) “crown began to ‘ waver and retrograde ’; 
 for the Piets recovered their own lands which had been held by the 
 English and the Scots that were in Britain, and some of the Britons their 
 liberty, which they have now enjoyed for about forty-six years.” 
 
 The Saxon Chronicle says that in the year 798, “there was a great fight 
 at Hwelleage (Whalley), in the land of the Northumbrians, during Lent, 
 on the fourth of the nones of April, and there Abie, the son of Heard- 
 bearht, was slain, with many others with him.” Erom the same author¬ 
 ity, it appears that four years earlier, “Ethelred, king of the Northum¬ 
 brians, was slain by his own people.” This revolt had been preceded by 
 a year of the most deplorable famine. “ Eorewamings came over the land 
 of the Northumbrians, and miserably terrified the people; there were 
 excessive whirlwinds and lightnings ; and fiery dragons were seen in the 
 air.” Eardulph, the successor of Ethelred, was king at the period of the 
 "WhaUey battle. Simeon, of Durham, says that the great leader of the 
 faction was a Saxon nobleman, named "Wada, and that he was defeated by 
 the king, at a place caUed BiUangahoh, near "WhaUey. s BUlinge Hill and 
 the township of Billington still retain something of the Saxon name, 
 whUe Langho, a very smaU viUage, not far from the river, has preserved 
 almost entirely the latter portion of it. "Waddow, near CUtheroe, is inter¬ 
 preted to mean, the hill of Wada; and Waddington, the town or viUage 
 over which the rebeUious chieftain ruled. Not far from Langho, on the 
 south bank of the Kibble, just below its confluence with the Calder, 
 may be seen the remains of a large mound, supposed by Dr. Whitaker, 
 as the probable sepulchre of Alric. The spot is marked on the ordnance map 
 as the “ site of a tumulus.” On the north bank of the Kibble, opposite 
 the “foot of Calder,” two other tumuli rise distinctly from the level 
 vaUey. One is nearly thirty feet high ; the other somewhat less. They 
 are between two and three hundred yards asunder, and are described on 
 the ordnance map as “ lowes,” or lulls. They are evidently of artificial 
 construction, and may cover the remains of some warriors slain in this 
 conflict.* 
 
 s Simeon of Durham’s words are :— 
 
 “A.D. 798. Conjuratione facta ab interfectoribus Ethelredi regis Wada Dux in ilia Conjuratione cum 
 illis bellum inivit contra Eardwlphum regem in loco qui appellatur ab Anglis BiUangahoh juxta 
 Walalega et ex utraque parte plurimis interfectis Wada Dux cum suis in fugam versus est.”— 
 Leland, Col.: vol. 1, p. 350. 
 
 “ A.D. 798. A conspiracy having been organized by the murderers of Ethelred, the King, Wada, 
 the chief of that conspiracy, commenced a war against Eardulph, and fought a battle at a place called 
 by the English, BiUangahoh, near Walalega, and, after many had faUen on both sides, Wada and 
 his army were totally routed.” 
 
 t “To these sepulchral mounds our Anglo-Saxon forefathers gave the name of low fhloetcj and 
 barrow (beorh , beamy .”—“The Celt, the Roman, and the Saxon,” by Thomas Wright, M.A., F.S.A. 
 etc. 
 
SAXON AND DANISH PERIODS. 
 
 67 
 
 After a long series of factious rebellions, domestic treasons, and intestine 
 wars, the country became thoroughly demoralised, and is said to have 
 eventually passed, along with the remaining kingdoms of the heptarchy, 
 under the domination of Egbert, king of Wessex. The Northumbrians, 
 however, like the Mercians and the people of East Anglia, still retained 
 the privilege of choosing a nominal sovereign, though he possessed little 
 more power than a feudal chief, and paid tribute to Egbert. 
 
 Thus, after the expiration of nearly four hundred years from the depar¬ 
 ture of the Romans, the country was again, to some extent, united under 
 one government. From this date the “ Kingdom of England” is generally 
 supposed to commence. Under the Romans, it was merely a province of 
 their extensive empire; under the ancient Britons and early Saxons, an 
 aggregate of petty kingdoms and semi-nomadic tribes. 
 
 This popular view of the question, however, scarcely exhibits Egbert’s 
 true position. Sharon Turner says :— 
 
 “He had made all the Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms subordinate to his own ; hut the tale, 
 that he assembled the Anglo-Saxon states, and abolishing the distinction between Saxons 
 and Angles, and all provincial appellations, commanded the island to be called England, 
 and procured himself to be crowned and denominated King of England, seems not to be 
 entitled to our belief.” 
 
 Egbert docs not appear to have been absolutely monarch of all England; 
 but he possessed sufficient power to dictate terms to his rivals, who still 
 retained the form of authority. Alfred the Great, even, can only be 
 regarded as the first “king” of all the Anglo-Saxon people. It was not 
 until the reign of Athelstan, that the Danes hi Northumbria submitted to 
 the direct government of a Saxon prince. 
 
 The country was first divided into counties, hundreds, and tithings, 
 during the dominion of our Saxon forefathers. Mr. Baines says:— 
 
 “ These divisions, as they now stand, according to Mr. Justice Blackstone, owe their 
 origin to Alfred, u who, to prevent the rapines and disorders which formerly prevailed 
 in the realm, instituted Tithings, so called from the Saxon, because ten freeholders with 
 
 u J. Whitaker, and others, maintain that these divisions took place at a much earlier period. He 
 says :—“The tything, hundred, and county, constituted part of that original polity which the Saxons 
 brought with them from Germany. The tything and shire are both mentioned in the laws of the 
 West Saxons, before the close of the seventh century, and during the reign of Ina. And the tything, 
 the shire, and the hundred, are noticed in the capitularies of the Franks, before the year 030, and 
 the reign of Dagobert. All the three institutions would commence originally among the kindred 
 nations of the Franks and Saxons.” After some elaborate argument on the subject, he continues : 
 “ The tything of our Saxon ancestors was nothing more than the manour of the present day. The 
 ten families that were incorporated into the deanery, became the ten lordships of a manour. And 
 the eleventh that was appointed to preside over the rest, was thereby made the capital of a manour. 
 
 * * * * The seignior of a tything became what a lord of a manour continues to this day, the one 
 regent and justiciary of the district; and his court was made, as it remains at present, the one tri¬ 
 bunal of the manour. And accordingly that manorial judicature, which is particularly calculated 
 to preserve the peace of the whole, is actually denominated the View of Frank Pledge and the 
 Tything-court to this moment.” 
 
68 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 their families composed one. These all dwelt together, and were sureties or pledges to 
 the king for the good behaviour of each other. Tithings, towns, or vills, are of the 
 same signification in law, and had each of them originally a church and celebration of 
 divine service. As ten families of freeholders made a town, so ten tithings composed a 
 superior division called a hundred, consisting of ten times ten families. The hundred is 
 governed by a high constable or bailiff, and formerly there was regularly held in it a 
 court for the trial of causes, which is now fallen into disuse. An indefinite number of 
 these hundreds make a county or shire, the government of which is confined to the 
 shire-reeve or sheriff, upon whom its civil administration devolves. South Lancashire 
 was first parcelled into three hundreds, Blackburn, Derby, and Salford,v which had 
 afterwards taken from them Newton, Warrington, and Leyland hundreds, the two 
 former of which have since merged into the hundred of West Derby. To these are to 
 be added the hundreds of Lonsdale and Amounderness in the north, making in the 
 whole six. These hundreds all took their names from the towns or villages which con¬ 
 stitute the heads of their respective centuries, and the custom which still continues, of 
 making the hundreds responsible for the excesses of a lawless mob, is an appendage to 
 the Saxon system of tithings.” 
 
 Alfred’s exertions were incessant in the purification of the grossly tyran¬ 
 nical judicial practices, which then prevailed to an enormous extent. The 
 Anglo Saxon parliament, called the Wittenagemot, or “Assembly of 
 W ise Men,” composed of earls, prelates, and landowners, sanctioned these 
 salutary innovations. Alfred’s execution of forty-five justices, as mur¬ 
 derers, because they had condemned to death unjustly, persons upon 
 whose causes they had adjudicated, may be quoted as an example of his 
 inflexible integrity. Speaking of the hundred or wapentake courts of this 
 period, Hume observes — 
 
 “Their method of decision deserves to he noted as being the origin of juries; an insti¬ 
 tution admirable in itself and the best calculated for the preservation of liberty, and the 
 administration of justice that ever was devised by the wit of man. * * The people 
 
 in imitation of their ancestors, the ancient Germans, assembled therein arms; whence 
 a hundred was sometimes called a wapentake; and its court served both for the support 
 of military discipline, and the administration of civil justice.” 
 
 Alfred was likewise the first to embody a regular militia for the defence 
 of the country, as well as to establish a permanent naval force for the 
 protection of the coasts. He was a great patron of learning and the 
 mechanical arts, which, previously to his reign, had become almost univer¬ 
 sally neglected. He, himself, observes,—“When I took the kingdom, 
 there were few on the south side of the Humber, the most improved part 
 of England, who could understand their daily prayers in English, or 
 translate a letter from the Latin. I think there were not many beyond 
 the Humber. There were so few that I cannot indeed recollect one single 
 instance, on the south of the Thames.” 
 
 Sharon Turner, and other writers, are of opinion that the “ Guilda 
 Mercatoria,” or “ Guilds Merchant,” originated about this period. They 
 are by others, however, believed to be of much older date. They exhibit 
 
 v Salford, the only hundred that has not been dismembered, has within its limits, a hundred 
 townships. 
 
SAXON AND DANISH PERIODS. 
 
 69 
 
 considerable affinity to the protective legislation necessitated by the law¬ 
 less character of the early period in the history of any people." 
 
 During the long wars between the ancient inhabitants and their Saxon 
 conquerors, many of the Roman cities and strongholds were either wholly 
 or partially destroyed, and, from their ruins, towns and castles were 
 subsequently erected. Preston, the chief town in the hundred of Amoun- 
 demess, is, essentially, of Saxon origin, and dates, at the earliest, 
 in the opinion of several authorities, from about the year 705, when Arch¬ 
 bishop Wilfrid, primate of the Northumbrian kingdom, “re-edified” the 
 monastery and church at Ripon, in Yorkshire. The ceremony of conse¬ 
 cration appears to have been performed with much pomp, and was 
 witnessed by many Saxon princes and nobles. It has previously been 
 noticed, that Rishop Tanner states, “Alchfrid, King of the Northumbers, 
 gave this place” (Ripon) “first to abbot Eata, to build a monastery, but 
 before it was finished he was sent away, and St. Wilfrid was made abbot 
 here, before a.d. 661.” The statement of Bede would seem to confirm 
 this. Other historians say, the monastery was founded by Wilfrid, and 
 omit all notice of Eata. Dugdale observes,— 
 
 “ In the life of Wilfrid, quoted by Lelaud, the earliest endowment of Ripon appears 
 to have consisted of certain lands bordering upon the river Ribble; in Hacinunderness, 
 in Gedene, in the territory called Dimutinge, or Duninge, and hi Aetlevum, Peter of 
 Blois, in another life of St Wilfrid, states that upon the first construction of the build¬ 
 ing, certain persons who were present at its consecration and dedication to St. Peter, 
 gave other lands, viz.: Ribble and Hasmundesliam, and Marchese, and land in the parts 
 of Duninge; and that Wilfrid gave a copy of the Gospels; as also a library, and many 
 other books of the Old and New Testament; together with certain tablets skilfully 
 wrought with gold and precious stones.” x 
 
 Mr. Baines is of opinion that about the period of the grant, “the parish 
 church of Preston was erected, and on the canonization of archbishop 
 Wilfrid, the new edifice was dedicated to that saint.” This conjecture 
 is, however, substantiated hy no positive evidence. 
 
 The name “Preston” is a contraction of “Priest’s town,” and corrobo¬ 
 rates the assumption of its ecclesiastical origin. There are upwards of 
 forty places in England which possess a similar patronymic; from which, 
 and other local appellations derived from the same source, it would appear 
 the clergy, dining the Saxon period, frequently settled upon the lands 
 granted to them as religious endowments, by the warlike chiefs and princes, 
 and thus formed the original nuclei of many towns and villages. Camden 
 attributed the rise of Preston to the decay of Ribchester. He was, of 
 course, not aware of the existence of the Roman station at Walton. It is 
 not improbable that the location of the priests may have been originally 
 
 w See Municipal History, 
 x Monasticon Anglicanum ; edition, 1846. 
 
70 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 called “ Hasmundesham,” or Hacinuiidesham.” It would appear to be so 
 named by Peter of Blois, at the period of the grant. As stated by Mr. 
 Baines, the name of the hundred is nearly always derived from the chief 
 town or village. 
 
 Little, however, appears to be known relative to Preston, for upwards 
 of two hundred years after the time of Wilfrid. In 930, the hundred of 
 Amounderness was granted to the cathedral church at York, by Athelstan, 
 son of Edward the Elder. The reason why the monks of Itipon transferred 
 their property, does not precisely appear. Perhaps the insecure nature of 
 the tenure, owing to the depredations of the piratical Northmen, rendered 
 the “lands near the Ribble, in Hasmundernesse ,” scarcely worth the 
 charges and risk attending their defence. It is, however, recorded that 
 Athelstan purchased the whole of Amounderness. In this case, the pecu¬ 
 niary consideration may have alone induced the monks to relinquish their 
 possessions. It is more probable, however, the lands were seized by some 
 successful Danish invaders. 
 
 The incursions of the Scandinavian rovers, including Danes, Norwegians, 
 and Swedes, which commenced previously to the partial union of the Saxon 
 kingdoms under Egbert, again involved the country in a series of sanguinary 
 contests. Victory sometimes smiled for a time upon the prowess of the 
 invaders, and then transferred her favour to the indomitable Saxon. 
 
 The renowned “ sea-king,” Itagnar Lodbrog, was defeated by the 
 Northumbrian Prince Ella, and subjected to a torturing death. An expe¬ 
 dition was fitted out by the Northmen, to avenge the piratical old warrior. 
 It was commanded by his three sons, Halfden, Ingwar, and Hubba. 
 Northumbria was suffering at the time all the evils of civil commotion. 
 Eor a series of years, domestic treason and fierce internal strife had deso¬ 
 lated the country and weakened its power. Sharon Turner says:— 
 
 “ Of all the Anglo-Saxon governments, the kingdom of Northumberland had been 
 always the most perturbed. Usurper murdering usurper is the prevailing incident. A 
 crowd of ghastly monarchs pass swiftly along the page of history as we gaze; and 
 scarcely was the sword of the assassin sheathed before it was drawn against its master, 
 and he was carried to the sepulchre which he had just closed upon another. In this 
 manner, during the last century and a half, no fewer than seventeen sceptred chiefs 
 hurled each other from their joyless thrones, and the deaths of the greatest number were 
 accompanied by hetacombs of their friends.” 
 
 The princes in various parts of England were disunited. The successor 
 of Egbert had ceased to exercise the predominant influence amongst the 
 kings of the Saxon heptarchy. Each petty monarch regarded the Scan¬ 
 dinavian “vikingr” more in the character of allies, while their forces 
 only threatened their neighbours. There existed no truly national spirit 
 or compact; hence the success which attended these brave but cruel and 
 lawless warriors. Contrary to the expectation of the Anglo-Saxon mon¬ 
 archs, the Northmen first landed in East Anglia, where they wintered 
 
SAXON AND DANISH PEBIODS. 
 
 71 
 
 without molestation. The weak king even complied with their demand, 
 and furnished horses for their troops. In the following spring, they 
 entered Yorkshire. Ella was defeated at York, and put to death with the 
 most frightful tortures. Ingwar assumed the sceptre, and ruled from the 
 Humber to the Tyne. In 870, the fourth year of their arrival, the inva¬ 
 ders ravaged the eastern portion of the country, burnt the monasteries, 
 butchered the clergy at the altars, and committed the most appalling 
 atrocities: Edmund, king of East Anglia, was barbarously miu’dered, 
 and another of the Saxon kingdoms compelled to succumb to the prowess 
 of the barbarian invaders. 
 
 At length Alfred the Great appeared upon the scene. After numerous 
 vicissitudes of fortune, he totally defeated the Danish monarch at Edding¬ 
 ton. The remnant of the defeated army was afterwards besieged in their 
 fortified camps, and compelled to surrender at discretion. The generosity, 
 or more probably the necessities, of Alfred, however, induced him to 
 divide the kingdom with his late enemies. He granted them lands in 
 Northumbria and East Anglia, where the greater portion of the Scan¬ 
 dinavian warriors and adventurers had settled, and become to some 
 extent incorporated amongst the resident English peopled The Danish 
 monarch, and nearly the whole of his army, accepted Christian baptism as 
 a pledge of future amity. Alfred acted as sponsor for Godrun, and gave 
 him the name of Athelstan. In his civil government, this wise and 
 upright monarch made no distinction between his Saxon and Danish 
 subjects. He placed them, with respect to the administration of the laws, 
 upon a basis of perfect equality. This for some time preserved the tran¬ 
 quillity of the country. The Danish pagan chieftains governed in North¬ 
 umbria till near the conclusion of the reign of Alfred, when Anarawd 
 sought the friendship of Alfred, and adopted the Christian faith. But 
 eventually, notwithstanding Alfred’s clemency, fresh discontents arose 
 between the rival nationalities. On the death of the Danish princes, 
 Guthrum and Guthred, their followers revolted against the Saxon authority. 
 This happened at the time when large bodies of piratical Danes, under 
 Hastings, were laying waste the county of Kent, and thus increased the 
 difficulties of the king. The greater portion of the country was again 
 subjected to pillage and desolation. 
 
 Alfred’s genius, however, proved equal to every emergency. After a 
 series of desperate conflicts, the military power of the national enemy, if 
 not absolutely destroyed, was for a time, thoroughly prostrated. Twenty 
 of their vessels were taken at sea, and the crews hanged as pirates. The 
 
 y According to the Saxon Chronicle, Halfden, the Danish chieftain, in the year 876, “appor¬ 
 tioned the lands of Northumbria; and they thenceforth continued flourishing and tilling them.” 
 
PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 72 
 
 valiant Hastings -was at length forced to yield to the superior genius of his 
 distinguished rival. This renowned Danish chieftain fortified the city of 
 Chester, during his struggle with Alfred. In his retreat before the Saxon 
 monarch, he passed with his army through Northumbria into East Anglia, 
 for the purpose of avoiding the forces of his enemy in Mercia. The Danes 
 of East Anglia and Northumbria, on the approach of the victorious monarch 
 hastened to make humble submission. The Britons inhabiting the glens 
 and valleys of Wales acknowledged his authority. Hume says:— 
 
 “Tliis great prince, had now, by prudence and justice and valour, established his sover¬ 
 eignty over all the southern parts of the island from the English channel to the frontiers 
 of Scotland ; when he died in the vigour of his age and the full strength of his faculties, 
 after a glorious reign of twenty-nine years and a half, in which he deservedly attained 
 the appellation of Alfred the Great, and the title of Founder of the English monarchy.” 
 
 This title must, however, be received with some considerable limitation, 
 as the Danes in the north and eastern portions of the country fairly divided 
 the sovereignty. 
 
 On the death of Alfred, his son Edward, surnamed the Elder, ascended 
 the throne. His title was, however, disputed by his cousin Ethelwald, 
 who prevailed upon the Danish population in East Anglia and Northum¬ 
 bria to espouse his cause. Another fierce struggle ensued; but the military 
 prowess of Edward eventually triumphed. Ethelwald was slain in a 
 sanguinary encounter at Bury St. Edmonds. The remainder of this prince’s 
 reign was chiefly occupied in warlike operations against both the foreign 
 and domesticated Danish people, in which he met with almost uninterrupted 
 success. Edward (a. d. 921) likewise reduced the Cumbrian Britons 
 to subjection. Notwithstanding the occasional conquests of preceding 
 Northumbrian princes, this territory, which at one period extended south 
 as far as the llibble, appears to have continually re-asserted its indepen¬ 
 dence of both the Anglo Saxon and Danish authority. Edward likewise 
 reduced the East Anglians to submission ; and compelled both Sidroe and 
 Reginald, pretenders to the Northumbrian crown, to yield to his military 
 superiority, and depart from the territory. 
 
 Mr. Thomas Baines observes, in his paper on the Talley of the 
 Mersey:— 
 
 In the year 911 the Northumbrians themselves began the war, for they despised the 
 peace which King Edward and his 1 witan ’ offered them, and overran the land of Mercia. 
 After collecting great booty they were overtaken on their march home, by the forces of 
 the West Saxons and the Mercians, who put them to flight and slew many thousands of 
 them. Two Danish kings and five earls were slain in this battle. z Amongst the earls 
 slain was Agmund, the governor, from whom the hundred of Agmunderness, was pro¬ 
 bably named.” 
 
 Ethelwerd states this battle, which was fought at “ “Wodnesfield,” in 
 Gloucestershire, took place in 909, and the Saxon Chronicle in 911. Sharon 
 
 z The Saxon Chron. says two Kings, Ecwils and Halfdene. Ethelwerd adds a third, Hingwar. 
 
SAXON AND DANISH PERIODS. 
 
 73 
 
 Turner prefers 910. Ethelwerd says that the provinces of Northumberland 
 and Mercia were, at the time of this outbreak, “ruled,” under the king, by 
 earl Ethered. The same authority records, that, in 913, “ a fleet entered 
 the mouth of the river Severn, but no severe battle was fought there that 
 year. Lastly the greater part of that army ” (the Danish) “ go to Ireland, 
 formerly called Bretannis by the great Julius Caesar.” 
 
 This opinion relative to the derivation of the name “ Amoundemess ” 
 was promulgated by the elder Whitaker, and followed by Mr. Edward 
 Baines, as well as his son, as above quoted. It cannot however be recon¬ 
 ciled with the testimony of Ethelwerd and the Saxon Chronicle. These 
 authorities expressly declare that the “first arrival” of Danish vessels on 
 the coast did not take place till about the year 787. As the hundred is 
 described in the Bipon grant, in 705, by the name Hacmunderness, a Danish 
 origin for the term must be rejected. The Messrs. Gibson, in their “ Ety¬ 
 mological Geography,” say, “ Andemess (for Ackmundemess),” signifies 
 “a headland, a promontory, sheltered by Oaks, ( ac , oak; and mund pro¬ 
 tection).” At page 93, of the same work, however, they say “ Mimden 
 or Munder” means “Mouth, {mund, German; muth, Saxon)—the part 
 where a river empties itself, its Mouth or Mouths.” As the hundred of 
 Amoundemess lies between the broad estuary of the Kibble and the still 
 more important Morecambe Bay, and includes within its boundaries the 
 estuary of the Wyre, it is probable the middle portion of the name may 
 have been derived from this circumstance. On this supposition, it may 
 be thus interpreted : “ The promontory of the estuaries, clothed with 
 
 oaks; ” or the “ Ack” may have been derived from the place of meeting 
 of the hundred, or wapentake; as “Appletree hundred,” in Derbyshire. 
 
 Edward the elder repaired the fortress of Manchester, and garrisoned it 
 with Mercian soldiers, with the view to overawe and keep in check the 
 refractory Northumbrians. His sister Ethelfleda aided him in his enter¬ 
 prises with judgment and heroism, worthy of the daughter of the great 
 Alfred. 
 
 Athclstan, his successor, anxious to secure the attachment of the North¬ 
 umbrian people marched into the country at the head of his army, and 
 conferred the title of king upon the Danish chieftain, Sigtryg, grandson of 
 Ragnar Lodbrog. Further to secure his interest and friendship, he gave 
 him his sister Editha in marriage. Sigtryg embraced Christianity, but 
 shortly afterwards relapsed into his old idolatry, and discarded his wife. 
 Athelstan promptly resolved to avenge this insult, but Sigtryg’s death 
 prevented its consummation. Anlaf and Godefrid, his sons by a previous 
 marriage, presuming upon their father’s title, assumed the sovereign power 
 
74 
 
 PKESTON AND ITS ENVIEONS. 
 
 without consulting Athclstan. They were, however, speedily defeated 
 and forced to quit the territory. Anlaf fled to Ireland, and Godefrid to 
 Scotland. Athelstan pursued the latter, and demanded the fugitive from 
 the Scottish king, who complied and entered into a treaty with the power¬ 
 ful English monarch. 1 
 
 Ten years afterwards, Anlaf resolved upon another attempt to win the 
 Northumbrian crown. Though assisted by the Anglo-Danes in Northum¬ 
 bria, Welsh malcontent princes, Scandinavian pirates, and Constantine, 
 king of the Scots, the brave, enterprising, and able Danish chieftain was 
 totally routed by Athelstan, in a sanguinary engagement, near Brunan- 
 burh. The victory was decisive. The grandson of Alfred the Great, not 
 only reigned undisputed monarch of all England, but he exercised some¬ 
 thing more than a nominal sway over Scotland and Wales. 
 
 The records of the Saxon and Danish periods of our history are meagre* 
 and sometimes contradictory. Probably few were ever written. Some 
 may have been lost or destroyed by their Norman successors, for it is 
 seldom the policy of conquerors to preserve the national memorials of a 
 subjugated people. That the county of Lancaster was often the scene of 
 their struggles for supremacy, is attested both by tradition and discovered 
 remains. In May, 1840, an immense treasure, belonging to this period, 
 was accidentally disclosed at Cuerdale, near Preston. The winter floods 
 had disturbed the alluvial soil on the south bank of the Dibble, near to 
 Cuerdale Hall, and some workmen were employed in repairing the damage. 
 The spade of one struck upon a decayed wooden box, which immediately, 
 to their surprise, disgorged a large quantity of silver coins, and other valu¬ 
 able articles. A lining of lead had partially protected the contents from the 
 action of ah’ and water. The coins had been placed in the box in regular 
 order, and those in the centre were nearly as bright and perfect as when 
 first minted. The treasure was eventually claimed for the queen, as 
 Duchess of Lancaster, and specimens sent to the British and various local 
 museums. Many of the coins unquestionably found their way surrepti¬ 
 tiously into the hands of collectors; consequently, there is some difficulty 
 in determining the precise number discovered. It is pretty generally 
 
 a The copy of the Saxon Chronicle, preferred by Dr. Giles, gives the date 926. “This year fiery 
 lights appeared in the north part of the heavens, and Sihtric perished; and king Athelstan, obtained 
 the kingdom of the Northumbrians; and he ruled all the kings who were in the island; first Howel, 
 king of the West-Welsh; and Constantine, king of the Scots; and Owen, king of the Monmouth peo¬ 
 ple ; and Aldred, son of Ealdult, of Bambrough ; and they confirmed the peace by pledge, and by 
 oaths, at the place which is called Eamot, on the 4th before the Ides of July; and they renounced 
 all idolatry, and after that submitted to him in peace.” One MS. of the Saxon Chronicle further 
 adds that in 933, “ king Athelstan went into Scotland, as well with a land army as with a fleet, and 
 ravaged a great part of it.” 
 
SAXON AND DANISH PERIODS. 
 
 10 
 
 believed, however, that the chest originally contained about 10,000 coins. 
 Many of the silver rings and smaller bars were likewise “ appropriated,” 
 before any record of the “ find ” was made. 
 
 Mr. Jno. Lindsay b states “the whole treasure, exclusive of a considera¬ 
 ble number of coins which it is supposed were dispersed before they could 
 be taken possession of, was reported as follows: — 
 
 About 6800 coins, weighing about . 
 
 Sixteen ingots of silver, about 8*oz. each . 
 
 Small bars of silver. 
 
 Manufactured articles of rude workmanship, consisting 
 of rings, armlets, chains, etc., . 
 
 ... 304 
 
 ounces Troy. 
 
 ... 132 
 
 do. 
 
 ... 725* 
 
 do. 
 
 ] 103* 
 
 do. 
 
 1265 
 
 do.” 
 
 Mr. Hawkins, the vice-president of the Numismatic Society, gives the 
 following summary of the then known contents of the chest found at 
 Cuerdale c :— 
 
 “ The hoard consisted of about 975 ounces of silver in ingots, ornaments, etc., besides 
 about 7000 corns of various descriptions, viz :— 
 
 
 English. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 2 
 
 /Etlielred, East Anglia. 
 
 
 
 23 
 
 Etlielstan . 
 
 . 870 
 
 to 890 
 
 2 
 
 Ciolwlf, Mercia. 
 
 . 874 
 
 
 867 
 
 Alfred. 
 
 . 872 
 
 901 
 
 45 
 
 Eadward. 
 
 
 925 
 
 1770 
 
 St. Eadmund. 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 1 
 
 Archbishop Ceolnoth. 
 
 
 870 
 
 59 
 
 Phlegmund. 
 
 . 891 
 
 923 
 
 2 
 
 Sitric . 
 
 
 — 
 
 
 French. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 A.I>. 
 
 34 
 
 Louis . 
 
 
 to 928 
 
 727 
 
 Carolus . 
 
 
 923 
 
 7 
 
 Carloman . 
 
 
 884 
 
 197 
 
 Eudes, or Odo . 
 
 
 898 
 
 11 
 
 Lambert. 
 
 
 898 
 
 13 
 
 Berengarius . 
 
 
 924 
 
 
 Uncertain. 11 
 
 
 
 
 304 . 
 
 .. Sigfred 
 
 
 
 486 . 
 
 .. Ebraice, or Evreux 
 
 
 23 . 
 
 .. Quentovici, or 
 
 Quanage 
 
 
 1860 . 
 
 .. Ounnetti 
 
 
 
 1 . 
 
 .. Avaldus 
 
 
 
 315 . 
 
 .. Various 
 
 
 Oriental . 27 
 
 b View of the Coinage of the Heptarchy, 1842, p. 124. 
 c Numis. Chron. April, 1842. 
 d Mr. Hawkins considered these to be French. 
 
76 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 The folio-wing description of these numismatic and historic treasures is 
 from the pen of the distinguished Danish scholar and antiquary, J. J. A. 
 Worsaae, 6 — 
 
 “Amongst the coins, besides a single Byzantine piece, were found several Arabic or 
 Kufic, some of north Italy, about a thousand French, and two thousand eight hundred 
 Anglo-Saxon pieces, of which only eight hundred were of Alfred the Great. But the 
 chief mass, namely, three thousand pieces, consisted of peculiar coins, with the inscrip¬ 
 tions ‘ Siefredus Bex,’ ‘Sievert Rex,’ ‘ Cnut Bex,’ ‘Alfden Rex,’ and ‘ Sitric Comes ’ 
 (jarl); and which therefore, merely from their preponderating number, may be supposed 
 to be the most common coins at that time, and in that part of north England where the 
 treasure had been concealed. Cnut’s coins were the most numerous, as they amounted 
 to about two thousand pieces, of different dies ; which proves a considerable and long 
 continued coining. 
 
 “ Not only are the names of Sitric (Sigtryg), Alfden (Halvdan), Cnut (Knud), Sievert 
 (Sivard), and Siefred (Sigfred), visibly of Scandinavian origin, but they also appear in 
 ancient chronicles as the names of mighty Scandinavian chiefs, who in the ninth and 
 tenth centimes ravaged the western lands. Sitric Comes is certainly that Sitric Jarl, 
 who fell in a battle in England about the year 900. Alfden is undoubtedly the same 
 king ‘ Halfden,’ who at the close of the ninth century so often harried South England,— 
 where he even besieged London, till he fell in the battle of Wednesfield in 910. Cnut, 
 whose name is found inscribed on the coins in such a manner that one letter stands on 
 each of the four arms of a cross, while the inscription R. E. X, (Rex) is inclosed between 
 them, is probably he whom the Danes called ‘Knud Daneast’ (or the Dane’s Joy), a son 
 of the first Danish monarch Gorin the Old; as it is truly related of him that he perished 
 in Vesterviking (or the Western lands). Sigfred must either have been the celebrated 
 inking, for whose adventurous expedition, France, and its capital, Paris, in particular, 
 had to pay dearly; or that Sigefert, or Sigfred, who, in the year 897, ravaged the 
 English coasts with an army of Danes from Northumberland. 
 
 “The steady connection which the vikings in England maintained with France, 
 affords a natural explanation why their coins were imitations both of contemporary 
 English, or Anglo-Saxon, and of French coins. Thus on the reverse of Cnut’s coins just 
 mentioned, we sometimes find the inscription ‘ Elfred Rex,’ which is purely Anglo- 
 Saxon ; and sometimes the particular mark for Carolus, or Charles (Karl), which other¬ 
 wise is only found on the French Carlovingian coins. 
 
 “ A very frequent inscription on the Scandinavian coins here alluded to, is ‘ Ebraice 
 Civita,’ or ‘The city of York;’ whose ancient name ‘ Eabhroig,’ and in the barbarous 
 Latin of the time ‘ Eboracum,’ was converted into ‘ Ebraice.’ On other contemporary 
 coins struck at York, namely, on some of what is called St. Peter’s money, York is also 
 called ‘ Ebraice ’ and ‘ Ebraicit.’ For the Cuerdale coins, in order to express the name 
 ‘Ebraice,’ coins of French Kings of the city of ‘Ebroicas,’ or Evreux, in Normandy, 
 seem to have been particularly chosen as patterns; for, by a slight change of a few letters 
 this Ebroicas could be converted in Ebraice; which was the easier process at a time when 
 the art of stamping coins was not much practised. An additional proof that these coins 
 were really minted by Scandinavian kings in Northumberland, and in the city of York, is, 
 that none such have been found in any other part of England; whilst, on the contrary, 
 one of Canute’s coins, which have been so frequently mentioned, was dug up, together 
 with English and French coins of the same kind as those found at Cuerdale, at Harkirke, 
 near Crosby, also in Lancashire; and consequently at places whose names ending in 
 kirke (church), and by (town), bear witness no less than that of Cuerdale (from dal, a 
 valley), to the dominion of the Northmen in those parts. 
 
 “ Should any doubt still exist that, so early as the ninth century, Danish-Norwegian 
 kings and jarls minted a considerable number of coins in York, in imitation of contem¬ 
 porary Anglo-Saxon and French coins, it is at all events certain that the Northumbrian 
 kings, Regnald, Anlaf or Olaf, and Erik, who resided in York during the first half of 
 the tenth century, caused corns of their own to be minted there, and which agree exactly 
 
 e “ Danes and Norwegians in England, etc.” 1852, p. 49. 
 
SAXON AND DANISH PERIODS. 
 
 77 
 
 with the historical accounts. Regnald, who reigned from about 912 to 944, was a son 
 of king Sigtryg, and brother to the Olaf before mentioned, who fought at the battle of 
 Brunanborg ; Erik (f 951) is either king Erik Bloddxe, of Norway, or a son of king 
 Harald Blaatand, of Denmark, who is said to have ruled in Northumberland about the 
 same time. 
 
 “ In the main points these coins are also imitations of the Anglo-Saxon, but are dis¬ 
 tinguished from them by various and very striking peculiarities which show them to 
 have been coined both by Danes and Norwegians, and by conquerors.” 
 
 The Rev. J. Clay, in one of his lectures on the Ribble, gives a calcula¬ 
 tion, by which lie arrives at the opinion that the “hoard was worth within 
 thirteen (Saxon) pounds, the whole yearly rental of South Lancashire, 
 when William the Conqueror bestowed it upon Roger of roictou.” 
 
 It is difficult to determine when and hy whom this immense treasure 
 was deposited. It has been conjectured to have been the property of some 
 Saxon or Danish monarch; the hidden Avealtk of some religious establish¬ 
 ment, or poAverful local chieftain; plunder taken in war, and even “the 
 stock in trade of a Saxon silversmith.” From the dates of the coins, which 
 include many previously scarce specimens of Alfred’s reign, and others 
 totally neAV to collectors, Mr. Hawkins concluded that the treasure was 
 deposited about the year 910, soon after the battle of Wodensfield, pre¬ 
 viously alluded to. The Rev. J. Clay inclined to this opinion. He says:— 
 
 “ That some of the contests involved in these campaigns, took place in Lancashire, 
 may be inferred from what I have already mentioned—the erection, in 912, of a fort at 
 Manchester, to curb the predatory propensities of the Northumbrian Danes. In old 
 maps, the scenes of ancient battles are noted by a pair of crossed swords ; and this mark 
 appeal's on the map given by Whitaker, in his History of Whalley, on the site of the 
 discovery at Cuerdale. It is a curious fact, also, that a tradition lias existed—no one 
 can tell bow long—of a certain treasure being hidden, or lost, somewhere in Cuerdale; 
 and my friend, Mr. B. F. Allen, lias heard the old inhabitants of Walton declare, that 
 a field, which be can yet point out, and within three quarters of a mile of the actual 
 ‘find,’ was carefully turned over in the hope of making a discovery.” f 
 
 The great and decisive victory, which placed the sceptre of all England 
 in the hands of Athelstan, was gained at Bnmanburh, in the year 934—7. 
 Historians and topographers have hitherto failed to satisfactorily point out 
 the true locality indicated by the Saxon word Brunanburh. Mr. Thomas 
 Baines, in his “ Historical Notes on the Valley of the Mersey,” has the 
 folloAving observations on this subject:— 
 
 “ Sharon Turner, in his History of the Anglo-Saxons, states that great doubt exists 
 as to the place where the battle was fought, but mentions Bromborougb, in Cheshire, 
 on the south bank of the Mersey, as a probable site. It is certainly much more likely 
 than any other of the places which have been mentioned, namely Bamboro’, in the pre¬ 
 sent county of Northumberland; Bourne, in Lincolnshire, and Banbury, in Oxfordshire. 
 The expedition was fitted out at Dublin; was commanded by the Danish chief of that 
 city; and the wreck of the army tied there after the fight which took place on the sea 
 shore. These circumstances are all mentioned in the splendid poem in honour of this 
 victory, which is preserved in the Saxon Chronicle, and which is probably the finest 
 specimen of Anglo-Saxon poetry now in existence.” 
 
 f Lecture on the Ribble. 
 g This place is called Bromborougb. 
 
78 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Sharon Turner’s observations are as follows:— 
 
 “ It is singular that the position of this famous battle is not ascertained. The Saxon 
 song says it was at Brunanburh; Ethelwerd, a contemporary, names the place Brunan- 
 dune ; Simeon of Durham, Weondune or Ethrunnanwercli, or Brannan hyrge; Malms- 
 bury, Brunsford; Ingulf says Brunford, in Northumbria. These, of course, imply the 
 same place : but where was it ? Camden thought it was at Ford, near Bromeridge, in 
 Northumberland. Gibson mentions that in Cheshire there is a place called Brunburh. S 
 I observe that the Villare mentions a Brunton in Northumberland.” 
 
 It is termed “ Helium Brune, or the Battle of the Brune, in the Brut 
 y Tywysogion, or the “Chronicle of the Princes of Wales,” and in the 
 Annales Cambrice. Henry, of Huntingdon, calls the locality Brunesburh; 
 and the name is variously written by Geffrei Gaimar, as Bnmewerche, 
 Brunswerce, and Brunewest. Dr. Giles, in his annotation of Ethelwerd’s 
 Chronicle, fixes Brunanburh at Brumby, in Lincolnshire, but assigns no 
 
 reason for his preference of this site, 
 song referred to :— 
 
 “ A.D. 937. 
 Here Athelstan, king 
 Of earls, the Lord 
 Of heroes, the bracelet-giver, 
 
 And his brother eke, 
 
 Edmund etheling, 
 
 Life-long glory 
 In battle won. 
 
 With edges of swords, 
 
 Near Brunanburh. 
 
 The board-walls they clove. 
 
 They hewed the war- lindens, 
 Hamora lafan’ 
 
 Offspring of Edward. 
 
 Such was their noble nature 
 From their ancestors. 
 
 That they in battle oft, 
 
 ’Gainst every foe. 
 
 The land defended, 
 
 Hoards and homes. 
 
 The foe they crushed ; 
 
 The Scottish people 
 And the sliipmen 
 Fated fell. 
 
 The field ‘damiede’ 
 
 With warriors’ blood. 
 
 Since the sun, up 
 At morning tide. 
 
 Mighty planet. 
 
 Glided o’er grounds, 
 
 God’s candle bright. 
 
 The eternal Lord’s, 
 
 Till the noble creature 
 Sank to her settle. 
 
 There lay many a warrior. 
 
 By javelins strewed;— 
 
 The following is a translation of the 
 
 Northern-man 
 Over shield shot; 
 
 So the Scots eke. 
 
 Weary war-sad. 
 
 West Saxons onwards 
 Throughout the day, 
 
 In numerous hands 
 Pursued the footsteps 
 Of the loathed nations. 
 
 They hewed the fugitives, 
 
 Behind, amain, 
 
 With swords mill-sharp. 
 
 Mercians refused not 
 The hard-hand play 
 To any heroes, 
 
 Who with Anlaf, 
 
 Over the ocean. 
 
 In the ship’s bosom, 
 
 This land sought— 
 
 Fated to the fight. 
 
 Five kings lay 
 On the battle-stead. 
 
 Youthful kings 
 By swords in slumber laid. 
 
 So seven eke 
 Of Anlaf’s earls. 
 
 Of the army countless:— 
 
 Shipmen and Scots. 
 
 There was made flee 
 The North-men's chieftain. 
 
 By need constrained, 
 
 To the ship’s prow 
 With a little band. 
 
 The bark drove afloat — 
 
 The king departed — 
 
 On the fallow flood 
 
 g This place is called Bromborough. 
 
SAXON AND DANISH PERIODS. 
 
 79 
 
 His life he preserved. 
 
 So there eke the sage 
 Came by flight, 
 
 To his country, north, 
 
 Constantine—hoary warrior. 
 
 He had no cause to exult 
 In the communion of swords. 
 
 Here was his kindred band 
 Of friends o’erthrown— 
 
 On the folk-stead 
 In battle slain; 
 
 And his son he left 
 On the slaughter-place. 
 
 Mangled with wounds. 
 
 Young in the fight, 
 
 He had no cause to boast. 
 
 Hero grizzly-haired. 
 
 Of the bill-clashing. 
 
 The old deceiver; 
 
 Nor Anlaff, the moor. 
 
 With the remnant of their armies; 
 They had no cause to laugh. 
 
 That they in war’s works 
 The better men were; 
 
 In the battle-stead, 
 
 At the conflict of banners— 
 Meeting of spears— 
 
 Concourse of men— 
 
 Traffic of weapons— 
 
 That they on the slaughter-field 
 Witli Edward’s offspring played. 
 The Northmen departed 
 In their nailed barks ; 
 
 Bloody relic of darts; 
 
 On roaring ocean, 
 
 O’er the deep water 
 Dublin to seek :— 
 
 Again Ireland, 
 
 Shamed in mind. 
 
 So too the brothers. 
 
 Both together. 
 
 King and etheling, 
 
 Their country sought— 
 
 West Saxon’s land, 
 
 In the war exulting. 
 
 They left behind them 
 The corse to devour. 
 
 She sallowy kite— 
 
 And the swarthy raven 
 With horned nib— 
 
 And the dusky pada. 
 
 Erne white-tailed. 
 
 The corse to enjoy; 
 
 The greedy war-hawk— 
 
 And the grey beast. 
 
 Wolf of the wood. 
 
 Carnage greater has not been 
 In this island, ever yet, 
 
 Of people slain before this. 
 
 By edges of swords; 
 
 As books us say and old writers. 
 
 Since from the east hither 
 
 Angles and Saxons 
 
 Came to land, and 
 
 O’er the broad seas 
 
 Britain sought; 
 
 Mighty war-smiths 
 The Welsh o’ercame— 
 
 Earls most bold 
 This land obtained.” h 
 
 Ethelwerd’s Chronicle describes this celebrated struggle in the following 
 terms:— 
 
 “ A fierce battle was fought against the barbarians at Brunandune, wherefore that 
 fight is called great even to the present day ; then the barbarian tribes are defeated and 
 domineer no longer; they are driven beyond the ocean; the Scots and Piets also bow 
 the neck; the iands of Britain are consolidated together; on all sides is peace, and 
 plenty of all things, nor ever did a fleet again come to land except in friendship with the 
 English.” i 
 
 If Mr. Baines’s view be correct, (and in the conflicting and imperfect 
 character of the evidence on the subject, it may at least be pronounced 
 equally plausible with any other,) the deposit of the “Cuerdale coins” 
 may have taken place about this time. It is true Anlaf was ruling chief 
 in Dublin, and that one of the wings of his army “was very numerous, 
 and consisted of the disorderly Irish. The coast of Lancashire being a 
 
 h Saxon Chronicle. 
 
 i The last (late in Ethelwerd’s Chronicle is 959. 
 
 j Egil’s Saga. These troops are likewise styled “ irregular Irish, who always flew from point to 
 point; nowhere steady, yet often injuring the unguarded.”—See Sharon Turner’s description of 
 the battle. 
 
80 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 part of the Danish province of Northumbria, was in every respect best 
 adapted for the landing of this portion of the invading army. Yet the 
 elder historians expressly state that Anlaf commenced the warfare by 
 “ entering the Humber with a fleet of 615 ships.” It is possible, however, 
 this may refer to the landing of the “fleets of the warriors from, Norway 
 and the Baltic,” who joined in the expedition. The great battle did not 
 take place immediately on the arrival of these piratical adventurers, for 
 we are told, the governors whom Athelstan had left in Northumbria, were 
 soon overpowered. “ Gudrekir fell, and Alfgeirr fled to his sovereign 
 with the tidings.” k The Irish troops may therefore have landed on the 
 coast of Lancashire, and afterwards joined their victorious friends from 
 Scotland, Denmark, and "Wales, before Athelstan appeared to check their 
 progress. The English monarch appears to have negociated, at first, for 
 the purpose of gaining time to collect sufficient force to attack the invaders. * 1 
 Anlaf is said to have imitated the expedient of Alfred the Great, and 
 entered the Saxon camp, in the disguise of a humble harper. Athelstan, 
 being informed, after his departure, of the true character of the minstrel, 
 removed his tent to another portion of the ground. In the evening the 
 camp was surprised, and the Bishop of Sherborne, who had taken up the 
 position vacated by the king, was killed in the onslaught.” A terrible 
 struggle ensued, hut the Saxons eventually triumphed. 0 The next day," 
 Athelstan prepared for a general engagement. After a night’s rest, a san¬ 
 guinary struggle took place, the confederated invaders were utterly routed; 
 Anlaf fled to his ships, and sailed for Dublin. 
 
 The small “find” of 35 coins of a similar character to those discovered 
 at Cuerdale, made in 1611, at Hardkirke, on the property of Mr. Blundell, 
 of Crosby, strengthens Mr. Baines’s position that the great battle may have 
 been fought upon the west and not upon the east coast; or, at least, that 
 Anlaf most probably embarked at some port in Lancashire, on his flight to 
 Dublin, in 926. 
 
 Amidst so much contradiction and uncertainty, an attempt to determine 
 which of the many suggested places should he preferred, is a task both 
 difficult and unsatisfactory. Another suggestion for the solution of this great 
 topographical enigma may, therefore, be offered without much presump¬ 
 tion. Mr. Clay has shown that the site of the Cuerdale “ find ” is marked 
 on the old map, as the locality of a battle. It is well known the Danish 
 and Saxon warriors used the Homan roads in their military operations; 
 
 k Egil’s Saga. 
 
 1 Egil’s Saga. 
 
 m William of Malmsbury, and Ingulf. 
 
 n Egil. 
 
 o Some writers say two days elapsed. 
 
SAXON AND DANISH PERIODS. 
 
 81 
 
 and many of their conflicts occurred in their immediate vicinity. It is 
 probable enough, the Wyre being the best natural harbour on the coast of 
 Lancashire, that Anlaf’s Irish troops and a portion of the Danish rovers 
 landed there, and committed some of the ravages, the memory of which tra¬ 
 dition has perpetuated. A struggle may have taken place at the “pass 
 of the Ribble,” at Walton. The site of the “find” is about a mile from 
 the spot. The direct Homan road into Mercia, passes by Walton and 
 Warrington into Cheshire. From these facts an important question natur¬ 
 ally arises. Are there any places on this line of road which answer to 
 the Saxon Bruuanburh ? Yes : at least quite as nearly as any of the localities 
 whose pretensions have hitherto been advanced. The Eev. T. Sibson, in 
 his survey of the Homan road, says, Eamber Green (now called Hamber 
 Bridge) is a corruption from Bam-berg, which signifies “War Town.” 
 The neighbouring village is called Brownedge. It is situated on a rising 
 ground, and will represent Brunedune quite as well as Bromeridge ! There 
 is as great a probability that Bam-berg is a modernised rendering of Brunan- 
 biu'h as either Bamboro’ or Bambury! Bromborough certainly retains 
 the letter r in the first syllable, and may, perhaps, therefore, present the 
 nearest approximation. But Bromborough, being on the south side of the 
 Mersey, is not in Northumbria ! Banbury, in Oxfordshire, as well as 
 Bourne and Brumby, in Lincolnshire, are disqualified for a similar reason. 
 The place must be found somewhere north of the Humber and Mersey. 
 Brownedge is not much more than a mile from Cuerdale. This may be 
 the spot indicated by the crossed swords on the old map engraved in Dr. 
 Whitaker’s Histoiy of Whalley. Both Bamber Bridge and Brownedge 
 are situated between Cuerden and Cuerdale. The two latter names are 
 evidently Danish, and the two former Saxon. p The original burgh or fort, 
 from which the Saxon name is taken, would most probably be situated 
 upon the rising ground of Brownedge. Its commanding site is at present 
 occupied by a Catholic chapel. The great Homan way passes imme¬ 
 diately by it. Some outwork on this spot would be absolutely necessary 
 to protect the Homan station, at Walton, from surprise on the south. 
 Hence the probability of the Saxons naming the place Brunanburh, from 
 which Bamberg and Brownedge may have been derived. The syllable 
 an or en is often written in the old Saxon names of towns, though chopped 
 hi the modem orthography. Thus Axanminster, Bedanford, and Oxenford, 
 are reduced to Axminster, Bedford, and Oxford .' 1 Brunan hi the Teutonic 
 signifies “ springs. ” 
 
 p Brownedge may possibly be a Norman corruption of Brunedgc ; the word bruit, in the French, 
 signifying brown. 
 
 <1 See Dr Giles’s annotations to Ethelwerd’s Chronicle. 
 
 G 
 
82 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 There are, however, rival localities even in Lancashire. On the TVyre, 
 near the commencement of the Roman agger, or “ Banes Pad,” in the 
 immediate neighbourhood of the old “Portus Setantiorum,” is a place 
 named Eourne or Bum, written in the Domesday survey “Bmne.” This 
 is the nearest etymological coincidence, and the locality answers well to 
 the description of Brunanburh. Bourne Hall is situated upon a “ dune ” 
 or hill, which commands a now artificially blocked up channel of the 
 Wyre. Therefore Branandune or Brunford would strictly apply to it. 
 Edward Baines has, in his Domesday map of Lancashire, placed Brune upon 
 the Ribble, as though it represented the Bryning of the present day. This 
 is evidently a mistake. In the test it is named in order between Pushale, 
 (Rossall) and Torentun, (Thornton) which identifies it with Boume. r 
 
 Bourne is in the neighbourhood of Poulton, “ near which town, according 
 to tradition, a great number of bones were ploughed up in an adjoining 
 field, about sixty years ago.” s It is likewise said, that, being pronounced 
 human, they were brn’ied in the church yard, at Poulton. 
 
 Burnley, in Lancashire, is situated on the Bran or Bum. Anglo Saxon 
 remains have been discovered at a place in the neighbourhood, called Saxi- 
 field, where tradition says a battle was fought at the time of the heptarchy, 
 and a distinguished chieftain slain . 4 Large quantities of bones and some 
 other confirmatory relics have been found on the spot. The situation of 
 Burnley, in the interior of the country, is, however, detrimental to its claims 
 to the site of the decisive battle of Brunanburh. Many expressions in the 
 poem seem to imply that the final straggle took place near the sea shore. u 
 
 Hot far from Rochdale, is a spot named “Kil-danes,” near Bamford. 
 This site is not much over two miles from a place called “ Burnedge, ” or 
 “ Brunnidge.” Kil-Danes may be a burial place of Scandinavian soldiers 
 slain in battle. A sword belonging to a Danish warrior and other remains 
 have been found here. The great Roman road, from York to Manchester, 
 passes near the place, and a Saxon castle stood not far from the spot. 
 The objection to Burnley, however, applies equally to Rochdale, both 
 places being at some distance from the sea. 
 
 r Bryning-with-Kellamergh, near Wart on, in the parish of Kirkham, is, however, described in a 
 charter of the reign of John, as Brichscrach Brunn and Kelgmersierg. In the time of Henry III., it 
 is described as Brininge. —See Baines’s Lan. : vol. 4, p. 397. 
 
 s Thornber’s History of Blackpool, 1844. t See Whitaker’s Whalley, p. 322. 
 u Since the above was written Sir. T. T. Wilkinson, F.R.S.A., of Burnley, in a very able and 
 elaborate paper, read before the Lancashire and Cheshire Historic Society, in December last, sup¬ 
 ports the claims of Saxifield, and brings forward a large number of local facts, which clearly demon¬ 
 strate that the neighbourhood has been often fortified, and that some great battle has been fought upon 
 the spot; perhaps the one in which Gudrekir fell. The term Saxifield, afterwards given to the 
 place by the Danish settlers in Northumbria, would imply a Saxon location, probably the burial 
 ground of Gudrekir and his followers. The objection mentioned in the text, however, still militates 
 against the claim of Burnley, to the decisive struggle. 
 
SAXON AND DANISH PERIODS. 
 
 83 
 
 The treasure may have been deposited at Cuerdale, on the defeat of one 
 of Athelstan’s governors; and Anlaf’s troops, unable to maintain their posi¬ 
 tion, may have eventually succumbed to the army of the king, on the banks of 
 the Wyre, or Kibble. It is evident more than one battle was fought during 
 the short campaign. The similarity of the names of the places, and their 
 near neighbourhood, may have caused the confusion of terms exhibited by 
 the Saxon and other chroniclers. The song states that the Mercians “ through¬ 
 out the day'' of the great fight, “ in numerous bands, pursued the footsteps 
 of the loathed nations; ” the rout was continued to the coast, for Anlaf 
 himself is said to have been “made flee, by need constrained, to the ship's 
 prow, with a little band. The bark drove afloat—the king departed—on 
 the fallow flood his life he preserved.” Athelstan’s governor, who retreated 
 on the landing of the invaders, and carried the news to the king, was 
 named Alfgeirr. He fought at the battle of Brunanburh, and was defeated 
 in Anlaf’s midnight attack. According to Sharon Turner, he “ fled from 
 the field and eventually the country.” There is nothing improbable in 
 the conjecture that this governor may have lived at Cuerdale, and have 
 buried tho treasure on the landing of the Irish forces under Anlaf. His 
 flight from the country will explain why the hoard was not recovered, 
 the after difficulty of discovering the precise locality of its deposit, and 
 the popular tradition on the subject. The present is, by no means, the 
 first house erected on the site of Cuerdale Hall, as abundant remains of 
 old foundations in the gardens testify. The song especially records that 
 the Saxon warriors defended their “ hoards" and their homes. Athelstan’s 
 presence in the neighbourhood of Preston, at the head of his army, is at¬ 
 tested by stronger evidence than mere tradition. In the early part of the 
 seventeenth century, lived one William Elston, who placed upon record 
 the following interesting particulars relative to this monarch. The town¬ 
 ship of Elston, in the pans'll of Preston, formerly written Ethelestan, is 
 situated on the north hank of the Kibble a little above Cuerdale:— 
 
 “ It was once told me by Mr. Alexander Elston, who was uncle to my father and 
 sonne to Raph Elston, my great grand-father, that the said Raph Elston had a deede or 
 a coppie of a deede in the Saxon tongue, wherein it did appeare that King Ethelstan 
 lyinge in camp in this county upon occacon of wan es, gave the land of Etheleston vnto 
 one to whom himself was Belsyre.” v 
 
 Hone of the localities, whose pretensions have hitherto been advanced, 
 exhibit so many concurrent incidents. The Cuerdale “find” included 
 many foreign coins, a fact which strengthens the probability that it may 
 have been deposited in the reign of Athelstan, on account of that monarch’s 
 friendly intercourse with the principal European powers. He was not 
 
 v Mundana Mutabilia, or Ethelestophylax. Harl. MS. 1827, folio 336. 
 
84 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 only assisted at the battle of Brunanburh, by Hollo, the Scandinavian 
 conqueror of Normandy, but by the roving vikingr, Thorolf and Egil, who 
 were drawn to bis standard by promises of high reward. Whatever site 
 may eventually be preferred for the decisive battle of Brunanburh, there 
 can be little doubt the Cuerdale treasure was deposited during some of the 
 struggles between Atbelstan and the sons of Sigtryg. As it contained no 
 coins of Atbelstan, the hoard may have belonged to some Scandinavian 
 chieftain, probably Anlaf himself. The large proportion of Danish and 
 foreign coins, included in the treasure is in favour of this supposition. 
 Had Anlaf or any of bis jarls buried the chest on their expulsion, in 926, 
 it is highly probable some attempt to recover it would be made, during 
 the invasion which succeeded. The treasure, however, if Danish, was 
 more probably deposited at Cuerdale, by the Scandinavian invaders, during 
 the campaign which closed so disastrously for their cause at Brunanburh. 
 
 The opinion of a distinguished modem authority is conclusive against 
 the deposit at Cuerdale taking place immediately after the battle of 
 Wodensfield, in 910. w Worsaae, the celebrated Danish antiquary, speak¬ 
 ing of this “ find ” says: “To judge from the coins, which, with a few 
 exceptions, were minted between the years 815 and 930, the treasure must 
 have been buried in the first half of the tenth century, or almost a hun¬ 
 dred years before the time of Canute the Great.” 
 
 In the year 930, Athelstan granted the whole of Amoundemess to the 
 cathedral church at York, and the battle of Brunanburh was fought in 
 934. 1 Thus, the date of the fight, and the previous authority of Athelstan 
 in this part of Northumbria, exactly accord with Worsaae’s interpretation 
 of the dates of the coinage. Athelstan had “ purchased ” Amoundemess; 
 a fact which strengthens the probability of one his deputies residing in 
 the neighbourhood . 7 The subject must, however, still be regarded as 
 enveloped in doubt. The most probable interpretations yet offered rest 
 principally upon conjecture. That some important events transpired 
 in this part of Northumbria, during the Danish straggles, is, however, 
 
 w Sharon Turner gives the date of the battle 910 ; Ethelwerd’s Chronicle says 909; the Anglo- 
 Saxon Chronicle 911. 
 
 x Sharon Turner. Worsaae (page 34, Danes and Norwegians in England, etc.) makes the date 
 of this battle 937. Ethelwerd’s Chronicle says 939. Turner mentions the circumstance that one 
 version of the Saxon Chronicle (the MS., book 1) gives the date 937. Still he prefers the year 934. 
 
 y During the past year, (1850) a labourer, whilst making drains in the peat at Scotby, near Carlisle, 
 turned up a large number of Saxon coins and several bars of silver. They were principally of 
 Edward the Elder and Athelstan. On some of the latter the monarch is styled “ King of Britain.” 
 A Saxon weapon, like a “ bill,” was likewise found buried at a depth of six feet. The similarity 
 of the “find,” and the name, a Danish expression for the location of the Scotch, render it not 
 improbable that the northern auxiliaries of Anlaf may have buried this treasure about the same 
 period. 
 
SAXON AND DANISH PERIODS. 
 
 85 
 
 clearly attested by the loud voice of popular tradition. Besides which, 
 numerous proofs exist of the occupation and ravages of the Northmen 
 in the western portion of the kingdom of the Deiri. The Bev. W. 
 Thornber says, “the name of ‘Dane’s pad,’ given to the Homan agger which 
 traverses the Fylde country, is, and ever will be, an everlasting memorial 
 of their ravages and atrocities in this quarter.” 1 
 
 About one thousand coins of Canute or Knut, were found in 1811, near 
 Lancaster. It is generally believed that Canute the Great adopted severe 
 measures in this county. The Fylde traditions may have reference to his 
 acts. Dr. Whitaker states that in the interval between Athelstan’s grant 
 and the compilation of the Domesday survey, the church at York had 
 relinquished all claim to the “ lands in Amounderness,” “ owing, it is 
 supposed, to the devastations of the Danes ” having rendered them unprofi¬ 
 table. The property therefore escheated to the crown. Again, he says : 
 “This” (Preston) “ appears from very early times to have been a very 
 considerable town, and seems to have flourished when Lancaster lay buried 
 in the ashes of Danish ravage.” 
 
 The Itev. J. Davies likewise testifies, from evidence furnished by the 
 local nomenclature, to the occupation of Lancashire, and especially the 
 valley of the Itibble and the Fylde country, by the Scandinavian people. 
 He says:— 
 
 •‘The track of the Northmen, as permanent landholders in the county, is in the 
 north-east, near the point where the great highroad from Yorkshire leads to Colne, and 
 thence across the county and along the whole of the west. In the north-east we find 
 Baklerstone, Osbaldestone, Elstone; and Ulverstone, in the west. Stone'is used, I think, 
 as the German stein in the middle ages, and denotes a house of stone or a castle. It is 
 connected chiefly with Danish names, and implies that the Danes, like the later 
 Normans, were obliged to protect themselves by building strongholds. a Laund, which 
 is the same as Lund, near Sephton, and is often found in the wild hilly country in the 
 north-east part of the county, suggests dark pictures of the barbarous and cruel rites by 
 which the Teutonic deities were propitiated. It is the Dan. lund. Old Norse lundr a 
 grove, properly a consecrated grove, such as the Teutonic races, like the idolaters of the 
 East, used to set apart as the scene of their “ dark idolatry.” The well-known Danish 
 termination “ by,” is found along the whole of the west part of the county, from Kirkby 
 to Nateby (not far from this place is Lund Hill), and thence to Hornby. Other instances 
 are Roby, tVestby, West Derby, (which has given its name to one of the hundreds,) 
 Sowerby, Formby, Crosby, and Rihby. ] Speke also, near Liverpool, is Scandinavian. It 
 signifies a place where mast was obtained for fattening swine, and answers to the Saxon 
 Bearo, and the Old German Parr ; Old Norse spika (to feed, to fatten), spik (lard, bacon), 
 
 z History of Blackpool. In a paper read before the Lancashire and Cheshire Historic Society, on 
 the “ Evidences of Roman occupation in the Fylde district,” the Rev. W. Thornber says: “These 
 pirates, no doubt from Wyre, made their inroads along its path,” (the Roman agger) “and their 
 cruelty and sojourn is so well remembered by tradition in the Fylde, that every remain of antiquity 
 is pronounced Danish.” 
 
 a Baklerstone, Osbaldestone, Elstone, Alstone, are on the Ribble, above Cuerdale.T In the Fylde 
 country there are local names of a similar character, such as Staining, Stana, etc., as well as other 
 words of Scandinavian origin. 
 
86 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 German speck. Another Norse word brecka (a gentle acclivity), is found in Norbreck, 
 Warbreck, Swarbrick, Towbrick, and Kellbricks, all in or near the Fylde country. 
 The appearance of so many names with the same ending, in one particular part, would 
 suggest the idea of related colonists from some place or territory in Scandinavia, but I 
 have not been able to find any place with a similar ending in any country of the north. 
 The word does not now exist, I believe in Danish. t> Other Scandinavian names are 
 Onnesgill, near Furness, Ormskirk, Tarnsyke (Icelandic tiom, a pool or lake), and 
 Bearnshew, near CUviger. The records of Domesday Book confirm the evidence of the 
 local names. We learn from them that in the north-east of the county, Ketel had four 
 manors and eighteen carucates of land. In Hoogon (Lower Furness) Earl Tosti had 
 four carucates. In Aldringham, Ernulf, and in Ylarestun, Turulf, had each six carucates. 
 These are all Scandinavian names.” c 
 
 After the decisive victory at Brunanburh, where the son of Constantine, 
 together with several Danish and "Welsh princes were slain, Athelstan 
 reigned without opposition and devoted his attention to the arts of peace. 
 This prince, as has been previously observed, granted the whole of 
 Amoundemess to the cathedral church of York. For the purpose of foster¬ 
 ing industrious habits amongst his people, and encouraging commercial 
 and maritime enterprise, Athelstan decreed that any merchant who should 
 make three long sea voyages with his own manufactures, should be eleva¬ 
 ted to the rank of thane. He likewise conferred the title of thane upon 
 any ceorl, who possessed five hides of land, a church, a kitchen, a bell- 
 house, and a separate office in the king’s hall. 
 
 From the time of Athelstan, Preston appears to have risen into a most 
 important provincial town, although little is known respecting its actual 
 condition during the succeeding one hundred and fifty years. It is, des¬ 
 cribed however, in the Domesday survey, (about 1080), as the chief town 
 of the hundred, with six carucates of taxable land. The same document 
 further adds, that all the villages in Amoundemess, together with three 
 churches, belonged to Preston. 
 
 The lawless Northumbrian Danes again raised the standard of revolt on 
 the accession of Edmund (941). They “ invited Anlaf from Ireland,” and 
 elected him king. Sharon Turner says, on the authority of the Saxon 
 Chronicle, that “ he sailed to York and thence marched towards Mercia, 
 to wrench the crown from the head of Edmund.” There is something 
 exceedingly mysterious and unsatisfactory in these voyages of Anlaf, from 
 Dublin to Northumbria. Why he should sail round one half of the island 
 of Britain, when the friendly coast was opposite to him, is utterly incom¬ 
 prehensible. The Danes were remarkable for the rapidity of their move¬ 
 ments. Such a voyage would merely lose time, increase the danger, and 
 
 b The slope near the Poulton Railway Station, immediately commanding the old harbour at the 
 mouth of the Skippon, at “ Skippool,” near the termination of the Roman agger, or “Danes Pad,” 
 is called The “Breck.” 
 
 c Races of Lancashire. 
 
SAXON AND DANISH PERIODS. 
 
 87 
 
 forewarn tlie Saxon monarch. There is sufficient evidence, too, that the 
 Lancashire coast was not only frequently devastated, but colonized by the 
 northern adventurers. Iu this enterprise Anlaf was successful. Edmund 
 agreed to divide the kingdom, and that “portion north of Watling-street” 
 was assigned to the Danish chieftain, with the condition that the survivor 
 should succeed his rival, and rule over all England. Anlaf, however, died 
 in the following year. Edmund, afterwards, successfully curbed the 
 Danish population, and terminated the “ dangerous independence” of five 
 cities, which were previously held by the Danes, on the northern frontiers 
 of Mercia and East Anglia. The Northmen were expelled, and a Saxon 
 population placed in possession of these important strongholds. Edmund 
 likewise conquered the Cumberland fastnesses, and conferred the territory 
 upon Malcolm, King of Scotland. The latter stipulated to do homage for 
 it to the English monarch, and protect the north from the incursions of 
 the Danes. 
 
 It required all the energies of Edred, the successor to Edmund, to keep 
 in check the discontented Northumbrians. They submitted on his appear¬ 
 ance with a large military force, but again revolted on the withdrawal of 
 the army. On their re-conquest, the king appointed an English military 
 government to watch their conduct, and enforce obedience. He likewise 
 fortified several important garrisons with Saxon troops. During these 
 wars, the counties of York and Lancaster must have suffered severely, 
 from the devastations of both armies. 
 
 The three succeeding reigns are chiefly remarkable from the efforts of 
 Dimstan, abbot of Glastonbury, who introduced the- Benedictine rule into 
 nearly fifty monasteries to the south of the river Trent. The austerity of 
 the new discipline, it would appear, however, did not meet with much 
 sympathy from the secular clergy of the north. According to “ Sim. 
 Dunelm,” previous to the Nonnan invasion, there was not a single monk in 
 all the Northumbrian territory. 
 
 With the view to check the incursion of the foreign Danes, Edgar 
 established a powerful navy, which, by cruising in three distinct squad¬ 
 rons off different portions of the coast, for a long period overawed their 
 piratical enemies. Iu the reign of Ethelrcd, surnamed the Unready, how¬ 
 ever, the Danish rovers renewed their ravages with considerable success. 
 Internal dissention, domestic treason, and the vacillating policy of the 
 king, alternating between a despicable cowardice, and a still more brutal 
 ferocity, frustrated the efforts made for the defence of the country, and 
 encouraged the relentless and implacable foe. The treason of Alfric, Duke 
 of Mercia, saved the Danish fleet from capture or destruction. The pusil- 
 animous monarch, and his degenerate nobility, sacrificed the honour and 
 
88 
 
 PEEST0N AND ITS ENVIEONS. 
 
 independence of the country, at the instigation of Siricius, archbishop of 
 Canterbury. They purchased the forbearance of the pirates for the sum of 
 ten thousand pounds ! This conduct only served to induce fresh aggres¬ 
 sions. In 993, Sweyn, king of Denmark, and Olave, king of Norway, 
 sailed up the Humber, compelled the Danish Northumbrians to join their 
 standard, and laid waste the country on all sides. The English army sent 
 to oppose the invaders was defeated, owing to the defection of their gene¬ 
 rals, three of whom were of Danish descent. Peace was again ignomini- 
 ously purchased for the sum of sixteen thousand pounds! In a few years, 
 the pirates re-appeared, and again triumphed. The price of their forbear¬ 
 ance had now risen to twenty-four thousand pounds ! The Danish army, 
 nevertheless, continued to move from place to place, plundering the 
 inhabitants. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle states, that all the expeditions 
 fitted out to oppose them, “both by sea and land, effected nothing, 
 except the people’s distress and waste of money, and the emboldening of 
 the foes.” The country appears to have become thoroughly demoralized. 
 The same authority states, that in the year 1000, “the king went into 
 Cumberland, and ravaged it well nigh all. And his ships went out about 
 Chester, and should have come to meet him, hut they were not able • 
 then ravaged they Anglesea. And the hostile fleet” (the Danish) “went 
 this summer to Richard’s dominions” (Normandy). But they returned the 
 following year, took several towns, plundered the country, and received 
 from the king and his witan, “food, and twenty-four thousand pounds, 
 on condition that they shoidd cease from then' evil doings.”!! Ethelred 
 afterwards married Emma, sister to Richard II., Duke of Normandy, a 
 descendant from Rolla, the Danish adventurer, who despoiled the French 
 monarch of this portion of his dominions. By this act of policy, he hoped 
 to cement a firm alliance between the two nationalities, which had already 
 amalgamated to some extent in various parts of the country. And yet, 
 with a cruelty and baseness worthy of such a poltroon, he, the following 
 year, sought to increase his own security, by issuing orders for the secret 
 assassination of all the Danes in his dominions on a given day. Hume 
 says:— 
 
 “ It is needless to repeat tlie accounts transmitted concerning the barbarity of this 
 massacre; the rage of the populace, excited by so many injuries, sanctified by authority, 
 and stimulated by example, distinguished not between innocence and guilt, spared 
 neither sex nor age, and was not satiated without the torture, as well as death, of the 
 unhappy victims.” 
 
 From the number of Danish people located in Northumbria, the slaugh¬ 
 ter must have been immense. The now fertile fields of Lancashire, 
 doubtless absorbed a fair proportion of the blood shed during the perpetra¬ 
 tion of this huge atrocity. The Saxon Chronicle attempts to justify the 
 
SAXON AND DANISH PERIODS. 
 
 89 
 
 act, as necessary to the self preservation of the Saxon monarch. It coolly 
 says:— 
 
 “ The King ordered all the Danish-men who were in England to be slain. This was 
 done on St. Brice’s mass-day ; because it was made known to the king that they would 
 treacherously bereave him of his life, and after that have his kingdom without any 
 gain-saying.” 
 
 Speedy vengeance followed. Sweyn, king of Denmark, again appeared 
 off the coasts. For four years the country was pillaged. The commanders 
 of the Saxon armies, being of Norman blood, or notorious traitors, played 
 into the hands of the enemy. Thirty thousand pounds again purchased a 
 hollow peace. 
 
 Considerable efforts were now made to place the country in a position of 
 defence, and a fleet of about eight hundred ships covered the waters. 
 Treason and internal discord, however, soon effected that which ought to 
 have been the work of an enemy. A terrible period followed. “We 
 hear,” says Hume, “ of nothing but the sacking and burning of towns ; 
 the devastation of the open country; the appearance of the enemy in every 
 quarter of the kingdom.” A new peace was ignominiously bought for 
 forty thousand poimds! The tax, named the Danegeld, raised for the 
 purpose of defending the country, was thus employed in her degradation. 
 The Danes speedily renewed their incursions, and levied contributions in 
 Kent. Ethclred fled with his wife to Normandy. Sweyn, king of Den¬ 
 mark, died, however, shortly afterwards, but left, in his son Canute, a 
 still more formidable enemy to the Saxon monarch. On the death of 
 Ethelred, his son, Edmund Ironside, weakened by the desertion of his 
 brother-in-law, Edric, and the general devastation of the country, was 
 compelled to enter into a compromise with the Danish king, and divide 
 the territory. Canute reigned in Northumbria, Mercia, and East Anglia. 
 The southern portion of the country alone remained in the possession of 
 the heir of Athelstan. In about a month afterwards, Edmund was mur¬ 
 dered at the instigation of his brother-in-law, Edric, when the Danish 
 monarch assumed the sovereignty of England. 
 
 The will ofWulfric Spott, Earl of Mercia, executed in 1004, contains 
 the earliest known mention of the rivers Ribble and Mersey by their 
 present names. The land between these streams is bequeathed to his heir, 
 subject to a small payment to the monastery at Burton-upon-Trent. 
 Wulfric perished in a battle with the Danes, near Ipswich. On the final 
 triumph of Canute, the earls of Mercia, the most powerful subjects in the 
 country, were deprived of their estates. On the restoration of the Saxon 
 line, a portion was returned, but the southern part of Lancashire was 
 retained by the crown. 
 
90 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Though the commencement of Canute’s reign was disgraced by many 
 atrocities, the latter portion of his administration was marked by great 
 judgment and moderation. Canute marched through Lancashire into 
 Cumberland, and placed Duncan, grandson of Malcolm, king of Scotland, 
 in possession of the province, subject to the throne of England. Canute 
 married Emma, daughter of the duke of Normandy, widow of Ethelred, 
 and mother of Edward, called the Confessor, who ascended the throne on 
 the demise of his half-brother, Hardicanute, in the year 1043, and thus 
 restored the Saxon dynasty, to the great joy of the people. Edward mar¬ 
 ried Editha, daughter of Earl Godwin, a powerful nobleman, who exer¬ 
 cised a kind of vice-royalty over mail)' of the southern provinces. Edward 
 introduced many Normans to his court, and conferred the highest ecclesi¬ 
 astical offices upon these foreigners. This exasperated the powerful 
 English earl, and led to much civil commotion. After the death of Godwin, 
 his son Harold succeeded to the governments of W essex, Sussex, Kent, and 
 Essex, and to the office of steward of the royal household. The king 
 having no issue, Harold began early to intrigue for the succession. On 
 the death of Siward, duke of Northumberland, he caused his brother 
 Tosti to be invested with the dukedom. Earl Tosti ruled in so brutal 
 and tyrannical a manner, that the people, accustomed to the government 
 of the laws, rose in rebellion against him. Morcar, son of Leofric, was 
 elected duke. In conjunction with his brother Edwin, he raised an army 
 from the shires north of the Humber and Mersey. Harold was sent to 
 reduce them to submission; but when he heard of the conduct of his rela¬ 
 tive, he applauded their resistance, and obtained not only from the king a 
 pardon for past offences, but the confirmation of Morcar in the government 
 of Northumbria. He afterwards married the sister of that nobleman, and 
 by his interest procured the government of Mercia for her brother Edwin. 
 The king regarded his nephew Edward, the son of his elder brother, as 
 heir to the English throne; but this prince dying shortly after his arrival 
 in London, and leaving only a very young and imbecile son, the monarch, 
 who feared the power of Harold and hated the family of his wife, which 
 had caused him so much unhappiness, willed his throne to 'William, duke 
 of Normandy/ 
 
 d “ Nothing can be more fallacious than the idea that it ” (the conquest) “ was nothing more than 
 a change of dynasty, resulting from a mere personal contest between two pretenders to an hereditary 
 crown. The kingship of the Anglo-Saxons was not hereditary ; nor had they any such thing as an 
 hereditary office, municipal or political, legislative, executive, or judicial. * * The successor in 
 the Anglo-Saxon kingship, or executive office of the state, was constantly selected or approved by 
 the national council; and, as lord Lyttleton has candidly acknowledged in his introduction to the life 
 of Henry II., not only did Harold possess the only right to the crown which the English nation then 
 recognized, but the nation itself had clearly made the wisest selection it could, in choosing as the 
 guardian of their independence in that age, the ablest and most generous spirited statesman and 
 ■warrior that it then possessed.”—Penny Cyclopoedia : article, ‘Boroughs of England.* 
 
SAXON AND DANISH PEKIODS. 
 
 91 
 
 Harold, however, by the general wish of the people, mounted the 
 throne. His brother, earl Tosti, declared for the Norman, and, from 
 motives of revenge, collected sixty vessels in the Flemish ports, joined 
 Halfagar, king of Norway, who commanded a fleet of three hundred sail. 
 They entered the Humber, landed their forces, and defeated the earls 
 Morcar and Edwin, brothers-in-law to the king. 
 
 Harold, however, soon avenged his relatives. The English populace 
 flocked to his standard with eagerness. After a bloody engagement at 
 Standford, the Norwegian army was totally routed, and Halfagar and 
 Tosti were slain. The fleet fell into the hands of Harold; but, with a 
 noble magnanimity, that monarch presented to prince Olave, son to the 
 deceased king, twenty vessels, with permission to return to his country. 
 
 But the sun of Harold’s fortune, though it rose in such splendour, was 
 destined soon to set in blood. The echoes which responded to his soldiers’ 
 shouts of victory, had scarcely ceased to vibrate on his ear, when news 
 arrived of the landing of the duke of Normandy, at Pevensey, in Sussex. 
 Harold instantly set out to meet him; and after receiving some reinforce¬ 
 ments, fought the memorable battle of Hastings, with skill, energy, and 
 desperate valour, worthy of his name and race. He relinquished not 
 his kingdom but with his life. With Harold terminated the Saxon 
 dynasty in England, after a continuance, with some interruption from the 
 Danish invaders, for about six hundred years. 
 
 Though the fine arts, and other luxuries and elegancies of life, received 
 but little consideration from the rude Saxon conquerors of Britain, yet, not¬ 
 withstanding the general turbulence of their manners, their monarchs encou¬ 
 raged manufactures and the mechanical arts, as well as trade and navi¬ 
 gation. Mints were established in several parts of the country. Con¬ 
 siderable progress appears to have been made in agriculture, and periodical 
 markets and fairs were instituted. Mr. Kemble is of opinion that there 
 was less land in cultivation during the reign of the first Charles, than there 
 was at the time of the heptarchy. Society was divided into four distinct 
 classes: men of birth, men of property, freemen, and serviles. Fraternities 
 were established for commercial and personal protection, called guilds. 
 Some of these had laws and objects closely resembling modem sick clubs 
 or friendly societies. The power of the king was limited. The “ Witena- 
 gemot,” or council of “ wise men,” may be regarded as the original germ 
 of the present parliamentary system of government. The absolutism of the 
 Norman dynasty triumphed for a time, but the free spirit of the Anglo- 
 Saxon people retained its vitality, and eventually restored the representa¬ 
 tive principle. Although at the time of the conquest, Christianity 
 universally prevailed in Lancashire, yet the country is not without its 
 
92 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 relics of Anglo-Saxon, as well as Celtic and Scandinavian idolatry. The 
 neighbourhood of Preston still retains the names of heathen places of wor¬ 
 ship, and some of the customs of later times have been traced to the sacred 
 rites of the pagan inhabitants. 
 
 The Rev. J. Davies says:— 
 
 “ In the middle of the county we have Anglezark. The first part of the word is, 
 without doubt, from the name of this [Angles] tribe; the second is found also in 
 Grimsargh, Kellamargh, Mansargh, and Goosnargh, all names of places not far from 
 Anglezark, and is probably the Old High German liaruc, Old Norse horgr, Anglo-Saxon 
 hearb, gen. hearges, a heathen temple or altar. The Old Norse liorga (aspretum editius) 
 shows that it meant primarily a lofty grove, and thence a temple encircled with groves 
 (according to Bede’s description of a heathen temple, “ fanum cum omnibus septis suis,”) 
 and, lastly, a temple. It answers therefore to the Danish lund (a sacred grove). We 
 know from Tacitus, that all the Germanic races were wont to celebrate the rites of their 
 dark and cruel worship in the gloomy shade of forests or groves, and the word teaches 
 us, as Wedneshougli (Wodensfield), Satterthwaite (Snetere) and Lund, that the Angles 
 were worshippers of the old Teutonic deities, when they took possession of Lancashire. 
 The name v r as probably given by the Angles themselves, and if so, it indicates that the 
 Anglian speech approached, in some words, to the high German form.” 
 
 Lingering remnants of the ancient superstitions have been found in the 
 Fylde country by the Rev. W. Thornber. He says:— 
 
 “ The conjoint worship of the sun and moon, the Samen and Sama, husband and wife 
 of nature, has been from these early times so firmly implanted that ages have not 
 uprooted it. Christianity has not banished it. So prevalent was it in the years 960 and 
 1102, that it was forbidden in the 16th canon, promulgated in the reign of Edgar, and 
 in those of A. Anslem. The Saxons w r ere guilty of it. Nay, in my youth, on Halloween, 
 under the name of Teanla fires, I have seen the hills throughout the country illuminated 
 with sacred flames, and I can point out many a cairn of fire-broken stones,—the high 
 places of the votaries of Bel,—where his rites have been performed on the borders of the 
 Kibble age after age. Nor at this day are these mysteries silenced; with a burning wisp 
 of straw' at the point of a fork on Sama’s festival, at the eve of All-hallows, the farmer in 
 some districts of the Fylde encircles his field to protect the coming crop from noxious 
 w r eeds, the tare and darnel; the old wife refuses to sit the eggs under her crackling hen 
 after sunset; the ignorant boy sits astride a stile, as he looks at the new moon, the bride 
 walks not widdershins to church on her nuptial morn; and if the aged parent addresses 
 not the young pair in the words of Hanno, the Cartliagenian, in the Poenula of Plautus, 
 “O that the good Bel-Samen may favour them,” or, like the Irish peasant, “The 
 blessing of Sama and Bel go with you;” still, w r e have often heard the benediction, 
 “ May the sun shine bright upon you,” in accordance with the old adage. 
 
 Blest the corpse the rain fell on, 
 
 Blest the bride on whom th’ sun shone.” 
 
 The term Anglo-Saxon is generally applied to the inhabitants of England 
 at the period of the conquest. The population, however, presented a very 
 mixed character, and included many Celtic people, especially in Cornwall 
 and Cumberland. The Danes, Norwegians, and other Scandinavian tribes, 
 formed likewise a large portion of the inhabitants of the northern and 
 eastern counties. The “ Englishman ” of the present day results from the 
 fusion of these original elements. Even the Saxon royal family was, 
 before the conquest, united with the Danish. The mother of Edmund 
 Ironside was of Scandinavian blood. "Worsaae contends, and with reason, 
 
SAXON AND DANISH PERIODS. 
 
 93 
 
 that to the Danish people and customs, the modern Britons are indebted 
 for some of their most cherished institutions, and amongst the rest for that 
 great bulwark to the liberty of the subject—trial by jury. 
 
 Historians are much divided in opinion respecting the relative proportion 
 of the different races composing the present population of Lancashire. 
 It would appear that in many portions of the south-eastern and midland 
 counties, the Saxon conquerors had almost exterminated, or reduced to 
 serfdom, the ancient inhabitants. In the north and west, the mountain 
 fastnesses, and the almost impassable morasses, afforded rude shelter and an 
 inhospitable asylum. The Cumbrian moimtains, the hills of F umess, the 
 swamps of western Lancashire, (“the Country of the Waters”) as well 
 as Wales and Cornwall, doubtless furnished retreats for the braver Britons, 
 who, though defeated in the open plain, spumed the yoke of the invaders. 
 The remainder of the native inhabitants became slaves to their conquerors. 
 Hr. Thomas Wright states, that the “Brigantes are believed to have been 
 the original inhabitants of the island, who had been driven northward by 
 successive invasions and settlements, and they appear to have been the 
 least civilised tribe of South Britain ; their wild independence was encou¬ 
 raged and protected by the nature of the country they inhabited.” e 
 
 Mr. Thornber contends that “ Amoundemess, for many a century after 
 the Saxon conquest, was included in the petty kingdom of Cumberland.” 
 Camden quotes a document in which Egfrid, king of Northumbria, confers 
 upon St. Cuthbert, bishop of Landisfarne, the land of Carthmel, and all 
 the Britons in it (et oinnes Britanni cum ea),” as late as the two hundred 
 and twenty-eighth year after the arrival of the Saxon conquerors. f 
 
 It is, indeed, not known with certainty, whether the northern portion, 
 at least, of the county of Lancaster, was completely subjugated by the 
 Saxons, until the reign of Edward the Elder, in 921. Many defections 
 occurred even after his time, and re-conquest became necessary. Several 
 authorities record that the northern part of Lancashire, including Further¬ 
 ness or Furness, was inhabited by Britons at a late period of the Saxon 
 domination. Palgrave, in his history of the Anglo-Saxons, says, “from the 
 Billie, in Lancashire, or thereabouts, up to the Clyde, there existed a 
 dense population composed of Britons, who preserved their national language 
 and customs, agreeing in all respects with the Welsh of the present day. 
 So that even to the tenth century, the ancient Britons still inhabited the 
 greater part of the western coast of the island, however much they had 
 been compelled to yield to the political superiority of the Saxon invaders.” 
 
 e The Celt, the Roman, and the Saxon, p. 41. 
 f Britannia, vol. 3, p. 380. 
 
94 
 
 PEESTOX AXD ITS EXVIEOXS. 
 
 In his map of England, showing the great earldoms in the reign of Edward 
 the Confessor, the Kibble is made the boundary between the Cumbrian 
 province, then held by a Scottish prince, and Leofric’s earldom of 
 Coventry. The boundary has been nearly retained to the present time, in 
 the ecclesiastical division of the archdeaconries of Richmond and Chester. 
 It is to this province Shakspere alludes in his Macbeth. Duncan confers 
 the principality on his son Malcolm, which excites the jealousy of the 
 ‘ ‘ predestined ’ ’ monarch:— 
 
 “ The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step 
 On which I must fall down or else o’erleap, 
 
 For in my way it lies.” 
 
 A return made to the king by the prior and convent of Carlisle, in the 
 reign of Edward I., says, “ That district was called Cumbria which is now 
 included in the bishoprics of Carlisle, Glasgow, and Whitheme, together 
 with the country lying between the bishopric of Carlisle and the river 
 Duddon.” 
 
 From these diversified facts, it is highly probable the southern boundary 
 of the Cumbrian kingdom has varied at different periods. Mr. Hodgson 
 Hinde says:— 
 
 “ So long as the native chieftains were allowed to exercise a subordinate authority, the 
 Northumbrian kings had no occasion to interfere with the internal government of the 
 subject provinces. If the tribute was duly rendered they remained unmolested; if it was 
 withheld, payment was enforced by arms; or, in extreme cases, the refractory state (to 
 use a modern phrase) was ‘ annexed,’ as we have seen in the instance of Elmet.” 
 
 Mr . Thornber 8 states that he had frequently been “told by those who 
 were reputed judges,” that the Fylde country “manners, customs, and 
 dialect, partook far more of the Welsh than the Saxon, and that this was 
 more perceptible half a century ago than at present.” He adds, “The 
 pronunciation of the words—laughing, toffey, haughendo, h etc., the Shib¬ 
 boleth of the Fylde—always remind me of the deep gutturals of the Welsh, 
 and the frequent use of a particular oath is, alas! too common to both 
 people.” 
 
 On the other hand, Dr. Robson contends that there is “no real ground 
 for the common belief that the inhabitants of Lancashire and Cheshire had 
 been at anytime Welsh or Celtic; that in fact the Celtic tribes, at the 
 earliest historic period, were confined to the western parts of the island ; 
 that the extent of their dominions may he traced by the Celtic names of 
 places, both in Wales and Cornwall; and that the rest of England was 
 occupied by a Teutonic race, as it is at the present time.” * 
 
 g History of Blackpool, p. 17. 
 
 h From ackendo, the “ half-do,” an obsolete measure, yet occasionally used for peas, 
 i Lan. and Ches. His. Soc. Papers, vol. 7, p. 99. 
 
SAXON AND DANISH PERIODS. 
 
 95 
 
 The Rev. J. Davies, after an elaborate exposition of the etymological 
 evidence furnished by the local nomenclature, decides in favour of the still 
 further mixed character of the population, resulting from succeeding 
 invasion and colonization. He observes :— 
 
 “ Before the Anglo-Saxon invasion, the county was inhabited by a Celtic population 
 of the younger or Cambrian branch of the Celtic stock; and a considerable number of 
 families, belonging to this race, remained on the soil after the Teutonic invaders had 
 taken possession ot it. * * * There is scarcely the slightest trace of the Norman 
 
 baron in the local names of the county, and only a faint evidence of his race in the dia¬ 
 lect. I am inclined to think that, upon the whole, no county in England felt the effects 
 of the Norman conquest less than Lancashire. The old records of the county give 
 additional evidence of this fact. The names of the families recorded are almost univer¬ 
 sally pure Anglo-Saxon, with a slight sprinkling of Celtic There is a trace of the 
 Norman in the south, but along the whole of the east and north of the county, the 
 Saxon or Danish landholder seems to have held in peace the ancestral manor-house he 
 had dwelt in before the conquest, and the haughty insolence of the Norman was com¬ 
 paratively unknown. We may infer, therefore, that the race whose genius and energy 
 have swelled the resources of England to so great an extent, is not much indebted to 
 Norman influences. It is chiefly of Anglian blood, with a considerable mixture of Saxon 
 and Scandinavian, and blended, probably in an equal degree, with that of the Cambrian 
 race.” k 
 
 Mr. Thomas "Wright contends strongly that “ at the close of what is 
 called the Roman period of the history of Britain, the remains of the 
 original Celtic population were very small, and perhaps consisted chiefly 
 or entirely of the peasantry who cultivated the land as serfs.” Mr. Wright 
 suggests the probability, that the present Welsh are not chiefly descen ¬ 
 dants from the original Celtic population of Britain, but of Armorican 
 adventurers, who, at the decline of the Roman power, invaded the western 
 portion of the island, and simultaneously with the Teutonic tribes on the 
 east and midland, acquired the ascendancy over the Britanni or Romanized 
 Britons; whom he clearly demonstrates, by reference to the Notitia and 
 inscriptions, found at various stations in this country, to have been com¬ 
 posed of people from different parts of Europe, and even Asia, and Africa. 
 In Lancashire and its neighbourhood, the following various races are men¬ 
 tioned as included in the “Roman” population of the district:—Nervii 
 at Dictis, in Westmoreland, and at Alionis (Muncaster, in Cumberland); 
 soldiers from Spain and Portugal at Magee, in Yorkshire, etc.; Moors at 
 Aballaba in the North, and another supposed African tribe at Arbeia, in 
 Westmoreland. From inscriptions, it appears that Lingones from Belgium, 
 Gauls, and Dacians occupied different stations in Cumberland. There 
 were Germans at Brougham; Thracians at Bowes, in Yorkshire; Sarma- 
 tians at Ribchester ; and Frisians at Manchester. Amongst the names of 
 officers, on sepulchral remains, are, at Old Penrith, one from Asia Minor; 
 at Old Carlisle, one from Africa, and another from Lower Pannonia. The 
 
 k Races of Lancashire : a paper published in the Philological Journal. 
 
96 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 tribune of the twentieth legion at Chester, was a native of Samosata, in 
 Syria, and the tribune of a cohort, at Haryport, acknowledged Mauritania 
 as the place of his birth. 1 Few women would accompany the Roman 
 colonists, soldiers, or the auxiliaries into Britain. Hence it is but rational 
 to conclude, that during the long period of the imperial dominion, 
 numerous intermarriages with the native population would take place; 
 and, consequently, the principal persons of substance and position, at the 
 time of its decline, would represent, in blood, neither the Homans 
 themselves nor the original Celtic population. The Englishman of the 
 present day, is evidently a compound being, formed from multifarious 
 elements. Like unto his language, almost every other country in the 
 world has contributed to the aggregated stock. To this varied origin, 
 perhaps, more than to any single element, however valuable in itself, may 
 be attributed the strength, elasticity, and indomitable energy, which 
 unquestionably characterises the present inhabitants of Britain; and which 
 is locally exhibited in no more marked a degree than in the county of 
 Lancaster. 
 
 1 Ethnology of South Britain, at the Period of the Extinction of the Roman Government in the 
 Island, by Thos. Wright, Esq., M.A., F.S.A., etc.—His. Soc. Lan. and Ches. Trans, vol. viii. p. 148. 
 
NORMAN CONQUEST TO JAMES I. 
 
 97 
 
 PART I.—HISTORICAL. 
 
 CHAPTER III.—FROM THE NORMAN CONQUEST TO THE 
 ACCESSION OF JAMES I. 
 
 The County of Lancaster—Domesday Survey—Results of the Norman Conquest— 
 Roger de Poictou, and Warinus and Abardus Bussell—Value of the Land—“Castle 
 Hill,” Penwortham: Discovery of Remains—The Earl of Chester and the Earl Ferrers— 
 Theobald Walter—Charters—Henry Fitz Warren—Right of Pasturage on Fulwood 
 moor—Walter de Preston slain by Robert de Hylton—The Grey Friars Franciscan 
 Convent—The Magdalen Hospital—Ancient Military Outwork on the Maudlands— 
 Edmund Crouchback, earl of Lancaster—Edward I. at Preston—Wars with the 
 Scots—Bruce and Wallace—Plea against the king—Thomas, Earl of Lancaster — 
 Preston nearly destroyed by Bruce—Adam de Banistre and Thomas Earl of Lancaster : 
 Battle near Preston. Edward Ill. at Preston—Henry, earl of Lancaster and Derby 
 made Duke of Lancaster—Value of Property in Preston—John O’Gaunt—Bolingbroke’s 
 Rebellion—Wars of the Roses—Henry VI taken prisoner at Clitheroe—Lambert 
 Simnel—Sir William Stanley—Henry VII. at Lathom and Knowsley—Henry VIII. 
 Battle of Flodden Field—The Reformation—The “ Pilgrimage of Grace ”—Decay of 
 Preston and other Lancashire Towns—-Leland’s visit to Preston—Levy of Troops— 
 Religious Persecutions—The Spanish Armada—Camden’s Description of Preston— 
 Feud between Mr. Hogliton, of Lea, and Langton, Baron of Newton and Walton— 
 Condition of the People. 
 
 “It is remarkable,” observes Mr. E. Baines, “that in the whole of the 
 Saxon Chronicles, the term ‘ Lancashire ’ never once occurs, though the 
 neighbouring counties in the kingdom of Northumbria are mentioned 
 in those ancient annals several times. * * It is also remarkable that the 
 name of Lancashire is not to be found in the Domesday book of William 
 the Conqueror, though the manors and lands are described in that imperish¬ 
 able record, with the usual accuracy and precision.” The northern portion 
 of Lancashire, Westmoreland, and parts of Cumberland, are included in the 
 Yorkshire survey. Those hundreds south of the Ribblc, are described in 
 the Cheshire division under the head “ Inter Hi pa et Mersham." The 
 remainder of the northern counties are omitted. The earliest recorded 
 mention of Lancashire is in the Pipe Roll, in the Exchequer office; the 
 date is about 1140, or the fifth year of the reign of Stephen. Mr. Baines 
 says : “ It is abundantly clear, that sheriffs were elected for this county 
 upwards of a century before Henry III. ascended the throne of these realms.” 
 
 H 
 
98 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Dr. Kuerden states that king Egbert divided England into counties, and, 
 “from the river Duden to the river Mersey on the south, was styled 
 Langastersehyre; ” hut he mentions no Saxon writer as his authority. 
 
 Jno. "Whitaker, by inductive reasoning, arrives at the conclusion that 
 the “ Sistuntian province was formed into the county of Lancaster about 
 the year 680, and soon after the conquest of it by Egfrid.” This is, how¬ 
 ever, unsupported by any positive evidence, and is extremely improbable. 
 The circumstance that the Domesday survey gives the northern portion to 
 Yorkshire, and describes the southern as land “ between the Kibble and 
 Mersey,” necessitates the conclusion that the present Lancashire had not 
 been consolidated into one county, at the period of the conquest. It 
 would seem rather to have been a kind of “ debateahle ground,” during 
 the Saxon and Danish periods ; portions of it being sometimes governed by 
 independent princes, and sometimes by tributary chieftains, under the 
 Northumbrian kings. The northern part was, unquestionably, at one time, 
 included in the principality of Cumberland. The county appears to have 
 been divided between the Northumbrian and Mercian earldoms, at the latter 
 period of the Saxon regime. Iicnce its anomalous position at the time of 
 the conquest. 
 
 The ecclesiastics of York, apparently, did not find their possessions 
 “near Kibble, in Hasmundemesse,” worth defence during the struggles 
 which desolated the country. According to the Domesday survey, earl 
 Tosti, brother of king Harold, owned the land in the neighbourhood of 
 Preston, on the north of the Kibble, previous to the conquest. From the 
 same document, it appears that the king held the lands in Leyland and 
 Elackburn hundreds, south of the Kibble. 
 
 The following is a translation of the Domesday book, so far as it relates 
 to Preston and its environs :— 
 
 “AGEMVNDRENESSE” (Amottnderness) under “ Evrvic-seire” (Yorkshire). 
 “ In Prestvne (Preston) Earl Tosti bad sis carueates to be taxed.a These lands belong 
 thereto; Estun (Ashton) two carueates; Lea (Lea) one carucate; Saleuuic (Salwick) 
 one carucate; Clistun (Clifton) two carueates; Neutune (Newton) two carueates; 
 Frecheltun (Freckleton) four carueates; Rigby (Ribby) six carueates. 
 
 Cliichcham (Kirkham) four carueates ; Treueles (Treales) two carueates; T Yestbi 
 (Westby) two carueates; Pluntun (Plumpton) two carueates; Widetun (Weeton) 
 three carueates; Pres (Pbeese) two carueates; Wartun (Warton) four carueates. 
 
 a A carucate, carve or plough land, was generally about one hundred acres. Eight oxgangs make 
 a carucate. An oxgang or bovata, as much as a pair of oxen can keep in husbandry. An acre was 
 forty perches in length, and four in breadth. A perch was twenty feet. A hyde of land was an 
 uncertain quantity, generally about one hundred acres ; hut according to Kelham six carueates make 
 a hyde in that part of Lancashire between the Ribble and the Mersey. J. Whitaker regards, on the 
 authority of Bede, the hyde as a well known standard measure throughout the heptarchy, and 
 that, according to Selden, it contained at the first two hundred and forty acres. 
 
NORMAN CONQUEST TO JAMES I. 
 
 99 
 
 Lidun (Lythah) two carucates; Meretun (Marton) six carueates; Latun (Layton) 
 six carucates; Staininghe (Staning) six carucates; Carlentun (Carlton) four carucates; 
 Biscopham (Bispham) eight carucates. 
 
 Rushale (Rossall) two carueates; Brune (Bourne or Burn near Poulton) two 
 carucates; Torentun (Thornton) six carucates; Poltun (Poulton) two carucates; 
 Singletun (Singleton) six carucates; Greneholf (Greenhalgh) three carucates. 
 
 Eglestun (Eccleston) four carucates ; another Eglestun (Eccleston) two carucates ; 
 Edelsuuic (Elswick) three carucates ; I/iscip (Inskip) two carucates; Sorbi (Soweeby) 
 one carucate ; Aschebi (Nateby ) one carucate. 
 
 Michelescherche (St. Michaels) one carucate; Catrchala (Catterall) two carucates; 
 Clactune (Claughton) two carucates; Neuhuse (Newsham) one carucate; Pluntun ; 
 (Pluhpton' five carucates. 
 
 Brocton (Broughton) one carucate; Witingheham (Whitingham) two carucates ; 
 Bartun (Barton) three carucates; Gusansarghe (Goosnaegh) one carucate; Halctun 
 (Haighton) one carucate. 
 
 Trelefelt (Threlfield) one carucate; Watelei (Fulwood ?) b one carucate; 
 Chipinden (Chipping) three carucates; Actun (Alston) one carucate ; Fiscuic 
 (Fishwick) one carucate; Grimesarge (Grimsargh) two carucates. 
 
 Ribelcastre (Ribchester) two carucates ; Bileuurde (Billsborough) two carucates; 
 Suenesat (Swainset) one carucate; Fortune (Forton) one carucate; Crimeles 
 (Crimbles) one carucate; Cherestanc (Garstang) six carucates; Rodecliff (Rawclii i'f.) 
 two carucates; another Rodeclif (Rawcliffe) two carucates; a third ditto, three 
 carucates; Hameltune (Hahbleton) two carucates. 
 
 Stalmine (Stalmine) four carucates; Pressouede (Preesall) six carucates; Midehope 
 (Mithope or Midhope) one carucate. 
 
 All these villages and three churches belong to Prestune (Preston) ; of these sixteen 
 have few inhabitants; but how many inhabitants there may be it is not known. 
 
 The rest are waste. Roger de Poiciou had it.” 0 
 
 “In BLACIIEBURNE HUNDRET,” inserted under “ Cestre-scire ” (Chester). 
 “ King Edward held Blacheburne (Blackburn). There are two hides and two caru¬ 
 cates of land : the church had two hovates of this land; and the church of St. Mary’s 
 had in Whalley two carucates of land, free from all custom. In the same manor there 
 is a wood one mile in length and the same in breadth, and there was an aerie of hawks,— 
 To this manor or hundred belonged twenty-eight freemen, holding five hides and a half 
 and forty carucates of land for twenty-eight manors adjoining. There is a wood six 
 miles long and four broad, and there were the above-said customs. 
 
 In the same hundred King Edward had Hunnicot (Huncote) with two carucates of 
 land, Waletune (Walton) with two carucates of land, Peniltune (Pendleton) half a 
 hide. The whole manor, with the hundred, paid to the king for rent thirty-two pounds 
 two shillings. 
 
 Roger de Poictou gave all this land to Roger de Busli and Albert Greslet, and there 
 are as many men who have eleven carucates and a half; they allowed these to be exempt 
 for three years, and therefore they are not rated.” 
 
 “In LAI LAND HUNDRET. King Edward held Leyland, where he had one hide 
 and two carucates of land, a wood two miles long and one broad, and an aerie of hawks. 
 To this manor belonged twelve carucates of land, which twelve freemen held as twelve 
 manors : in these are six hides and eight carucates : there are woods six miles long, and 
 
 b Mr. Ed. Baines gives Whalley as the modern representative of Watelei. This is evidently an 
 error. Whalley is in Blackburn hundred. As Fulwood is not mentioned it is doubtless, relatively a 
 modern name. The Lancashire Watling-Street crosses this township, and may at the time of the 
 survey have given its name to the cleared land in its vicinity. 
 
 c The population of England and Wales at the time of the Conquest has been computed at two 
 millions one hundred and fifty thousand.—Sir George Nicholls, History English Poor Law. 
 
 n 
 
 o 
 
100 
 
 PEESTOX AXD ITS EXTIBOXS. 
 
 three and a quarenten broad. The men of this manor and of Salford did not work as 
 customary for the king at the hall, nor did they reap in August; they only made one 
 hedge in the wood : they were subject to fines for wounding and rape, and had all the 
 other customs of the other superior manors. The whole of the manor of Leyland, with 
 the hundred, rendered to the king nineteen pounds eighteen shillings and twopence. 
 Of the land in this manor Girard holds one hide and a half, Robert three carucates, 
 Radulph two carucates, Roger two carucates, Walter one carucate. There are four 
 radmans, a priest, and fourteen villains, and six bordars, and two neatherds : between 
 them they have eight carucates, wood three miles long and two miles broad, and four 
 aeries of hawks. The whole is worth fifty shillings—part is waste land. 
 
 King Edward held Peneverdant (Penwortham), where there are two carucates of 
 land, which rendered ten pence. There is now a castle there; and there are two 
 carucates in the demesne, six burgesses, three radmans, eight villains, and four neatherds, 
 between all they have four carucates; there is h;df a fishery, a wood, and aeries of hawks. 
 As iu the time of king Edward, it is valued at three pounds.” <1 
 
 The people of England did not, however, tamely submit to the yoke 
 imposed by the Norman victor. Several fierce struggles took place in 
 various parts of the country, and especially in the shires north of the 
 Humber and Mersey. The city of York was burned to the ground. The 
 conqueror displayed a ferocity almost unparalleled, especially towards the 
 hardy northmen. So much did he dread their valour, and inherent love 
 of freedom, that, in order to secure himself from further insurrections, he 
 ordered large tracts of the country to be laid waste. Houses, cattle, furni¬ 
 ture, and implements of husbandry were given to the flames; and the 
 wretched inhabitants forced to fly from the country, or perish in the wilds 
 and morasses. In some districts, it is said, neither spade nor plough was 
 employed on the land for nine years afterwards. Sir James Mackintosh 
 says;— 
 
 “ It was a slow, not a sudden conquest. The successive contests in winch the con¬ 
 queror was engaged, ought not to be regarded as, on his part, measures to quell rebel¬ 
 lion. They were a series of wars levied by a foreign prince against unconquered and 
 unbending portions of the Saxon people. Their resistance was not a flame casually 
 lighted up by the oppression of rulers : it was the defensive warfare of a nation, who 
 took up arms to preserve, not to recover, their independence. There are few examples 
 of a people who have suffered more for national dignity and legitimate freedom.” 
 
 Gilbert de Lacy, one of William’s subordinate chiefs, penetrated the 
 hills between Lancashire and Yorkshire, and seized upon the hundred of 
 Blackburn. To secure his conquest, an old tradition relates that he 
 expelled all the native proprietors from Blackburn, Bochdale, and the 
 neighbourhood, and established his feudal authority. Previously, the 
 tradition asserts, all the proprietors were equal to each other, and free 
 from the domination of a superior chieftain.' 
 
 The remaining portion of Lancashire was not easily subdued. So great 
 was the reputation of the Lancashire and Cheshire warriors, and the 
 
 d It has been computed that the Saxon pound equalled, in relative value, one hundred and ten 
 pounds of the money of the present day. 
 e Dugdale’s Monas. Anglic., p. 792. 
 
NORMAN CONQUEST TO JAMES I. 
 
 101 
 
 dangers of the march, amongst the Setantian estuaries and morasses, that 
 many of William’s bravest soldiers flatly refused to enter upon the perilous 
 expedition. Some disease, peculiar to the country, which had, in the pre¬ 
 ceding year, made sad havoc amongst the Norman troops, attacked their 
 more hardy allies from Brittany and other places, and this increased the 
 terror. William, however, hesitated not. He crossed the mountains by 
 passes previously regarded as impracticable for horses, and appeared before 
 Chester. This city was the last in England to submit to the conqueror. 
 It may he presumed, after its capture, that Lancashire yielded without 
 a serious struggle/ 
 
 From the Domesday survey, which was made about ten years subse¬ 
 quently to the perpetration of this barbarity, it would appear that the west ern 
 portion of the Northumbrian province (Lancashire) was more leniently 
 dealt with than the eastern (Yorkshire). And yet, the concluding para¬ 
 graph in the survey of Amounderness, would seem to indicate that even 
 the most favoured had suffered considerably. “ Sixteen villages have few 
 inhabitants—how many is not known—the rest are waste.” ! The three 
 churches mentioned were situated at Preston, Kirkliam, and St. Michaels. 
 
 The conqueror, under one pretence or another, confiscated the lands of 
 the greater portion of the Saxon nobility and gentry, and bestowed large 
 tracts, together with the “beautiful women,” and especially the Saxon heir¬ 
 esses, upon his military leaders; who, in their turn, provided for their 
 inferior followers. 1 ’’ These lands were held upon feudal tenures; a principle, 
 to some extent, adopted by the Saxon rulers, but more completely 
 developed under the Norman domination. William subjected the lands 
 held by the church, and which were supposed to amount to nearly one 
 third of the kingdom, to similar conditions. In this division of the con¬ 
 quered territory, the “Honour of Lancaster” fell to the share of Roger de 
 Poictou, son of Roger de Montgomery, earl of Arundel and Shrewsbury. 
 But owing to his defection, the honour was forfeited previously to the 
 Domesday survey. It was, however, restored to him in the following 
 reign. His participation in an insurrectionary movement at Tewkesbury, 
 compromised him once more; when the “Honour of Lancaster” was 
 transferred to Stephen, afterwards king of England/ Roger de Poictou 
 
 f Order. Vital. Hist, ecclesiat. lib. iv, apud script, rer. normann., p. 515. 
 g Dugdale, Monast. Anglic. 
 
 h “ Honors were bereditable before the Conquest by earls and barons, and for the most part to 
 such as were of the blood royal; hence the honor of Lancaster had been possessed successively by earls 
 Tosti and Morcar. By the Norman law honors became a feudal patrimony of any of the high barons, 
 and generally adjoined to the principal seat of the baron. The great baron of Lancashire, Koger de 
 Poictou, ranked amongst the Capitales Barones, holding immediately from the crown. The barons 
 who held under him were called Barones Comitatus, (barons of the county) and held free courts for 
 
102 
 
 PEESTON AND ITS ENYIE0N8. 
 
 held three hundred and ninety-eight manors under the crown; the whole 
 of which were confiscated. 
 
 Amongst the “barones comitatus,” mentioned in K onion's manuscripts, 
 as holding lands under Roger de Poictou, in Lancashire, are “ Ilbert Lacy, 
 haron of Clidero,” and AVarinus Bussell, baron of Penwortham and AVeeton. 
 The same authority states that to the barony of AVeeton (between the 
 AA r yre and Ribble) was, “temp. AV. Rufus, an appendant to the barony of 
 Penwortham, and bestowed upon Abardus Bussell, brother of AVarinus 
 Bussell, and continued in the renowned noble family of Theohaldus Pin- 
 cerna,” (Theobald AValters) “from whom proceeded the duke of Ormond.” 
 
 The great difference in the value of landed property, at the period of the 
 conquest, and in the present age of commercial and manufacturing activity, 
 is thus forcibly illustrated by Mr. E. Baines:— 
 
 “ The contrast bet ween the nature of landed possessions in this district, in the time 
 when the dane-geld tax was enforced, in 1086, and the time when the property tax 
 existed, is most striking; in the former, all the lands between Mersey and Ribble were 
 valued at £120,—in the latter at £2,569,761. Allowing for the difference in the value 
 of money, at the two periods, the statement will stand thus :— 
 
 Annual value in 1086, multiplied by 110 .£ 13,200 
 
 Ditto in 1814, . 2,569,761 
 
 Increased value.£2,556,561 ” 
 
 Notwithstanding this marvellous increase, so great has been the growth 
 of manufacturing and commercial enterprise, “between the Mersey and 
 the Ribble,” dming the succeeding forty years, that even the enormous 
 sum of upwards of two and a half millions sterling falls far short of the 
 present value. According to the assessment made in 1841, “for the more 
 easy collecting and levying of the county rates,” the aggregate value of 
 the hundreds of Salford, AVest Derby, and Leyland, was £5,525,626. 
 A parliamentary return issued in 1856, shows that the total assessment 
 for the county rate of Lancashire, is £6,909,656, being the highest of all 
 the counties in the kingdom, with the exception of Middlesex, which is 
 £8,427,336. 
 
 Roger de Poictou, duiing the period he held chief sway in Lancashire, 
 
 pleas and complaints, except those belonging to the earl’s sword. The ancient barons in their lord- 
 ships or baronies, took cognizance of litigations and robberies, and employed the privileges which are 
 called sac, soc, tol, theam, infangthef, outfangthef, ferias et marketas. Soc was the power of 
 administering justice ; sac of hearing and determining causes and disputes without the power of 
 levying forfeitures or fines; tol an acquittance from payment of duties and tolls in every part of the 
 kingdom; thearn, a royalty granted over their villain tenants, as well as over their wives, and 
 children, and goods, to dispose of them at pleasure. Spelman calls it a right of trying their bond- 
 men and serfs. Ingfangthef was the privilege of trying thieves taken within their lordship; outfang¬ 
 thef, a royalty granted by the king, with power to try and punish a thief dwelling out of the baron’s 
 liberty or fee, for a theft committed out of his jurisdiction, if he be taken within it. The distinction 
 between an honor and a manor consists principally in the much greater extent of the former.”— 
 E. Baines. His. Lan. 
 
NOllMAN CONQUEST TO JAMES I. 
 
 103 
 
 erected the castles of Lancaster and Liverpool, and other important points 
 d'appui, for the more effectual defence of his possessions. It appears from 
 the Domesday survey, that there existed a castle likewise at Penwortham. 
 The site still retains the name of “Castle Hill.” Kenion’s manuscript 
 says: “On that famous estuary of Kibble, at Penwortham, where remained 
 an ancient castle from the time of the Saxons, here was placed the 
 barony given to Warinus Bussell, who had this place bestowed upon him, 
 temp. William the Conqueror, though it had then no baron. Leyland 
 and a great part of Amoundcrness did anciently belong to the Bussells.” 
 Dr. Kuerden, nearly two centimes ago, says:— 
 
 “ Over against the marsh belonging to this Burrough, under the opposit and high 
 banks at Penwortham, a safe harbour from the western storms, over which was placed 
 a small castle or fort, probably there placed to defend the same, or for the greater pre¬ 
 servation of the Burrough of Preston, being placed upon the south bank adjacent to the 
 bondary of their franchises. And it is manifest, by William the Conqueror’s grand 
 survey, that such a Castle there placed was then in being, though in later time it hath 
 been demolished, and in the place thereof oidy a Titular Castle-hill remaining.” 
 
 Mr. Jno. Taylor, in a note to the above passage, intimates that tradition 
 asserts the locality to have “ anciently been the site of a chapel that was 
 sunk by an earthquake.” He considers, however, the more probable 
 conjecture to be, “ that it was the outward defence of a watch tower, or a 
 dim, or burg; * * * or the site of a Roman military post.”’ Mr. 
 
 Taylor describes Castle-hill as “a remarkable mound, surrounded by a 
 fosse or moat, thirty-nine yards square, measured in the centre of the 
 moat, and having the sides facing the four cardinal points.” This includes 
 the entire hill. A channel of the Kibble, formerly navigable, but now 
 blocked up by the operation of artificial “cauls,” or “jetties,” defended the 
 hill on the east and north. A deep lane now skirts the eastern boundary ; 
 and a fosse yet remains, which divides the moimd from the neighbouring 
 church yard, on the south. 
 
 Saxon castles must not be confounded with those erected by the Horman 
 kings or barons. The latter were large and massive structures of stone ; 
 but the former do not appear to have been capable of much defence 
 Dugdale says:— 
 
 “ In those days (in tlie Saxon time I mean) were very few such defensible places as 
 we now call castles, that being a French name; so that though the English were a bold 
 and warlike people, yet for want of the like strongholds, they were much less able to 
 resist their enemies. J 
 
 The discovery of the Roman station at Walton giving additional archeo¬ 
 logical intersst to the neighbourhood, the members of the Lancashire and 
 Cheshire Historic Society selected Preston as the locale for their annual 
 
 i See Taylor’s Brief Description of the Burrough and Town of Preston, page 50. Tub. in 1818. 
 j History of Warwickshire. 
 
104 
 
 TRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 excursion. They accordingly visited the to-wn in June last, (1856). An 
 influential committee undertook to prepare for their reception, and a tem¬ 
 porary museum of interesting local antiquities was formed, at the 
 Institution, Avenliam. In addition to an inspection of the site at "Walton, 
 it was deemed desirable that excavations should he made in the “ Castle 
 hill,” Pemvortham. The necessary permission having been obtained, work¬ 
 men were employed on the day previous to the visit, in cutting trenches 
 across the crown of the hill, and in opening various portions of the mound. 
 Remains so interesting, and, at the same time, apparently so irreconeileable, 
 were obtained, that the committee continued the excavations dining the 
 remainder of the week. 
 
 The following description of the locality and illustrations of the objects 
 discovered, are from the author’s drawings and memoranda made at the 
 time: —The mound at Penwortham, denominated ‘ ‘ Castle Hill ’ ’ is situated on 
 the “ neb ” of a promontory of the table land which rises from about fifty 
 to nearly a hundred feet above the flat alluvial soil of the valley of the 
 Ribble. Though, unquestionably, a portion of the natural elevation, 
 yet it exhibits so distinctly on its surface marks of artificial form, 
 that many parties regarded the entire bulk as a tumulus or mound 
 of moved earth. It may properly he said to consist of three distinct hills, 
 rising one upon the other. On ascending the lower and of course larger 
 one, at the point of the promontory, a level plateau of considerable extent 
 is reached. This is from thirty or forty feet above the surface of the valley. 
 At the further end of this level, a second hill, slightly conical in form, 
 rises nearly twenty feet higher. This is again capped by a smaller mound, 
 of a somewhat irregular shape, about twelve or fifteen feet in height. 
 The whole appears to rise about sixty or seventy feet above the valley. 
 On what had originally been the surface of the second hill, the remains were 
 found. Fig. 4, plate 6, exhibits the profile of the two upper mounds. 
 E indicates the level of the first or larger plateau. The hill is separated 
 from the church yard by a ditch (F), which appears to be in part, if not 
 entirely, of artificial construction. The upper mound, from external 
 observation, seems to have been formed by earth removed from this ditch 
 and the sides of the second hill, as it is higher than the neighbouring 
 church yard, on the level table land. In this respect it somewhat resem¬ 
 bles the “ pike,” at Rivington, except that the latter is not cut away from 
 the main hill, by either artificial fosse or natural indentation. 
 
 The shaded portion of fig. 4, plate VI, represents a profile of the principal 
 excavations. Fig. 5 is a horizontal or ground plan of the same. The 
 lesser cuttings it is unnecessary to describe. At B and C, the remains 
 were about twelve feet from the surface. At A the distance was about 
 
) 
 
 PLATE 
 
 6 
 
 FIG I 
 
 ORE FOURTH SIZE 
 
 E 
 
 FULL SIZE 
 
NOKMAN CONQUEST TO JAMES I. 
 
 105 
 
 five feet. The pavement on which they rested continued nearly level 
 from A to B ; hut from B to C it inclined upwards a little, and was some¬ 
 what disturbed and intermixed with clay and the superincumbent 
 debris. This portion of the pavement was about a foot higher than 
 that from A to B. As a fragment of an upright post was found at B, 
 the more elevated part may have been the flooring of an inner chamber, 
 or perhaps a kind of raised platform or dais. A shaft was sunk 
 in the shallow trench at D, to the level of the pavement. The result 
 arrived at was, that it would be unnecessary to excavate further in that 
 direction. A beam of timber and other remains were, however, found at 
 the bottom of this cutting. The distance from A to D is about sixteen or 
 seventeen yards. The excavation, on the lower level at the widest part, 
 was about four yards in breadth. A transverse section was not made, 
 consequently the extent of the pavement from east to west has not been 
 ascertained. It is probably not more than twenty nor less than sixteen yards. 
 In the thickest portion, including the boulders, the stratum of remains 
 measured two feet six inches in depth (H). It was covered by a layer of 
 quicksand, which was separated from the earth above, by an irregular thin 
 lamina of darker matter. Over this was a layer of common red sand; then 
 a stratum of clay, covered by a thin black lamina of vegetable mould (G.) 
 This was about five feet above the surface of the lower remains. This 
 lamina appeared to continue in nearly a horizontal line through the centre 
 of the mound. In the deep cutting it was about seven feet from the surface, 
 but at G not more than two feet. Here the excavators cut through a 
 pavement about two yards in breadth (G). Above the upper “ old sur¬ 
 face,” as it was termed, the soil was composed of sand, clay, and vegetable 
 mould, and was not regularly stratified like that beneath it; though it 
 presented no positive indications of having been heaped upon the hill by 
 the action of spade and barrow. This peculiarity in the soil caused much 
 discussion; the position of the remains necessitating that the superincum¬ 
 bent earth, must have been placed over them by some process or other. 
 The notion that a cave had been originally scooped out of the hill, and 
 afterwards destroyed by the falling of the upper earth, met with some 
 favour for a short time; but this conjecture is directly opposed to many 
 of the facts. It is infinitely more probable that the mound has been 
 raised at different times, and that the regular stratification is the result 
 of a particular kind of earth having, at each period, been carried up in 
 baskets or panniers. This theory is not, however, without its difficulties 
 as will be presently shown. 
 
 The remains, themselves, consist, in the first place, of the relics of a 
 human habitation, covering a superficial area of perhaps not less than two 
 
106 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 hundred and fifty yards. This habitation has been paved -with a regular 
 layer of boulders, and afterwards strewed with flags, weeds, and other 
 vegetable matter. Several beams of timber lay upon this mass. The 
 whole was covered with what appeared to have formed a roof, constructed 
 of “wattles and thatch.” A section of this mass, which, from being 
 blackened by decomposition, and pressed by the earth above, resembled the 
 contents of a peat-bog, is represented by fig. 3, plate VI. The hazel bark 
 of the “watling” was, in many places, in excellent preservation. The 
 twigs were generally placed parallel to each other, with an under layer at 
 right angles, and a stronger branch occasionally interlacing, to render the 
 mass compact. In some cases the vegetation was well preserved. Stems, 
 leaves, and seeds, of the common dock were interspersed among the mass, 
 as well as many blackened hazel nuts. This vegetable compost contained 
 a large quantity of bones. They were generally broken, and pertained 
 principally to the wild boar, deer, ox, and some smaller animals. Jaw-bones 
 of the boar were rather numerous, and some loose tusks were picked up. 
 They appear’ to be the refuse of the dinner table, thrown upon the floor, 
 and afterwards covered with successive layers of the vegetable substitute 
 for a carpet. This filthy practice remained not uncommon till a much 
 later period of English history than most people imagine. 11 
 
 One large oaken beam is broken at the thinner end, where it shows the 
 remains of a circular perforation. A precisely similar beam was discovered 
 upright, on the spot marked B, on figs. 4 and 5, plate VI. The thicker 
 
 k “ Domestic cleanliness, in the reign of Queen Mary, was by no means an English characteristic. 
 When a room was out of order, the floor was neither swept nor washed, but received a fresh strewing 
 of green rushes; just like the littering of a farm yard, when it is newly spread with straw, for the 
 accommodation of the cows or pigs, and the old surface remains a festering mass beneath. Thus, 
 layer of rushes accumulated over layer, covering up bones, fragments from the wasteful dining 
 table, and other abominations. On occasion of dancing, all this litter was disturbed by a circle 
 being swept in the midst of the hall; the stone floor was thus clear of incumbrances, while the extra 
 littering was heaped up all round. This custom explains an expression used by Shakspere, and the 
 early dramatists and chroniclers, of ‘ A hall! a hall! ’ when persons wished to dance. Such was 
 the call by which domestics understood they were to sweep the dancing ring in the hall. How nox¬ 
 ious the vapours of the newly disturbed compost must have been to persons, warm with dancing, 
 may be supposed. * * * The nobles were not a whit cleaner than the country gentry ; but as 
 
 they usually were possessed of several seats, they indulged in the luxury of removing from one to 
 another when the insects, cherished by their dirty customs, became inconvenient. These progresses 
 they elegantly termed ‘ going to sweeten.’ ”—Agnes Strickland’s Queens of England, vol. 5, p. 424. 
 
 Erasmus, speaking of the floors of the English houses, says, “ they are usually made of clay, 
 covered with rushes that grow in fens ; these are so little disturbed, that the lower mass sometimes 
 remains for twenty years together, and in it a collection of filth of every kind. Hence, upon a 
 change of weather, a vapour is exhaled, most pernicious to the human body.” — Letter to 
 Dr. Francis. 
 
 According to Holinshead, the Spanish ambassadors, who came over with Philip, remarked that 
 the English lived “in houses made of dirt and sticks, but they fared therein as well as their 
 monarch.” With such atrociously filthy habits, it ceases to be a matter of surprise that the popula¬ 
 tion of the country was periodically decimated by fevers and plagues. 
 
NORMAN CONQUEST TO JAMES I. 
 
 107 
 
 end was embedded in the earth, amongst the pavement, and was in good 
 preservation. It was about five feet in height. The upper portion was much 
 decayed, and had evidently been broken. The first mentioned log is about 
 two and a half yards long, nearly eighteen inches broad, and four inches 
 thick, at the stronger end. It appears to have been riven from the solid 
 tree, and afterwards squared a little with an axe. Remains of other 
 beams of this character were likewise found. A somewhat different beam 
 is “squared” on three sides, but the round surface of the original tree 
 appears on the fourth. Two circular holes perforate this log. They are 
 only about an inch and a half in diameter, and an inch and a quarter 
 deep, and appear to be “peg-holes.” This fragment is about four feet 
 long. Others were found resembling it. Another, about eight feet in 
 length, shows the marks of the axe, (which must have been small, and 
 not unlike the form of the bronze celt, in plate I,) used in felling the tree, 
 which still retained the whole of the bark. This tree had been used as a 
 stake. Its thickest end was about six inches in diameter. Fig. 1, plate 
 VI, exhibits the form of one half of an oaken canoe paddle, found in a 
 lesser cutting, outside the house, at a depth of six or seven feet, but on 
 a level with the lower pavement. Fig. 2 is a singular wooden loop, 
 formed from a hazel twig. A wooden peg or two, and many other pieces 
 of timber were taken out of the excavation, which presented no additional 
 peculiarities. A portion of the horn of a deer, split up the centre, and 
 bearing marks of a sharp instrument, was likewise found, together with 
 a large fragment of a madrepore, or coralline, said to be sometimes picked 
 up on the coast. A small mussel shell or two were likewise taken from 
 the mass of decaying vegetation. 
 
 Several iron articles were found beneath the bones and vegetable matter. 
 These, after exposure to the atmosphere, assumed a beautiful blue colour, 
 not unlike cobalt. The old surface soil, in which the boulders were laid, 
 was impregnated with matter of a similar character. This soil, on being first 
 disturbed, was of a pale grey colour, penneated with small white spots. 
 The spots turned to a rich blue after a few hours’ exposure to the atmos¬ 
 phere. This stratum, which is only about six inches in tliickness, covers 
 the hard solid clay. Mr. Trenham Reeks, of the Museum of Practical 
 Geology, Jermyn-street, London, immediately stated, that the remains had 
 been found amongst bones, and that the blue matter, termed “vivianite,” 
 was produced by the contact of phosphate of lime with the surface of the 
 iron. Mr. Franks, of the British museum, informed the author, that iron 
 remains are often well preserved amongst decayed vegetation, and exhibit 
 a blue colour. Both causes may have operated in the present instance. 
 
 The metal articles are represented on plate VII. There is some ditficulty 
 
108 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 in determining to what period a portion of them belong. Fig. 1 has been 
 pronounced to he a Roman padlock key, similar in character to 
 some found lately at Chester-ford, in Essex, and described by the Hon. 
 R. C. Neville, in a paper inserted in the “Archaeological Journal,” of 
 March, 1856. It is of iron. Fig. 2 resembles much a similar article 
 found at Settle, in Yorkshire, and figured iu Mr. Roach Smith’s “ Collec¬ 
 tanea Antiqua.” This is considered to be Roman. Three nails were found, 
 very peculiar in form. Two of them are represented by figs. 4 and 
 5. Fig. 5 resembles some found in the Roman station at "Walton. 1 
 The only bronze article is fig. 7. Figs. 3 and 6 are lead. The first is 
 evidently a rude head. A fragment of another larger perforated head, formed 
 of bone, was likewise picked up. These remains may he reconciled with 
 the Saxon occupation of a Roman out-post. But the presence of the beauti¬ 
 ful Norman, or late Saxon spur, fig. 8, is not quite so easily understood.'" 
 It was certainly thrown from the lowest stratum of remains, and was 
 picked up and partially cleaned in the presence of the author, who imme¬ 
 diately sketched it. As it was not observed, however, until thrown to the 
 surface, a possibility remained that it might have fallen from the level of 
 the black line G, plate YI, five feet higher, in which the other boulder 
 pavement was found. The presence of the mysterious blue colour upon it, 
 after exposure, however, militates seriously against this conjecture. 
 Several large pieces of leather were likewise taken from the bottom of the 
 excavation. They have formed portions of sandals or some other covering 
 for the feet, as is attested by the forms of several pieces which resemble 
 the sole of the foot. The leather is very thin, and is regularly punctured 
 on the edge with holes, through which the threads have passed by which the 
 “welt” was attached. One of these “welts” still partially adhered when 
 discovered. As the form of the upper portion of these shoes or sandals is 
 not discernible amongst the fragments, it is difficult to decide with 
 certainty to what period they belong. 
 
 Many absurd speculations have been advanced, and some ingenious 
 theories propounded, as to the probable history of this mound. None, 
 however, are entirely satisfactory. Some parties contend that, as the 
 Domesday book simply records that a castle existed at the period of the 
 sufvey, the structure alluded to might have been erected by Roger de 
 Poictou, during the period which elapsed from the conquest to the compi¬ 
 lation of the record. The simple fact that the subterranean edifice possessed 
 a “wattle and thatch ” roof, as well as the form of the hill, and its strati- 
 
 1 See fig. 5, plate III. 
 
 m Mr. Roach Smith and others, describe this spur as Norman. It is of a much more elegant form 
 than any exhibited in the British Museum. 
 
PLATE 7 
 
 
 if I ROM 
 
 Jr 
 
 I ROf( 
 
 LE * D 
 
 BRONZE 
 
 TIG 6 
 
 LEA 0 
 
 METAL ARTICLES FOUND IN THE’CASTLE HI Llf 
 PENWORTHAM. 
 
 FIG 7 
 
XOIOTAX CONQUEST TO JAMES I. 
 
 109 
 
 flcation, negatives tlic notion which was, for a time, rather popular, that the 
 habitation had been scooped out of the hill and entered at its side. The 
 remains likewise do not belong to a people who lived in caves. Mr. 
 Robson, after some consideration, concluded that the building was Saxon, 
 and that “ it had been in its turn the royal residence.” This, of course, 
 only applies to the petty chief of the neighbourhood. It was the property 
 of the Saxon king of England at the time of Edward the Confessor, and 
 might he occasionally occupied by his representative; or, it may have 
 belonged to some of the independent or tributary chiefs, who ruled the land 
 before the complete annexation of the neighbouring territory by the 
 Northumbrian monarchs. The large level space on the top of the first 
 hill, may have been enclosed by a wooden stockade; hence, perhaps, 
 the term “castle,” of the Norman “ Dom-boc.” 
 
 If there ever existed any more important building near Castle-hill, the 
 probability is, as no remains of stone foundations were discovered, that it 
 stood on the site of the present church, and that the mound in question 
 was merely used as a “keep,” or out-work. From the Norman spur being 
 found amongst the remains, it is possible that, on the building of the first 
 church, the citadel may have been destroyed, and the mound raised to the 
 level of the dark lamina, upon which was found the first or upper pave¬ 
 ment. (G.) This may have been used as a beacon or look-out, in some of the 
 early civil wars, and the second addition may have taken place at a later 
 period. Against this assumption, however, there are many objections. The 
 neighbouring tower of the church, if any, would have answered the pur¬ 
 pose much better; and hence the difficulty in accounting for the expendi¬ 
 ture of so much labour, for so inadequate a purpose. The first church, 
 however, may, perhaps, have been without a tower. The present steeple 
 was most probably, not erected earlier than the reign of Henry YU. 
 The early history of the locality seems less obscure. If, as was previously pro¬ 
 bable, the Romans had a specula on the mound, it is not surprising that some 
 remains of their period should be found amongst those of their successors. 
 In the graves of the Saxon pagan kings, this incident is of frequent 
 occurrence. Mr. Roach Smith says, in his report on the excavations on 
 the site of the Roman castrum at Lymne: “A penny of Ead«er, 
 found at the depth of two feet, and also some iron prick spurs, surest 
 that the castrum may have been partially tenanted for some centuries after 
 the Romans had abandoned it.” The character of the habitation appears to 
 agree well with the sort of residence occupied by an early Saxon chieftain. 
 Bede, in his relation of the particulars of a miracle performed by a portion 
 of the earth upon which the pious king Oswald died, describes the roof 
 of a Saxon residence as made of “wattles and thatch.” Tlxis is satisfactory 
 
110 
 
 TEESTON AND ITS ENVIBONS. 
 
 enough. But by whom, and for what purpose, the superincumbent earth 
 has been placed above the remains, is still enveloped in mystery. The 
 subject will doubtless continue for some time an interesting theme for 
 vulgar gossip, as well as antiquarian conjecture. 
 
 Perhaps the spur, which creates the greatest difficulty, may, after all, 
 he of Roman construction. This is by no means improbable. The opinion 
 of an eminent modern archaeologist will countenance the supposition. Mr. 
 Thomas Wright says :— 
 
 “ Amongst the extensive Roman remains found in the camp at Hod Hill, already 
 alluded to, were found several spurs of iron, which resemble so closely the Norman 
 prick-spurs, that they might be easily mistaken for them. I suspect that many of the 
 prick-spurs which have been found on or near Roman sites, and hastily judged to be 
 Norman, are, especially when made of bronze, Roman. As far, however, as comparison 
 has yet been made, the Roman and the Saxon spurs are shorter in the stimulus than 
 those of the Normans.” n 
 
 The spur found at Penwortham differs in some respects from any of the 
 Norman specimens deposited in the British museum. It is much lighter 
 and more elegant in form. The stimulus is not long, for spurs of this class. 
 It is evidently the production of a refined and skilful people. It was 
 unquestionably deposited amongst the soil in which the lower pavement 
 was embedded, as portions still adhered to it at the time of its discovery. 
 Mr. Wright likewise says that the Roman sandals found in England are 
 of leather, of various sizes, and the soles are cut as in our modem right 
 and left shoes.” 0 Several of the pieces of leather exhumed at Penwortham 
 are formed precisely in this manner, and they, in other respects, accord with 
 the Homan character. From these facts, in conjunction with the evidence 
 of the remains previously described, it seems probable that the wooden 
 building may have been the structure occupied by the Romano-Britisli 
 soldiers, when the mound was used as a specula, or outpost, in connection 
 with the station at "Walton. It is infinitely more in accordance with the 
 practice of the Saxon people, to suppose that the higher mound, or 
 “earthen keep,” was thrown up by them, when they erected their own 
 stronghold. This appears to have been effected at two distinct periods. 
 The Saxons preferred their keep near or upon the walls of their fortresses. 
 The Normans, on the contrary, generally erected theirs considerably within 
 the external walls. One authority says :—“ The Saxons most probably 
 adapted the Roman enclosures to their mode of defence, and it appears that 
 they often raised a mound on one side of the walls, on which they erected a 
 keep or citadel. p In Grose’s Antiquities, a restoration of Dunnington 
 Castle is given, on which is shown a “ Saxon mount.” Neither the period 
 
 n The Celt, the Eoraan, and the Saxon, p. 348. 
 p Ten. Cyclop.; art, Castle. 
 
 o Ibid—p. 331. 
 
NORMAN CONQUEST TO JAMES I. 
 
 Ill 
 
 when the Norman possessors destroyed the structure existing at the time 
 of the Domesday survey, nor what amount of additional works they erected 
 can now be ascertained. The castle most probably shared the fate of many 
 others during the reign of Henry II. When that prince was duke of 
 Normandy, it was stipulated in a treaty between him and king Stephen, in 
 consequence of the licentious behaviour of some of the garrisons, that all 
 castles built within a certain period should be demolished. Several were 
 accordingly razed; and, on Henry’s accession, many others were destroyed. 
 A special license from the king was afterwards necessary to justify the 
 erection of any such stronghold. q Had the castle at Penwortham existed 
 much longer than this period, some further record of it must have 
 transpired. 
 
 It is by no means improbable that the mound may have been used in 
 Saxon and even Norman times, as a “Mote Hill,” where the people assem¬ 
 bled periodically, for judicial and other proceedings. The neighbouring 
 promontory, on the west, still retains the name of “Hangsman’s Hillock.” 
 Castle-hill and its contents hear some resemblance to the “Mote-hill,” at 
 Warrington, and the remains found therein. “Constable-hillock,” on the 
 hanks of the Wyre, in Garstang parish, was used as late as the year 1816, 
 for such pui’poses. In reference to the friborg, or constablewick, of Gar¬ 
 stang, which consisted of eleven neighbouring townships, Mr. E. Baines 
 says:— 
 
 “ The adjournment of the court to the hillock is obviously the remnant of a custom far 
 more ancient than the institution of the friborg itself. Public courts in the open air 
 may at first have been caused by necessity, and, as Joh. Schildius conceives, continued 
 from motives of religion, under the impression that the proceedings of open courts were 
 immediately subject to the inspection of the Deity. * * * Dr. Hiekes preserves the 
 
 record of the proceedings of a shire mote, in a trial respecting lands, in the reign of 
 Canute, which sat at Aigolnoth’s stone, in Herefordshire. The memory of this custom 
 is still retained in the names of several places; the wapentake of Seireke, in the West 
 Riding of Yorkshire, is denominated from the oak under which the courts of that divi¬ 
 sion were held. A German charter, so lately as the year 1248, is dated near the castle 
 Haghen, by the oak commonly called Staleke. Where oaks were absent, other conspi¬ 
 cuous natural objects were chosen to mark the place of meeting; the hundred of Apple- 
 tree, in Derbyshire, took its name from some trees of that kind, the rendezvous of the 
 wapentake; and in the wapentake of Barkstone Ash, in Yorkshire, which was occasioned 
 by the courts held there, * * both stone and tree are obvious. A hillock was the 
 
 natural substitute for the stone, and Spelman mentions eminences of ground, which, from 
 the use made of them on these occasions, were called Parle Hills. It is not improbable, 
 that the origin of the custom of choosing the constables of the Garstang friborg, by 
 inscribing their names upon pieces of wood, is referable to the holy oak of a remote 
 period.” r 
 
 Mr. Baines mentions an “elevation” in the township of Carnforth, 
 called “Moothaw,” on which the “ancient Saxon courts were held.” 8 
 
 q Preface to Grose’s Antiquities of England and Wales, 
 r Ilis. Lan., vol. 4, p. 456. s Ilis. Lan., vol. 4, p. 584. 
 
112 
 
 PRESTON AX’D ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Parlick Fell, near Chipping, is generally supposed to have received its 
 name from the circumstance alluded to by Spelman. Penwortham is 
 written in the Horman Domesday hook, Peneverdant. This, most pro¬ 
 bably, has originated from the green hill, where the manor or other court 
 was held. The formation of the ground is admirably adapted for such a 
 purpose. 
 
 King Stephen, having hastily concluded a peace with the Welsh, 
 advanced with his army to Carlisle, to oppose an invasion in favour of the 
 claims of the empress Matilda, to the tin-one of England. It is, therefore, 
 almost certain, that on this expedition he passed through Preston. In the 
 reign of Stephen, Kanulf, fourth earl of Chester, possessed the lands 
 between the Mersey and the Kibble. In the reign of Hemy III., Kanulf 
 de Blundeville, his grandson, received from the king a confirmation of his 
 previous title to these lands, and was appointed, subject to the crown, 
 chief lord of the whole county of Lancaster, with all its “forests, hays, 
 homages, and other appurtenances.” As this earl died without issue, his 
 estate was divided amongst his four sisters and co-heiresses. His third 
 sister married William, earl of Ferrers, sixth in descent from Kobert de 
 Ferrers, first earl of Derby. This lady’s dower, amongst other possessions, 
 consisted of the “manor of West Derby, and all earl Kanulf’s lands 
 between the Kibble and the Mersey.” The yearly acknowledgment to the 
 king, “ as had been usual for lands lying between the rivers Kibble and 
 Mersey,” consisted of a “ goshawk, or fifty shillings.” The earl paid, 
 likewise, fifty pounds for the relief of his wife’s inheritance, and one hun¬ 
 dred pounds, as a fine, for the misdemeanors of his bailiffs. He was 
 appointed, in the eighth year of this reign, governor of the castle and 
 honor of Lancaster. William, his son and heir, succeeded to the privileges 
 of his father; but his grandson, Kobert, earl of Derby, was deprived of 
 his estates and title from his complicity with Simon de Montfort. When 
 Edmund Crouchback, youngest son of Henry III., was created earl of 
 Lancaster, these possessions were united to the honor of Lancaster. 
 
 Mr. E. Baines says:— 
 
 “ The most ancient record after Domesday, is the ‘ Black Book of the Exchequer,’ in 
 which are contained the tenants and fees both ‘ de veteri feoffamento,’ i. e. held in the 
 reurn of Henry I., or before; and ‘ de novo feoffamento,’ in that of Henry II., or 
 Stephen. From this document, it appears that Theobald Walter held Amoundernesse 
 by the sendee of one knight, whence it results that the charter of 5 Richard I, is 
 rather to be considered as a confirmation of a former grant than an original donation. 
 Gilbert Filius Rembr (Gilbert Fitz-Reinfrid), baron of Kendal, in the same record is 
 stated to hold four carueates of land in Preston, and two in Bertune, besides other lands 
 in the hundred but not in the parish of Preston. * * * t 
 
 “ In 5 Richard I., the king, to reward the services of Theobald Walter, granted to 
 
 t His. Lan., vol. 4, p. 297. 
 
K OEM AN CONQUEST TO JAMES I. 
 
 113 
 
 him the confirmation of the fee of the lordship of Preston, which, after the defection of 
 Roger Poictou, he had received from the crown. In the sixth year of the same reign, 
 Theobald was made sheriff of the county of Lancaster, and retained that office till the 
 first year of the reign of king John. This baron contributed largely towards the redemp¬ 
 tion of king Richard I. His son, Theobald, married Maud, sister of Thomas a Becket, 
 the canonized archbishop of Canterbury, and he assumed the official surname, upon 
 receiving the appointment of Butler of Ireland, which office was abolished a.d. 1811, on 
 payment of £216,000 to Walter, marquis of Ormonde, out of the public treasury, u 
 
 “Like many other distinguished men of his time, he” (Theobald Walter) “was a 
 munificent founder of religious houses; and the great abbey of Arklow and Wolheny, 
 and the priory or hospital of St. John the Baptist, at Nenagh, in Ireland, were indebted 
 to him for their primary establishment. He likewise founded the abbey of Cockersand, 
 to which he granted the whole hay of Pylin, in Amoundemess, and he was also a liberal 
 benefactor to the abbey of Furness.”'’ 
 
 Richard I. conferred the earldom and honour of Lancaster upon his 
 brother, the earl of Morton, afterwards king John. 
 
 There is some difficulty in determining the date of the ancient document 
 known as the “ Custumale of Preston,” owing to its present imperfect con¬ 
 dition. This deed recites “the liberties of Preston in Amundrenesse,” and 
 confers upon the burgesses a “ Guild Merchant, -with Hanse and other 
 customs belonging to such guild.” It appears pretty certain, however, to 
 have been granted either in the reign of Henry I., or that of Henry II. W 
 
 Another charter was granted by Henry II., which conferred upon the 
 inhabitants similar privileges, liberties, and free customs, as were then 
 enjoyed by the burgesses of Hewcastle-upon-Tyne. 
 
 Iving John confirmed these grants, and further accorded the privileges 
 of “ the whole toll of the wapentake hundred of Amoundemess, and a free 
 fail - at Preston, at the Assumption of St. Mary, to last for eight days,” 
 together with “the right of pasturage in the forest which is called Fille 
 Wode, and out of the forest itself so much ” (wood) “ as they shall want, 
 towards building their town.” 1 
 
 Henry Pitz-Warren de Lancaster obtained from king John, a confir¬ 
 mation of his right to the “rents of Preston.” y In the fourth year of this 
 king’s reign, letters patent of presentation to the church of Preston, 
 directed to the archidiaconal officials of Richmond, were delivered to 
 master Peter Russiniol. 2 On the death of this ecclesiastic, Henry III. 
 presented the living to Henry, nephew to the bishop of Winchester.* 
 
 The priory of Lancaster, an appurtenance to the abhey of Sens, in Hor- 
 mandy, possessed the fishery and tithes of Preston. The abbot and Theo¬ 
 bald Walter, in the reign of Richard I., disputed each other’s pretensions 
 
 u His. Lan., vol. 4, p. 301. v His. Lan., vol. 4, p. 289. 
 
 w See Municipal History; chap. VI. of the present work, 
 x Eot. Chart. y Kot. Chart. * Rot. Lit. Pat. 
 
 a Testa de Neville, fo. 371, 401. 
 
 I 
 
114 
 
 rEESTON AND ITS ENTIEONS. 
 
 to the advowson of the churches of Preston and Poulton. The contest 
 terminated by a “ quit claim” from the feudal patron of his right in the 
 advowson of Poulton, including the church at Bispham, and all chapels 
 appertaining thereto. The document stipulates that whoever should be 
 presented to the same church by him or his heirs, should pay to the abbot 
 and the prior of Lancaster, every year, ten marks of silver. b 
 
 The aforesaid Theobald Walter seems to have been more successful in 
 a plaint preferred by him against the tree burgesses of Preston, in the 
 reign of king John, “ concerning gibbet and goal in Preston; ” inasmuch 
 as it appears the burgesses were fined in ten marks and a palfrey, “to have 
 peace ” touching the said plaint. c 
 
 At this period, it was customary for persons of the highest rank to 
 breakfast at five o’clock in the morning, and dine at about half-past ten. 
 Independently of his other evil practices and irregular habits, John excited 
 the contempt of his hardy barons, by slumbering till mid-day. d John 
 frequently resided at Lancaster, previously to his accession to the throne; 
 and, according to Dr. Whitaker, appears to have been “a favourite in this 
 part of the country, and a benefactor.” There exists no direct evidence to 
 show that John ever visited Preston, but the circumstance is highly 
 probable. Indeed, unless he travelled by sea, he could scarcely avoid passing 
 through the town, on his road from Chester to Lancaster. Henry III. con¬ 
 firmed to the burgesses of Preston, the right of pasturage on Fulwood 
 Moor, which they held under the charter of John. From another charter, 
 granted in the thirty-seventh year of Henry’s reign, it would appear the 
 inhabitants of Preston had encroached upon the lands and privileges of the 
 crown, in the forest and enclosure of Fulwood. This charter, however, 
 granted to the burgesses the right, in future, to the lands alluded to, 
 consisting of about three hundred and twenty-four acres, afterwards 
 denominated Preston Moor. 
 
 In the fourth year of the reign of Henry III., Walter de Preston, a 
 member of the ancient family of that name, was slain by Robert de Hyltun 
 and Brunus de Salford. The conflict is supposed to have arisen from one 
 of the numerous family feuds, which so strongly characterize the earlier por¬ 
 tion of the history of many states. A writ from the king was addressed to the 
 sheriff directing “that if Robert de Hyltun and Brunus de Salford, taken and 
 detained in the prison of Lancaster, shall find him twenty-four good and 
 lawful men of the county, who will engage to have them before the 
 justices itinerant to answer Henry de Preston, Uctred and Robert, brothers 
 
 b Registr. S. Maria; de Lane., fo. 77. 
 d Matthew Paris and Hovenden. 
 
 c Magn. Rot., 3 John. 
 
NORMAN CONQUEST TO JAMES I. 
 
 115 
 
 of Henry and of Quenilda de Preston, for the * aforesaid Walter,’ brothers 
 of Henry, Uctred, and Eohert, and husband of Quenilda, whereof they 
 appeal to them, then he, the sheriff, shall deliver them to the twenty- 
 four, until the arrival of the justices.” e In reference to this quarrel, Mr. 
 Baines observes that “Robert de Hylton, or Hulton, as the name became 
 subsequently written, was, at this period, steward between the Bibble and 
 Mersey, for William Ferrers, earl of Derby; and, as he was deputy sheriff 
 of the county for the same nobleman, iu 1225, it may be presumed that 
 the preceding charge was satisfactorily answered.” 
 
 An order from king Henry III. was issued, in the seventh year of his 
 reign, commanding Roger Gernet to permit the vassals of the nephew of 
 the bishop of Winchester, “parson of the church of Preston, to have 
 reasonable estovers in the hay of Preston, to repair their houses and 
 enclosures, and to have the other necessaries which the desmeno vassals of 
 crown were accustomed to have in the time King John, during the wars 
 between him and his barons.” f 
 
 Preston formerly possessed two institutions of the monastic class. 
 Edmund, earl of Lancaster, son of Henry III., founded a Franciscan 
 convent of Grey Friars, in 1221. s It was situated a little to the west of 
 Friargate. Leland, in his quaint manner, thus describes this religious 
 institution in the reign of Henry VIII.:— 
 
 “The Grey Freres College in the north west side of the Towne of Preston, in Amun- 
 dreness, was sett in the soile of a gentleman caullid Prestun, and a Brother or Sunne of 
 his confirmed the first graunt of the site of the House, and one of these two was after a 
 great man of possessions, and Viscount of Gurmaston, as I hard say in Ireland. Diverse 
 of the Prestons were buried yn this House. But the original and great builder of this 
 House was Edmund erle of Lancastre sunne to Henry the thyrde. Sir Robert Holand, 
 that accusid Thomas erle of Lancastre of treason, was a great benefactor of this House, 
 and ther was buried. This Holand, as I hard, was founder of the Priory of Holand, a 
 place of Blake Munkes, by Latham, in Lancastresliire. Ther lay in the Grey Freres at 
 Prestun, divers of the Shirburns and Daltuns, gentilmen.” 
 
 The site of the “friary” was granted to Thomas Holcroft, on the 
 dissolution of the monasteries, in the reign of Henry VIII. h Speaking of 
 the remains of the edifice in 1836, Mr. E. Baines, says :— 
 
 “The friary, in its original state, was a small square collegiate building, with a 
 chapel attached to its quadrangular cloisters. By the mutations of time, it became 
 first a residence of the Breres, of Haunnerton, in Bowland, of which Oliver 
 Breres, recorder, and one of the council named in the charter of Elizabeth, was a 
 member; and next a house of correction, to which use it continued to he applied 
 till the prison at the bottom of Church-street was erected, in 1790. It is now divided 
 into habitations for cottages; hut the shell of the chapel, as well as some remains of three 
 arched windows, pointed, may still be traced. At a short distance from this ruin there 
 was formerly a well, called ‘ Lady Well,’ frequented within living memory by the 
 devout.” i 
 
 c Rot. Lit. Claus. 4 Henry III. f Rot. Lit. Claus. 7 Hen. III. 
 h Notitia Mon. i His. Lan., vol. 4, p. 305. 
 
 g Notitia Monastics. 
 
116 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Since 1836, these interesting relics of the past have undergone still 
 further mutation. Friary, house of correction, factory, barrack, and 
 cottages, have all passed away. A small portion of the outer wall of the 
 “ old friary ” aloue remains. The whole of the site has been added to the 
 large iron-foundry establishment of Mr. Stevenson. The once rural neigh¬ 
 bourhood of “ Mount Pleasant,” and the “ Lady Well,” has long ago been 
 stripped of its verdant vestment, and covered with buildings; but a small 
 street still perpetuates the name of the locality, and another that of the 
 spring. j Mr. Whittle says:— 
 
 “ During the cutting of the canal in this town, a stone was found adjacent to this 
 convent, with the following figures cut thereon, ‘ 1068,’ as well as several skulls, and 
 other human bones; together with a leaden conduit, branching from the lady-w 7 ell to 
 the convent, which supplied the house with water. This well stood nearly opposite the 
 house called Mount Pleasant, occupied by Mr. Richard Riley. This stone with the 
 above date cannot have belonged to the Grey Friars foundation, because this edifice was 
 built in Henry the third’s reign, or the ides of March, a.d. 1221. The datum of 1068, 
 is during the reign of William the Norman.” h 
 
 Mr. Whittle further records that:— 
 
 “ In July, 1821, a curious silver coin or medal was found near the Franciscan Priory, 
 by a boy of the name of Simpson. It bears the date of 1377 temp. Richard 2nd. Its 
 dimensions was half an inch in diameter, remarkably thin, and in a good state of pre¬ 
 servation. On one side is the representation of Christ standing on a pedestal, with a small 
 cross in his sinister hand. On the pedestal occurred the words ‘ Jesu Xti,’ S.M., meaning 
 Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the World.—The inscription running round the circle is 
 ‘ Laus tibi soli.’—Praise be to thee alone. The figures on the reverse were a bishop 
 kneeling, receiving the standard of authority from the Apostle Peter, the words ‘ Petrus 
 Cephas,’ occur in small letters—and round the margin ‘ Le lau : dux. s. m. v.’ ” 1 
 
 “ In 1823, the remains of a number of coffins and human bones, were thrown up on 
 digging near the old Friarage, and also a large stone, octagon in shape, which must 
 have been the base of a column belonging to the convent of the Friars minors 
 of this town.” m 
 
 Stephens says “Preston Convent was in the custody of Worcester, which 
 wardenship had nine convents under its care.” The mastership was in the 
 gift of the king. An impression of the seal used by the Grey Friars of 
 Preston is preserved in the Augmentation office.” Dr. Whitaker, in his 
 History of Richmondshire, gives an engraved fac-simile of a blank form of 
 ecclesiastical absolution, as well as of a grant to Lawrence Horobys, Mar¬ 
 gery his wife, and their children, by Brother James, warden of the 
 brethren of Preston, “of liberty to choose a confessor, who may absolve 
 each of them once in the year.” 
 
 The other monastic institution was an ancient hospital dedicated to St. 
 Mary Magdalen. This establishment is mentioned in the Lincoln taxation 
 
 j “ Mount Pleasant,” and Ladywell-street.” The “ Jolly Tars ” public house is said to occupy the 
 site of the spring. 
 
 k His. of Preston, vol. 1, p. 15. 
 
 m His. Preston, vol. 2, p. 114. 
 
 1 His. Pre6ton, vol. 2, p. 65. 
 n Dugdale’s Mon. Anglic. 
 
NORMAN CONQUEST TO JAMES I. 
 
 117 
 
 of 1291. Mr. E. Baines says, the “edifice stood in the Maudlands, on the 
 eminence now occupied by Tulketh Hall, in Ashton-upon-Hibble, and was 
 used as a temporary residence for the Cistercian monks, while their mag¬ 
 nificent abbey in Furness was building.” 0 
 
 The latter portion of the sentence is, doubtless, correct; but there exists 
 considerable confusion in Mr. Baines’s statements, with reference to the 
 precise sites of the hospital, and the temporary residence of the Cistercian 
 monks. They must have been not one, but two distinct establishments, 
 situated about a quarter of a mile from each other. The estate denomina¬ 
 ted “The Maudlands ” is in the township of Preston, and does not include 
 the site of Tulketh Hall. It is separated from the latter by a deep valley, 
 through which flows the “Moor Brook,” forming, here, the boundary 
 between the townships of Preston and Ashton-upon-Ilihble. After des¬ 
 cribing a “ square area, formed by a ditch, and considerably elevated in the 
 centre, upon the high ground between Preston and Spaio Brow, and a little 
 to the east of Tulketh Hall," Mr. Baines adds, “ In latter times it was the 
 site of a church, dedicated to St. Mary Magdalen, and hence probably 
 called the Maudlands. Seven or eight small pieces of silver were dug up 
 near this mound, some years ago, which appeared to have been suspended 
 and worn, as each of them was perforated.” p 
 
 In the year 1836, five skeletons and several other human bones were 
 dug up by workmen engaged in the formation of new streets on the 
 Maudland estate, on which stood the “perfectly square area” mentioned 
 by Mr. Baines, and which he conjectured to have been originally a Homan 
 out-post. Many other remains of the hospital have likewise been dug up 
 on the Maudlands. A large and handsome Roman Catholic church, 
 dedicated to St. Walburge, now occupies the site of the ancient foundation. 
 During its erection, a stone coffin and some skeletons were exhumed. On 
 the cutting of the Lancaster railway, similar discoveries were made. 
 
 Mr. Baines has evidently confounded the picturesque eminence, upon 
 which Tulketh Hall is built, with the neighbouring elevation. The 
 “ perfectly square area” has been since removed, and its pretensions to 
 great antiquity dissipated. The whole blunder appears to have arisen 
 from a misapprehension of the following passage, published in 1774, by 
 Thomas West, in his “Antiquities of Furness”:— 
 
 “ The monks placed in this monastery” (Furness Abbey) “ were an affiliation from the 
 monastery of Savigny, in Normandy, which had been founded about fifteen years before 
 that of Furness, and fourteen years after the establishment of the Cistercian order. 
 They came into England under the direction of Evanus, or Ewanus, and seated them¬ 
 selves at Tulket, near Preston, in Amounderness, and chose him to be then - first abbot. On 
 a rising ground, at a small distance to the south-west of Tulketh Hall, some ruins, 
 
 o His. L;in., vol. 4, p. 304. 
 
 p His. Lan., vol. 4, p. 29G. 
 
118 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 and part of the fosse which surrounded the principal buildings, are still visible. There 
 are, however, good reasons to believe that this fosse or moat is of higher antiquity than 
 either the arrival of Evanus and his monks or the Norman Conquest. Tulket is situated 
 at a small distance from the Roman military way which leads from the mouth of the 
 ltibble over Fulwood to Rib-Chester, and commands a view of the Ribble as far as it is 
 navigable, as also of a great part of the files or fields of Amounderness, and the cultivated 
 part of that side of the county.. It is therefore probable that the Romans had there 
 erected some granaries, or other conveniences for the immediate reception of corn, until 
 it could be conveniently transported to their several stations in these parts, and for the 
 better preservation of it from the attempts of the Britons, had defended it with a fosse 
 and vallum. These granaries, together with the strength and pleasant aspect of the 
 place, in all likelihood engaged some man of taste to settle here after the departure of the 
 Romans, and induced him to confer his name upon it, agreeably to the prevailing custom 
 of those times. We have not any account of the condition in which the monks found 
 Tulket at the time of their arrival, and some may perhaps imagine from what Leland 
 tells us, that they actually erected a monastery there; <1 but we may with greater pro¬ 
 bability judge, from, the present ruins, that during their stay there, they contented 
 themselves with making use of such buildings only as were erected before their coming 
 thither.” 
 
 The locality alluded to by West, to the south-west of Tulketh, in 1855, 
 still presented sufficient evidence to identify it with his description. A 
 mound, situated at the extremity of the elevated headland, overlooked the 
 river just below the “old quay.” Considerable remains of a fosse were 
 apparent. The workmen employed by Mr. Edward Tedder, were 
 laying the land out for villas, and on removing the sod, near the outside 
 of the trench, some remnants of broken brick, etc., might be observed; 
 but no distinctive remains were discovered on cutting through the mound 
 itself; consequently, its Roman pretensions rest merely upon conjecture. 
 It is probable, however, that it may have been used as a specula, or look¬ 
 out, in connection with the station at Walton. The clay was being 
 worked into bricks and tiles by the Local Board of Health. Workmen 
 were busily occupied in filling up the trench and levelling the ground. 
 In a short time the locality will present a complete transformation. The 
 fosse was semicircular in form, and detached the “ness” or nose of the 
 promontory from the main land. The view from this point exactly accords 
 with West’s description. The prospect, both seaward and up the valley 
 of the Ribble, is very picturesque and extensive/ 
 
 The “ square mound,” mentioned by Mr. Baines, on the Maudlands, was 
 removed a few years ago. It was situated between the present St. 
 
 q “Stephanus Comes Boloniensis postea Res Anglise, dedit Abbati Gaufrido Savaniensi villam, 
 scilicet, Tulket, in provincia quae vocatur Acmundernes, super ripam fluvii Ribble, ad abbatiam 
 construendam ordinis sui; et ibi fere per tres annos permanserunt.—Lelandi Collect, tom, 
 11, p. 357.” 
 
 “ Stephen, count of Boulogne, afterwards king of England, gave to the abbot Gaufrid, of Savania, 
 a villa, called Tulket, in the province of Amounderness, upon the bank of the river Ribble, to build 
 an abbey of his order; and there they remained for nearly three years.” 
 
 r See Chap. I, page 48. The site of the “ Tulketh Monastery” is marked on the ordnance map 
 nearer to Tulketh HaU than this mound. 
 
KOB.ilAN CONQUEST TO JAMES I. 
 
 119 
 
 Walburge’s clmrcli and the Talbot schools. The iron railing, on the side next 
 to the Wyre railway, passes over the site of its western extremity. The 
 entire work, including the ditch, was about thirty yards in diameter. Its 
 structure and contents proved it to be of comparatively modern formation, 
 and certainly not later than the wars between Charles I. and his parlia¬ 
 ment. In the ditch were found many staves of wood, which, from 
 appearance, might have formed portions of a palisade or fence. The soil 
 composing the mound, appeared to have been thrown out the ditch. It 
 contained a number of pieces of tobacco pipes. A large fragment and one 
 perfect specimen of English mediaeval pottery were likewise discovered. 
 The perfect jug is rude in form, and fashioned from a coarse cream coloured 
 clay. It is unglazed, with the exception of an irregular streak near the 
 neck. It perfectly agrees in character with a figure and description of 
 this class of ware given at page 104, of the catalogue of the “Ceramic 
 series,” in the Museum of Practical Geology, Jermyn-street, London. 3 
 As tobacco smoking did not become general in England till the reign of 
 James I., the non-Roman construction of the work is thus satisfactorily 
 attested. In all probability it was erected by Colonel Rosworm, the cele¬ 
 brated German engineer, soon after the capture of Preston by the forces of 
 the parliament under Sir John Seaton, in 1643. Rosworm expressly says, 
 in his appeal to parliament, now published by the “ Cheetham Society,” 
 amongst the “Civil War Tracts,” that he personally took part in the siege, 
 and superintended the formation of new defensive works. These were 
 destroyed shortly afterwards by the earl of Derby. The mound, on the 
 Maudlands, appears to have been the remains of an out-work, constructed 
 for the protection of the Friargate entrance to the town. It covered and 
 overlooked the roads from the north and the north-'west, or “Eylde 
 country.” The Lancaster road, at that period, passed down Water-lane, 
 and turned to the northward, near the present canal aqueduct. In the 
 interior of the tumulus, a square brick chamber was discovered, about six 
 feet deep, and of sufficient breadth to admit of the body of a man in an 
 upright position. This was generally regarded as a powder magazine. The 
 situation is well adapted for an out-post of observation, but not in an equal 
 degree to the promontory in Ashton, on the south-west of Tulketh, men¬ 
 tioned by West. Its proximity to the town of Preston, however, would 
 render it more eligible for the objects proposed to be attained by Colonel 
 Rosworm. 
 
 This mound, though evidently the most modern construction on the 
 Maudlands, previously to the erection of the present edifices, was long 
 
 8 These rare relics of the period referred to, are deposited in the Museum of the Literary and 
 Philosophical Society. 
 
120 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 regarded by the inhabitants of the neighbourhood with superstitious 
 reverence. Tradition said that the raised ground covered the steeple of 
 a sunken church, and not only children, but adults declared that at mid¬ 
 night on ’Christmas eve, they had, by placing their ears to the ground, 
 heard subterranean bells ringing a joyful peal in honour - of the advent of 
 the Saviour. This superstition was so prevalent, that on the discovery of 
 the hrick chamber, previously alluded to, scores of people visited the spot, 
 and retired fully convinced they had seen a portion of the steeple of the 
 sunken edifice, and that its discoveiy demonstrated the truth of the 
 ancient tradition ! This remarkable legend appears to have located itself 
 in other places as well as Preston. A precisely similar story is related in 
 connection with a Roman out-work near Mellor, on the’ line of ancient 
 road from Ribchester to Manchester. 
 
 Mr. Whittle, speaking of the Hospital of St. Mary Magdalen, says :— 
 
 “ This eleemoysinary institution was standing in the year 1501. temp. Henry 7th, 
 when William Marshall, armiger, was guild Mayor of Preston, being the 16th of Henry 7th. 
 The procession of the confraternities used, as of old, to join procession from St. Mary’s 
 hospital, in the Maudlands, aud after the said procession, the mass of the Holy Ghost 
 was celebrated with great solemnity, at the mother church of St. Wilfrid. The lands 
 called ‘ Spittals-moss/ formerly belonged to this magnificent hospice. The Teutonic 
 word spittal (from hospital) signifies, in law, a charitable foundation. * * * 
 
 Ricardus Blundell, Daniel Pigott, Roger de Preston, and Rieardus de Alston, were 
 trustees to the property in the year 1397, temp. Richard 2nd.” t 
 
 It is somewhat singular that few traces of the foundations of the ancient 
 hospital have been discovered in modern times; at least, few of much 
 importance. Of the identity of the site, there can, however, be no 
 rational doubt. In a lease, granted during the reign of queen Elizabeth, 
 the estate is described as the “ Magdeleynes, and Magdeleyne ridding, 
 within the liberties of the town of Preston.” A close of land, containing 
 two acres, is further said to be “neare the capital! messuage called the 
 Magdeleynes, in the said countie.” 
 
 Dr. T. D. Whitaker, with reference to such institutions as the Friary 
 and Hospital at Preston, says :— 
 
 “ These small endowed foundations (for they never were permitted to enjoy more than 
 about four acres within then - precincts) were always in the immediate neighbourhood of 
 great towns, and that for a very obvious reason, namely, that if they had been placed, 
 like the great monasteries, in distant solitudes, their mendicant inhabitants must often 
 have wanted bread. Their buildings were also adapted to their resources. Most of them 
 resembled colleges, and instead of magnificent churches, had small chapels attached to 
 a mean quadrangle and cloister.” " 
 
 The brass matrix of the seal of the hospital is preserved in the Fitz- 
 william Museum, Cambridge. It is of elliptical form, but with pointed 
 ends, like the Gothic arch. A female figure, apparently the “ Magdalen,” 
 
 t His. Preston, vol. 2, p. 26. 
 
 u Richmondshire, vol. 2, p. 427. 
 
NORMAN CONQUEST TO JAMES I. 
 
 121 
 
 with a flower-pot in one hand, standing within a Gothic niche, occupies 
 the centre, around which is the following inscription:— 
 
 “ SIGILLY COMMUNE ERATRUM PRESTONE.” 
 
 Beneath the feet of the Magdalen, a fleur de Us is represented. In her 
 right hand she holds a small reticulated article, apparently an ornamented 
 ointment box. 
 
 In the year 1265, Edmund Crouchback, youngest son of Henry III., 
 on the death of Simon de Montford, at the battle of Evesham, was created 
 earl of Leicester. In the following year, he received still further grants 
 from the king, and amongst others the honor, earldom, castle, and town 
 of Lancaster, Math the forests of Wiresdale and Lonsdale. This grant, 
 however, was not to affect the interests of Roger de Lancaster. A large 
 share of the forfeited possessions of Simon de Montfort were likewise con¬ 
 ferred upon Edmund. These grants were confirmed in the following reign 
 by his brother, Edward I. The house of Lancaster, from this period, 
 exercised great influence in the state. This was still further augmented 
 on the marriage of his son Thomas, his successor, with Alice, sole 
 daughter of Henry de Lacy, earl of Lincoln, by which he became pos¬ 
 sessed of the lands and fortresses of this distinguished and powerful family. 
 
 In the reign of Henry III., the languages spoken in England were 
 more numerous than is generally imagined. The court and nobility used 
 the Provencal and Norman-French; the law of the land was written and 
 administered in the latter; the church services were performed in Latin, 
 and the people generally spoke a corrupted Saxon. A writer of the period v 
 says: “ Some use strange gibbering, chattering, wafling, and grating; 
 then the Northumbre’s tongue (and especially at York) is so sharp, flitting, 
 froyting, and unshape, that we Southron men may not understand that 
 language.” It will require another age of railroad influence, yet, before 
 “ Southron men ” can properly comprehend the discourse of a genuine 
 Lancashire peasant. 
 
 Edward I., by his valour and sagacity, having added the principality 
 of Wales to his kingdom, began to turn his thoughts towards Scotland. 
 That country was distracted, at the time, by the pretensions of no less than 
 twelve competitors for the throne. The claimants were, however, even¬ 
 tually reduced to three, John Baliol, Robert Brace, and John Hastings. 
 Edward, though appointed arbitrator, resolved to secure the crown for 
 himself. As a matter of policy, however, he professed to declare in favour 
 of Baliol; and that prince assumed the reigns of government, as Edward’s 
 deputy. Baliol soon perceived the degradation of his position, as a mere 
 
 v Trevisa. 
 
122 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 vassal of the English crown; and, having procured the pope’s absolution 
 from his oath of homage, revolted. The Scots were, however, defeated 
 in several engagements, and Baliol taken prisoner to London. 
 
 Sir 'William Wallace shortly afterwards appeared upon the scene. 
 After many petty successes, the Scots were defeated by Edward, at 
 Ealkirk, with immense loss. Wallace was still not disheartened. By his 
 address and self denial, he re-united the jealous Scottish lords. A complete 
 victory was gained over an English army at Roslin, near Edinburgh. 
 Edward, however, shortly afterwards crossed the frontiers, and laid waste 
 the country. Wallace was betrayed into the hands of the English, by the 
 treachery of his friend, Sir John Monteith. Edward, with a ferocity 
 utterly unworthy of his own chivalric valour, hung the Scottish patriot as 
 a rebel, and, after the brutal fashion of the age, farther satiated his ven¬ 
 geance on the lifeless body of his valiant foe. 
 
 Bruce, at length, escaped from his prison in London, rallied the rem¬ 
 nants of the Scottish malcontents, and expelled the English forces from 
 the kingdom. Edward’s anger was inflamed to the highest pitch. He 
 summoned his chief nobility and prelates to meet him in arms at Carlisle, 
 and vowed that nothing but the most abject submission should satisfy his 
 resentment. He dispatched a force, under Aymer de Valence, who totally 
 defeated Bruce, in Perthshire. On the king’s entry into Scotland, the 
 people offered no resistance. Edward’s death, shortly afterwards, however, 
 relieved the Scots from their most terrible foe, and eventually saved the 
 independence of the country. On his way to Scotland, Edward passed 
 through Preston, from which place he issued a proclamation, appointing 
 the archbishop of York and the bishop of Coventry and Litchfield his 
 wardens, during his absence in Scotland. This proclamation is dated “ at 
 Preston, the 2nd of July, 1306.” Another document was issued by the 
 king, bearing a similar date, and addressed to the pope, complaining of 
 the “ malignity of the archbishop of Canterbury.” w 
 
 In the twenty-third year of Edward’s reign, the first recorded parlia¬ 
 mentary representation of the borough took place. The members were 
 William Fitz Paul and Adam Russel, burgesses of Preston. 
 
 In the reign of Edward I., a plea of quo warranto was moved between 
 the king and the burgesses of Preston. In a writ of certiorari, issued to 
 remove the plea into the court of king’s bench, the townsmen are “ stiled 
 burgesses of Preston in Aundemesse.” Adam, son of Ralph, and Robert, 
 son of Roger, bailiffs, and other inhabitants of Preston, appeared and 
 pleaded in the court of king’s bench. The question at issue was the right 
 
 w Rot. Pat. 34 Ed. I. 
 
NORMAN CONQUEST TO JAMES I. 
 
 123 
 
 of the “bailiffs and community” to have free borough in Preston, market, 
 fair, gallows, infangthef, tumbrel, pillory, and assize of bread and beer, 
 and to be quit of fines, amercements, tolls, and stallage. The charter was 
 produced, by which king John, when earl of Morton, confirmed his father’s 
 grant of the liberties cited, and by which he had granted all the tolls of 
 the wapentake of Amoundernesse, a fair at Preston at the Assumption of 
 St. Mary, free, to last eight days; the pasture of the “forest of Fillo 
 Wode,” and as much of that forest as was necessary to build their town. 
 A charter (I. John) was also produced, confirming the preceding grants. 
 By these charters all the above liberties were claimed, except gallows and 
 infangthef, for which they contended they possessed a prescriptive right, 
 as well as for a market every week, originally held on "Wednesday, though 
 latterly on Saturday. The sum of fifteen pounds a year was paid to 
 Edmund, the king’s brother, for these privileges. The court adjudicated 
 that the bailiffs and community were in fault as to this matter, and that 
 the liberties should be seized into the king’s hands. An extent and valua¬ 
 tion was ordered to be made by the Sheriff, but the bailiffs paid ten marks 
 to the king for a respite. 1 The right of Preston to free fishing in the 
 Kibble was disputed. The bailiffs alleged that it was held in common 
 with Henry de Lacy, earl of Lincoln. To this the court assented. 5 ' 
 
 Edward II. was a weak prince, utterly unfitted to cany out the policy 
 of so energetic and enterprising a monarch as his father. He conferred 
 his chief favour upon Piers de Gaviston, or Gavestone, son of a Gascon 
 knight. The influence exercised over the king by this accomplished, but 
 vicious and debauched courtier, roused the indignation of some of the most 
 powerful nobles. Secretly supported by queen Isabel, and headed by the 
 king’s cousin, Thomas earl of Lancaster, they rose in arms against the 
 favourite. After a severe straggle with the king, they seized upon 
 Gaviston, at Warwick, and without trial, beheaded him on the spot. The 
 rage of the feeble monarch speedily subsided. Ho pardoned the earl of 
 Lancaster and the rebellious barons, stipulating merely that they should, 
 on their knees, publicly request his forgiveness. 
 
 After a short and hollow truce, Edward marched into Scotland, at the 
 head of a powerful army, witli the view of inflicting chastisement upon 
 the Scots. This expedition resulted in the decisive battle of Bannockburn, 
 which seated Bruce firmly upon the throne of Scotland, and wrung from 
 the weak Edward, the fruit of many of his father’s most brilliant military 
 achievements. 
 
 x Plac. coram Rege an. 21, incipiente 22, Ed. I., Rot. 59 a. 
 y Plac. de Quo War. 20 Ed. I. 
 
124 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 The king, after the death of Gaviston, transferred his favour to Hugh 
 de Spencer, and his father; when the nobles again took umbrage. The 
 younger Spencer prevailed upon the king to illegally escheat the barony of 
 Gower, and to confer it upon himself. This exasperated the earls of 
 Hereford and Lancaster. The latter marched to St. Albans, and demanded 
 the banishment of the Spencers, as parties obnoxious to the people, and 
 guilty of gross acts of imposition and oppression. They pillaged the lands 
 of the two favourites, drove off their cattle, and burnt their houses. The 
 lay-barons, in parliament assembled, pronounced the father and son guilty, 
 and sentenced them to banishment and attainder. The following year, 
 the king raised an army, and re-called the Spencers. The earl of Lancas¬ 
 ter, feeling the danger of his position, ordered Sir Robert de Holland to' 
 reinforce him with five hundred men from Lancashire. Sir Robert owed 
 his entire fortune to the munificence of the earl, who had promoted him 
 from the menial office of butler to the dignity of knighthood. The required 
 force was immediately raised; but, notwithstanding his obligations to the earl 
 of Lancaster, Sir Robert’s loyalty overcame his gratitude, and he marched 
 his men to the assistance of the king. The earl, for some time, resisted; 
 but was eventually defeated at Boroughbridge, by Sir Andrew de Harcla, 
 warden of Carlisle and the Marches, and made prisoner. He was treated 
 with much indignity, and even pelted by the mob at Pontefract. When 
 brought before the king, he was refused the privilege of speaking in his 
 own defence. Fresh insults were showered upon him. He was placed 
 upon a wretched horse, and paraded through the streets, with a friar’s 
 hood upon his head, to an eminence outside the town, and there beheaded. 
 This Thomas earl of Lancaster was a great favourite with the poorer classes. 
 Miracles were said to have been wrought at his tomb; and it required 
 a special mandate from the king to prevent the populace from worshipping 
 his picture in St. Paul’s cathedral. His brother Henry, however, in the 
 following reign, procured an act, repealing the attainder, and took pos¬ 
 session of the lordships and lands confiscated by earl Thomas’s rebellion. 
 
 To add to the king’s misfortunes, the Scots made many successful 
 incursions into the northern counties. One of the most destructive of these 
 forays happened in 1323, when, according to Hollinshed, “Robert Bruce 
 entered into England by Carlisle, kept on his way through Cumberland, 
 Westmoreland, and Lancaster, to Preston, which town he burnt, as he 
 had done others in the counties he had passed through, and after three 
 weeks and three days, he returned into Scotland without engaging.’’ 
 
 During these conflicts between the king and the powerful barons, great 
 anarchy prevailed in several parts of the country. It appeal’s, from 
 numerous royal proclamations issued at the time, that assault, murder, 
 
NORMAN CONQUEST TO .TAMES I. 
 
 125 
 
 and rapine, were committed almost with impunity, by armed bands of 
 desperadoes, which included men of rank, as well as lawless soldiery and 
 malefactors of the lowest class. The knights and other dependents of the 
 barons, with the view to obtain pardon for past crimes and excesses, 
 sometimes rose against their feudal cliiefs, and espoused the cause of the 
 king. Adam de Banistre, of the house and family of Thomas, earl of 
 Lancaster, wishing to ingratiate himself into the favour of the monarch, 
 declared for the king’s full prerogative. Joined with others, he pillaged 
 the earl’s castles, and armed about eight hundred of his followers with the 
 weapons intended for the soldiers preparing for the Scottish inv sion. 
 About six hundred of the earl’s knights and vassals advanced against 
 them. A sanguinaiy conflict took place on the banks of the Ribble, near 
 Preston. Banistre’s whole force charged with impetuosity the advanced 
 division of the earl’s little army, and compelled it to fall back; but on the 
 arrival of the remaining portion, his followers were speedily put to the 
 rout. Great numbers were slain in the pursuit, but their leader contrived, 
 for some time, to elude the vigilance of his enemies. His place of con¬ 
 cealment was at length discovered by the earl’s troops, and he was beset 
 on all sides. Still lie obstinately refused to surrender, and, with desperate 
 valour, attacked liis assailants, killed several, and wounded many others. 
 He was ultimately slain, and his head sent as a trophy to the earl of 
 Lancaster. The followers of the earl, after their victory, entered the 
 hundred of Leyland, on the south of the Ribble, levied contributions to 
 an enormous amount, and committed many other lawless excesses. 2 
 
 Commissioners were appointed by royal authority, in Lancashire, to 
 repress these outrages upon the persons and property of the king’s subjects. 
 Amongst others, Edmundus de Botiller, justiciar; Ricardus de Beresford, 
 chancellor, and Magister Walterus de Jeslep, treasurer of Ireland, were 
 entrusted with powers for the maintenance of the public peace, which the 
 combined action of war and famine had seriously disturbed. a 
 
 A new insurrection against the Spencers, headed by the queen and her 
 celebrated paramour, Mortimer, proved successful. Father and son were 
 executed, and their remains mangled in the most revolting manner. The 
 
 z “An old indictment says, ‘ that the battle took place near Preston, in the valley of the Kibble.’ 
 This is not the case, for it was fought in Turbary ground, between Leyland and Preston. * » » 
 We recollect, about 1820, seeing a reversal of the attainder passed against the Banaster family in 
 consequence of this affray, but of what date we cannot recollect. It was purchased by Lyon, a book¬ 
 seller, in Preston, and sold for the trifling sum of twenty-one shillings. The instrument possessed 
 a large pendant seal of white wax, fastened to a silken bawdry.”—Whittle’s His. Preston, vol. 2, 
 p. 28. Mr. Whittle, however, cites no authority against the statement in the “old indictment” 
 referred to. 
 
 a Rot. Claus. 8 Ed. II. 
 
126 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 king was deposed by the parliament, and shortly afterwards murdered at 
 Berkely castle. At the time Mortimer, who had been imprisoned in. the 
 tower, for the part he had taken in the previous insurrection of the barons, 
 made his escape from that fortress, while Edward was in Lancashire, from 
 whence he rapidly marched to "Wales, -with the view of seeming the 
 fugitive. Mortimer, however, had embarked for France. 
 
 Sir Richard Clayton was rewarded with the “castle, manor, and hundred 
 of Halton, in Cheshire and Lancashire,” by Edward III., for services 
 rendered to his mother, queen Isabella. b In the reign of Edward II., letters 
 patent were granted for the “paviage of the town of Preston,” with powers 
 to collect tolls.® A rate on merchandise was granted for a similar purpose, 
 by the “ good Duke of Lancaster.” 
 
 In 1323, the tithes of “Eulwood, Merescough, and Hyde Park,” were 
 restored to the rectories of Preston and Lancaster. 4 Edward III. made 
 several irruptions into Scotland. He gained a complete victory at Hali- 
 down hill, in which, it is said, thirty thousand Scots were slain. Edward 
 halted on his way to Scotland at Preston, where he considerably recruited 
 his army. Edward claimed the throne of France, through his mother, 
 daughter to Philip the Fair. He invaded that country, and, aided by his 
 son, the famous Edward, the Black Prince, gained the celebrated victories 
 of Cressy and Poictiers. In the latter, John, king of France, was taken 
 prisoner. While Edward was engaged in the wars with France, the Scots, 
 under David Bruce, invaded England. Lord Percy, who commanded 
 for queen Philippa, gave them battle at Neville’s Cross, near Durham, 
 and completely routed the whole army. The king of Scotland and many 
 of his nobles were taken prisoners to London. 
 
 About this period, a pestilence of the most fatal character ravaged the 
 country. As many as fifty thousand persons were interred in one burial- 
 ground in London. 
 
 To reward the brilliant services, rendered in the French wars, by 
 Henry, earl of Lancaster and Derby, Edward conferred upon him the title 
 of Duke of Lancaster. The county was likewise made a palatinate, under 
 the “thrice noble” John of Gaunt, who married the daughter of Henry, 
 and succeeded to the dukedom. John of Gaunt® was fourth son of 
 Edward III. “ Law was to be administered by the officers and ministers 
 of the duke, and under his seal, and anciently all offences were said to be 
 against his peace, his sword and dignity,” and not, as at present, against 
 the “ queen, her crown and dignity.” The offices of law, in connection 
 
 b Rot. Pat. 1 Ed. III. 
 d Reg. S.Mar, de L. MS. 
 
 c Rot. Lit. Pat. 
 
 e So called because be was born at Ghent, in Flanders. 
 
NORMAN CONQUEST TO JAMES I. 
 
 127 
 
 with the palatinate, are still held at Preston. Mr. Baines says: “ The 
 house of Lancaster, so renowned in British history, held this place” 
 (Preston) “in high estimation, and nothing hut the local situation of their 
 baronial castle on the banks of the Lune, prevented them from establishing 
 the capital of the county where it ought to have been fixed—on the banks 
 of the Bibble.” The central position of Preston certainly points it out as 
 the most convenient and desirable locality for the transaction of business 
 pertaining to the whole county. 
 
 The first recorded Guild Merchant was celebrated in the reign of 
 Edward III. This king likewise confirmed the grants of his predecessors, 
 and conceded the additional privilege of holding a fair of five days duration, 
 commencing with the vigil of the apostles St. Simon and St. Jude. 
 Additional letters patent were likewise granted for the improvement 
 of the town. 
 
 The church and lordship of Preston were held in capita by John of 
 Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, in the thirty-fifth year of the reign of 
 Edward III. It is stated that “the high altar, with its appurtenances, 
 was computed to be worth five hundred marks at that time.” The lord- 
 ship appears to have been previously held by Sir Robert de Preston, of 
 Gormanstown, in Ireland, who was knighted by the duke of Clarence, and 
 afterwards became keeper of the seals, and lord high chancellor of Ireland. 
 His descendant, Sir Robert de Preston, was deputy for the duke of York 
 in the government of Ireland. Ho was created viscount Gormanstown 
 in the reign of Edward IV. 
 
 A curious anecdote is related by Ormerod, in his history of Cheshire, 
 which exhibits, strongly, the rude licence of the period. Sir William do 
 Clifton, exasperated at the abbot of Yale Royal, Cheshire, in consequence 
 of some dispute respecting the church at Preston, avenged himself by 
 flogging the secretary of the obnoxious ecclesiastic through the streets of 
 the town. 
 
 In 1343, in the reign of Edward III, an inquest of the value of move- 
 able property was made in all the boroughs of the kingdom. From the 
 returns, it appears that Preston was, at the time, the wealthiest of all the 
 royal boroughs in Lancashire; that is, if the term wealth can be appro¬ 
 priately applied to what, at the present day, appears so very humble a 
 condition. The document f states, that the “ninth part of the goods of the 
 men dwelling in the borough of Preston,” was six poimds, seventeen 
 shillings, and fourpence! This sum is, however, considered to be equiva¬ 
 lent to about one hundred poimds of the present coinage. Still this would 
 
 f Nonarum Inquitiones—Lancashire. 
 
128 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 leave the total value of the moveable goods of the Prestonians, in the 
 middle of the fourteenth century, little more than nine hundred pounds!! 
 The ninth part for Wigan, was five pounds, nine shillings, and fourpence, 
 equal to a little over eighty pounds; for Lancaster, six pounds, thirteen 
 shillings, and sixpence; for Liverpool^ six pounds, sixteen s hillin gs, and 
 sevenpence. These were the only “Royal burghs” in Lancashire. 
 Manchester, at this period, did not possess sufficient trade to render it 
 liable to the tax on merchandise and moveable property. 
 
 Henry, sumamed Bolingbroke, earl of Derby and Hereford, son of 
 John of Gaunt, in the reign of Richard II., accused the duke of Norfolk, 
 in parliament, of seditious conversation. After the rude fashion of the 
 time, the complainant and defendant agreed to decide their quarrel by an 
 appeal to amis. The king, from mere caprice, stopped the combatants, 
 and banished Norfolk for life. Hereford received a somewhat milder 
 sentence. He was required to leave the country for ten years, hut this 
 term was afterwards commuted to six. The king promised, by letters patent, 
 that Hereford should, on his return, succeed to any inheritance which 
 might descend to him in the interim. The duke of Lancaster died shortly 
 afterwards. The cupidity of the king overcame his sense of honour. He 
 revoked his letters patent, and seized the possessions of the banished earl. 
 
 This conduct exasperated Bolingbroke. He landed in Yorkshire, raised 
 the standard of rebellion, and was joined by the earl of Northumberland, 
 his son Percy, sumamed Hotspur, and other noblemen. The king was 
 detained in Ireland by contrary winds; and when he landed at Milford 
 Haven, the best portion of his army gradually withdrew from him. The 
 weak king submitted without conditions. He was paraded in triumph 
 through Chester and other towns, and afterwards imprisoned in the Tower. 
 Little effort was necessary to induce him to sign a renunciation of his 
 crown, and a declaration of his own unfitness to govern. Bolingbroke 
 was elected king, and ascended the throne by the title of Henry IY. 
 Thus originated the celebrated “ Wars of the Roses,” which, for a series 
 of years, deluged England with the blood of the bravest of her sons. 
 
 The privileges enjoyed by the burgesses of Preston were confirmed by 
 Richard and Henry. In the latter reign, letters patent were granted for 
 the “ pontage of the river Ribhle, juxta Preston,” and afterwards for the 
 “ paviage of the said bridge.” A bridge had existed at Walton, over the 
 Ribble, long previously to the date of this grant. A verdict given in the 
 ninth year of the reign of Henry III., quotes an old boundary deed, in 
 which the bridge is mentioned. s It is difficult to say by whom this 
 
 g His. Man., vol. 1, p. 189. 
 
N0KMAN CONQUEST TO JAMES X. 
 
 129 
 
 structure was erected. The Romans forded the stream at the gravel bank, 
 a few yards below. It was probably of Saxon or early Norman 
 construction. 
 
 In the reign of Richai’d II., the earliest recorded enactments, relative 
 to salmon fisheries, were passed, and had special reference to the Ribble, 
 the Wyre, the Lune, and the Mersey. The times during which the 
 rivers might be fished are specified, and justices of the peace appointed 
 conservators of the fisheries. In the reign of Elizabeth, it was enacted 
 that “the meshes of the nets, used in taking salmon, should be two inches 
 and a half broad, and that the fish should not be taken by any other 
 means.” 
 
 Henry IY.’s reign was disturbed by much civil commotion. The Welsh 
 and Scots rose in arms against him, and his old friend, the earl of Nor¬ 
 thumberland, by whose aid he ascended the throne, raised the standard of 
 revolt. Henry’s courage and discretion, however, proved equal to the crisis. 
 Northumberland’s retainers and the malcontents were defeated at Shrews¬ 
 bury, and his son, the daring Hotspur, slain. 
 
 Henry Y. increased the military renown of the English, by a successful 
 invasion of France. This prince confirmed the Preston charters, and 
 granted powers for the recovery of such privileges, as might be sup¬ 
 posed to have lapsed through neglect, or “ non-user,” as it is styled in 
 legal phraseology. 
 
 The history of Lancashire, during the “ Wars of the Roses,” is singu¬ 
 larly devoid of incident. This appears the more remarkable, as the name 
 of the county furnished the war-cry of one of the contending houses. 
 Mr. Baines says :— 
 
 “ Although few periods in English history afford so many materials for the pen of the 
 general and local historian, as that comprehended in the reigns of Henry VI., Edward 
 IV., and Richard III., dining which time the wars between the houses of York and 
 Lancaster raged with so much fury; and that of the reign of Henry VII., when these 
 intestine broils were happily composed by the union of the rival houses in the persons of 
 Henry VII. and his queen; yet there is no time, from the reign of king Stephen, so des¬ 
 titute of authentic records The savage and murderous contests between the court and 
 the people, appear so to have disorganized society, that the usual communications 
 between the authorities in the provinces and the government were neglected; or, if pro¬ 
 clamations and edicts were issued in the several counties, they perished with many of 
 those to whom they were addressed, the usual depositories being found almost entirely 
 *' destitute of these documents. This paucity of official information is the more extraor¬ 
 dinary, seeing that the art of printing, that great engine of multiplication, was intro¬ 
 duced into England by William Caxton, in 1471, during the wars of the roses.” 11 
 
 The reign of Henry YI. was singularly unfortunate, both to the monarch 
 and the national glory. The conquests of his father, in France, were lost, 
 and the province of Bayonne, which had been an apanage to the English 
 crown for three centuries, was ceded to the French king. The contest 
 
 h His. Lan., vol. 1, p. 402. 
 
 K 
 
130 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 between the houses of York and Lancaster for the supreme power, continued 
 with varying results for thirty years, during which time, thirteen 
 pitched battles were fought, and many of the most distinguished families 
 in the country nearly annihilated. The county of Lancaster, however, 
 escaped the horrors of direct warfare, though it was not the less subjected 
 to all the evils inevitably resulting from social and political anarchy. In 
 the three first engagements, at St. Albans, Bloreheath, and Northampton, 
 For time favoured the house of York. But the fickle goddess frowned at 
 Wakefield, where the duke of York was slain, after performing prodigies 
 of valour, and his youngest son was cruelly murdered. Edward, earl of 
 March, his eldest son, now duke of York, however, continued the family 
 claim, and defeated the Lancastrian army at Mortimer’s Cross. He met 
 with a reverse in a second battle at St. Albans, but not of sufficient 
 importance to prevent his entering London in triumph. Margaret, Henry’s 
 queen, assembled an army of sixty thousand men, in the county of York. 
 Edward and the earl of Warwick advanced and gave her battle at 
 Towton, near Tadcaster, where, after a most obstinate and bloody engage¬ 
 ment, the Lancastrians were utterly routed. The forthcoming parliament 
 decreed that “Henry of Derbie, otherwise duke of Lancaster, and the 
 heirs of his body coming, were utterly disabled from enjoying any inheri¬ 
 tance, estate, or profits, within this realm or dominions of the same 
 for ever.” 
 
 Hemy fled to Scotland, but queen Margaret applied to the court of 
 France for assistance. She obtained two thousand men, with whom she 
 landed in England. At Hexham, she was joined by volunteers from 
 Scotland and the northern counties. A battle ensued, in which the Lan¬ 
 castrians were totally defeated. The duke of Somerset and the lords 
 Hungerford and Boss were taken prisoners, declared guilty of treason, 
 and beheaded. The queen, after suffering many privations, escaped to the 
 continent. The king was concealed for about twelve months, in the 
 northern counties; but he was eventually discovered, and confined a 
 prisoner in the Tower of London. 
 
 “ The place of his concealment,” according to Mr. Baines, “ was Wad- 
 dington Hall, in the parish of Mitton Magna, in the north eastern part of 
 the county” (Lancashire); “and the person by whom he was betrayed was 
 Sir John Talbot, who, as a reward for his perfidy, received a grant of twenty 
 marks a year from Edward IV., confirmed by his successor, Bichard III., 
 and made payable out of the revenues of the county palatine of Lancaster.” 
 
 Waddington is not in Lancashire, but in Yorkshire. Miss Strickland 
 says, Hemy was “ taken by the servants of Sir John Harrington, as he 
 sat at dinner, at Waddington Hall. * This is not, however, exactly the 
 
 i Lives of the Queens of England, vol. 3, p. 279. 
 
NORMAN CONQUEST TO JAMES I. 
 
 131 
 
 case. He appears to have been really captured on the opposite side of the 
 Eibble, in the wood of Clitheroe, in the county of Lancaster. The par¬ 
 ticulars are related in Warks worth’s Chronicle :— 
 
 “Also, the same yere, kynge Henry was taken bysyde a bowse of religione [i.e. 
 Whalley] in Lancashyre, by the mene of a blacke monke of Abyngtone, [Abingdon] in a 
 wode called Cletherwode [the wood of Clitheroe], besyde Bungerly liyppyngstones, by 
 Thomas Talbott, sonne and heyre to sere Edmuude Talbott, of Basslialle, and Jhon 
 Talbott, his cosyne, of Colebry [i.e. Salesbnry in Blackburn], withe other moo; which 
 discryvide [him] beynge at his dynere at Wadyngton halle; and [he was] carryed to 
 London on horsebake, and his leges bownde to the styropes.” 
 
 The interpolations are by Mr. J. G. Nichols, who says:— 
 
 “ I have substituted the word ‘ discryvide ’ for ‘ disseyvide,’ as it is printed in the 
 Camden society’s book, where the editor, Mr. Halliwell, understood the passage as mean¬ 
 ing that the king was deceived or betrayed. I take the meaning to be that the black 
 monke of Abington had descried or discovered the king as he was eating his dinner at 
 Waddington Hall; whereupon the Talbots and some other parties in the neighbourhood, 
 formed plans for his apprehension, and arrested him on the first convenient opportunity, 
 as he was crossing the ford across the river Ribble, formed by the ‘liyppyngstones’ at 
 Bungerley. Waddington belonged to Sir John Tempest, of Bracewell, who was the 
 father-in-law of Thomas Talbot. Both Sir John Tempest and Sir James Harrington, 
 of Brierley, near Barnsley, were concerned in the king's capture, and each received one 
 hundred marks reward, but the fact of Sir Thomas Talbot being the chief actor, is shown 
 by his having received the large sum of £100.” j 
 
 It appears, however, that the hundred marks did not constitute Sir 
 James Harrington’s sole reward. Large grants of land, forfeited by 
 Richard Tunstell and other “rebels,” were bestowed upon him by 
 Edward IV., “for his services in taking prisoner, and withholding as such, 
 in diligence and valour, his enemy, Henry, lately called Henry VI.” k 
 
 Henry’s principal place of concealment in the neighbourhood, appears 
 to have been at Bolton Hall, a little higher on the Ribble, the seat of Sir 
 Ralph Pudsey, who married the daughter of Sir Thomas Tunstell, and 
 whose “rebellion” consisted in his attendance upon the unfortunate king, 
 as an “ esquire of the body.” Dr. "Whitaker engraves, in his history of 
 Craven, the fallen monarch’s boots, gloves, and a spoon, which are still 
 preserved at Bolton Hall. Salesbury Hall is likewise on the Ribble, 
 opposite to Ribchester. The “old hall” at Waddington, though much 
 altered in appearance, is still in existence, and a field in the neighbour¬ 
 hood yet retains the name of “king Henry’s meadow.” 
 
 The quarrel of the king with the earl of Warwick, renewed the civil 
 struggles. The “kingmaker” revolted, and, assisted by the duke of 
 Clarence, raised an army of sixty thousand men. Edward approached 
 them with a large force, near Nottingham; but, from some alarms, 
 decamped in the night, and fled into Holland. Henry was once more 
 seated upon a throne which he was destined not long to occupy. The 
 
 j Notes and Queries, vol. 2, p. 229. 
 
 k Notes and Queries, vol. 2, p. 316. 
 
132 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 duke of Burgundy granted Edward two thousand troops, with which he 
 landed at Bavenspur, in Yorkshire. At Barnet, Henry's party was 
 defeated, and the earl of Warwick slain. Queen Margaret and her son 
 were taken prisoners after the battle of Tewkesbury, where the prince 
 was barbarously murdered. King Henry died shortly afterwards in the 
 tower, not without strong suspicions that his death had been brought 
 about by his enemies. 
 
 King Edward IV., granted to Thomas Molyneux, for an annual con¬ 
 sideration of one hundred pounds, four hundred acres of moor and heath 
 land in Eulwood, the tract of turbary called Penwortham Moss, together 
 with the herbage and agistment of Croxteth Park. Henry VI. confirmed 
 all the charters previously granted to the burgesses of Preston. 
 
 Soon after the death of Edward IV., his two sons are said to have been 
 murdered in the Tower, by order of their uncle, the duke of Gloucester, 
 who usurped the throne. This monarch reigned about two years, and 
 indulged, according to the Tudor writers, in many acts of cruelty and 
 brutal tyranny. His short reign was, however, distinguished by efficient 
 administration, and intelligent civil legislation. A manuscript in the Har- 
 leian collection, contains the following somewhat ambiguous paragraph rela¬ 
 tive to this period: “ Aprille, 2 Bichard III. The maire and burgesses of 
 Preston in Amonderness haue iij'duringe iij yeres, and a perdone of xv 1 
 due from them.” Bichard was killed at the battle of Bosworth Field, 
 near Leicester, where his army was defeated by the earl of Bichmond, 
 through the defection of Lord Stanley and the forces from Lancashire and 
 Cheshire. The earl ascended the throne with the title of Henry the VII. 
 Descended, through his mother, from John of Gaunt, and his father being 
 half brother to king Henry VI., the victory of the earl of Bichmond trans¬ 
 ferred the crown once more to the house of Lancaster. His marriage with 
 the princess Elizabeth, eldest daughter of king Edward IV., united the 
 contending families, and eventually terminated the wars of the roses. 
 The adherents of the house of York, however, for some time continued to 
 dispute Henry’s title, and supported the claims of Lambert Simnel, who 
 assumed, at one period, the title of Edward Plantagent, earl of Warwick, 
 son of the duke of Clarence, and afterwards that of Bichard, duke of York, 
 second son of Edward IV. Simnel’s claim was supported by the Duchess 
 of Burgundy, who entertained a most cordial and inveterate hatred towards 
 Hemy VII. Simnel landed with several followers from Ireland and the 
 continent, at the “Pile of Foudrey,” in Morecambe Bay, Lancashire; 
 where he was joined by many of the disaffected Yorkists, including the 
 chivalrous Sir Thomas Broughton, of Furness. His army was defeated at 
 Stake-field, near Newark, and Simnel himself taken prisoner. Singularly 
 
NORMAN CONQUEST TO JAMES I. 
 
 133 
 
 enough, considering the savage character of the times, Henry pardoned 
 the pretender, and conferred upon him a menial office in his own household. 
 The estates of Sir Thomas Broughton, who fell in the battle, were confis¬ 
 cated, and conferred upon the king’s stepfather, Lord Stanley, as a reward 
 for the services of his son, Lord Strange. 
 
 Another and still more formidable pretender appeared. The Yorkists 
 evidently disbelieved the rumour of the murder of the sons of Edward 1Y. 
 On the appearance, at the court of the duchess of Burgundy, of Perkin 
 Warbeck, who professed to be the duke of York, and whose resemblance to 
 his assumed father was singularly striking, many of the gentry and 
 nobility supported his claim. The king, however, seized upon several of 
 the leaders of the party, who appeared to credit his pretensions, beheaded 
 them, and confiscated their- estates. Sir Bobert Clifford, who embarked 
 for Flanders especially to ascertain “the identity of the young prince,” 
 pronoimccd him to be unquestionably the duke of York, with whom he 
 averred he was as well acquainted as with his own son. Hearing of 
 Henry’s severities, however, on his return, he threw himself upon his 
 knees before the king, and craved the royal clemency. In return for this 
 favour he denounced all the parties he knew to have favoured "VVarbeck’s 
 pretensions, and, amongst others, Sir William Stanley, brother of Lord 
 Stanley, who, for his services at Bosworth, had been advanced by Hem- y 
 to the earldom of Derby. Sir- William was shortly afterwards found guilty 
 of treason, and executed; though it does not appear his offence extended 
 beyond an expression, “that if he were sure Perkin Warbeck was king 
 Edward’s son, he would never bear arms against him.” This, however, does 
 not harmonise with his previous preference of the claim of the house of Lan¬ 
 caster to the throne, as evidenced by his services to the earl of Richmond. 
 After his execution, his estates and property, which were very valuable, were 
 seized by the king, and appropriated to his own use. Mr. Baines says, 
 “ the general opinion is, that Sir AVilliam Stanley was quite as much the 
 victim of Henry’s cupidity as his own alleged treason.” This is, however, 
 scarcely consistent with the inferences legitimately to be drawn from Mr. 
 Baines’s after statement. He says:—• 
 
 “ Henry found sufficient leisure in the summer, after the execution of Sir William 
 Stanley, to visit his mother, for whom he always cherished the most affectionate regard, 
 and his step-father, the earl of Derby, at Knowsley and at Lathom, in this county. So 
 far was the earl from expressing any hostility towards the king, on account of the recent 
 execution of his brother, that he gave all possible effect to the royal progress, and enter¬ 
 tained his guest with a sumptuous hospitality, such as has seldom been witnessed in these 
 parts; To promote the king’s accommodation, the noble lord built a bridge over the 
 river Mersey, at Warrington, for the passage of himself and suite; which bridge has been 
 found of so much public utility, as to afford a perpetual monument of the visit of Henry 
 "VII. to Lancashire.” 1 
 
 1 His. Lau., vol. 1, p. 449. 
 
134 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 The execution of Sir William Stanley, if it did not alienate the head 
 of the Derby family from the interest of Henry, was anything but satis¬ 
 factory to some of his dependents. Agnes Strickland, in her life of 
 Elizabeth of York, who accompanied her royal husband to Lathom, relates, 
 on the authority of White Kennett, the following singular anecdote :— 
 
 “ While a guest at Lathom House, the king ran a risk of his life from an odd circum¬ 
 stance; the earl of Derby was showing him the country from the leads, when the family fool, 
 who had been much attached to Sir William, the brother of his lord, lately put to death 
 by the king, drew near, and pointing to a precipitous part of the leads, undefended by 
 battlements, close to which the royal guest was standing, said to his lord, in the low 
 deep tone of vengeance, * Tom, remember Will! ’ These three words struck the con¬ 
 science of the king, and he hurried down stairs to his mother and his consort with 
 great precipitation.” 
 
 Perkin Warbeck, having espoused lady Catherine Gordon, daughter of the 
 eail of Huntley, issued a “royal proclamation,” and advanced into Nor¬ 
 thumberland. After his followers had plundered the country, however, 
 he speedily retreated. Another attempt, in the southern portion of the 
 kingdom, equally failed of success. Though the king appears to have 
 despised Perkin’s pretensions, he, nevertheless, ordered his execution, at 
 Tyburn. The earl of Warwick, said to be one of his adherents, notwith¬ 
 standing his imbecility of mind, through long confinement in the Tower, 
 was beheaded. This unfortunate nobleman is described as the “last of the 
 Plantagenets ” in the male line. 
 
 One of Henry VII.’s favourite methods of raising money, was by the 
 issuing of a writ, entitled “ Quo Warranto ,” which called upon the 
 tenantry of the crown to show their titles to their respective privileges; 
 but, finding little profit from the proceeding, he abandoned it. Amongst 
 others, the “ Mayor and Burgesses of Preston,” the municipal authorities 
 of Liverpool, Wigan, and Salford, together with some ecclesiastics and 
 noblemen and noble ladies, not even excepting his mother and her family, 
 were served with these warrants ! m 
 
 Dr. Kuerden’s manuscript, in Heralds’ college, mentions a deed 
 executed at Leigh, in 1498, by which Sir Alexander Hoghton appointed 
 William Gaiter to officiate as chaplain at “the altar of the crucifix, in 
 the chantry ordained in the parish church of Preston, by Richard Whalley, 
 deceased, who gave it to Sir Alexander, his feoffee.” This chantry was 
 familiarly designated “ The Hoghton Box.” 
 
 During this reign, John de Preston was appointed abbot of Cockersand, 
 by the election of the canons. Dr. Whitaker says : “ The house of Cocker- 
 sand was anciently a large proprietor of lands in Preston, the number of 
 their tenants in that town and neighbourhood, amounting to one hundred 
 and thirty-nine, comprehended under the head of Agmundernesse.” 
 
 m Rolls in Lancaster Castle. 
 
NORMAN CONQUEST TO JAMES I. 
 
 135 
 
 In the year 1485, a plague, or pestilent fever, called the “sweating 
 sickness,” afflicted the country, and carried off large numbers of the 
 population. 
 
 While Henry VIII. was engaged in successful, but unfruitful military 
 enterprises in France, James IV., king of Scotland, invaded England with 
 a numerous army. Levies of men were made in Cheshire, Lancashire, and 
 the northern counties, to resist the aggression. To these were added 
 about five thousand troops from the king’s army. The command was 
 entrusted by the queen regent to Thomas Howard, earl of Surrey, who con¬ 
 fronted the enemy at Flodden Field, on the ninth of September, 1513, when 
 one of the most obstinately contested engagements on record ensued. The 
 struggle ended in the total defeat and almost entire annihilation of the 
 Scottish army. The king and the chief of his nobles and prelates 
 perished in the combat. Sir Edward Stanley, fifth son of the earl of 
 Derby, commanded the left wing, consisting chiefly of the levies from 
 Lancashire, Cheshire, and Yorkshire. His valour and tactics, aided by 
 the bravery of his troops, contributed largely to the success of the English, 
 and to the brilliancy of the victory. He was thanked by the king in an 
 autograph letter, and created lord Monteagle, (in allusion to the family 
 crest,) as a reward for his services. Sir Edward Norris, of Speke Hall, 
 Sir William Molineux, of Sefton, and Sir Bichard Ashton, of Middleton, 
 in Lancashire, likewise distinguished themselves highly in this campaign, 
 and received the personal thanks of the king. The prowess exhibited by 
 the Lancashire heroes in this celebrated engagement, is enthusiastically 
 extolled in an old ballad, preserved in the Harleian collection of manu¬ 
 scripts, in the British Museum, entitled “the Famous Historie or Songe 
 called Flodden Field,” as the following extracts will attest:— 
 
 “ There is S r Edward Standley stowte 
 For Marshiall skill clcare w th out make, 
 
 Of Laytham ITowse, by Lyne came out, 
 
 Whose blood will never tornc their backc. 
 
 All Lancashire will live and dy, 
 
 W th him, soe chiefly will Cheshire, 
 
 For through his father’s force quoth hce 
 This kingdom first came to my Syre. m 
 # 
 
 All Lancashire for the most p te (part) 
 
 The lusty Standley stowte can lead, 
 
 A stock of striplings stronge of heart 
 Brought vp from babes w th beefe and bread, 
 
 From Warton vnto Warrington, 
 
 m King Henry VIII. is supposed to speak this. The allusion is to the service rendered by lord 
 Stanley to the earl of Richmond, at Bosworth Field. 
 
136 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 From 'Wiggen vnto Wiresdale, 
 
 From AVeddccon to Waddington, 
 
 From Ribchester vnto Rachdale, 
 
 From Poulton to Preston w th pikes 
 They w th y e Standley howte forthe went. 
 
 From Pemberton and Pillin Dikes 
 For Battell Billmen bould were bent 
 W th fellowes fearce and freshe for feight 
 W ch Halton feilds did tume in foores, 
 
 W 411 lusty ladds liver and light 
 
 From Blackbome and Bolton in y e Moores.” 
 
 The ancient commission of array, for levying troops in the various 
 counties, to repel foreign invasion, and suppress domestic tumults, 
 began to be superseded about this time by a local authority, called the 
 lieutenancy. The earl of Surrey, created duke of Norfolk, who com¬ 
 manded in chief at the battle of Flodden Field, was first lord lieutenant 
 for Lancashire. He was succeeded by the earl of Shrewsbury. Edward, 
 earl of Derby, followed; and the duties of the lord lieutenancy of the 
 county have been performed, almost ever since, by the head of the Stanley 
 family, although the office is by no means a hereditary one. 
 
 The most important feature in the reign of Henry VIII. is the great 
 Protestant Reformation, which now began to monopolise the attention not 
 only of England but of the whole of Europe. This important revolution 
 unquestionably resulted from causation, in the composition of which, large 
 and potent political elements entered. The king’s cupidity, lust, and 
 insatiable ambition, hastened, if it did not originate the downfall of the 
 papal authority in this realm. 
 
 After the breach with Rome, Henry appointed commissioners to visit 
 and report upon the revenues and conditions of all the monastic insti¬ 
 tutions and ecclesiastical benefices in the kingdom. Dr. Thomas Leigh 
 and Dr. Thomas Layton visited the Lancashire establishments. Their 
 report does not, however, mention either the hospital or friary at Preston, 
 though the Benedictine cell, at Lytham, and the priory, at Penwortham, 
 are included. Henry’s pecuniary requirements were pressing. He had 
 not patience to wait until the whole of the labour had been completed. 
 In the year 1536, parliament sanctioned the king’s resolve to suppress all 
 monastic establishments in England, whose clear yearly income did not 
 exceed £200. This stretch of authority augmented the royal revenues by 
 an annual income of about £160,000, of the present value of money, 
 exclusive of large sums realised by the sale of the plate, jewels, and other 
 property of the ecclesiastics. About three hundred and eighty religious 
 establishments were dissolved under this act of parliament. 
 
NOEMAN CONQUEST TO JAMES I. 
 
 137 
 
 Discontent and rebellion followed this wholesale spoliation. An out¬ 
 break in Lincolnshire was speedily suppressed; but a more formidable 
 insurrection broke out in Yorkshire and the northern counties. This 
 movement, which originated with a Itobert Aske, a gentleman of family, in 
 Yorkshire, was denominated the “Pilgrimage of Grace," and was supported 
 by many of the gentry and the heads of religious establishments. For 
 some period, the malcontents were so far successful in their efforts, that 
 the king condescended to treat with them. They disbanded upon the royal 
 promise of a full and complete amnesty. 
 
 During this insurrection, the earl of Derby was preparing to march to the 
 abbeys of Whalley and Salley, then besieged by the rebels, when he 
 received the king’s command, at Preston, to disband his forces, in conse¬ 
 quence of the apparent termination of hostilities. On the reappearance 
 of the malcontents, the earl advanced to Whalley, occupied the abbey, and 
 restored tranquility. The earl, in a letter despatched to the king, states 
 that the northern malcontents purposed to march through Lancashire, “if 
 they had not byn affrayd of me and other your true subgetts soo assem¬ 
 bled as is aforesaid at Preston.” 
 
 Much disaffection still smouldered amongst the people. Minor insur¬ 
 rections broke forth, which were speedily suppressed, and the leaders 
 condemned to death. The king, exasperated at these discontents, repented 
 his former lenity, and wreaked his vengeance on those whom he had pre¬ 
 viously pardoned in the general amnesty. Amongst the numerous execu¬ 
 tions which followed this breach of faith, is recorded that of John 
 Paslew, D.D., abbot of Whalley. He was tried at Lancaster, for high 
 treason, at the spring assizes, 1537, and was hung upon a gallows, “erected 
 in front of the house of his birth, in Whalley.” 0 
 
 The larger monasteries soon experienced the fate of the minor establish¬ 
 ments. After the excommunication of the king by the pope, a bill was 
 passed by parliament, which invested in the crown not only all the 
 property pertaining to the monastic institutions already dissolved, but to 
 all which should “ hereafter be suppressed, abolished, or surrendered.” 
 
 The closing of the two religious houses in Preston, would, probably, 
 take place about the year 1533. 
 
 The number of monasteries suppressed in England and Wales amounted 
 to six hundred and forty-five, exclusive of ninety-six colleges, two thousand 
 three hundred and seventy-four chantries and free chapels, and one hundred 
 and ten hospitals. The property thus escheated, according to the Liber 
 Regis, yielded £142,914. 12s. 9}d. per annum. The total value, at twenty 
 years’ purchase, is £2,858,290., equal, at the present day, to £28,582,900. 
 
 o Baines’s His. Lan., vol. 1, p. 485. 
 
138 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 The church property, at this period, is said to have included about one- 
 fourth of the whole of the landed estates in the kingdom. 
 
 The greater portion of this enormous property was expended hy the 
 king with licentious profusion, or squandered in grants to his favourite 
 courtiers. Henry did profess an intention of founding eighteen new 
 bishoprics with the revenue of the monasteries. A portion of this resolve 
 was consummated; six additional bishoprics were established, viz., 'West¬ 
 minster, Oxford, Peterborough, Bristol, Gloucester, and Chester. The 
 last-mentioned had previously existed, but had been suffered to merge 
 into that of Lichfield. Fourteen priories or abbeys were converted into 
 cathedral, or collegiate churches. Several ecclesiastics attached to the 
 monasteries were likewise pensioned for life from the revenues of the 
 suppressed establishments. 
 
 During the unsettled period which succeeded the dissolution of the 
 monasteries, not only the poor, but the community generally, appear to 
 have suffered much privation. The decay of the national prosperity is 
 recorded in four distinct acts of parliament, passed between 1535 and 
 1544. One states, “ that there hath been in times past many beautiful 
 houses in those places which are now billing into ruin.” The act of 1544, 
 amongst other towns of this description, expressly names “Lancaster, 
 Preston, Lyrepool, and Wigan, in Lancashire.” 
 
 Leland, the “Itinerant” and “King’s Antiquary,” in the course of a 
 toui- through the principal portion of England, undertaken at the com¬ 
 mand of the king, visited Freston, about this period. His description of 
 the town and neighbourhood, though odd and quaint, is very graphic, and, 
 doubtless, faithful for the period :— 
 
 “ Within a mile of Preston, I came over Darwent River, the which at Penwardine 
 Paroche, a celleto Evesham, goith into Ribel. This Darwent deviditk Lelandshirc from 
 Anderness,v and a mile above beyond the place wher I passidover Darwent, Mr. Lang- 
 ton dwellitli, at Walton-on-Dartccnt, and is Baron of Newton in Macrefield. Half a 
 mile beyond Darwent I passed over the great stone bridge of Bybill, having v. great 
 arches. From Ribyl to Preston half a mile. Preston hath hut one Paro Chirch. The 
 Market place of the Toun is fair. Bibil goith round aboute a greate Peace of the 
 Ground aboute Toune, yet it touchith not the Toune self by space of amost half a 
 Mile. Penwardine semid to me more then half a mile from Preston, and tlier goith 
 Bibil stonding in respect of the Toune of the farther side of Bibil, the which ther 
 dividith the Dicecese of Chestre from the Dicecese of York. Penwardine is a Paroch 
 Chirch and Celle to Evesham Abbey, and standith in Chester Dicecese. Preston is in 
 York Dioeeese.” 
 
 p The Ribhle, not the Darwen, divides the Hundred of Amoundcrness from that of Leyland. 
 The Darwen debouches into the Ribble, in the township of Walton, in the parish of Blackburn. 
 At the present day, the popular opinion in the neighbourhood is, that the Darwen divides the town¬ 
 ships of Walton and Penwortham ; hence the names “ Penwortham Lodge” and “ Penwortham 
 Factory,” both of which are situated in the township of Walton, the legal boundary being the 
 brook which runs from the higher land to the Ribble, on the western side of these misnamed 
 localities. Perhaps, the Darwen, being the most “ natural boundary,” may, at some remote period, 
 have divided the hundreds of Leyland and Blackburn. 
 
NORMAN CONQUEST TO JAMES I. 
 
 139 
 
 After the short reign of Edward VI., Mary, the eldest daughter of 
 Henry VIII., ascended the throne. The charters previously conferred 
 upon the borough of Preston, were confirmed by the queen and her 
 husband, Philip, of Spain. 
 
 Towards the military levy, made in the early part of Mary’s reign, 
 (1553), it appears that Amounderness furnished three hundred, Leyland, 
 one hundred and seventy, and, Blackburn four hundred men. q 
 
 In the reign of Mary, three inhabitants of Lancashire suffered martyr¬ 
 dom for their adherence to Protestant principles; namely, John Roger, John 
 Bradford, and George Marsh. But this species of religious persecution 
 was not confined solely to the Roman Catholics. In the reign of Edward 
 VI. and Elizabeth, imprisonment and the stake were too often employed 
 in the suppression of obnoxious religious opinion. 
 
 Elizabeth ascended the throne in 1558. In the following year, a “ great 
 muster,” or levy of soldiers for the defence of the nation, was made. The 
 proportion raised in Amounderness was, “ two hundred and thirteen har- 
 nised, and three hundred and sixty-nine unhamised ; in Leyland, twenty- 
 four hamised, and twenty-two unhamised; in Blackburn, four hundred 
 and seven harnised, and four hundred and six unhamised.” 1 
 
 Another plague desolated Lancashire and the rest of the country, in 1562. 
 Holinsworth describes it as a “ sore sicknesse;” and Stowe records that 
 upwards of 17,000 persons died, in London alone, during the year. 
 
 In the year 1574, a “muster,” or enrolment of the military strength 
 of the whole kingdom, was taken by order of government. These 
 “ musters,” or rather levies, ordered to be provided in case of emergency, 
 would seem to have been a kind of precursors of the present militia system. 
 From this, it appears that the number of inhabitants in England and 
 Wales, “able” to hear arms, was 158,509. Of these 55,597 were “armed 
 men,” and 11,365 “selected men.” “Artificers and pyoneers” numbered 
 13,105; “dcmi-launces,” 429; and the “light horse,” 3,037. The pro¬ 
 portion for Lancashire was as follows:—“Able men, 6,000; armed men, 
 3,600; artificers and pyoneers, 600; demi-launces, 12, and light horse, 
 90.” The hundred of Amounderness contributed “ 1 demi-launce, 5 light 
 horses, 2 corselettes, 17 cotes of Plate or Almaine Ryvettes, 11 pykes, 
 22 long bowes, 22 sheff (of arrows), 27 steelc cappes, 15 calivers, 
 20 murrions, and 10 billes.” The hundred of Leyland’s proportion was 
 “1 demylaunce, 11 light horses, 5 corselettes, 14 cotes of plate 
 Brigund rs or Almaine Ryvettes, 14 pykes, 70 stronge hoes, 70 sheffes 
 of arrowes, 70 steele cappes or scullcs, 10 culivers, 10 morians, and 49 
 
 q Birch’s MS. 
 
 r Harl. MSS. Cod. 1926. 
 
140 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 billes.” Blackburn hundred contributed “2 demi-launces, 13 light 
 horses, 14 corslettes, 34 cotes of plate or Almaine Eyvettes, 14 pykes, 
 112 large boes, 112 sheffe of arr., 109 steele cappes, 26 calivers, 27 
 morrians, and 90 billes.” 
 
 During the troubled period, which succeeded the first adoption of pro- 
 testant principles by Henry VIII. to the time of Elizabeth, many persons 
 preferred the sacrifice of their religious opinions to the honours and pains 
 of martyrdom. In reference to the general conduct of all classes, and, 
 especially the Lancashire people, Mr. Edward Baines makes the follow¬ 
 ing pertinent observations:— 
 
 “ The zeal of the Earl of Derby, in favour of the reformed faith, so warmly eulogized 
 by the queen, was the zeal of a convert, and, therefore, perhaps the more lively. In the 
 last reign, his lordship embraced the cause of popery, aud the committal of the intrepid 
 George Marsh to that dungeon from which he was liberated only to be conducted to the 
 stake, serves to show that sudden changes in religious faith were not con lined to priests 
 but that they were extended to nobles, and, to a certain extent, pervaded the whole people. 
 In the county of Lancaster there was more of consistency than in other parts of the 
 kingdom; and this is a principle which excites respect, even though it should be a con¬ 
 sistency in errror. # * The reformation was rapid in many parts. In the county 
 of Lancaster it was retrograde. The catholics multiplied, priests were harboured, the 
 book of common prayer, and the service of the church established by law, were laid 
 aside ; many of the churches were shut up, and the cures were unsupplied, unless by the 
 rejected catholics.’’^ 
 
 According to Archbishop Lee, the benefices of the inferior clergy, at that 
 time, were not worth more than four guineas per annum, of the money of 
 the period. 
 
 Elizabeth’s reign was disturbed by several plots, concocted with a view to 
 the restoration of the Homan catholic religion. The most important were, the 
 attempts to place Mary, Queen of Scots, upon the throne, and the 
 threatened invasion of England, by Philip, king of Spain. The execution 
 of Mary, at Eotheringay Castle, relieved Elizabeth from her formidable 
 competitor. It appeared, on her trial, that Cardinal Allen, a native of 
 Bossall, in Lancashire, then resident at Borne, had long been permitted 
 by Mary to treat her as the legitimate queen of England; and, in con¬ 
 junction with a jesuit, named Parsons, had entered into negociations, 
 with her consent, for the disinheriting of her protestant son, James VI., 
 of Scotland, and the securing of the succession, to the crown of England, 
 for Philip of Spain. 
 
 On the alarm of the threatened invasion by the “ invincible armada,” 
 the lieutenants of the various counties received orders from the queen to levy 
 men for the defence of the country. The gentry, magistrates, and free¬ 
 holders of the county of Lancaster, were summoned, at their “ uttermost 
 peril, “to meet Lord Strange, at Preston, on the 13th of July, 1588. That 
 
 s His. Lan., vol. 1, p. 511. 
 
N0BMAN CONQUEST TO JAMES I. 
 
 141 
 
 the armada might attempt to effect a landing in Lancashire, was, 
 at the time, considered very probable ; especially as the harbour of “Pille,” 
 on the Morecambe bay, opposite to Rossall point, was regarded, according 
 to the Lansdowne MSS., cod. 56, “ the very best haven for landinge with 
 great shyppes in all the southwest coast of England called St. George’s 
 Channel. 1 The same document further says :— 
 
 “ What the Spanyerd meanes to do the Lord knows, for all the countrye being knowne to 
 Doctor Allen, who was borne harde by the pyle,” (at Rossall Hal],) “ and the mhabytentes 
 ther aboutes all ynfected with his Romish poyson, it is not vnlike but his directione will 
 be vsed for some landinge there.” And further—One Thomas Prestone (a papyshe 
 atlieiste) is deputye steward, and eommaundes the menrede and landes ther, well were 
 sometyme members appertayning to the Abbeye of Fornes.” 
 
 The elements, conjoined to the bravery and skill of the English 
 sailors, under Lord Howard of Effingham, however, destroyed or dispersed 
 the apparently overwhelming naval power of Spain, and effectually freed 
 the countiy from the threatened danger. 
 
 The Rev. W. Thornber, in his History of Blackpool, says :— 
 
 “ Tradition mentions that one of their ships was driven upon the shore not far from 
 Rossall Point. In this dilemma it was attacked by the country people, instigated either 
 by a desire of plunder, or under the guidance of Fleetwood, the proprietor of the estate, 
 to capture it as a prize. The Spaniards, however, making a most desperate resistance, 
 escaped on the flowing of the tide, and, in revenge, saluted Rossall Hall with their guns. 
 In corroboration of tliis tradition, two cannon balls are produced, which were found on 
 the removal of the old walls of the mansion, and which, it is asserted, are the identical 
 ones fired by this stranded member of the armada. When the news of the total dis¬ 
 comfiture of the Spanish fleet arrived, our noble queen was engaged in feasting on a 
 Michaelmas goose, the whole country, for many a year afterwards, following the example 
 of the court, on the anniversary of that day, celebrated it by partaking of the same 
 excellent fare. Our villages still keep the same feast: the Michaelmas goose annually 
 6mokes on the board, in remembrance of the signal overthrow of the boast of Spain; 
 and the guests, notwithstanding the ban of tee-totalism, also imitate the queen in 
 digesting their supper with a cup of brandy.” 
 
 Notwithstanding the anathemas fulminated upon the head of Elizabeth, 
 by the pope, Sextus V., and his absolution of her subjects from their 
 allegiance, the catholics, as a body, remained faithful to the sovereign, 
 and contributed both ships and men for the defence of the kingdom. Yet 
 such was the virulence and rancour of religious antagonism at the time, 
 that this loyal and patriotic conduct, did not afterwards save them from 
 capital punishment, for such trilling offences against the law, as the har¬ 
 bouring of priests, admitting the supremacy of the pope, denying that of 
 the queen, or receiving ordination on the continent. Religious persecution 
 was not, however, directed solely against the Roman catholics. Noncon¬ 
 formists, of every denomination, under the generic title of recusants, were 
 subjected to similar pains and penalties. 
 
 t The endorsement to this document slightly contradicts the opinion expressed in the text. It 
 runs thus “ Touchinge a place called the Pille, in Lancashire, a dangerous place for Landinge.” 
 
142 
 
 PEESTON AND ITS ENVIBONS. 
 
 Camden, the historian, topographer, and antiquary, in the reign of 
 Elizabeth, mentions Preston as “ a large, and for these parts, handsome 
 and populous townie, so called from religious persons, as much as to say 
 Priest’s-Towne. Preston is vulgarly called Preston in Andemesse, for 
 Acmundesse-nesse, for so the Saxons called this part of the country which 
 runs out with a long compass between Ribill and Cocar, and forms a pro¬ 
 montory resembling a nose, and afterwards called Agmondemess.” 
 
 Elizabeth confirmed the charters granted to the borough of Preston 
 by her predecessors, and accorded several additional privileges to the 
 burgesses. u 
 
 In the reign of Elizabeth, a family quarrel, with a fatal termination, 
 occurred near Preston. The particulars illustrate, in a powerful manner, 
 the despotic and arbitrary character of the ancient baronial chieftains, and 
 their disregard for law and order, when their pride or interest was in any 
 way compromised. It appears, a feud had existed for some years between 
 the families of Mr. Hoghton, of Lea, in the parish of Preston, and Langton, 
 baron of Walton and Newton, in Makerfield. The latter, desirous of 
 avenging some past indignity, made cause with a widow Singleton, whose 
 cattle had been impounded by his rival. The baron assembled about 
 eighty of his tenants and retainers, marched them to the residence of Mr. 
 Hoghton, and challenged that gentleman and his friends to combat. 
 Finding his house surrounded by his enemies, Mr. Hoghton sallied forth at 
 the head of about thirty followers. A regular battle ensued, in which 
 Mr. Hoghton and his retainer, Richard Baldwin, lost their lives. A 
 magisterial investigation of the affair took place at Preston, when the 
 parties were committed for trial, at the following assizes, for wilful murder. 
 Through the influence of the earl of Derby, who solicited the interest of 
 the high-treasurer, Burleigh, a petition from forty-seven of the belli¬ 
 gerents, soliciting the queen’s pardon, was favourably received. Another 
 petition, from the widow of the deceased Mr. Hoghton, concurring in its 
 prayer, was likewise forwarded. Through this joint effort, a pardon was 
 obtained for the combative baron. In order to effect this compromise, 
 however, Langton entered into an engagement, by which he transferred to 
 the heir of his late rival, as some compensation for the loss of his parent, 
 the valuable manor and estate of Walton-le-dale. * v 
 
 u See Municipal History, chap, vi., of the present volume. 
 
 v Burke in the Peerage and Baronetage, says:—“Thomas Hoghton, Esq., -who served the office 
 of sheriff of Lancashire in the 6th year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, fell in a duel with 
 Langton, of Newton, commonly called Baron of Walton and Newton, in the 49th year of the same 
 reign.” 
 
 “ A riot not very dissimilar to that which occurred in 1589, took place at the manor house at 
 Lea, in the parish of Preston, in 1633, for which the offenders were prosecuted in the court of star- 
 chamber, where Sir Kichard Hoghton was fined £100, and other two of the rioters £50 each.” 
 —Edward Baines’s History of Lancashire, voi. 2, p. 4. 
 
NORMAN CONQUEST TO JAMES I. 
 
 143 
 
 After the introduction of the art of printing, England made great pro¬ 
 gress in the march of civilization; yet, even up to the time of Elizabeth, 
 many domestic comforts, regarded at the present day as necessities by the 
 humblest, were unknown. According to Erasmus, the people were 
 generally dirty and slovenly in their habits, and to this he attributes 
 the virulence of the numerous plagues with which the country had, 
 from time to time, been infested. He describes the floors of the houses 
 as made of “ clay, and strewed with rushes, under which lay, unmolested, 
 an ancient collection of beer, grease, fragments, bones, spittle, excrement 
 of dogs and cats, and everything that is nasty.” 
 
 Holinshed, who lived in Elizabeth’s reign, states that there was scarcely 
 a chimney to any of the houses in large towns; the smoke foimd its way 
 through the roof, or out at the door or windows. The walls of the 
 houses were nothing but wattling, plastered over with clay. The people 
 slept on straw pallets, with a good round log under their heads for a pillow. 
 Alm ost all the furniture and utensils were of wood. The streets of large 
 towns, such as Manchester, Livei’pool, and Preston, were unpaved. 
 
 The castles and houses of the nobility and gentry were very sumptuous, 
 of their kind; and hospitality of the most profuse character was 
 generally practised by the wealthy barons. The apartments were, never¬ 
 theless, often in a most filthy condition."' 
 
 Much impi’ovement in general manners, social comforts, and domestic 
 appliances, however, took place in the reign of Elizabeth. Holinshed 
 notices the superior style of entertainment at the inns in Lancaster, 
 Preston, etc. In his cpraint manner, he informs the reader, that they were 
 well furnished with “napierie, bedding, and tapisscrie,” and that “each 
 commer is sure to lie in cleane sheets wherein no man hath been lodged 
 since they came from the laundress.” 
 
 John de Brentford, speaking of Lancashire, about this period, says :— 
 
 “ The manners and customs of the inhabitants of Lancashire are similar to those of 
 the neighbouring counties, except that the people eat with two-pronged forks! The 
 men are masculine, and, in general, well made; they ride and limit the same as in the 
 most southern parts, but not with that grace, owing to the whip being earned in the left 
 hand. The women are most handsome; their eyes brown, black, hazel, blue, or grey ; 
 their noses, if not inclined to aquiline, are mostly of the Grecian form, whicli gives a 
 most beautiful archness to the countenance ; such, indeed, as is not easy to be described. 
 Their fascinating manners have long procured them the name of Lancashire Witches.” 
 
 Camden, to some extent, corroborates this. He says :— 
 
 “ The goodly and fresh complexion of the natives does sufficiently evince the goodness 
 of this county; nay and the cattle too, if you will; for in the oxen, which have huge 
 horns, and proportionate bodies, you will find nothing of that perfection wanting that 
 
 w See page 106. 
 
144 
 
 PEESTON AND ITS ENYIBONS. 
 
 Mayo the Carthagenian, in Columella required.” “This Soil, (Amounderness), bears 
 Oats pretty well, but is not so good for barley; it makes excellent pasture especially 
 towards the Sea, where it is partly Champain; whence a great part of it is call’d the 
 File, probably for the Field. But being in other places Fenny, ’tisreckond less whole- 
 som. In many places along the Coast there are heaps of Sand, upon which they now 
 and then pour water, till it grows saltish, and then with turf boyl it into a white Salt. 
 Here are also some Quicksands so hazardous to Travellers who think to shorten their 
 Journey when the Tide is out, that they are in danger of being shipwrack’d and sunk 
 in a Land Journey , (as Sidonius expresses it), especially near the mouth of the Cockar, 
 where in a field of Quicksands stood Cockar sand-Abbey, formerly a small Monastery of 
 the Cluniacks, situated between the mouth of the Cockar, and the Lune or Lane, with 
 a large view of the Irish Sea.” 
 
 The introduction of the art of printing, in 1474, effected a remarkable 
 change in the manners, habits, and tastes of the people. Books, instead of 
 being confined to the libraries of the clergy and a few of the wealthy 
 nobles, began to he eagerly sought for by the more intelligent of the middle 
 class. Literature and the arts met with increased patronage. The result 
 was, that the youthful national intellect rapidly matured, and laid the 
 foundation of much of the after prosperity and glory of Great Britain. 
 The age that produced such minds as Shakspere, Bacon, Spencer, Raleigh, 
 Sidney, and a host of other illustrious men, will ever command the 
 gratitude and reverence of Englishmen, and form one of the most bril¬ 
 liantly illuminated pages consecrated to the record of the gradual 
 development of the genius and enterprise inherent in the Anglo-Saxon 
 race. 
 
JAMES I. TO THE 1U2ST01UT10N. 
 
 145 
 
 PART I.—HISTORICAL. 
 
 CHAPTER IV.—FROM JAMES I. TO THE “ RESTORATION.” 
 
 Lancashire gentry Knighted—Institution of the hereditary honour and title of Baronet 
 —Plague—Gunpowder Plot—Witchcraft— Dr. Dee and Edward Kelley : Demonology 
 at Walton-le-Dale—James the First’s progress through Lancashire : Festivities at 
 Myerscough, Preston, and Hoghton Tower—Alum Mines at Samlesbury—Petition of 
 Lancashire people in favour of Sunday recreation—Book of Sports—Traditions 
 relating to the King’s visit to Hoghton—Civil War between Charles I. and his Par¬ 
 liament—Meeting on Preston Moor—Seizure of Military Stores at Preston, Liverpool, 
 and Manchester—Alexander Rigby, M.P., Sir Gilbert Hoghton, Bart., Lord Strange, 
 Sir Tlios. Tildesley, etc., at Walton Hall—Threatened outbreak at Preston —Fracas at 
 Manchester—Commencement of Hostilities-—Siege of Manchester—Battle of Edge 
 Hill—Defeat of the Earl of Derby, near Chowbent—Battles of Hinfield Moor and 
 Ribble Bridge : Defeat of Sir Gilbert Hoghton—Victory of the Earl of Derby’s 
 troops, near Wigan—Meeting of Royalists, at Preston—Ruse at Salesbury Hall, near 
 Ribchester—First Siege of Preston: Surrender of the town to Sir John Seaton— 
 Death of Adam Morte—Surrender of Hoghton Tower to Captain Starkie: Disastrous 
 Explosion, and Destruction of the Fortress—Siege of Lancaster—Successful Surprise 
 of Preston, by the Earl of Derby : Destruction of the Fortifications—Wigan taken 
 by Col. Ashton—Capture of Tliurland Castle, by Col. Rigby—Sequestration of 
 Estates—Lord Byron’s Successes in Cheshire—Defeat of Byron at Nantwich—First 
 Siege of Lathom House: Gallant Defence by the Countess of Derby—Capture of 
 Bolton by Prince Rupert and the Earl of Derby—Surrender of Liverpool—Battle of 
 Marston Moor—Retreat of Rupert into Lancashire—Seizure of the Mayor and 
 Bailiffs of Preston—Shuttleworth’s Victory at Ribble Bridge—Defeat of the Royalists 
 at Ormskirk, and re-capture of Liverpool, by Sir John Meldrum—Distress in Lan¬ 
 cashire—Battle of Naseby—Second Siege of Lathom House: Capture of the 
 Fortress—Surrender of the King—Great Battle of Preston, in 1648 : Defeat of 
 Langdale and the Duke of Hamilton, by Oliver Cromwell—Famine and Plague— 
 Execution of Charles I.—Establishment of the Commonwealth—Passage of Charles II. 
 through Lancashire—Landing of the Earl of Derby, at Wyre—Lilburne’s Pursuit of 
 the Royalists to Ribble Bridge—Battle of Wigan Lane: Defeat of the Earl of Derby, 
 and Death of Sir Thomas Tildesley—Battle of Worcester—Charles II. a fugitive— 
 Capture and Execution of the Earl of Derby—Death of Cromwell—The Restoration 
 —Value of Property in the Boroughs of Lancashire. 
 
 By the accession of Janies I., England and Scotland became united under 
 one head. Immediately after the issuing of the proclamation declaring 
 James king of England, the gentry of Lancashire forwarded to the 
 monarch “ a loyal and dutiful response.” Sir Thomas Holcroft, Sir 
 Edmund Trafford, and Sir Thomas Gcrrard, from Lancashire, were amongst 
 
 L 
 
146 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 the nobility and gentry who met the king at York, and received the 
 honour of knighthood at his hands. This distinction was shortly after- 
 Avards conferred upon several other Lancashire gentlemen, viz., Sir 
 Thomas Hesketh, Sir Thomas Walmsley, Sir Alexander Barlow, Sir 
 Edward Stanley, Sir Thomas Langton, Sir William Norris, and Sir Gilbert 
 Hoghton, eldest son of Sir Richard Hoghton, of Hoghton Tower. 
 
 In 1616, James instituted the hereditary honour and title of baronet. 
 Amongst the first eighteen knights elevated to this rank, are Sir Richard 
 Hoghton, of Hoghton Tower; Sir Thomas Gerrard, of Bryn, and Sir 
 Richard Holyneux, of Sefton, in the county of Lancaster. The fees paid 
 on the occasion were devoted towards the subjugation of the province of 
 Ulster, in Ireland. The arms of each baronet, in allusion to the origin of 
 the dignity, include the bloody hand in a field argent, previously embla¬ 
 zoned as the heraldic device of the invaded province. 
 
 Soon after James’s accession, a plague broke out in London, which 
 carried away about one-fifth of the then inhabitants. In the folloAving 
 year, it spread into Lancashire, where it raged for some time with great 
 virulence. 
 
 The most memorable event in the reign of James is the celebrated 
 “popish plot,” for the destruction of the king, and the members of both 
 houses of parliament. Lord Monteagle, the nobleman who, informed by 
 a mysterious and anonymous epistle of the danger, divulged the fact to 
 the authorities, was himself a Roman catholic, a member of the house of 
 Stanley, and the depository of the title and honour earned by the gallant 
 Sir William Stanley, at Elodden. Peter Heywood, Esq., of Heywood, 
 the individual by whom Guy Fawkes was apprehended, was an active 
 magistrate of the county of Lancaster. 
 
 Dui-ing the reign of James, the superstitious belief in witchcraft and 
 demonology reached its climax, and Lancashire shared in the popular 
 delusion to a very great extent. Eaith in the powers and fascinations of 
 “ Lancashire witches,” is, by no means, extinct at the present day ; but 
 the character of their spells, as well as the age and personal charms of the 
 insidious professors, has undergone a complete metamorphosis. The change 
 has, doubtless, been productive of a large increase of social and domestic 
 happiness, in more senses than one. So infatuated were the people, 
 generally, respecting this absurd superstition, that the king himself thought 
 it not beneath his dignity to publish a tract upon the subject, which has 
 perpetuated, not only his shallow-pated credulity, but his petty in¬ 
 tolerance. He professes his object to have been to “ resolve the doubting 
 hearts of many, both that such assaults of Satan are certainly practised, 
 
JAMES I. TO THE EESTOEATION. 
 
 147 
 
 and that the instruments thereof merit most severely to be punished ; against 
 the damnable opinions of those who are not ashamed in publicke print to 
 deny that there can be such a thing as witchcraft; and so maintain the 
 old error of the Sadduces in the denying of spirits.” 
 
 The principal locality patronised by the Lancashire witches of old for 
 their conferences, and the performance of their pretended incantations, 
 was Malkin Tower, in Pendle forest, in the parish of Whalley. At the 
 Lancaster assizes, in 1612, not less than nineteen persons were tried for 
 this supposed crime. Their names and professional aliases were as fol¬ 
 low :—Elizabeth Southern, widow, alias Old Demdike; Elizabeth Device, 
 alias Young Demdike, her daughter; James Device, the son of Young 
 Demdike; Alizon Device, the daughter of Young Demdike; Anne 
 Whittle, widow, alias Chattox, alias Chatter-box, Old Demdike’s rival; 
 Anne Kedfeme, daughter of Anne Chattox; Alice Nutter; Katherine 
 Heweytt, alias Mould-heeles; Jane Bulcock, of the Mosse End; John 
 Bulcock, her son; Isabel Roby ; Margaret Peerson, of Padiham; Jennet 
 Bierley, Ellen Bierley, Jane Southworth, John Ramsden, Elizabeth 
 Astley, Alice Grey, Isabel Sidgreaves, and Lawrence Haye. 
 
 The twelve first mentioned are described as “ Witches of Pendle Forest,” 
 and the latter eight as “ Witches of Samlesbury,” near Preston. Not¬ 
 withstanding the improbable and frivolous character of the evidence 
 adduced, ten of the Pendle practitioners fell victims to a combination of 
 their own impostures and the credulity of the age. The old witch 
 Demdike died in prison, and thus escaped the fate of her rivals and com¬ 
 panions, who were hanged, king James having, in his sapient treatise, 
 expressly pronounced “ those detestible slaues of the Diuel, the witches or 
 enchanters,” unworthy of the royal clemency. 
 
 Respecting the trial of the Samlesbury offenders, Mr. Baines gives the 
 following particulars:— 
 
 “Against Jane Bierley, Ellen Bierley, and Jane Southwortli, of Samleshury, charged 
 with having bewitched Grace Sowerbutts, at that place; the only material evidence 
 adduced was that of Grace Sowerbutts herself, a girl of licentious and vagrant habits, 
 who swore that these women, one of them being her grandmother, did draw her by the 
 hair of the head, and lay her upon the top of a hay mow, and did take her senses and 
 memory from her ; that they appeared to her sometimes in their own likeness, and 
 sometimes like a black dog. She further deposed that by their arts they prevailed upon 
 her to join their sisterhood; and that they were met from time to time by four black 
 things going upright, and yet not like men in the face; who conveyed them across the 
 Ribble, where they danced with them, and then each retired to hold dalliance with her 
 familiar, conformable, no doubt, to the doctrine of Incubi and Succubi, as promulgated 
 by the royal demonologist. To consummate their atrocities, the prisoners bewitched and 
 slew a child of Thomas Walslnnan’s by placing a nail in its navel; and after its burial 
 they took up the corpse, when they ate part of the flesh and made ‘ an unxious oint¬ 
 ment,’ by boiling the bones. This was more than even the capacious credulity of the 
 judge and jury could digest; the Samlesbury witches were therefore acquitted, and a 
 
148 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 seminary priest of tlie name of Thompson, alias Southworth, was suspected by two 
 county magistrates, to whom the affair was afterwards referred, of having instigated 
 Sowerbutts to make the charge ; but this imputation was not supported by any satis¬ 
 factory evidence. John Ramsden, Elizabeth Astley, Alice Grey, Isabel Sidegreaves, and 
 Lawrence Haye, were all discharged without trial.” a 
 
 The “Iter Laneastrense,” a Poem, written in 1636, by the Rev. Rd. 
 Jones, B.D, has the following pertinent lines on the subject:— 
 
 “ Penigent, Pendle hill, Ingleborough, 
 
 Three such hills be not all England thorough : 
 
 I long to climb up Pendle ; Pendle stands. 
 
 Round cop, survaying all ye wilde moore lands, 
 
 And Malkins Toure, b a little cottage where 
 
 Reporte makes caitive witches meete to sweare 
 
 Their homage to ye divell, and contrive 
 
 The deaths of men and beasts. Lett who will dive 
 
 Into this banefull search, I wonder much 
 
 If judges sentence with belief on such 
 
 Doth passe: then sure they would not for lewd gaine 
 
 Bad clients fauour, or putt good to paine 
 
 Of long pursuite ; for terror of ye fiend 
 
 Or loue of God they would giue causes end 
 
 With equall justice. Yet I doe confesse, 
 
 Needs must strainge phansies poore ould wiues possesse, 
 
 Wlioe in those desert mystie moores do liue 
 Hungrie and colde, and scarce see priest to giue 
 Them ghostlye counsell. Churches farre doe stand 
 In lay mens hands, and chappells bane no land 
 To cherish learned Curates, though Sir Jhon 
 Doe preach for foure pounds vnto Haselingdon. 
 
 Such yeerely rent, with right of hegging eorne,c 
 Makes Jhon a sharer in my Ladyes home; 
 
 He drinks and prayes, and fortie yeeres this life 
 Leading, at home keepes children and a wife. 
 
 Theis are ye wonders of our carelesse dayes ; 
 
 Small store serves him whoe for ye people prayes.” d 
 The practice of witchcraft was not always associated with decrepid old 
 women, or withered and helpless wrestlers with poverty, even of the 
 sterner sex. The celebrated Dr. Dee, warder of the Collegiate Church, 
 Manchester, considered the suspicions, loudly expressed, respecting his own 
 studies and practices, demanded a public refutation. In a petition 
 to the king, the learned doctor says:—“ It has been affirmed that your 
 
 a His. Lan., vol. I. p. 600. 
 
 b “Baines confounds Malkin Tower with Hoar-stones” (Boundary Stones), “a place rendered 
 famous by the second case of pretended witchcraft in 1633, but at some distance from the first 
 named spot, the residence of Mother Demdike, which lies in the township of Barrowford. The 
 witch’s mansion is now alas! no more. It stood in a field a little elevated on a brow above the 
 building at present called Malkin Tower. The site of the house or cottage is still distinctly trace¬ 
 able, and fragments of the plaster are yet to be found embedded in the boundary wall of the field. 
 The old road to Gisborne ran almost close to it.”—Rev. T. Corser. ’ 
 c “ Hegging corn." Probably an error for begging corn. Mr. Ormerod mentions such a custom 
 existed in Cheshire. The clerk of Rochdale parish held such a privilege about 1692.—Corser. 
 
 d MS. Bodleian Library, Oxford. Published by the Cheetham Society, Manchester, and edited 
 by the Rev. Thos. Cor6er, M.A. 
 
JA3IES I. TO THE RESTORATION'. 
 
 149 
 
 majesty’s suppliant was the conjurer belonging to the most honourable 
 privy council of your majesty’s predecessor, of famous memory, queen 
 Elizabeth ; and that he is, or hath been, a caller or invocator of devils, or 
 damned spirits.” He further observes, emphatically: “ These slanders 
 which have tended to his utter undoing, can no longer be endured ; and if 
 on his trial he is found guilty of the offence imputed to him, he offers 
 himself willingly to the punishment of death ; yea either to be stoned to 
 death, or to be buried quick, or to be burned unmercifully.” 
 
 Notwithstanding this indignant protest of the erudite astrologer, many of 
 his studies and experiments might, at that day, have been deemed by a 
 jury of his countrymen equally criminal with the supposed sorceries of 
 the Pendle or Samlesbury witches. 
 
 The doctor occasionally associated with men whose practices were of a 
 very equivocal character. He was intimate with the renowned Edward 
 Kelley, and, perhaps, owes a considerable portion of his reputation for 
 sorcery to this connection. One of Kelley’s most famous exploits was 
 performed in the village of Walton. It is difficult to determine the pre¬ 
 cise nature of the means by which his impostures were perpetrated; but, 
 it is more than probable, ventriloquism formed no unimportant item in the 
 conjurer’s list of accomplishments. This performance is recorded with 
 characteristic gravity and moral horror by Weaver, in his work, entitled 
 “ Funerall Monuments,” printed in 1631. He says :— 
 
 “ Kelley (otherwise called Talbot), that famous English alcliymist of our times, who 
 flying out of his owne countrey (after he had lost both his eares at Lancaster) was enter¬ 
 tained with Rudolph the second, and last of that Christian name, Emperour of Germany; 
 for whom Elizabeth, of famous memory, sent (very secretly) Captaine Peter Guinne, with 
 some others, to persuade him to returne backe to his owne natiue home; which hee was 
 willing to doe ■ and thinking to escape away in the night, by stealth, as lie was clam- 
 mering ouor a wall in his owne house in Prague (which beares his name to this day, and 
 which sometime was an old Sanctuary) he fell downe from the battlements, broke his 
 legges, and bruised his body ; of which hurts within a while after he departed tliis 
 world. 
 
 “ Sed quorsum hcec, you will say : then thus, This diabolicall questioning of the dead, 
 for the knowledge of future accidents, was put in practise by the aforesaid Kelley ,- who, 
 vpon a certaine night, in the Parke of Walton in le dale, in the county of Lancaster, 
 with one Paul Waring (his fellow companion in such deeds of darknesse) inuocated some 
 of the infernall regiment, to knowe certaine passages in the life, as also what might bee 
 knowne by the deuil’s foresight, of the manner and time of the death of a noble young 
 Gentleman, as then in his wardship. The blacke ceremonies of that night being ended, 
 Kelley demanded of one of the Gentlemans seruants, what corse was the last buried in 
 Law-church-yard, a Church thereunto adioyning, who told him of a poore man that 
 was buried there but the same day. e Hee and the said Waring intreated tliis aforesaid 
 seruant, to go with them to the graue of the man so lately interred, which he did; and 
 withall did helpe them to digge up the carcase of the poore eaitiffe, whom by their 
 incantations, they made him (or rather some euil spirit through his Organs) to speake, 
 who deliuered strange predictions concerning the said Gentleman. I was told thus much 
 by the said Seruingman, a secondary actor in that dismall abliorrid businesse: and 
 
 c “ Law ” church is Walton church. “ Law ” signifies a hill or mound.—[See p. 66.] 
 
150 
 
 PKESTOX AND ITS EXYIKOX3. 
 
 diuers gentlemen, and others, arc now liuing in Lancashire to whom he hath related this 
 story. And the Gentleman himselfe (whose memorie I am bound to honour) told me a 
 little before his death, of this coniuration by Kelley ; as he had it by relation from his 
 said Servant and Tenant; onely some circumstances excepted, which he thought not 
 fitting to come to his master’s knowledge.” 
 
 In 1663, another gang of witches was hunted np in Pendle Forest, sent 
 to Lancaster, and the whole, seventeen in number, condemned to die. The 
 judge, however, granted a respite; and, eventually, Charles I., by royal 
 clemency, conferred upon the wretched people a free pardon. 
 
 The exploits of the witches of Lancashire were so notorious at this 
 period, that a comedy on the subject was produced at the Globe theatre, 
 written by Thomas Heywood and Richard Brown. Another drama, about 
 eighty years afterwards, written by Shadwell, depicted the exploits of Old 
 Demdike and her companions. The subject has latterly furnished the 
 groundwork for Harrison Ainsworth’s popular novel, “The Lancashire 
 Witches.” It is not improbable that Dame Demdike and her compeers 
 may have contributed to the “ raw material ” from which Shakspere 
 fashioned his celebrated “ weird sisters,” in Macbeth. The date of the 
 tragedy is not known with certainty. It must, however, have been one 
 of his later productions. Demdike was tided in 1612, and Shakspere died 
 in 1616. 
 
 The severe laws relative to the supposed practice of demonology and 
 witchcraft, enacted by James, were continued in force for upwards of a 
 century. They were not expunged from the statute book till the ninth 
 year of the reign of George II. 
 
 In country districts, in the neighbourhood of Preston, as well as else¬ 
 where, this superstitious belief in the powers of witchcraft still lingers, 
 though in a much milder and, comparatively, harmless form. This is 
 attested by the common expression, “ surely, the thing’s bewitched,” 
 applied to a child, or an inanimate object even, that, from any cause or 
 other, appears doggedly to resist the will or labour of the locutor. The 
 horse-shoe, so often found nailed on or over the door of a rustic building, 
 the charms and fortune-telling practices of wandering gipsies, as well as 
 occasional cases of successful imposture, which have called for magisterial 
 interference, abundantly demonstrate the fact, that superstitions amongst 
 the uneducated survive, for a lengthened period, their consignment, by 
 cultivated intelligence, to the lumber room of the past. 
 
 James I., on his return from a visit to his native country, in 1617, 
 passed through Lancashire, and partook of the hospitality of the lord 
 Gerard, at Ashton Hall; of Edward Tildesley, Esq., at Myerscough; of 
 the mayor and corporation of Preston; of Sir Richard Hoghton, Bart., 
 at Hoghton Tower, and of William, earl of Derby, at Lathom House. 
 
JAMES I. TO THE RESTORATION. 
 
 151 
 
 While at Hoghton Tower, the king conferred the honour of knighthood 
 upon Sir Arthur Lake, of Middlesex, and Sir Cecil Trafford, of Lancashire. 
 At Lathom, similar marks of royal favour were extended to the following 
 Lancashire gentlemen :—Sir John Talhot, of Preston ; Sir Gilbert Clifton, 
 Sir William Massy, Sir Robert Bendloes, Sir Gilbert Ireland, of the Hutt, 
 and Sir Edward Olbaston. 
 
 A private journal, kept by Nicholas Assheton, Esq., of Downham, in 
 the parish of Whatley, describes, in quaint but forcible language, the 
 “doings” of the royal party during his majesty’s sojourn in the neigh¬ 
 bourhood of Preston. It throws some light, too, upon the domestic habits 
 and social enjoyments of the period. The following extracts have reference 
 to the king’s visit:— 
 
 “June 1. Sunday. Mr. O. P. moved my brother Sherborne f from Sir Richard 
 Houghton, to do him such favour, countenance, grace, and curtesie, as to weare his 
 clothe, and attend him at Houghton, at the king’s coming in August, as divers other 
 Gentlemen were moved and would. He likewise moved me. 1 answered I would bee 
 willing, and redie to doe Sir Richard anie service. 
 
 “August 11. My brother Sherborne his taylor brought him a suit of apparall 
 and us two others, and a livery cloake from Sir Richard Houghton, that w'e should 
 attend him at the King’s coming, rather for his grace aud reputation, shoeing his 
 neibor’s love, then any exacting of mean service. 
 
 “August 12. Coz Townley came and broke his fast at Dunnoe, and went away. To 
 
 Mirescough. Sir Richard gone to meet the King; we after him to- There 
 
 the King slipt into the Forest another way.S and we after and overtook him, and 
 went past to the yate ; then Sir Richard light; and when the King came in his coach. 
 Sir Richard stept to his side, and tould him ther his Majesties Forest began, and went 
 some ten roodes to the left, and then to the Lodge, the King hunted and killed a buck. 
 
 “ August 13. To Mirescough, the Comt. Cooz, Assheton came with as gentlemanlie 
 servants as any was ther, and himself excellently well appointed. The King killed five 
 bucks. The Kinge’s speeche about libertie to pipeing and honest recreation. We that 
 were in Sir Richard’s livery had nothing to do but riding upp and downed 1 
 
 f Mr. Sherborne was brother-in-law to Mr. Assheton. 
 
 g “ The ‘ Duchy Park lands,’ as those embraced within the limits of the forest are called at the 
 Duchy office, are held on lease from the Crown by Messrs. William and John Humber, of Preston 
 merchants, and the former resides at Myerscough Hall, the property of James Greenhalgh, Esq. 
 
 “It appears to be probable that the king slipt into the forest, at some part of the extreme 
 southern boundary, a little to the west of the White Horse public house, as the other gentlemen of 
 the royal party, ‘ went past to the yate,’ that is to the point now known as Park-head Gate, being 
 about seven yards from the boundary of the forest, and close to Hankinson House. The forest, from 
 the south, began at the boundary of the present Park-head farm, and there are still the remains of 
 an ancient direct road leading to the Lodge and two venerable yew trees are pointed out, between 
 an avenue of which tradition reports that the road passed.”—Rev. F. R. Raines’s Annotations, pub¬ 
 lished by the Cheetliam Society. 
 
 h “ Myerscough Lodge had the distinguished honour of receiving and entertaining two royal 
 visitors. The visit mentioned in this journal, when James 1. remained with Edward Tyldesley, Esq., 
 three, but, according to another authority, only two nights, (Cole’s MSS. Brit. Mus. vol. 
 xlvi. p. 257), and the other on the 13th August, 1651, when Charles II. ‘ lodged one night at 
 Myerscoe, Sir Thomas Tyldesley’s house;’ at that time and previously known as ‘ the Lodge.’ 
 
 “ The deer were in existence within the memory of aged persons now living, but were destroyed 
 about the year 1778. The park was not walled or fenced, but laid open. 
 
 “ Myerscough House, and not the Lodge, as stated by Mr. Nichols, was formerly the seat of 
 Charles Gibson, Esq. (maternal grandfather of Charles R. Jacson, of Barton Lodge, Esq.), but is now 
 the property of John Cunliffe, Esq. It is not situated within the forest.”—Rev. F. R. Raines. 
 
152 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 “ August 14. Us three to Preston ; ther preparation made for Sir Gilbert Houghton 
 and other Knights.i Wee were desyred to he merrie, and at nyght were soe. Steeven 
 Hamerton and wyffe, and Mrs. Doll Lyster supped with us att our lodging. All Preston 
 full. 
 
 “August 15. King came to Preston. Ther, at the Crosse, Mr. Beares, the lawyer, 
 made a Speeche and the Corporation presented him with a bowle; j and then the King 
 went to a banquet in the Town Hall, and so away to Houghton ; ther a speeche made. 
 # * The King hunted and killed a stag. We attend on the Lords’ table. 
 
 “ August 16. Houghton. The King hunting; a great companie; killed affore 
 dinner a brace of staggs. Yerie hot; soe he went into dinner. Wee attend the Lords’ 
 table,k and about four o’clock the King went downe to the allome-mynes,l and was ther 
 an bower, viewed them preciselie, and then went and shott at a stagg, and missed. 
 Then my Lord Compton had lodged two brace. The King shott again and brake the 
 tliigh bone. A dogg long in coming, and my Lord Compton shott again, and killed him. 
 Late in to supper. 
 
 “August 17. Houghton. Wee served the Lords with biskett, wyne and jellie. The 
 Bushopp of Chester, Dr. Morton, preached before the King. To dinner. About four 
 
 i Sir Gilbert Hoghton, eldest son and successor of Sir Richard, was knighted at Whitehall 21st 
 July, 1604. He “ was in high favour with James and had the honour to be his majesty’s servant at 
 court. Sir Gilbert was celebrated for his elegant accomplishments, and especially in dancing. He 
 frequently took part in the beautiful masques in this reign, and is even mentioned by name in Ben 
 Johnson’s Anti-masque, ‘ For the Honour of Wales,’ presented before the king and his courtiers 
 in 1618-19.”—Raines. 
 
 j “ The records of the corporation of Preston have been searched in vain for an account of this 
 royal visit. The Crosse was taken down a few years ago, and a tinted lithographic sketch of it was 
 published as it appeared in the year 1274,—but from the style of the architecture it may be allow¬ 
 able to infer that such a structure never existed except in the mind of the artist.”—Raines.—[See 
 description of the Market-place in the topographical portion of this work.] 
 
 k “ A relic of old feudal manners, under which every rank served at the tables of their immediate 
 superiors.”—Dr. Whitaker. 
 
 1 “ Sir Richard Hoghton set up a very profitable mine of alum nigh unto Hoghton Tower, in the 
 hundred of Blackburn, within these few years, where store of very good alome was made and sold.” 
 — Webster's History of Metals. 
 
 “The alum mines were held on a joint lease from the Duchy by Mr. Ramsay and Lady Sarah 
 Hoghton, a little before the Restoration, and the latter lessee entered into certain articles of agree¬ 
 ment with Captain James Benson, in 1658, to work her ladyship’s portion of the min es. These 
 terms appear to have been more advantageous for the lady than for the captain, and in the following 
 year the works failed, and the lessee was ruined, his estate being seized by his creditors, and himself 
 imprisoned. He published (in twenty small quarto pages, about the year 1659) ‘ A relation of James 
 Season’s undertaking the making of allum at the allum work in Lancashire, truly opening ("opened l) 
 and the instrumental causes of his present condition set forth.’ He states that he found some sympathy 
 in his losses from his cousin, Mr. Justice Sharpies, of Blackburn, and from Major John Wiggin, 
 but Dr. Fife, Major Ashurst, and Mr. Thomas Wilson, ‘ who had been great contrivers and assistants 
 to my Lady,’ from ‘ professed friends became secret and sure enemies.’ The captain desired that 
 Lady Hoghton should make him some reparation for his losses, according to the agreement; but 
 she declined doing so, which led him to say that he received * 1 the hardest measure that ever poor 
 man received from any persons professing truly to fear God,’ and that he ‘ would never have any 
 more to do with any business that concerned her ladyship’s honour.’ His wish to refer the case to 
 the arbitration of any two or four godly divines, Mr. Eaton and Mr. Tildesley being of the number, 
 was disregarded, and his real or imaginary wrongs remained unredressed. This appears to have 
 been tbe termination of the working of the alum mines.”—Raines.—[The alum min es were worked 
 to a much later period. See p. 4.] 
 
 Captain Benson was bailiff of the borough of Preston, in 1644. ne was seized, together with the 
 mayor, William Cottam, esq., by Prince Rupert, in September, 1644, after the battle of Marston 
 Moor, and imprisoned in Skipton Castle for eleven months, for his leaning towards the principles 
 professed by the Parliamentarians, 
 
JAMES I, TO THE RESTOKATION. 
 
 153 
 
 o’clock tlier was a rush-bearing m and pipeing afore them, affore the King in the Middle 
 Court. Then to supp. Then about ten or eleven o’clock a Maske of Noblemen, 
 Knights, Gentlemen, and Courtiers, afore the King in the middle round in the garden. 
 Some speeches; of the rest dancing the Huckler, Tom Bedlo, and the Cowp Justice of 
 Peace.n 
 
 “ August 18. The King went away aboot twelve to Lathome. There was a man 
 almost slayne with fighting. Wee back with Sir Richard. He to seller, and drunk 
 with us kindlie in all manner of frindlie speake. Preston j as merrie as Robin Hood, 
 and all his fellowes. 
 
 “ August 19. All this morning wee plaid the Bacchanalians.” o 
 
 m “A Lancashire specimen of ‘ honest recreation,’ suited, no doubt, to the taste of James. The 
 whole scene to a feeling or serious mind is disgusting; a strange medley of dancing, drinking, 
 pipeing, ‘ rush-bearing,’ and preaching, heightened by the unfeeling mention of the King’s maiming 
 a noble animal for his sport. I cannot conceive that Bishop Morton would find himself quite at 
 ease in the midst of such a scene.”—Dr. Whitaker. 
 
 n “ A Speeche made to Kinge James at his coming to Hoghton Tower by two conceaved to be the 
 Household Gods ; the first attyr’d in a purple taffata mantle, in one hand a palm-tree branch, on his 
 head a garland of the same, and in the other hand a dogge :— 
 
 This day, great King for government admir’d! 
 
 Which these thy subjects have so much desired, 
 
 Shall be kept holy in their heart’s best treasure 
 And vow’d to James as is this month to Ccesar. 
 
 And now the Landlord of this ancient Tower, 
 
 Thrice fortunate to see this happy hower, 
 
 Whose trembleinge heart thy presence setts on fire, 
 
 Unto this house (the heart of all the shire) 
 
 Does bid thee hearty welcome, and would speake it 
 In higher notes, but extreme joy doth breake it. 
 
 Hee makes his Guest most welcome, in whose eyes 
 Love-teares do sitt, not that he shouts and cryes. 
 
 And we the gods and guardians of this place,— 
 
 I of this house, he of the fruitfull chace,— 
 
 Since the Hoghtons from this hill took name 
 Who with the stiife unbridled Saxons came, 
 
 And soe have flurish’t in this fairer clyme, 
 
 Successively from that to this our tyme, 
 
 Still offeringe upp to our Immortall Powers 
 Sweet incense, vyne, and odoriferous flowers; 
 
 While sacred Vesta in her virgin tyre 
 
 With vows and wishes tends the hallowed fyre. 
 
 Now seeing that thy Majestye we see 
 
 Greater than country gods, more good than wee; 
 
 We render upp to thy more powcrfull Guard 
 This house; this Knight is thine, he is thy Ward, 
 
 For by thy helpinge and auspicious hand 
 He and his home shall ever, ever stand 
 And flurish in despite of envious fate; 
 
 And then live, like Augustus, fortunate. 
 
 And longe, longe may’st thou live ! to which both men, 
 
 Gods, saints and angells say, ‘ Amen, amen !’ 
 
 The Second Tutelar God begins : 
 
 Thou greatest of mortalls ! [ He's nonplust .] 
 
 The Second • God begins againe: 
 
 Dread Lord ! the splendour and the glorious rayo 
 Of thy high majestye hath strucken dumbe 
 His weaker god-head ; if t’ himselfe he come 
 Unto thy service straight he will commend 
 These Foresters, and charge them to attend 
 Thy pleasure in tliis park, and shew such sport 
 To the Chief Huntsman, and thy princely court, 
 
 As the small circuit of this round affords 
 And be more ready than he was in’s words.”— 
 
 Nichol’s Progress of James I. 
 
 * This must be an error. From the context it is evident it should read, “ The First God begins 
 againe.” 
 
 o “ We are indebted to the French (and it is no small obligation,) for the temperate elegance of 
 modern tables, and particularly for the practice of drinking wine at dinner. At that time they 
 
154 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 From a manuscript in the possession of Sir Henry Bold Hoghton, hart., 
 entitled “Notes of the Diet at Hoghton at the King’s cominge there,” it 
 appears the royal party were most liberally entertained. The following 
 excerpt, giving the hill of fare “ for the Lords’ table at the dinner on 
 Sunday, the 17th August,” will serve to illustrate the notions of good 
 cheer entertained by noblemen and gentlemen at that period:— 
 
 “ First course. Pullets, Boiled Capon, Mutton boiled, Boiled Chickens, Shoulder of 
 Mutton roast, Ducks boiled, Loin of Veal roast, Pullets, Haunch of Venison roast, 
 Burred Capon, Pastry of Venison hot, Roast Turkey, Veal burred, Swan roast, one, and 
 one for to-morrow, Chicken pye hot, Goose roasted. Rabbits, cold Jiggits of Mutton 
 boiled, Snipe pye, Breast of Veal boiled, Caponsroast, Pullet, Beef roast, Tongue pye cold, 
 Sprod boiled, Herons roast cold. Curlew pye cold, Mince pye hot. Custards, Pig roast. 
 
 “ Second course. Hot Pheasant, one, and one for the King; Quails, six for the King, 
 Partridge, Poults, Artichoke pye. Chickens, Curlew roast, Peas buttered. Rabbits, Duck, 
 Plovers, Red Deer pye. Pig burred, Hot Herons roast, three of a dish ; Lamb roast. 
 Gammon of bacon, Pigeons roast, made dish. Chicken burred, Pear tart. Pullets and 
 grease, Dryed Tongues, Turkey pye. Pheasant pye, Pheasant tart. Hog’s cheek dryed, 
 Turkey chicks cold.” 
 
 A somewhat similar “bill of fare,” both for Sunday evening’s supper 
 and Monday morning’s breakfast, received ample justice from the guests. 
 
 The celebrated Archie Armstrong, the “king’s foole,” accompanied his 
 royal master. James was, notwithstanding his soubriquet, “ The English 
 Solomon,” remarkably fond of “fools,” and enjoyed much their rough wit 
 and practical jokes. Sir Arthur Weldon, in his “ Court of King James,” 
 says:—“ After the king supped, he would come forth to see pastimes and 
 fooleries, in which Sir Edward Zouch, Sir George Goring, and Sir John 
 Finit, were the chiefe and master fools (and surely the fooling got them 
 more than any other’s wisdome), sometimes presenting David Droman, 
 and Archy Armstrong, the “king’s foole,” on the back of other fools, to 
 tilt one another, till they fell together by the eares ; sometimes they per¬ 
 formed antick dances. But Sir John Millicent (who was never known 
 before) was commended for notable fooling, and was indeed the best 
 extemporary foole of them all.” 
 
 were almost wholly divorced. It is not above sixty years since,” (Whitaker’s work was published 
 in 1818,) “ the Lancashire gentry were in the habit of adjourning after dinner to the cellars of inns, 
 and drinking themselves drunk with wine immediately drawn from the pipe.”—Whitaker. 
 
 Miss Strickland (Lives of Queens of England, vol. 5, p. 279), referring to the circumstance of 
 Bishop Ridley, on a pastoral visit to the Princess (afterwards Queen) Mary, being taken by Sir 
 Thomas Wharton, the steward, to the cellar or to the buttery-hatch, and presented with a stirrup-cup 
 observes,—“ This custom was in vogue in the middle ages, as a trait of old English hospitality; 
 persons of the highest quality were taken into the cellar, to taste draught wine or ale fresh from 
 the cask, as Cavendish says the duke of Buckingham did in Wolsey’s ceUar.” 
 
 According to Sir Arthur Weldon, King James himself was very temperate. “He seldom drank 
 at any one time above four spoonfulls, many times not above one or two.”—Court and Character of 
 James I., 8vo., 1650. 
 
JAMES I. TO THE RESTORATION. 
 
 155 
 
 Mi\ Peter Whittle says, but does not give his authority, that:— 
 
 “ A grand Masque took place, and a rush-bearing was introduced, in which ‘ a man 
 was enclosed in a dendrological foliage of fronds,’ and was the admiration of the com¬ 
 pany. This spectacle was exhibited in that part of the garden called the ‘middle 
 circular.’ Speeches were made in dialogue, wittily pleasant, and all kinds of frolics were 
 carried on to the highest pitch, by Robin Goodfellow, Bill Huckler, Tom Bedloe, old 
 Crambo, Jem Tospot, Dolly Wango, and the Cap Justice. These characters were played 
 to the life, and the Justices Crook, Hoghton and Doddridge, who were present, declared 
 to the King that ‘the Cap Justice was acted to the very hfe.’ Sir John Finett, knight, 
 and master of the ceremonies to the King, performed the part of Cap Justice.” 
 
 Mr. Raines, commenting upon this passage, says :—“ This ‘dendrological 
 man ’ was not a more ridiculous exhibition than the characters of men in 
 the shape of hogsheads and barrels in one of the royal Masques, or of the 
 schoolmaster of Linlithgow, who spouted verses to King James, in the 
 form of a lion. In this reign every thing was exhibited in hyperbole. It 
 ought to be named for the honour of the Lancashire ladies that these 
 female characters were always sustained by male performers.” 
 
 Shakspere evidently intended to burlesque this species of dramatic 
 rhodomontade by his incidental play, “Pyramus and Thisbe,” in “A Mid¬ 
 summer Night’s Dream.” It is doubtful, however, whether there existed 
 any peculiar merit in the absence of lady performers in the Lancashire 
 exhibitions of this class. It was not until after the “Restoration of 
 Charles II.” that the female parts in the regular drama were sustained by 
 women. Shakspere himself never witnessed his Ophelia, his Desdemona, 
 his Juliet, or his Imogen personated, except by hoys or clean-shaven 
 young men. 
 
 Malone says p that Sir William Davcnant, Shakspere’s godson, in 
 imitation of foreign theatres, first introduced females upon the Eritish 
 stage, and that Mrs. Saunderson, afterwards Mrs. Betterton, was the first 
 lady actress in England. Malone, however, is not certain of this, as ho 
 conjectures, in another place, that Mrs. Marshall was the first actress who 
 appeared in any regular drama on the public stage. Waldron, the editor 
 of the edition of Downe’s “Roscius Anglicanus,” published in 1789, says 
 the first recorded female performer of Ophelia (the part mentioned by 
 Malone), is Mrs. Hughes. A scarce book, entitled A Royal Arlor of 
 Loyal Poesie," by Thomas Jordan, published in 1664, contains a curious 
 prologue, written for the purpose of introducing a lady performer in this 
 character. Amongst other matter, it says :— 
 
 “ Our women are defective, and so siz’d 
 You’d think they were some of the Guard disguiz’d; 
 
 For (to speak truth) men act, that are between 
 Forty and fifty. Wenches of fifteen; 
 
 With bone so large, and nerve so ineomplyant. 
 
 When you call Desdemona, enter Giant.” 
 
 Old Downes, the prompter, after informing his readers that Mr. Kynaston 
 
 p Supplement, vol. 1, p. 29. 
 
156 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 played certain female parts, draws the following very ungallant comparison 
 between him and his fair successors :—“ He being then very young, made 
 a complete female stage beauty; performing his parts so well, especially 
 Anthiope and Aglaura, being parts greatly moving compassion and pity; 
 that it has since been disputable among the judicious, whether any woman 
 that succeeded him so sensibly touched the audience as he.”' 1 Some of the 
 female characters in the masques, written by Ben Johnson, and by others, 
 previously to the time of Shakspere, for representation at court, were, how¬ 
 ever, frequently sustained by ladies of rank and title. Indeed, they often 
 appear to have been written expressly for representation by the male and 
 female aristocracy. Henry VIII. occasionally indulged in the practice. 
 The early “mysteries,” “miracle plays,” and “moralities,” were 
 originally performed by priests and others connected with the church. 
 There can he no doubt that the great object aimed at by these repre¬ 
 sentations was the instruction of the rude, unlettered people in the funda¬ 
 mental doctrines of Christianity; and that the practice was well calculated 
 to meet the exigencies of the times. Other amusements or sports gradually 
 became intermixed with these scriptural representations, until some scandal 
 was brought upon the church thereby. The author of a tract, published 
 in 1752, thus denounces the excesses then practised:—“He (the priest) 
 again posteth it (the service) over as fast as he can gallop ; for either he 
 hath two places to serve, or else there are sume games to he played in the 
 afternoon, as lying for the whetstone, heathenishe dauncing for the ring, 
 a beare or a bull to be bayted, or else jack-an-apes to ride on horseback, or 
 an enterlude to be played; and if no place else can he gotten, it must be 
 doone in the church.” “Miracle plays,” were acted very constantly at 
 Chester, until 1577, at Coventry, until 1591, at York, until late in the 
 sixteenth century, at Newcastle, until 1598, at Lancaster, Preston, and, 
 last of all, at Kendal, in the beginning of the reign of James I. r The 
 “properties” and appointments, as well as some of the dramatis personae 
 of the “miracle plays,” are singularly repugnant to modern notions of 
 costume and propriety, as will be seen by the following extract from a 
 “bill of expences,” inserted in a Dissertation on the Pageants or Dramatic 
 Mysteries anciently performed at Coventry, and other Municipal Entertain¬ 
 ments, by Thos. Sharp :—“Payd for 2 pound of hayre for the devilTs 
 head, 3s.; mending his hose, 8d. Black canvas for shirts for the damned, 
 4s. Bed buckram for wings of angels (represented by naked children), 
 7s. Paid for a cote for God, and a payre of gloves, 3s.” It appears the 
 Devil was a character often introduced into these mysteries and moralities. 
 
 q Roscius Anglicanum. 
 
 r Pen. Cyclop, art. English Drama. 
 
JAMES I. TO THE RESTORATION. 
 
 157 
 
 One writer says:— 
 
 “ He was made as hideous as possible by the mask and dress which he wore; and 
 from various sources we learn that his exterior was shaggy and hairy, so that in one 
 piece he is mistaken by one of the characters for ‘ a dancing bear.’ His ‘ bottle nose ’ 
 and ‘evil face’ are repeatedly mentioned; and that he was not without a tail is evident 
 from the circumstance that in one place Vice asks him for a piece of it to make a fly- 
 flap. His ordinary exclamation on entering was, ‘ Ho, ho, ho !’ and on all occasions he 
 was given to roaring and crying out, especially when, for the amusement of the audience, 
 he was provoked to it by castigation at the hands of Vice, by whom he was generally, 
 though not invariably, accompanied. * # Malone tells us that ‘ the principal employ¬ 
 ment of the Vice was to belabour the Devil.’ * * In the moral-plays, as in the miracle- 
 plays before them, the comic ingredients were made to predominate more and more over 
 the serious; and the Vice became a standing vehicle of grosser and more thorough 
 buffoonery than the Devil liimself. Thus it was that he came to be so completely con¬ 
 founded with the character of the domestic fool, as to be very commonly dressed in the 
 fool’s party-coloured habit, wearing his dagger of lath.”s 
 
 Advantage was taken of James’s visit to Sir Richard Hoghton, by the 
 inhabitants of the neighbourhood, to petition his majesty for a removal of 
 the edicts of the commissioners appointed in the reign of Elizabeth, who 
 had issued orders against “pipers and minstrels playing, making and 
 frequenting bear-baiting and bull-baiting, on the Sabbath days, or upon 
 any other days in time of divine sendee; and also against superstitious 
 ringing of bells, wakes, and common feasts, drunkenness, gaming, and 
 other vicious and unprofitable pursuits.” The king received the petition 
 with favour, and, in the following May, published a proclamation, in 
 which he states that, “ in his progress through Lancashire, he found it 
 necessary to rebuke some puritans and precise people, and took order that 
 the said unlawful carnage should not be used by any of them hereafter, 
 in the prohibiting and unlawfully punishing of his good people, for using 
 their lawful recreations and honest exercises, upon Sundays after service.” 
 The proclamation, after insinuating that the puritanical application of the 
 term Sabbath to Sunday, savoured of Judaism, proceeds to inform us that 
 the “English Solomon” had discovered the county of Lancaster was 
 much infested by two sorts of people, papists and puritans, and that— 
 
 “ They bad maliciously traduced and calumniated bis just and honourable proceedings; 
 be bad therefore thought proper to clear and make bis pleasure manifest to all bis good 
 people in these parts; and bis majesty’s pleasure was, that the bishops of the diocese 
 should take strict order with all the puritans and precisians within the county of Lan¬ 
 caster, and either constrain them to conform themselves, or to leave the country, 
 according to the laws of this kingdom, and canons of this church; and for his good 
 people’s recreation, his pleasure was, that after the end of divine service, they be not 
 disturbed, letted, or discouraged from any lawful recreation, such as dancing, either men 
 or women; archery for men, leaping, vaulting, or any other such harmless recreation; 
 nor from having of May-games, Whitson-ales, and Morris-dances, and the setting up of 
 May-poles, and other sports therewith used ; so as the same be had in due and convenient 
 time, without impediment or neglect of divine service; and that women should have 
 leave to carry rushes to the church, for the decorating of it according to their old 
 custom ; but withal his majesty did here account still as prohibited, all unlawful games 
 to be used on Sundays only, as bear and bull-baitings, interludes, and, at all times, in 
 
 s Ten. Cvclnp., art. English Drama. 
 
158 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 the meaner sort of people, by law prohibited, bowling. And likewise did bar from this 
 benefit and liberty all such known recusants, either men or women, as did abstain from 
 coming to church or divine service, they being unworthy of any lawful recreation after 
 the said service, that would not first come to the church and serve God ; prohibiting, in 
 like sort, the said recreations to any that though conformed in religion, were not present 
 in the church at the service of God, before their going to the said recreations.” 
 
 This proclamation was followed by the publication, on the 24th May, 
 1618, of the celebrated “Book of Sports,” in which the royal author 
 undertook to expound what were “ lawful sports to be used on Sundays 
 and festivals.” On the pain of punishment in the High Commission Court, 
 the bishops were called upon to order the permission to be announced in 
 all the parish churches of their respective dioceses. The “ Puritans and 
 precise people of Lancashire,” against whom this singular publication was 
 especially directed, were, however, not the only parties who regarded it 
 in the light of a royal sanction to the profanation of the Sabbath. 
 Many clergymen of the Church of England indignantly resisted what 
 they held to be an encroachment upon the clerical function, and a pro¬ 
 fanation of the sanctuary. Abbot, archbishop of Canterbury, notwith¬ 
 standing the king’s order, prohibited its publication by the officiating 
 minister at Croydon. So much disaffection was engendered by the pro¬ 
 mulgation of these dogmas by the literary monarch, that several histo¬ 
 rians trace in it one of the principal germs, which, when matured in the 
 following reign, plunged the country into the horrors of civil war. 
 
 Apologists have, however, been found for the “Book of Sports,” in the 
 persons of the elder D’Israeli and Lord John Manners. These literary 
 advocates of the customs of the “good old times” having adopted a kind 
 of theory that antiquity and goodness are nearly synonymous, doubtless 
 felt the denunciations of the clergy and “ precise people ” in the light of 
 an oblique attack upon their cherished principle, and consequently entered 
 the lists more for the sake of their own general dogma, than from any 
 particular admiration of the “ Book of Sports,” or its pedantic author. 
 
 Mr. Baines says this “fatal publication” was “suggested, if not written, 
 on the banks of the Darwent;” and Mr. Whittle further intimates that 
 there exists “no doubt” upon the matter. No evidence is produced, how¬ 
 ever, in support of these views. The petition of the people, presented to 
 the king during his stay at Hoghton, might very probably suggest the 
 compilation of the famous “Book of Sports;” but that it was written 
 there is highly improbable. In the first place, it was not published till 
 the following year ; and again, Mr. Assheton’s diary sufficiently accounts 
 for the consumption of the few days spent at Hoghton Tower and in the 
 neighbourhood of Preston. James appears to have occupied his time and 
 thoughts principally with the shooting of bucks, conferring of dignities, 
 and eating of dinners. His literary efforts would appear to have been 
 
JAMES I. TO THE RESTORATION. 
 
 159 
 
 confined to the making of a “speeche” or two, one of which certainly- 
 had for its theme “libertie to pipeing and honest recreation.” 
 
 Several traditions yet linger in the neighbourhood respecting the visit of 
 James to Hoghton Tower. One is, that his majesty knighted the loin of 
 beef at the table of Sir Richard Hoghton; and that henceforth it received 
 the appellation of sirloin. A similar story is, however, told of Charles 
 II., and is, perhaps more in accordance with the character and conduct 
 of the “ Merrie monarch,” than with the pedantry and self-complaisancy of 
 his “learned” grandfather. 
 
 Another tradition relative to king James’s visit, states that on his 
 majesty’s arrival at Hoghton, sorely fatigued by the heat of the day and 
 the dusty state of the roads, he was observed to gaze from a window with 
 grave curiosity at a large and peculiarly formed boulder-stone. He 
 speedily discovered that the upper surface bore the following inscription, 
 in the good old Lancashire dialect:— 
 
 “ Torne me o’re, an I’ll tel thee plaine.” 
 
 The monarch’s curiosity was still further excited by this invitation, and 
 consequently, after much labour, the stone was overturned. The following 
 minute scrap of rustic wisdom was found carved on the opposite side:— 
 
 “ Hot porritch softens hard butter-cakes, 
 
 So torne me o’re again.” 
 
 The sapient ruler was non-plussed; but he had wit enough to order the stone 
 to be placed in its former position, in order that others might exercise their 
 laudable curiosity and physical power to as little purpose as the royal 
 pedant. In “Traditions of Lancashire,” vol. 2, p. 175, Mr. Roby states 
 that he had been informed the stone “ was in existence less than a century 
 ago, though not in the precise situation above alluded to.” 
 
 Amongst the nobility and gentry who accompanied James to Hoghton, 
 were the following distinguished personages:—George Villiers, earl, and 
 afterwards marquis and duke of Buckingham, K.G., his majesty’s cup 
 bearer and master of the horse ;‘ Ludovic, earl, afterwards duke of Rich¬ 
 mond ; William, third earl of Pembroke, K.G., chancellor of the University 
 of Oxford, and chamberlain of the household; Charles, earl of Nottingham, 
 lord high admiral; John, Viscount Brackley, K.B., afterwards created 
 earl of Bridgewater; Edward Lord Zouche, lord president of Wales; 
 Thomas Moreton, D.D., bishop of Chester, his majesty’s chaplain; Sir 
 Francis Fane, knight, afterwards earl of Westmoreland ; William, Viscount 
 Ruollys, afterwards earl of Banbury; Lord John Mordaunt, afterwards 
 earl of Peterborough; Henry Lord Grey, of Groby, great nephew of 
 Henry, duke of Suffolk, father of Lady Jane Grey; John, Lord Stanhope 
 
 t Buckingham fell beneath the dagger of Felton, on the 23rd August, 1628. 
 
160 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 of Harrington, vice chamberlain ; William, second Lord Compton, created 
 in the following year earl of Northampton; Sir John Tupton, hart.; Sir 
 Arthur Capel, knight; Sir Thomas Brudenell, hart., afterwards Baron 
 Brudenell, and earl of Cardigan ; Sir Edward Montague, K.B., afterwards 
 Baron Montague, groom of the bedchamber ; Sir John Doddridge ; Sir 
 John Crooke and Sir Robert Houghton, the three puisne judges of the 
 king’s bench; Sir John Einett, knight, master of the ceremonies to the 
 king ; Sir Richard St. George, knight, norroy king at arms ; Sir Edward 
 Mosley, knight, M.P. for Preston in 1614, 1620, and 1623 ; Sir Edmund 
 Trafford, of Trafford Park, sheriff of Lancashire; Richard Towneley, of 
 Towneley; Ralph Assheton, of Whalley; Nicholas Girlington, of Thurn- 
 ham Castle ; Richard Sherborne, of Stoneyhurst; Richard Shuttleworth, 
 of Gawthorpe; William Anderton, of Anderton, “mayor of the cere¬ 
 monies ” at Preston; together with about one hundred of the chief 
 gentlemen of Lancashire. 
 
 In the reign of James, the following Lancashire gentlemen, in addition 
 to those already named, received an accession of dignity at the hands of 
 the king :—Sir Thomas Tildesley was knighted at Wimbleton ; Sir Hugh 
 Parker, son of Lord Monteagle, was created knight of the bath; Sir 
 Gilbert Gerrard, of Harrow, a junior scion of the family of Gerrard, of Bryn, 
 in Lancashire; Sir Richard Boteler, and Sir Ralph Asheton, of Lever, 
 were each elevated to the rank of baronet. 
 
 In the great civil commotions, which, in the reign of Charles I., shook 
 the ancient institutions of the country to their foundations, and prostrated, 
 for a period, the monarchical authority in Britain, the inhabitants of Lan¬ 
 cashire enacted a prominent part. Preston was several times the scene of 
 important military operations, and was, alternately, held for the king and 
 for the parliament. In this great and memorable struggle between 
 despotic authority and popular liberty, both parties unquestionably com¬ 
 mitted many of those excesses which are ever incident to violent changes 
 and troubled periods ; especiaUy when the principal questions at issue are 
 practicaUy solved, for the time being, by the power of the sword. The 
 leading families of Preston and the neighbourhood, as in other parts of the 
 country, were much divided in opinion as to the merits of the monarchical 
 and parliamentary pretensions, though the popular feeling would appear 
 unquestionably to have favoured representative rather than despotic 
 authority. 
 
 The principal causes of dispute between the king and his earlier par¬ 
 liaments, arose out of the determination of Charles to levy the impost 
 denominated “ ship money,” for the support of the navy, without the 
 
JAMES I. TO THE RESTORATION . 
 
 161 
 
 sanction or authority of the representative body of the nation ; the despotic 
 and excessive penalties and fines enforced by the high commission court 
 of Star-Chamber ; p and his general claim to the right of governing and 
 taxing the country by virtue of the royal prerogative, rather than by the 
 free co-operation and control of parliament, which the ultra-royalists, or 
 supporters of “the divine right of kings,” appeared to regard as an 
 instrument in the hands of the monarch, rather than a bulwark for the 
 protection of the liberties of the people. The commons, on the other 
 hand, elated by their successful resistance to the royal encroachments, 
 strenuously laboured not only to legally define, hut still further to curtail 
 the royal prerogative. An element of strong and even fanatical religious 
 sentiment entered into the contest, and though composed of apparently the 
 most heterogeneous elements, powerfully affected both the leaders and the 
 populace, and influenced largely not only the civil legislation, hut the 
 military exploits of the period. The indiscretion of Charles, in the 
 re-publication of his father’s foolish tract, entitled the “Book of Sports,” 
 estranged from him the more truly pious, as well as the puritanical section 
 of his subjects. The puritans hated the Roman Catholics most cordially, 
 and felt jealous of the influence of the queen. The adherents to the 
 “ ancient religion,” though ofttimes greviously persecuted by both the court 
 and episcopal authority, generally adhered to the crown, as the most 
 endurable or the least embittered of their implacable opponents. Mr. 
 Baines says, “ another local cause of the civil wars, was the star-chamber, 
 a branch of which existed at that time under the authority of the court of 
 the duchy of Lancaster, and was probably held at Preston.” Amidst 
 these struggles, however, notwithstanding the infatuation, and, occasion¬ 
 ally, the criminal irregularities of the human instruments engaged, the 
 present highly prized limited monarchy, or “ glorious constitution” of the 
 British people, unquestionably germinated. Its gradual expansion to its 
 present proportions and social importance, has but been the result of after 
 measures, based upon the principles of free representative government, 
 enunciated and fought for by the sturdy old commoners, who first drew 
 the sword against the' absolutism of the Stuart dynasty, and paved the 
 way for its final expulsion from the throne of Great Britain. 
 
 After an interval of eleven years, the king’s pecuniary requirements 
 forced him to employ the constitutional authority of parliament for the 
 levying of additional taxes. The representative body assembled in April, 
 1640. Before proceeding to supply the king’s wants, they entered upon 
 
 p Sir Richard Hoghton was fined £100 by the court of Star-Chamber, in 1633, and two others £50 
 each, for an alleged riot at Lea Hall, in the parish of Preston.—[See ante p. 142.] 
 
162 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 the consideration of various grievances to which the people had been sub¬ 
 jected, and sought to obtain redress. The king, indignant at these pro¬ 
 ceedings, dissolved the parliament, after a sitting of three weeks. Not¬ 
 withstanding the prerogative was exercised to the utmost, and every effort 
 made to wring money from the people, Charles was necessitated once more, 
 about six months afterwards, to issue writs summoning a new parliament. 
 This body retained its functions during the whole of the civil war, or 
 “ great rebellion,” as it was called, and acquired from this circumstance the 
 appellation of the “ long parliament.” It consisted of about five hundred 
 members. The county of Lancaster was represented by the following 
 gentlemen :—Knights of the shire —Ralph Ashton, esq., and Roger Kirby, 
 esq. Borough members,— Lancaster, John Harrison, knt., and Thomas 
 Fanshaw, esq. ; Preston, Richard Shuttleworth, esq., and Thomas Stan dish, 
 esq.; Newton, William Ashurst, esq., and Roger Palmer, knt.; Wigan, 
 Orlando Bridgman, esq., and Alexander Rigby, esq.; Clitheroe, Ralph 
 Ashton, esq., and Richard Shuttleworth, gent.; Liverpool, John Moore, 
 esq., and Richard Wynn, knt. and bart. 
 
 This parliament proved no more obedient to the wishes of the king than 
 those which had preceded it. Resolutions were passed condemnatory of 
 the king’s attempt to “govern the people of England by his sole will and 
 pleasure as an absolute monarch, without the assistance of parliament, as 
 he had lately done.” The people’s representatives declared “he should 
 be compelled to admit the two houses of parliament to a participation of 
 the legislative authoritywith him, according to the constitution of England, 
 ever since the first institution of the house of commons in the reign of 
 Henry III.” 
 
 The disaffection of the country appears to have been confined to no 
 particular class of society ; petitions were presented from various localities 
 complaining of grievances. One from Lancashire, signed by “knights, 
 squires, merchants, gentlemen, and freeholders of the county,” was intro¬ 
 duced, contrary to usage, into the house of commons, by a deputation. 
 The petitioners “complained, as they had done twelve months before, of 
 other grievances, and prayed that such persons as were found to have been 
 instrumental in bringing on arbitrary and insolent government might 
 make reparation to their country and from henceforth be excluded from 
 the exercise of that authority.” The petitioners likewise complained of 
 illegal interference by Lord Strange, son of the earl of Derby, in the 
 election of knights of the shire for the county. q 
 
 The parliament, however, nominated Lord Strange lord lieutenant of 
 
 q “ Lancashire’s Valley of Achor,” p. 2. 
 
JAMES I. TO THE RESTORATION. 
 
 163 
 
 tlie county of Chester. Lord Wharton was appointed to the similar office 
 for the county of Lancaster; and the following gentlemen deputy lieu¬ 
 tenants :—Sir George Booth, Mr. John Moore, Sir Thomas Stanley, 
 Mr. Alexander Rigby, of Preston/ Mr. Dodding, Mr. Egerton, Mr. Ralph 
 Ashton, of Middleton, Mr. J. Hales, Sir William Brereton, Mr. Thomas 
 Standish, of Duxbury, Sir Ralph Ashton, of Downham, Mr. Robert 
 Hide, Mr. Thomas Byrch, Mr. Edmund Hockwood, and Mr. James 
 Bradshaw. 
 
 The chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, by order of parliament, dis¬ 
 charged the following parties from being further employed as commis¬ 
 sioners of the peace -within the county, on account of their real or sup¬ 
 posed attachment to the party which supported the royal prerogative:— 
 Sir Gilbert Hoghton, knt. and bart., Robert Holt, of Stubley, Alexander 
 Rigby (of Brough), John Greenhalgh, Edmund Asheton, Sir Alexander 
 Radcliffe, William Earington, Orlando Bridgman, Sir Edward Wright- 
 ington, and Roger Kirkeby. The following gentlemen, adherents to the 
 parliament, were made commissioners in their stead:—Sir Ralph Ashton, 
 bart., Ralph Ashton, of Middleton, Richard Holland, John Bradshaw, 
 William Radcliffe, Richard Shuttleworth, John Braddell, John Starkey, 
 Sir Thomas Stanley, bart., John Holcrofte, Thomas Standish, George 
 Dodding, Thomas Fell, and Peter Egerton. 
 
 Messrs. Ashton (of Middleton), Shuttleworth, Rigby, and Moore, mem¬ 
 bers of the house of commons, were sent by parliament to Lancashire to 
 embody the militia of the county. Ammunition and ordnance were fur¬ 
 nished to Manchester and other places for their defence. In compliance 
 with the prayer of a petition, presented by “ the well-affected people of 
 that county,” a thousand dragoons were ordered to be equipped for their 
 protection against “ papists and other malignants, who had associated and 
 raised great forces both horse and foot to oppress and distress the well- 
 affected subjects in the counties of York, Northumberland, Westmoreland, 
 and Cumberland, and in the counties palatine of Durham, Chester, and 
 Lancashire.” 
 
 Petitions, remonstrances, and royal concessions, all failing to cement the 
 breach between the king and the commons, Charles fled to York, and 
 issued his celebrated “commission of array.” Lord Strange, with the 
 king’s authority, summoned the men of Lancashire to arm in the cause of 
 their sovereign. Sir John Girlington, by command of the king, convened 
 a meeting at Preston “for the purpose of promulgating a petition from 
 Lancashire and the king’s answer, together with his declarations.” Large 
 
 r Mr. Alexander Rigby, M.r. for Wigan, afterwards colonel, and ultimately judge, was of 
 Middleton, in Goosnargli, near Preston. 
 
164 
 
 PBESTON AND ITS ENVIBONS. 
 
 numbers likewise assembled upon Ormskirk moor and Bury heath, aimed 
 with pikes, muskets, and other weapons. The royal and parliamentary 
 authorities differ materially, both as to the number and temper of the 
 people assembled at these gatherings. Seacombe estimates each meeting 
 at “ 20,000 men at the least.” The meeting at Preston moor was attended 
 by Lord Strange, Lord Molyneux, Sir George Middleton, Sir Alexander 
 Radcliffe, Mr. Tildes! ey, of Myerscough, Mr. William Farington, and 
 many other royalists. Mr. Rigby and Mr. Shuttleworth, members of 
 parliament, were likewise present, with many of their friends. The 
 former gentleman, in a letter to the speaker of the house of commons, 
 dated June 24, 1642, states the number of persons present to have been 
 about five thousand. He says that when Sir John Girlington, the high 
 sheriff, “ exhibited the commission of array, and exclaimed, ‘ For the king! 
 For the king!’ ” that about 400 persons joined in the cry, and the 
 remainder “prayed for the king and the parliament .” Mr. Rigby and his 
 colleagues “ advised them not to suffer themselves to be draune into armes 
 without direction from parliament and soe dismissed the assembly.” The 
 writer further observes :— 
 
 “ Sir George Middleton, and Master Thomas Tildesley, of Mierscough, and Master 
 Thomas Prestwiche, whose wives are Popish recusants, and Master William Farington, 
 a Justice of Peace, were in our judgments, the most busie and active, and they assisted, 
 countenanced, and abetted the Sheriffe in all the aforesaid passages, and therein pressed 
 and urged him forward, who of himself was thereunto sufficiently inclined ; and while 
 these things were in acting upon the moor, Will Sumpner, servant to Master William 
 Farington, who during his late Deputy Lieutenancy, had placed in a private house in 
 Preston, about 13 barrels of gunpowder and some quantity of match, did secretly 
 convey about 6 barrels thereof in Packcloaths upon Packhorses, and the next morning 
 about six of the clocke, and before we had notice in whose house that Powder and 
 Match was lodged, the Sheriffe did convey away out of the Towne and Liberties of 
 Preston the residue of the said Powder and Match, which being made knowne to me, I 
 forthwith repayred to the Sheriffe, and shewed him the order of the Lords and Commons, 
 made the 10th of May last, for disposing of the Magazines, and also a deputation from 
 the Lord Wharton, authorising his Deputy Lieutenants, or any 2 or more of them, to 
 dispose of the Magazines of Lancashire, and then desired him to cause that Powder to 
 be returned to Preston, but he answered that he would not returne it, but would keepe 
 it and defend it with the power of the county, and the Sheriffe and Sir George Middle- 
 ton then said that that order should not be obeyed, and I thought it not meet for so 
 small a quantity of Powder and Match, though indeed a very considerable quantity for 
 the time and place, to endeavour a returne thereof by force, so that it now remaineth 
 unknowne to me where they (who took it) have disposed it; in the last place I make 
 bold to present my opinion that the Malignant party could not, by any passage at the 
 assembling on Preston Moor, distinguish that the affections of any considerable part 
 thereof enclined unto them, and I verily believe that we lost not, but gained by that 
 day’s work, for the safety and peace of the King and Kingdome.” 
 
 Each party eagerly seized upon the magazines prepared for the use of 
 the mili tia. The royalists secured thirty barrels of powder at Liverpool; 
 but Sir Thomas Stanley, and Mr. Ashton, of Middleton, forestalled them 
 at Manchester. 
 
JAMES I. TO THE RESTORATION. 
 
 165 
 
 On the 15th of July, 1642, a memorable political rencontre, in con¬ 
 nection -with the civil war, occurred at Manchester. Lord Strange was 
 desirous of obtaining possession of the military magazine in that town. 
 The partisans of the parliament refused to give it up. While the ncgociations 
 were in progress, the high sheriff read the “commission of array” at a 
 royalist dinner, to which Lord Strange had been invited. Parliament had 
 denounced this commission, issued by the king on the 10th of July, 1642, 
 as a violation of the laws of the realm, and accused those who acted under 
 its authority of betraying the liberty of the subject. While the guests 
 were at table, Sir Thomas Stanley, hart., Captain Holcroft, and Captain 
 Birch marched into the town at the head of some parliamentary troops. 
 A skirmish took place between them and the armed followers of Lord 
 Strange, in the course of which a linen weaver or “webster,” named 
 Richard Percivall, was slain by the royalists, and several other persons 
 wounded. This is generally regarded as the first overt act of warfare 
 committed in Lancashire by cither party. Parliament, in consequence of 
 this fracas, ordered Lord Strange to be impeached for high treason. 
 
 Warburton, in his “Memoirs of Prince Rupert and the Cavaliers,” 
 says:—“It is a difficult and unprofitable task to discover where the first 
 blood was shed. By some it was said to have been in Somersetshire, by 
 Sir Jolrn Stowell; by others in Manchester, by Lord Strange, where one 
 Richard Percivall a linen-webster was killed ; by others to have been in 
 Yorkshire, by a body of Northumberland Royal Horse.” 
 
 Two parliamentary documents, one entitled “ Beginning of Civil Wars 
 in England, or terrible news from the North —Printed by order of Par¬ 
 liament, July 9, 1642,” and the other, “ Manchester Resolutions against 
 Lord Strange,” etc., state “there was upon the 4th day of this instant 
 July, a skirmish between Lord Strange and the Inhabitants of Manchester.” 
 The former document distinctly states that Lord Strange appeared on the 
 fourth of July before Manchester “with a great number of armed men,” 
 and demanded to know whether the partisans of the parliament were 
 willing to a proposition “ he had sent two or three days before for restoring 
 the magazines which were in that town to his own custody, threatening 
 them that if they would not, he would send such a Messenger that would 
 make them Yield, and bring them in due Subjection.” This being refused 
 for reasons’ stated, the document proceeds to say that “ Lord Strange 
 marched against the said Towne of Manchester, and sliott off three or 
 four Muskets against them, but the Inhabitants seeing that he were come, 
 and that he were resolved to take away the Magazine by force, * * they 
 Resolved every Man to fight it out.” The two skirmishes which ensued 
 are then detailed, and the following is announced as the result:—“ They 
 
166 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 ended the Battle with the Sun of the Day, the Lord Strange withdraw¬ 
 ing his force about two miles from Manchester ; having lost as is justly 
 supposed, 27 men; of the other side 11. Captain Bland (who was 
 wounded in the thigh) is well recovered again, praised he God.” 
 
 This document has been pronounced “ a base attempt to excite 
 the country against Lord S. by the most untrue and calumnious reports.” 
 — [March. Coll. Ch. 1, 197). Ormerod, in his annotations to the “Lan¬ 
 cashire Civil War Tracts,” appears to endorse this opinion. He says :— 
 “ If otherwise it would be difficult to suppose that the events would have 
 been overlooked in the preceding ‘DiumalT in the Valley of Achor, and in 
 the impeachment of Lord Strange, the two last of which record the affray 
 on the 15th, connected with Lord Strange’s passage through Manchester 
 from Bury to the proposed banquet, and very different proceedings, but 
 notice no earlier bloodshed on the 5th, or any thing according with the 
 statements here given.” If the document was published on the date 
 stated, July 9, 1642, and is not an after production, it is equally sur¬ 
 prising that nothing is known of a direct contradiction to it, on the part 
 of the supposed slandered royalists. 
 
 Preston and the neighbourhood narrowly escaped being the scene of the 
 first outbreak, as will be seen by the following extracts from “A True and 
 Perfect Diumall of all the Chiefe Passages in Lancashire from the 3 July 
 to the 9. Sent to Pive Shopkeepers in London from a friend, r July 9, 
 1642. London, printed for T. U. 1642 — 
 
 “I saw the Militia” (at Manchester) “in number 7 or 8000 well furnished with 
 musketts and pykes, and completely trained by the Captains that were there, and there 
 was a great shout for halfe an houre, ‘ For the King and Parliament , For the King and 
 Parliament.’ 
 
 “ Master Rigbie told me as we went along ” (to Manchester) “ that they had sent a 
 letter unto him from Manchester upon Saturday in the night, and the messenger came 
 unto him about one o’clock; the contents of the letter was to meet the rest of the Com¬ 
 mittee at Manchester, upon Munday betimes. So he wrote an answer by the same mes¬ 
 senger who (was) stayed at Walton by a watch which was set by Sir Gilbert Houghton, 
 before whom they brought him, and he delivered him Master Rigbie’s letter, and upon 
 Sunday in the morning Sir Gilbert sent for M. Rigbie, and being come he said he had 
 a Commission from the King to break open all such letters; Master Rigbie asked him if 
 he had taken the protestation, and he told him he had. Then he demanded his letter of 
 him in the name of all the Commons of England; and further told him if he broke it 
 open, it might be he might be the first man that should he made an example in Lan¬ 
 cashire ; and then he delivered him his letter unbroken up, and intreated him to stay 
 and dine with him, which he did; and when they were at dinner one M. Dawton, a 
 great recusant, and M. Tylsley, came in as familiar to Sir Gilbert, as if they had been 
 Haile fellow, well met. And M. Rigbie told Gilbert and M. Tilsley, he could like them 
 well if they were not so familiar with Papists. 
 
 “ A false messenger came this day,” (Wednesday, July 6,) “ to Sir Gilbert Houghton 
 and told him that the Lord Wharton was come to Manchester with 20,000 men, where¬ 
 upon he sent with all speede to all his tenants, and commanded them that they should 
 be readie upon an hower’s warning, and set a stronge watch about his house, but I think 
 
 r From the context the friend appears to have been a Prestonian. This is the “ diurnal! ” alluded 
 to by Ormerod. 
 
JAMES I. TO THE RESTORATION. 
 
 167 
 
 there was no brags in our towne for that day. Then they let honest Protestants go 
 through the streets without scoffing at them, and calling them Roundheads, and Tylsley 
 posted up and downe in great fear ; it was well if he kept all cleane: and how should it 
 be otherwise, seeing they oppose the King’s Majestie’s Royall Authority, in the High 
 Court of Parliament, the old and good government of England, the libertie of the sub¬ 
 ject, the peace and welfare of this land, yea and the pure Protestant religion itselfe, of 
 which when their consciences accuse them, they are filled with guilt and feare, and so 
 cannot stand before God and his armie. 
 
 “My Lord Stratige this night,” (Thursday, July 7,) “is at Walton with Sir Gilbert 
 Houghton, and the High Shenffe, and Tylesley is there, and they have commanded all 
 betwixt 16 and 60 to be at Preston to-morrow, with the best armes they have. My 
 Lord intends to be there himselfe, but what the event will he I cannot yet tell. The 
 Sheriffe hath been with the Lord Strange all tills weeke j I believe he’s the refuge he 
 plyeth unto when he is in danger. 
 
 “ Friday, July 8. # * M. Tylsley yesterday night said unto Luke Ilodgkinson in Sir Gil¬ 
 bert's buttery that he was told M. Major ” (the mayor) “of Preston, had thought to have 
 cast him in Prison, which if he had he would this day have pulled downe the prison, and 
 M. Major’s house should have been set on fire, if he would not have released him. Truly 
 it were well if the Parliament would send for this Tylsley, for he is a Captaine, one of 
 the Commission of array, and doth more harme than any man I know. Yesternight 
 when the Lord Strange was at supper he received a packet of letters from York, what 
 they were I cannot tell. This day in the morning I spoke with the Sergeant, and he 
 hath delivered the order from the Houses to the Lord Strange, and he first told him he 
 would return an answer by word of mouth by him, and afterwards he told him he would 
 send an answer himselfe to Parliament. Five men gave one Roger Haddock of Chorley 
 very sore strokes and broke his head to the very scull, because he went with the mes¬ 
 senger to show him my Lord’s house. The soldiers are all marched out of the Towne to 
 the number of 4000, as I thinke, but the poste is in going, and what this day will bring 
 forth I cannot tell, but they say they shout ‘ for the King, and my Lord Strange,’ and 
 the Sheriffe have set foure barrels of beere abroache at the high Crosse to make the 
 soldiers drinke as they returne backe. The Sergeant is here to arrest the Sheriffe, but it 
 is to no purpose till the company he gone. If the Lord Strange, the Sheriffe, Sir Geo. 
 Middleton and Tylsley were with you, we should all be quiet. Here are many Papists; 
 I beleeve a catalogue of the names of the cheefe of them are sent up. Tylsley's Lieu¬ 
 tenant, and his Sergeants are Papists. I shall write you more of this dayes proceeding 
 the next poste, my Lord is with them over the moore. Read this letter he sure to M. W. 
 my brother W provide for our safety; we are beset with Papists ; I dare not go to the 
 
 Moore, but my-was there, and they told him he was a roundhead, and swore 
 
 they would kill him. So he came from amongst them. I am in haste. Yale.— 
 Friday the 8th of July, 1642.” 
 
 The king, by proclamation, suspended the laws by which “popish 
 recusants” were disarmed. In a document of this character, addressed 
 “ to our trusty and well beloved Sir William Gerrard, Baronet, Sir Cecil 
 Trafford, Knight, Thomas Clifton, Charles Toivneley, Christopher Anderton, 
 and John Causjield, esquires, and others of our subjects, Recusants in the 
 county of Lancaster,” the king regrets that “the arms taken from the 
 Roman Catholics had been transferred into the possession of others who 
 were disaffected, and for the most part fomenters and exciters of these 
 commotions now raised in this kingdomo.” 
 
 The king, in the first instance, had purposed to unfurl the royal standard 
 at Warrington ; hut subsequent events induced him to change the scene of 
 operations, and Nottingham was selected as a more central locality. 
 
 Lord Strange appeared before Manchester a second time, on the 25 th 
 
168 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 September, with an army variously stated at from two thousand to four 
 thousand five hundred men, and six or seven pieces of cannon. During 
 his operations against the place, his father died, and he succeeded to the 
 earldom of Derby. The town was filled with parliamentary forces, who 
 defended themselves so resolutely, that the earl retired on the first of October. 
 The reason assigned for this failure, was the king’s command that the earl 
 should join the main army at Shrewsbury. A similar attempt on the part 
 of his lordship to get possession of the town of Birmingham was equally 
 unsuccessful. According to the parliamentary authorities, he lost six 
 hundred men, and as many prisoners, in the effort. The drawn battle of 
 Edge Hill, in 'Warwickshire, was fought on the 23rd of October. The 
 earl of Essex commanded the parliamentary forces, and was opposed by 
 the king in person. About five thousand men perished in the engagement. 
 
 The earl of Derby remained faithful to the royal cause, although he had 
 been treated with some ingratitude, both by the king and his courtiers. 
 On his return to Lancashire, he levied fresh troops; but was defeated in a 
 skirmish at Chowbent and Loaton common. Ho better success attended the 
 royal cause in the hundred of Blackburn. Sir Gilbert Hoghton, bart., was 
 defeated on Hinfield moor, by the troops under the command of Colonel 
 Starkie and Colonel Shuttleworth. 
 
 The following letter, written by one of the victors, is eminently 
 characteristic of the tone of mind and temper of the warriors of the 
 period:— 
 
 “ The last Sabbath as wee were going towards the church a poste rode through the 
 countrey informing us that the Earl’s troopes were coming towards the Choicbent ; 
 whereupon the countrey presently rose, and before one of the clocke on that day wee 
 were gathered together 3000 horse aud foote, encountering them at Choicbent aforesaid, 
 and beate them backe to Leigh, killing some and wounding many. Where you might 
 wonder to have seen the forwardnesse of the young youthes, farmer’s sons, who indeed 
 were too forward, having had little experience of the like times before this. And so wee 
 Over-rode our Foote, being carried with a fervent desire to overtake them, and to doe 
 some notable service upon them, so that wee drove them to Loaton Common, where 
 they, knowing our Foote to be far behinde, turned faces about, and began to make head 
 against ns. Whereupon a sharpe although a short Incounter; but when they perceived 
 our full and settled resolution, they made away as fast as their Horses could carry them, 
 and wee after them, killing, wounding and taking prisoners about two hundred of them ; 
 and wee lost never a man, only wee had three of our men wounded, but not mortally, 
 so that I think they ■will trouble us no more out of that part of the Countrey, but if 
 they doe wee shall be better provided for them tliau before, for wee are all upon our 
 Guard, and the Xaviers of Choicbent, instead of making navies, have busied themselves 
 with making Bills and Battle Axes. And also this Weeke the other part of the countrey 
 meet, and intend not only to stand upon then - guard, but to disarm all the Papists and 
 Malignants within their precincts, which wee are resolved upon in our precincts, and also 
 by God’s assistance to take the greatest Papists and most dangerous Malignants prisoners 
 and to carry them to Manchester, to keep house with Sir Cecil Trafford, that Arch- 
 Papist, who is there a Prisoner. For now the men of Blackburn, Paduam, Biirneley, 
 Clithero, aud Colne, with those sturdy churles in the two forests of Pendle and Ros- 
 sendale, have x-aised their spurts, and have resolved to fight it out rather than their 
 
JAMES I. TO THE RESTORATION. 
 
 169 
 
 Beefe and salt Bacon should be taken from them. For the last weeke Sir Gilbert 
 Houghton set his Beacon on fire, which stood upon the top of Houghton Tower, and 
 was the signal! to the Countrey for the Papists and Malignants to arise in the Field,* 
 and in Lealand Hundred; whereupon great multitudes accordingly resorted to him to 
 Preston in Andernesse, and ran to Blackburne, and soe through the Countrey, disarming 
 all and pillaging some, which Mr. Shuttleworth, a parliament man, and Mr. Starkio 
 hearing off presently had gotten together out of the places formerly mentioned about 
 8000 men, met with Sir Gilbert and his Catholique Malignants at Hinfield Moor, put 
 them to flight, and took away many of their annes; and pursued Sir Gilbert so hotley, 
 that he quitted his Horse, leaped into a field, and by the comming on of the night 
 escaped through fur-bushes and by-ways to Preston, and there makes great defence by 
 chaining up Ribble Bridge, and getting what force he can into the Towne for his 
 securitie ; out of which the Countrey swears they will have him, by God’s lielpe, with 
 all his adherents, either quicke or dead, soe that by the next poste I hope I shall certifie 
 of some good posture that the country will be in. That Parliament bad but sent downe 
 their 1000 Dragoniers into the Countrey ! wee would not have left a Mass-monger nor 
 Malignant of note but wee would have provided a lodging for him. It is reported by 
 some about the Earl of Derby, that he is very melancholy and much perplexed about 
 the unadvised course that he hath run; for the last Thursday at Warrington, at dinner, 
 he said lie was born under an unfortunate planet, and that he thought some evill Con¬ 
 stellation reigned at the time of his birth, with many other such wordes of passion and 
 discontent.” 
 
 The earl of Derby’s troops, however, afterwards defeated a portion of 
 the parliamentary army at Hindley, near Wigan, and drove them into 
 Manchester. 
 
 On the 10th of December, the royalists of the county assembled at 
 Preston, for the purpose of “ recruiting the king’s forces and raising 
 the necessary supplies for their support.” The earl of Derby, Sir 
 John Girlington (the sheriff), William Farington, Alexander Rigby, 
 (of Brough), Robert Holt, and Roger Kirby, were amongst the parties 
 present. It was resolved that four hundred horse and two thousand 
 foot soldiers should be raised, and the sum of £8,700 levied upon the 
 county for their support and appointments. This force was intended for 
 the use and protection of the county, and for the assistance of the pre¬ 
 sident of the meeting, the earl of Derby, who was styled the “lord 
 general of the county of Lancaster.” The funds were confided to the 
 direction of a council, consisting of the high sheriff, Adam Morte (mayor 
 of Preston)," James Anderton, and Robert Kirby, with power to call in 
 the aid of several other gentlemen. 
 
 At the end of the year, the royalists held the towns of Lancaster, 
 Preston, Wigan, Liverpool, and Warrington; and the parliamentary forces 
 Blackburn, Bolton, Rochdale, and Manchester. During the winter, the 
 
 t The Fylde, or more level portion of the hundred of Amounderness. 
 
 u Though Mr. Morte was elected mayor of Preston, the records of the corporation attest that he 
 declined to serve the office, paying in preference a fine of one hundred marks. He is, however, 
 styled mayor of Preston in Sir John Fairfax’s dispatches, as well as by the Civil IVar Tract, entitled 
 “ Orders concluded by Lord Strange and hie adherents at Preston,” etc., printed 29th Dec., 1642.— 
 [See Municipal History ; chap. 6, of present vol.] 
 
170 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 earl of Derby was reinforced by the veterans nnder Lord Molyneux, and 
 Sir John Seaton was sent with a regiment of fresh troops to Manchester. 
 
 From a “ contemporary newspaper” report, headed “ Continuation of 
 certain Speeiall and Remarkable Passages, Jan. 12, 1642-3,” number 27, 
 p. 4, it appears that Sir John Talhot, of Salesbury Park, near Ribchester,' 
 a Roman catholic, but supposed to be neutral, invited some of the chiefs of 
 the parliamentary party at Manchester to visit him in a “ friendly 
 manner,” and promised them “ very kind usage and some further courtesies 
 by way of compliance with them.” But the puritans being suspicious, 
 sent a small body of men to reconnoitre, when it was discovered that 
 “ the said Sir John had secretly provided in his stables above one hundred 
 horse fitted with all accoutrements, theire riders being neare at hand upon 
 occasion to set upon the Manchester men. But this being discovered, the 
 Manchester forces being too few to deale with them, retreated back to the 
 towne and about three hundred of them went presently to the said Sir 
 John Talbot’s (who was then with all his horse upon flight), pursued 
 them and killed divers of them, took about twenty of his horse, drove 
 others into a river, where the riders were drowned, and their horses taken, 
 and have seized upon the said Sir John’s house, where they found good 
 pillage.” 
 
 At the commencement of the campaign of 1643, Sir Thomas Fairfax, 
 the renowned parliamentary general, fixed his head quarters at Manchester. 
 His first operation was directed against Preston. He despatched major- 
 general Sir John Seaton, at the head of a body of forces, which were 
 further reinforced on their march by the garrisons of Bolton and Black- 
 bum. Sir John appeared before Preston with “about 900 or 1000 
 Firemen, horse and foot, and about 600 Billmen, Halberdiers and Club¬ 
 men,” on the 9th of February. The town was fortified with “inner and 
 outer walls of brick,” and defended by a brave garrison. On the foUow- 
 ing morning, the order was given to storm the works. The daring valour 
 of Captain Booth surmounted every obstacle. He scaled the wall, and, 
 at the head of his men, dashed forward with irresistible impetuosity, 
 exclaiming, “Follow me, or give me up for ever !” The garrison defended 
 their works with steady and determined valour. When the outer wall 
 was carried by the parliamentary troops, the cavaliers retired to the inner 
 defence, resolutely maintained their ground “with push of pike,” and 
 disputed the breach gallantly, sword in hand. In the mean time, Sir John 
 Seaton having stormed the defences on the eastern side, entered the town 
 
 v The original says Sir John Talhot resided “ within two or three miles of Manchesterhut Mr. 
 Ormerod observes this is evidently an error, as Sir John Talhot resided at “ Salebury Park, the 
 nibble being the river intended.” 
 
JAMES I. TO THE KESTOKATION. 
 
 171 
 
 at Church street. After a combat of two hours, the royalists being driven 
 from the steeple of the church, and their other strongholds, the par¬ 
 liamentary troops obtained complete possession of the place. The 
 chivalrous mayor, Adam Morte, fell mortally wounded in a spirited 
 onslaught upon Colonel Holland’s company. He lulled one of the 
 besiegers at “push of pike,” before he fell. His son died gallantly 
 fighting by his side. It is probable that Morte’s death saved the place 
 from total destruction, for he had declared in the heat of the engagement 
 that “ he would fire the town rather than surrender it into the hands of 
 rebels.” Amongst the officers slain were Captain Hoghton, brother to 
 Sir Gilbert, Serjeant-major Purvey, and Doctor Thomas Westby, a 
 physician. Amongst the prisoners were Mr. Anderton, of Clayton, the 
 commander of the garrison, Captains Farington and Preston, George, son 
 of Sir John Talbot, Mr. Richard Fleetwood, Mr. Blundell, of Crosby, 
 (who had his thigh broken), Mr. Abbot, Mr. Mausley, Mr. Thomas 
 Hoghton, and Captain Hoghton (nephew to Sir Gilbert), R. Langton, 
 John Waltham, and William Selby, esquires, “all men of quality,” 
 together with Lady Hoghton and Lady Girlington, and about two 
 hundred others of “ meaner condition.” Sir Gilbert Hoghton and Mr. 
 Towneley, of Towneley, were more fortunate, and escaped by flight. 
 
 The capture of Preston was regarded by the parliamentary party as of 
 great importance. Its possession by the pmitans interrupted the com¬ 
 munications between the royalists of Carlisle and Newcastle, with their 
 friends in South Lancashire and the western counties. 
 
 The siege of Preston is described by a puritan writer, in a work pub¬ 
 lished at the time, entitled “ Lancashire’s Valley of Achor,” with much of 
 the peculiar admixture of religion, fanaticism, and military zeal, which 
 so strongly characterised the period. He says :— 
 
 “ The seventh and eighth of February were devoted to God in Fasting and Prayer in 
 Manchester, to succeed our Forces that were upon their march. The first day was 
 spent, and gave strength to our men to march all night, and to set upon Preston the 
 next morning; the second day of fasting, when some of our men soon advantaged them¬ 
 selves by taking of Rible Bridge, and with unspeakable courage set upon the Town, 
 well fortified and manned, which God gave them in two hours, as a present return of 
 prayers. Such courage was raised in the Souldiers that they dared to take hold of their 
 enemy’s Muskets put thorow the loop holes, as if the miracle of mercy had been again 
 revived. Psal. 91, 19. Thou shalt tread upon the Lyon and Adder. And when the 
 Pikes kept them off from the mud walls, yet by breaking thorow an house some twenty 
 entered the Town; which small number drew down a Troop of Horse to take a prey. 
 But Moses, Aaron, and Hur, being on the top of the hill whilest Joshua was fighting 
 in the valley, the Captaine of the Horse was killed, and the Troop scattered. Then 
 came up the rest of our men, killed the Major” (the Mayor) “and some others, chased the 
 enemy, and commanded the Towne. Here Divine Providence took a noble Captaine 
 off his feet, before the dangerous discharge of a Bullet, he stood not to fall, but fell to 
 rise. We lost few men in this dangerous assault, took store of prisoners and armes, and 
 came in the nick of time to relieve the well-affected in Preston and thereabouts, upon 
 
172 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 which the Array were prepared to impose an Oath and heavy Taxations. This prey God 
 plucked out of the teeth of the Lyon and paw of the Bear.” S 
 
 The Her. John Tilsley, the pastor of Dean, who was present at this 
 storming of the town, in a letter to “an eminent Divine in London,” 
 amongst other details, has the following observations, highly characteristic 
 of the manners and sentiments of the period :— 
 
 “We have not lost above three or four men, (very strange,) falling upon them in 
 their Workes. Of theirs I saw lying in one street end, at least five or six, besides other 
 parts of the Towne severall, and many in the Houses, not calling for quarter : And as 
 if men must have been singled out for slaughter we could scarce have picked out better, 
 the Major ” (Mayor), “ (that was resolute to desperateness in the cause, that had often¬ 
 times been heard sweare ‘ He would fire the town ere he gave it up, and heginne with 
 his own house ’) was slain, and that very day he had appointed to constrain the well- 
 affected, or to have seiz’d on their estates. Sir Gilbert Houghton's brother, a Captain 
 and a desperate papist, Mr. T Yestby, a Physician and a desperate papist, a Sergeant to 
 the freehold, that lately came out of Ireland , a most wicked wretch, were of the number 
 of the slain. Severall of our men are shot, hut none mortally (its notable), many are 
 shot in two or three or four severall places, and neither to death nor dangerously; we 
 have taken some prisoners of note, * * and many others with many arms, and a 
 
 large part of things justly, and by plunder (alas that, it is so much lamented hut most 
 hard to be prevented) seized on; more prisoners of note we had been possessed of, but 
 that honest flight rescued them. * * * So soon as matters were settled, we sung 
 praises to God in the street (Sir, it was wonderfull to see it), the sun brake forth and 
 shined brightly and hot, in the time of the exercise, as if it had been Midsummer. 
 Truly, Sir, we owe (subordinate to God) a great deal to Sir John Seaton; things are 
 artificially and methodically done, past what they were before, be is a man of wonderfull 
 care and unwearied industry, onely rather too harsh for our northern, knotty, riggid 
 dispositions ; had he the meek spirit and smooth tongue of S. M. Sparrow, he were 
 peerlesse and without parallel doubtlesse.” h 
 
 Another letter to a member of the House of Commons, “ certified by 
 some gentlemen of repute in the same County,” and ordered by parlia¬ 
 ment to he printed, furnishes the following additional details :— 
 
 “We tooke three pieces of ordnance, a murdering piece, a great number of musquiets, 
 and many horses, with two or three colours, and divers were pillaged to a purpose. 
 Few friends have suffered to any value; there were but two barrells of powder found in 
 the town. We had only three or four common souldiers, not an officer slain on our side; 
 we gave the enemy no leisure to annoy us with their guns, and the execution done was 
 most with the sword.” i 
 
 The town was afterwards re-fortified by Colonel Eosworm, the celebrated 
 engineer, a “brave and skilful soldier—tried in the German wars.” 
 Eos worm was ordered to take a paid in the assault by Major-general 
 Seaton. He attached himself to Colonel Holland’s regiment, and by his 
 skill and bravery contributed much to its successful result. a 
 
 Captain Birch, after the surrender of Preston, proceeded to Lancaster, and 
 took possession of the town, together with twenty-one pieces of brass 
 
 g Lancashire Civil War Tracts, edited by Ormerod, and published by the Manchester Cheetham 
 Society. h Ibid. i Ibid. 
 
 a Rosworm’s Tract. fSeechap. 1, page 4S, and chap. 3, page 117.] The supposed Roman 
 mound on the Maudlands, was evidently an outwork of Colonel Rosworm’s defences. 
 
JAMES I. TO THE RESTORATION. 
 
 173 
 
 cannon which had been seized on hoard a Spanish ship, from Dunkirk, in 
 the river Lune. b The castle surrendered on the seventeenth of February. 
 
 About five days after the fall of Preston, Sir John Seaton dispatched 
 Captain Starkie with three troops, to besiege Hoghton Tower, the 
 residence of Sir Gilbert Hoghton. The place speedily surrendered, but 
 Avhile the captors were congratulating themselves upon the valuable 
 acquisition of ordnance, ammunition and small arms, which fell into their 
 hands, the tower suddenly blew up, and hurried into eternity, or seriously 
 wounded, about sixty of the victors, Captain Starkie himself being amongst 
 the killed. The roundheads accused the defeated cavaliers of perfidy and 
 the wilful destruction of the fortress, but this was denied by the royalists, 
 and no evidence was advanced which demonstrated the truth of the 
 assertion. On the contrary, the author of “Lancashire’s Valley of 
 Achor ” lectures his own party very severely for their remissness on the 
 occasion, and throws the entire blame upon the parliamentary soldiers. 
 He says:— 
 
 “ Our men going down to take the Tower, and finding it prepared for entrance, 
 possessed themselves of it, till being burthened with the weight of their swearing, drunk- 
 enesse, plundering, and wilfull waste at Preston, it dispossessed them by the help of 
 Powder, to which their disorders laid a Train fired by then’ neglected Matches, or by 
 that great Souldier’s Idoll— Tobacco. However it was, sure it is, that the place so 
 firmly united, chose rather to be torn in pieces than to harbour the possessours. 0 that 
 this thundering Alarm might ever sound in the eares of our Swearing, Cursing, 
 Drunken, Tobacco-abusing Commanders and Souldiers unto unfeigned Repentance. 
 For do they think that those upon whom the Tower fell and slew them, were sinners 
 above the rest of the Army ? ” 
 
 Success now patronised for a time the previously defeated loyalists. 
 The earl of Derby, after a fruitless attempt upon Bolton, marched his 
 forces by way of Kirkham to Lancaster, where he burned ninety houses, 
 and nearly the same number of barns, or other outbuildings, to the 
 ground. A body of parliamentary forces from Preston, under Major- 
 general Seaton, and Colonel Ashton, attempted to relieve the place, but 
 arrived too late to save the town. The castle, however, remained in the 
 possession of the parliamentary party. The earl of Derby drew off his 
 troops on the approach of Seaton and Ashton, and, taking advantage of the 
 then defenceless state of Preston, suddenly appeared before it, about ten 
 o’clock in the evening of Monday, the twenty-first of March, and sum¬ 
 moned the garrison to surrender the town to the king’s troops. The 
 mayor, Edmund 'VVerden, Esq., refused to comply, on which the carl 
 gave orders for the immediate storming of the defences. Assaults were 
 made simultaneously on three distinct points, led by Captain Chisnall, 
 Captain Radcliff, and Captain Edward Rosthorne. After an hour’s severe 
 
 b Puritan Pamphlet: “Lancashire’s Valley of Achor.” 
 
174 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 struggle, the garrison yielded. A royalist account of this siege, published 
 in the Mercurius Aulicus, says:— 
 
 “ In the taking of Preston there was killed in the place 80 of the rebels, whereof 
 Captain Ashworth and Captain Will. Shuttleworth were the chief, and about 3 or 400 
 prisoners taken, of which Captain Standish was one, together with one brass piece of 
 ordnance. That after the said Toune was taken, his Lordship had especial care to pre¬ 
 serve the place, and only gave command that the houses of those who had betrayed the 
 Toune before should be responsall to his Majestie for their Masters treason, whose goods 
 his Lordship ordered to be seized and equally divided among the soldiers. The next 
 morning being March 22, the whole Country came in with apparent joy, and made 
 signal affections of their good affections to his Majestie, flinging up their hats and 
 shouting out, God blesse the King and the Parle of Derby. And finally to make up 
 the summe, it was advertised also in the same Expresse, that the same day Serjeant Major 
 Brewyer, who commanded his Lordships regiment of horse, did with a troope of his 
 defeat two troopes of dragooners, being 140 in the totall, under the command of Captaine 
 Norris, taking the Captaine himself prisoner, together with 40 of his souldiers, and 
 having killed no lesse than 50 in the very place. So as now the Earle hath abundance 
 of ammunition, the want whereof did hinder his Lordships good proceedings against 
 the Rebells.” w 
 
 The earl of Derby secured the parliamentary magazine; but, fearing 
 the probability of the place being again transferred by the vicissitude of 
 war to his ever active enemies, he destroyed the defences and military 
 works, and, after compelling Blackburn to surrender, departed for Man¬ 
 chester. On the way, Lord Molyneux and his regiment received an order 
 from the king to join the main army at Oxford. The loss of the veteran 
 troops, led by Molyneux, prevented the earl from attacking Manchester, 
 although he had expressed his determination to reduce the place, if 
 properly supported, or “lay his bones before it.” 
 
 The tide of success again turned in favour of the parliamentary forces. 
 The earl of Derby, after another fruitless attempt upon Bolton-le-moors, 
 fell back upon his entrenchments at Wigan. The strength of these works 
 was so great for the period, that the “ piece” was regarded by the royalists 
 as impregnable. Colonel Ashton, assisted by Rosworm, however, sur¬ 
 prised the town on the evening of the first of April, and, notwithstanding 
 a gallant defence, the parliamentary “musketeers and club-men” carried 
 the town. The countess of Derby, on hearing of the fall of Wigan, 
 dispatched the following letter to Prince Rupert:— 
 
 “ My Lord,—I have just received the disastrous news of the loss of Wigan, six miles 
 from this place. It has held out only two hours, having been panic-struck. My husband 
 was twelve miles off, and before he was ready to succour it, it was surrendered. In the 
 name of God, my lord, take pity on us; and if you appear you can conquer it easily, 
 and with much honour to your highness. I do not know what I say ; but have pity on 
 my husband, my children, and me, who are lost for ever, if God and your highness do 
 not take pity on us. 
 
 I am, my lord, your very humble and obedient servant, 
 
 “At Ladliom, April 1, 1643. C. de la Treslaille.” 
 
 w Another authority says that Captain William Shuttleworth was killed at Lancaster, and not at 
 Preston. This accords with the facts stated in the family pedigree, as given by Whitaker, in his 
 History of Whalley, p. 339. 
 
JAMES I. TO THE RESTORATION. 
 
 175 
 
 Wigan was afterwards abandoned by the parliamentary party, and again 
 re-occupied by the royalists. At Warrington, a few days after the capture 
 of Wigan, the earl was more successful. The royalists gallantly repulsed 
 the Lancashire and Cheshire parliamentary troops, headed by Sir William 
 Brereton. 
 
 The earl of Derby advanced from Preston to operate in the hundred of 
 Blackburn. One of the civil war tracts says that “ the earl of Derby, the 
 Lord Molincux, Sir Gilbert Hoghton, Colonell Tildesley, with all the 
 other great Papists in this County, issued out of Preston, and on Wed¬ 
 nesday now came to Itibchestcr with eleven Troops of horse, 700 foot, and 
 an infinite number of club men, in all conceived to be 5000.” Ashton 
 and Shuttleworth opposed them with some regular troops, and a body'of 
 peasantiy and militia, hastily levied. A regular engagement, or rather a 
 running fight, took place between Whalley and Salesbury, in which the 
 earl was defeated, and pursued to Eibchester. This success appears to 
 have been the precursor of the subsequent declension of the earl of Derby’s 
 military power in the county. It was judged of so much importance by 
 the parliamentary party, that a day of thanksgiving was set apart for the 
 victory. 
 
 The “colonel-general” Ashton, as he was sometimes called, a few days 
 afterwards (April 22nd), appeared before Wigan, reinforced by the Man¬ 
 chester garrison. Tildesley, who commanded the place, fled to Lathom, 
 and the parliamentary general “demolislit all outworks and fortifications, 
 burnt the new gates and posts that had been set up, and took an oath of 
 the townsmen never to bear arms again against the King and Parliament.” y 
 The indefatigable Ashton pursued the fugitive royalists to Lathom and 
 Prcscot. The earl of Derby retreated back, first upon Lathom, and from 
 thence to Preston, “ wether also the Manchester forces, giving neither 
 themselves nor their enemies any rest, followed them close, still driving 
 the Earl thence also, and made him fly either to Hornly Castle or else to 
 the Queen into the North, his forces being driven at least eight miles from 
 Preston.” He was pursued by Colonel Ashton, whose forces, by reason of 
 his success, were greatly augmented, “many of the earl’s soldiers coming 
 in willingly and cheerfully to serve him.” The earl of Derby shortly 
 afterwards dispatched a messenger to Colonel Ashton, requesting him not to 
 set fire to his house at Lathom, and promising the sum of three hundred 
 pounds as a compensation, in case the puritan commander should feel dis¬ 
 posed to comply; “ but,” says the chronicler, “ the noble Colonel sent him 
 word that he scorned his money or the firing of his house, and desired 
 nothing more of him than to meet with him, and to give him battel; but 
 
 y Vicar’s Clironicle, March, 1G13. 
 
176 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 he as I said ran quite away out of the countie and durst not stay to 
 accept that notion.” 1 
 
 Tildesley retired to Liverpool, with the determination of holding it for 
 the king ; hut his ever active opponent, Ashton, laid siege to the place, 
 and succeeded in completely routing the garrison, and capturing the town. 
 The royalists lost eighty killed, three hundred prisoners, and ten guns. 
 New works were constructed by Colonel Rosworm, and the command of 
 the fortress entrusted to Colonel Moore. Warrington surrendered about 
 the same time, and shortly afterwards (about the 20th of June), Ashton 
 completed the discomfiture of the royalists by the capture of the castles 
 of Hornby and Thurland. The scattered partisans of the king fled to the 
 queen at York. Tildesley afterwards distinguished himself by the 
 desperate courage with which he led the cavalry charge over the bridge 
 of thirty-six arches at Burton-on-Trent. He received the honour of 
 knighthood as a reward for his valour and constancy. 
 
 The capture of Thurland Castle, the seat of the sheriff, Sir John Gir- 
 lington, was the result of the energy and skill of Colonel Rigby, of 
 Middleton, near Preston, member of parliament for Wigan. Wliitelock 
 says the achievement was the more discoursed of at the time because 
 Rigby was a lawyer, and not a soldier by profession. An attempt was 
 made to relieve the garrison of Thurland. The Lancashire men, amongst 
 the royalists, were led by a namesake of the parliamentary colonel, 
 Mr. Alexander Rigby (of Brough), and Mr. Roger Kirby. To defeat 
 this, Colonel Rigby marched a large detachment of his troops into Burness, 
 fell upon the relieving army, and totally routed it. Two days afterwards, 
 Sir Roger Girlington surrendered the castle, which, according to the pre¬ 
 valent custom, was speedily demolished. The lawyer-colonel, in his official 
 dispatch to the speaker of the house of commons, dated at Preston, 
 October 17th, 1643, says:— 
 
 “ God so struck the hearts of these our enemies with terrour, that before a blow 
 given their horse began to retreat, our foot gave a great shout, our horse pursued, their’s 
 fled; their foot dispersed and fled ; they all trusted more to their feet than their hands; 
 they threw away their arms and colours, deserted their magazine drawn with eight 
 oxen, and were totally routed in one quarter of an hour’s time; our horse slew some few 
 of them in the pursuit, and drove many of them into the sea; we took their colonel 
 Hudleston, of Millam, two captains, and an ensign, and about foure hundred prisoners, 
 six foot colours, and one horse colour; and their magazin, and some horses, and more 
 arms than men ; and all this without the losse of any one man of ours; wee had only 
 one man hurt by the enemy, and only another hurt by himselfe with his own pistoll, hut 
 neither mortally ; upon the close of the business, all our men with a great shout cried 
 
 z Vicar’s Chronicle. The queen arrived at York on the 8th of March. In one of the Civil War 
 Tracts (Lancashire Massacre), she is said to have pushed her outposts as far as Skipton, en route 
 towards Blackburn. According to the earl’s own statement, he was desired by the Lancashire 
 gentry to go to the queen and solicit aid from her. 
 
JAMES I. TO THE RESTORATION. 
 
 177 
 
 out, ‘ Glory be to God ’; and wee all, except one troop of horse, and one foot company, 
 which I left to quiet the countrey, returned forthwith towards our seige at Thurland.”a 
 
 The parliament being in want of money, passed an act on the 
 first of April, in this year, sequestering the estates of “notorious 
 delinquents.” On the other hand, the king instructed Prince Rupert to 
 seize upon the goods and estates of persons in rebellion against him, and 
 apply the property to the support of the royal army. The parliamentary 
 commissioners for this purpose in Lancashire were, Sir Ralph Ashton, 
 and Sir Thomas Stanley, harts.; Ralph Ashton, of Downham; Ralph 
 Ashton, of Middleton ; Richard Sliuttleworth (member for Preston); 
 Alexander Rigby; John Moore; Richard Holland; Edward Butterworth; 
 John Bradshaw; Vm. Ashurst; Geo. Dodding; Peter Egerton; Nicholas 
 Cunliff; John Starkie ; Gilbert Ireland; Thos. Birch ; Tlios. Fell; Roht. 
 Hyde; Robert Cunliff; Robert Curwin; John Newell, and John Ashurst. 
 Four members of parliament were some time afterwards appointed auditors 
 of the sequestration accounts, namely,—Richard Shuttleworth, Alexander 
 Rigby, John Moore, and Ralph Ashton. 
 
 The parliamentary forces in Yorkshire, under Lord Fairfax and his son, 
 being hard pressed by the army of eight thousand men, commanded by the 
 marquis of Newcastle, the Lancashire troops were sent to their assistance. 
 Fairfax, however, was beaten at Adwalton Moor. The Lancashire 
 men were pursued by the marquis to Bradford, from which place he sum¬ 
 moned the garrison at Manchester to surrender. This was peremptorily 
 refused, and every preparation made for defence. Col. Rosworm so effec¬ 
 tually fortified the heights of Blackstone Edge, that Newcastle was 
 defeated in his attempt to pass the hills. 
 
 a According to Dugdale, Colonel Alexander Rigby was of “ Middleton in Goosnargh,” near Preston, 
 and died in 1050. The Rev. T. Corser says :—“ He was the eldest son and heir of Alexander Rigby, 
 of Wigan and Peel in the county of Lancaster, esq. * * He was the elder brother of George Rigby, 
 of Peel, esq., to whom the estate of Peel appears to have descended, who was Clerk of the Peace for 
 the County of Lancaster, married Beatrice, eldest daughter of William Hulton, of Hulton Park, esq., 
 and re-huilt the hall at Peel in 1634.” The present Lord Kenyon represents this branch of the 
 family. But Dugdale states that “ Alexander Rigby, of Preston, was younger brother of George 
 Rigby, of Peel, esq., from whom Rigby ofthat place (now represented by Lord Kenyon), descended.” 
 — (Vis. L. 1604, and Noble’s Lives of the Regicides.)—Colonel Alexander Rigby, “ of Preston,” as he 
 was generally styled, married Lucy, the daughter of Thomas Leigh, esq., of Adlington, an active 
 royalist. He was member for Wigan in the “ long parliament,” and, according to Ormerod, was 
 created Baron of the Exchequer in 1649, but afterwards superseded by Cromwell.—Mr. W. Bea- 
 mont, in his observations on “ Some Obsolete Peculiarities of English Law,” says that when the civil 
 wars were over, Colonel Alexander Rigby “ doffed his scarlet coat for a scarlet gown, and going the 
 circuit with Baron Gates, in 1650, they were both fatally struck with gaol fever and died at Croy- 
 den.”—Alexander Rigby, of Brough, died about 1650. He married Catherine, daughter of Sir Edward 
 Brabazon, of Nether Whitaker, Warwickshire.—Dugdale.—Alexander Rigby, of Lawton, was 
 sheriff of Lancashire in 1677. He was the “ grateful cornet” who erected the monument to Colonel 
 Tildesley, in Wigan Lane.— Vide Ormerod’s Annotations to “Civil War Tracts,” published by the 
 Cheetham Society.” 
 
 N 
 
178 
 
 fRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 The campaign of 1643 closed with more satisfaction to the royalists in 
 Cheshire, though their success was of hut short duration. The marquis 
 of Ormond, at the instigation of the king, made peace 'with the Irish 
 rebels, and dispatched a force from that country to Chester, consisting of 
 from three thousand to four thousand men. In a very short time after¬ 
 wards, Lord Byron, who commanded the Cheshire royalists, re-took all the 
 principal strongholds in the county, with the exception of Nantwich, of 
 which place he commenced the siege in December. Byron wrote to the 
 marquis of Newcastle for assistance against the Lancashire parliamentary 
 troops, which threatened to raise the siege; but the marquis, after his 
 victory at Adwalton, having met with some reverses, was in no position 
 to afford succour to the royalists in Cheshire. One portion of his army 
 had been beaten by Fairfax and Cromwell, at Horncastle, in Lincolnshire. 
 The marquis himself had been worsted before Hull, while Colonel Lambert 
 had been successful against the royal troops in the western portion of 
 Yorkshire. Sir Thomas Fairfax, reinforced by Colonels Ashton, Holland, 
 and Booth, and Sir William Brereton, advanced to the relief of Nantwich. 
 A desperate engagement ensued, in which Lord Byron, after a gallant 
 resistance, was totally defeated, and his army almost entirely destroyed. 
 Byron, with difficulty, reached Chester with the remainder of his forces. 
 
 Lathom House, the seat of the earl of Derby, was at this period the 
 only place of strength held in the king’s name in Lancashire. The earl 
 had left the county, at the request of the queen, in order to personally 
 defend the Isle of Han, against the naval power of the parliament, which 
 had been considerably augmented since the fall of Liverpool. The countess, 
 therefore, commanded the domestic fortress in person, assisted by Major 
 Farmer, and Captains Farington, Chamoek, Chisenhall, Bawstorne, Ogle, 
 and Molyneux. On the 28th of February, 1644, Sir Thomas Fairfax 
 arrived before Lathom. In an interview with the countess, he endeavoured 
 to prevail upon her to yield possession of the place to the parliamentary 
 troops, without the shedding of blood ; and promised that herself, family, 
 and domestics, should be escorted to Knowsley, where she would be allowed 
 to remain unmolested, in the possession of one-half of her husband’s 
 estates. The countess, with the view to gain time, demanded a month, in 
 order that she might receive her husband’s instructions relative to the 
 course she ought to take. Fourteen days afterwards, when Fairfax’s siege 
 operations were considerably advanced, he again summoned the fortress to 
 surrender. The countess replied, that she “ had not forgot her duty to 
 the church of England, to her prince, and to her lord; and that she would 
 defend the trust with her honour and with her life.” Fairfax, being 
 called into Yorkshire, Colonel Egerton and Major Morgan continued the 
 
JAMES I. TO THE RESTORATION. 
 
 179 
 
 siege. In the frequent sallies made by the brave little garrison, the works 
 of the besiegers severely suffered. On one occasion, the royalists captured 
 a large mortar, which had inflicted considerable injury on the place. One 
 shot from this piece of ordnance had fallen into the room occupied by the 
 heroic countess and her family. The parliament, attributing the want of 
 success to the incapacity of the commander, removed Egerton, and 
 entrusted the direction of the siege to Colonel Rigby and Colonel Moore. 
 These officers constructed new works, which were attacked and destroyed 
 in several vigorous sallies. Rigby, however, persevered till June, when, 
 after a four months’ investment, he was compelled to raise the siege, on 
 hearing that Prince Rupert’s main army of ten thousand men was 
 advancing to the relief of the garrison. The force of the besiegers has 
 been variously estimated at two thousand, three thousand, and four 
 thousand men. Rigby retired to Bolton, and Colonel Moore to Liverpool, 
 and prepared to stand upon the defensive. Thus, the heroic countess 
 triumphed, and the brave parliamentary generals, in this instance, like 
 the French at Saragoza, were 
 
 “Foil’d by a woman’s hand, before a battered wall.” 
 
 Prince Rupert having raised the sieges of Newark and Chester, entered 
 Lancashire with an army of nearly ten thousand men, on the 25th of May, 
 1644, by the “pass” of Stockport, at that period considered “the second 
 key of the county.” The prince having effected a junction with the earl 
 of Derby, attacked Bolton on the 28th, in the anticipation of an easy 
 victory, the garrison of the town consisting only of about two thousand 
 soldiers and five hundred club-men. Rigby and his veterans, however, 
 beat him off, with the loss of two hundred men. It was essential to the 
 success of Prince Rupert’s mission, the regaining for the king the “lost 
 county of Lancaster,” that Bolton should fall. Another assault was, 
 therefore, determined upon. This was led by the earl of Derby in person, 
 at the head of his retainers, tenants, and personal friends. It was com¬ 
 pletely successful, after a fierce and sanguinary struggle. The town was 
 pillaged without mercy. The prince refused quarter, and, consequently, 
 both the inhabitants and the garrison were put to the sword after the place 
 was won. According to Seacombe, the historian of the house of Derby, 
 the greater part of two thousand parliamentary soldiers were killed. 
 Another royalist account makes the number one thousand six hundred 
 slain, and seven hundred prisoners. The piuitan author of “An Exact 
 Relation of the Bloody and Barbarous Massacre at Bolton,” says, however, 
 and probably with truth :—“ Of their and oure side it is conceived there 
 was slain about 1200 or 1500 in all.” 
 
180 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Rupert advanced to Liverpool, -which, after eighteen days’ resistance, 
 fell into his hands. From Liverpool he was summoned hy the king to 
 York, then besieged by the parliamentary forces under Cromwell and 
 Fairfax, and threatened by the Scotch puritan army, before which the 
 marquis of Newcastle had fallen back upon the city. On the 2nd of July, 
 the day after the arrival of Prince Rupert, the great and decisive battle of 
 Marston moor was fought. The discretion of the prince by no means 
 equalled his chivalrous courage. Without consulting the marquis, he rashly 
 ordered the royal troops to engage the enemy, and lost on that fatal day, 
 not only the fruits of many a well-fought field, but destroyed the military 
 prestige of the royalists. This defeat so weakened the king’s forces, that 
 his chance of success in the conflict with his parliament from that hour 
 gradually declined. In this engagement, the presence of mind, courage, 
 and skill of Oliver Cromwell proved more than a match for the brave but 
 impetuous Rupert. At Marston moor, fifty, and, according to some 
 authorities, eighty thousand British troops were engaged in mutual 
 slaughter. Newcastle, disgusted with the treatment he had received, 
 retired from active life, and afterwards lived abroad. Rupert retreated 
 precipitately with the remnant of his army into Lancashire. 
 
 These continual struggles had inflicted much suffering upon the king¬ 
 dom, and especially upon the county of Lancaster. An ordinance was 
 issued about this period by parliament, that the maimed or wounded 
 officers and soldiers under the command of Rigby and Shuttleworth, 
 together with the widows and orphans of the slain, should be pensioned 
 “ out of the several sequestrations of papists and delinquents, within the 
 respective hundreds of Blackburn, Leyland, and Amoundemess, or out of 
 assessments provided for that purpose; hut that no person should receive 
 by way of maintenance more than four shillings and eightpence per 
 week.” b 
 
 The struggle was renewed in Lancashire on the return of Prince Rupert. 
 On liis passage through Preston, he seized upon the persons of William 
 Cottam, the mayor, and William Patten and James Benson, bailiffs of the 
 borough, and immured them in Skipton Castle, doubtless, for their par¬ 
 liamentary predilections. On their liberation, about three months after¬ 
 wards, they were indemnified by the corporate body for their detention, 
 in the sum of ten pounds to the mayor, and five pounds each to the bailiffs. c 
 The mayor, however, presented his share of the grant to his colleagues. 
 Rupert passed through Lancashire, and joined the king at Chester. 
 
 In the month of August, Preston was again the scene of a sharp 
 
 b Journal of the House of Commons, Aug. 5, 1644. 
 
 c Corporation Records. 
 
JAMES I. TO THE RESTOKATION. 
 
 181 
 
 rencontre between the parliamentary forces and some “ malignants,” who 
 were endeavouring to effect a junction with the king’s forces in Cheshire. 
 The particulars are given in the following dispatch from Colonel Shuttle- 
 worth, dated at Whalley :— 
 
 “Right Honorable,—upon Thursday last, marching with three of my troops upon 
 Blackburn towards Preston where the Enemie lay, I met 11 of their Colours at Ribble 
 Bridge, within a mile of Preston, whereupon after a sharp fight we took the Lord 
 Ogleby, a Scotch Lord and Col. Ennis, one other Col. slaine, one major wounded, and 
 divers officers and souldiers to the number of 40 in all taken, besides 8 or 9 slain, with 
 the losse of twelve men taken prisoners, which afterwards were released by Sir John 
 Mildrum upon his coming to Preston the night following, from whence the enemie fled. 
 
 “ Your humble servant, 
 
 “Nicholas Shuttlewokth.” 
 
 This spirited action is described more in detail in the “Perfect Diurnal” 
 of the 26th August, 1644 :— 
 
 “ Letters were read directed to the Speaker of the House of Commons, declaring that 
 the Lord Ogleby and Col. Huddleston marching towards Latham House in Lancashire, 
 encountered with Colonell Doddington not far from Preston, and at first the dispute 
 was very difficult, but Colonell Shuttleworth received an alarm upon their engagement 
 (his quarters being neere) delayed not any time to rescue the first undertakers; upon 
 whose approach Colonell Doddington's men were put in great courage, and these two 
 valiant Colonells being joined together, charged the enemy with such brave resolution 
 that they were put in disorder, and many of them slain in the place. The enemies party 
 consisting of about 400 horse.” 
 
 The house of commons, on the 8th of August, ordered Fairfax to send 
 a reinforcement of ten thousand horse into Lancashire, to strengthen the 
 parliamentary forces there, and enable them to reduce Liverpool. Major- 
 general Sir John Meldrum defeated the royalists at Ormskirk, on the 20th 
 of August, and captured about thirty gentlemen of position in the comity, 
 and upwards of one thousand horsemen. Lords Byron and Molyneux 
 were engaged, but escaped. Meldrum followed the routed army to Liver¬ 
 pool, and immediately proceeded to invest the place by land, while its late 
 governor, Colonel Moore, who was occasionally employed in the naval as 
 well as the military service, blockaded the port. The siege continued 
 until the 14th November. The garrison, liarrassed by dejection and famine, 
 seized the officers, and surrendered the town. 
 
 The sufferings of the poorer inhabitants of Lancashire, about this period, 
 were most intense. In many parts, the people were without food or 
 decent clothing. Their condition was so lamentable, that parliament 
 appointed the 12th of September, 1644, as a day of solemn fast throughout 
 the country, and ordered that one-ludf of the proceeds from collections 
 made in “all the churches within the cities of London and Westminster, 
 and within the lines of communication,” should be devoted to the relief 
 of the distressed people of Lancashire. 
 
 The public began to tire of the war, and to suspect that the emoluments 
 
182 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 of office tempted some of the leaders to prolong it. This feeling gave rise 
 to the celebrated “ self-denying ordinance,” which prohibited members of 
 parliament holding commissions in the army. Fairfax, however, contrived 
 to retain the services of Cromwell, whose great military talents he had 
 early recognised and cultivated. 
 
 The royalists, commanded by the king, Prince Rupert, and Sir Harma- 
 duke Langdale, were defeated by the parliamentary forces, under Fairfax and 
 Cromwell, at Naseby, on the 14th of June, 1645, after which the king fell 
 back upon Chester. His army was again defeated on Rowton heath. The 
 parliamentary forces under General Egerton, after a five months’ siege, 
 reduced Lathom House, the last stronghold of the king in the county of 
 Lancaster. The countess and family had retired to the Isle of Man ; but 
 the fortress, which had been increased in strength by Prince Rupert, was 
 bravely defended by the Lancashire royalists, under the command of 
 Colonel Rawstome, and others. The fall of Lathom was celebrated 
 with great rejoicing in London and Westminster, as an event of the highest 
 importance to the cause of the parliament. The commons ordered this 
 celebrated stronghold to be dismantled, and all the military works 
 destroyed. Rristol, Chester, and other fortified places speedily submitted. 
 The royalists being utterly discomfited, the king surrendered himself to the 
 Scotch puritan army, which had advanced to Newark, to support the par¬ 
 liamentary generals. The struggle now seemed at an end. A royal 
 warrant was issued from Newcastle on the 10th of June, 1646, in which 
 orders were given to “ Sir Thomas Glenham, Sir Thomas Tildesley, Cols. 
 Washington and JBlagge, Governors of Oxford, Lichfield, Worcester, and 
 Wallingford, and all other commanders of any Touns, Castles, and Forts 
 in our Kingdom of England, to quit the same and disband all their 
 forces.” 
 
 In order to raise funds necessary for so expensive a war, parliament had 
 previously agreed to compound with “ delinquents, papists, spies, and 
 intelligencers,” for their sequestered estates. Large sums of money were 
 now extracted from those persons of property who had supported the cause 
 of the king. The Lancashire sequestration committee usually held its 
 sittings at Preston. Several of the royalist gentry, whose descendants still 
 reside in the neighbourhood, compounded for their estates. Roman catholics 
 were mulcted, whether they professedly adhered to the king’s cause or 
 not. 
 
 While the king was a prisoner, some attempts were made by the Scotch 
 and English royalists to turn the scale in his favour. The house of com¬ 
 mons appointed a special “ Committee of Lancashire,” who ordered levies 
 to be made for the defence of the county, and dispatched a body of troops, 
 
JAMES I. TO THE BESTOBATION. 
 
 183 
 
 under Lieutenant-colonel Alexander Rigby, to the assistance of Lambert, 
 who commanded in the north. Meetings of gentry were held at Bolton, 
 Preston, and other places, where it was resolved to raise the whole force 
 of the county, and warrants were issued accordingly. The campaign of 
 1648 commenced with the defeat of Sir Richard Tempest, on the 4th of 
 July, by Colonel Lilburne. The royalists lost a considerable number of 
 horses and prisoners. The same year, the duke of Hamilton penetrated 
 into England at the head of a numerous army, by the western route. Sir 
 Harmaduke Langdale marched from Northumberland on his left flank, 
 with about four thousand English royalists, and effected a junction with 
 the duke near Preston. The king’s army was further reinforced by some 
 Irish troops, under General Monroe. The independents and presbyterians 
 having quarrelled on the subject of church discipline, and the Lancashire 
 puritans adhering almost universally to the formula of thelattcr, the duke of 
 Hamilton thought it desirable to intimate, on his entrance into the county, 
 that his sole purpose was the “ settling of Presbyterian government 
 according to the covenant, and liberating and re-establishing his majesty.” 
 Oliver Cromwell received orders from parliament to immediately oppose 
 the progress of the invading forces. He entered Lancashire on the 16th 
 of August, by the Hodder bridge, where he was joined by the local 
 parliamentary troops and the militia, under the brave Colonel Ashton, now 
 advanced to the rank of major-general. A council of war was held on 
 the spot, and prompt action determined upon. 
 
 As a rejoinder to the duke of Hamilton’s manifesto, the soldiers, both 
 officers and men, of the parliamentary army of Lancashire, published a 
 declaration of their adherence to the solemn league and covenant of the 
 three kingdoms, that “ they would support the established government of 
 king, lords, and commons; that as to priests, malignant abettors of former 
 innovations, or other disaffected persons, they detested them from the 
 bottom of their hearts, and would resist them with their lives and 
 fortunes.” 
 
 By a rapid movement early on the morning of Thursday, the 17th, from 
 Stonyhiu’st, Cromwell surprised and defeated, after a sharp conflict, the 
 division under Sir Marmaduke Langdale, at Ribbleton moor, before the 
 duke of Hamilton, (whose troops were quartered in the town of Preston, 
 and by the Darwen, at Walton, on the southern bank of the Ribble,) could 
 render him any assistance. The battle was continued in the streets of the 
 town ; but the royalists were forced to retreat by the Ribble bridge upon 
 their main body. Here the combat was renewed with gallant determi¬ 
 nation on both sides, and great slaughter ensued. The Lancashire troops 
 assisted in the storming of the bridge, which was carried at “ push of 
 
184 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS 
 
 pike,” after a severe struggle. At the end of the lane leading from Preston 
 to the bridge at Walton, -which was at that period “very narrow and deep,” 
 Cromwell himself, by a mere accident, escaped mutilation or death from 
 the huge stones which the royalists hurled at him and his troops from the 
 higher ground. d Night put an end to the engagement, and stopped the 
 carnage. Though the Scotch army lay within musket shot of their 
 enemies, they decamped before daylight. Milton, in his sonnet to Cromwell, 
 regarded this victory as of sufficient importance to demand special mention 
 when eulogising the military prowess of his hero,— 
 
 “ Darwen’s stream with blood of Scots imbued 
 with Dunbar and Worcester, are mentioned as his greatest triumphs. 
 
 Sir Hannaduke Langdale complained of the apathy or negligence of the 
 duke of Hamilton, and attributed his defeat at Ribbleton moor entirely to 
 the failure of succour from the Scots in his rear. He declared his con¬ 
 viction that had he only received promptly a reinforcement of one thousand 
 foot, that Cromwell would have been defeated. The total royalist forces 
 amounted to about twenty-one thousand men, e while Cromwell’s army 
 comprised little more than one-third of that number. This decisive victory 
 was unquestionably the result of the superior unanimity and discipline of 
 the parliamentary forces, and of the skill, promptitude, and energy of 
 their commander. f 
 
 Langdale himself was, for some time, uncertain whether he was merely 
 attacked by the Lancashire troops under General Ashton, or by the van¬ 
 guard or “ forlorn” of the parliamentary army. The irresolute duke of 
 Hamilton was no match for the clear, penetrating intellect and active 
 genius of Cromwell. The former marched with his large army widely 
 scattered, a portion of his horse having been sent forward to Wigan, while 
 his rear-guard, under Monroe, was loitering far behind the main body. 
 Cromwell knew well the game he had to play with such a leader ; and, 
 accordingly, by rapid marches, appeared before the enemy when least 
 expected; and, in the words of Thomas Carlyle, “ dashed in upon him, 
 cut him in two, drove him north and south, into as miserable ruin as his 
 worst enemy could wish.” In the evening of this eventful day, Cromwell 
 forwarded from Preston the following dispatch to the “ Committee of 
 
 d Patten’s “History of the Rebellion in 1715.” 
 
 e Another account states that the Scots alone numbered twenty-six thousand men. 
 f “ Hamilton having entered England with a numerous though undisciplined army, durst not 
 unite his forces with those of Langdale; because the English royalists had refused to take the 
 covenant, and the Scottish presbytery, although engaged for the king, refused to join them on any 
 other terms. The two armies marched together, though at some distance ; nor could the approach 
 of the parliamentary army under Cromwell oblige the covenanters to consult their own safety, by a 
 close union with the royalists.”—Hume. 
 
JAMES I. TO THE EESTOEATION. 
 
 185 
 
 Lancashire,” in which the chief features of the action are sketched with 
 much precision, and apparent candour:— 
 
 “ For the Honourable Committee of Lancashire sitting at Manchester. (I desire the 
 
 “Commander of the Forces there to open this Letter if it come not to their hands.)” 
 
 “ ‘Preston,’S 17th August, 1648. 
 
 “ Gentlemen,—It hath pleased God, this day, to shew His great power by making the 
 Army successful against the common Enemy. 
 
 “ We lay last night at Mr. Sherburn’s, of Stonyhurst, nine miles from Preston, which 
 was within three miles of the Scots quarters. 11 We advanced betimes next morning 
 towards Preston, with a desire to engage the Enemy ; and by that time our Forlorn had 
 engaged the enemy, we were about four miles from Preston, and thereupon we advanced 
 with the whole army : and the Enemy being drawn out on a Moor betwixt us and the 
 Town, the Armies on both sides engaged; and after a very sharp dispute, continuing for 
 three or four hours, it pleased God to enable us to give them a defeat; which 1 hope 
 we shall improve, by God’s assistance, to their utter ruin; and in this service your 
 countrymen have not the least share. 
 
 “ We cannot be particular, having not time to take account of the slain and prisoners ; 
 but we can assure you we have many prisoners, and many of those of quality; and many 
 slain; and the Army so dissipated ‘as I sav.’ The principal part whereof, with Duke 
 Hamilton, is on south side Ribble and Darwen Bridge, and we lying with the greatest part 
 of the Army close to them; nothing hindering the ruin of that part of the Enemy’s 
 Army but the night. It shall be our care that they shall not pass over any ford beneath 
 the Bridge, to go Northward, or to come betwixt us and Whalley. 
 
 “ We understand Colonel-General Ashton’s are at Whalley ; we have seven troops of 
 horse or dragoons that we believe lie at Clitheroe. This night I have sent order to them 
 expressly to march to Whalley, to join to those companies; that so we may endeavour 
 the ruin of this Enemy. You perceive by this letter how things stand. By this means 
 the enemy is broken : and most of their Horse having gone Northwards, and we having 
 sent a considerable party at the very heel of them ; and the Enemy having lost almost all 
 his ammunition, and near four-thousand arms, so that the greatest part of the Foot are 
 naked;—therefore, in order to perfecting this work, we desire you to raise your County ; 
 and to improve your forces to the total ruin of that Enemy, which way soever they go; 
 and if you shall accordingly do your part, doubt not of their total ruin. 
 
 “ We thought fit to speed this to you ; to the end you may not be troubled if they shall 
 march towards you, but improve your interest as aforesaid, that you may give glory to 
 God for this unspeakable mercy. This is all at present from, 
 
 “ Your very humble servant, 
 
 “Oliver Cromwell.”! 
 
 g The words in Cromwell’s letters within the half quotations have been added to complete the 
 sense, by Thomas Carlyle. 
 
 h As may be supposed, the distances are not quite accurate. Stonyhurst is about twelve miles 
 from Preston. 
 
 i “ The copy of a Letter from Lieutenant-General Cromwell, from Preston, of the 17” Augusti, 
 1G48, to the Committee of Lancashire sitting at Manchester, enclosed in a letter from a Member of 
 this House, from Manchester, of 19° Augusti, 1648, were this day read. Ordered, That it be referred 
 to the Committee at Derby House to send away a copy of Lieutenant-General Cromwell’s Letter to 
 the General ” (Fairfax), “ and to the Lord Admiral,” (Warwick).—Journals of House of Commons, 
 
 Aug. 21, 1648.-The accompanying letter from the member of parliament at Manchester is signed 
 
 “ W. L.” Carlyle describes this production as “ short and insignificant, about ‘ dispensations ’ 
 ‘ providences,’ etc.;” and conjectures its author to have been “ William Langton, the new member 
 for Preston.” Both letters are printed in the “Civil War Tracts,” published by the Cheetham 
 Society. 
 
186 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 On the morning of the 18th, Cromwell pursued the fugitives to Wigan, 
 where both armies remained during the night. The next day, on his 
 retreat to Warrington, the duke defended the “pass at Winwick” reso¬ 
 lutely, for some hours; but the ardour of the parliamentary troops was 
 not to be overcome; they forced the pass, and pursued the enemy to 
 Warrington, which immediately capitulated. The remainder of the 
 “malignant” army was cut up in detail by hands of “roundheads,” 
 which fell upon the scattered remnants in the various counties over which 
 they were dispersed. The duke of Hamilton was captured at TJttoxeter, 
 in Staffordshire, and Sir Marmaduke Langdale at Nottingham. The 
 following entry in the records of the corporation thus describes this great 
 military achievement:— 
 
 “ Memorandum. 
 
 “ Decimo Septimo die Augustie, 1648, 24 Car. 
 
 “That Henry Blundell, gent., being mayor of this town of Preston, the daieandyeare 
 aforesaid, Oliver Cromwell, lieutenant-general of the forces of the parliament of Eng¬ 
 land, with an army of about 10,000 at the most, (whereof 1500 were Lancashire men, 
 under the command of Colonel Ralph Assheton, of Middleton), fought a battaill in and 
 about Preston aforesaid, and overthrew Duke Hamilton, general of the Scots, consisting 
 of about 26,000, and of English Sir Marmaduke Langdale and his forces joined with 
 the Scots, about 4000 ; took all their ammunition, about 3000 prisoners, killed many 
 with very small losse to the parliament army; and in their pursuit towards Lancaster, 
 Wigan, Warrington, and divers other places in Cheshire, Staffordshire, and Nottingham¬ 
 shire, took the said Duke and Langdale, with many Scottish earls and lords, and about 
 10,000 prisoners more, all being taken ” (or) “ slayne, few escaping, and all their treasure 
 and plunder taken. This performed in lesse than one week.” j 
 
 The number of slain, according to the official returns, in this short but 
 decisive campaign, amounted to two thousand five hundred men, with 
 about twelve thousand prisoners, of which the greater portion were 
 captured in the retreat, making a total loss to the royalists of about fifteen 
 thousand men, besides their munitions and implements of war, and a large 
 booty in horses, cattle, and money. 
 
 Clarendon says that “ Sir Thomas Tildesley was left with a body of 
 English, with which he had besieged the castle of Lancaster and was on 
 the point of reducing it when the Preston news arrived.” Sir Thomas 
 therefore fell back upon Monroe’s reserves, and a remnant of Sir Marmaduke 
 Langdale’s broken forces, which had escaped from the town by the Lan¬ 
 caster road. He advised Monroe to follow Cromwell in the rear, being 
 still equal in numbers to the parliamentary army. Cromwell evidently 
 expected some such attack when he left orders to his detachment resting 
 at Preston “ to put their prisoners to the sword if the Scotch should 
 
 j This extract is printed in Baines’s History of Lancashire. No existing corporation record book, 
 however, contains it. One of the date referred to is, however, missing. There exists a memorandum 
 that Dr. Kuerden borrowed some hook belonging to the corporation, and did not return it. Mr. 
 Baines therefore has doubtless transcribed it from some of Kuerden’s manuscripts. These documents, 
 from decay and the peculiar writing, are extremely difficult to decypher. 
 
JAMES I. TO THE KESTORATION. 
 
 187 
 
 presume to advance upon them, because they cannot bring them off with 
 security.” Monroe, however, preferred retreating northward, through a 
 “country hostile to him in consequence of his previous plunder.” The 
 royalists attempted to reduce the town of Cockermouth; but Major-general 
 Ashton, who followed them from Preston with the Lancashire troops, 
 raised the siege, and afterwards appeared before Appleby, then held by 
 the Scots for the king, which place immediately surrendered. Ashton 
 captured five pieces of cannon, a thousand stand of arms, “ twelve 
 hundred horse,” and upwards of one hundred officers. 
 
 The following dispatch, from the pen of Cromwell, to the speaker of 
 the house of commons, written on the 20th of August, will be read with 
 interest. The details of the several engagements are given with charac¬ 
 teristic force and precision :— 
 
 “ To the Honourable William Lenthall, Esquire, Speaker of the House of Commons : 
 
 “ These — 
 
 “ ‘ Warrington," 20th August, 1648. 
 
 “ Sir,—I have sent up this Gentleman to give you an account of the great and good 
 hand of God towards you, in the late victory obtained against the Enemy in these parts. 
 
 “ After the conjunction of that Party which I brought with me out of Wales with the 
 Northern Forces about Knaresborough and Wetherby,—hearing that the Enemy was 
 advanced with their Army into Lancashire, we marched the next day, being the 13th of 
 this instant August, to Otley (.having cast off our Train, and sent it to Knaresborough, 
 because of the difficulty of marching therewith through Craven, and to the end we might 
 with more expedition attend the Enemy’s motion): and on the 14th to Skipton ; the 15th 
 to Gisburne ; the 16th to Hodder Bridge over Ribble; k where we held a council of war. 
 At which we had in consideration, Whether we should march to Whalley that night, and 
 so on, to interpose between the Enemy and his further progress into Lancashire and so 
 southward,—which we had some advertisement the Enemy intended, and ‘ we are ’ since 
 confirmed that they intended for London itself: Or whether to march immediately over 
 the said Bridge, there being no other betwixt that and Preston, and there engage the 
 Enemy,—who we did believe would stand his ground, because we had information that 
 the Irish Forces under Monro lately come out of Ireland, which consisted of Twelve- 
 hundred horse and Fifteen-hundred foot, were on their march towards Lancashire to join 
 them. 
 
 “It was thought that to engage the Enemy to fight was our business ; and the reason 
 aforesaid giving us hopes that our marching on the North side of Ribble would effect it, 
 it was resolved we should march over the Bridge; which accordingly we did ; and that 
 night quartered the whole Army in the field by Stonyhurst Hall, being Mr. Sherburn’s 
 house, a place nine miles distant from Preston. Very early the next morning we marched 
 towards Preston : having intelligence that the Enemy was drawing together thereabouts 
 from all his out-quarters, we drew out a Forlorn of about two-hundred horse and four- 
 hundred foot, the horse commanded by Major Smithson, the foot by Major Pownel. Our 
 Forlorn of horse marched, within a mile ‘to’ where the Enemy was drawn up,—in the 
 
 k This is an error. As Cromwell’s army advanced by way of Gisburn, he would necessarily pass 
 through; XVaddington to the “higher bridge,” over the river Hodder, on his route to Stonyhurst. 
 A considerable portion of this bridge is still in existence, and forms an interesting relic of the 
 important “ council of war” which preceded the great battle of Preston. 
 
188 
 
 PEESTON iXD ITS EXYIEOXS. 
 
 enclosed grounds by Preston, on that side next us ; and there, upon a Moor, about half a 
 mile distant from the Enemy’s Army, met with their Scouts and Outguard; and did 
 behave themselves with that valour and courage as made their Guards (which consisted 
 both of horse and foot) to quit their ground; and took divers prisoners; holding this 
 dispute with them until our Forlorn of foot came up for their justification; and by these 
 we had opportunity to bring up our whole Army. 
 
 “ So soon as our foot and horse were come up, we resolved that night to engage them 
 if we could; and therefore, advancing with our Forlorn, and putting the rest of our 
 Army into as good a posture as the ground would bear (which was totally inconvenient for 
 our horse, being all enclosure and miry ground), we pressed upon them. The regiments 
 of foot were ordered as followeth. There being a Lane, very deep and ill, on to the 
 Enemy’s Army, and leading to the Town, 1 we commanded two regiments of horse, the 
 first whereof was Colonel Harrison’s and next was my own, to charge up that Lane; and 
 on either side of them advanced the ‘ Main’-battle,—which were Lieutenant-Colonel 
 Reade’s, Colonel Dean’s and Colonel Pride’s on the right; Colonel Bright's and my Lord 
 General's on the left; and Colonel Ashton with the Lancashire regiments in reserve. We 
 ordered Colonel Thornhaugh's and Colonel Twistleton's regiments of horse on the right; 
 and one regiment in reserve for the Lane ; and the remaining horse on the left:—so that, 
 at last, we came to a Hedge-dispute; the greatest of the impression from the Enemy 
 being upon our left wing, and upon the ‘ Main'-battle on both sides the Lane, and upon 
 our horse in the Lane : in all which places the Enemy were forced from their ground, 
 after four hours dispute;—until we came to the Town ; into which four troops of my own 
 regiment first entered ; and, being well seconded by Colonel Harrison's regiment, charged 
 the Enemy in the Town, and cleared the streets. 
 
 “ There came no band of your foot to fight that day but did it with incredible valour 
 and resolution ; among which Colonel Bright's, my Lord General's, Lieutenant-Colonel 
 Reade’s and Colonel Ashton's had the greatest work ; they often coming to push of pike 
 and to close firing, and always making the Enemy to recoil. And indeed I must needs 
 say, God was as much seen in the valour of the officers and soldiers of these before-men¬ 
 tioned as in any action that hath been performed; the Enemy making, though he was 
 still worsted, very stiff and sturdy resistance. Colonel Dean’s and Colonel Pride's, 
 outwinging the Enemy, could not come to so much share of the action ; the Enemy 
 shogging m down towards the Bridge ; and keeping almost all in reserve, that so he might 
 bring fresh hands often to fight. Which we not knowing, and lest we should be out- 
 winged, ‘we’ placed those two regiments to enlarge our right wing; this was the cause 
 they had not at that time so great a share in that action. 
 
 “ At the last the Enemy was put into disorder; many men slain, many prisoners taken : 
 the Duke, with most of the Scots horse and foot, retreated over the Bridge ;n where,— 
 after a very hot dispute betwixt the Lancashire regiments, part of my Lord General's, 
 and them, being often at push of pike,—they were beaten from the Bridge; and our 
 horse and foot, following them, killed many and took divers prisoners ; and we possessed 
 the Bridge over Darwen ‘also,’ and a few houses there ; the Enemy being driven up 
 within musket-shot of us where we lay that night,—we not being able to attempt farther 
 upon the Enemy, the night preventing us. In this posture did the Enemy and we lie 
 
 1 This “ deep lane” was a little to the south of the present road from Longridge. The hollow is 
 now planted with timber. 
 
 m “ Shog, from the same root as shock; ‘shogging’ a word of Oliver’s in such cases, signifies 
 moving by pulses, intermittently.”— Carlyle. 
 
 n This is an error. The Duke, Sir James Turner, and others, swam the ford at Penwortham, on 
 horseback. The main body, however, retreated by the lane at the end of Church-street, to the 
 bridge at Walton. 
 
JAMES I. TO TIIE RESTORATION. 
 
 189 
 
 most part of that night. Upon entering the Town, many of the Enemy’s horse fled 
 towards Lancaster ; in the chase of whom went divers of our horse, who pursued them 
 near ten miles, and had execution of them, and took about five-hundred horse and many 
 prisoners. We possessed in this Fight very much of the Enemy's ammunition ; I believe 
 they lost four or five thousand arms. The number of slain we judge to be about a 
 thousand ; the prisoners we took were about four thousand. 
 
 “ In the night the Duke was drawing off his Army towards Wigan ; we were so wearied 
 with the dispute that we did not so well attend the Enemy's going off as might have been; 
 by means whereof the Enemy was gotten at least three miles with his rear, before ours 
 got to them. I ordered Colonel Thornhaugh to command two or three regiments of 
 horse to follow the Enemy, if it were possible to make him stand till we could bring up 
 the Army. The Enemy marched away seven or eight thousand foot and about four- 
 thousand horse ; we followed him with about three-thousand foot and two-thousand five- 
 hundred horse and dragoons; and, in this prosecution, that worthy Gentleman, Colonel 
 Thornhaugh, pressing too boldly, was slain, being run into the body and thigh and head 
 by the Enemy’s lancers. And give me leave to say, he was a man as faithful and gallant 
 in your service as any; and one who often heretofore lost blood in your quarrel, and now 
 his last. He hath left some behind him to inherit a Father's honour; and a sad Widow ; 
 —both now the interest of the Commonwealth. 
 
 “ Our horse still prosecuted the Enemy ; killing and taking divers all the way. At 
 last the Enemy drew up within three miles of Wigan ; and by that time our Army was 
 come up, they drew off again, and recovered Wigan before we could attempt any thing 
 upon them. We lay that night in the field close by the Enemy; being very dirty and 
 weary, and having marched twelve miles of such ground as I never rode in all my life, the 
 day being very wet. We had some skirmishing, that night, with the Enemy, near the 
 Town; where we took General Van Druske and a Colonel, and killed some principal 
 Officers, and took about a hundred prisoners ; where I also received a letter from Duke 
 Hamilton, for civil usage towards his kinsman Colonel Hamilton, whom he left wounded 
 there. We took also Colonel Hurry and Lieutenant-Colonel Innes, sometimes in your 
 service. 0 The next morning the Enemy marched towards Warrington, and we at the heels 
 of them. The Town of Wigan, P a great and poor Town, and very Malignant, were 
 plundered almost to their skins by them. 
 
 “We could not engage the Enemy until we came within three miles of Warrington ; 
 and there the Enemy made a stand, at a place near Winwiek. We held them in some 
 dispute till our Army came up ; they maintaining the Pass with great resolution for many 
 hours : ours and theirs coming to push of pike and very close charges,—which forced us 
 to give ground ; but our men, by the blessing of God, quickly recovered it, and charging 
 very home upon them, beat them from their standing ; where we killed about a thousand 
 of them, and took, as we believe, about two-thousand prisoners; and prosecuted them 
 home to Warrington Town; where they possessed the Bridge, which had a strong barri- 
 cado and a work upon it, fomerly made very defensive. As soon as we came thither, I 
 received a message from General Baillie, desiring some capitulation. To which I yielded. 
 Considering the strength of the Pass, and that I could not go over the River ‘ Mersey ’ 
 
 o Who ‘ Van Druske’ is, none knows. ‘ Colonel Hurry ’ is the ever-changing Sir John Hurry, 
 sometimes called Urry and Hurrey, who whisks like a most rapid actor of all work, ever on a new 
 side, ever charging in the van, through this Civil War Drama. The notablest feat he ever did was 
 leading Prince Rupert on that marauding party, from Oxford to High Wycombe, on the return from 
 which Hampden met his death (Clarendon, ii. 381). Hurry had been on the Parliament-side before. 
 He was taken, at last, when Montrose was taken ; and hanged out of the way. Of Innes (‘ Ennis ’) 
 I know nothing at present.”—Carlyle. 
 
 p This, evidently, is an error. It should read—“ The people of Wigan.” 
 
190 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 within ten miles of Warrington with the Army, I gave him these terms : That he should 
 surrender himself and all his officers and soldiers prisoners of war, with all his arms and 
 ammunition and horses, to me; I giving quarter for life, and promising civil usage. 
 Which accordingly is done: and the Commissioners deputed by me have received, and 
 are receiving, all the arms and ammunition ; which will be, as they tell me, about Four- 
 thousand complete arms; and as many prisoners : and thus you have their Infantry 
 totally ruined. What Colonels and Officers are with General Baillie, I have not yet 
 received the list. 
 
 “The Duke is marching with his remaining Horse, which are about three-thousand, 
 towards Nantwich; where the Gentlemen of the County have taken about five-hundred 
 of them ; of which they sent me word this day. The country will scarce suffer any of my 
 men to pass, except they have my hand-‘writing telling them, They are Scots. They 
 bring in and kill divers of them, as they light upon them. Most of the Nobility of 
 Scotland are with the Duke. If I had a thousand horse that could but trot thirty miles, 
 I should not doubt but to give a very good account of them : but truly we are so har- 
 rassed and haggled out in this business, that we are not able to do more than walk ‘ at’ an 
 easy pace after them.—I have sent post to my Lord Grey, to Sir Henry Cholmely and 
 Sir Edward Rhodes to gather all together, with speed, for their prosecution; as likewise 
 to acquaint the Governor of Stafford therewith. 
 
 “ I hear Monro is about Cumberland with the horse that ran away, and his ‘ own ’ 
 Irish horse and foot, which arc a considerable body. I have left Colonel Ashton’s three 
 regiments of foot, with seven troops of horse (six of Lancashire and one of Cumberland), 
 at Preston ; and ordered Colonel Scroop with five troops of horse and two troops of 
 dragoons, ‘and’ with two regiments of foot (Colonel Lascelles’s and Colonel Wastell’s), 
 to embody with them ; and have ordered them to put their prisoners to the sword if the 
 Scots shall presume to advance upon them, because they cannot bring them off with 
 security, q 
 
 “ Thus you have a Narrative of the particulars of the success which God hath given 
 you : which I could hardly at this time have done, considering the multiplicity of 
 business ; but truly, when I was once engaged in it, I could hardly tell how to say less, 
 there being so much of God in it; and 1 am not willing to say more, lest there should 
 seem to be any of man. Only give me leave to add one word, shewing the disparity of 
 forces on both sides ; that so you may see, and all the world acknowledge, the great hand 
 of God in this business. The Scots Army could not be less than twelve-thousand 
 effective foot, well-armed, and five-thousand horse ; Langdale not less than two-thousand 
 five-hundred foot, and fifteen-hundred horse : in all Twenty-one Thousand ;—and truly 
 very few of their foot but were as well armed if not better than yours, and at divers dis¬ 
 putes did fight two or three hours before they would quit their ground. Yours were 
 about two-thousand five-hundred horse and dragoons of your old Army ; about four 
 thousand foot of your old Army ; also about sixteen-hundred Lancashire foot, and about 
 five-hundred Lancashire horse : in all about Eight-thousand Six-hundred You see by 
 computation about two-thousand of the Enemy slain; betwixt eight and nine-thousand 
 prisoners ; besides what are lurking in hedges and private places, which the Country daily 
 bring in or destroy. Where Langdale and his broken forces are, I know not; but they 
 are exceedingly shattered. 
 
 “ Surely, Sir, this is nothing but the hand of God ; and wherever anything in this world 
 is exalted, or exalts itself, God will pull it down; for this is the day wherein He alone 
 will be exalted. It is not fit for me to give advice, nor to say a word what use you should 
 
 q “ It is to be hoped the Scots under Munro will not presume to advance, for the prisoners here 
 in Preston are about four thousand ! These are not Haillie’s Warrington men ‘ who surrendered on 
 quarter for life ; * these are ‘ at discretion.’ ’’—Carlyle. 
 
JAMES I. TO THE RESTORATION. 
 
 191 
 
 make of this ;—more than to pray you, and all that acknowledge God, That they would 
 exalt him,—and not hate His people, who are as the apple of His eye, and for whom even 
 Kings shall be reproved ; and that you would take courage to do the work of the Lord, 
 in fulfilling the end of your Magistracy, in seeking the peace and welfare of this Land,— 
 that all that will live peaceably may have countenance from you, and they that are 
 incapable and will not leave troubling the Land may speedily be destroyed out of the 
 Land. And if you take courage in this, God will bless you ; and good men will stand 
 by you ; and God will have glory, and the Land will have happiness by you in despite of 
 all your enemies. Which shall be the prayer of, 
 
 “Your most humble and faithful servant, 
 
 “ Oliver Cromwell. 
 
 “ Postscript. We have not, in all this, lost a considerable Officer but Colonel Thorn- 
 haugh; and not many soldiers, considering the service : but many are wounded, and our 
 horse much wearied. I humbly crave that some course may be taken to dispose of the 
 Prisoners. The trouble, and extreme charge of the Country where they lie, is more than 
 the danger of their escape. I think they would not go home if they might, without a 
 convoy ; they are so fearful of the Country, from whom they have deserved so ill. Ten 
 men will keep a thousand from running away.” 
 
 According to Captain Hodgson, Colonel Thomliaugli was “ run through 
 with a lancier in Chorley, he wanting his arms” (armour). The colonel 
 appears to have been a great favourite, and his death was much lamented. 
 He died like Helson and AVolfe, in the hour' of victory. Ludlow says 
 that, “ as he lay wounded among his soldiers, he made them open to the 
 right and left, that he might see the enemy run.” Mrs. Hutchinson, in 
 the memoir of her husband, pays the following graceful tribute to Col. 
 Thornhaugh’s valour and personal integrity :— 
 
 “ Being at the beginning of the charge on a horse as courageous as became such a 
 master, he made such furious speed to set upon a company of Scotch lancers, that he 
 was singly engaged and mortally wounded, before it was possible for his regiment, 
 though as brave men as ever drew sword, and too affectionate to their colonel to be slack 
 in following him, to come up time enough to break the fury of that body, which shamed 
 not to unite all their force against one man ; wdio yet fell not among them, but being 
 faint and all covered with blood, of his enemies as well as his own, was carried off by 
 some of his own men, while the rest, enraged for the loss of their dear colonel, fought 
 not that day like men of human race; but deaf to the cries of every coward, they 
 killed all, and would not that a captive should live to see their colonel die ; but said 
 that the whole Kingdom of Scotland was too mean a sacrifice for that brave man. His 
 soul was hovering to take her flight out of his body, but that an eager desire to know 
 the success of that battle kept it within till the end of the day, when the news being 
 brought him he cleared his dying countenance, and said,—‘I now rejoice to die, since 
 God hath let me see the overthrow of this perfidious enemy; I could not lose my life 
 in a better cause, and I have the favour from God to see my blood avenged.’ So he 
 died, with a large testimony of love to his soldiers, but more to the cause, and was by 
 mercy removed, that the temptations of future times might not prevail to corrupt his 
 pure soul. A man of greater corn-age and integrity fell not, nor fought not in this 
 glorious cause.” r 
 
 On the 20th of August, Cromwell wrote another characteristic letter 
 from Warrington, in which he laments that himself and army are 
 completely fagged with the labour of beating the enemy:— 
 
 r Memoirs of Col. Hutchinson (Bohn’s edition), p. 320. 
 
192 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 “For the Honourable the Committee at York: These — 
 
 “ Warrington, 20th August, 1648. 
 
 “‘Gentlemen,’—We have quite tired our horses in pursuit of the Enemy: we have 
 killed, taken and disabled all their Foot; and left them only some Horse, with whom the 
 Duke is fled into Delamere Forest, having neither Foot nor Dragooners. They have 
 taken Five-hundred of them,—I mean the Country Forces ‘ have,’ as they send me word 
 this day. 
 
 “They are so tired, and in such confusion, that if my Horse could but trot after them, 
 
 I could take them all. But we are so weary, we can scarce be able to do more than walk 
 after them. I beseech you therefore, let Sir Henry Cholmely, Sir Edward Rhodes, 
 Colonel Hatcher, and Colonel White, and all the Countries about you, be sent to rise with 
 you and follow them. For they are the miserablest party that ever was : I durst engage 
 myself, with Five-hundred fresh Horse, and Five-hundred nimhle Foot, to destroy them 
 all. My Horse are miserably beaten out;—and I have Ten-thousand of them Prisoners. 
 
 “ We have killed we know not what; but a very great number; having done execution 
 upon them above thirty miles together,—besides what we killed in the Two great Fights, 
 the one at Preston, the other at Warrington ‘or Win wick Pass.’ The Enemy was 
 Twenty-four thousand horse and foot; whereof Eighteen-thousand horse and Six- 
 thousand foot: and our number about Six-thousand foot and Three-thousand horse at 
 the utmost. 
 
 “ This is a glorious Day God help England to answer His mercies 1—I have no more ; 
 
 but beseech you in all your parts to gather into bodies, and pursue. T rest, 
 
 “ Your most humble servant, 
 
 “ Oliver Cromwell.” 
 
 “ ‘ P.S.’—The greatest part, by far, of the Nobility of Scotland are with Duke 
 Hamilton.” 8 
 
 Captain Hodgson, whom Thomas Carlyle describes as an “honest- 
 hearted pudding-headed Yorkshire Puritan,” has left a record of his 
 particular doings in this campaign. 4 Amongst other matter, he says :— 
 “The Scots, marched towards Kendal; we towards Ripon, where Oliver 
 met us with horse and foot. We were then between eight and nine 
 thousand ; a fine smart Army, fit for action. We marched up to Skipton; 
 the Forlorn of the Enemy’s horse” (Langdale’s) “was come to Gargrave ; 
 having made havoc in the country,—it seems, intending never to come 
 there again.” 
 
 After the passage of the Hodder, Hodgson says, “we pitched our camp 
 at Stanyares Hall” (Stonyhurst,) “a Papist’s House, one Sherburne’s, 
 and the next morning a Forlorn of horse and foot was drawn out.” He 
 then proceeds to inform his readers that at “ Langridge Chapel their horse 
 came upon the advanced posts of Sir Marmaduke Langdale, drawn up 
 very formidably. One Major Poundall” (Pownel) “and myself,” he con¬ 
 tinues, “commanded the Forlorn of Foot. And here being drawn up by 
 
 s This letter is in the possession of Mr. W. Beamont, of Warrington. 
 
 t Captain Hodgson’s narrative is printed in “Original Memoirs of the Great Civil War,” 
 edited by Sir Walter Scott. 
 
JAMES I. TO THE BESTORATIOH. 
 
 193 
 
 the Moore-side (a mere scantling of us as yet, not half the number we 
 should have been), the General” (Oliver himself) “comes to us and orders 
 us to march. We not having half of our men come up, desired a little 
 patience;” but Cromwell knowing well the value of time at such a 
 juncture, was not inclined to patience, for, “he gives out the word 
 ‘March!’” and Captain Hodgson docilely obeys. 
 
 When the action is fairly begun, the “honest-hearted pudding-headed” 
 captain appears to want neither courage nor discretion. He says:— 
 
 “ I met Major-General Lambert,—and coming to him I told him when his danger 
 lay, on his left wing chiefly He ordered me to fetch up the Lancashire regiment, and 
 God brought me off both horse and myself. The bullets flew freely : then was the heat 
 of the battle that day. 
 
 “ I came down to the muir, where I met with Major Jackson, that belonged to 
 Ashton’s regiment, and about three hundred men were come up; and I ordered him to 
 march, but he said he would not, till his men were come up. A serjeant belonging to 
 them asked me where they should march. I shewed him the party he was to fight, and 
 he like a true bi-ed Englishman marched and I caused the soldiers to follow him, which 
 presently fell upon the enemy, and losing that wing, the whole army gave ground and 
 fled. 
 
 “ The Lancashire men were as stout men as were in the world, and as brave fire¬ 
 men. I have often told them they were as good fighters and as great plunderers as ever 
 went to a field.” 
 
 Sir James Turner, who is described by Thomas Carlyle as “a stout 
 pedant and soldier of fortune, the original Dugald Dcdgettg of the novels,” 
 accompanied the Scotch army, and having “a turn for talcing notes,” 
 likewise presented the public with a narrative of this disastrous campaign. 
 From this production, a tolerably clear conception of the “ Preston Battle” 
 is obtained from an opposite point of view, and several additional details 
 are supplied. After alluding to the dispute amongst the generals and 
 officers respecting the route, lie informs his readers that he “ was for 
 Yorkshire,” simply because he imderstood “Lancashire was a close 
 country full of ditches and hedges,” which would be more favourable to 
 the enemy, whose army was composed of “well-trained soldiers,” while 
 the Scots were “raw and indisciplined musketeers.’’ The Yorkshire 
 heaths he thought would furnish more favourable ground, as they might 
 make better use of their horse, and come sooner to “push of pike” with 
 the foot. Hamilton determined for Lancashire, “which,” says Sir James, 
 “led us to our ruin.” The doughty knight, having satisfactorily made 
 known his own judgment, and the duke’s obstinacy, proceeds with his 
 narration as follows:— 
 
 “ Our march was much retarded by most rainy and tempestuous weather, the elements 
 fighting against us ; and by staying for country horses to carry our little ammunition. 
 The vanguard is constantly given to Sir Marmaduke, upon condition that he shall con¬ 
 stantly furnish guides; pioneers for clearing the ways ; and, which was more than both 
 these, having good and certain intelligence of all the enemy’s motions. But whether it 
 was by our fault or liis neglect, want of intelligence helped to ruin us. # * # 
 
 “ Beside Preston, in Lancashire, Cromwell falls upon Sir Marmaduke’s flank. The 
 
 0 
 
194 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 English imagined it was one Colonel Ashton, a powerful Presbyterian, who had got 
 together 3000 men to oppose us, because we came out of Scotland without the General 
 Assembly’s permission. Mark the quarrel. While Sir Marmaduke disputes the matter, 
 Baillie, by the duke’s order, marches to Kibble Bridge, and passes it with all the foot 
 except two brigades. This was two miles from Preston.u By my lord Duke’s command, 
 I had sent some ammunition, and commanded-men to Sir Marmaduke’s assistance : but 
 to no purpose, for Cromwell prevailed; so that our English first retired and then 
 fled. It must be remembered that the night before this sad encounter, Earl Calendar 
 and Middleton were gone to Wigan, eight T miles from thence, with a considerable part 
 of the cavalry. Calendar was come back and was with the Duke, and so was I; but 
 upon the rout of Sir Marmaduke’s people. Calendar got away to Kibble, where he 
 arrived safely by a miracle, as I think; for the enemy was between the Bridge and us, 
 and had killed or taken most part of our two brigades of foot. 
 
 “ The Duke with his guard of horse. Sir Marmaduke with many officers, amongst 
 others myself, got into Preston Town : with intention to pass a ford below it,” (at 
 Penwortham,) “ though at that tune not rideable. At the entry of the Town, the enemy 
 pursued us hard. The Duke faced about, and put two troops of them to a retreat; but 
 so soon as we turned from them, they again turned upon us. The Duke facing the 
 second time, charged them, which succeeded well. Being pursued the third time, my 
 lord Duke cried. To charge once more for King Charles ! One trooper refusing, he beat 
 him with his sword. At that charge we put the enemy so far behind us, that he could 
 not so soon overtake us again. Then Sir Marmaduke and I entreated the Duke to 
 hasten to his army :—and truly here he showed as much personal valour as any man 
 could be capable of. We swam the Ribble River • and so got to the place where Lieu¬ 
 tenant General Baillie had advantageously lodged the foot, on the top of a hill,” (at 
 Walton,) “among very fencible enclosures. 
 
 “After Calendar’ came to the infantry, he had sent 600 musqueteers to defend Ribble 
 Bridge. Very unadvisedly; for the way Cromwell had to it was a descent from a hill 
 that commanded all the champaign ; which was about an English quarter of a mile in 
 length between the Bridge and that Hill where our foot were lodged.^ So that our 
 musqueteers, having no shelter, were forced to receive all the musket shot of Cromwell’s 
 infantry, which was secure within thick hedges; and after the loss of many men, were 
 forced to run back to our foot. Here Claud Hamilton, the Duke’s Lieutenant Colonel, 
 had his arm broke with a musket-bullet. 
 
 “ The Bridge of Ribble being lost, the Duke called all the Colonels together on horse¬ 
 back to advise what was next to be done. We had no choice but one of two : Either 
 stav and maintain our ground till Middleton (who was sent for) came back with his 
 cavalry ; Or else march away that night, and find him out. Calendar would need speak 
 first; whereas by the custom of war he should have told his opinion last,—and it was. 
 To march away that night so soon as it was dark. This was seconded by all the rest, 
 except by Lieutenant General Baillie and myself. But all the arguments we used,—as 
 the impossibility of a safe retreat, from an enemy so powerful of horse; in so very fold 
 weather, and extremely deep ways; our soldiers exceedingly wet, weary, and hungry; 
 the inevitable loss of all our ammunition,—could not move my lord Duke by his authority 
 to contradict the shameful resolution taken by the major part of his officers. 
 
 “After that drumless march was resolved upon, and but few horse appointed to stay 
 in rear of the foot, I inquired What should become of our unfortunate Ammunition, 
 since forward with us we could not get it ? It was not thought fit to blow it up that night, 
 lest the enemy should know of our retreat, or rather flight. I was of that opinion too ; 
 but for another reason; for we could not have blown it up then, without a visible 
 mischief to ourselves, being so near it. It was ordered it should be done three hours 
 after our departure by a train; but that being neglected Cromwell got it all. 
 
 u Sir James, as might be expected from the hurried manner in which his observations were 
 made is verv incorrect in his distances. Walton Bridge is hut a little more than one mile from the 
 centre of Preston. The town and village now nearly meet. 
 
 V This is probably a clerical error for eighteen. Wigan is about seventeen miles from Preston, 
 w The valley of the Ribble is nearly a mile in breadth. The brow at Walton, on the south 
 of the Ribble, is about three quarters of a mile from the bridge. 
 
JAMES I. TO THE RESTORATION. 
 
 195 
 
 “ Next morning we appeared at Wigan Moor; half our number less than we were;— 
 most of the faint and weary soldiers having lagged behind ; whom we never saw again. 
 Lieutenant General Middleton had missed us, for he came by another way to Ribble 
 Bridge.* It was to be wished he had stayed with us. He not finding us there, followed 
 our track; but was himself hotly pursued by Cromwell’s horse; with whom he skir¬ 
 mished the whole way till he came within a mile of us.” 
 
 Captain Hodgson furnishes a few additional particulars respecting the 
 capture of the bridge and the baggage of the enemy. He says :— 
 
 “Colonel Bright’s regiment, Col. Pride’s, and Colonel Deane’s, kept the field; the 
 Lancashire regiments and my Lord General Cromwell's regiment of foot pursued 
 towards Ribbald Bridge, with most of our horse, where the Scots had six regiments of 
 horse and foot, that had been in no service, besides their great army, with the waggons, 
 near Walton Hall, drawn up in readiness. 
 
 “ There was a long dispute before the Bridge was gained, and our horse and foot 
 having routed that party above Walton Hall, they came to their main body, and a 
 matter of six or eight horsemen, commanded by Captain Pockley, kept a gapstead of 
 their whole army, while some of our troopers lighted and turned about Hamilton’s 
 waggons, and threw over that wherein was all his plate, as they brought it down the 
 hill; but the Scots having no mind to rescue it, suffered them to carry the prize away 
 in tlie face of their whole army, though nothing to fright them, but a forlorn hope of 
 horse.—That night our regiment was appointed quarters in Preston.” 
 
 Cromwell appears to have remained in Lancashire for a few days after 
 the victory at Winwick, and to have afterwards withdrawn the main body 
 of his army into Yorkshire. He was at Wigan on the twenty-third, from 
 which place he dispatched the following letter:— 
 
 “ ‘For the Honourable the Committee at York: These.’ 
 
 “Wigan, 23rd August, 1648. 
 
 “Gentlemen,—I have intelligence even now come to my hands, That Duke Hamilton 
 with a wearied Body of Horse is drawing towards Pontefract; where probably he may lodge 
 himself, and rest his Horse;—as not daring to continue in those Countries whence we 
 have driven him; the Country-people rising in such numbers, and stopping his passage at 
 every bridge. 
 
 “Major-General Lambert, with a very considerable force, pursues him at the heels. 
 I desire you that you would get together what force you can, to put a stop to any further 
 designs they may have; and so be ready to join with Major-General Lambert, if there 
 shall be need. I am marching Northward with the greatest part of the Army ; where I shall 
 be glad to hear from you. I rest, 
 
 “ Your very affectionate friend and servant, 
 
 “Oliver Cromwell. 
 
 “I could wish you would draw out whatever force you have; either to be in his rear or to 
 impede his march. For I am persuaded if he, or the greatest part of those that are with 
 him be taken, it would make an end of the Business of Scotland.” y 
 
 Cromwell, in a letter dated Knaresborough, 1st September, 1648, and 
 addressed to his “worthy Friend, Oliver St. John, Esquire, Solicitor- 
 General,” relates a singular circumstance relative to the battle, which has 
 called forth as singular a commentary from the pen of the able but 
 eccentric Carlyle. Cromwell says: “I am informed from good hands, 
 
 x There are two roads from Walton to Wigan : one direct, and another through Chorley. 
 
 y Newspaper, Packets of Letters from Scotland and the North, no. 2S (London, printed by Robert 
 Ibbitson in Smithfield, 29 August, 1048). 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
19a 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 that a poor godly man died in Preston, the day before the Fight; and 
 being sick, near the hour of his death, he desired the woman that cooked 
 to him, To fetch him a handful of Grass: She did so ; and when he 
 received it, he asked, Whether it would wither or not, now it was cut ? 
 The woman said, ‘ Yea.’ He replied, ‘ So should this Army of the Scots 
 do, and come to nothing, so soon as ours did but appear,’ or words to this 
 effect and so immediately died.” 
 
 Carlyle exclaims, “ Does the reader look with any intelligence into that 
 poor old prophetic, symbolic, Deathbed-scene at Preston ? Any intelli¬ 
 gence of Prophecy and Symbol, in general; of the symbolic Man-child 
 Maherslialal-haslilaz at Jerusalem, or the handful of Cut Grass at Preston: 
 —of the opening Portals of Eternity, and what departing gleams there are 
 in the Soul of the pure and the just?—Mahershalal-haslibaz, (‘ Hasten-to- 
 the-spoil,’ so called,) and the bundle of Cut Grass are grown somewhat 
 strange to us ! Head; and having sneered duly,—consider.” 
 
 Many relics of this brilliant victory have been from time to time dis¬ 
 covered. Ou Killingsough Farm, in Fulwood, several iron cannon balls, 
 weighing about seven pounds each, have been picked up at various times. 
 The country people often use them even to this day, as bowls, in their 
 rural games. Gossip lore declares the farm took its name from the cir¬ 
 cumstance of an immense quantity of human bones being dug up during 
 the construction of a drain or “ sough,” soon after the enclosure of the 
 moor, in 1813. This, however, is highly improbable. The name is 
 unquestionably of much higher antiquity. 7 Large quantities of leaden 
 bullets, nearly an inch in diameter, have been dug up near the corner 
 of Gamull-lane. 1 Bullets have likewise been found in the garden belonging 
 to Mr. Lawrence Dobson, at Sion Hill, and what is believed by some to 
 be a stone cannon ball, in the grounds at Bibbleton Hall. From its size, 
 this is, however, improbable. The eastern slope of Bibbleton moor towards 
 the brook, exhibits marks of entrenched earth, which may yet perhaps 
 disclose some remains. The present road is modern; the one referred to by 
 Cromwell passed nearer to Mr. Birchall’s house. The formation of the 
 land on the farm occupied by Mr. Bobert W. Dobson, yet plainly indicates 
 the site of the “ deep lane,” where the severe struggle took place between 
 Cromwell’s horse and the English, under Langdale. On the upper portion 
 of the steep bank overlooking this ravine, several bullets were found in 
 the spring of last year (1856). The “deep lane,” near Walton bridge, 
 passed through the strawberry garden to the west of the present road. 
 
 y See Chap. 2, page 64. 
 
 z So named from Sir Francis Gamull, of Cheshire, who formerly owned the neighbouring property- 
 Sir Francis married one of the Hoghtons, of Lea. 
 
JAMES 1. TO THE EESTOEATION. 
 
 197 
 
 Some indications of the quicksand, referred to by Patten, may still be 
 occasionally perceived, notwithstanding the partial filling up of the 
 hollow. A receptacle, for decayed vegetable matter, formed of brick, 
 receives the contents of a drain. In summer time this is generally dry, 
 but in wet weather large quantities of fine sand are discharged with the 
 spring water. When this garden was first cultivated, many coins, bones, and 
 other remains were found. The site of the old Itibble bridge is indicated by 
 a fragment of the centre pier. Two camion balls, in the possession of Mr. 
 Dearden, weighing between eight and nine pounds each, were found not 
 far from Darwen bridge. The modern structure is near the site of that 
 upon which the advanced guard of Cromwell’s army rested on the night of 
 the battle. Bullets have been found upon “Walton Flats,” and a sword, 
 the blade of which is much corroded. The latter, together with a small 
 dagger, said to have been picked up in the neighbourhood, is deposited in 
 the museum of the Literary and Philosophical Institution. Several relics of 
 the battle were dug up in Mr. Mansley’s garden, some fifty or sixty years ago. 
 An old man informed the author that he remembered, when a boy, hearing 
 of two human skeletons falling from out of the north bank of the Itibble, 
 after a flood, which were pronounced by the people of Walton to be the 
 remains of “Scotch warriors,” A short time ago, an iron cannon ball, 
 nearly seven pounds in weight, was found in the clay on the land belonging to 
 Mr. Catterall, behind the “ Lane Ends Hotel,” at Ashton. The locality is 
 somewhat to the left of the old road to the north, which passed by the old 
 Water-lane and the present Aqueduct-street. This shot was probably fired 
 during the pursuit of the fugitives northward. Or it may have been dis¬ 
 charged from the outwork on the Maudlands, at the time of the surprise of the 
 town by the earl of Derby, in 1643. Mr. Peter Whittle, in his History 
 of Preston, publishes the following curious paragraph: “1831, Oct. 22: 
 An ancient iron boot, found at Ingol, near Preston, by Mr. Simpson, 
 sedan carrier, with the initials engraved on it of 0. C. 1648, supposed to 
 be the the identical boot of Oliver Cromwell,” (!) “or belonging to one 
 of the numerous body of men he commanded when at Preston, during the 
 civil wars.” ! a In the spring of 1853, a heavy storm stripped the roof of 
 a thatched cottage at Tenter Hill, Whittingham, and disclosed a previously 
 hidden treasure, consisting of about three hundred silver coins, including half 
 crowns, shillings, and sixpences. Sixty-nine of these coins were presented by 
 tlieBcv. Mr. Mossap, of Woodplumpton, to the Institution for the Diffusion 
 of Knowledge, at Avenham. They had been minted in the reigns of 
 Philip IV., of Spain, husband of Mary I., of England; Elizabeth; James 
 
 a Uis. Preston, vol. 2, p. 134. 
 
198 
 
 PEESTON AND ITS ENVIBONS. 
 
 I.; and Charles I. Their consignment to the safe keeping of the cottage 
 thatch, most probably took place daring the civil war between the king 
 and parliament. Mr. Whittle records the discovery of a similar hoard a 
 little nearer to the scene of Langdale’s defeat. He says, “On the 11th 
 day of April, 1812, a gentleman, near Fulwood moor, was making a hole 
 in the floor of his house, when to his surprise he discovered a little below 
 the surface, a quantity of silver coins, of various sizes; they consisted of 
 Edward the 4th, nearly defaced; Charles 1st, James 1st, and Elizabeth, 
 in a fine state of preservation; also a crown piece of Philip the 4th, of 
 Spain.” b 
 
 This short campaign presents one of the most brilliant exhibitions of 
 the military genius of Cromwell. It was fully appreciated both by parlia¬ 
 ment and the countiy. The house of commons ordered a general thanks¬ 
 giving throughout the whole kingdom, for these important victories; 
 and passed a resolution that “ the sum of Two-hundred Pounds be 
 bestowed upon Major Berry, and the sum of One-hundred Pounds upon 
 Edward Sexby, who brought the very good news of the very 
 great Success obtained, by the great mercy of God, against the 
 whole Scots Army in Lancashire.” c Ten thousand copies of the order au¬ 
 thorising the day of thanksgiving, were distributed throughout the country. 
 Commissioners were appointed to enquire into the losses of the inhabitants 
 owing to the Scotch invasion, with a view to their compensation. The 
 people suffered severely, not only from war and famine, but from the 
 “ plague of pestilence,” which had afflicted the country for upwards of 
 three years. A writer of the period says : “ There is a very great scarcity 
 and dearth of all provisions, chiefly of all sorts of grain, particularly that 
 by which that country is most sustained (oats), which is full sixfold the 
 price that of late it hath been. All trade by which they have been much 
 supported is utterly decayed. It would melt any good heart to see the 
 numerous swarms of begging poor, and the many families that pine away 
 at home, not having faces to beg. Yery many now crave alms at other 
 men’s doors, who were used to give others alms at their doors;—to see 
 paleness, nay death appear in the cheeks of the poor, and often to hear of 
 some found dead in their houses or highways for want of bread.” To 
 alleviate, to some extent, this misery, parliament ordered collections to 
 be made in all the churches and chapels throughout the whole countiy. 
 One half of the proceeds was devoted to the relief of the famishing poor, 
 and the other for the support of the wounded soldiers in the county of 
 Lancaster. 
 
 The town of Preston suffered severely during a previous visitation of the 
 
 b His. Preston vol. 1, p. 14. 
 
 c Journals of tbe House of Commons. 
 
JAMES I. TO THE KEST0KATI0X. 
 
 199 
 
 “plague,” which, according to entries in the parish church registers, com¬ 
 menced its ravages in November, 1630. The mortality was most excessive 
 during the following mouths of July and August; the number of interments 
 in the former being 323, and in the latter 199. In 1631, the total number 
 of funerals at the parish church, (at that period the only burial ground in 
 the town) amounted to 951. The population is not supposed to have much 
 exceeded 3000 persons, so that nearly one third were swept away. In 
 1628, the number of burials was 87; in 1629, 66, in 1630, including 
 20 deaths from the plague, 74; in 1681 (plague year), 951; in 1632, 39 ; 
 in 1633, 54. 
 
 At the conclusion of the war an ordinance was issued for disbanding of 
 the militia of the kingdom; but the Lancashire forces, in the first instance, 
 refused to comply, “ but professed for the Covenant, and were encouraged 
 by the clergy.” Major-general Lambert was sent to enforce the order, 
 if necessary, by an appeal to arms, when “the Lancashire warriors” sub¬ 
 mitted to the law, aud yielded up Clitheroe castle, which a portion of 
 them occupied, and had threatened to hold until their demands were com¬ 
 plied with. Clitheroe, Greenhaugh, and other strongholds, were after¬ 
 wards “ demolished,” or rather dismantled by an order of the Council 
 of State. 
 
 It occasionally happened, that either from conviction or policy, some of 
 the influential families changed their views and went over to the opposite 
 party during these disastrous civil wars. The son of Major-general Ashton 
 became a warm supporter of Charles II. From a letter addressed to the trea¬ 
 surer of sequestration at the Guildhall, London, and signed by Sir Bichard 
 ILoghton, and five other gentlemen, it appears that the son of the cavalier 
 Sir Gilbert, espoused the cause of the parliament. The letter says,— 
 
 “In regard of the late imminent danger threatened to this countye hy that great and 
 potent Armye of the Scottes and Englishe, wee were inforced to raise such a considerable 
 number of Forces for the mutual defence of the Kingdom our selves and neigbor counties 
 that the may tenacc thereof hath occasioned the expense of a vast some of monye over 
 aud above the profittes arriseinge out of the Sequestrations. The arreres of the Souldiere 
 are soe greate that we are utterly disabled to sattisfie their iust demande in any reason¬ 
 able measure without some further supply.” 
 
 Charles I. was executed in January, 1649. “ John Bradshaw, serjeant- 
 
 at-law, lord president” at the trial of the king, was a member of an ancient 
 family in Lancashire. He held, likewise, the office of chancellor of the 
 duchy of Lancaster, under the commonwealth. 
 
 Tromise of favour from parliament, and a considerable mitigation of the 
 fine upon his estates, was offered to the earl of Derby, for the surrender of 
 the Isle of Man. But the earl’s spirit was in no humour for yielding to 
 the wishes of the roundheads, although victorious in England. He reso¬ 
 lutely replied, “ I scorn your proffer, I disdain your favour-, I abhor your- 
 
200 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 treason, and so far from delivering up this Island to the Parliament, I 
 shall keep it for the King to the utmost of my power ; and if you trouble 
 me with any more messages of this nature I will bum the paper and hang 
 the messenger.” 
 
 The monarchy was abolished by law in England, and the “ Common¬ 
 wealth” established. The Scotch, however, proclaimed the lung’s son by 
 the title of Charles II. The corporation of Preston imitated the example 
 at the market cross, in July, 1649. The Scotch attached conditions to 
 their proclamation very unpalatable'* to the king. He was to be of “ good 
 behaviour,” exhibit a “ strict observance of the covenant,” and entertain 
 about his person “ no other persons but such as were goodly men and faith¬ 
 ful to that obligation.” 
 
 Cromwell, after subduing Ireland in the space of nine months, led his 
 army into Scotland, and at the famous battle of Dunbar routed the Scotch 
 covenanters under Lesley, slew three thousand men, and took nine 
 thousand prisoners. Edinburgh and Leith immediately afterwards fell into 
 his hands. 
 
 King Charles II., with the Scotch royalists under Lesley and the new 
 duke of Hamilton, in 1651, advanced into England. Their army amounted 
 to about fourteen thousand men. The king stayed at AshtonHall, near Lan¬ 
 caster, on the evening of the 12th of August, where, according to one of the 
 civil war tracts, “ Hamilton lodged two days before the battail at Preston.” d 
 The following evening, Charles rested at Myerscough Lodge, the seat of the 
 brave Major-general Sir Thomas Tildesley. After passing the bridge over 
 the Eibble, at Preston, he lodged at Euxton Hall, the residence of the 
 Anderton family; and on the 15th, Sir William Gerard, of Bryn, had the 
 honour to entertain his royal master. The Scottish army passed the 
 Mersey, at Warrington, after a severe skirmish with some cavalry of the 
 commonwealth, under Major-general Lambert. In the mean time, Crom¬ 
 well, leaving about seven thousand men with General Monk, in Scotland, 
 quickly followed the king into the centre of England. 
 
 The earl of Derby, Sir Thomas Tildesley, and a number of officers 
 landed from the Isle of Man, at the mouth of the Wyre, near the site of 
 the present town of Fleetwood, with about sixty horse, and two hundred 
 and fifty foot soldiers. The earl “ beat to arms,” and was joined, 
 according to Lilburne, not only by “ malignant papists and disaffected 
 persons,” but likewise by “ those who are called presbyterians.” Arthur 
 Trevor, on the contrary, in a letter to the marquis of Ormonde, intimates 
 
 <1 The duke of Hamilton, defeated by Cromwell at Preston, in 1648, was executed soon after the 
 king at Westminster. The descendants of the duke of Hamilton retained, until lately, possession 
 of this property. 
 
JAMES I. TO THE BESTO RATION. 
 
 201 
 
 that the earl’s summons to meet him in arms at Preston, was hut feebly 
 responded to. His plans were considered to he well laid; hut his influence 
 had latterly become much shaken. According to Seacombe, the earl of 
 Derby hastened to Warrington, where, that very night, the Major-general 
 Massey brought in many of the presbyterian party to his lordship, who 
 made the talcing of the Covenant and removal of Papists essential to their 
 joining him. The earl declined to accede to this proposal, declaring that 
 he “ had men enoughbut he added, “all the anus are in your pos¬ 
 session, without which I shall only lead naked men to slaughter; how¬ 
 ever, I am determined to do what I can with the handful of Gentlemen 
 now with me for His Majesty’s service, if I perish; but if my 
 Master suffer, the blood of another Prince, and all the ensuing miseries of 
 this nation, will lie at your doors.” The earl then departed, accompanied 
 only by the gentlemen who came with him from the Isle of Man, and 
 some few Lancashire and Cheshire royalists. He hastened to Preston, 
 where he issued out warrants, and raised about six hundred horse. 
 
 Cromwell, with his accustomed sagacity, had previously strengthened 
 the garrisons of Liverpool and Manchester. Colonel Lilburne, who was 
 ordered to watch the movements of the enemy at the head of a body of 
 horse, being reinforced from Liverpool and Chester, attacked, on the 25th 
 of August, the troops led by the carl of Derby, consisting of about one 
 thousand five hundred men, at Wigan lane, where, after a desperate 
 encounter, the royalists were totally routed, the earl himself, slightly 
 wounded, escaping with difficulty. The gallant Major-general Sir Thomas 
 Tildesley fell in this engagement. The principal portion of the king’s 
 friends, both officers and men, were either slain or taken prisoners at 
 Wigan lane. 
 
 Prom Lilburne’s letter to Cromwell, dated “Wiggan 25 Aug. 1651, 
 late in the evening,” it appears a skirmish took place near Preston, 
 between the royalists and parliamentary troops, on the day previous to the 
 decisive battle at tVigan lane. He says:— 
 
 “ The next day I marched after them towards Preston, and lay within two miles of 
 them onely with my own Regiment and about GO Morse and Dragoons, which is all the 
 Country could assist me with all this while (saving onely one Company from Manchester 
 of Foote, and two from Chester, which have been with me two days. That night I sent 
 40 Horse to alarm them (who then wounded Col. Vere) hearing they were to have a 
 Rendezvous at Preston the next day I did that to give notice to the Town and 
 Countrey I was there to oppose the Earle, and to stay the people from rising with him, 
 who reported it, that none of our Forces were in that Countrey, and made the Countrey 
 beleeve all was their owne, which the people generally tooke for granted, and was 
 coming in apace, as by these inclosed you may perceive. 
 
 “ The next day, in the afternoone, I having not foot with me, a party of the Enemies 
 Horse fell smartly amongst us where our Horses were grasing, and for some space put us 
 pretty hard to it; but at last it pleased the Lord to strengthen us so as that we put 
 them to flight, and pursued them to Ribble-bridge, (tills was some thing like our business 
 
202 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 at Mussleburgh) and kild and tooke about 30 prisoners, most Officers and Gentlemen, 
 with tbe loss of two men that dyed next morning; but severall wounded, and divers of 
 our good Horses killed. That night came three Companies of Foot, and the next 
 morning hearing of your Excellencies Regiment cumming towards Manchester, I onely 
 removed two miles to a more convenient ground, thinking to have staied there till your 
 Regiment could come, which I expected this day, but their weariness frustrated that 
 expectation, and this morning I bad intelligence that the Enemy was upon their march, 
 which I thought was a running away from us, being that they began at 11 in the night 
 and marched so fast and privately, but their confidence was much otherwise raised, 
 having increased in their number at Preston.” 
 
 Sir Thomas Tildesley appears to have been regarded by both parties as 
 a brave and honourable gentleman. He was not unfrequently styled the 
 “ chevalier satis puer et sans reproche.” Although Sir Thomas resided at 
 Myerscough Lodge, as keeper of the royal forest, his ancestral estates were 
 situated at Tildesley, near Leigh. In the parish church of the latter 
 place his remains were interred. e 
 
 Cromwell, being joined by the militia of the country, attacked the king 
 at "Worcester, on the 3rd of September, and obtained his celebrated 
 “ crowning mercy,” in the shape of a complete victory. The king became 
 a fugitive, disguised himself as a peasant, and was under the necessity of 
 hiding in an oak tree, to save himself from the pxu’suit of Cromwell’s 
 dragoons. After a series of narrow escapes, a vessel was at length 
 procured by his friends, by the aid of which he safely landed on the coast 
 of France. 
 
 The “Perfect Diurnall,” of September 1st, states that all the shipping 
 was “ wafted out of the Rivers of Liverpool, and set sail with a fair wind 
 for Wyrewater, the place where the Frigots rid, that brought the Lord” 
 (Derby) “ over with his company, to surprise them and prevent his Lord¬ 
 ship from escaping any way by water.” It appears that two of the 
 frigates had become wrecks, owing to their running too near in shore for 
 the purpose of landing the horses. These preparations, combined -with 
 the activity of the parliamentary generals, were completely successful. 
 
 e “ There is an unintelligible and very inaccurate passage in Lloyd's Memoirs, p. 692, respecting 
 Tyldesley being buried in one grave with Sir Francis Gamul, who certainly survived to 1654, 
 although included by error among the slain in the first account of Wigan fight. The same state¬ 
 ment is inaccurate also as to Tyldesley. After his heroic death in the battle-field, and his escape 
 thereby from the scaffold, this last named officer was interred in the north chancel of the church 
 of Leigh, appendant to his ancient mansion of Morleys, where the Earl of Derby seven weeks after¬ 
 wards, in his way to execution at Bolton, made an unavailing request to visit his grave. Tyldesley 
 is honourably commemorated by Clarendon, and the long seiies of his exploits proves that he 
 deserved such remembrance. Another memorial (of a more solid but less durable description than 
 Clarendon’s praise,) is the Pillar in Wigan Lane, erected by his grateful cornet Alexander Rigby. 
 Considering the adverse zeal of Tyldesley, the ruling powers may be said to have dealt gently with 
 him. He was thrice a prisoner, but always at liberty and in arms again ; and no forfeiture is known 
 to have followed his decease, at least so far as related to his estates in Astley and Tyldesley.”— 
 Ormerod.—Lancashire Civil War Tracts, published by the Cheetham Society. 
 
JAMES I. TO THE RESTORATION. 
 
 203 
 
 Harrison and Lilburne captured, at Middleton, near Lancaster, on their 
 retreat from "Worcester, towards Scotland, Generals Lesley and Middleton, 
 and “ other eminent officers and commanders, with six hundred private 
 soldiers, horse, and arms.” 
 
 The earl of Derby was less fortunate than his royal master. He was 
 taken prisoner in Cheshire, on his way to Enowsley, by Major Edge. 
 At a court martial, held on the first of October, at Chester, he was charged 
 with high treason for having corresponded with “ Charles Stuart,” con¬ 
 trary to the act of parliament, passed on the preceding 12th of August. 
 The earl, in his defence, urged that he had been promised quarter when 
 captured; but this the court overruled. He was sentenced to death, 
 and executed on the 15th of October, at Bolton. This town is said to 
 have been selected for the closing scene of the earl’s life, owing to repre¬ 
 sentations that he had been an active instrument in the atrocities practised 
 upon the people when the place was sacked by order of Prince Rupert. 
 It is but simple j ustice to the earl to state, that he always, even on the 
 scaffold, indignantly denied the truth of this allegation. The belief that 
 he was of a cruel disposition could not have been general; for many of 
 the inhabitants sympathised with his misfortunes, and were “ moved to 
 tears” when they witnessed the calm resignation with which he met his 
 fate. The earl felt grateful for this unexpected sympathy. Looking upon 
 the people from the scaffold, a few moments before his death, he exclaimed, 
 “There is no man that revileth me; God be thanked.” This was the 
 closing scene of the civil war in Lancashire. 
 
 In the year 1650, after the execution of Charles I., the parliament 
 entertained a motion for the holding of the assizes at Preston, instead of 
 Lancaster. Ho resolution, however, was adopted which interfered with 
 the then existing arrangements. 
 
 During the troubled period of the civil wars and the commonwealth, 
 Preston, from its central position, was selected as the place of meeting, 
 not only for the “ Lancashire committee of sequestration,” hut likewise 
 for the sittings of the “ Lancashire Assembly of Divines.” The first 
 meeting of the latter body was held in November, 1646. The episcopal 
 church government was superseded by the presbyterian, and the county 
 divided into classes; the parishes of Preston, Kirkham, Garstang, and 
 Poulton, are described as “ VII. classis.” Its executive consisted of the 
 following clergymen and lay members : “Ministers—Isaac Ambrose and 
 Robert Yates, Preston; Edward Fleetwood, Ivirkham; Thomas Cranage, 
 Gosenargh ; Chris. Edmondson, Garstange; and John Sumner. Laymen— 
 Alexander Rigby and William Langton, esquires. Matthew Addison, of 
 Preston, William Sudal, of Preston, and William Cottam, of Preston, 
 
204 
 
 PEESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 aldermen. Edward Downs, of Wesam ; Thomas Hickson, of Plompton ; 
 Robert Crane, of Leaton; William Late-wise, of Catterall, and Richard 
 Whitehead, of Garstange, gentlemen. Edward Yeal, of Layton, esquire ; 
 Richard Wilkins, of Kirkham, and Edward Turner, of Gosenargh, 
 yeomen.’' 
 
 Cromwell was made “Lord Protector” in 1653, and died in 1658. His 
 administration of the national affairs, both foreign and domestic, was 
 marked by prudence, energy, and promptitude; and notwithstanding the 
 suicidal struggle in which the people of England had been so long engaged, 
 the nation, at no previous period of its history, was more respected for 
 its policy, or feared for its power, than when the chief authority was 
 vested in the person of Oliver Cromwell. 
 
 His son Richard proved incompetent to discharge the duties of the position 
 held by his father with so much tact and ability. The royalists took heart, 
 and, being eventually seconded by General Monk, who commanded the 
 army of the commonwealth, effected the restoration of Charles II., by a 
 vote of parliament, without the shedding of blood. Charles made a public 
 entry into London, on the 29th of May, 1660, amidst the cheers of the 
 populace. Monk was rewarded for his services by the dukedom of 
 Albemarle, and, amongst other marks of the royal bounty, received a 
 grant of the ancient honour of Clitheroe, which previously appertained to 
 the duchy of Lancaster. 
 
 Some notion of the relative wealth of the boroughs of Lancashire may he 
 formed from the amount of their respective assessments for “ship money” in 
 the time of the first Charles. Lancashire was assessed at one ship of 
 400 tons, and 160 men, or £1,000 in money. The proportion for the 
 borough of Preston was £40 ; Lancaster, £30 ; Liverpool^ £25 ; Wigan, 
 £50; Clitheroe, £7 10s.; Hewton, £7 10s. The tax continued to he 
 levied with some modification for three years. Mr. Baines says, the 
 arrears owing by Lancashire, at the end of that period, amounted to 
 £172 10s. f 
 
 f His. Lan., vol. 2, p. 4. 
 
RESTORATION TO VICTORIA. 
 
 205 
 
 PART I-HISTORICAL. 
 
 CHAPTER Y.—FROM THE RESTORATION TO VICTORIA. 
 
 Profligacy of the Court—Test and Corporation Act—Act of Uniformity—Knights of the 
 Royal Oak — Value of Household Goods, etc.—Extinction of Feudalism—Preston in the 
 Seventeenth Century : Dr. Kuerden’s description — James II. at Chester—The Revo¬ 
 lution—Judge Jeffreys—Disaffection of the Roman Catholics — The Lancashire Plot— 
 Jacobite Rebellion in 1715 —Invasion of England by the Scotch Army—Siege of 
 Preston—Surrender of Forster, Derwentwater, and other Stuart Partisans—Sale of 
 Sequestered Estates—Claims of Prestonians for Compensation—Second Jacobite In¬ 
 vasion — Prince Charles Edward Stuart at Preston—Retreat of the Scotch Army— 
 Battle of Culloden—Jacobite Club at Walton-le-Dale—Preston in the Eighteenth 
 Century. 
 
 The austerity of the puritan manners, on the accession of Charles, was 
 succeeded by openly expressed contempt for moral principle, and practical 
 indifference to the social and domestic duties. The king, courtiers, and a 
 large portion of the people, wearied with the extreme cant and self glorifi - 
 cation of the soi disant “saints,” rushed to the opposite extreme, and 
 revelled with the zest of escaped prisoners in their newly acquired liberty. 
 Licentiousness and debauchery became fashionable, and, as usual, the mul¬ 
 titude servilely bowed before the “respectability” of the reigning idol. 
 The nation, however, recovered from its intoxication more rapidly than its 
 princes. The Stuart dynasty, untaught by misfortune, and incapable 
 of moulding itself into harmony with the progressive spirit of the 
 English people, after a lamentable exhibition of weakness and incapacity, 
 was eventually, within a very few years from the restoration of the pro¬ 
 fligate Charles, finally expelled from the throne of Great Britain. 
 
 The episcopalian party, on the downfall of the “commonwealth,” being 
 in the ascendant, exercised all the power conferred by their position to 
 strengthen the authority of the church and the crown. In 1661, the cele¬ 
 brated “Test and Corporation Act” was passed, which required that every 
 mayor, alderman, common councilman, and all other corporate officers, 
 should make specific declaration against the “solemn league and covenant,”* 
 
 a One of the most flagrant of Charles II.'s acts of perfidy, consisted in his persecution of the cove¬ 
 nanters, although he himself in his necessity had professed to adopt their peculiar views of church 
 doctrine and government. 
 
206 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 and to make oath that he abhorred the traitorous act of taking up arms “by 
 the king’s authority against his person,” or those commissioned to act on 
 his behalf. With the view to the exclusion from all power of persons 
 who were at heart nonconformists, it was enacted that no corporate officer 
 should be elected, who had not within the preceding twelve months 
 received the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, according to the formula of 
 the episcopacy or Church of England, as established by law. Next year, 
 the equally memorable “Act of Uniformity ” received the sanction of the 
 legislature. By this enactment, every minister holding an ecclesiastical 
 preferment, was compelled to renounce his living if he failed, previously to 
 the feast of St. Bartholomew, to append his signature to a declaration of 
 his “ assent and consent ” to the contents of the then new hook of Common 
 Prayer. To the credit of the ministers of religion at the time, about two 
 thousand preferred poverty and social humiliation to the self reproach 
 attending the barter of conscience for worldly preferment. In the county 
 of Lancaster sixty-seven persons were ejected from their benefices by the 
 rigid enforcement of this act. Amongst these were, the Revs. John Wright, 
 M.A., Billinge; Henry Welch, Chorley; — Lowe, rector ofCroston; 
 Jonathan Schofield, Douglas Chapel; Isaac Ambrose, vicar of Garstang ; 
 — Bullock, Hambleton ; Peter Naylor, Houghton Chapel; Timothy Smith, 
 Longridge Chapel; John Mallinson, vicar of Moiling; — White, Melling; 
 Nathaniel Baxter, M.A., vicar of St. Michaels-le-Wyre; andCuthbert Harri¬ 
 son, Singleton. Other acts were passed prohibiting nonconformist clergymen 
 from teaching in public schools, or dwelling or coming -within five mile s 
 of any corporate town or other place where he had been minister or had 
 preached unless lie took the oath depriving him of the right of private 
 judgment and committing him to the doctrine of passive obedience to the 
 “ church and the state ” as then established. b 
 
 Mr. Edward Baines says, on the authority of Goodwin’s Lives of the 
 Puritans, in White’s Collection, that “ the sufferings of the ejected minis¬ 
 ters were extreme; it is computed that no fewer than sixty thousand per¬ 
 sons suffered on accomit of their religion in different parts of the kingdom, 
 and that of this number five thousand perished in prison.” He further 
 observes, that “ in Lancashire, where the catholics were so numerous, a 
 preponderance was given to that party, and the dissenting interest was 
 reduced to the lowest point of depression.” 
 
 Charles II. with the intention of conferring honourable distinction upon 
 the families of those who had risked life and fortune in the defence of 
 the throne, contemplated the establishment of a special order of knight¬ 
 hood. The members were to be termed “ Knights of the Eoyal Oak,” and 
 
 b These intolerant enactments were repealed in the reign of George IV. 
 
RESTORATION TO VICTORIA. 
 
 207 
 
 to be privileged to wear a silver medal, bearing a representation of the king 
 in an oak tree, in allusion to his majesty’s hair breadth escape from the 
 dragoons of Cromwell. Charles, however, was proverbially indolent and 
 ungrateful. The project was abandoned, ostensibly lest the distinction 
 should engender ill-feeling between parties whose good will was necessary 
 to the peace and security of the monarchy. The following Lancashire 
 gentlemen were selected for the honour:—Thomas Holt, Thomas Green- 
 halgh, Colonel Kirby, Robert Holte, Edmund Ashcton, Christopher Banes- 
 ter, Francis Anderton, Colonel James Andcrton, Roger Nowell, Hemy 
 Norris, Thomas Preston, —• Farrington, of Worden; —Fleetwood, of 
 Penwortham; John Girlington, William Stanley, Edward Tildesley, 
 Thomas Stanley, Richard Botelcr, John Ingleton, and — Walmsley, of 
 Dunkenhalgh. 
 
 Preston received two charters from Charles II., confirming and extend¬ 
 ing the privileges previously enjoyed by the borough. c The following 
 document, in the possession of the Rev. W. Thornber, is illustrative of 
 the condition of the middle class in the seventeenth century, as weU as of 
 the variation in the monetary value of farming stock and domestic utensils, 
 when compared with that of the present time :— 
 
 “ A true and perfect inventarye of all tlie goods and chattels, as well moveable as not 
 moveable, whatsoever, that were of Peter Birkett, late of Borrands within Gressing- 
 ham, in the County of Lancaster, deceased, taken the sixt day of December, 1661, and 
 prised by Will’m Backhouse of Borrands, Will’m Brathwayte of Gressingham, Allan 
 Harrison of Eskrigg, and James Bell of Gawenhall, and particularly according to 
 their best judgments, asfolloweth:—Imprimis, his apparel, £1; bedding, 5s.; arkes 
 and chests, 13s. 4d.; old woodden vessell, 5s.; new woodden vessell, cowpcr timber, 
 and one pair of old bedstockes, 12s.; one brasse pott, three pans, one pewther dubler 
 [dish] and one earthen pott, 10s.; gridiron and branderestli, 3s.; old table, old chaire, 
 wheele and stocke, two old formes, and three old stooles, 3s. 4d.; 2 sackes, 5s.: kneading 
 tub and meale, 2s.; one Rakencrooke, d pa ire of tonges, cowper tooles and 3 quisliions 
 [cushions], 10s,; hempe and 25 Ira [libra, lb] of yarne, 9s.; wheeletimber, carle, and 
 carrs, 8s.; corne and strawe, £3 : one outshoote of hay, £1 6s. 8d.; one stacke of hay 
 without dores, 10s.; one scaffold of hay, 10s.; one padd and wooll, 10s.; one mare 
 and one colt, £3 ; 5 geese, 4s.; manure, 5s.; 13 sheepe, £3; ropes, Is.; one cocke and 
 5 hens, 2s.; turfe, 6s. 8d.; loose wood, stees, and forks, 3s.; one poake [bag] and 
 hempsecd, 1 s.; one calfe, 10s.; 2 heiffers, £3; one ditto, £2; one cow, £2 10s.; another 
 £3 10s. Summa totalis, £29 15s.”—Of the four appraisers, only one, James Bell, could 
 write his name; the other three attached their marks. 
 
 In 1661, a local token was coined expressly for the Nowells, of Preston, 
 “ there being at that time no national copper in England.” e 
 
 The last remains of the feudal system were swept away in the twelfth 
 year of the reign of Charles. The holding of lands in consideration of 
 “ Knights’ service, chivalry, escuage, petit serjeantry, villanage,” etc., 
 was abolished, and “fee-simple, fee-tail, and copyhold” tenures sub¬ 
 stituted. 
 
 c See “ Municipal History.” 
 
 d An iron instrument fixed in the chimney, from which kettles, etc., arc suspended. 
 
 e Whittle’s Lecture, in 1849. 
 
208 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Preston, in the reigns of Charles II. and his brother, Janies II., has 
 been very minutely described by Dr. Kuerden, a native of Cuerden, near 
 Preston, who resided for some time in the town. His historical manu¬ 
 scripts are deposited in the Herald’s College, London, and in the library 
 attached to the Cheetham Hospital, Manchester. However valueless 
 at the present day the learned doctor’s antiquarian speculations may be 
 considered, his description of the town, as it appeared in his own time, is 
 highly interesting, as will be seen from the following extracts e :— 
 
 “ The antient Burrough is very pleasantly seated upon a high or riseing ground, more 
 especially from the south or west ; such a situation as the Britains and Romans in antient 
 time either prefixed or annexed a Dunum or Duno to the names of towns so seated as 
 this Burrough. In those days by Ptolemy it was styled Tibo Dunum, or Tigo Dunum, f 
 from the British word Dun, a hill or elevated situation; as may appear in many towns 
 in Gaul and Brittain, that were so seated ■ as formerly hath been hinted at, as well as 
 on the sight of this Burrough of Preston which southward for many miles, yeilding 
 forth a very fayre and pleasant prospect, as upon London road as far as Chernoc green, 
 distant some 6 or 7 miles, and by the Lirpole road from Ormeschurch more 12 customary 
 miles at least. * * * This Burrough, from the entrance thereunto, upon south, unto 
 the townsend on the north, g being a full statute mile in length, though’d he not alto¬ 
 gether so much from the eastern part to the west thereof. 
 
 “ This Burrough is much adorned with its larg square or market place, as likewise 
 with the streets thereof, which are so spacious from one end thereof unto the other, that 
 few of the corporations of England exceed the same, either for streets or market-place. 
 In the midle of the Burrough is placed an ample antient and yet well beautifyed gylde 
 or town hall or toll botlie, to which is annexed, at the end thereof, a counsell chamber 
 for the capitall burgesses or jurors at their court days, to retire for consultation, or 
 secretly to retire themselves from the comon burgesses or the publiq root of people, as 
 occasion shall require. * * * h 
 
 “ Under this hall are ranged two rows of butcher’s shopps i on either side, and a row at 
 either end, where victualls are exposed dayly for the use of man, excepting Sundays, as 
 also weekly on the public market dayes (etc.,) Wednesday, and Saturday, and Friday 
 
 e Kuerden’s description of Preston was published in 1818, with notes by Mr. John Taylor. From 
 his preface it would appear that Mr. Taylor was not aware by whom the manuscript was written. 
 He says :—“ From internal evidence it seems to have been compiled about the year 1G82, or perhaps 
 a few years later.” “ Mr. Taylor conjectures that the manuscript published by him is of the date of 
 1682; but it is evident that it was written at least four years after that time, seeing that the muni¬ 
 cipal government described by Dr. Kuerden is that established by the charter of Charles II., 
 granted in 1685.”—Edward Baines.—The manuscript must have been originally compiled previously 
 to the guild of 1682, and additional matter afterwards introduced ; for Kuerden speaks of this 
 festival as “now intended, by God’s assistance, to be begun, held, and kept, within this borough of 
 Preston, before Roger Sudell, Mayor of this present Gild.” Yet he afterwards speaks of the festival 
 of 1662, as the “ last gild save one.” There is some variation between the manuscript deposited in 
 the Herald’s College, as quoted by Mr. Baines, and the one possessed by Mr. Taylor; but the purport 
 appears to be generally the same. The above extracts are from Mr. Taylor’s copy, 
 f Kuerden is evidently in error on this subject. [See chap. 1.] 
 
 g From Church street to Friargate. The latter was at the time the principal road to the north. 
 h The roof and greater part of the walls of this building fell in 1780. The present edifice was 
 erected shortly afterwards upon the site of the ancient town hall. 
 
 i The butchers’ shops were not incorporated with the new edifice; but the narrow street leading 
 into the Market place still retains the name of “Old Shambles.” The “ New Shambles,” built in 
 1715, is speedily to follow the steps of its predecessor. The improvements now in progress by the 
 earl of Derby, in Lancaster road, include the removal of the rude piazza, and the erection of hand¬ 
 some shops upon the site. * 
 
RESTORATION TO VICTORIA. 
 
 209 
 
 being ever a market for fish, butter, and cheese, as likewise in the evening for yarn ; 
 Wednesday likewise being a market for fish, butter, and cheese : And upon Saturday, as 
 soon as light appeare, is the market bell for linnen cloth; which ended, yarn appears, 
 bread and fish of all sorts, butter and cheese; as formerly, the fish all in a row upon the 
 fish stones and places adjacent; their butter, cheese, and pullen, and potters about the 
 butter crosse, in the end of Cheapside market ; and bread nere unto the fish market. 
 
 “ The cattell market ordinarily in Church-street, and upon the Saturday only ; their 
 horse market in the Fishergate, and begins about the ending of their market for cattell. 
 
 “ The swyne market over against the church ; their sheep early upon the west side of 
 the Market-square above the shoomakers’ stalls; and the leather cutters’ earthern 
 vessell, in Cheepside, and wooden vessell in the west end of the Market-place, below the 
 barley market. The upper corn market begimiing at one of clock, upon the corn bell 
 ringing; here standetli for sale rowes of wheat, rye, groats, in their distinct fyles and 
 orders ; below them towards the west is the barley and bean market, places in distinct 
 and well ordered rowes, j in which place, before the corn comes into town, was hydes and 
 skinns exposed to sale untill 9 or lOaelock. Below the fish stones k standetli the stalls 
 of hardwaremen, with all sort of iron instruments; in the midst of the Market-place 
 aside the barley market, are the stalls for brass and pewter; and higher above them 
 ranges of stalls for pedlars and cloth cutters, hosiers and the like : yet notwithstanding 
 all these varyetys of wares and merchandizes thus exposed, most of the burgesses or 
 inhabitants of the Burrough have shops about the Market-place and in other streets, in 
 their houses or nere unto their lodgings, were the several eoinpanyes of tradesmen dayly 
 expose wares to sale. 
 
 “ The streets belonging to this town or burrough are very spacious, good handsome 
 buildings on either side, here and there interwoven with stately fabricks of hrickbuilding 
 after the Modish maner, extraordinarily addorning the streets which they belong vnto. 
 
 “ The first street as you enter upon the south side from the bridge, * 1 is Fenkell-street, 
 unto the barrs; and from the barrs proceeding to the town’s hall, is styled the Church- 
 street, all though the other part below the barrs hath been, and is, vulgarly taken for 
 part thereof, m 
 
 “ From the Church-street, in a straight line proceeding westward, the whole street is 
 called the Fishergate-street. 
 
 “ And over against the church, proceeding northward to Salter-lane, was esteemed to 
 be Vicars or Vicarage-street, n or alley, by reason that at the end thereof, the ancient 
 vicarage stood before delapidation, and the tithe barn were adjacent. 
 
 j The grain market was removed to Lunc-strect in 1824, on the erection of the present Corn 
 Exchange. 
 
 k The fish stones were removed by order of the corporation, from the Market-place, in 1853, and a fish 
 market established in one of the large rooms of tire Corn Exchange, Lune-street. There is, how. 
 ever, no regular fish market at the present time, the removal to the Exchange not conducing to the 
 interest of the trade. 
 
 1 The old bridge at Walton. The other bridges over the Ribble, near Preston, were not built at 
 the time Kuerden’s manuscript was written. The bridge is evidently one of the oldest in the northern 
 part of the country, and was long regarded as an important military position. Whitaker, in his 
 history of Manchester, quotes a verdict given in the reign of Henry III., in which an ancient forest 
 boundary record is cited as authority. The forest is described as “beginning at the bridge of 
 the Ribble, going to Steop-clough, betwixt Ribcliester and Hadersal—betwixt Chippin and 
 Gosnaig, to the water of Lond or Laund, by the demense of Hornby, to the water of the Lone or 
 Lune, and the current of the lien or Kent, down the Kent to the sea, along the coast of the sea to 
 the foot of the Wire and the Ribble, and up the Ribble to Ribble Bridge.” The old bridge con¬ 
 sisted of five arches. A portion of one of the piers in the centre of the river yet marks its site, about 
 fifty yards below the present structure, which was completed at the begimiing of the year 1782. 
 m The entire length from the Town Hall to the House of Correction is now called Church-street. 
 
 “ One of the Church-street bar posts, the Editor well remembers standing close to the house on 
 the scite of which now stands the house and shop occupied by Mr. Yates the grocer, at the corner of 
 Cockerhole now Water-street.”—Taylor’s Notes, 
 n The present St. John-street and Tithe Barn-street. 
 
 r 
 
210 
 
 BRESTON AND ITS ENYIRONS 
 
 “ From the end of Vicarage-street or lane, a spacious street passed westward, and this 
 is called St. John Street ;o and from thence a hack lane passing beside the town, falling 
 into the Fryergate below the Fryergate barrs.P 
 
 “ And from the west end of St. John’s-street,” (now called Lord-street) "and the 
 little short street or alley passing southerly into the lower end of Market-place, and 
 this is called the Fryer’s Weend.q 
 
 “ And likewise from the midst of St. John’s-street,” (now Lord-street) “passing by 
 the horsemill southward, into another square with a draw well in the midst thereof, into 
 which square the mayor and counsell did intend to translate their fish stones or fish 
 market, out of the larger market-place, r 
 
 “ And from this lesser square (most of which belongs to that worthy person and pur¬ 
 chaser of the town-end, the antient estate formerly belonging to the family of Prestons, 
 but now in possession of Mr. Rigby, Paternoster-row, in London), is another alley lately 
 adorned with new building, passing into the Market-place, at the upper end of the Corne 
 market; and this alley or passage from the aforesaid lesser square hath been antiently 
 called Gin Row Entry. s 
 
 “ There is likewise below the Churchgate barrs another public footway southward, 
 leading towards the bridge over Ribble into London-road; and this passage at its en¬ 
 trance out of town was called Cockerhole. t 
 
 “ Another remarkable foot passage toward Rible Bridge is through the Churchyard 
 southward, by the publiq schoole and antient place called Chappel of Avenam, over the 
 Swilbrook southward, by West-feld to the aforesaid Bridge of Rible; and this passage 
 is called the Stonygate, being the greatest foot tract to the Burrough of Preston. 
 
 “ Another passage southward, about the midst of Church Street, more privatly pass¬ 
 ing either towards the bridge or bote,—and is at present styled the passage through 
 Cockslmtt’s hack side.u 
 
 “ Another foot passage southward, is over against the Shambles or Town Hall, and 
 leadeth by the Minspitt well, and over Avenam to Rible side, passing along the river 
 to the boate or ferry of Penwortliam, and this is called Minspitt-lane or Pettycoat-ally, 
 by reason of the frequent carrying of water from this well by woemen, and the milkmaids 
 bringing dayly their milk and butter to the town this way, from beyond the river 
 Rible.v 
 
 o Now named Lord-street. The present St. John-street leading from the church to Tithe-bam- 
 street was till within a few years ago, often called the “ Church Weind.” 
 p This street still retains the name Back-lane. 
 
 q “ Now Anchor-wiend because the house opposite the south end was formerly a public house, 
 known by the sign of the Anchor.”—Taylor’s Notes. 
 
 r Molyneux-square. The Earl of Derby’s improvements will erase this little square from the map 
 of Preston. The site will form a part of the new Lancaster-road. 
 
 s “ Gin Bow Entry” still rejoices in its ancient patronymic, but the “ adornment ” effected by the 
 “ new building ” has followed in the wake of all terrestrial beauty, and succumbed to the influence 
 of time. 
 
 t Water-street is generally considered to be the ancient “ Cocker-hole,” although, from a verdict 
 recorded in the “ Court Leet Book,” and quoted at page 33 of the present work, it would appear that 
 the deep gully by which the Roman way descended to the ford over the Ribble was the true Cocker- 
 hole. Some old people still call Water-street, Cockerhole-lane. More than one passage led to the 
 bridge over Ribble by this hollow. The path described by Kuerden passed most probably over the 
 Roman road, which crossed Church-street near the Blue Bell Inn. Another footpath may have join¬ 
 ed this road from near the present Water-street, which appears to be a more modern thorough¬ 
 fare, opened about the time of the closing of the old footpaths, 
 u The present Turk’s head-court. 
 
 v In 1729, a large circular well was sunk by Mr. Robert Abbott and a Mr. 'Woodcock, upon the site 
 of the "Min Spit Well,” and portions of the town supplied with water by means of pipes and a 
 forcing engine. These early “ Waterworks ” were popularly styled the “ Folly,” from the supposed 
 Quixotism of the innovation! A public well, however, remained near the end of the Main-sprit 
 wiend till the Gas Company, having previously purchased the property, erected, in 1850, a large gas 
 holder upon the site. In 1771, the alley was called "Midspit Weint.” 
 
RESTORATION TO VICTORIA. 
 
 211 
 
 “ At the west end of the Fishergate, there Is one lane or footpath, likewise leading 
 over Avenliam, from the Aimes-house to the aforesaid boat at Penwortham, and this is 
 called the Almes-house-lane or Passage to the boat.w 
 
 “ From the Church-street or Town Hall westward, in a direct line, continues another 
 spacious street leading towards the river of Rible or Broadgate, as they call it; and 
 this street as far as the buildings extend, is called the Fishergate-street, and the end 
 thereof, at the ford over Rible or the horseway to the boat, when the river is not ford¬ 
 able, is called Broadgate, x from whence going southerly they pass over the river, there 
 divided into three streams,y a very secure passage if the water be not too deep by fresh 
 or flood; in such cases when they come to the river side at the aforesaid Broadgate, they 
 must follow up the river side eastward, about a quarter of a mile, untill they arrive at 
 the key or wharf over against the boat house, where diverse boats are ready, as occasion 
 may require, for horse or foot to waft them over to the other side, from thence to pass 
 through Leyland-lane to Eccleston; and from thence to passe to Wigan by Standish, or 
 by Maudsley to Ormschurch, and so to Liverpoole; or westward unto Croston ; or when 
 over the ford or boat, upon the right hand road, through Penwortham, Longton, Hoole, 
 Ormschurch, and so to Liverpoole. 
 
 “ Now from the corner end of the Market-street or square, passing by the northwest 
 through a fayre long and spacious street cal’d the Fryergate-street, by reason upon that 
 side of the town was formerly a larg and sumptuous building, formerly belonging to the 
 Fryers Minors or Gray Fryers, but now only reserved for the reforming of vagabonds, 
 sturdy beggars, and petty larcenary thieves, and other people wanting good behaviour; 
 it is now the country prison to entertain such persons with hard work, spare dyet, and 
 whipping, and it is cal’d the House of Correction. 2 And at the upper end of this street 
 without the barrs, is a passage westward, either for horse or foot, by this Fryery or 
 House of Correction, to the upper end of the Marsh, where there is a lower ford to passe 
 over the water to the Church or Hall of Penwortham, although not altogether so safe as 
 the aforesaid Upper Ford ; and this passage betwixt the Burrough and the said Pryory 
 is styled the Fryers'-wind. a 
 
 “ When you pass the barrs towards the Townsend Hall now belonging to Mr. Rigby, 
 of Paternoster-rowe, upon the left hand westward lyeth the publiq road by Preston 
 Marsh unto the Fyld Contry, or the plain and westron part of the said Amoundernes 
 
 w Since called Brewery-lane; now Mount-street. The alms-houses were situated at the north, 
 west corner of this lane. 
 
 x The beautiful terrace to the left, when passing from the bottom of Fishergate to Penwortham 
 bridge, is erected upon this Broadgate, which still retains its ancient name. 
 
 y In the early part of the present century, the “Holm” was a single island, the middle stream 
 having disappeared. The southerly channel which passed beneath Penwortham wood, was suffi¬ 
 ciently deep to permit small vessels to discharge their cargoes at the foot of Penwortham brow. 
 Through the influence of an artificial “caul” or weir this southern channel is now totally blocked 
 up. The “ Holm ” has therefore ceased to be an island, and the river now flows in a single stream. 
 The three channels are visible upon a “ South Prospect of Preston,” drawn and engraved by S. & N. 
 Buck, in 1728. On a plan published in 1738, by Robert Porter, of Goosnargh, two large islands and 
 three smaller ones arc distinctly marked. The largest is called the “ Holme.” The present Penwor¬ 
 tham bridge was built in the year 1759, on the site of one, which fell shortly after its erection. It is 
 situated midway between the old ford and the ferry. The boat house and landing stairs remain to 
 this day. The former which has been somewhat modernised, was a few years ago used as a public 
 house. A sculptured stone in the front wall of the building, exhibits the arms of the Fleetwood 
 family, and the date 1626. 
 
 z The Friary was converted into cottage dwellings after the erection of the House of Correction, 
 in Church-street, in 1789. Mr. Whittle says the building was used for a time as a cotton factory. 
 Some operations in connection with the staple trade may have been carried on within its precinct. 
 It was certainly, as Miller’s map of Preston testifies, for some time used as a barrack. It is now 
 nearly erased. A small part of one of the outer walls alone remains, and forms a portion of a work- 
 shop in connection with Mr. Stevenson’s foundry.—See chap. 2, p. 115. 
 a Now Bridge-street and Marsh-lane. 
 
212 
 
 PKESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 hundred, followeing allong the side of the river of Bible towards the market town of 
 Kirkham, and toward that of Poulton.b 
 
 “ But upon the right hand northerly, lyes the great road towards Lancaster by way 
 of Garstang.c 
 
 “ There is likewise when you enter the town upon the south or eastern side, a way to 
 pass by the body of the town, over Preston More and Fulwood by Broughton northward, 
 by Garstang aforesaid, towards the Burrough of Lancaster.*! 
 
 “ This burrough is likewise adorned with a spacious wel built or rather re-edified 
 church, e for the decent and more commodious solemnization of religious rytes and 
 instruction of the people in sound and healthfull Christian doctrines, and Hereunto this 
 church is likewise built a large and hansom schoole house f for the better education of 
 their children, and bringing them up in humane learning, making them fitter for trade 
 or other better preferment in the world. S 
 
 “ Adjacent unto which is lately raised a publiq workhouse, to employ the poorer sort 
 of people especially woemen and children in a worsted trade of yarn, thereby better to 
 maintain their family from begging, h 
 
 “ And there are likewise 3 other liospitalls or publiq alms houses erected for the habi¬ 
 tation of many old, impotent, decripid, and other of the most needy persons, to preserve 
 them with charity from starveing and extreme necessityes ; and these, for many familyes 
 apeece, are placed at the ends of three severall streets for the more commodious 
 assistance. > 
 
 **##### 
 
 “ The bondary confining the franchises and libertyes of this Burrough of Preston, 
 beginneth upon the south side, at the much famed river of Bibell, at a place cal’d the 
 
 b Near Tulketh hall, three district roads within a very few yards of each other are still visible. 
 The present highway was made by the Wyre Kailway Company. The road previously used turns 
 beneath one of the arches of the viaduct. The Old Fylde road went down to the Marsh corner and 
 turned sharply under the brow still nearer Tulketh hall. The remains of this road will soon be 
 erased. 
 
 c From Fylde-lane beneath the canal aqueduct. This road is now stopped. Small portions of it, 
 however, yet remain. 
 
 d By St. John-street and Park-lane, (formerly Salter-lane) to Gallows-hlll, etc. 
 
 e “The roof of this church fell in on Wednesday, the 7th of February, 1770. The north and south 
 walls were taken down, and the whole rebuilt in the same and following year. The steeple being in 
 a very dilapidated state, was taken down in the latter end of the year 1811, and the present hand¬ 
 some tower was rebuilt in the year 181G, partly by subscription, and partly out of the regular church 
 leys, through the indefatigable exertions of Mr. John Fallowfield, jun., one of the Churchwardens.” 
 — Taylor’s notes. The whole of the church, with the exception of the lower portion of the tower, 
 was taken down in 1853. The present handsome structure was completed in 1855. 
 
 f The old “ Free Grammar School,” situated at the bottom of Stonygate, near the old “ Shep¬ 
 herd’s Library.” Eebuilt for shops last year (1856). 
 
 g Kuerden’s manuscript in the Heralds’ College further records that, “ for the more eas of the 
 people, there had lately been built on the south side of the church a large spacious and well 
 adorned gallery, for the gentry of the town, who were farmers.” The same document likewise adds, 
 “there has been annexed to it” (the school house) “an handsome fabric adjoining to it as a fitting 
 habitation for a schoolmaster, for convenience and ease over the school, a fitting place for the 
 scholars retirement, for making their exercises, as likewise upon occasion, if needful, for a scriviner 
 to make use of with least prejudice to the scholars as to their absence or attendance.” The school¬ 
 master’s residence has latterly been converted into an inn or public house, and designated the 
 “ Arkwrights’ Arms,” from the circumstance that the inventor of the spinning jenny set up one of 
 his earliest machines in this building, whilst in the occupation of his patron, Mr. Smalley. 
 
 h “ This is now occupied as private dwellings, and a large and substantial workhouse has been 
 erected on Preston moor.”—Taylor’s notes, 1818. 
 
 This building was taken down in 1S50. The lodge belonging to the factory of Messrs. Jacson 
 and Co., now occupies a large portion of the site. The old workhouse fronted towards Avenham- 
 lane, at the corner of Bolton’s court. 
 
 i The Heralds’ College manuscript gives the following further particulars respecting these 
 
RESTOEATION TO VICTORIA. 
 
 213 
 
 washing stood, j and from thence ascend up, easterly, by a little rill or rivulet called the 
 Swill-brooke, crossing the London road and passing upward to the bead thereof, till you 
 come over against the town of Fishwick, k from which the brooke parteth this burrough 
 aforesaid; and from thence the bonds pass to the norward, to the entrance upon 
 Ribbleton more, nere if not close by, the crosse upon the highway a little above Rib- 
 chester, 1 toward the citty of Yorke; and from this crosse, passing by the west side of 
 that more, still norward, through some few closes unto Eavs brook, and thus it is 
 separated from the village of Ribbleton ; upon the east from thence, passing down the 
 Eavs brook untill it fallith into the water of Savoek, and thus it is parted from the 
 forest of Fullwood and Caddy more ; so descending the water Savoek to a certain old ditch 
 which is the bondary betwixt Preston and Tulketh; soe following that old ditch south¬ 
 ward, by Lancaster-lane, untill you arrive to Preston Marsh, a little west from the 
 water Mihie ; and so following the milne stream westward, after the north side of the 
 marsh, untill it crosse up southward towards Rible, but following that stream to Rible 
 water; and so following Rible eastward, by the midst of that water, until it come past 
 the boat over against Preston, to the afore mentioned washing steeds, into the Swill- 
 brook.” 
 
 Eefcrring to Dr. Kuerdcn’s description of the borough of Preston, 
 Mr. Taylor observes that “ such, with nearly equal correctness, might have 
 been given as its true description, in the Guild of the year of 1782, a 
 century afterwards. With the exception of the buildings connected with 
 the Waterworks established in 1729; St. George’s Chapel erected in 
 1732; m and the factoiy at the lower end of Priargate, in Moor lane, 
 erected by Messrs. Collinson and Watson about the year 1777 ; it is 
 generally believed that no edifice had been built on a new site in the past 
 century; the population, during this time, remaining nearly stationary at 
 about six thousand inhabitants.” 
 
 At the period of the revolution, 1688, the population of England and 
 Wales has been computed at “ somewhat over five millions and a-half.” 11 
 
 The year previous to his expulsion from the throne, James II. visited 
 Chester; on which occasion the corporation of Preston evinced their 
 loyalty by the sending of a deputation from their body to present a dutiful 
 address to the king. 
 
 hospitals or alms houses :— 
 
 “ 1st. At the end of the town ” (Friargate,) “ for eight or ten alinspeople. 
 
 “ 2nd. Next near the end of Lemon’s Charity. 
 
 “ 3rd. At the end of Fishergate, consisting of eight rooms, erected by the widow of Bartho. 
 Worthington and Eliz. Harrison, widow.” 
 
 j At the foot of Avenham Walks. The mouth of the brook is now converted into a culvert. The 
 entire streamlet, from London-road, will shortly form one of the main sewers of the town. 
 
 k The few scattered buildings, between the head of the brook and the Ribblc, could scarcely, at 
 the present time, by any stretch of complaisance, be designated a town. That portion of Preston 
 which extends over the brook into the township of Fishwick, has been erected during the present 
 century. 
 
 1 Ribchester is seven or eight miles east of this boundary. The Heralds’ College manuscript, as 
 quoted by Mr. Edward Baines, reads correctly as follows : “nere, if not close by, the crosse upon 
 the highway leading to Ribchester.” The pedestal of the stone cross still remains. 
 
 m An evidently accidental transposition of the figures. St. George’s chapel was erected in 1723. 
 
 n His. of English Poor Law, by Sir George Nicholls. 
 
214 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 At this period, the remedial power of the “king’s touch” in cases of 
 “evil,” was firmly believed in by others than the vulgar ; for it appears 
 the corporation of Preston voted the sum of five shillings each to two poor 
 women afflicted -with this disease, towards the expense of travelling to 
 Chester, to avail themselves of the supposed potency inherent in royal 
 digits. This absurd superstition was not entirely discountenanced till the 
 reign of George III. 
 
 The corporation of Preston, in 1684, had the very questionable “honour” 
 of entertaining the notorious “Judge Jeffreys,” on his return from the 
 assizes at Lancaster. Amongst the papers in the possession of the cor¬ 
 porate body, is the following letter from this foul stain upon the judicial 
 ermine of England, dated 29th September, 1684 :— 
 
 “ Sr I reed yours with an accompt of yo r communicating my last to yd* Brethren & 
 I am shure nothing I sayd therein could be more pleasing to any of you then my being 
 iuCondicon to doe you any act of Service or ffriendship is to me and as a Testimony of 
 my Sincerity therein I shall for ye p r nt and as long as I live give you ye best assist¬ 
 ance I am capable off nor shall yo r Corporation be any wayes Injured in any of your 
 priviledges if I can prevent, in my last I hinted to you ye most Pper time for your 
 attendance upon his Sacred Matte & shall hasten y e Confirmation of your Chartr with 
 as much ease both of Charge and Trouble as possible can be. his Matie has again com¬ 
 manded me to take an especiall Care on your behalf and yt you may find ye efferts of 
 his Gratious acceptance of yo 1 ' unanimous and loyall submission to his Koyall pleasure 
 by his bounty in yo r nest Chart 1 ' and so I wish you & all your Brethren all hapiness 
 and remain, 
 
 “ Sr Your most ffaithful ffriend & oblidged servt: 
 
 “ London Sept. 29th 84.” “ Geo : Jeffryes. 
 
 “ For James Ashton Esq Mayor of Preston att Preston in Lancashire.” 
 
 During his stay in Preston, Jeffreys ordered the Reverend Thomas 
 Jolly, non-conformist minister, of Wynne House, near Whalley, to find 
 two sureties in two hundred pounds each, for holding conventicles. 
 
 Notwithstanding the attachment of the people of England to the prin¬ 
 ciple of hereditary succession, the perverseness and infatuation of the 
 Stuart family, which seemed incapable of adapting itself to the temper 
 and progressive tendencies of the liberty-loving Anglo-Saxon nation, 
 precipitated the revolution, which transferred the crown to the Prince of 
 Orange, and afterwards to the house of Hanover. In this second struggle 
 between the nation and the reigning dynasty, the people of Lancashire 
 appear to have taken no very prominent part. There is some reason to 
 believe, however, that Amounderness narrowly escaped being again the 
 theatre of another sanguinary conflict. One of the places proposed for 
 the secret landing of the king, by his partisans, is said to have been near 
 Blackpool; and “Yauxhall,” or “Foxhall,” amarine residence belonging 
 to Thomas Tildesley, Esq., the representative of the gallant cavalier who 
 fell at Wigan lane, was prepared for his temporary residence and con- 
 
RESTORATION TO VICTORIA. 
 
 215 
 
 cealmcnt, should subsequent events have necessitated such an expedient. 0 
 
 After the accession of 'William III., many schemes were projected by 
 the Roman catholics and the advocates of “legitimacy” and the “divine 
 right of kings,” for the restoration of James. Several plots were laid 
 for the assassination or dethronement of William, one of which, named 
 the “Lancashire Plot,” caused considerable sensation in the county. 
 Many, however, doubted its reality, and others regarded the affair as a 
 government conspiracy to effect the ruin of certain Lancashire and Cheshire 
 gentlemen, who were known to be well affected towards the Stuarts. 
 
 Mr. William Beamont in his commentaiy upon the “ Jacobite Trials at 
 Manchester, in 1694,” published by the Cheetham Society, in 1853, from 
 a manuscript copy, boldly says :— 
 
 “ Had the government believed the plot, or been really in earnest, they might have 
 found evidence to support the charge; and the case would not have been so loosely man¬ 
 aged, unless they had purposely designed to let Mr. Lunt escape to serve their purposes 
 elsewhere, oratsomeothertime. Possibly they had already discovered that he might be use¬ 
 ful as a spy, and they designed by his means to penetrate the secrets of the disaffected. He 
 was to be a tame pigeon kept to fly when other flocks were on the wing, in order to 
 allure them into the traps set for them by its owner.” 
 
 Whatever might be the true character of this “ Lancashire Plot,” it 
 produced a tragical result in the neighbourhood of Preston. The story 
 runs, that the disaffected in Lancashire, being anxious to receive some 
 promised commissions from King James, dispatched Mr. Edmund Threlfall, 
 of the Ashes, in Goosnargh, to Ireland, to bring them over. At Dublin, 
 Threlfall was introduced to Lunt, the chief agent of the Jacobites. The 
 two landed in the Lune, near Cockerham, early in the morning of the 13th 
 of June, 1689. Singularly enough, Lunt left his Saddlebags, containing 
 many of these treasonable commissions, in the boat. These were seized by 
 the custom house officers, who are said to have made “hot pursuit ” after 
 the conspirators, but without success. Threlfall and Lunt repaired to 
 Mr. Tildesley’s residence, at the Lodge, in Myerscougli, where they divided 
 the remaining commissions. The task of delivering those addressed to 
 gentlemen in Yorkshire and Durham was assigned to Threlfall, and Lunt 
 took charge of the Lancashire, Cheshire, and Staffordshire portion. These 
 commissions empowered the parties to whom they were sent to raise “regi¬ 
 ments of horse and dragoons.” Lunt was indicted but acquitted, and after 
 a series of adventures, disclosed the “plot” on the 16th of June, 1694. 
 The denoument, so far as concerns Threlfall, is thus stated by Kingston :— 
 
 “ Threlfall, pursuant to the late King’s orders, having delivered his share of the com¬ 
 missions and what else he had in charge to the more northern gentlemen, privately re¬ 
 turned to his own house at Goosner, in Lancashire, and having notice there that his trea¬ 
 sonable practices were discovered by Mr. Kelly and Mr. Dodsworth, and the commissions 
 
 o See depositions of Mr. Dodsworth, printed in Kingston’s work, p. 271. lie there states that it 
 “ was reported amongst them that the said King James would land in a month’s time.” 
 
216 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 left in the ship, took all imaginable care to secure himself there till he could find an oppor¬ 
 tunity to return to the late King in Ireland. But this design encountered a severe dis¬ 
 appointment, and he met with the reward of his treachery. For it having been whispered 
 among the party that he was returned, it quickly took air, and a warrant (as I said before) 
 being out against him from the lord lieutenant, he was sought after by a party of the 
 militia, and found by a corporal in a hollow place made for that purpose in a stack of 
 turves. As soon as he was discovered, the corporal attempting to seize him, Threlfall 
 violently snatched the musket out of the corporal’s hand and knocked him down with it, 
 hut the corporal recovering himself, and finding his own life and the prisoner’s escape in 
 such apparent danger, he drew his sword and ran Mr. Threlfall through the body, of 
 which wound he died immediately.” 
 
 Another account says Mr. Threlfall was “returning through Cheshire to 
 Ireland, when he was pursued upon suspicion, and killed as he was en¬ 
 deavouring to defend himself,” hut this is evidently an error. 
 
 Mr. Beamont expresses his surprise at the supineness of government in 
 this matter, from which it would appear that no real fear of the existence 
 of any serious plot was ever entertained. He says, “ no reader of either 
 account would suppose that Mr. Threlfall, who had been often seen in the 
 neighbourhood of his own house in this interval, where any ordinary dili¬ 
 gence might have taken him, survived the issuing of the warrant against 
 him more than twelve months, and was not killed until about the 20th 
 August, 1690, as appears by the subjoined register of his burial at 
 Goosnargh :— 
 
 “ ‘ August 1690. Bur, was Edmund Threlfall, of Goosnargh, the 26th day.’ ” 
 
 Mr. Macaulay, in his History of England, eloquently denounces the 
 chief actors in this affair. His masterly exposition of the condition of the 
 rival parties, and the state of society at the period, is especially interest¬ 
 ing to the student of Lancashire history. He says :— 
 
 “ Among the informers who haunted this office was an Irish vagabond, who had borne 
 more than one name, and professed more than one religion. He now called himself 
 Taaffe. He had been a priest of the Roman Catholic church, and secretary to Adda, the 
 papal nuncio, but had since the revolution turned Protestant, had taken a wife, and had 
 distinguished himself by his activity in discovering the concealed property of those 
 Jesuits and Benedictines, who, during the late reign, had been quartered in London. The 
 ministers despised him ; but they trusted him. They thought that he had, by his apos- 
 taey, and by the part which he had borne in the spoliation of the religious orders, cut 
 himself off from all retreat, and that, having nothing but a halter to expect from King 
 James, he must he true to King William. This man fell in with a jacohite agent named 
 Lunt, w T ho had, since the revolution, been repeatedly employed among the discontented 
 gentry of Cheshire and Lancashire, and who had been privy to those plans of insurrec¬ 
 tion which had been disconcerted by the battle of the Boyne, in 1690, and by the battle 
 of La Hogue, in 1692. Lunt had once been arrested on suspicion of treason, but had 
 been discharged for want of legal proof of his guilt. He was a mere hireling, and was, 
 without much difficulty, induced by Taaffe to turn approver. The pair went to Tren- 
 chard. Lunt told his story, mentioned the names of some Cheshire and Lancashire 
 squires to whom he had, as he affirmed, carried commissions from Saint Germains, and 
 of others, who had, to his knowledge, formed secret hoards of arms and ammunition. 
 His simple oath would not have been sufficient to support a charge of high treason, but 
 be produced another witness whose evidence seemed to make the case complete. The 
 narrative was plausible and coherent; and, indeed, though it may have been embellished 
 by fictions, there can he little doubt that it was true in substance. Messengers and search 
 
RESTORATION TO VICTORIA. 
 
 217 
 
 warrants were sent down to Lancashire. Aaron Smith himself went thither; and Taaffe 
 went with him. The alarm had been given by some of the numerous traitors who eat 
 the bread of William. Some of the accused persons had fled ; and others had buried 
 their sabres and muskets and burned their papers. Nevertheless, discoveries were 
 made which confirmed Lunt’s depositions. Beliind the wainscot of the old mansion of 
 one Roman Catholic family was discovered a commission signed by Jantes. Another house 
 of which the master had absconded, was strictly searched, in spite of the solemn assevera¬ 
 tions of his wife and servants that no arms were concealed there. While the lady, with 
 her hand on her heart, was protesting on her honour that her husband was falsely accused, 
 the messengers observed that the hack of the chimney did not seem to be firmly fixed. 
 It was removed, and a heap of blades, such as were used by horse soldiers, tumbled out. 
 In one of the garrets were found, carefully bricked up, thirty saddles for troopers, as 
 many breastplates, and sixty cavalry swords. Trenchard and Aaron Smith thought the 
 case complete; and it was determined that those culprits who had been apprehended 
 should he tried by a special commission. Taaffe now confidently expected to be recom¬ 
 pensed for his services; but he found a cold reception at the treasury. He had gone 
 down to Lancashire chiefly in order that he might, under the protection of a search war¬ 
 rant, pilfer trinkets and broad pieces from secret drawers. His sleight-of-hand, however, 
 had not altogether escaped the observation of his companions. They discovered that he 
 had made free with the communion plate of the popish families whose private hoards he 
 had assisted in ransacking. When, therefore, he applied for reward, he was dismissed, 
 not merely with a refusal, but with a stern reprimand. He went away mad with greed¬ 
 iness and spite. There was yet one way in which he might obtain both money and 
 revenge, and that way he took. He made overtures to the friends of the prisoners. He, 
 and he alone, could undo what he had done, could save the accused from the gallows, 
 could cover the accusers with infamy, could drive from office the secretary and the 
 solicitor, who were the dread of all the friends of King .James, Loathsome as Taaffe 
 was to the jacobites, his offer was not to he slighted. He received a sum in hand ; he 
 was assured that a comfortable annuity for life should he settled on him when the business 
 was done; and he was sent down into the country, and kept in strict seclusion against 
 the day of trial. Meanwhile, unlicensed pamphlets, in which the Lancashire plot was 
 classed with Oates’s plot, with Dangerfield’s plot, with Fuller’s plot, with Young’s plot, 
 with Wliitney’s plot, were circulated all over the kingdom, and especially in the county 
 which was to furnish the jury. Of these pamphlets, the longest, the ablest, and the bitter¬ 
 est, entitled “A letter to Secretary Trenchard,” was commonly ascribed to Ferguson. 
 It is not improbable that Ferguson may have furnished some of the materials, and have 
 conveyed the manuscript to the press. But many passages are written with an art and 
 vigour which assuredly did not belong to him. Those who judge by internal evidence may 
 perhaps think that, in some parts of this remarkable tract, they can discern the last 
 gleam of the malignant genius of Montgomery. A few weeks after the appearance of 
 the letter, he sank, unhonoured and unlamented, into the grave. There were then no 
 printed new spapers except the London Gazette. But since the revolution the news¬ 
 letter had become a more important political engine than it had previously been. The 
 newsletters of one writer named Dyer were widely circulated in manuscript. He affected 
 to be a tory and a high churchman, and was, consequently, regarded by the fox-hunting 
 lords of manors, all over the kingdom, as an oracle. He had already been twice in 
 prison : hut his gains had more than compensated for his sufferings, and he still persisted 
 in seasoning his intelligence to suit the taste of the country gentlemen. He now turned 
 the Lancashire plot into ridicule, declared that the guns which had been found were old 
 fowling-pieces, the saddles were meant only for hunting, and that the swords were rusty 
 relics of Edge Hill and Marston Moor. The effect produced by all this invective and 
 sarcasm on the public mind seems to have been great. Even at the Dutch Embassy, 
 where assuredly there was no leaning towards jacobitism, there was a strong impression 
 that it would he unwise to bring the prisoners to trial. In Lancashire and Cheshire the 
 prevailing sentiments were pity for the accused and hatred of the prosecutors. The 
 government, however, persevered. In October four judges went down to Manchester. At 
 present the population of that town is made up of persons born in every part of the 
 British isles, and consequently has no especial sympathy with the landowners, the 
 farmers, and the agricultural labourers of the neighbouring districts. But in the seven- 
 
218 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 teenth century the Manchester man was a Lancashire man. His politics were those of 
 his county. For the old cavalier families of his county he felt a great respect; and he 
 was furious when he thought that some of the best blood of his county was about to be 
 shed by a knot of roundhead pettifoggers from London. Multitudes of people from the 
 neighbouring villages filled the streets of the town, and saw with grief and indignation 
 the array of drawn swords and loaded carbines which surrounded the culprits. Aaron 
 Smith’s arrangements do not seem to have been skilful. The chief council for the crown 
 was Sir William Williams, who, though now well stricken in years, and possessed of a 
 great estate, still continued in practice. One fault had thrown a dark shade over the 
 latter part of his life. The recollection of that day on which he had stood up in West¬ 
 minster Hall, amidst laughter and hooting, to defend the dispensing power and to attack 
 the right of petition, had, ever since the revolution, kept him back from honour. He 
 was an angry and disappointed man, and was by no means disposed to incur unpopularity 
 in the cause of a government to which he owed nothing, and from which he hoped 
 nothing. Of the trial no detailed report has come down to us; but we have both a whig 
 narrative and a jacobite narrative. It seems that the prisoners who were first arraigned 
 did not sever in their challenges, and were consequently tried together. Williams ex¬ 
 amined, or rather cross-examined, his own witnesses with a severity which confused them. 
 The crowd which filled the court laughed and clamoured. Lunt in particular became 
 completely bewildered, mistook one person for another, and did not recover himself till 
 the judges took him out of the hands of the counsel for the crown. For some of the 
 prisoners an alibi was set up. Evidence was also produced to shew, what was undoubt¬ 
 edly quite true, that Lunt was a man of abandoned character. The result, however, 
 seemed doubtful, till, to the dismay of the prosecutors, Taaffe entered the box He swore 
 with unblushing forehead that the whole story of the plot was a circumstantial lie 
 devised by himself and Lunt. Williams threw down his brief; and, in truth, a more 
 honest advocate might well have done the same. The prisoners who were at the bar 
 were instantly acquitted; those who had not yet been tried were set at liberty; the 
 witnesses for the prosecution were pelted out of Manchester; the clerk of the crown 
 narrowly escaped with life; and the judges took their departure amidst hisses and 
 execrations.” 
 
 Soon after George I., of the house of Hanover, ascended the throne, 
 the partisans of the Stuarts in Scotland and the north of England, headed 
 by the earls of Har, Derwentwater, Winton, Nithsdale, and Carmvorth, 
 and a Northumberland gentleman, named Forster, raised the standard of 
 revolt, and proclaimed the Chevalier de St. George, son of James II., 
 king, by the title of James III. One division of their forces, under the 
 command of Mr. Forster, penetrated into England, notwithstanding the 
 defection of five or six hundred highlanders, who refused to cross the 
 border. The remainder of the rebel forces advanced southward, by Jed¬ 
 burgh, Penrith, etc., to Lancaster, at which place they arrived on Monday, 
 the 7th of November, 1715. During the march from Appleby to Kendal, 
 but three recruits joined the insurgents. This ill success, according to 
 Peter Clarke, caused the Brigadier Mackintosh to put on a “grim coun¬ 
 tenance,” and “ Forster and most of the other horsemen were disheartened 
 and full of sorrow.” p Between Kendal and Lancaster, however, the 
 enthusiasm of highlanders was again excited by the news that large 
 
 p Clarke liad, a month previously to his joining the rebel army, entered into the service of a Mr. 
 Crackenthorpe, a Kendal attorney. Clarke's journal is printed in “ Lancashire Memorials,” published 
 by the Manchester Cheetham Society, and edited by Dr. Hibbert Ware. 
 
RESTORATION TO VICTORIA. 
 
 219 
 
 numbers of Lancashire people were preparing to join their standard. 
 The news, however, proved deceptive, much to the chagrin of the Scotch 
 protestant Jacobites, who anticipated that the “Tory” or “High Church 
 Party,” as one class of the partisans of the Stuart was then called, would 
 be most zealous in their cause. Amongst others who joined them at Lan¬ 
 caster, was Mr. Edward Tildesley, of Myerscough, the representative of 
 the chivalric Sir Thomas Tildesley, who fell at Wigan Lane, in 1651. q 
 
 A Mr. Patten, protestant minister of Annandale, who accompanied the 
 rebel army in the capacity of chaplain to Mr. Forster, and who, according 
 to his own statement, “saved his life by being an evidence for the king,” 
 in a “History of the Hebellion,” makes the following severe remarks 
 upon the habits and conduct of this party at the period :— 
 
 “ A great many Lancashire gentlemen joined us, with their servants and friends, r 
 It’s true they were most of them Papists, which made the Scotch gentlemen and the 
 highlanders mighty uneasy, very much suspecting the cause; for they expected all the 
 High Church party to have joined them. Indeed that party, who never are right 
 hearty for the cause, ’till they are mellow, as they call it, over a bottle or two, began 
 now to show us their blind side; and that it is their just character, that they do not 
 care for venturing their carcasses any further than the tavern; there indeed with their 
 High Church and their Ormond, they would make men believe, who do not know them, 
 that they would encounter the greatest opposition in the world; but after having con¬ 
 sulted their pillows, and the fume a little evaporated, it is observed of them that they 
 generally become mighty tame, and are apt to look before they leap, and, with the snail, 
 if you touch their houses, they hide their heads, shrink back, and pull in their horns. I 
 have heard Mr. Forster say he was blustered into this business by such people as these, 
 but that for the time to come he would never again believe a drunken tory.” 
 
 Whatever truth there may be in Mr. Patten’s graphic description of the 
 convivial habits of the period referred to, the irresolution of the “ High 
 Church Party” must unquestionably have resulted from the simple fact, 
 that whilst supporting their views concerning hereditary right, in the 
 person of the Stuart, they were unquestionably aiding in the destruction 
 of what to them was at least of equal importance, the domination of the 
 protestant church of England. 
 
 Sir Henry Hoghton, at that time member of parliament for Preston, 
 endeavoured to procure for the king’s service, six pieces of cannon, which 
 lay in a vessel at Sunderland, five miles from Lancaster; but being unsuc¬ 
 cessful, and hearing of the near advance of the rebel army, he retired witli 
 about six hundred militia to Preston. The pavement was taken off the 
 bridge at Lancaster, by the inhabitants, with the view to the obstruction of 
 the passage of the rebel army. Colonel Charteris, and another Hanoverian 
 officer, would have blown up the bridge; but discovering that the river was 
 
 q “ Edward Tyldesley, of the lodge, was descended from an ancient Lancashire family, who flourished 
 in the reign of Henry III. His ancestor in 1C75 sold the family estate in Tyldesley.”—Dr. Hibbert 
 Ware: “ Lancashire Memorials.’* 
 
 r During the two or three days, the rebel army remained at Lancaster. 
 
220 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 fordable at low water, they relinquished the project, though not without 
 considerable reluctance. 
 
 The conduct of the rebel army appears, on the whole, to have won the 
 esteem of the Lancaster people. William Stout, a quaker gentleman, 
 speaking of their visit, says :—“ It was a time of tryall, and in fear that 
 the Scotts and Northern rebells would have plundered us, but they were 
 civill, and to most paid for what they had ; but I had five of the Mackin¬ 
 tosh officers quartered on me two days, but took nothing of them.” 
 
 Peter Clarke, in his quaint but pithy journal, in forms the lovers of 
 gossip that, on one afternoon, during their sojourn at Lancaster, “the 
 Gentlemen soldiers dressed and trimmed themselves up in their best 
 cloathes, for to drink a dish of tea with the laydys of this towne. The 
 Laydys also here apeared in their best riging, and had their tea tables 
 richly furnished for to entertain their new suitors.” 
 
 At Lancaster, as elsewhere, the Chevalier de St. George was proclaimed 
 king, and the Reverend Mr. Paul read public prayers for him as the British 
 monarch. The minister of the place was desirous of giving offence to 
 neither party, and made no opposition. The rebel chiefs took possession of 
 the money belonging to the revenue, in the excise office and custom 
 house. They seized the six pieces of cannon, and mounted them 
 upon wheels that belonged to Sir Henry Hoghton’s carriages. 8 After 
 releasing one “Tom Syddal, a mob captain,” and another prisoner, 
 confined in the castle, according to the Stuart partisans, “for trea¬ 
 sonable words,” 1 Porster marched his little army southward, with 
 the purpose of seizing Manchester, securing Warrington bridge, and thus 
 isolating Liverpool from the king’s forces. The cavalry arrived at Preston 
 on the evening of Wednesday, the 9th of November. The foot soldiers 
 rested at Garstang, and entered Preston on the following day. The 
 whole force amounted to about one thousand six hundred men. Two 
 troops of Stanhope’s dragoons occupied the town, but withdrew on the 
 approach of the rebel army. The chevalier was proclaimed king at the 
 Market cross. The Reverend Mr. Paul, who had joined the rebel army at 
 Lancaster, read prayers three times for the heir of the Stuarts, as the 
 lawful monarch of Britain. u Patten says, “here they were also 
 joined by a great many gentlemen with their tenants, servants, and 
 
 s Patten. 
 
 t “Tom Syddal” had not been content with “treasonable words.” He had headed a “ Sacheverel 
 riot” at Manchester, when a meeting house was destroyed. 
 
 u “During the time that the rebels were in Preston, in 1715, the daring zeal of the vicar” (the Rev. 
 Samuel Peploe, B.D.)“for the reigning sovereign, was the subject of general conversation, and he 
 daily read the prayers for the King, on one occasion even in the presence of his Majesty’s rival. It is 
 also reported that a rebel soldier forgetful of his allegiance to a higher power, once approached the 
 
RESTORATION TO VICTORIA. 
 
 221 
 
 attendants, and some of very good figure in the county; but still all 
 Roman catholics. They once resolved to have marched out of Preston, 
 and order was given to get ready on the Friday; but that order was 
 countermanded, and they resolved to continue till the next day, and then 
 to advance.” Orders were again issued for the army to march on Satur¬ 
 day morning, when Forster learned that General Wills was advancing 
 from Wigan to give them battle. 
 
 Considerable diversity of opinion has been expressed regarding the con¬ 
 duct of Forster during this memorable struggle. From the statements of 
 a “ Merse Officer,” who served under him, and who, in a journal, noted 
 down the more important passing events at the time, he would appear to 
 have been suddenly afflicted by an unaccountable lethargy, the result, 
 perhaps of a growing conviction that the duties of his position had 
 become infinitely superior to his experience or capacity. Forster had been 
 appointed general in England simply because he was a protestant gentle¬ 
 man, with the view to conciliate the “ High Church” party, which, it was 
 thought, would never consent to fight under a Roman catholic commander, 
 however distinguished for military talent. The “Merse Officer” says :— 
 
 “Upon Wednesday the 9th of November, the Horse came into Prestoun, and the foot 
 tile next day. There we received certain notice of General Wills’s being in Wigan, 
 twelve miles distant from ns, with two regiments of dragoons, who lay night and day 
 at their horses heads, in order to fly if we should march towards Manchester or Chester. 
 Though we had an opportunity of cutting off the enemy, yet General Forster would not 
 allow us, nor suffer us to march towards Manchester. 
 
 “ Upon Friday the eleventh, about seven at night, the Earl of Derwentwater received 
 
 a letter from the Lord M-, informing us that about twelve o’clock, Wills, being 
 
 joined with seven regiments more, resolved to march towards Preston. When this 
 letter was communicated to General Forster he appeared dispirited, and then, as at all 
 other times, very unfit for such an important command. He had nothing to say, but 
 sent the letter to my Lord Kenmure. His Lordship upon reading it, going with the 
 other persons of note to Mr. Forster’s quarters, found him in bed without the least con¬ 
 cern. A council being called, it was thought convenient to detach a party of horse 
 towards Wigan, as an advanced guard, and another party of foot to Derrin ” (Darwen) 
 “and Kibble bridges, and the whole army had orders to be in readiness to take the 
 field. But to our great surprise, these orders were countermanded by Forster.” 
 
 The newly-enlisted attorney’s clerk, Master Peter Clarke, records a 
 trifling incident that may throw a little light upon the certainly mysterious 
 supineness and lack of military ardour exhibited by the Jacobite chiefs. 
 
 Vicar during Divine Service, and drawing his bayonet, threatened Peploe’s life if he dared to read the 
 prayer for the elector of Hanover. With an undaunted courage, characteristic of the man, Peploe 
 replied, ‘Soldier, do your duty, and 1 will do mine!’ The firmness of his tone, and the dignity of his 
 manner, awed the rebel, who silently retired, and the alarmed congregation proceeded with their 
 devotions. When this anecdote was related to George the First, he was so much affected by the cool 
 heroism of his whig supporter, that he exclaimed in his broken German, with considerable emphasis, 
 
 ‘ Peep-low, Peep-low ! by ■ !’ he shall Peep-high—he shall be a Bishop!’ a royal determination 
 
 punctually performed.”—Introduction to “ Notitia Cestriensis,” edited by the Rev. F. R. Raines, M.A. 
 —Peploe was made warden of Manchester in 1718, and succeeded Bishop Gastrell in the see of Chester 
 in 1726. 
 
222 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Peter’s propensity to gossip, his professional or his innate gallantry, made 
 him occasionally cast his eyes upon other beings than military warriors, 
 and upon fields of conquest of a somewhat less repulsive character than 
 barricades bristling with pikes, muskets, and camion. Yes; Peter does 
 not forget to note that:— 
 
 “ The Ladys in this toune, Preston, are so very beautifull & so richly attired, that the 
 Gentlemen Soldiers from Wednesday to Saturday minded nothing but courting and 
 ffeasting.” 
 
 Dr. Samuel Hibbert Ware, in his annotations to Clarke’s journal, thus 
 speaks of Preston and the apathy of Forster:— 
 
 “ It would be a charitable supposition to be entertained, that when the important 
 letter actually arrived, the General 1 had received some little damage in the course of a 
 convivial entertainment, so as to render it necessary, that instead of studying military 
 despatches, he should retire to bed.' 
 
 “ ‘ Proud Preston,’ as this aristocratic town was long named, had been selected, and 
 from its central situation, milder climate, and beautiful aspect, deservedly so,—as a 
 winter residence for the leading gentry of the comity. The Duke of Marlborough, who 
 was well studied in human nature, while he was aware that the Insurgent force would 
 suffer some detention at Preston, then considered as the district where the Roman 
 Catholics most abounded, must also have calculated upon the allurements incidental to a 
 town long regarded as the metropolis of Lancashire. In directing, therefore, the 
 general operations of the Government forces, the experienced veteran did not overlook 
 the enervating effect liable to result from such gay quarters as the Lancashire Capua 
 was likely to afford. He adverted to Preston as the net of the Fowler, in preparation 
 for the wild birds'of prey who were to be gathered therein: ‘ It is here,’ said the Duke, 
 with prophetic discrimination, ‘ that we shall find them!’ ” 
 
 If there he not more of fancy than of logical inference in the conclusion 
 drawn by the learned commentator, the house of Hanover lies under con¬ 
 siderable obligation to the fascinations of the Preston belles of the period. 
 The fact, as stated by Clarke, certainly admits of no dispute; but that the 
 venerable victor of Blenheim, who, it appears, directed the chief move¬ 
 ments of this short campaign, was sufficiently acquainted with the place 
 to predict such a result, is very problematical. The Homan catholics being 
 numerous in the neighbourhood, and the chief supporters of the Stuarts, 
 the insurgents might, with probability, be expected to remain a few days to 
 recruit. The well known military skill of the duke, and the prompt 
 action of Wills and Carpenter, furnish sufficient grounds to predict that 
 the little northern army, led by an inexperienced civilian, would not 
 very easily escape, when the forces of the two subordinate royalist 
 generals began to act in concert. From the previous positions of the armies, 
 the centre of Lancashire appeared, with great probability, likely to 
 become the scene of the conflict. 
 
 A dissenting clergyman at Chowbent, well known for combative pro¬ 
 pensity and his loyalty to the house of Hanover, received an invitation 
 from Sir Henry Hoghton, hart., franked by “George Wills,” to bring up his 
 “lusty younge fellows” to the aid of his sovereign. The following copy 
 
RESTORATION TO VICTORIA. 
 
 223 
 
 of Sir Henry’s letter to the reverend combatant is preserved in Toulmin’s 
 “Life of John Mort— 
 
 “ To the Rev. Mr. Woods, in Cliowbent, for His Majesty’s Service, 
 
 “ Charles Wills. 
 
 “ The officers here design to march at break of day for Preston, they have desired me 
 to raise what men I can to meet us at Preston to-morrow, so desire you to raise all the 
 force you can, I mean lusty younge fellows to draw up on Cuerden Green, to be there by 
 10 o’clock, to bring with them what arms they have litt for service, and scythes put in 
 streight polls, and such as have not, to bring spades and bill hooks for pioneering with. 
 Pray go immediately all amongst your neighbours and give this notice. 
 
 “ I am your very faithful servant, 
 
 “ Wigan 11th Nov. 1715. “ H. Hoghton.” 
 
 Woods, who entered into the campaign with singular enthusiasm, was 
 assisted by another dissenting minister, named Walker. The former 
 showed so much courage and tact that he was often called, in compliment, 
 “General Woods.” There still exists a tradition which asserts that on one 
 occasion his military ardour induced him to draw his sword upon one of 
 his own men, whose conduct betokened fear or cowardice. 
 
 A “journal of the proceeding,” quoted inRac’s History, says :—“We 
 have it from several good hands, that upon their day’s march, Mr. Wood 
 and Mr. Walker, two dissenting ministers in Lancashire, came to General 
 Wills, while he was yet some miles from Preston, and told him they had 
 a considerable party of men well armed for his Majesty’s service; and 
 that they were ready to take any post his Excellency pleased to assign to 
 them. As soon as he knew who they were, and had seen their men, he 
 told them, that after he was come to Preston he would assign them a 
 post.” Woods and his Chowhent men were employed in guarding the 
 ford at Penwortham, and the bridge at Walton. 
 
 Patten strongly censures some of the Jacobite leaders for neglecting 
 to defend the pass at Ribble bridge. He says:— 
 
 “ The alarm now being given, a body of the rebels inarched out of the town as far as 
 Ribble Bridge, posting themselves there, and Mr. Forster with a party of horse, went 
 beyond it to get a certain account of things; when discovering the vanguard of the 
 dragoons, he returned another way, not coming by the bridge. He ordered Mr. Patten 
 with all haste to ride back, and give an account of the approach of the King’s army, 
 and to give orders to prepare to receive them, whilst he went to view a ford in the river, 
 in order for a passage to come behind them. The foot that were advanced to the bridge 
 were about 100 men; hut they were choice, stout, and well armed, and commanded by 
 Lieutenant-Colonel John Farcpiharson, of Innercall, belonging to Macintosh’s battalion: 
 He was a good officer and a very bold man, and would have defended that important 
 pass of the bridge to the last drop, and still the rest had advanced and drawn them¬ 
 selves out of the town ; but he was ordered to retreat to Preston. This retreat was 
 another wrong step, and has been condemned on all hands as one of the greatest over¬ 
 sights they could be guilty of; for the river is not fordable but a good way above and 
 below the bridge, which they might have made impassable also, by several methods 
 practised on like occasions. As for the bridge they might have barricaded it so well, 
 that it would have been impracticable to have passed there, or to have dislodged them 
 from it; also they had cannon, which General Wills wanted: And here alone indeed it 
 might be said they were in a condition to have made an effectual stand ; for here the 
 
224 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 King’s forces would have been entirely exposed to their fire, having no cover; whereas 
 the rebels could have very much secured themselves against the other’s fire, by the 
 bridge and by the rising ground near it. General Wills did indeed expect some diffi¬ 
 culty and opposition at this place; * # but understanding by bis advanced guard 
 that the rebels had abandoned that post, he was surprised and suspected that then they 
 had some stratagem in hand, and perhaps had lined the hedges, and so made the lane 
 impassable for his men. The lane is indeed very deep, and so narrow that in several 
 places two men cannot ride abreast. This is that famous lane at the end of which 
 Oliver Cromwell met with a stout resistance from the King’s forces, who from the height 
 rolled down upon him and his men (when they had entered the lane) huge large mill¬ 
 stones ; and if Oliver himself had not forced Ins horse to j ump into a quicksand, he had 
 luckily ended his days there.” v 
 
 The Brigadier Mackintosh, when asked, a few days afterwards, at Wigan, 
 by Lord Widdrington, why he had not made a stand at so important a 
 pass as the Bibble bridge, replied, that the post “was not maintainable, 
 because the river was fordable at several places.” This is perfectly cor¬ 
 rect, and doubtless influenced the brigadier in his determination not to 
 fight at the bridge. The number of his forces was insufficient to guard 
 the fords, and successfully defend the pass. Under these circumstances, 
 he expressed his conviction that “ the body of the town was the security 
 of the army.” 
 
 Clarke says:—“Upon Saturday ye 12th November 1715, about 11 
 a clock in the forenoone, the Earl of Dcrwentwater ordred 300 Horsemen 
 to go to Bible bridge to oppose Gen r all Wills passage over it; hut abt an 
 hour after Genrall Wills & his men came into AValton in Le dale, neare 
 unto ye sd Bible Bridge, the sd El Derwentwaters men retired into 
 Preston.” Clarke often speaks of the earl of Dcrwentwater as if he were the 
 commander-in-chief of the rebel forces. This may have arisen from the 
 deference paid to his rank and influence; or it may ho explained by the 
 fact that honest Peter himself, being attached to the suite of the earl in 
 some capacity or other, with pardonable egotism, regarded his own 
 immediate superior as the most distinguished and potent individual 
 engaged in the revolt. 
 
 The rebels, however, resolutely prepared to defend the town. They 
 erected barricades in the principal streets, and posted men in the houses of 
 the alleys and hye-lanes. Mr. Patten, who himself acted as a kind of 
 extraordinary aide-de-camp to the generals, and witnessed the attacks at 
 the three distinct barricades, gives the following description of the defensive 
 works of the besieged :— 
 
 v Notwithstanding Mr. Patten’s political conversion, and his horror of the “ licentious freedom ’’ of 
 those who “ cry up the old doctrines of passive obedience, and give hints and arguments to prove 
 hereditary right,” he appears to have retained all the antipathy of a Stuart partisan to the memory of 
 Oliver Cromwell. Yet the loyalty of 1C48 became rebellion in 1715, when Mr. Patten's head was in 
 danger. Such is the mutation of human dogmatism. 
 
 I 
 
RESTORATION TO VICTORIA. 
 
 225 
 
 “ Tlie gentlemen volunteers were drawn up in the Churchyard, under the command 
 of the Earl of Derwentwater, Viscount Kenmure, Earls of Wintoun and Nitlisdale. 
 The Earl of Derwentwater signally behaved, having stript into his waistcoat, and 
 encouraged the men by giving them money to cast up trenches, and animating them to 
 a vigorous defence of them. * * * The rebels formed four main harriers ; one a little 
 below the church, w commanded by Brigadier Macintosh ; the gentlemen in the church 
 yard were to support that barrier in particular, and Lord Charles Murray that which 
 was at the end of a lane leading to the fields: x The third barrier was called the wind¬ 
 mill ; y this was commanded by Colonel Macintosh : And the fourth was in the 
 street which leads towards Liverpool, z commanded by Major Miller and Mr. Douglass.” 
 
 Clarke quaintly says :—“ And there they made a trensh and made a 
 Baracade ovr agt the church in Church Gate Preston, & there placed two 
 of the ships guns charged with small bullet, and at the out ends of this 
 towne they made trences.” 
 
 General Wills, with six regiments of “horse and dragoons,” and one 
 battalion of foot, commanded by Colonel Preston, advanced, and ordered 
 his forces to pass through a gate, which then led into the fields behind the 
 town, and spread themselves so as to cut off the retreat of the rebels. 
 
 A severe struggle took place at the barrier below the church, which 
 Brigadier Mackintosh successfully defended. Brigadier Honcywood attacked 
 the point with the following troops :—“ Preston’s regiment of foot, com¬ 
 manded by Lord Forrester; and a captain and fifty dragoons from each of 
 the five regiments, with a colonel, lieutenant-colonel, and major to com¬ 
 mand them, to be severally dismounted to sustain Preston’s foot; and 
 Brigadier Honeywood’s regiment to sustain the whole on horseback.” 
 Some of the officers of Preston’s regiment being informed that no barrier 
 had been constructed at the end of “ the street leading to Wigan,” a sup¬ 
 ported by Honeywood’s dragoons, boldly entered, and took possession of 
 “ Patten House,” the property of Sir Edward Stanley, which overlooked 
 
 w In the military map of Preston, published soon after the siege, by A. Boyer, and dedicated to the 
 “ immortal fame of Gen. Wills,” this barrier is placed opposite the court at present named Clark-yard. 
 
 x Boyer’s map does not clearly indicate this barrier. It was, however, at the end of Tithebam- 
 street, opposite to which he has depicted a building on fire, as in the other parts of the town upon 
 which the royal troops directed their attacks. 
 
 y Friargate brow. Boyer exhibits a wooden windmill somewhere about the present entrance to the 
 Fylde-road. A more substantial erection of a similar character lately occupied the spot. This has 
 since been removed, and the“ Ragged School” built upon the site. The barrier is placed about midway 
 between the Market-place and the windmill. 
 
 z Fishergate. Boyer marks this barrier a little nearer the Town Ilall than the present Mount- 
 street. 
 
 a Boyer’s map indicates a barricade near the then end of Church-street. The site is a little to the 
 westward of the present Water-street, on the spot where the “Church-street barrs” stood. Perhaps 
 these “ barrs” are alluded to by General Wills. Two inner barricades are marked upon the map, one 
 across Friargate, a little below Anchor-weind, and the other in Church-street, on the east side of Main- 
 sprit-weind and the old Shambles. These barriers were never attacked. A combination of this mili¬ 
 tary plan of Boyer, and the map of the surrounding country, drawn in 1738, by Robert Porter, of Goos- 
 nargh, was published in 1847, by Mr. Samuel Crane Fisher, Preston. It is, however, very defective. 
 The town and country are not laid down to the same scale, and some important objects are misplaced. 
 
 Q 
 
226 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 the entire town, from which place and the opposite house, belonging to a 
 Mr. Eyre, the rebels suffered the greater portion of their loss. Brigadier 
 Mackintosh had originally posted a few troops, under the command of 
 Captain Wogan, in the houses at the end of Church-street; and Captain 
 Innis, with fifty highlanders, held possession of Sir Edward Stanley’s 
 mansion. On the advance of Colonel Preston’s regiment, the brigadier 
 injudiciously withdrew these troops. Patten says:— 
 
 “ Preston’s men did not come up to the head of the street, but marched into a straight 
 passage behind the houses, and then made a halt till their lieutenant-colonel the Lord 
 Forrester came into the open street with his sword in his hand, and faced Macintosh’s 
 barrier, looking up the street and down the street, and viewing how they were posted. 
 There were many shots fired at him, hut he returned to his men, and came up again at 
 the head of them into the middle of the street, where he caused some to face the barri¬ 
 cade where the brigadier was posted, and ply them with their shot, at the same time 
 commanding another party to march across the street to take possession of those 
 houses. Whilst this was doing, the rebels from the barrier, and from the houses on both 
 sides, made a terrible fire upon them, and a great many of that old and gallant regiment 
 were killed and wounded. The Lord Forrester received several wounds himself. Be¬ 
 sides the damage they received on that side, they were sore galled from some windows 
 below them, by Captain Douglas’s and Captain Hunter’s men. Preston’s foot fired smartly 
 upon the rebels, but did little execution, the men being generally covered from the shot, 
 and delivering their own shot securely and with good aim.” b 
 
 The king’s troops, according to Patten, next attacked the barricade 
 defended by Lord Charles Murray. They were received with unflinching cou¬ 
 rage and forced to retire. The Earl of Derwentwater sent Mr. Patten with a 
 reinforcement, consisting of fifty men. The chaplain, who appears not to 
 have lacked military ardour, passed over this barrier to examine the posi¬ 
 tion and strength of the besiegers. His clergyman’s habit caved him from 
 the fire of the enemy. Mr. Patten was not, however, always so fortunate, 
 as on one occasion his horse was shot under him. From the report of the 
 chaplain, Lord Charles Murray prepared for a second conflict, and so well 
 did his men perform their duty, that the king’s troops were again repulsed 
 with considerable loss. Patten says, the king’s soldiers “ were for the most 
 part new listed men, and seemed unwilling to fight; yet the bravery and 
 conduct of experienced officers supply’d very much that defect; * * * 
 
 nor had they been all old soldiers, could they have beaten Lord Charles 
 from that harrier, which was very strong ; the number they had slain from 
 
 b General Wills, in his evidence before the House of Lords, stated that, “ he came before Preston on 
 the 12th of November last, about one o’clock, and ordered two attacks upon the town; the attack which led 
 to Wigan being commanded by Brigadier Honeywood, who beat the rebels from their/irs£ barricade, and 
 took possession of some houses in the town; the other attack which led to Lancaster, under the com¬ 
 mand of Brigadier Dormer, who lodged his troops nigh the barricade of the rebels.” Patten says, that 
 Lord Widdrington asked Mackintosh, at Wigan, “why he did not make his barrier at the extreme end of 
 the street leading to the town, which would have prevented the king’s forces from taking possession of 
 those houses below his barrier, which was a great way up the town?” Mackintosh replied, “at the ex¬ 
 treme end of the town there were so many lanes and avenues, that to defend them would have required 
 more men than he had.” 
 
RESTORATION TO VICTORIA. 
 
 227 
 
 tlie barn holes and barrier itself, added very much, so that at last the 
 officers themselves thought lit to give it over.” 
 
 The Merse officer in his journal, speaks of “Patten House,” as 
 Sir H. Hoghton’s residence. He describes it as an edifice “ whose bat¬ 
 tlement and battery did command the head of the hollow way that leads 
 from the bridge to the town, and the street in the Mercat-Place, and a 
 great part of the neighbouring fields : This house had a garden at the back 
 of it, with a high brick wall.” 0 He further adds that, Forster “ ordered 
 
 Captain M-n” (Maclean) “with his company of gentlemen volunteers 
 
 to leave this most advantageous post.” He then says— 
 
 “ His Lordship,” (Derwentwater) “ sent me to the top of the steeple in order to view 
 the enemy’s disposition, where I saw a regiment of foot possess themselves of Sir Henry 
 Hortoun’s house, and a strong detachment of dragoons on foot, possess another house 
 opposite to Hortouns. I saw them march through Sir Henry’s garden, and draw up in 
 battalion at the foot of the Broad Lane. I desired the Earl of Derwentwater to close 
 the right of his men to the range of houses that was from Sir Henry’s house to a 
 street northward from the church which was done.'! I gave, likewise, a signal intimating 
 that the enemy was within the flank of Lord Charles Murray’s men, upon which the 
 brave and undaunted Earl of Derwentwater wheeled his gentlemen to the right, cover¬ 
 ing the head of Back Lane, and received the enemy with a very brisk and successful 
 fire. Lord Charles Murray flanked them with as close a fire, and put them in great 
 confusion and to flight. They sheltered themselves in Sir Henry Hortoun’s house. I 
 desired that the said house should be demolished by two pieces of cannon that were 
 ready charged in the front of the church yard, and that the Earl of Derwentwater and 
 Lord Charles Murray should jointly attack the enemy without the town. I went for 
 orders to General Forster, who would by no means allow it, saying, ‘ that the body of 
 the town was the security of the army.’ ” e 
 
 Dr. Hibbert Ware says, tbc second barrier was “ placed on the inside 
 of a hedge which flanked a broad way from Sir Henry Houghton’s garden,” 
 but be does not mention the authority. Patten House is marked upon the 
 map as situated a little below the present Xorth-road. This confirms the 
 probability that the barrier defended by Lord Charles Murray was situated 
 at the south end of the present Tithe-barn-street. Perhaps General Wills 
 regarded this barricade but as a support to the principal one near the 
 church, and, consequently, spoke of the two conjointly, when he alluded 
 to the “ attack which led to Wigan.” 
 
 c The slightest glance at the plan of Preston, dated 1774, and the “South Prospect” of the town and 
 environs, published by S. and N. lluck, in 1728, (copies of which are given in the topographical portion of 
 this work,) will demonstrate that the house alluded to by the Merse officer, is the old residence of the 
 Derby family, called “Patten House,” lately destroyed. Its situation and character as described, exactly 
 accord with Buck’s drawing. Mr. Eyre’s house, on the opposite side of the street, is likewise depicted. 
 Of course, from the prominent part taken by Sir Henry Hoghton during this crisis, it is easily to be 
 understood how a perfect stranger should fall into such an error. The reference to Buck’s Prospect 
 describes the house as “ Sir Edward Stanley’s.” The map, of the date 1774, designates the enclosure 
 behind this edifice as “ Lord Stanley’s Garden.” There is no other house, on either the prospect or plan, 
 which, in the slightest degree, resembles the Merse officer’s description, 
 d The present St. John-strcct. 
 
 e Quoting Mackintosh’s reason for not defending Ribble-bridge. 
 
228 
 
 PKESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Peter Clarke thus describes the attack on the Church-street defences:— 
 “Ah'- 2 o’clock this afternoone, 200 of Gen r all Wills men entred the 
 Churchgate street, and the Highland's firing out of the cell's and windows, 
 in 10 minutes time kiled 120 of them. The Highland's also fired the s d 
 2 ship guns, hut the bulletts flew upon the houses, so that no execution 
 was done thereby. A little time after this, a party was sent to burne the 
 houses & barnes where the Highland's were, at the entrance of the said 
 Church Gate street, and accordingly sev'all houses and barnes were burnt, 
 and so forced the Highland's to move up furth' into the towne. At this 
 time the wind was North, w ch , if it had been South, the judicious are of 
 opinion that most of the towne wood have been burnt.” 
 
 Brigadiers Dormer and Munden attacked the bander on Lancaster-road, 
 with the regiments of Wynn and Dormer, and a squadron of Stanhope’s 
 dragoons, dismounted, together with Pitt’s and Munden’s regiments, and a 
 squadron of Stanhope’s horse. This barricade was defended by about three 
 hundred men under Colonel Mackintosh, a relative of the veteran brigadier. 
 Clarke says, “ Ab 4 4 o’clock, the same day, 300 men were commanded to 
 enter the Back Street, called the Back Ween” (Back Lane), “ in Preston, 
 and accordingly they made an attempt, but the Highland's placing them¬ 
 selves und' garden wallcs, hedges, and ditches, kiled the Cap 4 and about 
 140 of his men.” 
 
 Dormer, who received a shot in the leg, ordered the houses to be set on 
 fire, which was done “with all expedition, burning them up to the 
 barricade” Great diversity of opinion is entertained regarding the loss of 
 the king’s troops in this attack. Another account says nine only were slain 
 and about forty wounded. The captain alluded to by Clarke is supposed to 
 have been the son of Lord Ogilvie. He was severely wounded, but ulti¬ 
 mately recovered/ 
 
 f Within the last half century several remains of the bodies of the soldiers engaged in this combat 
 have been found in the neighbourhood of Patten-field and Back-lane. About fifty years ago, “ nearly 
 a cart load” of bones were dug up in one place. Within a short distance from this sepulchral pit, the 
 skeleton of a gigantic individual was discovered, about eighteen inches below the surface of the ground. 
 As he lay in the earth, he is said to have measured six feet seven inches in length. In the right hand 
 he held the remains of a “ basket hilted ” sword, and in the left a massive iron key! The latter article 
 excited considerable interest at the time, on account of its colossal proportions. It is said to have been 
 nearly a foot in length. The portion which entered the lock and turned the bolt was between three and 
 four inches square, and the ring at the other extremity large enough to admit the entire hand! * No 
 satisfactory explanation of this singular circumstance has yet been adduced. The “ Old Friary” was 
 at the time used as a prison. Scarcely any other building in the town would appear at all likely to 
 require such a massive instrument to open and secure its portal. The nature of its connection with a 
 soldier slain in storming the barricade, however, has not been determined. Patten-field is now built 
 upon. Part of the site is occupied by Patten-street and Trinity church. Other remains were found about 
 twenty years ago, opposite the Wool-pack Inn. In August last, the workmen employed in excavating 
 for the sewerage works in Back-lane, not more than a dozen yards from the Friargate corner, came upon 
 a human skeleton, at a depth of about four feet from the surface. At the time when the hill in Friar- 
 gate was reduced in height, the road at the Friargate end of Back-lane was raised at this spot about 
 * These particulars were communicated to the author by an eye-witness, still living. 
 
RESTORATION TO VICTORIA. 
 
 229 
 
 Both parties are accused of setting fire to houses with the view to effect 
 the dislodgement of the enemy, or to cover themselves from observation by 
 the smoke. Clarke says, “ Night now approaching, Gen'all Will’s men 
 camped round the town, and also burnt sev r all houses at the North end of 
 it.” The Merse officer states that, “ both armies lay upon their arms, but 
 General Forster went to bed. All that night there were constant dropping 
 shots.” Honeywood’s men fii'ed from Stanley’s and Eyre’s houses during the 
 night, and killed few of the enemy, amongst whom were Mr. Hume, a cornet, 
 Mr. Scuttery, and a highland gentleman under Lord Naim. Honeywood’s 
 men threw up a “breast-work” or counter barricade, with a view to prevent 
 the escape of the rebels. Large numbers decamped, nevertheless, during 
 the night; especially amongst the new recruits, who began to look upon the 
 affair as a desperate adventure. Mackintosh was, on the whole, however, 
 so well satisfied with his success, that he wrote a letter to the Earl of Mar, 
 on the Sunday morning, in which he expressed his confidence that Wills 
 would be defeated. 
 
 During the darkness, some confusion arose in consequence of a misunder¬ 
 standing of an order to put out all lights in the houses, as the illumination 
 exposed persons passing in the streets to the enemy’s fire. The inhabi¬ 
 tants, instead of extinguishing their candles, lighted up more; which, says 
 Patten, “ amused both sides, but did no harm to cither.” It appears 
 General AVills had ordered the troops occupying the houses of Sir Edward 
 Stanley and Mr. Eyre, to illuminate; and, in error, other parties followed 
 their example. 
 
 The Merse officer writes: “ By daylight, I espied from the steeple some 
 dragoons on foot, creeping near to our quarters, which party were imme¬ 
 diately beat back. About ten o’clock Mr. Carpenter and Mr. AVills joined 
 
 two feet six inches. The line of the old pavement was distinctly visible in the excavation. Conse¬ 
 quently tho body had originally been covered with soil to no greater a depth than eighteen inches. The 
 back of the skull was pierced in two places. Three or four other skeletons were afterwards found beloAV 
 and around the one first discovered, as well as evidence of the existence of others to the east of tho 
 excavation. From these circumstances, it is certain the number of slain much exceeded nine. Peter 
 Clarke’s statement, perhaps, includes the wounded as well as the killed. From his loose manner of 
 expression this is by no means improbable. The skeleton of a horse was likewise found in tho 
 neighbourhood of the human remains ; and a few days afterwards, as the workmen were digging 
 for the purpose of laying a branch drain from the Sun Inn public-house, to the sewer in Back-lane, 
 they discovered, a little below the original level of the street, a hollow shot or grenade, about two 
 inches and three quarters in diameter, and nearly half a pound in weight. It is formed of iron, with 
 the exception of a small portion about the aperture intended for the fusee, which appears to be brass. 
 The original surface is ornamented with two groups of circular lines, crossing each other at right 
 angles. One of these groups resembles in appearance the seam of a cricket ball. As the shell was 
 perfect in form, it most probably belonged to the king’s troops, and fell unexploded when the grena¬ 
 dier who endeavoured to project it over the barricade was shot down by the besieged. The cele¬ 
 brated Dutch engineer, Coehorn, invented a small mortar for the purpose of throwing light shells, 
 into covered ways, over parapets, and other defensive works. From their being portable by a single 
 individual they were named hand grenades, and the soldiers employed in this particular service 
 grenadiers. 
 
230 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 their forces.” General Carpenter had marched from ^Newcastle, and 
 expected to have been at Preston on the 12th. On the evening of that day, 
 he received, at Clitheroe, a letter from Sir Henry Hoghton, announcing 
 the commencement of the struggle. Carpenter consequently hastened to 
 the scene of action. He commanded a body of two thousand five hundred 
 horse, composed of Churchill’s, Holes worth’s, and Cohham’s dragoons; and 
 was accompanied by the Earl of Carlisle, Lord Lumley, Colonel Darcey, 
 and other gentlemen. On the junction of the two forces, Carpenter, as 
 superior officer, took the chief command. He complimented "Wills, how¬ 
 ever, upon the courage and skill with which he had so far conducted the 
 operations, observing, “ I will not take from you any part of the renown of 
 the victory, or lessen you upon any account. You have begun the affair so 
 well that you ought to have the glory of finishing it.” According to the 
 Merse officer, “ about eleven of the clock, Hr. Carpenter and Hr. Wills 
 divided tlieir forces and surrounded the town.” 
 
 "Wills has been blamed for not doing this in the first instance. "With 
 the force at his command, it is, however, questionable, whether he could 
 have accomplished it, had he made the attempt. He was evidently too 
 weak for what he did undertake. A still further subdivision of his troops 
 would have subjected him to the chance of being cut up piece-meal by 
 vigorous sallies of the enemy. The addition of Carpenter’s two thousand 
 five hundred horse to his previous strength, necessarily demanded a new 
 disposition of the besieging forces. For want of troops, Wills had not 
 only been unable to direct an attack upon the Eishergate barricade, but 
 even to prevent large numbers escaping by this outlet. Carpenter, there¬ 
 fore, ordered two squadrons of horse, under Colonel Pitt, to cover the ford. 
 ^Notwithstanding the numbers which escaped, Woods and Walker, the 
 clerical “ generals,” and their brave Chowbent volunteers, are reported to 
 have acted with so much com’age and address, that Wills expressed regret 
 that he had not entrusted a more important post to their care. One 
 authority (Toulmin), says Woods defended the bridge at Walton. He 
 had evidently too much ground to protect for the number of his forces, 
 which would be principally if not entirely composed of footmen. 
 
 Carpenter made such disposition of his troops as effectually block¬ 
 aded the insurgent army, and left them no alternative but to capitulate, or 
 cut their way through the lines of the besiegers. 
 
 When the rebels learned from some wounded prisoners that General 
 Carpenter had arrived, their confidence began rapidly to evaporate, although 
 they had been up to the time almost uniformly victorious. The common 
 men had been led to expect that many of the king’s troops, when 
 occasion served, would declare for the Stuart, but in this they had been 
 
RESTORATION TO VICTORIA. 
 
 231 
 
 thoroughly deceived, and their enthusiasm had suffered a corresponding 
 depression. 
 
 Patten says, one reason why the king’s troops failed in their first attack, 
 is to be found in the fact that the rebels were in possession of six pieces 
 of cannon. Yet he acknowledges they did not avail themselves of them, 
 except at the commencement of the contest. In order to account for such 
 apparent neglect, he says, “ in short they knew not how to use them, 
 having no engineers among them; and a seaman, who pretended judgment, 
 and upon his own offer took the management of the cannon at the Briga¬ 
 dier’s barricado, acted so madly, whether it was that ho had too little 
 judgment, or too much ale, or perhaps both, that in levelling one of the 
 pieces to cut off Preston’s foot, who advanced to attack us, the hail 
 brought down the top of a chimney. It is true the next he fired did 
 execution, and obliged the regiment to halt; tho’ on all occasions they 
 behaved with a great deal of bravery and order.” 
 
 Several of the rebel chiefs, discovering the true state of affairs, and 
 knowing that their stock of powder would not suffice for a protracted 
 defence, were desirous of trying the effect of ncgociation. Forster, there¬ 
 fore, by the advice of Lord Widdrington and Colonel Oxbiu’gh, dispatched 
 the latter to treat with the king’s generals for the surrender of the town. 
 Oxburgh offered, on behalf of the insurgents, to lay down their arms, on 
 condition that the general would recommend them to the king’s mercy. 
 Wills replied that “he would not treat with rebels, for that they had 
 killed several of the king’s subjects, and they must expect to undergo the 
 same fate. # * * If they laid down their arms and submitted 
 
 prisoners at discretion, he would prevent the soldiers from cutting them 
 in pieces, ’till he had further orders, and that he would give them but 
 an hour to consider of it.” s When Forster was informed of this, he dis¬ 
 patched Mr. Dalxicl, brother to the earl of Carnworth, to see if he could 
 get better terms for the Scotch. But the general was inexorable. 
 Patten says:— 
 
 “ About three in the afternoon. Colonel Cotton, with a dragoon and a drum heating 
 a chamade before them, came up the streets from the king’s general: the colonel alighted 
 at the sign of the Mitre, where the chief of the rebel officers were got together, and told 
 them he had come to receive their positive answer, h ’Twas told him there were disputes 
 
 g General Wills’s evidence before the House of Lords. 
 
 h Mr. Whittle identifies this with the present “Mitre Inn,” Fishergate. This is an error. The 
 “Mitre,” of 1715, was situated in the Market-place. The present entry leading to the Strait- 
 shambles was called “ Mitre Court,” within the memory of many living inhabitants. The buildings 
 on each side of this court belonged to the hotel. The small square, opposite the present “Sliak- 
 spere,” formed the court yard. The premises to the north of “ Mitre Court,” were long occupied 
 as the Preston Journal and Preston Chronicle office. A tradition yet remains that Prince Charles 
 Edward occupied apartments in this building in 1745. 
 
232 
 
 PKESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 between the English and Scots, that would obstruct the yielding, which others were 
 willing to submit to; but if the general would grant them a cessation of arms ’till the 
 next morning at seven, they should be able to settle the matter, and that the gentlemen 
 promised they would then submit. Colonel Cotton sent the drum to beat a chamade 
 before the doors of some houses where the king’s men continued firing; to cause them 
 to cease, on account of the cessation which was agreed to, and to order them to with¬ 
 hold till they had notice from the general ; but the poor fellow was shot dead upon his 
 horse as he was beating his drum. It is said that this was not done by the king’s men, 
 (for they must needs know him to be one of their own drums by his livery and mounting,) 
 but that it was done by some of the rebels, who were averse to all thoughts of surrender. 
 * # # # The common men were one and all against capitulating, and were terribly 
 
 enraged when they were told of it, declaring that they would die fighting ; and that 
 when they could defend their posts no longer, they would force their way out and make 
 a retreat. * * * * Their madness was such that nothing could quiet them for a 
 
 great while ; and it w r as astonishing to see the confusion the town was in, threatening 
 one another, nay killing one another, but for naming a surrender; one was shot dead 
 and several wounded. In this dilemma, many exclaimed against Mr Eorster, and had 
 he appeared in the street, he would certainly have been cut to pieces. # # # # He 
 
 had actually been killed in his chamber by Mr. Murray, had not I with my hand struck 
 up the pistol with which he fired at him, so that the bullet went through the wainscot 
 into the wall of the room.” 
 
 Colonel Cotton, on behalf of General Wills, demanded two hostages; 
 and the earl of Derwentwater and Colonel Mackintosh were delivered into 
 his hands. ‘ During the conference, according to Oldmixon, six or seven 
 of the insurgents, “people of quality,” attempted to leave the town, not¬ 
 withstanding the promise of the lords that no new works should be thrown 
 up, and that they would to the utmost of their power prevent the people 
 from escaping. Colonel Cotton, to his surprise, found six persons cut to 
 pieces, who had violated this pledge. i * 3 One of them was Cornet Shuttle- 
 worth. The pretender’s standard, made of green taffety, with a huff silk 
 fringe, was found in his pocket. On the flag was a representation of a 
 pelican feeding her young, and the following motto :— 
 
 “ Tantum valet Amor Regis et Patriae.” 
 
 Wills is said to have treated the rebel officers with imnecessary rudeness. 
 He told Colonel Mackintosh, in reply to an observation respecting the 
 braveiy and hardiness of the Scottish troops, that he might have proved 
 their quality if he had pleased, and it would then have been seen whether 
 the king’s troops or a parcel of rebels would have acted the braver part. 
 Even Brigadier Mimden acknowledged that Wills received the persons 
 who came to treat with him “with the utmost detestation and con¬ 
 tempt.” Perhaps the manner in wliich Mackintosh’s troops had received 
 his attack on the barricades had somewhat ruffled his temper. 
 
 The Merse officer says :—“Mr. Carpenter and Mr. Wills patched up a 
 
 i General Wills’s evidence. 
 
 j “ There was a popish priest named Littleton among them. * * He contrived a most excellent 
 
 disguise; for he put on a blue apron, went behind an apothecary’s counter, and passed for an 
 assistant or journeyman to the apothecary, and so took an opportunity of getting off.”—Patten. 
 
RESTORATION TO VICTORIA. 
 
 233 
 
 treaty with Mr. Forster, without the knowledge of several worthy noble¬ 
 men and gentlemen. So soon as the capitulation was reported, the Earl 
 of Wintoun, Captain Philip Lockhart, Major Nairn, and Captain Shafto 
 went to Brigadier Mackintosh, desiring him to allow his foot to flank the 
 hedges on the Lancaster Load, while the Scots gentry, under the command 
 of the Earl of Wintoun and Mr. Charles ltadcliffe, forced their way 
 through the enemy. The brigadier told them that ‘it was too late to 
 make such an attempt, especially after hostages were given on our side.’ ” 
 The Merse officer further adds :—“I know nothing of the terms of the 
 capitulation, only I heard them, in the general, said to be necessary and 
 honourable, by the Earl of Cranwath, and Lord Widdrington and others.” 
 
 When Colonel Mackintosh heard of the treaty, he expressed an opinion 
 to Wills that the highlanders would never submit without a struggle. 
 “Go back to your people again,” responded the general, “and I will 
 attack the town; and the consequence will be that I will not spare one 
 man of you.” Mackintosh accepted the taunting challenge, and returned 
 to his troops; but he found the brigadier, his kinsman, Lord Kenmure, 
 and the other noblemen, had already surrendered. 
 
 Lord Forrester received the swords of the officers in the churchyard ; 
 but those of the lords were delivered to him at the Mitre Inn. Wid¬ 
 drington requested, as a favour, that his arms might be presented to 
 Lord Kiinmergen. 
 
 The highlanders laid down their arms in the Market-place, and 
 were, with the common men, imprisoned for about a month in the church; 
 where “ they took what care of themselves they could, unripping all the 
 linings from the scats or pews, and making thereof breeches and hose to 
 defend themselves from the extremity of the weather.” k The prisoners 
 were fed upon bread and water at the cost of the inhabitants. They were 
 ultimately removed to Wigan, Chester, and Lancaster, for trial. Some 
 were executed, others “transported by their own choice,” and the 
 remainder were reprieved. The noblemen and gentlemen, who had been 
 secured in the first instance, were placed under guard at the inns called 
 the Mitre, the White Bull, and the Windmill, and in Mr. Wringley’s 
 house. The chiefs were afterwards removed, by Wigan and Warrington, 
 to London. 
 
 The loss on the part of the king’s forces was relatively very great. 
 Amongst the wounded officers were Brigadier Honeywood, Major Bland, 
 Lord Forrester, and Major rreston. The latter was made prisoner, and 
 died in the town. The principal loss fell upon Preston’s regiment, which 
 sustained the brunt of the battle in Church-street. Captain Ogleby, 
 
 k Patten. 
 
234 
 
 PKESTON AND ITS ENYIEONS. 
 
 Major Lawson, Brigadier Dormer, together with three other captains, two 
 lieutenants, one comet, and four ensigns, were likewise wounded. There 
 were three captains and one ensign killed. The total loss was upwards 
 of two hundred men in killed and wounded. The rebels were more 
 fortunate, being under cover. Patten estimates their loss in all the 
 actions at seventeen killed, and twenty-five wounded. 1 
 
 The number of prisoners who surrendered, according to some authorities, 
 was fifteen hundred and fifty, of whom ten hundred and eighty-eight were 
 Scotch, and four hundred and sixty-two English. From a list of names, 
 printed at Edinburgh, by “James Moncur, 1715,” and corrected by Dr. 
 "Ware, from other documents, the number appears to be—Scotch, eleven 
 hundred and three; English, four hundred and sixty-six; total, fifteen 
 hundred and sixty-nine. 
 
 According to the government return, the king’s troops lost “ 2 captains, 
 1 ensign, and 53 private men killed, and two field officers, 4 captains, 2 
 lieutenants, 4 ensigns, 1 cornet, and 77 private men wounded, and 72 
 horse killed or lost.” Total, “ killed 56, wounded 90; in all 146.” 
 
 Clarke says:—“ By the strictest observa'ion of the number of El Der- 
 wentwaters men that were killed, were 18 or 19; and of Genrall 
 Carpenters & Wills men two hundred and seaventy.” 
 
 Dr. Ware says, respecting the government return, that “there is not a 
 single writer on the events of the Rebellion who has treated it as a veracious 
 document.” It would doubtless be the policy of the government to conceal 
 as much as possible their loss on the occasion. The morals of the poli¬ 
 ticians of the day were anything but scrupulous with regard to even more 
 important matters. Patten evidently appears much of the same opinion 
 as Clarke; but he seems to fancy that his new patrons would scarcely 
 relish being told by their proselyte that the official document was framed 
 purposely to mislead. 
 
 Peter Clarke flatly accuses the king’s troops of burglarious and felonious 
 proceedings after the surrender. It must not be forgotten that Clarke was 
 a lawyer’s clerk, in the employment of Mi 1 . Crackenthorpe, the Kendal 
 attorney. He says :—“After the sd two Genralls men had taken whole 
 p'ossion of the s<l toune of Preston, they with force and armes broke open 
 doors & locks of chambers and clossetts, and moneys, plate, goods & chatels 
 
 1 “ I shall take notice of one,” says the rebel chaplain, “ that was killed, tho’ a person of no note, 
 yet he is not to be forgotten, seeing the bravery of mean persons ought not to be buried : He was a 
 lame man and had the care of the gunpowder, which he carried under him on a horse from one post 
 to another. He was told that they wanted powder at Macintosh’s barrier ; but if he went they told 
 him he would certainly be shot. He answered, ‘ I know I cannot avoid that, if I go; but since they 
 want, if I cannot carry it quite up to them, I’ll carry it as far as I can;’ and so set forward, and 
 both he and his horse were shot dead.” 
 
RESTORATION TO VICTORIA. 
 
 235 
 
 of most of the inhab ts of that toun (who were & still are good subjects 
 to his Majesty King Georges Government) contrary to the will of the 
 ownrs of the sd goods ffelonyously did steal, take & carry away contrary 
 to His said Majties peace, crown, and dignity; and also contrary to the 
 laws of this nation in that case made and pvided.” 
 
 This appears to be but another instance of the acknowledged fact, that, 
 in time of war, the next terror to the peaceable inhabitants, after the 
 enemy, is the troops employed for their protection. It not unfrequently 
 happens that the friendly force is even the more exacting of the two. 
 
 James, earl of Derwcntwater, William, earl of Nithsdale, Robert, earl 
 of Carnworth, George, earl of Wintoun, William, Lord Widdrington, 
 William, Viscount Kenmure, and William, Lord Nairn, were impeached 
 before the house of lords, and found guilty of treason. Earls Nithsdale 
 and Wintoun escaped from the tower ; Lords Widdrington and Nairn, and 
 the earl of Carnworth, were pardoned by the king; but the earl of Der- 
 wentwater and Lord Kenmure were beheaded upon Tower Hill. 
 
 Nearly fifty others were convicted and executed, with the exception of 
 some who escaped from prison. Amongst the latter were Mr. Eorster and 
 the Brigadier Mackintosh, who were confined in Newgate. Lord Charles 
 Murray, son of the duke of Athol, was spared by the clemency of the 
 king, after condemnation by a court martial. 
 
 Baines states that the number of prisoners sent to Lancaster was two 
 hundred and fifty; but a journal, written by William Stout, of Lancaster, 
 says that—• 
 
 “ After the Rebellion was suppressed about 400” (of the rebels) “were brought to 
 Lancaster Castell, and a Regiment of Dragoons quartered in the town to guard 
 them. The King allowed them each 4d. a-day for maintenance, viz., 2d. in bread, Id. 
 in cheese, and Id. in small beer. And they laid in straw in stables most of them, and 
 in a month’s time about 100 of them were conveyed to Liverpool, to be tried, where 
 they were convicted and near 40 of them hanged at Manchester, Liverpool, Wigan, 
 Preston, G-arstang, and Lancaster; and about 200 of them continued a year, and about 
 50 of them died, and the rest were transported to America; except the lords and gentle¬ 
 men, who were had to London, and there convicted, and their estates forfeited. Whilst 
 they were here I was employed to buy cheese for them, about two or three cwt. a week, 
 of about 12s. or 14s. a cwt. Besides the king’s allowance, they had supplies privately 
 from the papists and disaffected, so as to live very plentifully. This year provisions 
 were plentyful and cheap, as also corn and hay, and although a regiment of dragoons 
 was quartered here all the winter, hay was as cheap at the spring as at the fall. And 
 although it was hard upon innkeepers, it was a profit to the country, and it was com¬ 
 puted that the dragoons and prisoners maintained this year amounted to at least £3,000.” 
 
 The following is a summary, from an old document, of the executions :— 
 
 “Dec. 1715. Major Nairn, Captains Lockhart, Shaftoe and Erskine, shot at 
 Preston . 4 
 
 “Jan. 28. 1716. Richard Shuttleworth, of Preston : Roger Muncaster, of Garstang, 
 attorney; Thomas Cowpe, of Walton-le-dale; Will. Butler, and Will. Arkwright, 
 hanged on the gallows hill at Preston m . 5 
 
 m “On cutting through the Gallows hill, in May, 1817, the workmen discovered two coffins, in which 
 the headless bodies of two of the rebel chiefs executed here, were, no doubt, deposited. According 
 
236 
 
 PEESTON AND ITS ENYIBONS. 
 
 “ Feb. 9. Richard Chorley, esq.; James Drummond, “ Will. Black, Donald 
 M’Douald, John Howard, Berry Kennedy, and John Rowbottom, hanged at Preston...7 
 “ Feh. 10. James Blundell, James Finch, Jno. Macgilliwray, Will. Whalley, and 
 
 James Bun, hanged at Wigan . 5 
 
 “Feb. 11. Tho. Sudell, Will. Harris, Stephen Sagar, Jos. Porter, hanged at Wigan, 
 
 and John Finch, hanged at Manchester . 5 
 
 “ Feb. 14. Allan Sanderson, Tho. Cartmel, Tho. Gorse, and Jos. Wadsworth, hanged 
 
 at Garstang. 4 
 
 “ Feb. 24. James, earl of Derwentwater, and Lord Vise. Kenmore, beheaded on 
 
 Tower Hill . 2 
 
 “ May 3. Messrs. Colliugwood, Burnet, Drummond, and Hunter, hanged at Liver¬ 
 pool. 4 
 
 “ May 14. Colonel Oxburgh, hanged at Tyburn . 1 
 
 “ July 25. Mr. Gascoigne, hanged at Tyburn. 1 
 
 “July 13. Rev Mr. Paul and Jno. Hall, esq., executed at Tyburn 0 . 2 
 
 “ Oct. 2. Captain Bruce, Jno. Winckley, Thos. Shuttleworth, George Hodson, and 
 — Charnley, hanged at Lancaster”. 5 
 
 The document further adds :—“I am certain that four more were exe¬ 
 cuted at Lancaster, of whom I remember the names of two, viz., Mr. 
 Crow, an Aberdeen Scott, and a mathematician, whose names p were fixed 
 over the castle gates.” 
 
 The execution, by court martial, of Major Naim, Captain Lockhart, 
 Mr. Shaftoe, and Mr. Erskine, has been much animadverted upon. In a 
 letter written by a “ Gentleman in Prestoun to his friend in the King’s 
 camp at Perth,” it is stated that,—'“When the affair was debated in the 
 Privy Council at London, several of the lords were of opinion that these 
 gentlemen could not he tided as deserters by a Council of War, but by the 
 usual proper civil judicatories.” The Lord High Chancellor Cowper 
 appears to have been strongly of this opinion. The writer of the letter, 
 after describing the unavailing efforts of the ministers of Preston to 
 induce them to repent of “ that great sin of rebellion,” their devotion to 
 the cause they had espoused, and “ the most Christian resignation” which 
 they exhibited, further observes :— 
 
 “ It was not without great difficulty and much intercession, that the first two ” 
 (Nairn and Lockhart) “ were allowed each a coffin, and a Christian, decent burial; 
 but these, for what reasons I know not, were refused to the other two. When they 
 came to the place of execution, Major Nairn, who was to be shot first, desired his face 
 might not be covered, and to have the liberty to give the word of command ; but he 
 was refused. After he was shot, Captain Lockhart would not suffer any of the common 
 
 to tradition, the heads were cut off at the time of execution, and exposed on poles in front of the 
 Town Hall.”—Taylor’s Notes.—Mr. Whittle adds that “ near the spot timber was found, which from 
 its appearance had formed the gallows.” He further states that, “ a hand axe made of brass ” was 
 discovered at the same time. 
 
 n Charles Chorley, his son, was condemned at Liverpool, but died in prison, 
 o The composition of Paul and Hall’s dying declarations, which were published at this time, is 
 attributed to a celebra'ed non-juror, Dr. Deacon, then in his youth. Nearly thirty years afterwards, 
 he was actively employed at Manchester, in fomenting the rebellious spirit which again displayed 
 itself in open warfare in 1745. 
 p Query—“ heads.” 
 
BESTOEATION TO TICTOEIA. 
 
 237 
 
 soldiers to touch his friend’s body, but, with his own hands, and the help of the two 
 other gentlemen, laid Major Nairn in his coffin, and with the greatest composure of 
 mind, performed the last offices to his dear companion : After which he was shot, and 
 the two others performed the like to his body. Then the others \vere shot, and laid 
 together without a coffin, in a pit digged for that purpose. Which tragical scene being 
 thus finished, Mr. Nairn and Mr. Lockhart were decently buried.” 
 
 Amongst the others brought to trial, hut acquitted or reprieved, 
 were the following Lancashire gentlemen:—Ralph Standish, esq., of 
 Standish; Francis Anderton, esq., of Lostock; q John Dalton, esq.; 
 Richard Towneley, esq., of Towneley, r (brother-in-law to Lord Wid- 
 drington); Edward Tildesley, of the Lodge, s Mycrscough; Gabriel 
 Hcsketh, and his son, Cuthbert Ilesketh, and Butler, of Rawcliffe. 
 
 A curious document was lately in the possession of William Upcott, esq., 
 formerly of the London institution, relating to the sheriff’s disbursements 
 in the trials and execution of the rebels in Lancashire. The following is 
 
 a portion of it:— 
 
 “The charge of Executing 34 rebels. 
 
 “ Jan. 27, 1715. Erecting gallows, and paid for materialls, hurdle, 
 fire, cart, &e., on executing Shuttleworth and 4 more at Preston, and £. s. d. 
 
 setting up his head, &c. 12 0 4 
 
 “ Feb 9. Disbursement on executing old Mr. Chorley, t and setting 
 
 up a head, &c. 5 10 6 
 
 “ Besides the undersheriffs. 
 
 “Feb. 10. Charge at Wigan on executing Blundell, &c. 7 12 
 
 “ Besides the undersheriffs. 
 
 “Feb. 11. Charge at Manchester on executing Syddall, &c. 8 10 0 
 
 “ Besides the undersheriffs. 
 
 “ Feb. 16 and 18. Charge at Garstang and Lancaster on executing 4 at 
 
 either place. 22 0 1 
 
 “ Besides the undersheritfs. 
 
 “ Feb. 25. Charge of executing Bcnnct and 3 more at Leverpoole ... 10 3 0 
 
 “ Payd the t-wo executioners . 60 0 3 
 
 “ Payd for horses to carry the executioners to the severall places of 
 execution and their travelling charges. 7 10 0 
 
 £132 15 8 
 
 q “ Francis Anderton, of Lostock, a papist of Lancashire : lie had an estate of £2000 per annum, 
 lie was indicted as a baronet; but he pleaded that false, because his eldest brother a popish priest, 
 beyond sea, was alive. He was afterwards found guilty, and received sentence. This gentleman is 
 of pleasant and diverting conversation : He is reported to say, he lost a good estate, for being with 
 the rebels but one day.”—Patten.—[Mr. Anderton was pardoned.] 
 r “Eicliard Towneley, of Towneley, a papist in Lancashire; he married Lord Widdrington’s 
 sister. This gentleman’s servants were found guilty of high treason, for being in the rebellion with 
 their master, and some of them afterwards executed in Lancashire; but he was acquitted by the 
 jury at the Marshalsea. After which, endeavouring to go beyond seas, he was retaken into custody, 
 but soon discharged.”—Patten. 
 
 s “Edward Tildesley, of the lodge, a papist, Lancashire, was acquitted by the jury at the 
 Marshalsea, tho’ it was proved he had a troop, and entered Preston at the head of it with his sword 
 drawn. But his sword had a silver handle.”—Patten. 
 
 t “ Eichard Chorley, of Chorley, in Lancashire, a papist: A gentleman of singular piety and 
 parts, was ordered for London ; but falling sick at Wigan was left behind, and was try’d at Liver¬ 
 pool, found guilty, and executed at Preston, Feb. 1715-10.”— Patten. 
 
238 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 "Woods and Walker, from Chowbent, were rewarded by government for 
 their zealous services, on the representation of General Wills, with an 
 annuity of one hundred pounds per annum each. u Woods distributed a 
 portion of his pension amongst his followers, and appropriated a con¬ 
 siderable part of the remainder towards the erection of a chapel, at 
 Chowbent. He died in 1759. The exploits of the “parson-general” 
 still furnish matter for conversation and gossip at Chowbent. Tradition 
 asserts that, in addition to the pecuniary reward referred to, Woods was 
 permitted to preach in a gown, and attach a bell to his chapel,—a very 
 remarkable concession at the time. The late Reverend B. R. Davis, who 
 occupied the “general’s” pulpit during a period of forty-two years, often 
 stated that Woods’s influence procured the liberation from prison of some 
 sturdy dissenter, immured for “conscience sake.” He was a stout, 
 venerable looking man, and was regarded as a good practical Christian, 
 and a most useful pastor. He entertained, however, a very humble opinion 
 of his own powers of oratory. It is said, when asked by one of his con¬ 
 gregation, if he had secured the services of any talented minister to preach 
 on a certain special occasion, that AVoods replied, in the dialect of his 
 district, which it appears he was in the habit of using on all occasions,— 
 “Ho; but tha may depend on’t, I’ll get one better than mysel, for I’m 
 sure I cannot find a wurr (worse).” v 
 
 A curious letter, purporting to be written by one Gabriel Dutton, a 
 quaker, of Liverpool, soon after the defeat of the Jacobites at Preston, to 
 his friend, AVilliam Brandine, of Berwick, but strongly suspected to be the 
 composition of “an Independent partisan,” shows, in a very clear light, 
 the extent to which religious bigotry and fanatical zeal entered into this 
 contest for the sovereignty of Great Britain:— 
 
 u Rae’s History. 
 
 t Many curious anecdotes are related of Woods. Amongst others, he is said to have been an 
 excellent “begger” for public purposes, as he would accept no denial. He was in the habit of 
 soliciting subscriptions from his friends in the following brusque manner “ Well, Thomas, I’ve 
 put tha dawn for so much (naming the sum); and if tha thinks it too little, tha may give as much 
 more as tha will.” It is said, that he travelled on horseback as far as Scotland, collecting small sums 
 from dissenters, towards the expenses of erecting his chapel. One day, having met with little 
 success, Woods determined to rest for the evening at the first mansion he should meet with. Accord¬ 
 ingly, he rode, with perfect nonchalance, into the court-yard of a neighbouring hall, ordered a groom 
 to put his horse into the stable, and rapped boldly at the door. He announced himself, and added, 
 “I’ve come according to promise!" The owner of the establishment, somewhat surprised, intimated 
 that he had no knowledge whatever either of his visitor or his business. “ May be, may be,” rejoined 
 Woods; “ but having met wi’ little succour to-day, I promised my horse wce’d abide o’neetat tu’ first 
 hospitable-looking mansion o’th road.” The host was amused at the oddity of the stranger’s intro¬ 
 duction, and humoured it. The “general’s” anecdotes, conversational power, and practical common 
 sense, not only procured a hospitable reception for himself and horse, but a five-pound note towards 
 his chapel fund. Woods likewise extracted from Sir Peter Warburton, a “ staunch churchman,” 
 sufficient timber to form the “ first principals ” of his dissenting place of worship ; no slight feat 
 in those days of intolerance. 
 
RESTORATION TO VICTORIA. 
 
 239 
 
 “ Laverpool, 19 of the 9th Month of the year called 1715. 
 
 “ Friend William,—I hope thou art now fully convinced that these Backsliders from 
 the Truth, who profanely call themselves the Church of England and the Kirk of 
 Scotland, are nothing but the Worshipers of Baal and Dagon, and thy inward Light 
 will plainly show thee, that if their Tithes be taken from them, these Priests will 
 turn Boars and Wolves to suck out the Heart Blood of the Deluded Flock : They 
 have the subtilty of the old Serpent in their Blasphemy and Cursing, which is by them 
 called Preaching, to turn the Brains of their Giddy Hearers, making them believe 
 Lyes that they all may be Damned. If their private interest is in the least touched, 
 immediately the Ecclesiastic Drum is beaten, and Anathema Maranatha is the Word 
 for those who will not go out to Fight the Battles of the LORD against the Mighty. 
 These Sons of Belial are now knocking their heads one against another, but let us, 
 who are the true Enlightened, rejoice. 
 
 “Thy Ungodly Kinsman, who sojourneth here, Joseph Fallman, who is a Worshiper 
 of the Scarlet Colloured Whore, is sick almost unto Death, for the Defeat of his 
 Friends at Preston. 
 
 “ Roger, the High Church Man, laughs yet, and says all will he well, and that the 
 Covenanters will fall before them. 
 
 “ The Pagans who descended from the high Mountains of Scotland, play’d the 
 Devil under the Command of one MTntosh, who may be compared to Beelzebub, the 
 God of Ekron. 
 
 “ Fare thee well! all the Congregation of the Faithful wish thee Health. Several 
 of the Sisters long much to be Refreshed with thy presence. 
 
 “ Notwithstanding of all our care, we hear that one of our Sisters named Hannah, 
 whom we hoped would have held forth one of these days, Alas ! she has fallen 
 down beneath one of the half Naked Brauny Pagans, tho’ its hoped she may rise 
 again, yet she cannot be received into our Bosom, till she he twin’d of the Bloody 
 Offspring of that Anakite. 
 
 “ Keep thy Garments clean, and neither trouble thee whether Reho'ooam, or 
 Jereboam, the Son of Nebat, be the Ruler, and learn to be as Indifferent about their 
 Kings and Priests, as thy Friend, “ Gabriel Dutton. 
 
 “ To William Brandine, Clothier at Berwick.’’ 
 
 Singular stories appear to have been circulated, with the view to affect 
 the more ignorant of the populace, as well as the zealous protestants, with 
 fear and horror of the Jacobites. Had they been successful, the inquisition 
 was to have been immediately introduced into England, and all heretics, 
 men, women, and children, were to be subjected to cruel tortures. In the 
 printshops of London, a representation of a formidable instrument was 
 exhibited, said to have been found amongst the insurgents, and intended 
 to “assist in the purposes of torture, pillage, or murder.” Dr. Hibbert Ware 
 gives a small woodcut of this singular engine of cruelty, which is described 
 as “an exact draught of the gagg taken from the rebels at Preston.” 
 Dr. Ware likewise gives a copy of a ballad, upon the subject of the “Preston 
 fight,” from a “broadside printed in double columns, without any date or 
 place of printing.” The original is in the possession of Mr. David Laing, 
 of Edinburgh. It is called “ Brigadier Macintosh’s Farewell to the 
 Highlands. To an excellent new tune.” It is too long, and scarcely of 
 sufficient interest, for insertion at length. The following stanzas will 
 serve to give a taste of its quality:— 
 
240 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 “ My Lord Derwentwater when he found, 
 that Foster had drawn his left wing round, 
 
 Said I wish I were with my dear Wife, 
 for fear that I will loose my life, 
 
 With a fa la la ra da ra da. 
 
 M'Intosh he shook his head, 
 to see his soldiers all ly dead ; 
 
 It was not for the loss of those, 
 but I fear we’re taken by our foes. 
 
 With a fa la, &c. 
 
 M'Intosh is a valiant Soldier, 
 
 he carried a musket on his shoulder ; 
 
 Cock your pistols, draw your rapper, 
 damn you Foster, for you’re a traitor. 
 
 With a fa la, &c. 
 
 My Lord Derwentwater to Foster did say, 
 thou hast proved our ruin this very Day, 
 
 Thou promisedst to stand our friend, 
 
 but thou hast proved a rogue in the end. 
 
 With a fa la, &c.” 
 
 On the same day that Preston surrendered to the royal troops, a general 
 action was fought at Sherriff moor, near Dumblane, between the rebel 
 forces under the earl of Mar, and the king’s army, led by the duke of 
 Argyle. Both sides claimed the victory; but the result was disastrous to 
 the pretender’s cause. The town of Inverness fell into the hands of Simon 
 Eraser, Lord Lovat, who deserted the Jacobite party, and held the town 
 for the reigning monarch. The chevalier himself shortly afterwards 
 appeared in Scotland, but, finding his cause hopeless, re-embarked at 
 Montrose, for the continent. 
 
 Dr. Hibbert Ware expresses great indignation at the want of clemency 
 exhibited by the Hanoverians towards the Jacobites in England, during 
 the following year, when Captain Bruce and four other rebels were executed 
 at Lancaster. Very few (about six only) were executed in London, 
 and one or two deserters in Scotland. 
 
 Acts of parliament were passed, authorising the indemnification, out of 
 the sequestered estates of the rebels, of such parties as had suffered loss 
 or damage from the military operations consequent upon the rebellion. 
 Commissioners were appointed to “give relief to lawful creditors by deter¬ 
 mining the claims.” The commission was first opened in London, and 
 afterwards adjourned to Preston. The total number of claims registered 
 amounted to 1,696. The inhabitants of Preston alone entered claims to 
 the number of 226, demanding compensation, in accordance with a 
 clause in the act, for injuries and losses sustained, to the amount of 
 £6,462 8s. 10fd. w 
 
 The commissioners put up for sale the estate of Bichard Chorley, of 
 
 w Report of commissioners, dated February 4th, 1718. 
 
RESTORATION TO VICTORIA. 
 
 241 
 
 Chorley, and 'Walton-cum-Eazakerley, which realised the sum of £ 5 , 550 , 
 the purchaser being Abraham Crompton. Lord Widdrington’s estate, in 
 Lincolnshire, was disposed of at the same time, to Thomas Camplyn, for 
 £32,400. The commissioners’ report gives a list of papists who registered 
 their estates and the respective values thereof. The Lancashire estates 
 amounted to four hundred and sixty five in number, of the estimated 
 value of £27,903 7s. 9}d. The whole of the English forfeited estates 
 were valued at £375,284 15s. 3d.; and those in Scotland, £27,771 7s. 7d. 
 
 Another act of parliament was passed, which ordained that “ all Roman 
 catholics, nonjurors and others,” who refused to take the oaths of 
 allegiance and supremacy to the Hanoverian family, should furnish to 
 the commissioners appointed, “ a register of their estates, setting forth in 
 what parish and township the lands were situated, and by whom they were 
 occupied, the annual value at which they were estimated, and the names, 
 titles, additions, and places of abode of then’ owners.” Returns were 
 furnished under this act, which registered property in England alone of 
 the yearly value of £358,194 5s. 3fd. The Lancashire estates were valued 
 at £13,158 lOs.per annum. Amounderness hundred returned seventy'-three 
 estates, of the annual value of £2, G60 Is. 3d.; Blackburn hundred, twenty- 
 nine estates, annual value £972 10s. 2d.; and Leyland hundred, fifty-four 
 estates, annual value £1,463 13s. ljd. 
 
 It does not appear that the registers were ever used to the detriment of 
 the holders of the property, with the exception of their publication in 
 1745, “ with the view,” as it was set forth, “ to assist the magistrates and 
 other officers entrusted with the execution of the orders of government, 
 for suppressing the growth and unhappy effects of the insurrection in the 
 north.” 
 
 On the second of August, 1745, Prince Charles Edward, son to the 
 pretender, landed in the Hebrides, with seven officers, and arms for two 
 thousand men, and caused his father to be proclaimed king of Great 
 Britain, in several of the Scotch towns. Having defeated Sir John Cope, 
 at Preston Pans, he took possession of Edinburgh. 
 
 On the receipt of this news, the principal of the nobility, gentry, and 
 clergy of Lancashire, met at the Town-hall, Preston, to devise measures 
 for the protection of the country. The earl of Derby addressed the 
 assembly with so much effect that a resolution was passed to raise “five 
 thousand men for the defence of the government.” 
 
 Prince Charles Edward directed his course southward, and invested the 
 city of Carlisle, which surrendered in three days. The prince and the 
 invading army entered Lancaster on the twenty-fourth of November. His 
 
 R 
 
242 
 
 PKESTON AND ITS ENVIEOXS. 
 
 forces amounted, to scarcely six thousand men, principally composed of the 
 highland clans, led by their chiefs. On the twenty-seventh, the insurgents 
 arrived at Preston; but did not remain long in the town, the leaders pre¬ 
 ferring, by forced marches, to get possession of Manchester, where many 
 friends anxiously awaited their coming. They appear, on the whole, to 
 have met with as favourable a reception at Preston, as at any other place 
 in England. Mr. Robert Chambers says:— y 
 
 “ At Preston, for the first time, did a slight gleam of approbation rest on the cause. 
 The bells were rung at their entry, probably by the intervention of the Catholics who 
 abounded in the town. Some huzzas attended the reading of the proclamation, and 
 a few recruits were obtained. A Mr. Towneley, a Catholic gentleman, here joined 
 the standard, being the first man of distinction who had done so in England. A council 
 of war was held, at which the Prince, ever eager, like his ancestor Bruce, to ‘ go on,’ 
 renewed his assurance of English and French assistance, and thereby prevailed upon 
 the chiefs to continue their southward march. The clansmen had a superstitious dread, 
 in consequence of the misfortunes of their party at Preston, in 1715, that they would 
 never get beyond this town ; to dispel the illusion Lord George Murray crossed the 
 Ribble, and quartered a number of men on the other side.” y 
 
 A contemporary writer states, that on his arrival at Preston, Prince 
 Charles, “who had hitherto marched on foot, mounted on horseback, 
 and surveyed the passes and bridges of the town, taking with him such as 
 had been there in the year 1715.” 1 
 
 The forces of the yoirng chevalier generally observed the miles of war in 
 their expedition, and paid for what they required. They, nevertheless, 
 seized upon the public money, and levied contributions upon the towns 
 as they passed. Mr. Edward Baines says, “ the ladies of Preston were by 
 no means inactive, when the safety of their families or the welfare of the 
 public required their exertion; and it is related of Mrs. Grimshaw, the 
 mother of the worthy mayor of the guild, 1 on the best authority, that while 
 her husband, the under sheriff of the county, was at a distance, providing 
 for the safety of a part of his young family, she raised a sum of several 
 hundred pounds, demanded from the inhabitants, and presented with her 
 
 y “ The cavalry having passed the bridge of Preston, on the-26th, occupied a village near the suburbs,” 
 (Walton-le-dale,) “ and our infantry arrived at Preston. The Prince held here a council of the chiefs 
 of clans; gave them fresh hopes of being joined by his English partisans on their arrival at Manchester; 
 and persuaded them to continue their march. The whole army was allowed to rest itself during the 
 27th, at Preston. On the 28th, our army left Preston, and passed the night at Wigan.”—Memoirs of 
 the Rebellion, by the Chevalier De Johnstone. 
 
 “When the rebels marched from Carlisle to the southward, the people of England in most of the 
 towns through which they passed, shewed the greatest aversion to their cause. Some memoirs written 
 by the rebel officers, mention that Charles ordered his father to be proclaimed king, in all the towns 
 through which they passed; and that no acclamations or ringing of bells were heard, but at Preston 
 and Manchester.”—Home’s History of the Rebellion in 1745. 
 
 z His. of the Rebellion in the year 1745-6; reprinted at Ormskirk, in 1808. 
 
 a Nicholas Grimshaw, Esq., was guild mayor in 1802 and in 1822. 
 
RESTORATION TO VICTORIA. 
 
 243 
 
 own hands the price of the public safety to the Scottish chiefs, at their 
 head quarters, the White Bull Inn.” 
 
 Mr. James Bay, of Whitehaven, a volunteer under his royal highness 
 the Duke of Cumberland, in a work entitled “A Compleat History of the 
 Rebellion,” rather sarcastically describes the vacillation of the authorities 
 in Preston, under the then perplexing circumstances. He says:— 
 
 “ In the road to Preston, I picked up another straggler, following his company; 
 and within two miles of that town I met the rebel post, returning with despatches 
 from ihe army to Scotland, whom I also made prisoner, and took from him 
 49 letters. I conducted him and the above straggler to Preston, intending to deliver 
 them to the magistrates ; but they would neither receive the prisoners nor letters,/or 
 they feared the consequence of so rash an undertaking, the rebels being but just gone 
 out of the town ; and, as I had brought the prisoners into the town, they obliged me 
 to carry them out of it, and told me that among the crowd in the streets, there were 
 several who had worn white cockades, that were for going with the rebels, who would 
 know me again, so that if ever I had the misfortune to be taken prisoner, I might be 
 sure of losing my life; on which a sergeant of militia was hired for one pound five shil¬ 
 lings, who with four men to assist him, carried the post and the other straggler to 
 Lancaster.” 
 
 Mr. Ray, however, acknowledges he received some assistance from the 
 rrestonians. His misfortunes, however, were not yet at an end. He 
 continues:— 
 
 “ After I had secured the prisoners before mentioned, I fled across the country, in¬ 
 tending to have gone to Ribchester with the letters, expecting to have been pursued 
 by the rebel hussars ; but without my knowledge the gentlemen of Preston had taken 
 care of my safety, by planting a guard upon the bridge, with order to let no person pass, 
 that might give the rebels an account of what had happened, until I was got out of 
 their reach. In the evening I met with a countryman of whom I asked the way, and 
 told him if he met any rebels inquiring after me, to turn them a contrary way which he 
 promised to do ; he also told me it was not safe for me to go to Ribchester, but advised 
 me to go to Clitheroe. Before I got into the right road I come to a deep brook,« over 
 which there was a long stone laid for foot travellers, and in riding over it one of my 
 horses hinder feet slipped, and we both fell backward into the water, where I was well 
 dipped, but I and my horse happily got out without receiving any other damage. Hav¬ 
 ing no time to lose, I immediately mounted, the water running from my cloaths, but 
 my boots continued full, and my fire arms were likewise wet, so that if I had been pur¬ 
 sued, I could have made little resistance. In this plight I was in on a cold frosty night, 
 and knew not the road, till I came to a house where I hired a guide who conducted me 
 over Longridge fell to Clitheroe, where I arrived about ten that night, and had the let¬ 
 ters opened by a justice of the peace. There was little in them of consequence, but 
 boasting of favours they had never received, saying the people of Lancashire had joined 
 them, so that their army was increased to 24,000 men, and that they were going 
 directly without opposition to London.” 
 
 At Manchester, Prince Charles was joined by a large number of parti¬ 
 sans, who were formed into a regiment, the command of which was 
 given to Francis Towneley, Esq., of Carlisle, nephew to Mr. Towneley, of 
 Towneley, who narrowly escaped in the rebellion of 1715. This corps 
 was denominated the “Lancashire regiment.” 
 
 a Perhaps the brook which divides the townships of Fulwood and Ribbleton. It crosses the road 
 at the east side of the moor. 
 
244 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 The Chevalier de Johnstone, aide-de-camp to Lord George Murray, 
 general of the rebel army, and assistant aide-de-camp to Prince Charles 
 Edward, relates an amusing anecdote relative to the “capture of Man¬ 
 chester,” by a sergeant, a woman, and a drummer-boy, from Preston, and 
 the formation of Colonel Towneley’s regiment. He says :— 
 
 “ One of my sergeants, named Dickson, whom I had enlisted from among the prisoners 
 of war at Gladsmuir, a young Scotsman, as brave and intrepid as a lion, and very much 
 attached to my interest, informed me, on the 27tli, at Preston, that he had been beating 
 up for recruits all day without getting one; and that he was the more chagrined at this 
 as the other sergeants had had better success. He, therefore, came to ask my permission 
 to get a day’s march ahead of the army, by setting out immediately for Manchester, a 
 very considerable town of England, containing 40,000 inhabitants, in order to make sure 
 of some recruits before the arrival of the army. I reproved him sharply for entertaining 
 so wild and extravagant a prospect, which exposed him to the danger of being taken and 
 hanged, and I ordered him back to his company. Having much confidence in him, I had 
 given him a horse, and entrusted him with my portmanteau, that I might always have it 
 with me. On entering my quarters in the evening, my landlady informed me that my 
 servant had called, and taken away my portmanteau and blunderbuss. I immediately 
 be thought me of his extravagant project, and his situation give me much uneasiness. 
 But on our arrival at Manchester, on the evening of the following day, the 29th, Dickson 
 brought me about one hundred and eighty recruits, whom he had enlisted for my com¬ 
 pany. He had quitted Preston, in the evening, with his mistress and my drummer; 
 and having marched all night he arrived next morning at Manchester, which is about 
 twenty miles distant from Preston,and immediately began to beat up for recruits for the 
 ‘ yellow-haired laddie.’ The populace at first did not interrupt him, conceiving our 
 army to be near the town; hut as soon as they knew that it would not arrive till the 
 evening, they surrounded him in a tumultuous manner, with the intention of taking him 
 prisoner, alive or dead. Dickson presented his blunderbuss, which was charged with 
 slugs, threatening to blow' out the brains of those who first dared to lay hands on 
 himself or the two who accompanied him; and by turning round continually, facing 
 in all directions, and behaving like a lion, he soon enlarged the circle, which a 
 crowd of people had formed round them. Having continued for some time to manoeuvre 
 in this way, those of the inhabitants of Manchester, who were attached to the house of 
 Stuart, took arms and flew to the assistance of Dickson, to rescue him from the fury of 
 the mob, so that he soon had five or six bundled men to aid him, who dispersed the mob 
 in a very short time. Dickson now triumphed in his turn; and putting himself at the 
 head of his followers, he proudly paraded, undisturbed, the whole day with his drummer, 
 enlisting for my company all who offered themselves. On presenting me with a list of 
 one hundred and eighty recruits, I w r as agreeably surprised to find that the whole amount 
 of his expenses did not exceed three guineas. The adventures of Dickson give rise to 
 many a joke, at the expense of the town of Manchester, from the singular circumstance 
 of its having been taken by a sergeant, a drummer, and a girl. The circumstance may 
 serve to show the enthusiastic courage of our army, and the alarm and terror w'ith which 
 the English were seized. I did not derive any advantage from these recruits, to the great 
 regret of Dickson. Mr. Towmley, formerly an officer in the service of France, who had 
 joined us some days before, obtained the rank of colonel, with permission to raise a regi¬ 
 ment enth-ely composed of English; and the Prince ordered me to deliver over to him 
 all those wdiom Dickson had enlisted for me. It was called the Manchester regiment, 
 and never exceeded three hundred men ; of whom the recruits furnished by my sergeant 
 formed more than the half. These were all the English who ever declared themselves 
 openly in favour of the Prince; and the chiefs of the clans were not far wrong, therefore 
 in distrusting the pretended succours on which the Prince so implicitly relied.” b 
 
 a Evidently an error. Manchester is about thirty miles from Preston. 
 
 b Memoirs of the Rebellion in 1745 and 174G, by the Chevalier de Johnstone, edition 1822, p. G3. 
 
RESTORATION TO VICTORIA. 
 
 245 
 
 The bridge at Stockport, having been destroyed by the “ Liverpool 
 Blues,” the rebel army forded the Mersey near the town, and continued 
 their march through Macclesfield to Derby. Their object it would appear, 
 from one of the Scotch letters detained at Preston by Mr. James Bay, was to 
 deceive the king’s generals by the rapidity of their movements, and get 
 possession of London by a coup dc main . c Hearing, however, that the 
 duke of Cumberland, brother to George II., was at Lichfield, on his march 
 northwards to meet them, the Jacobites made a feint for Loughborough on 
 the 6th December ; and suddenly commenced their famous retrograde 
 movement, by way of Ashbourne, Leek, and Manchester. General Wade 
 was at Wctherby, in Yorkshire, on the 5th, Bom which place he pro¬ 
 ceeded to Doncaster. The rebels, therefore, narrowly escaped being hem¬ 
 med in between two armies, each superior to their own, both in numbers 
 and discipline. They arrived in Preston on the 12th of December, and 
 early on the 13th left for Lancaster, where they opened the jail and 
 released, amongst others, the prisoners taken by Mr. Bay. d They entered 
 Scotland on the 20th, and thus completed the retreat in the depth of win¬ 
 ter, with scarcely any loss, in about fourteen days, although the distance 
 traversed was nearly two hundred miles. Oglethorp’s dragoons, however, 
 more than rivalled them in expedition. They entered Preston soon after 
 the rebels had left it, having marched one hundred miles in three days, 
 over snow and ice. e The Duke of Cumberland arrived about one o’clock, 
 on the same day, and issued orders for a vigorous pursuit. The Georgia 
 rangers were dispatched immediately, and Oglcthorp with the remainder 
 of the horse continued the chase on the following day; Preston thus 
 narrowly escaped more than a repetition of the horrors of 1715. f The 
 
 c The following is the pith of the letter referred to :—“ We have left our baggage at Carlisle castle, 
 and march so light, that neither hedges, ditches, nor devils are able to stop us : We have outstripped 
 Wade, and have nothing to do but to go by Ligonier, and so to London.” 
 
 d “ The insurgent army, about 6000 strong, with Prince Charles Edward at its head, marched 
 through Preston on the 27th of November, on its route to London, to the animating tune of‘The 
 King shall have his own again.’ After advancing by Manchester to Derby, the Prince and his fol¬ 
 lowers, to avoid being made prisoners, commenced their retreat to Scotland, and on the 12th of 
 December, at nine in the morning, they again passed through this town, to the less agreeable but 
 equally appropriate sounds of ‘ Hie thee Charlie home again.’ ”—E. Baines, 
 e Ray’s Compleat History of the Rebellion. 
 
 f “ The Highlanders managed their retreat in such a manner as to unite expedition with perfect 
 coolness, and never to allow the enemy to obtain a single advantage. Though on foot and pursued by 
 cavalry, they kept distinctly ahead of all danger or annoyance for twelve days, two of which they 
 had spent in undisturbed rest at Preston and Lancaster. 
 
 “ At Wigan, some fanatic, intending to shoot the Prince, fired at O’Sullivan by mistake. Charles 
 would not allow any harm to be done to the assassin. Captain Daniel, who mentions this fact, with 
 bitter comment on what he thought such injudicious clemency, also complains respecting a woman 
 and her sons who were brought before Charles, accused of murdering one of his volunteers at Man¬ 
 chester, and who confessed their crime, but whom he would not allow to be punished.”—Robert 
 Chambers : History of the Rebellion. 
 
246 
 
 PBESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 pretender’s forces defeated the king’s troops near Falkirk, hut they were 
 forced to succumb to the army commanded by the Duke of Cumberland, 
 on the memorable 16th of April, when the heath on Culloden moor dr unk 
 the best blood of the Jacobite clans, and decided for ever the fate of the 
 house of Stuart. This was the last battle fought in Britain. Prince 
 Charles Edward was reduced to the greatest privations, and wandered for 
 months amongst the highlands of Scotland to avoid the pursuit of his foes, 
 who were stimulated to increased vigilance by the offer of a reward of 
 £30,000 for his head, or for his apprehension. But the poor highlanders 
 remained faithful to their “prince and, notwithstanding all the efforts of 
 the triumphant Hanoverians, the “Young Pretender” eventually escaped 
 to France. 
 
 The Earl of Kilmarnock and Lord Balmerino, Eatcliffe, the titular Earl 
 of Derwentwater, and Simon Fraser, Lord Lovat, were beheaded; the 
 Earl of Cromartie was convicted but pardoned. 
 
 Seventeen of the English partisans, the chief portion of whom belonged 
 to the Lancashire regiment, were tried for high treason, at Southwark, and 
 condemned “to be severally hanged by the neck, not till they were dead, 
 hut cut down alive, then their bowels to he taken out and put before their 
 faces, their heads to he severed from their bodies, and their bodies severally 
 divided into four quarters, and there to be at the king’s disposal.” Eight 
 were executed in the brutal manner prescribed, on Kennington common. 
 The remainder were reprieved. The sufferers were Colonel Francis Towne- 
 ley, s Captain Thomas T. Deacon, James Dawson, John Berwick, George 
 
 g “A secret hoard of modern coins found concealed beneath the oak 'window-sill of a bed-chamber 
 at Gawthorpe Hall, some three years ago, was exhibited,” at a meeting of a Manchester antiquarian 
 society, named ‘The Brotherhood,’ ‘‘consisting of ninety-one gold coins, Portuguese and English. 
 Of these, two “ broad pieces ” of gold, nearly as large as an English crown piece, were Portuguese 
 dobraons, (equivalent to the Spanish doubloon) weighing 43G and 437 grains troy, and dated 1730 
 and 1732, being then current for £3 12s. Thirty-six Portuguese gold coins, about the size of the 
 English florin, were moidores or Joannes (so named from the king of that name, and familiarly 
 termed “ Joes,” weighing about 1G0 grains each, and current for £1 7s. They are of various years 
 from 1693 (in the reign of Peter II.) to 1745 (reign of Joannes or John V.) One piece, rather larger 
 than an English shilling, was half a moidore or Joe, weighing 110 grains, and current for about 
 13s. 6d. In all there were thirty-nine Portuguese gold coins. Of English guineas, four were of as 
 many different years of the reign of Charles II.; three of as many years of James II.; six of three 
 years of William III.; nine of four years of Anne ; twenty-two of eight years of George I.; and 
 eight of five years of George II.; the latest date beiug 1740. In all, fifty-two English guineas and 
 thirty-nine Portuguese gold pieces, weighing 35J oz.; the Portuguese gold being of twenty-two 
 carats fineness. They were conjectured to have been concealed by the unfortunate Colonel Francis 
 Townley about the period of 1745, the latest date on any coin, while a guest at Gawthorpe, and on his 
 way to join the Pretender. For his share in the rebellion he was executed, and his head placed on 
 Temple Bar. It was mentioned as a tradition, that his next relative offered a neighbouring barber 
 a guinea to procure the skull for him ; that this was done, and that on one oocasion when one of the 
 Townley family was consulting the late Sir Astley Cooper, and that eminent man wished to elucidate 
 something by reference to a skull, that of the unfortunate Colonel Francis Townley was produced by 
 him. Whether it is still preserved was not known .”—Manchester Guardian, 185C. 
 
RESTORATION TO VICTORIA. 
 
 247 
 
 Fletcher, and Andrew Blood; Lieutenant Thomas Chadwick, Adjutant 
 Thomas Syddall, and David Morgan, barrister-at-law, a volunteer in the 
 rebel army. The heads of Colonel Towneley and Captain Fletcher were 
 exposed at Temple-bar, London, those of the others were sent to Manches¬ 
 ter and Carlisle. Six others were executed at Brompton and Penrith, 
 nine at Carlisle, and eleven at York. In Scotland, upwards of eighty suf¬ 
 fered for treason, and about fifty deserters were executed by military law. 
 The great majority of the rebel chiefs met their fate with remarkable con¬ 
 stancy; which circumstance, conjoined to the atrocities committed by the 
 Duke of Cumberland, in the highlands, after the battle of Culloden, created 
 more sympathy for the unfortunate Jacobites than their cause itself was 
 calculated to inspire. The Stuarts had evidently outlived the affections 
 of the English people. 
 
 The author of “A Compleat History of the Rebellion” draws a very 
 flattering picture, not only of the beauty of the town of Preston, but of the 
 fairer portion of its inhabitants. He says .— 
 
 “ Preston or Priest’s Town, so called from the religious, who were formerly here in 
 great numbers; as it was first ornamented with the beauty of holiness, to it you may 
 add female beauty, with which it now shines, the ladies being very agreeable, and much 
 gentry live here. This town is situated on a clean delightful eminence, having hand¬ 
 some streets and variety of company, which the agreeableness of the place induces to board 
 here, it being one of the prettiest retirements in England, and may for its beauty and 
 largeness compare with most cities, and for the politeness of the inhabitants none can excel. 
 It is vulgarly called Proud Preston, on account of its being a place of the best fashion. 
 ’Tis the residence of the officers belonging to the Chancery of the County Palatine. 
 Here is a handsom church, and a Town-hall where the corporation meet for business, 
 and the gentlemen and ladies for balls and assemblies. Here is likewise a spacious 
 Market-place, in the midst of which stands a fine obelisk; 11 the streets are neatly paved, 
 and the houses well built of brick and slates. This town being a great thoroughfare, 
 there are many good inns for the reception of travellers, but one in particular, the sign 
 of the Black Bull, kept by Mrs. Chorley; I never met with any better, for all kind of 
 eatables, proper attendance, kind usage, and a moderate charge, and where you may have 
 all things done in the most grand and elegant manner if required, i This town has a 
 pretty good trade for linen yarn, cloth, cotton, &c.” j 
 
 On his return, the author bestows his commendations on the ladies of 
 Lancashire, en masse, with whom he appears to have been upon the very 
 
 h This obelisk, or market cross, was taken down and another erected in 1782. The latter was 
 removed in 1852. The site at present remains unoccupied. 
 
 i It is somewhat remarkable, that after a lapse of one hundred and twelve years, the “ Bull,” under the 
 efficient management of Mr. Leonard Billington, still receives from travellers precisely similar commen¬ 
 dation to that bestowed by our author upon the establishment in good old Mistress Chorley’s days. 
 It is generally spoken of by commercial men as one of the very best inns on the road. Neither has 
 it degenerated in grandeur and elegance, “if required,” as the patronage of the most aristocratic 
 class of sojourners amply testifies. Fortunately, truth, as well as gallantry, will justify a similar 
 observation with regard to the ladies. The Preston belles of the present day reflect no discredit upon 
 either the beauty or the fascinating manners of their renowned great-grandmothers. The “Bull Inn” 
 of the period was situated near the end of the present Avenham-street. 
 j The “ cottons ” of 1745, were made of woollen. See chap. 8. 
 
248 
 
 PRESTON" AND ITS ENYIROXS. 
 
 best of terms. He says :—“ In tbis county the women are generally very 
 handsome, by which they have acquired the name of ‘ Lancashire Witches,’ 
 which appellation they really deserve, being veiy agreeable.” He speaks 
 however, of certain “ Jacobite Witches,” whose charms, and their mode of 
 exhibition, he considers “ dangerous to the constitution,” and “of so 
 attractive a quality, that it’s not only in danger of drawing his majesty’s 
 good subjects in the civil, hut military gentlemen, off their duty.” 
 
 “John Marchant, gent,” in a “History of the present Rebellion,” pub¬ 
 lished in 1746, adds his testimony in favom’ of the beauty of the town 
 during the past century, and the character of its inhabitants. He says:— 
 
 “ Preston may from its Bigness and Beauty compare with some Cities. * * * * 
 
 This place from its Situation on a clean delightful Eminence, handsome Streets, and 
 Variety of Company that board here, is reckoned one of the prettiest retirements in 
 England. ’Tis a very gay Town, the Residence of the Officers belonging to the Chan¬ 
 cery of the County Palatine, and is call’d Proud Preston, tho’ not near so rich as Liver¬ 
 pool or Manchester 
 
 Marchant gives the following extract from a letter written by a lady at 
 Preston, to her friend in town, dated December 14th., which furnishes a 
 veiy piquant specimen of the domestic gossip of the day:— 
 
 “ Yesterday the Rebel Army re-entered onr Town, all sufficiently wearied, and out of 
 Humour enough. There are with them four Ladies, who seem to he of some distinction. 
 Lady Ogilvy, Mrs. Murray, Jenny Cameron, and another, whose name I could not 
 learn; but they say she is the mistress of one M‘Sheridan, a Popish Priest. The two 
 first were in a Chariot by themselves; the other two in a Coach and Six, with the young 
 Pretender and M‘Sheridan, who it seems is called Archbishop of Canterbury. The 
 young Pretender seem’d very faint and sick, and is very assiduously ministered unto by 
 Jenny Cameron. O'Sullivan, one of the young Pretender’s Councill, a very likely 
 Fellow, made free with our House; from him we learnt some little Anecdotes relating 
 to Jenny Cameron. She is, it seems, the Isiece of a Person of some Fashion in the 
 Highlands, and was sent by her Uncle to pay his Compliments to the young Pretender, 
 on his March from Lochdbar to Perth. She brought with her a considerable Quantity of 
 Cattle, some Usquebaugh, and other little Presents. When she appear’d before the 
 young Pretender’s Tent, who received her very gallantly, she jump’d off her Horse, and 
 she told him with great Frankness, That she came like the Queen of Sheba to partake of 
 the Wisdom of Solomon: He answered. And thou shalt my Dear partake of all that 
 Solomon is master of. He took her in his Anns, and retired with her into his Tent, 
 and were there some Time alone; the rest Mr. Sullivan says we are to guess. This 
 wild Rabble made no long stay here, nor, I dare say will ever come hack again. They 
 look all like hunted Hares, and had rather hear the name of the Devil than the Duke; 
 but don’t seem to mind any Body else in particular, except General Oglethorp, whose 
 Vivacity they are no Strangers to; hut seem to hope his Forwardness may out run 
 his Judgment, in which, I don’t doubt, they will he fatally mistaken. They are march’d 
 or rather gone off, in avery unaccountable manner; galloping, trotting, and running, and, 
 as we say, bidding the Devil take the Hindmost. Mr. Oglethorp is just now coming 
 into Town; but the post waiting, I can give you no further particulars.” 
 
 At the meeting of the Lancashire and Cheshire Historic Society, in 
 Dec., 1852, Mr. P. R. Me. Quie exhibited, amongst other articles of 
 interest, a relic of the “ Young Pretender’s” army, which is thus described 
 in the minutes of the proceedings :—“ Sword, captured by Mr. Leather- 
 barrow’s great-grandfather, at Preston, in 1745. The captor was a tailor, 
 
RESTORATION TO VICTORIA. 
 
 249 
 
 and when the rebel rushed up stairs to plunder, he beat him hack with 
 his goose!” 
 
 There exists a tradition in the Eylde, that Vauxhall, or Eoxhall, near 
 Blackpool, one of the seats of the Tildesleys, was fitted up for the recep¬ 
 tion of Prince Charles Edward, but he did not occupy it. This, however, 
 appears to be but another version of the more probable story, that James II. 
 contemplated a landing on the coast of Lancashire, and that the Tildesleys 
 had prepared Vauxhall for his reception. k 
 
 In a curious work published at the beginning of the present century, 
 and attributed to Southey, the following singular anecdote is related. At 
 what period the event took place, it would be difficult now to decide, 
 unless the name of the old writer alluded to could be discovered :— 
 
 “ Preston was our next stage ; a large manufacturing town; before we entered it we 
 crossed the River Ribble by a good bridge, and immediately ascended a long bill—it 
 was the only pleasant spot we bad seen upon the way. Near this place an officer once 
 met bis death in battle by a singular accident. His horse, upon some disgust he took 
 at the guns, as the old writer oddly expresses it, ran off and leapt a ditch ; the man’s 
 sword fell, and at the same minute he was thrown upon its point, and it ran him 
 through.” * 1 
 
 The visits of the “ Scotch rebels” to Preston have given rise to many 
 other local stories, traditions, etc. ; but the promiscuous public are in the 
 habit of strangely confounding three distinct historical events. Cromwell’s 
 victory, in 1648, the smTender of Eorster, Derwentwater, etc., in 1715, 
 and the visit of the “ young Chevalier, Prince Charles Edward,” in 1745, 
 arc often huddled together “ in most admired disorder.” This may, 
 perhaps, be excused amongst the rustic population when literary men fall 
 into similar confusion, or from love of “ thrilling effect,” violate the truth 
 of history. 
 
 In a periodical entitled “ New Tales of the Borders and the British 
 Isles,” of the date of May 8, 1847, a stoiy is published entitled “ Preston 
 Peggy,” with the following quotation at the head of the chapter:— 
 
 “ Long Preston Peggy to Proud Preston went, 
 
 To see the bold rebels it was her intent: 
 
 For in brave deeds of arms she did take much delight. 
 
 And therefore she went with the rebels to fight.— Old Yorkshire Ballad.” 
 
 The scene is laid at Walton and Preston, in 1715. The love stoiy and 
 romantic conduct of the heroine and General Wills may be tolerated or 
 
 k See page 214. 
 
 1 Letters from England, No. XL, by Don Manuel Alvares Espriella, second edition, 1808.—Mr. 
 Whittle, in his lecture, in 1849, speaks of a tombstone in the parish church-yard, “ dated 1642,” and 
 inscribed,—“ To the memory of Richard Greenfield, who was slain in the lane near Walton bridge, 
 during the civil wars.” lie describes a rude outline upon it as a representation of a man with a 
 sword run through his body. This may be the party alluded to. The date, however, must he an 
 error. The struggle took place in 1648, when Cromwell’s troops attacked the bridge. 
 
250 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 excused, but tbe direct violation of fact in making the earl of Derwent - 
 water carouse at a mock corporation meeting at the village of Walton, 
 the day before the arrival of the rebel army, is reprehensible even in a 
 novelist. The whole is a mass of glaring anachronisms, clashing both 
 with history and tradition, chiefly resulting from a blunder as to the 
 period to which the stoiy refers. Long Preston Peggy was a stalwart 
 heroine in 1745, and not a love-sick maiden in 1715, as will appear from 
 the following extract from a thin quarto “History of Preston,” pub¬ 
 lished by Edward Jeffery, London, 1822. Peggy’s true future was 
 somewhat less brilliant, likewise, than that pourtrayed in the novel, where 
 the “ lowly born maiden ” becomes the bride of the nephew of General 
 Wills!” 
 
 “ It is well known at Long Preston, near Settle, in Yorkshire, that in the year 
 1745, a buxom, handsome young woman of that place, anxious to see the Pretender 
 and his army, went to Preston, in Lancashire, for that purpose, a distance of about 
 thirty-eight miles, and, after gratifying her curiosity, and staying for some 
 time in or near the rebel camp, returned to her native village. This became so 
 much the subject of general conversation, that it was the occasion of producing 
 a ballad, which obtained as much notoriety in Ribblesdale as the famous historical 
 ballad of Chevy Chace. The gentleman who has furnished this anecdote says, 
 that he has frequently heard her sing the very song, of which she herself was the 
 subject, twenty-five years after the occurrence, and she had then, though advanced in 
 life, the remains of a handsome face and fine person, which had doubtless been impaired 
 by time, and a strong propensity to indulge in spirituous liquors. The strain of— 
 
 “ Long Preston Peggy to Proud Preston went, 
 
 To see the bold rebels it was her intent,” 
 
 was seldom carolled from her lips till she had been treated with half a dozen or more 
 glasses of spirits.” 
 
 Shocking! Peggy surely had, herself, not the least notion that she 
 would ever become the sentimental heroine of a modern romance! 
 Truly,—“ Truth is strange; stranger than fiction.” 
 
 The “mock Corporation at the village of Walton,” alluded to by the 
 novelist, continued to exist until within a comparatively recent period. 
 Dr. Whitaker, in his “ History of Richmondshire,” gives the following 
 interesting particulars respecting this somewhat singular society :— 
 
 “ At an obscure inn, m in the neighbouring village of Walton, has been held from 
 the beginning of the last century, a meeting of noblemen and gentlemen, styling them¬ 
 selves the mayor and corporation of the ancient borough of Walton. All their pro¬ 
 ceedings were conducted with ludicrous formality ; and they had a register which still 
 
 m “ The term “obscure inn” can scarcely with propriety be applied to the “ Unicorn,” at Walton. It is 
 situated at the foot of the bridge which crosses the Darwen, and was unquestionably the principal 
 hostelry within some miles south of Preston, at the time the “mock corporation” held its meetings. 
 Nay, it is more than probable, that it furnished “ head quarters” for Cromwell's advanced guard on the 
 evening of the memorable defeat of the duke of Hamilton. Cromwell expressly states that his army 
 occupied the bridge of Darwen, while the enemy lay within musket shot, on the opposite bank of the 
 river. The house at the present day. though somewhat antiquated in its appearance, is one of the most 
 noted and respectable inns in the neighbourhood. 
 
RESTORATION TO VICTORIA. 
 
 251 
 
 remains, together with a mace or sword of state, and three large staves, covered with 
 silver, on which are inscribed the names of the successive officers of the society from 
 the year 1702. The register does not commence till the year after. The officers of the 
 whimsical fraternity were a mayor, deputy mayor, recorder, two bailiffs, two sergeants, 
 a physician, a jester, a macebearer, a poet laureate, who furnished copies of very bad 
 verses, entered the records, and lastly a town clerk. Under this semblance, however, 
 of sport and jollity, there seems to have been concealed a political purpose. The mem¬ 
 bers who appear till about the year 1740, were the Catholic and Jacobite nobility and 
 gentry, and here seem to have concerted their plans for the restoration of the exiled 
 family. 
 
 “ In the year 1709, the mayor was the most noble Thomas Duke of Norfolk; Sir 
 Nicholas Sherborne, of Stony hurst, mayor’s hoy; Sir Win. Pennington, hart., town’s 
 bailiff; Charles Towneley, of Towneley, deputy mayor. 
 
 “ In 1711, the mayor was James, the unfortunate earl of Derwentwater. 
 
 “ In 1715, no meeting was held, for a very obvious reason. 
 
 “In the accounts of 1745, is the following entry:—‘ Pd. 2. 6 . for fixing the plates 
 upon the staves, which were taken off an account of the rebels coming hither The 
 word rebels is written on an erasure, and I suspect on the word duke, n They were 
 only become rebels after their defeat. 
 
 “ But about this time I observe a mixture of Whigs, 50 that as all political con¬ 
 fidence must have been destroyed, everything of a political tendeney in the society 
 must have ceased. 
 
 “ The year 1766, is the last in which the meeting continued to be respectable. It 
 has since fallen into the hands of inferior tradesmen, who are still possessed of the 
 ancient insignia of office” (1823), “ and who continue to assemble with some of the old 
 formalities, but with neither the danger nor dignity of their predecessors.” 
 
 The regalia at the present time consists of the following articles :— 
 Two halberds, of a somewhat similar form to those carried before the 
 mayor of Preston. Two very long official staves, painted black and silver 
 mounted. One of these was presented by the Earl of Derwentwater, dur¬ 
 ing his mayoralty. It bears the earl’s coronet and the following inscrip¬ 
 tion :—“ The Right Honourable James Earl of Darwentwater, Viscount 
 Ratcliffe and Langley, and Baron of Tindale, Mayor, 1711. On the other 
 is inscribed, “ The gift of Banistre Parker, of Extwistle, Esq., for the use 
 of the Huntsman of the Corporation of Walton, 1721.” Banistre Parker is 
 an ancestor of the present R. Townley Parker, Esq. 
 
 The names of the officers for each year are engraved upon massive silver 
 bands, covering four other long staves of wood. The earliest is dated 
 1701, and is inscribed: “William Farington, Esq., was Mayor; John 
 Walmsley, Esq., (of Dunkenhalgh), Recorder ; Richard Ashton, Robert 
 Parker, (of Extwistle), Esqs., Bailiffs ; William Cooten, Chaplain; Thomas 
 Dale, Deputy-mayor.” The silver bands for the years 1730, 1735, and 
 1737, have been lost. If there ever was one for 1715, it has likewise 
 been removed. 
 
 The written records, which are in the possession of Mr. Hoghton, son of 
 Sir Henry Bold Hoghton, hart., commence five years later than the inscrip- 
 
 n Dr. Whitaker here alludes to the duke of Cumberland, who followed the “ young Chevalier” 
 through Preston, on his retreat to the north. 
 
252 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 tions upon the staves, and continue until the year 1766; when, according to 
 Dr. Whitaker, the corporation ceased “ to be respectable.’ ’ It was continued 
 for some years afterwards, hut merely as a convivial meeting. The subse¬ 
 quent records are of no interest. The last entry is dated 1796. At the period 
 of its first establishment, the parties above named were the only officials; 
 hut they afterwards became more numerous. Their various titles appear 
 upon the silver hands attached annually to the staves, viz :—“ Swordbcarcr, 
 Master of the Hounds, Huntsman, House-groper, Slut-kisser, Custard- 
 eater, Physician, Mace-hearer, Town Clerk, Poet Laureate, Jester, Town 
 Seijeant, Mayor’s Serjeant, Mayor’s Bailiff, Town Bailiff,” etc. These 
 offices were held by many of the leading gentry in the coimty. The 
 names of Townclcy, Trafford, Shuttleworth, Farington, Bawstorne, Osbal- 
 deston, Stanley, Holt, Starkie, Parker, Fleetwood, Tildesley, Worthing¬ 
 ton, Blundell, Chorley, Anderton, Winckley, Sherburne, Ormerod, Tunstall, 
 Howell, Hesketh, Gillibrand, Bigby, Blackburn, Patten, Assheton, Ather¬ 
 ton, Scarisbrick, Bradshaw, and others, frequently occur. The club was 
 unquestionably a Jacobite institution, although we see in the records a few 
 names of Hanoverians; including that of Sir E. Stanley, hart., afterwards 
 Earl of Derby, who was mayor in 1713. In the year 1715 no new ap¬ 
 pointments took place, there being merely an entry that the officers for the 
 preceding year were continued. 
 
 Among the other officers we find the name of Dr. Shepherd, of Preston, 
 as having been the “Physician to the Corporation” on several occasions, and 
 in one instance as the Mayor. In the records are inserted the effusions of 
 some of the laureates, hut scarcely any are worthy of transcription. One 
 of these rhymesters tells us, in 1723,— 
 
 “ I’ve bought my freedom with a glass of claret. 
 
 And am rewarded with the post of laureate; 
 
 And if my verses are not on record, 
 
 The devil take me if I speak a word.” 
 
 Another says:— 
 
 “ First I would praise the worshipful the Mayor, 
 
 As fit in all respects to fill the chair: 
 
 Next, then, I would his brethren range in order, 
 
 And speak the merits of the bright Recorder. 
 ###### 
 
 Many things wrong in these few lines you’ll find. 
 
 But to his faults let goodness make you blind; 
 
 With candour judge him, so his washes crown, 
 
 For if you smile ill-nature dare not frown.” 
 
 The members of this “corporation” have since ceased to meet, either 
 for political or convivial purposes. The regalia and other property 
 remained for some time in the possession of Sir H. P. Hoghton, hart. 
 These curious relics have been transferred to the custody of Bobt. Townley 
 
KESTOliATION TO VICTORIA. 
 
 253 
 
 Parker, esq., recently one of tlie members for the borough of Preston. They 
 will doubtless be preserved at Cuerden Hall, for many years to come, as 
 interesting memorials of the struggle for supremacy between the house of 
 Hanover and the Stuart dynasty,—of constitutional liberty and arbitrary 
 power. 
 
 The partisans of the Stuarts did not lose all hope of ultimate success 
 for some time after the retreat of Prince Charles. The following curious 
 document, purporting to have been taken from the pocket of a woman on 
 Darwcn bridge, hi October, 1747, and reprinted as a small handbill in 
 1815, throws some light upon the local feeling at this period. From the 
 savage tone of the epistle, it is, however, more than probably, the pro¬ 
 duction of a partisan of the house of Hanover, rather than a genuine 
 Jacobite effusion. From the imminent danger attending the slightest 
 indiscretion of speech at that period, it is difficult to conceive for what 
 purpose such unnecessary parade of bloody intention could have been 
 perpetrated. Whoever may have been its author, it exhibits, in a strong 
 light, the rancour and bigotry engendered by religious intolerance and 
 civil strife. From the context, it purports to have been written by some 
 of the Lancashire Jacobites, who joined the pretender’s army at Preston, 
 and who -were afterwards taken prisoners, and incarcerated in Carlisle 
 Castle:— 
 
 “ A copy of a letter found the 18th of October, 1747, upon Darwent-Bridge, in 
 Walton, near Preston, in a Woman’s Pocket, which contained besides, a Papist Book and 
 two Crosses:— 
 
 “ To Mr. James Ratcliffe, in Whittle-m-le-Woods, near Charley, in Lancashire. 
 
 “ Dear and loving Friends, —This with my Love to you, and all true friends; and to 
 let you know that we are all in high Spirits, tlio’ low in diet. Three days before John 
 died, the Holy Father of England, the Holy Bishop came to us in the Dress of a poor 
 Man, & call’d himself the Father of one of the Piisoners; and gave a Crown to come 
 thro’ the Guards to us, and stay’d with us, six days, and lived as we do, laid with us, 
 and pardon’d all our Sins, and made us all into pure Martyrs ; and assured us, that vve 
 shall not stay half so long in Purgatory as Others, for our Sufferings here, amongst 
 these damnable heretieks; and gave every one of us a Cross, that the Supreme Holy 
 Father the Pope hath sent to preserve our Souls from the Hands of Heretieks : The 
 Supreme Holy Father sent 5000 all at once, and this is one that I have sent you, 
 that the Holy Father of England, gave John upon his dying bed; there is such Virtues 
 belonging to these Crosses, the like was never known in England before. And the 
 Supreme King of the World, his Holiness the Pope, hath sent the Holy Father of Eng¬ 
 land, (the Bishop) a Letter, to let him know, that the King of France hath sworn to 
 
 his Holiness the Pope, to assist King J-with 50,000 men, and hath sent 10,000 into 
 
 Scotland already, and will send 20,000 with Prince Charles into Wales, and 10,000 with 
 Prince Edward near London, on the East side. And his Holiness promised to give 
 100,0001. out of the Holy Treasury, to maintain the War; and so it is to be done in a 
 very little Tune. And sent to the Holy Father of England, to order all the Ghostly 
 Fathers, to order all that are able to bear Arms, to be ready on an Hour’s warning; and 
 to order the Prisoners to send to where they came from, to those that are loyal, and 
 hath taken the Holy Oath, by the Holy Cross and Blessed Virgin, steadfastly believing 
 
 that King J-is the true, right, and lawful Heir of the Crown of England, and that 
 
 G-is a damned Heretick, a Bastard of Hanover, and Usurper to the Crown of 
 
 l 
 
254 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS 
 
 England; and that all Heretics are damned ; and to kill, burn and destroy them, or all 
 their Families, or Houses, or Goods, or anything they have; whoever Doth it, shall save 
 
 his soul from Hell, and merit thereby. So I send you in the behalf of King J-to 
 
 go to those that you know are well affected for King J-, and all the Royal Family. 
 
 The first is John Abbott, of the Hey, he took the' Holy Oath, and sent his Man and 5/. • 
 James Hartley, sent his Son, and Arthur Proctor gave 71. with him, and Fifty Shillings 
 John Hartley of Pipping-street gave with him; and Robert Banks, Shoemaker, took the 
 Holy Oath, and sent his Man and 101,- Hugh Tootel, of the Holt, took the Holy Oath, 
 and gave 101, and would have sent Robert and a Horse if we had gone forward ; and 
 Hugh Tootel, of the Well, took the Holy Oath, and gave 51; James Tootel of the Hill 
 Top, took the Holy Oath, and gave 51; and Janies Tootel enlisted when I did, and 
 stay’d in Preston whilst we did, and walked with us, and swore he would kill some of 
 the Hereticks in a little Time, for he was sure it was no sin; and I am sure he is very 
 
 loyal to the cause; and my Mistress gave 51 with me, and told me when King J- 
 
 was set on the Throne she would marry me; aud Nicholas Madder 101, and took the 
 Holy Oath; and Thomas Bu r ges 51, and took the Holy Oath; But as loyal a Man as 
 
 any that belongs to King J-’s Force is Benjamin Waddington, in Brindle, he met 
 
 us at Manchester, and took on with us eagerly, aud took Listing-Money, and Colonel 
 Townley ordered him to Quarters, and I and other two went with him, and we drank 
 
 all night, and he put forth very good Healths; the first he drank was King J-’s 
 
 good Health, and the next Prince Charles good Health, and next to Prince Edward’s 
 
 Health, and then he drank damnation to the Usurper G-, the Hanover Bastard, and 
 
 all his damnable crew of Bastards; and damnation to Will, o and all his undertakings; 
 aud hell and damnation light upon their Forces for ever. Then he contrived what death 
 Hereticks should die, and the first he would kill would be Broion, that lives at the 
 Watch house in Brindle-, he said he would tye him neck and Heels, and bum the flesh 
 of his Bones with Red hot Irons; and the Constable Calvert, and several other Hereticks 
 in the Town ; and the rest of the Hereticks, he would make a great Hole like a Marl 
 pit, and make Fires and burn them by hundreds : It was told to Prince Charles that he 
 was a very loyal Man ; and a reformed Heretick; Prince Charles sent for him, and 
 he had the Honour to kiss his Hand, and gave him two Broad Pieces, and a pair of 
 Pistols; and told him he should have a Captain’s Commission of a troop of Dragoons, 
 and an Estate of Five Hundred a Year, when his Father was set on the Throne; and 
 he came with us to Chorley, and gave me a good pair of shoes of his feet, for mine was 
 very bad; and I persuaded him to go no further till we came back again, and a great 
 many more that would have gone; and it was very well they did not go, to suffer what 
 we both have suffered, and what we do suffer. 
 
 But we hope to be set at Liberty in a little time, for there’s 10,000 French landed 
 in Scotland, with Lord Drummond, and when the Hanoverian’s Forces are gone to 
 Flanders, Prince Charles will land in Wales 20,000 men, and Prince Edward with 
 20,000 in Ireland. 
 
 “ Now let the Hereticks know that we have suffered, Now is their downfall at Hand. 
 Mr. Skelton is set at Liberty, for they durst hold him no longer : And the Holy Father 
 of England and He, has had a letter from the Pope’s own Hand, That the King of 
 France has made a Vow to his Holiness the Pope, that he will bring the Hereticks of 
 England down, or he will loose both Life and Crown. So dear Friends, be ready, for 
 the Time is at Hand, that the Hereticks must have their Reward, you must go to Man¬ 
 chester, and take Benjamin Waddington and James Tootel with you, and raise what 
 Forces you can, for Benjamin sent us word he was there twelve Months ago, and there 
 was above three Hundred Men ready in an Hour’s Warning ; get them to write a great 
 many Letters for you to drop at the Hereticks’ Houses in Whittle, Brindle, and Walton, 
 and in so doing, they cannot know the Hand-writing, and demand great Sums of Money 
 from the damn’d Hereticks; and if they don’t obey your Commands, set fire to there 
 Houses in the Night-time, and kill them in their Beds, for all is your own; for the King 
 of France has promised an Hundred Thousand Pounds to any one that can take the 
 Hanover Cub, (as Benjamin Waddington calls him) and be sure to kill Brown in Brindle, 
 
 o The Duke of Cumberland. 
 
RESTORATION TO VICTORIA. 
 
 255 
 
 and Constable Calvert, and those that swore against us; Fire them in then- Beds, and 
 if they take you and make you swear, swear freely, for it is no sin to take a false Oath 
 to an Heretick. 
 
 “ Pray go to Peter Wearden, in Penwortham, for he has been very Kind to us ; and 
 all his Brothers are very loyal, and sent us a great deal of Money ; George Garstang 
 hath been very Kind. 
 
 There is a contrivance in acting to blow up G-and his Parliament, but the Day 
 
 is not fixed on yet, but as soon as we hear we will let you know. So no more, 
 
 “ From all your Friends , “ William Hargreaves, 
 
 “ Carlisle, July 11, 1747. and all the rest. 
 
 “We have more fresh News which stopp’d in not sending; we hear that France will 
 fire Holland all before them, and then they will come for England in two Months time, 
 and they will fire and burn all the Hereticks, for there is no one to stop them ; for the 
 Hanover Cub is running and all his Crew, they fly before them like Chaff before the 
 Wind; and we hear there is three Parts out of four of the Kingdom for us; So pray 
 make what haste you can, and go quickly. And pray make much of the Messenger, for 
 she is a very loyal Woman, and hath done great Things for us, she hath gone a Hundred 
 Miles round with letters on his Account; so I pray you, pay her well for coming; and 
 if you have a mind to have any Letters by us to drop, we will write some and send them 
 by her; and if we hear any more News we will send it by her. Pray excuse our bad 
 Writing. Thomas Wearden has sent us Word that they are building the Chapel at 
 Cuerden Green again, for the damn’d Hereticks dare hold it no longer, for they know 
 their case is bad. 
 
 “ We now must go, but where we do not know ; for they dare not hang us; and if 
 they transport us French will have us. 
 
 “ Pray think of Rump lloghton, of Walton, plague him and fire his house; Benjamin 
 Waddington must have Part of his Estate, and Thomas Wearden % William his Brother, 
 must have all the rest. Pray now begin to drop Letters and Hostilities upon the 
 Rumps and Hereticks. Now we take our Leave of all. Be not afraid. 
 
 “ So ice rest, “ William Hargreaves, 
 
 “ George Hartley, 
 
 “ (Printed 1747—Reprinted 1815.) “ George Waring.” 
 
 Since the final defeat of the Jacohite party, no event of great national 
 importance has transpired in Preston or its vicinity. The inhabitants 
 appear to have taken the usual average interest in public affairs, and to 
 have duly honoured the coronation festivities and public rejoicings for the 
 great victories which transpired from that period to the present time. The 
 “glorious constitution,” and the “prosperity of Britain,” were continually 
 pronounced, during the latter portion of the last century, to be on the 
 verge of certain destruction, and as constantly survived the lugubrious 
 prophesy as during the present generation. A somewhat singular specimen 
 of this kind of political vaticination is recorded in an autograph letter, 
 preserved in Dr. Shepherd’s library, penned by its learned and worthy 
 founder. It is dated Preston, November 20th, 1757. After duly intro¬ 
 ducing the business motive of the epistle, the doctor suddenly breaks off, 
 and unfolds to his correspondent his sentiments upon the aspect of the 
 times, in the following despondent terms:— 
 
 “ Our public Affairs interrupt all business and Commerce and our unfortunate con¬ 
 duct has made us so low and despicable amongst the Neighbouring Nations, that I am 
 apprehensive we never shall be able to defend ourselves against our Enemies any 
 longer!” 
 
256 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 The learned Prestonian’s fears were groundless. In a very short time, 
 the genius and energy of the elder Pitt not only restored the military and 
 naval prestige of Great Britain, hut converted the dissatisfaction and 
 despair of the people into boundless confidence and overflowing enthusiasm. 
 
 In 1797, a coips, named the “fioyal Preston Volunteers,” commanded 
 by Lieutenant-colonel Grimshaw, was raised for the defence of the county ; 
 and in the following year another corps, commanded by Lieutenant- 
 colonel Watson, was enrolled. A rifle corps was likewise formed, under 
 the command of Captain William Brade, which, in 1808, along with 
 Colonel Grimshaw and his men, voluntarily joined the militia. 
 
 These troops were encamped upon ground in the rear of the present 
 barrack, at Fulwood, hence the names of “camp ground,” and “camp 
 field,” which the locality bears to the present day. Last year, 1856, 
 several bullets were found on the “Freehold Land Estate” in the 
 immediate neighbourhood. They most probably had been deposited 
 during the musket practice of this body of men. 
 
 Twice during the latter portion of the last century the celebrated 
 Benjamin Franklin visited the town. p His only daughter had married a 
 Mr. Bichard Baehe, of Preston. A musical instrument is still in the pos¬ 
 session of the widow of W. Taylor, esq., Moss Cottage, which was made 
 by Franklin, during one of his visits, as a toy for the amusement of his 
 niece. It was exhibited at the temporary museum, prepared on the visit 
 of the Lancashire and Cheshire Historic Society, in 1856. It is merely a 
 series of square wooden rods, gradually diminishing in size, so as to form 
 a scale of notes. The rods are suspended a few inches apart by common 
 cord. When struck by another rod, a weak but not unpleasing musical 
 sound is produced. Mr. Edward Baines says, this instrument “ is sup¬ 
 posed to have been the genu of the harmonicon.” Franklin was a friend 
 of General Burgoyne, who represented Preston in several parliaments. 
 Mr. W. Dobson says:—“ It has been stated that the original house at 
 Cooper Hill, Walton-le-dale, was designed by General Burgoyne, and that 
 a lightning conductor was put to it by Dr. Franklin.” q 
 
 At the period of Prince Charles Stuart’s invasion, Preston contained 
 about six thousand inhabitants. It at present numbers about eighty 
 thousand. This rapid progress has resulted from the operation of influences 
 more of a domestic or local character, the particulars of which will be fully 
 recorded in succeeding chapters. 
 
 p In 1771 and 1775. 
 
 q His. Parliamentary Representation of Preston, p. 29. 
 
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, GUILD MERCHANT, ETC. 
 
 257 
 
 PART I.—-HISTORICAL. 
 
 CHAPTER VI.—MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, GUILD 
 MERCHANT, Etc. 
 
 Origin of Municipalities and Guilds Merchant—Preston Charters—The Custumale— 
 The “ Law of the Bretons ” and Traditional Customs: Probable Roman Origin—Saxon 
 and Norman Boroughs—Charters of Henry II., John, Henry III., and Edward III. 
 —Value of Property in the Lancashire Boroughs: Preston the wealthiest town in the 
 County—Charters of Richard II., Henry IV., Henry V., and Elizabeth—Municipal 
 Hospitality—■ “Booke of Orders”—By-laws against Foreigners, Public-House 
 Tippling, and Vagabonds—Charitable Bequests—Fees of Inferior Officers—Civil 
 War—Adam Morte’s Contumacy—Charities—Imprisonment of Mayor and Bailiffs 
 by Prince Rupert—Cock-fighting—Purchase of the Fee Farm Rent of Preston— 
 Corporate Property in 1650—Grammar Schoolmaster’s Salary—Public Wells—- 
 Regulations respecting Swine—Corporate Officers fined for neglect of Duty—Regu¬ 
 lations respecting the “Corporation Pew” in the Parish Church—Workhouse 
 Regulations—Grants to the Poor—Parliamentary Franchise—Limitation of the 
 number of Freemen—Charters of Charles II.—Disputes between the Burgesses and 
 “Foreigners”—Early Guild Festivities—Guilds of 1682, 1762, 1782,1802,1822, 
 and 1842—Municipal Reform Act—New Council—Freemen’s Rights of Pasturage 
 on Moor and Marsh—Corporation Regalia, etc.—Corporate Property—Ribble Navi¬ 
 gation—Post-Office—Loyal Addresses—Covered Market—Public Parks—Baths and 
 Washhouses—The Queen at Fleetwood and Preston—Public Health Act—Cemetery 
 —New Town Hall—-Value of Corporate Property in 1855—-Russian War: Cele¬ 
 bration of the Peace—Guild Mayors—Mayors and Bailiffs since the commencement 
 of the last century—-Police Commission and Improvement Act—Local Board of 
 Health—Waterworks—Sewerage of the Town—Parochial Affairs. 
 
 TnERE exists considerable difficulty in determining the precise period 
 when Preston was first elevated to the dignity of a chartered borough or, 
 municipality. Mr. Sharon Tiumer, in his “History of the Anglo-Saxons,” 
 satisfactorily shows that “guilds” or social confederations were common 
 anterior to the Norman conquest; yet, from the rules and other documents 
 of several that have survived, it appears that, with a fair allowance for 
 the condition and requirements of the period, they resembled much more, 
 in character and objects, the trades unions and friendly societies of the 
 present century, than corporate bodies, to whom were entrusted the local 
 government of the people, and the protection of privileges enjoyed by 
 chartered localities. 
 
 Henry I. is known to have conferred “hanse” privileges upon the 
 curriers aud cordwainers of Rouen, in his capacity as duke of Normandy, 
 
 s 
 
258 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 and to have granted them a charter of incorporation. Hanse and guild 
 are not materially different in general import. The term “guild” is 
 derived simply from the payment of a periodical contribution to a common 
 fund for the benefit of the subscribers, or the prosecution of specific objects. 
 The “Hanse” towns of Germany were incorporated at an early period, 
 and formed a kind of commercial fraternity, with exclusive privileges of 
 trade. The “ custumale” of Preston, Mr. Edward Baines conjectures to 
 have been granted by Henry II. The pendant seal has been lost, and the 
 document itself is without date. The corporation of Preston possesses a 
 certificate, under the hand and seal of Sir Thomas Walmesley, a judge of 
 the Court of Common Pleas, in the reign of James I., stating that he had 
 seen a charter granted by Henry I. to the burgesses of Preston, in the 
 first year of that monarch’s reign (1100). Mr. Baines quotes, (vol. 
 4, page 303,) a fragment of one of the Kuerden manuscripts, in 
 Heralds’ College, from which it appears that in the “28th Henry 
 III., an extent of the town was made by Sir John de Lee and 
 eleven other free and lawful men of the wapentake, who returned that 
 the town of Preston was demesne and made a free borough by the king’s 
 grandfather, which sets aside the assertion that Preston was so constituted 
 by a charter of Henry I.” Yet, (at page 340, vol. 4) he says:—“ Dr. 
 Kuerden asserts the same fact as Sir Thomas "Walmesley: ‘Preston in 
 Amoundemess was constituted a borough by Henry, son of the Empress, 
 as appears ex Bundell Escaet. Ao I. H. 3. n. 18.’ ” The “ custumale ” is, 
 most probably, the document alluded to. 
 
 Dr. "Whitaker printed the “custumale” apparently, according to 
 Mr. Baines, from an ancient hut imperfect copy. The latter authority 
 published a translation by Mr. Cayley, of the Augmentation office, from a 
 manuscript in the possession of the late Nicholas Grimshaw, esq., 
 which, he says, “contains several passages which do not exist in the 
 Latinhut, “since it faithfully renders the remaining portions of the 
 Custumale, may he considered as accurate with respect to the decayed 
 passages.” a This curious document, so illustrative of the customs and 
 manners of the inhabitants, as well as of the ancient government of the 
 borough, is as follows:— 
 
 “ These are the liberties of Preston in Amundrenesse :—1. So that they shall have a 
 Guild Merchant, with Hanse, and other customs, and belonging to such Guild; and so 
 that no one who is not of that Guild shall make any merchandize in the said town, unless 
 
 a Kuerden gives a fragment imperfectly. An amended translation of this passage, by Mr. 
 Taylor, is as follows :—“If any one should wish to he made a burgess let him come into the court, 
 and pay twelve pence to the Prefect, and take his burgage from the pretors, and afterwards give 
 one penny to the pretor’s servant, and he shall hear witness that he was made a burgess in court. 
 Also, no one can he a burgess, except he have a burgage twelve feet in front.” 
 
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, GUILD MERCHANT, ETC. 
 
 259 
 
 with the will of the burgesses.—2. If any native [bondman] reside in the same town, and 
 hold my land, and be in the same Guild and Hanse, and pay scoth and loth with the same 
 burgesses for one year and a day, then he shall not be reclaimed by his lord, but shall 
 remain free in the same town.—3. The burgesses of Preston in Amundrenesse shall have 
 soc and sac, tol and them and infangthef, and they shall be quit throughout all my land 
 of toll, lastage, passage, pontage, and stallage, from Lenegeld, b and Denegeld, and Gath- 
 wite, c and all other customs and actions throughout all our land and dominion, as well 
 in England as in other our lands ; and that no sheriff shall intermeddle with the burgesses 
 of Preston in Amundrenesse concerning any plea, or plaint, or dispute, or any other thing 
 pertaining to the aforesaid town, saving [the pleas of] the king's crown.—4. If any one 
 wish to be made a burgess, he shall come into court and give to the mayor 12d. and 
 shall take his burgage from the mayor; afterwards he shall give to the mayor’s clerk one 
 penny, that he may certify him to have been made a burgess in court.—5. Also, when any 
 burgess shall receive his burgage and it shall be a void place, the mayor shall admit him, 
 so that he shall erect his burgage within forty days upon a forfeiture; but if he does not 
 erect it, he shall be in mercy 12d.—G. Also, when any burgess shall challenge his burgage 
 against another, and shall prove it to be his right, and the tenant who holds it shall prove 
 that burgage to have been held without challenge many years and days, and name for one 
 year and one day, shall prove himself to have been possessed thereof, and shall prove the 
 same in court by the oath of two of his neighbours to have been so held ; he who shall 
 by them so prove shall hold without contradiction of the claimant whoever that claimant 
 may be, for one day and one year on this side the sea of England.—7. Also, if any burgess 
 complain of any matter and another challenge against him, the plaintiff for judgment shall 
 name two witnesses, and shall have one of them at the day and term, and he may have 
 any lawful person for witness and another burgess; but the defendant against a burgess 
 shall be put to his oath at third hand d by his peers.—7. Also, the amerciament in our 
 court shall not exceed 12d. uuless for toll evaded, and then the amerciament shall be 12s. 
 —8. Also, a burgess shall be bound to come to no more than three portmotes yearly, 
 unless he shall have plea against him, and unless he shall come to some one great port- 
 mote he shall be amerced 12d. e—9. Tbe mayor shall collect the king’s farm at the four 
 terms of the year, and shall go once for the farm, and another time if he pleases, and shall 
 take away [deponet hostium, pull down] the door of the burgage, and the burgess shall 
 not replace his door until he have paid his debt, unless at the will of the mayor.—10. 
 Also, if any burgess shall buy any bargain or any merchandize, and give earnest, and he 
 who sold shall repent of his bargain, he shall double the earnest; but if the buyer shall 
 
 b “ Dr. Whitaker suggests that this word is formed from the low Latin lena, a blanket; but is it 
 not more consistent with the context, to consider it as Langeld, a land-tax Baines. 
 
 c “Dr. Whitaker has Gothewite, which he takes to be formed from gote, a ditch, or gutter. It is, 
 however, no other than Grithwite, the fine for breach of the peace, a very common term in Saxon 
 and Anglo-Norman laws.”—Baines, 
 d “ That is, shall have two witnesses besides himself.”—Baines. 
 
 e “ ‘ A portmote,’ says Dr. Whitaker, ‘ was a court convened for the purpose of hearing and 
 determining causes relating to a harbour. It may surely therefore be inferred, that Preston was 
 then a seaport town. There are many reasons for believing that the tides rose much higher up the 
 Ribble than at present.’ This reasoning, however, is not conclusive; there was a portmote at Man¬ 
 chester, which could not have been at any time a seaport town. The word port is from the Teutonic, 
 and not from the French or Latin ; it signifies any city or walled town as well as a harbour, and it 
 enters into the composition of the names of several inland towns, as Stockport, Aldport, Newport 
 Fagnell, &c.” — Baines. — Without the tides rising any higher than at the present time, the Ribble 
 was capable of floating to Preston a large class of the merchant vessels in use at the period 
 referred to. See chap 1, page 52. 
 
260 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 have handled the goods, he shall either have the merchandize or 5s. from the seller.— 
 11. Also, if any burgess shall have drink for sale, he shall sell according to the assize 
 made by the burgesses, unless it shall be replaced by the tunnel.—12. Also, a burgess 
 shall not come to the mayor after sunset for any claim, if he is unwilling, unless the claim 
 be made by a stranger.—13. Also, a burgess shall accommodate his lord out of his bargain, 
 and the lord shall pay for it to him within 40 days, but if he doth not, the burgess shall 
 not accommodate him again until he shall pay.—14. Also, no one can be a burgess unless 
 he hold a burgage of 12 feet in front.—15. Also, if a burgess shall sell for more than the 
 assize he shall be in mercy 12d. and he who brought in nothing ; so the burgess of the 
 court aforesaid shall have fuel, fire, and water, to make judgment.—16. Also, if any be 
 taken for theft or breach of trust and be condemned, be who sued shall do justice.— 
 
 17. Also, if a burgess wound another and he shall be willing to agree amicably, he shall 
 give for every bruise the breadth of a thumb 4d. and for every wound 8d.; and whoever 
 is wounded may prove what he has lost by the wound, and the other shall return to him 
 what he has paid to the surgeon for healing the wound : and the arms shall be brought to 
 him, and he shall swear upon his arms that he has been wounded and such things have 
 been done to him, and that, if his friends consent, he will take what is offered to him.— 
 
 18. Also, if a burgess complain of another burgess that he owes a debt to him, and the 
 other shall acknowledge the debt, the reeve shall command him to avoid the debt, and 
 render the debt within 8 days, upon pain of forfeiture, 8d. for the first week, 12d. for the 
 second, and so for every week until he shall render the debt; but if he shall deny the 
 debt, and the plaintiff hath witnesses, he shall deny by a third hand upon oath, and the 
 plaintiff shall be amerced 12d. And if the defendant shall come with his witnesses, and 
 the plaintiff shall not come, the defendant shall be quit and the plaintiff in mercy; and if 
 the plaintiff shall not be able to come and place any one in his stead before the court, he 
 may take the defendant’s oath. And that no plaint or forfeiture shall be set on the bur¬ 
 gesses in the court aforesaid exceeding 12d. unless he shall vouched to duel, and duel 
 shall be adjudged to him; but if duel shall be adjudged to him and waged he shall be in 
 mercy 40s.—19. Also, if a burgess marry his daughter or grand-daughter to any one, he 
 may marry her without the license of any one.—20. Also, a burgess may make an oven 
 upon his ground, and take furnage for one load of meal [suma farris, seam of corn, 
 Whitaker,] one halfpenny, and he whose meal or corn it shall be, shall find wood to heat 
 the oven.—21. Also, the burgesses shall not go to the oven nor to the kiln unless they 
 please.—22. Also, if any one’s kiln shall take fire, and it have one door, he shall give40d. 
 and if it have two doors half a mark.—23. Also, if the burgesses by the common council 
 of the neighbourhood shall travel for any business of the town, their expenses shall be 
 rendered to them when they return.—24. Also, a stranger may not participate in any 
 merchandize with the burgesses of our town.—25. Also, when a burgess shall be desirous 
 to sell his burgage, his next of kin is to buy that burgage before any other, and when it 
 shall be sold and he hath not another burgage, when the other shall be seized he shall give 
 4d. from the issue, but if he hath another burgage he shall give nothing.—26. Also, if a 
 burgess shall be in mercy for bread and ale, the first, second, or third time, he shall be in 
 mercy 12d. but the fourth time he shall go the cuck-stool. f—27. Also, if a burgess of the 
 
 f “ ‘ Ibit at Cuckestolam.’ There are several fields adjoining to the corner of the Moor near St. 
 Paul’s church, known by the name of the ‘ Click Stool Pit Field,’ to this day. Insolvent burgesses 
 were submitted to the chastisement of the correctional chair, and it is probable that a species of 
 domestic delinquents underwent the same co ding operation. How this matter may be, we have not 
 now the power to determine, but a passage in the history of Liverpool and Ormskirk may shed some 
 light on this curious subject. Not more than forty-five years ago, a Cuck-stool complete stood over 
 a pit, near Longton, on the way from Preston to Liverpool, adjoining the turnpike-road.”—Baines. 
 
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, GUILD MERCHANT, ETC. 
 
 261 
 
 town die a sudden death his wife and his heirs shall quietly have all his chattels and lands, 
 so that neither his lord nor the justices may lay hands on the houses or chattels of the 
 deceased, unless he shall have been publicly excommunicated, in which case by the council 
 of the priest and of the neighbours they are to be expended in alms.—28. Also, the wife 
 of the deceased may marry whomsoever she please.—29. Also, if any one shall demand 
 a debt of another before the reeve, if he be unwilling to pay, the mayor shall render to 
 ' the plaintiff his debt from the king’s purse, and shall distrain the other by his chattels 
 that he pay the debt, or he shall seize the house into his hands.—30. Also, the burgesses 
 shall not receive claim from the reeve on a market day unless the claim be made by a 
 stranger.—31. Also, a burgess gives no transit.—32. Also, a burgess hath common pasture 
 every where, except in corn-fields, meadows, and hayes.—33. Also, if a burgess shall 
 strike the mayor or reeve of the borough in court, and shall be convicted, he shall hence¬ 
 forth be in mercy for the offence.—34. Also, if the reeve shall strike any one out of court, 
 he shall be in mercy for his offence.—35. Also, if a burgess shall strike the reeve out of 
 court, he shall be in mercy 40s.—36. Also, if a burgess shall overcome another, if he con¬ 
 fess it, he shall forfeit 12d.; if he deny it, he shall clear himself by oath.—37. Also, if 
 any one bearing false money shall be taken, the reeve shall render to the king the false 
 monies as many as there are, and shall account in the rent of his farm for the goods, and 
 deliver his body to our lord the king for judgment to be done.—38. Also, it shall not be 
 lawful for regrators to buy anything which shall be sold on a market day to a regrator 
 until the bells be rung in the evening, nor in any day in the week, until that which he 
 bought shall be in the town for one night.—39. Also, the aforesaid burgesses shall not go 
 in any expedition unless with the lord himself, unless they may be able to return on the 
 same day.—40. If any one shall be summonod when the justice of the town shall be in 
 the expedition and shall not go, and shall acknowledge himself to have heard, he shall 
 forfeit 12d.; if he denies to have heard the edict, shall clear himself by his own oath, but 
 if he shall have essoin, to wit, either by his wife’s lying in childbed of a son, or other 
 reasonable essoin, he shall not pay. If he is going with the person of our lord the king, 
 he shall not have essoin.—41. Also, it is the custom of the borough that no burgess ought 
 to be taken for an accusation by the lord or by the reeve if he have sufficient pledges so 
 of claim made in the borough by any knight, if duel be adjudged between the burgess 
 and knight, the knight may not find a substitute unless it be found that he ought not to 
 fight.—42. If the reeve command any burgess by another than his own servant and he 
 shall not come, he shall forfeit nothing.—43. Also, no justice shall lay hands on the 
 house or chattels of any deceased.—44. Also, if any one call a married woman a 
 whore, and complaint be made thereof, and witnesses be absent, she may clear herself by 
 her own oath ; and he by whom it was said shall do this justice, that he shall take himself 
 by the nose and say he hath spoken a lie, and shall be pardoned : there is the same 
 judgment as to a widow. 
 
 “ This is the law of Preston in Amoundrenesse which they have from the law of the 
 Bretons.” 
 
 Considerable difference of opinion obtains as to tbe precise meaning to 
 be attached to the expression, “ which they have from the law of the 
 Bretons.” Some conjecture the passage alludes to certain privileges 
 enjoyed by the natives of Brittany or Armorica, others to prescriptive 
 customs descended through the Saxon and Danish periods from the ancient 
 inhabitants, or from the Brittani or “ Romanised Britons.” Ilolinshed, 
 in his description of England, says :— 
 
 “ Martia surnamed Proba, or the Just, was the widow of Gutiline, king of the Britons, 
 
262 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENTIEONS. 
 
 and was left protectoress of the realm during the minority of her son. Perceiving 
 much in the conduct of her subjects which needed reformation, she devised sundry 
 wholesome laws which the Britons, after her death, named the Martian statutes. Alfred 
 caused the laws of this excellently learned princess, whom all commended for her know¬ 
 ledge of the Greek tongue, to be established in the realm.” 
 
 These laws received many additions and improvements up to the time 
 of the Confessor, under whose name they are continually referred to, as 
 the code of the English people. The great effort of the commonalty, 
 Anglo-Norman, as well as Saxon, for some time after the conquest, was 
 directed to procure the re-enactment of these cherished laws. The 
 sovereigns of the new dynasty, and especially Henry II., frequently pro¬ 
 pitiated their subjects by concessions in this direction. It is most probable, 
 therefore, that previously enjoyed municipal laws and privileges of 
 Preston are implied by the “law of the Bretons.” 
 
 With reference to the opinion that the Homan municipal form of govern ¬ 
 ment, including the “ Guilds Merchant” and other customs, was adopted 
 or imitated by the Saxon conquerors, one writer says :— 
 
 “ It is a point of curious inquiry, not yet, so far as we know, fully discussed, to 
 ascertain how far the Saxons, on their invasion of the island, moulded or adapted their 
 political institutions to those which they must have found existing in Roman Britain. 
 The Saxons, we know, ultimately possessed themselves of all the Roman walled cities, 
 of which they formed their boroughs ; and it is hardly conceivable that a comparatively 
 small body of invaders would completely overturn all those municipal institutions, 
 which, though less free than their own, would present them, so far as administration 
 was concerned, with useful means for securing and consolidating their acquisitions.” S 
 
 Mr. Thomas Wriglit, contends that, as the constitution of the Homan 
 towns, with their curiales, or senators, and their municipal officers, were 
 all preserved after the Teutonic conquests, in the cities in Gaul and the 
 other Roman provinces on the continent, they were no doubt also pre¬ 
 served in Britain. He says :— 
 
 “ We have unfortunately few documents which throw any light on the condition of 
 the towns in England during the Saxon period of our history; but we cannot help 
 recognising in the Roman curia the origin of the elective body in our medieval towns, 
 th e probi homines of the older records, the burgesses, who, like the curiales or senators, 
 obtained their rank by birth or election. The duumverii answered to the two ballivi or 
 bailiffs, or, as the Saxons called them prcefecti or reeves, who were the chief magistrates 
 in our medieval boroughs. The principales were the scabini (echevins) of the conti¬ 
 nental towns in England, generally known by the Saxon name of aldermen.” h 
 
 Mr. Wright, in support of this view, instances several rights and privi¬ 
 leges retained in the Saxon period by the Homan municipal towns, and 
 especially Worcester, Exeter, and London. The latter he clearly shows, 
 not only preserved its relative independence, through the stormy period 
 
 g Pea. Cyclop., art. Britannia, 
 h Celt, Roman, and Saxon, p. 437. 
 
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, GUILD MERCHANT, ETC. 
 
 263 
 
 when the Danish and Saxon chieftains contended for mastery, hut that 
 the invaders were often beaten hack from the walls of London by the free 
 citizens when the monarch was discomfited in the open field. The Nor¬ 
 man William was compelled to make conditions with them before they 
 would acknowledge his sovereignty. Mr. Wright says :—“In a dispute 
 with the abbot of Bury, in the twelfth century, the citizens of London, so 
 far from admitting (as Brady supposed), that their privileges were newly 
 acquired from their Norman sovereigns, professed to have enjoyed them 
 from the first foundation of their city, Avhich they carried as far back as 
 the foundation of Borne.” ‘ 
 
 It appears pretty clear that a considerable portion, at least, of the 
 Boman walled towns in Britain, inhabited chiefly by the remains of the 
 Bomano-British population, compounded with the Saxon conquerors for the 
 retention of their ancient privileges, and that the Teutonic chiefs, especially 
 on the north-western portion of England, imitated, to a considerable 
 extent, the form and character of the Boman administration. Palgrave, 
 alluding particularly to the Cumbrian Britons, whose territory at one time 
 extended to the Bibble, affirms that “ as soon as the royal authority 
 became developed on Boman ground, all their kings took upon themselves, 
 as far as they could, to govern according to the spirit of the Boman policy, 
 and agreeably to the maxims prevailing at the decline of the empire.” 
 Mr. Hodgson Hinde says:— 
 
 “ At the very period to which on other grounds we have assigned the extermination 
 of the native dynasties in Lancashire” (the reign of Egfrid or Ecgfrith, who ruled from 
 670 to 685), “ we find for the first time in the Northumbrian annals, the appointment 
 of a new class of officers, who are variously styled by Bed a—‘ tribuni,’ ‘duces/ and 
 ‘ prajfecti,’—whose administration appears to have extended not only to the Britons, but 
 to the subject Piets, and even to the Irish, who were partially subdued by Ecgfrith. 
 After his reign, and the contraction of the territory of his successors, the authority of 
 these officers was necessarily confined to the Britons.”j 
 
 The Saxous were originally strongly attached to pastoral or agricultural 
 pursuits, and often declined from a superstitious feeling, to occupy houses 
 built by a people they had conquered. Many of the smaller and imper¬ 
 fectly fortified Boman towns were unquestionably destroyed iu the 
 sanguinary contests between the Britanni and the “ Piets and Scots,” 
 and likewise during the gradual conquest by the Teutonic races. lienee 
 Preston most probably rose from the ruins of Boman Coccium, or the 
 victorious Saxon chieftain may have preferred the erection of a new home- 
 
 i “Et (licebant civcs Lundonienses fuisse de thelonco in omni foro, et semper et ubique, per 
 totam Angliam, a tempore quo Roma primo fundata fuit, civitatem Lundoniic eodem tempore fun- 
 datam. Josceline de Brakelonde, p. 56.”—Celt, Roman, and Saxon, p. 444. 
 j Lan. and Ches. His. Soc. Trans., vol. 8, p. 19.—See chap. 2, p. 65, of the present work. 
 
264 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 stead or “ tun,” on the northern hank of the river, either from the super¬ 
 stitious feeling referred to, or from a natural preference of the* site as a 
 residence, if not as a fortress. To some extent the Roman forms of 
 municipal government may have been transferred to the new location. 
 This is quite consistent with Mr. Wright’s theory. He says:— 
 
 “ Although the municipal privileges were all derived directly from the Romans, it 
 does not of course follow that such privileges were en joyed only by towns which had 
 been founded in Roman times. As the Saxons became established throughout the 
 island, they adopted, to a certain degree, the manners of their Roman predecessors, they 
 founded other towns, and they naturally imitated the forms, presented to their view in 
 the Roman models already existing. Most of these were, as the Roman towns 
 had become, royal towns, that is they had no superior lord but the king. But 
 others, after the conversion of the Saxons to Christianity, gradually sprung up about, 
 and under the protection of episcopal sees and abbeys, and these eventually received 
 their rights and privileges at the hands of their ecclesiastical protectors. * * The 
 
 judicial entries on the fly leaves of the Exeter manuscript, written before and after the 
 Conquest, show us that the municipal forms and conditions of that city underwent no 
 change upon the transfer of the English crown to a Norman line of sovereigns; and 
 such was probably the case in all other cities and towns then in existence. But, although 
 their privileges and constitution were hi principle untouched, in practice they were 
 frequently trespassed upon. A new race of feudal lords had entered upon the land, who 
 were ignorant of the customs of the people over whom they had intruded themselves, and 
 who had little respect for any customs which stood as obstacles to the gratification of 
 their views of aggrandisement This must have led to continual riots and disturbances 
 in the old Saxon towns, and to the infringement of their privileges where they had 
 little power to obtain permanent redress. After undergoing all these vexations during 
 a few years, they saw the advantages—or we may perhaps better say the necessity—of 
 purchasing from the king written charters confirming their old rights, which became an 
 effective protection in a court of law. Thus originated municipal charters, which are 
 rather to be considered as a proof of the antiquity, than of the novelty, of the privileges 
 they grant. They were given most abundantly under Henry II. and his sons, when it 
 became the policy of the English monarchs to seek the support of the independent 
 burghers against a turbulent feudal aristocracy.” k 
 
 If Walton-le-dale be the Coccium of Antoninus, and ever possessed any¬ 
 thing resembling the privileges mentioned by Richard of Cirencester, it is 
 by no means improbable that many of its forms of civil administration, its 
 privileges, and immunities, may have descended through the Saxon muni¬ 
 cipality of Preston, to the period of the Horman conquest. The phrase, 
 “ This is the law of Preston, in Amoundrenesse, which they have from the 
 law of the Rretons,” may thus be satisfactorily interpretated. Dr. Kuerden 
 appears to have entertained a firm conviction of the Roman origin of the 
 more antiquated municipal formulae of the borough of Preston. He says:— 
 
 “ In antient time of the early Saxons it ” (Preston), “ was ruled by a Portgrave 
 formerly, and then in Latin call’d Prefectus or Prepositus, being the long’s immediate 
 officer in that burrough, which had the liberty of keeping 3 port-motes per annu. Two 
 of them, as I conceive, in success of time being changed into the nature of 2 Leet dayes, 
 after King Alfred’s time, and the other grand port-mote to this day” (about 1686) 
 “ being styled Magna Curia Lete, being a Court for election of new Magistrates within 
 
 k Celt, Roman, and Saxon, p. 449. 
 
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, GUILD MERCHANT, ETC. 265 
 
 the burrough. They had likewise two other officers of note within the burrougli then 
 styled Pretores, a title or office no doubt derived from the Roman time, and that there 
 have been such officers within the bin-rough is manifest from an antient roll or charter 
 of liberties kept amongst their antient records.” 1 
 
 A municipal custom, somewhat peculiar, is yet observed in Preston, 
 which may possibly have descended from the Roman period. The mayor 
 and members of the corporation are preceded, on state occasions, by two 
 officers in lively, each hearing a halberd. These weapons are placed out¬ 
 side of the door of the residence of the mayor for the time being, as 
 insignia of his office. There is some difficulty in tracing this practice to 
 any other source than the one suggested, notwithstanding its great 
 antiquity. The right to carry a mace is conceded by the charter of Eliza¬ 
 beth, but no mention is made of halberds. The “ Custumale” gives to 
 the mayor, -within the borough, the authority of sheriff in all matters 
 “ saving the” (pleas of the) “ king’s crown.” Are the halberds carried 
 before the chief magistrate by virtue of this privilege ? The sheriff of 
 the county, in the execution of his duty, is escorted by a troop of javelin 
 men. If such be the case, it is not improbable both customs may have 
 originated from the practice of the Romans, wdiose superior magistrates were 
 escorted by twelve lietors, while those invested with more limited 
 authority were preceded by two. Dr. Leigh, alluding to the improve¬ 
 ments effected by the Emperor Trajan, says, “he constituted in Britain the 
 Municipal Laws ; at Sessions and Assizes ordered the Rods and Axes to be 
 presented to the Backs and Hecks of the common people.” m 
 
 The Preston halberds are by no means indifferent modem representatives 
 of the Roman fasces and secures, or the bundle of rods with an axe stuck 
 in the centre. The shaft is much decorated, and the brass head exhibits 
 an axe as well as a spear. A similar custom is observed at Lancaster, and 
 by many of the “mock corporations,” (some of which arc of old standing), 
 in the neighbourhood of Preston. The newly incorporated municipality 
 of Blackburn has adopted the halberds ; but the practice is not common in 
 other parts of England. Notwithstanding their Roman origin, many 
 practices, peculiar to the Saxon people, were engrafted upon the elder 
 municipal institutions, and some of these contain the germs of the most 
 cherished portions of the present “ constitution” of the country. The 
 peculiarity and extent of this modification is thus forcibly described by a 
 modem writer:— 
 
 “ The municipal organization of the Anglo-Saxons was not confined to their towns; 
 it pervaded the whole territory; the modern distinction between personal and political 
 
 1 The “ Custumale” is perhaps the document referred to. 
 m His. Lan., Ches., etc., p. 73. 
 
266 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 freedom was unknown ; the right to a weapon for his personal defence, and a vote in 
 the affairs of the town or district, were regarded as inalienably attached to every free 
 man. This leading principle of the Anglo-Saxon polity, directly descended from those 
 continental Germans, whose free spirit Tacitus has so clearly and forcibly exhibited, 
 must be borne in mind to estimate the relative position of the Anglo-Saxon boroughs. 
 They were not like the boroughs of modern times, isolated municipalities in the midst of 
 large tracts of country, subject, in matters of local judicature and taxation, to magis¬ 
 trates directly nominated by the central authority of the state ; they were only parts of 
 one great municipal system, extending over the whole territory. The principal boroughs 
 existing at the period of the Norman conquest were the towns still girt by the walls 
 and towers erected under the Roman regime. The state of the age, the prevalence of 
 warfare, both on the large and petty scale, the constant liability to foreign incursion, 
 made walls and trenches necessary to the security not only of trading towns, but of 
 isolated mansions; and byrig, burgh, or borough as it is now written, was still the 
 genuine term for all. But the boroughs by distinction, the boroughs in political estima¬ 
 tion, were those towns,” (apparently all considerable ones) “ which had each, under the 
 name usually of burgh-reve or port revc, an elective municipal officer, exercising functions 
 analagous to those of the elective reve of the shire, or shire-reve. n 
 
 After the conquest, the Norman chieftains for some period abrogated the 
 free municipal liberties of the Saxon people. According to the Domesday 
 survey, guild-halls of municipal towns were included in the grants of the 
 Conqueror. The king’s revenue had previously been collected by the 
 elective heads of the shires and municipalities. The Saxon shire reeve 
 was displaced and a Norman viscount appointed in his stead. A bailiff, 
 appointed by the king, superseded the borough reeve. It was the practice 
 of the earlier Norman monarchs to farm these hail wicks to the highest 
 bidder, in consequence of which the inhabitants were subjected to the 
 most unprincipled and reckless extortion. With the view to rid them¬ 
 selves of this odious system, beneath which all commercial enterprise or 
 industrial energy must have speedily perished, several of the municipalities 
 were induced to outbid the parties fanning their revenues, and thus pay 
 the tax directly to the king. This proved more profitable to the crown, 
 and hence the frequent charters granting the revenue to the burgesses in 
 fee farm, that is in permanent possession, so long as the stipulated crown 
 “ rent” was regularly paid. Under such circumstances the ancient mode 
 of administration would be resumed ; hut the Norman mayor was sub¬ 
 stituted for reeve. This was more agreeable to the Saxon population than 
 the term bailiff-, mayor signifying a municipal officer in the language of 
 the conquerors. The obnoxious term bailiff was, however, retained by 
 many corporate towns. The constitution of all municipal bodies for several 
 centuries after the Conquest, wms of a purely democratic character. The 
 Saxon Follcemote, or meeting of all the inhabitants, enacted the burgh- 
 laws, or by-laws, levied local taxes, administered justice, sold or leased 
 public lands, appointed the municipal executive, and transacted any other 
 
 n Pen. Cyclop., art. Borough. 
 
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, GUILD MERCHANT, ETC. 
 
 267 
 
 business affecting the welfare of the general community. The meetings 
 of the urban boroughs were held at the “Mote,” “Moot,” or Common 
 Hall, which was likewise sometimes denominated, where the Danish 
 nomenclature prevailed, the hus-tings, a term now exclusively confined to 
 the arena set apart for the election of members to serve in parliament. 
 The Norman and Plantagenet princes frequently founded free boroughs in 
 populous manors, to which they granted some of the older municipal 
 privileges. Parties who took land and erected dwellings in these “ royal 
 burghs” were exempted from many of the royal and manorial taxes, not 
 only in the town where they resided, but in all the royal boroughs in the 
 kingdom. The land belonging to the king alone conferred these 
 exemptions. All other holders in the borough were subjected to the tax 
 due to the crown. So highly was this privilege valued that large sums 
 were sometimes paid to secure the freedom. An instance is recorded in 
 the borough of Carlisle, where one David Le- Tinclor, or David the Dyer, 
 paid a sum equal to ten pounds of the present value of money, to have his 
 own house made into a burgage tenement. The free boroughs, likewise, 
 having the privilege of trying offences committed within their boundaries, 
 escaped the payment of the heavy fees charged in the com’ts attached to 
 the hundred or county. 
 
 The charter of Henry II., which is without date, 0 briefly confers upon 
 the burgesses of Preston the privileges previously granted to “ his bur¬ 
 gesses of Newcastle-under-Lync.” What these privileges were, can only 
 at the present time be surmised, as the Newcastle charter is lost. The 
 probability is that it differed but very slightly from similar documents of 
 the period, and included immunities from tolls, p the privileges of a guild 
 merchant, and judicial authority within the borough. 
 
 In the confirmation of this charter by King John, the privileges are 
 described as the “liberties and free customs which the lord H., our father, 
 gave, granted, and by his charter confirmed to the same burgesses, the 
 whole toll of the Wapentake hundred of Amounderness, and a free fair at 
 Preston, at the Assumption of St. Mary, to last eight days.” John, in 
 
 o “ The charter of Henry II. is without date, but in the by-laws of the corporation of Preston, it 
 is said to have been granted in the tenth year of his reign ; this, however, appears to be incorrect, 
 for John of Oxford, bishop of Norwich, who is one of the witnesses to the charter, was not made a 
 bishop of Norwich until 1175, about the 21st Henry II. The better opinion, therefore, is that the 
 charter was granted in the 26th year of his reign, 1179 or 1180, in the former of which years he 
 spent his Christmas at Winchester, where the charters appear to have been granted.— See Ilolins- 
 head, vol. 3, p. 102.”—Edward Baines. 
 
 p ” Thelonium is a payment in towns, markets, and fairs, for goods and cattle bought and sold. 
 According to Bracton (ii. 24), it implies a liberty as well to take, as to be free from toll.”—Note 
 to Dr. Lingard’s translation of the Preston charters. 
 
268 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 addition, granted “ the right of pasturage in the forest which is called 
 Fulwood, and out of the forest itself as much (wood) as they shall want 
 towards building their town, on the view of our foresters.” 
 
 Henry III. confirmed the previously acquired privileges. From the 
 preamble of a second charter, in the year 1252, and the 27th year of his 
 reign, we learn that complaint had been made of encroachment on the 
 part of the burgesses upon the king’s forest rights. By this charter, how¬ 
 ever, Henry confers a legal title to the pasturage, etc., previously disputed. 
 The document says :— 
 
 “ Whereas it is known to us by an inquisition which we caused to be taken by our sheriff 
 of Lancaster, that three hundred and twenty-four acres of land, as well of the old as of 
 the new purpresture,1 which our burgesses of Preston, in Amounderness, have made 
 under our enclosure of Fulwood, belong to our borough of Preston, and not the said 
 enclosure (which purpresture reaches to the following boundaries, to wit: along the 
 rivulet of Ennisbrock at Ribbleton, as far as where that rivulet falls into the water of 
 Sannocke, and so proceeding along that water of Saunocke, as far as the old dyke, which 
 is the division between Preston and Tulketh), we have granted and by this our charter 
 have confirmed for ourselves and our heirs, that the burgesses and their heirs shall have 
 that purpresture for ever; and that on the moor towards our wood of Fulwood, without 
 the cover of the said wood, and within the said boundaries, they may break up ground, 
 and bring it into cultivation as they shall please, without any impeachment of our 
 foresters or verderors ; r yet so that they come not within forty perches of the cover of 
 the said wood. Saving also to the burgesses aforesaid, and their heirs aforesaid, their 
 right of turbary and pasturage on the said moor, and of sufficient underwood s in the 
 same wood, without waste or impeachment of our foresters or verderors aforesaid.” 
 
 Edward III., in 1328, after confirming all previous rights and 
 privileges, further grants “to the same burgesses that they and their 
 heirs shall have for ever a weekly market in the aforesaid town of Preston, 
 in the county of Lancaster, and a fair in like manner every year, to last 
 five days, to wit on the vigil and feast of the apostles Simon and Jude, 
 and on the three days next following, provided that market and that fair 
 be not to the prejudice of the adjoining markets and adjoining fairs.” 
 
 In the reign of Edward III. (1343), an inquiry was made into the 
 value of property of all the boroughs in the kingdom. There were only 
 four “ royal burghs” in Lancashire at that period,—Preston, Liverpool, 
 Lancaster, and Wigan. From this document 4 it appears that Preston was 
 the wealthiest of the four :— 
 
 “ Borough of Preston. The undersigned made inquiry as to the true value of the 
 ninth part of the goods of the men dwelling in the borough of Preston, and found that 
 the true value was £6 17s. 4d. Albert Fitz Robert, John de Wiche, Galfred de 
 Hakenshou, Nicholas de Preston, William Smyth, and Roger de Bluwath.” 
 
 q “ Purpresture (from pour prendre, to take for one’s own use) signifies an encroachment on the 
 right or desemne of the king.”—Note to Lingard’s Translation. 
 
 r “ Verderor is one whose office is to look to the preservation of the vert in the forest, that is of every¬ 
 thing hearing green leaves, and affording cover for deer.”—Ibid. 
 
 s “ Clausura often means brushwood, to make fences or enclosures.”—Ibid. 
 
 t Nonarum Inquisitiones.—Lan, 
 
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, GUILD MERCHANT, ETC. 
 
 269 
 
 The £6 17s. 4d. has been computed to be rather more than equal to 
 £100 of the present value. The whole of the moveable property of 
 Preston at the time would not amount, even with this allowance, to £1000. 
 Liverpool returned £6 16s. 7d., Lancaster £6 13s. 6d., and Wigan 
 £5 9s. 4d. Manchester had not sufficient trade to be taxed. 
 
 Richard II. merely confirmed “to our beloved burgesses now being of the 
 said town of Preston,” the privileges granted by his predecessors. 
 
 Henry IV., in the second year of his reign (1401), was equally gracious 
 to his “beloved burgesses;” and added powers for the recovery of any 
 of their previously granted privileges which “ their predecessors and fore¬ 
 runners by some chance might not have hitherto fully used.” 
 
 Henry V.’s charter (1414), confirms the additional powers granted by 
 his father. Philip and Mary, in 1557, likewise endorsed the acts of their 
 predecessors. 
 
 The great charter of Elizabeth, granted in 1565, is, however, a much 
 more important document. It more fully sets forth the privileges, duties, 
 and powers of the corporation and burgesses. It appears from the pre¬ 
 amble, that application had been made to the queen for the gracious 
 extension to the borough of the royal favour, and that in consequence 
 thereof the charter was granted, by which Preston was declared to “be 
 and remain for ever after a free corporate borough in deed fact and name 
 for ever, of one mayor, two bailiffs, and the burgesses of the borougli of 
 Preston, in the county of Lancaster; and that the said mayor, bailiffs and 
 burgesses of that borough shall be hereafter one commonalty, and one body 
 corporate and political, in deed fact and name for ever.” 
 
 Power is then given to the corporate body, to “implead and be 
 impleaded, sue and be sued, defend and be defended, answer and be 
 answered,” in all courts within the queen’s dominions. The privilege of 
 using a “common seal” is next accorded, with the power to “break, 
 change, or make anew that seal at their pleasure.” The document next 
 concedes to the body corporate the right to the acquisition of “demesnes, 
 manors, lands, tenements, rents, revenues, hereditaments, liberties, fran¬ 
 chises, rights, jurisdictions, and privileges whatsoever, which are held of 
 us immediately in chief, or otherwise by military service.” 
 
 The charter next provides for the appointment of “ twenty-four of the 
 more discreet and worthy men of the said borough,” to be called “principal 
 burgesses,” and entrusted with the performance of the functions of a com¬ 
 mon council, “ to make and enact from time to time by themselves, or by 
 the greater part of them, with the mayor of the said borough for the time 
 being, statutes, acts, and ordinances, touching and concerning the public 
 advantage and profit of the same borough, and the inhabitants thereof for 
 
270 
 
 TBESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 the time being.” Power is likewise granted to the mayor, bailiffs, and 
 burgesses, “ according to their discretion,” to “ make appoint, and admit 
 other burgesses from among the more worthy inhabitants of that borough 
 to he burgesses of the same borough.” The privilege of making by-laws, 
 and the power to punish their infringement, by either corporal punishment 
 or by fine and amercement, is likewise conceded. 
 
 The document then proceeds to nominate the first mayor, bailiffs, and 
 other officers, who are to exercise their official functions until the election 
 of their successors, “ at the feast of St. Wilfrid, archbishop, next ensuing.” 
 The following gentlemen, who are severally styled “ our beloved,” 
 received the honour of these appointments:—Mayor, Evan Walle; bailiffs, 
 Richard Banester, and William Robson; “twelve principal burgesses,” 
 or common councilmcn,—Oliver Brerers, William Hodgkynson, Christopher 
 Haidock, Thomas Typpinge, Thomas Walle, William Banester, Thomas 
 Brerers, William Clayton, Henry Blundell, Richard Arram, Richard 
 Banester, and John Hynde. The mayor is appointed clerk to the 
 market, “ coroner within the said borough, and the liberties and precincts 
 thereof,” and justice of the peace. 
 
 “ A certain house within the said borough, vulgarly called the Toll- 
 booth, otherwise the Moot-hall,” is next ordained to be “ the common 
 hall and house of the said mayor, bailiffs, and burgesses and their suc¬ 
 cessors for ever, as well to make therein their assemblies and meetings, as 
 to hold and treat therein all and every their courts, pleas, causes, matters, 
 consultations, and affairs, whatsoever, from time to time.” 
 
 The charter then provides for the election of the future mayors and 
 other officers, “ in the week next before the feast of St. Wilfrid, arch¬ 
 bishop.” “ Two persons' 1 of the more discreet and worthy inhabitants of 
 the said borough” are to be chosen, one by the mayor, and the other by 
 the “ capital burgessess,” who “ shall corporally make oath before the 
 mayor that they, with convenient speed, will choose and name twenty-four 
 others of the more discreet burgesses dwelling within the said borough to 
 choose and name, a new mayor, a new bailiff, to be called the town’s 
 baylie, and a new sergeant to be called the town’s sergeant. * * * 
 
 And if the twenty-foui’ men aforesaid cannot consent and agree together 
 in their choice, then we will that the choice and will of the major part 
 of the same take effect as was used heretofore.” 
 
 u Kuerden describes these two officers by the title of “ Eleisors." He likewise gives at length the 
 forms of the oaths taken by these officers, and all others acting under the charter of incorporation. 
 From his description it would appear that these elections were followed by much feasting and hospi¬ 
 tality, the church bell9 contributing a “joyful noise’’ in honour of the newly appointed functionaries.— 
 See “ Brief description of Preston,” edited by John Taylor. 
 
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, GUILD MERCHANT, ETC. 
 
 271 
 
 Provision is then made for the supplying of vacancies, in case of the 
 death of the mayor, bailiff, or town sergeant. The right of election in 
 such cases is vested in the “ capital burgesses or the major part of them,” 
 who are required to meet for such purpose, within eight days after the 
 death or removal of any of the above-named officials. 
 
 Authority is given to the mayor, “ whenever it shall so please him to 
 name, choose, and appoint one honest and fit person, being a burgess and 
 inhabitant of the said borough, to be and bear the office of bailiff, called 
 the mayor’s baylie, as long as the same mayor shall he or remain in office.” 
 The mayor is likewise authorised to appoint a burgess “ to be and bear the 
 office of sub-bailiff, called the sergeant-at-mace, * * for making, 
 
 performing, and executing proclamations, arrests, processes, executions, 
 and other things pertaining to his office, * * * in like manner and 
 
 form as the sergcants-at-macc in our city of London do and execute.” And 
 likewise “that the same sergeant-at-mace, so named, appointed, and chosen, 
 may and can bear a mace, engraven with our arms, within the limits and 
 bounds of the said borough.” 
 
 Authority is granted to the corporation to compel the acceptance of any 
 office to which a burgess may have been elected, under the penalties of 
 fine or imprisonment. 
 
 In case of the death or removal of a capital burgess, power is given to 
 the mayor and the other capital burgesses still remaining, to elect another 
 to fill the vacancy. 
 
 The privilege of holding a Guild Merchant is confirmed in the following 
 terms:—“ Moreover, we have granted, and by these, for ourselves, our 
 heirs and successors, we have confirmed to the aforesaid mayor, bailiffs, 
 and burgesses of the said borough of Preston, and then- successors, that 
 the said mayor, bailiffs, and burgesses, and their successors, shall have a 
 Gild Merchant in the aforesaid borough, with all the liberties and free 
 customs appertaining to such a gild, as they have heretofore enjoyed.” T 
 
 The charter next invests the corporation with the privilege of “ assize 
 and assay" of bread, wine, and beer, and other victuals ; the ulnage 1 and 
 sealing of all cloths, weights and measures whatsoever, and the amend¬ 
 ment and correction thereof, and of all things belonging or appertaining to 
 the office of our clerk of the market.” 
 
 A court to be held every three weeks, before the mayor, bailiffs, and 
 seneschal/ j s next granted, with full “ power and authority to hear and 
 
 v ‘ The members of a gild-merchant, beside other liberties, had that of holding certain pleas of 
 land within their precincts.”—Note to Dr. Lardner’s Translation, 
 w “ The power of fixing the price and examining the quality of these articles.”—Ibid, 
 x “Ulnage and sealing imply the office of measurer of the length and breadth of every piece of cloth, 
 and of the searcher, who, by seals, pointed out the faults in each.”—Ibid, 
 y The recorder. 
 
272 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 determine, by plaints in the same, concerning all and every kind of debts, 
 accounts, covenants, and contracts, trespasses by force and arms, or other¬ 
 wise, done in contempt of us, our heirs and successors,” etc. Power is 
 likewise given to receive “ all recognizances whatsoever between merchant 
 and merchant, and of doing execution thereupon, according to the statute 
 of merchants lately enacted in the statutes of Acton Burnell.” The “ view 
 of frank pledge ” is next granted, or the power of holding a court, for the 
 reception of pledges or sureties in behalf of all persons above the age of 
 fourteen, as guarantees for their loyalty to the sovereign. 
 
 The privilege of holding a weekly market on Saturdays, and two annual 
 fairs, “ as heretofore,” is next accorded, with a “ court of pie-poudre,” or 
 “ court of record, held at fairs and markets, to do justice between buyers 
 and sellers, and to redress disorders.” 2 Upon the body corporate is like¬ 
 wise conferred “the stallage,” pic cage, a fines, amercements, and all other 
 profits, commodities, and emoluments whatsoever appertaining, happening, 
 arising, or belonging to such market, fairs, and court of pie poudre 
 aforesaid.” 
 
 The ancient limits and boundaries of the borough are confirmed, and the 
 privilege of “perambulating ” accorded, “ as often as it shall seem to them 
 necessary to be done.” This interesting document concludes with a 
 resume, or general grant of all the privileges, etc., previously enjoyed. 
 
 In the 1st and 2nd Elizabeth, it appears, from the duchy records, that 
 a dispute arose respecting the privileges of the mayor. It was eventually 
 decided that, by grants to the town, they had “ omes oid secuiitates pacis,” 
 and that the mayor had continually been in the habit of taking sureties for 
 the peace in Preston. 
 
 The earliest record of the transactions of the corporation in their posses¬ 
 sion at the present time, is inscribed:—“ This is the Booke of Orders 
 for the Towne of Preston,” (in) “Amoundernes in the Countie of Lancaster, 
 Richard Blundell, maior, 1608.” Erom this document it appears that, 
 the maintenance of the character of the town for hospitality and good 
 cheer, originally formed no unimportant item on the roll of municipal 
 duties. On the 26th August, 1612, a resolution was passed, relieving the 
 bailiffs from their then somewhat undue share, in this agreeable but some¬ 
 what expensive privilege. The document says :— 
 
 “Whereas, heretofore of ancient tyme y‘ hath beene used and accustumed 
 within this towne of Preston, that the Bailives thereof for the time 
 being att the Feast of Easter yearelie, should to their greate and excessive 
 
 z Note to Dr. Lardner’s Translation. 
 
 a Stallage is the money paid for the liberty of erecting stalls in markets and fairs : Piccage is the 
 money paid for breaking up the ground for similar purposes.—Ibid. 
 
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, GUILD MERCHANT, ETC. 
 
 273 
 
 charge, provide wine, beare, breade, cheese, ayle, and other bankettinge 
 stuff and provisions, as well for the maior of the said Townc, and his 
 brethren the comon counsell of the same, and all other the burgesses 
 thereof for the time beinge, as alsoe for all other strangers, passengers, 
 and neighbours repairing to the same towne, by reason whereof the con¬ 
 course and assemblie of people att the same tymes did grow greater, very 
 Turbulent and unrulie, tending” (not only) “to the breache of His Ha te peace” 
 (but also) “divers other Inconveniences thereof, very likely to ensue to the 
 greate p.udice of the whole corporation & the peaceable govern* thereof, 
 and therein of ancient time used and enjoyed.” 
 
 The resolution, therefore, provides that the bailiffs should he “ eased in 
 some sorte of that greate and unnecessary charge,” and that, in lieu 
 thereof, a certain sum should be paid by them for a “ more gocllie, lawd- 
 able, and charitable purpose.” The then present, and all future bailiffs, 
 are ordered to pay or cause to he paid to the “ Schole maister of the towne 
 of Preston, or to his use, the surne of twentie marks in p te of p.ment of his 
 stypende and wages. That is to saie, either of them, six pounds thirteen 
 shillings and four-pence.” All defaulters are threatend with the compul¬ 
 sory providing of the “ provision, diet, and bankettinge, at the said feast of 
 Easter as hath heretofore been accustomed.” 
 
 The same resolution orders the bailiffs and common councillors who had 
 not previously made such provision, to procure “ decente and comelie 
 gownes of Blacke cloath, or other Blacke stuffe,” of the fashion then in 
 use, “to attend upon the maior of this towne for the tyme beinge, for the 
 worshippe of this towne, upon ncedfull and conveniente occasions.” 
 
 About this period the practice of building, by licence, “porches and win- 
 dowes,” and the “ fixing of the same into the streetes of this towne, to the 
 greate prejudice of the Annciente Burgesses,” had become so intolerable and 
 occasioned so much litigation, that it was resolved in future no such leave 
 he given, “att the entreatie, mocon” (motion), “or reejueste of anie p.son 
 or p.sons whatsoever.” 
 
 An entry in September, 1616, records the gift to the corporation of 
 “ one faire silver Bowie, with a cover for the same, Double guilte,” by 
 Henry Banester, of Hackney, a native of Preston. In this entry occurs 
 for the first time the name of “ alderman ” in connection with the corpora¬ 
 tion minutes. The style previously appears as the “maior, bailiffes, and 
 capital burgesses.” 
 
 In the following month, several entries of by-laws and orders occur, 
 from which some curious information is derived, relative to the habits and 
 customs of the period, and of the municipal authority. Every householder 
 was compelled to have his or her street doors “ sliutte in all the tyme of 
 
 x 
 
274 
 
 PBESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 divyne service and sermons upon sabbath daies and other festival days.” 
 They were also required to prevent then- “children, servantes, or familie, or 
 anie of them beinge above the age of seaven years, to plaie in the open 
 streetes of this town, at anie game or plaie whatsoever, or to sit at the 
 doors or in the streete,” under a penalty of four-pence. A councillor not 
 attending the mayor when summoned, was mulcted in the sum of twelve 
 pence; while a freeman for non-attendance to his duty as juryman, was 
 amerced to the extent of six shillings and eightpence. The municipal 
 authorities appear to have entertained a singular horror of all strangers, 
 or “foreigners,” as they were termed. If any householder of the “town 
 or liberties thereof” admitted any one of this class, who should appear to 
 the council “noe fytt p.son to inhabitte within the same,” the party was 
 required to decamp within a month after notice given. The householder 
 was to see to the due execution of this order, or give security that the 
 “foreigner” or any of his family should not become chargeable to the 
 town; or to pay the sum of six and eightpence per week during the time 
 they remained. A special licence from the council suspended the opera¬ 
 tion of the last named condition, but only for the space of three months. 
 All publicans were compelled to sell a full quart of the best beer or ale for 
 a penny. The penalty for non-compliance was six shillings and eightpence. 
 A similar fine was enforced upon the courageous individual who presumed 
 to “kepe alehouse or tiplinghouse ” without the mayor’s licence. Iso 
 person was permitted to tipple or drink in any alehouse for a longer period 
 than one hour at a sitting; nor after the specified hours; nor during divine 
 service, on the sabbath, (except travellers), under a penalty of three shil¬ 
 lings and fourpence. The same amount was levied on all who permitted 
 drunken or disorderly persons in their houses, or who neglected to appre¬ 
 hend “rogues, vagabonds, stm-die beggars,” or suspicious persons, soliciting 
 alms or offering goods for sale. Iso one was permitted to erect porches or 
 posts on any of the town’s wastes, without the mayor’s permission, under a 
 penalty of six shillings and eightpence. Any person permitting a “bastard 
 to be born in any of then' houses ” was called upon to give security that it 
 should not become chargeable to the town. 
 
 An entry on the 20th of October, exhibits a singular method of relieving 
 the poor at the period. It says, “whereas divers poore people are assigned 
 and app d to divers inhabitants houses for their releeffe by meate and drinke.” 
 Some party it appears had refused to comply, in consequence of which 
 the council resolved that such person should pay the sum of threepence per 
 day to be demanded weekly by the churchwardens or the collectors for the 
 poor. 
 
 In 1632, the first record of several legacies and donations for the benefit 
 
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, GUILD MERCHANT, ETC. 275 
 
 of the poor, appears in what is termed “ The White Book.” Certain bene¬ 
 factions are, however, mentioned in the “ Booke of Orders ” at an earlier 
 -period, and which the council declare shall be applied to the “ setting 
 forth and binding of the poorer sorte of children, being free burgesses sonnes 
 or daughters and borne in this towne, to apprentices of Traide and Ilandie 
 crafte.” Some of the earlier leaves of the “ White Book ” are missing. 
 The matter in the following pages has reference to a legacy of £20, or 
 rather thirty shillings yearly, to the poor, by a William Martin; and a 
 similar bequest by William Dykes, of 50s. per year. No further reference 
 to these charities appears, either in the books of the corporation, or in the 
 report of the charity commissioners! The document then proceeds, however, 
 to record the well-known legacy of George Kogerson, of the sum of £9 per 
 annum. It afterwards states, that all the bequests enumerated have reference 
 to similar objects, and that the proceeds should be applied to the appren¬ 
 ticing of poor children, and to the relief of impotent and aged persons. 
 
 The following fees were agreed upon, “to be due & payable att the 
 openinge of the comon box everie faire” by the corporate body, on the 4th 
 
 of November, 1639 :—• 
 
 “Imprimis, to the steward. 2s. 
 
 Item, to the Towne’s S'iant (Sergeant)) 
 for his fee 2 s and for aile 2 s , in toto ) 
 
 Item to Maior’s S'iant (sergeant). 2s. 
 
 Item to the vewers 12d. a-peece. 2s. 
 
 Item to the Aile founders, 12 d a-piece... 2s. ” 
 
 The scavenger is to have allowed “ hym for his wages yearlie for clean- 
 cinge the street, videlt, all the middle pte. of the streete over against Mr. 
 Morte, his door, and so all about the Butter cross, the whole Markett-place 
 and all along the Church wall side the some of. 4s. 
 
 Item, for dressing the fish-boards yearlie 4s.” 
 
 The struggle between King Charles I. and the parliament, seriously 
 interfered with the duties and responsibilities of the municipal officers. 
 The general feeling appears to have inclined towards the parliament, hut 
 this was balanced by the zealous advocacy of the king’s prerogative by 
 several influential parties in the town and neighbourhood. Adam Morte, 
 the brave royalist, who fell, together with his son, in the streets of Preston, 
 when the town was btormcd by the parliamentary troops under Major 
 General Seaton, on the 9th of February, 1643, had, during the previous 
 year, been elected to the office of mayor. He, however, refused to take the 
 oaths. The council “having maturely considered of the Indignity and 
 Disgrace putt upon them,” “ to the end that such an unparalTd and unprc- 
 sidented example may not passe unpunished, lest others in the like kynd 
 may become refractory and disobedient,” order that the “ said Adam Morte 
 
276 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 shall be fyned and amerced in the sum of one hundred marks,” “for such 
 his greate contempte, disobedience and refusall.” But Mr. Morte’s contu¬ 
 macy was proof even against this sweeping resolution, to the great confusion 
 of the municipal body. In despair they sought the aid of “counsell learned,” 
 to determine the correct mode of procedure, under such peculiarly irritating 
 circumstances. It was then decreed that the mayor of the preceding year, 
 Edward Werden, should “continue to act until Adam Morte doe come in 
 and take his oath,” or until a new election shall have furnished him with 
 a legally appointed successor. It would appear that Master Edmund by no 
 means relished the responsibility attached to the office of mayor, with the 
 country on the eve of a sanguinary civil war. The council, likewise, thought 
 his misgivings anything but chimerical; for, “in regard many dangers may 
 arise unto him in theis troublesome tymes,” they considerately promised to 
 “ secure, save harmlesse, losselesse, and indempnified, him the said Edmund 
 Werden, from all losses, charges, and damages, which shall or may happen, 
 or accrue unto him for or concerning the execution of the said office.” 
 
 There appears to have been some vacillation amongst the members of 
 the municipal body, after the resolution quoted was entered on the book; 
 for it is not attested by the usual signatures. Four days afterwards, a 
 somewhat similar resolution is inserted, in which, however, there is no 
 allusion to the “troublesome tymes.” Master Werden is indemnified “from 
 all charges, suits and troubles,” but is especially reminded that he must 
 not do “any thinge of greate weighte which mayconcerne the whole body 
 of tliis Incorporation but with the advise of the comon counsell of this 
 Towne or the greater parte of them.” 
 
 Amid the distraction of the civil war, the corporation did not altogether 
 neglect their more pleasing duties as charitable trustees. The record 
 says :— 
 
 “ Where as several somes of money (and particularly the somes hereafter mencond) 
 have been bequeathed, given, or bestowed upon the towne with intente to relieve the 
 indigente and poore burgesses, and for the puttinge forth of poore children to bee 
 apprentices to some trades for their better edncacon & mayntenance.” 
 
 It unfortunately happens, however, that, by some accident or other, the 
 “sums hereafter mencond” are not mentioned at all! to the great annoy¬ 
 ance of the impartial historian, and, perhaps, the greater loss to the 
 “poore children.” Whatever may have been the nature of the bequests 
 alluded to, the council resolved that, “at the Michaelmas Leet Court 
 yearlie,” two of their body should be appointed, as treasurers or overseers 
 for the poor. The duties of these officers extended to the collection “of 
 all somes of money as are hereafter menconed ” (!) “or which in tyme to 
 come may bee bestowed or given in any grosse some for the use of the 
 poore people,” and to see to their proper disbursement. They were further 
 
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, GUILD MERCHANT, ETC. 277 
 
 required to present correct “ accounts of their doeings,” and “ pay over 
 tire remayninge somes in their hands to the next succeeding Treasurers.” 
 
 The unsettled state of the country did not prevent the holding of the 
 guild. Adam Morte’s contumacy accidentally conferred the honour of 
 guild mayor upon his predecessor and substitute, Edmund Werden. 
 
 The corporation of Preston appears, on the whole, to have had par¬ 
 liamentary predilections ; for the royalist general, Prince Rupert, on his 
 passage through Lancashire, in 1644, deemed it prudent to incarcerate in 
 Skipton Castle the worthy mayor, William Cottam, and his bailiffs. On 
 the return of the parliamentary authority, the council passed the follow¬ 
 ing resolution on the subject:— 
 
 “ Whereas William Cottam, gent., now maior of this Towne and William Patten and 
 James Benson, now Baylives of the same, have by reason of their office (as we conceyve) 
 susteyned imprisonment for the space of twelve weeks in b Skipton by command from 
 Prince Rupert when he came to this Towne in an hostile manner. In regard to whose 
 imprisonment they have been put to extraordinary charges and expenses, And because 
 wee are bound in conscience to see them eased in this particular we conceyve it fitt, and 
 hereby wee whose names are subscribed doe order that the some of Twenty Pounds shall 
 be paid by this Towne unto them for and in lieue of such their charge, vizb Tenne 
 pounds to ye said William Cottam, Maior, and fyve pounds a piece to ye said Baylives.” 
 
 The mayor, however, knowing the “some of five pounds a piece soe 
 allowed unto ye said Baylives” to be “much lesse than their charges and 
 expences were, for and by reason of their said Impiisonmt,” generously 
 ordered his own lion’s share of the grant to be divided between his subor¬ 
 dinate officials. The poverty of the corporation, however, was such, and 
 the method of raising funds by means of “laye” (levy or ley) so unpopular 
 at the time, that out of this paltry sum, a balance of £5. Is. 6d. remained 
 unpaid until the 5th of October, 1646, two years after the date of the 
 grant. 
 
 Mr. Edward Baines quotes a resolution from the corporation records 
 relative to Cromwell’s celebrated victory over the duke of Hamilton, in 
 1648 ; but this cannot be found either in the “White Book” or any other 
 document at present in the possession of the corporation. It is probable 
 the historian of Lancashire transcribed the resolution or minute from 
 Dr. Kuerden’s manuscript. There is evidently one book of this date 
 missing. The learned doctor appears, according to a resolution yet extant, 
 to have borrowed some such volume, and neglected to return it. 
 
 In 1650, the members of the corporation, as patrons of the then national 
 pastime of cock-fighting, were put to some little trouble on account of the 
 rickety condition of the town’s cockpit, and the obstreperous conduct of 
 the party occupying the same. It was resolved that the said public edifice, 
 
 b In the original, the words “ in the Castle of" have been erased. 
 
278 
 
 PHESTON AND ITS ENVIHONS. 
 
 •which is described as “goods belonging to this Towne,” or rather the 
 “ cover” thereof, as it is termed, should “be removed in regard it would 
 fall downe & so bee a great charge to repairc being in great Buyne & decay 
 for want of reparacons.” The bailiffs were ordered to remove it to“such 
 convenient place as they shall think fitt nere unto the Towne hall to he 
 employed for the publique use of this Towne.” 
 
 It would he difficult to determine with certainty where either of these 
 edifices stood. An old building in Back lane is, however, yet pointed out 
 as the site of a cockpit, and may he the spot selected by the bailiffs of the 
 year 1650. A field behind the Adelphi Hotel, at the end of Friargate, 
 (formerly called the “Fighting Cocks,”) is described as “cockpit” field, 
 in George Lang’s map, dated 1774. 
 
 This year, the corporation agreed to purchase the “Fee farme Bent of 
 fifteen pound p r ann. lately payable to the crowne of England.” c In order 
 to raise the necessary funds, the tenants of the corporate estate were 
 “desyred” to “Send to the vse of this Towne fyve yeares Bent. * * * 
 to be returned to London and disposed of for ye purpose aforesaid.” 
 
 It is not certain that all the tenants complied with this request; hut, 
 as there is no mention of any who were contumacious, it is highly probable 
 that such was the case. The following schedule of the corporation pro¬ 
 perty, and its value at this period, will he read with interest:— 
 
 “ A particular Expresse of ye names of suck P.sons, Tenants belonginge to this Towne 
 who have paid in their Rents for fyve years (yet to come) to bee employed for & 
 towards ye purchase of y e Fee Farme Kent of XV 1 [£15] payable by this Towne 
 & receyved by Mr. Win. Sudell, appointed by an order of the Sixth day of May, 1650. 
 
 £. s. d. 
 
 Of Mr. Wm. Farington, of Worden, Esq., his rent, being £6 for the 7 q q 
 
 fishinge and Holme .j 
 
 Of Mary Archer, wid. of Thomas Archer for her several rents, ] g g "I 
 
 for the shopp ... ) ' k 3 io 5 
 
 for the house. 4s. C 
 
 for enerochts. 5s. Id. J 
 
 Of Mr. Worden for a Burgage . 10s. - 
 
 the Intack. 2s. 6d. ) 
 
 another Intack . 2s. 6d. r 5 15 0 
 
 shopp. 8s. S 
 
 for a standinge at the Moote hall ... 20d. 0 8 4 
 
 Of Mr. William Sudell for a Barne. 14d. 
 
 Intacks . 2s. 6d. L 2 6 4 
 
 for a Cottage and Intacks . 4s. 8d. f 
 
 for porches. Is. J 
 
 c “ A fee farm rent of £15., reserved by Henry II., and payable at the feast of St. Michael, and the 
 annunciation was purchased by the corporation under an act of the commonwealth for £127., and 
 conveyed 23rd July, 1650; and again purchased for £247. 10s. after the restoration. The conveyance 
 dated Gth June, 1676, states that the ‘said premises were parcel of the landes and possessions of the 
 late Duchy of Lancaster, and were by letters patent of the late King Henry II. granted to the bur- 
 rongh and their successors for ever.’ The corporation, encouraged by the flatteries of Judge 
 Jefferies, it is said paid dearly for his majesty’s favours in this instance.”—Edward Baines. See 
 page 214. 
 
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, GUILD MERCHANT, ETC. 
 
 Of Mr. Willim. Shawe for Intacks. 5s. 
 
 Carguawts d (?) . 3s. 4d 
 
 Long Syke. 
 
 Of Rich. Bostocke for a butcher’s shopp. 
 
 Of John Mitton for a butcher’s shopp . 8s. 
 
 Of Hugh Blackleach—2 buth. shopps. 15s. 
 
 2 Standings . 4s. 
 
 Of George Tasker for a parcell of land att the end of Aram Sykes 
 
 Of Thomas Biekerstaffe new meadows . 6s. 
 
 Of John Wall, for midingstead . 
 
 Of Mr. Preston lor Aram Sykes and Aram bank . 7 s, 
 
 more for the Intacks . 8s. t)d 
 
 Of Mr. Blundell for a Smithy. 2s, 
 
 Of Mr. George Addison for a Shopp . 3s. 
 
 Of John Singletons 2 daughters for a barne. ,j s 
 
 Of Roger Sudell for 2 butchers shopps . 13s. 4d. 
 
 for a free rent for ye pitt . 
 
 a P.cell of liissell (?) land . Is. 2d 
 
 Of Thos. Werden for a Shop and Warehouse. 3s. 
 
 Of Henry Blackhurst for an Intacke D’Holme. . 
 
 Of James Hodgkinson for old Schole house and 2 bayes of ) 
 
 buildinge adioyneinge to it, Rent p amn. ) 
 
 Of Mrs. Williamson for one butcher’s shopp. 5s. 
 
 for a house at east moreyate . 6s. 
 
 for a butcher shopp . 
 
 for a rent of her house in Churchgate . 3s 
 
 for Horridge lands . 
 
 for pte. of Broomefield . 
 
 Rent in toto—17s. 4d. 
 
 Of Mrs. Jennette Morte for one shopp. 3s. 
 
 for Intacke. 4s. 
 
 for free rent out of ye Guildhouse . 2s. 
 
 for rent of a barne. Is. 
 
 Of William Whaley for Intacke. 5s. 
 
 Of Thomas Walmsley de Holehouse for a croft. 3d. 
 
 Of Robte. Bayley for one house @ 3 acres of land . 4s. lOd. 
 
 Of Thomas Sumpner . 
 
 Of William Hodgkinson for St. Mary Heys . 
 
 for Balsliawe house .. 
 
 for free rent of his hall. 
 
 for free rent of his pte. in Bromcfield. Is. 
 
 Of Mr. Edward Hodgkinson for Barkhouse hill . 
 
 Of Mr. Edward French for Intacks . 5s. 
 
 and other things, vizt. for herbage in ye lane . 
 
 free rent on y e more... 
 
 more free rent there . 
 
 Mr. Luke Hodgkinson for the heires of Mr. Henry Assheton, 4 
 
 for Sackvyle Sykes . vs f 
 
 new meadows . xvj. viijd, f 
 
 4 butcher shopps & lofte over. 2s. J 
 
 Of Ellen Wballey, widdowe, for a shoppe and warehouse nere the 1 
 - " ‘ s. / 
 
 ETC 
 
 
 
 279 
 
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 3s. 
 
 4d. j 
 
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 16 
 
 8 
 
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 15s. 
 
 
 3 
 
 15 
 
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 8 
 
 6s. 
 
 8d. 
 
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 13 
 
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 7s. 
 
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 17 
 
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 vjs. 
 
 vjii 
 
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 13 
 
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 6s. 
 
 8d. 
 
 
 
 
 
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 3s. 
 
 4d. 
 
 1* 4 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 6d. 
 
 12d. 
 
 2 10 0 
 
 5 
 
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 8d.' 
 15d. i 
 3d. i 
 
 2d. i 
 4d. i 
 6d.. 
 
 2 12 6 
 
 4d. 0 18 
 
 1 10 0 
 
 5 18 4 
 
 0 15 0 
 
 Buttercrosse late belonging to James Whalley, dec. rent 8s. 
 
 The corporation was, this year (1650), troubled by the obstreperous 
 conduct of one of the bailiffs. William Curtis, who, utterly oblivious of 
 the exemption from the duty of providing the “banquetinge stuff” and other 
 
 d Several words in this document are difficult to decipher. 
 
280 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 viands for the Easter feast, “not only publiquely refused” to pay the sum 
 of £6. 13s. 4d. to the schoolmaster; but, in the words of the record, 
 “still doeth deny and refuse to pay the same to the great affront of ye 
 corporacon in breaking and contemning their orders and much damage to 
 the schoolema r and the evil encouragement of others for the future.” He 
 was ordered to pay, or submit to a levy of ten pounds on his “goods and 
 cliattells by distresse & sale.” 
 
 In 1652, however, a resolution abrogating the previous orders respecting 
 the schoolmaster was passed, and a salary of twenty-two pounds per annum 
 awarded to him. The reason assigned is, that some of the said orders 
 “were dissonant to ye laws of this nacon.” 
 
 In 1654, the municipal authorities took into consideration the defective 
 supply of water in the town, and ordered that a “drawe well slialbee made 
 in the Bottome of the Markett stidd.” 
 
 Four years after this step towards sanatory improvement, numerous 
 erratic pigs, which prowled about the town and the neighbouring lanes and 
 enclosures, were subjected to a little judicious municipal regulation. The 
 following extract, from the “White Booke” of the corporation, graphically 
 describes a somewhat singular, but evidently a characteristic scene, not 
 only of Preston, but of other towns and villages, during the latter portion 
 of the seventeenth century. The English evidently had not, at that 
 period, acquired their present character for domestic cleanliness :— 
 
 “ It is this day ordered by the Maior and Counsell of the Borough aforesaid that all 
 the Inhabitants within this Towne shall keepe up their Swyne in their Backsydes or 
 Swynesties and their safely keepe them until the Swynelieards shall call for them in the 
 morneings and that at ye Swynelieards comeing hacke with them from the Moore they 
 shall take up their Swine into their Backsydes or Swynesties and there safely keepe 
 them till the Swynehead shall call for them in the momeinge followinge, and in case 
 any Swyne or piggs shall be taken abroad either in the streets or fields from the tyme 
 that they came from the Moore at Night till mornemge that they be called for by the 
 Swynelieards as aforesaid or from the tyme aforesaid till they come back from the Moore 
 at night, the owners of such Swyne or piggs shall forfeit for every Swyne or pigg soe taken 
 abroad as aforesaid for every tyme four pence, to be immediately levied by distress 
 upon the goods of the offender by such officers as the Maior for the tyme heinge shall 
 appointe, allowinge such officers the Moiety of such forfeiture for his pains to he therein 
 taken.” 
 
 It appears that the sum of £632. 11s. lid. accrued from the grants and 
 renewals of freedom at the celebration of. the Guild Merchant in 1662, 
 and that, “the expences of the guild and other occasions of this borough” 
 amounted to £230. 13s. lid., leaving, as the “profits of the Guild,” 
 £401. 18s. 
 
 It was frequently the custom to fine refractory councillors and aldermen, 
 as well as the mayor, for non-attention to the duties of their respective 
 offices. A Mr. Thomas Martin was fined in the sum of forty pounds for 
 contumacy of this kind, although the record does not say whether he ever 
 
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, GUILD MERCHANT, ETC. 
 
 281 
 
 pain. it or not. Other delinquents were sometimes expelled from the cor¬ 
 porate body, for what the council deemed improper conduct. 
 
 At the petition of some of the inhabitants, in 1666, a draw well was 
 sunk in Fishergate, at a cost of £21. Os. lOd. To this and several other 
 wells afterwards sunk, pumps were in course of time attached. These in 
 turn are fast disappearing, in consequence of the superiority of the supply 
 under the new waterworks system. 
 
 An entry, of the date of August 4th, 1673, records that as early as 
 1607, “five pewes or seates within the body of the parish church” were 
 granted to the corporation, by the Lord Archbishop of York. Some little 
 irregularity having been manifested in the attendance of the council at 
 public worship, the following resolution was passed :— 
 
 “ And Whereas the said maior, aldermen, and comon counsell, (or the major part of 
 them) have ever since that ” (the bishop’s grant) “ in a devout and orderly manner, 
 upon every Lord’s day (and other days of Holidays appointed for Divine service and 
 sermon) as well in the aforenoone as afternoone of the same days resorted to and sate 
 in ye said pewes and seates, which use and custom hath been esteemed and is still 
 thought to be very laudable and to manifest very much concord within such an Incor¬ 
 porate community, And whereas some of the said comon counsell have of late foreborn 
 and neglected to come to the said seates, hut have sate in other pewes within the said 
 church, by which meanes not only the good design and intent of giving and granting 
 ye said seates as aforesaid hath been frustrated and disappoynted ; but also other persons 
 (unconcerned therein) have taken lib.tie to sit in the said seates, which is conceived dis¬ 
 orderly and derogatory to ye said bishop’s disposition of the seates aforesaid.” 
 
 The resolution then decrees that all the corporation shall proceed to 
 these sittings, and promulgates the law of precedence to he observed by 
 those privileged to occupy the said “pewes or seates; viz 1 the maior to the 
 highest seate, the aldermen to the two next adjoining seates, and the rest 
 of the counsell to y e two lowermost, being soe usually sate in andenioyed.” 
 A fine of twelve pence for each contravention of this order is put forth, 
 as a terror to the indolent or contumacious. The council, however, con¬ 
 siderately granted to Alderman William Sudell the liberty to “sitt in any 
 seate where he thinks convenyent, by reason of his infirmity of hearing.” 
 
 About this period (1674-5), the mass of the poorer people were so ill 
 employed, and mendicancy so much on the increase, that the corporation, 
 after much consultation, resolved to adopt the advice of a sub-committee 
 of their body, and establish workhouses and storehouses for the purpose of 
 furnishing the more deserving with employment in the woollen manu¬ 
 facture. The following are amongst the resolutions adopted :— 
 
 “ That ye churchwardens and overseers of ye poore doe deliver unto ye maior and 
 counsell ye names of all ye poore people in ye towne, and that thereout may bee clioyse 
 made who of them shall be sett on worke. 
 
 “ That there he two lusty men appoynted Beadles, to whipp out all vagrants and 
 beggarrs, and that all officers and other P.sons within ye towne bee p.ticularly charged 
 to bee ayding and assisting to ye s cl Beadles, 
 
282 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 “ That the said Beadles for their more Incouragement have ye reward of two‘Shil¬ 
 lings for every one they take begging, from ye constable through whose constablery 
 any vagrant or beggar did last passe unpunished. 
 
 “ That all persons who refuse to worke or refuse to suffer their children to worke bee 
 punished according to law, wherein it is desired ye maior will bee very dilligent. 
 
 “ That ye Maior and Counsell shall sett ye rates of ye wages of any who are workers 
 and also of all other servants according to ye statutes of this Realme 
 
 “ That ye wages of such as shall bee imployed in ye workhouse bee weekly paid unto 
 every P.son working or unto theirparents, upon every Friday night at such time as they 
 leave of working. 
 
 “ That ye Maior and Counsell do appoynt and lirnitt fitt times when ye workers shall 
 beginn and how long to continue at worke.” 
 
 On the 24th of February, in the same year, the sum of two hundred 
 pounds was granted for the furtherance of this object. 
 
 In 1681, the council were much occupied in the consideration of the 
 elective franchise of the borough. They “resolved and declared (nemine 
 contradicente ),”— 
 
 “ That no forreigne Burgesse although he lives within the corporacon hath or ought 
 to have any vote in such elleccon, nor that any p.son entered an Inburgesse (living forth 
 of the s<l Burrough att the time of such elleccon) ought to have any vote at such 
 said elleccon, But that the sole right of the elleccon appertaines to the Inburgesses of 
 this corporacon either of the last guild merchant or by coppy of Co rt Roll that doe or 
 shall inhabit wtl'in the said Burrough att the time of such elleccon. And that the 
 vsage of this corporacon hath, time out of mind, been accordingly; and that to offer or 
 introduce the contrary would bee a great invasion upon the rights of this Burrough.” 
 
 The corporate body merely granted the limited suffrage referred 
 to in compliance "with a decision of the house of commons, the 
 peculiar wording of which was taken advantage of about a century 
 later, and the privilege of voting thrown open to the inhabitants at large. 6 
 
 Previously to the guild of 1682, the municipal authorities, with the 
 ■view to limit the number of freemen, passed a curious resolution, declaring 
 that no person should he admitted a burgess during the subsequent five 
 years, with the provision, however, that the mayor and council were 
 privileged to bestow the then envied freedom of the borough, “ for y e 
 greater reput n , state, & creditt, o’ this Incorporacon upon some P.sons of 
 honour, nobility, or o r gentry, hut upon no o r P.sons except it bee upon 
 some rare or speciall occasion that shall or may fall out or happen and 
 now not thought on and y‘ withall may tend much to ye welfare creditt & 
 benefitt of the towne of Preston.” 
 
 It appears the total receipts of the guild of 1682 were £569 9s. 3d., 
 and the disbursements £333 19s. 4d., which left a balance, or “remains,” 
 as it is termed, of £234 9s. lid. 
 
 The next charter was granted by Charles II. in in 1673/ It recapitu- 
 
 e See chap. 7. Parliamentary Representation. 
 
 f The corporation “ Booke of Orders ” contains,—“ A particular note of all such persons which 
 have lent anie, and what some of money for and towards the renewinge of the Charter of this 
 Towne.” A list of eighty-nine names follows, whose total subscription amounted to “ four score 
 and nine pounds.” The subscriptions range from £3. to 10s. each person. 
 
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, GUILD MERCHANT, ETC. 
 
 283 
 
 latcs generally the document of Elizabeth, "with some slight variations, 
 the most important of which are as follows :—One clause distinctly speci¬ 
 fies that the “ capital burgesses or the major part of them,” have authority 
 to “remove” the mayor, if guilty of “bad behaviour in that office, or for 
 any other reasonable cause.” The acquisition of lands and other property 
 is permitted to the corporation, but limited to the annual value of £200. 
 The crown reserves by a special clause the privilege of confirming or reject¬ 
 ing the appointment of any person who may have been elected to the 
 “ office or offices of seneschal, recorder, or common clerk.” 
 
 Charles II. acting it is believed principally under the advice of the 
 notorious Jefferies towards the end of his reign, dispossessed Preston and 
 many other boroughs of all their privileges and chartered rights. A short 
 time before his death, however, either the heart of the monarch relented, 
 or the rapacity of his counsellor had been privately satisfied, g for another 
 charter, dated January, 1G84-5, which restored all the ancient privileges, 
 was granted to the mayor, bailiffs, and burgesses of Preston. By these 
 “ letters patent ” some little alteration is made in the form of the executive 
 government. Seven capital burgesses are to be elected, and dignified by 
 the title of aldermen, and, in conjunction with seventeen other capital 
 burgesses, constitute the common council of the borough. The mayor, for 
 the time being, his predecessor in office, the recorder, and the senior aider- 
 man are to be justices of the peace within the borough, its liberties, and 
 precincts. The mayor is further invested with the authority of justice of 
 the peace for the county. For these concessions, however, the crown 
 reserved the right to remove from office, at any time, “ the mayor, the 
 recorder or seneschal, and his deputy, or any one or more of the bailiffs, 
 aldermen, capital burgesses, and common councilmen, or justices of the 
 said borough.” A third annual fair is granted, “ for the buying and selling 
 of all and every manner of goods, cattle, wares, and merchandizes,” to com¬ 
 mence on the 16th March, and continue during three days. The maxi¬ 
 mum anuual value of property to be legally held by the corporation for 
 public purposes, is extended to £500. The charter, which is preserved in 
 the office of the duchy, is accompanied by the following singular memo¬ 
 randum :— 
 
 “ M'l that the charter for Preston passed the Create Seale according to the date, hut 
 by reason Mr. James Ashton, who su’d it out, did not pay the fees due to the Chancellor 
 of the Duchy, he refused to put the Duchy or Co. Pal. seale to it, where upon Mr. Ashton 
 tooke it with him to Preston, and there procured the Co. Pal. seale to be put to it, for 
 
 g “Jefferies, afterwards Lord Jefferies, Baron of Wem, in Shropshire, was sumptuously entertained 
 by the corporation of Preston, on his return from the assizes at Lancaster, in the autumn of 1684, 
 on the principle probably, that certain of the Indian tribes pay their devotion to the spirit of evil. 
 A letter of the chief justice, in good preservation, is amongst the corporation records, dated 29th of 
 September, 1684.’’—Edward Baines. See page 214. 
 
284 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 which he was turn’d out of his place. This was soe sealed a few days before king Cha. 
 the Second dy’d. 
 
 “ In Easter Terme following, viz., the beginning of June, the Fees for both Seales 
 were paid, at which time, or two or three days after, the Dutchy Seale was put to the 
 said Charter. 
 
 “ This memorand was made the 13th day of June, 1685, 
 
 “ by me 
 
 “ Ben : Ayxoffe.” 
 
 After the close of the seventeenth century, the entries in the corporation 
 books are very meagre, and furnish but little matter of historical im¬ 
 portance. 
 
 The twelfth and last charter was granted by George IY., in 1828. h By 
 its provisions every alderman was appointed a justice of the peace within 
 the borough. The mayor’s predecessor, and the senior alderman, are 
 invested with the powers and authority of coroners within the same limits. 
 The corporation officers enumerated in this document are the mayor, seven 
 aldermen, seventeen councilmen, recorder, town’s bailiff, mayor’s bailiff, 
 town’s sergeant, mayor’s sergeant, town clerk, mace bearer, beadle, bell¬ 
 man, gaoler, market looker, market keeper, and land steward. 
 
 The privilege of guild merchant appears to have been held in Preston 
 by prescriptive right anterior to its chartered recognition; yet little infor¬ 
 mation has descended relative to the original modus operandi of this ancient 
 institution. It is certain, however, that the necessity for enrolment as 
 a burgess was imperative, at a veiy early period, upon every person who 
 wished to embark in trade within the jurisdiction of the corporation. The 
 enrolled inhabitants thus secured a complete monopoly of the commerce 
 of the place. One section in the burgesses’ oath, preserved by Kuerden, 
 shows that these privileges were jealously guarded even at the end of the 
 seventeenth century. It reads thus :—“ You shall know noe foreiner to 
 buy or sell any merchandise, -with any other foreiner within this town or 
 the francheses thereof, except at Faire Time, hut you shall warn the Mayor 
 or Bailiffs thereof.” The following by-law, passed at the guild of 1662, 
 still further illustrates the exclusive privilege of trade enjoyed by the 
 burgesses :—“After the shutting up of the present gyld, no Apprentice for 
 the seven years next ensuing shall be manmitted” (made free) “to trade 
 within this Burrough, nor any other tradesman be admitted as Free, de 
 novo, except he bring a new Trade into the town, or great necessity to 
 introduce the same.” 
 
 h “Attested copies of all the charters ever granted to the borough -were procured in the year 1817, 
 when some proceedings at law were pending between the freemen at large and the mayor and council, 
 Translations of these important documents were made by Dr. Lingard, and printed with the original 
 Latin under the translator’s immediate supervision.”—Wilcockson’s Authentic Records of the Guild 
 Merchant, p. 14. 
 
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, GUILD MERCHANT, ETC. 
 
 285 
 
 The burgesses of Preston about this period appear to have been in the 
 habit of strictly enforcing their prohibition against the interference of strang¬ 
 ers with the trades monopolised by the privileged companies in the town, 
 as is evidenced by the following entries in the record of the corporation:— 
 
 “Whereas ye day abouesaidi wee James Coulters of Halifax in the countie of York, 
 Clothier, and Jno. Braitliwaite, sone of Nathan Braithwaite of Ovendall, in ye County 
 aforesit, Clothier, each of vs hauing forfeited an end of Cloatli to ye Companie of I)rap. 
 pt. by sellinge & exposeinge the same to sale W T ee are sorrye for ye same and doe p.mise 
 hereby for ye future not to olfende in ye Like.” 
 
 On Jan. 8, 1659, Mr. Peter Ityecroft, of Leeds, consented to forfeit to the 
 drapers’ company the sum of twenty pounds should he in the future “ sell 
 or expose to sale any woolen Cloatli or other Comodity (belonging to ye 
 trades of any of ye foresaid Company) vnto any person within the Cor¬ 
 pora 0011 aforesaid, except it bee to ye member or members of ye aforesaid 
 Company or Society.” 
 
 Orders were granted by the mayor and corporation, and confirmed by 
 the judges of assize, in 1685-6, which authorised the wardens of the com¬ 
 pany to distrain upon certain persons named “for the sume of fourty 
 shillings A month for one month by past, & soe for the like sume of fourtcy 
 shillings for every month hereafter that they shall use the Trades they 
 now follow, contrary to the orders of the said company.” 
 
 During the past year (1856), a gentleman in Preston, on tinning over 
 some old papers, met with the following copy of a letter, addressed to one 
 of the then parliamentary representatives of the borough. It is not signed, 
 but is in the hand-writing of the town clerk at the time, Mr. Henry 
 Smith, and was doubtless his production in a literary as well as a cali- 
 graphic sense. It exhibits, in a very marked maimer, the exclusive 
 character of the code by which the commercial element of the borough’s 
 progress was and had been regulated, and contrasts somewhat oddly 
 with modern notions of free trade and commercial competition :— 
 
 “ Copy of L>' sent to M r Fazakcrley. 
 
 “ Preston April 7 th 1745 
 
 “ S r —The Gentlemen of our Town desire the favour of your Advice and direction 
 in an affair now depending which, in it’s Consequence, may very much Affect the interest 
 of the Corporacon— The ease is this— 
 
 “A Pson who came some years ago to reside in Preston as a Writing Master, After¬ 
 wards Marryed in the Town And has since thought fit by degrees to Strike into and 
 Exercise himself in the various trades or Employing 0 f Printer, Booksell 1 ' Stationer, 
 Dealer in China Ware and divers other branches of trade within the Town; and this in 
 an Open Shop and publiek Manner, tho’ he is not ffree of the Borough nor has serv’d 
 any Apprenticeship to any trade whatsoever — 
 
 “ Upon this Open Violation of the Customs and priviledges of the Borough, the 
 Mayor and Council were Address’d at their last Meeting with a Pet n subscribed by great 
 Numbers of the ffreemen—(A Coppy of Which and of the Order of ye Council made 
 
 i Eeb. 6th, 1059. 
 
2S6 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 thereon are inclosed)—And as this Attempt is now become the Object of publick atten¬ 
 tion, it will certainly in it’s Consequence, if not controuled, introduce great disorder and 
 very much impair the revenue of the Corporation heretofore arising from the Admission 
 of ffreetnen for liberty of trade in ye Town—Upon which the flines formerly Sett have 
 varyed according to the Nature of the trades to be exercised: And Sometimes consider¬ 
 able Sums have been p l1 to make people ffree, for the priviledge of following some of the 
 branches of business which this Scrivener now insists upon following in a publick 
 defiance of our Customs and by Laws.—And under these Circumstances it is that the 
 gentluin of the Corporacon have determin’d to resort to Every Legal Means (and Acts 
 of power too) for the checking of this ill Example And desire the favour of you to point 
 out the most proper methods— 
 
 “As there is scarce any Precedents of such a Wilful and resolute Attempt heretofore 
 —We have not (that I can find) many footsteps of proceedings on such occasions—only 
 in a late instance of an obstinate Quaker who, after some litigation, was at last brought 
 to submit: But this may be observed that the Custom to Exclude Psons not flree or 
 that have not serv’d Apprenticeships in the town from ye priviledge of Exercising trades 
 in the Town has been general.— 
 
 “ Besides the general usage of Excluding ftorreigners I have search’d All our Ancient 
 Corp: Books and Find Several Marks and instances of the Custom of debarring Strangers 
 from the Exercise of trades — Which is all that I am (at present) capable of laying 
 before you — 
 
 “ Whether the by Laws of our Corp: will bind those not of their own body Or whether 
 the penalties thereby inflicted can properly be Levyed by distress, Or what other 
 Method may be most proper and Effectual to be taken to Vindicate the Customs 
 and rights of the Corporacon agst this Invader Your thoughts and directions are required. 
 And if you want further Information in any thing I am Ordered to spare no pains to 
 give you the best I can, Who am S r .” 
 
 The name of the offender tvas 'William Smith. The corporation boohs 
 record that the memorial above referred to had been received, and that the 
 council resolved “ to make use of their utmost power and of all legal ways 
 and means to restrain the said William Smith from the exercise of so many 
 different trades within the borough, contrary to the ancient custom thereof; 
 and further purpose that the town clerk do forthwith consult the recorder 
 of the corporation how to proceed against the said William Smith in the 
 most legal and effectual manner.” 
 
 It appears that the subject of “ early closing,” so much agitated at the 
 present day, is by no means an innovation peculiar to modern notions of 
 the necessity which exists for increased physical recreation and mental 
 culture, amongst the trading portion of the community and their employes. 
 In 1662, the merchant companies of Preston entered into a compact with 
 the view to limit the hours of business, as will be seen by the following 
 curious document. What peculiar advantages may have resulted from 
 this effort, it would be difficult now to precisely determine :— 
 
 “ December the 5tb, 1662. Whereas vpon serious consideration of the companie of 
 Mercers, Grocers, Ironmongers, Haberdashers, and Salters, It is thought that the keep¬ 
 ing of Shopps open in the Eveninges vutil nine or Tenn of the clock is imprudent, 
 unprofitable, and discommendable. For reformeinge whereof, Wee, the severall Wardens 
 and Masters Tradesmen of the several Companies aforesaid, doe hereby volluntarily and 
 freely agree, and do hereby covenant, conclude, and bynd our selves, that from hence¬ 
 forth, neither wee ourselves nor anie for vs, shall keepe open our Sliopp windowes, or 
 doares, after eight of the clock betwixt the 25th of March and the 29th of September, 
 
MUNICIPAL GOVEENMENT, GUILD MEECHANT, ETC. 287 
 
 and after six of tlie clock betwixt ye 25tli of September and the 25th of March, vpon 
 paine of everie one of vs to forfeite for everie such offence live shillings. And that ye 
 wardenes for the tymo being shall destraine the goodes of such offenders vnless the p.tie 
 offending doe presently paie soe much forfeited. And that everie p.son that shall offer 
 to opose, rescue, disturbe or sue, anie such warden that shall destraine the said forfeiture 
 and execute this Order, everie such p.son shall forfeite for everie such offence Fower 
 pounds Ten shillings of current money of England for the vse and improvement of the 
 comon stock of the companie abousaid by distresse vpon theire goods or by action in our 
 owne Townes Court in the name of the wardens for the tyme beinge. And it is hereby 
 further agreed, that ye Wardens for the tyme beinge shalbe harinelesse Losslesse and 
 indemptnified by the companie abouesaide for anie thing they shall doe in the execution 
 of this order. In witnesse whereof wee doe hereby severally bynde owrselves and have 
 subscribed owr names to this order the daie and yeare first above written.” 
 
 W. S udell, I W d „ 
 
 John Sumpnee. S d 
 
 (and several others.) 
 
 Mr. Edward Baines states, that so late as the year 1772, “ the corpora¬ 
 tion renewed their prosecutions against ‘merchant strangers,’ who had 
 established themselves in the town without possessing the qualification as 
 freemen of the borough; and in the corporation books of the date of the 
 sixth of April, in that year, the following entry appears :—‘ Received 
 into stock from the subscribers to Baines’s prosecution towards paying Mr. 
 Grimshaw’s Bill from Thomas Walshman, £47. 7s. 8d.;’ and on the 
 credit or opposite side of the ledger,—‘Rec d 27th April, 1772, from the 
 Mercers, Grocers, &c., Company, within the borough of Preston, the sum 
 of £45., by the hands of Mr. Walshman and Mr. Derbyshire, the wardens, 
 in full for my cost of the Prosecutions against Mr. Baines to March 
 Assizes last. John Grimshaw!’ With the history of this prosecution, one 
 of the last remaining vestiges of feudal policy, we have reason to be 
 familiarly acquainted. The effect was to subject Mr. Baines to expences 
 amounting to several hundreds of pounds, and ultimately to oblige him to 
 remove from Preston to Walton-le-dale.” j 
 
 Mr. Wilcockson, in his “Authentic Records of the Guild Merchant,” 
 published in 1822, says, this by-law was not “ fully and finally abandoned 
 until more enlightened views, combined, perhaps, with political motives, 
 occasioned the corporation to withdraw their countenance from its support, 
 about 30 years ago; since which time all the distinct trading companies 
 have ceased to exist; and persons belonging to separate branches of 
 business, without regard to their being burgesses or not, now arrange them¬ 
 selves into temporary societies a few weeks or months previous to each 
 guild, for the mere purposes of parade.” 
 
 In 1803, Prince William Frederick, of Gloucester, military commander 
 of the northern district, reviewed the Preston and other volunteer corps 
 
 j The historian of Lancashire was second son of the “ merchant stranger,” against whom the 
 prosecutions were directed. 
 
288 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 at Liverpool. He likewise visited Preston, and was met by the municipal 
 authorities at the Bull Hotel, where a loyal address was presented to him. 
 
 In the following year, Prince Frederick again visited Preston, accom¬ 
 panied by his father, the duke of Gloucester, brother to his majesty 
 George III. Mr. Whittle says, the prince made an observation to the 
 effect that, “Preston was the handsomest town in England.” ! ! 
 
 The periodical festival of the Guild Merchant originated in the necessity 
 which called together both the resident and non-resident burgesses to 
 renew their freedom, and sanction such laws as, from time to time, might 
 be deemed beneficial to the fraternity. These meetings, in the earlier 
 times, appear to have been held at irregular periods; but, since the year 
 1562, a Guild Merchant has been regularly celebrated once in each twenty 
 years. The earliest celebration of which any specific record has been 
 preserved, took place in 1329, in the second year of the reign of king 
 Edward III. Five other guilds were held within that time and 1562, 
 namely, in 1397, 1415, 1459, 1501, and 1543. Xuerden says:— 
 
 “ These are such as doth appeare within the Records and Gild Books that yet 
 remain extant and in being, k though some I conceive to be omitted, as one Gild in 
 Henry 6th dayes occasion’d, as I conceive, in those distractions and civil wars betwixt 
 the Houses of Lancaster and York ; another Gild Merchant omitted to be kept in 
 K H 8th dayes, occasion’d, as may be thought, by the Revolutions at that time in 
 Church affyres ; the next that are wanting may be through the loss of Records in 
 K. Ewd. 3rd. 1 dayes, whenas the Scottish army burnt the Burrough of Preston to the 
 very ground.” 
 
 In Cooke’s “Topography of Lancashire,” it is stated that, “Preston 
 Guild is, by charter, obliged to be celebrated at the end of every twenty 
 years, in default of which, the elective franchise of the inhabitants in 
 sending members to parliament, and their rights as burgesses would be 
 forfeited.” This is, however, an error, no such clause being found 
 in any of the existing charters. The practice of holding a guild at 
 the expiration of every twenty years, originated in a by-law of the cor¬ 
 poration, adopted anterior to the granting of the charter of Elizabeth.” 
 The latter document, which includes a summary of all known previous 
 grants, is perfectly silent on the matter. It is evident, therefore, that the 
 precise periods were dictated by the discretion of the corporation and bur¬ 
 gesses themselves, with the view to meet their own wishes and business 
 requirements. The processions, entertainments, and feasting, had no more 
 legal connection with the institution itself, than the anniversary dinners of 
 modem friendly societies have with their provident objects. Business 
 required a periodical re-union of parties holding common interests, and the 
 
 k Kuerden manuscript was written shortly before the guild of 1CS2. 
 
 1 This is an error. Bruce’s incursion occurred in the sixteenth year of the reign of Edward II. 
 
 m Wilcockson's “ Authentic Records.” 
 
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, GUILD MERCHANT, ETC. 
 
 289 
 
 gathering was seized upon as a favourable occasion for festive enjoyment, 
 and the exhibition of civic hospitality. The privilege of the inhabitants 
 to the exercise of the elective franchise in the selection of persons to serve 
 in the national parliament, had no connection with their municipal incor¬ 
 poration. J5To reference is made to the subject in any of the charters. n 
 
 For a long period previously to the passing of the Corporation Reform 
 Bill, in 1835, the legal business of the guild had ceased to include more 
 than the simple renewal of freedom to those parties who were previously 
 in possession of the privilege, and the admission of others, who, by birth¬ 
 right, purchase, or otherwise, proved their title to a participation of the 
 immunities enjoyed by the free burgesses of the borough. Mr. AVilcockson 
 observes, in his “Authentic Records of the Guild Merchant,” that, “since 
 the dissolution of the trading companies, and the extension of the elective 
 franchise to all the inhabitants, the immunities of the burgesses have been 
 much circumscribed. The only rights they at present enjoy (1822), above 
 those possessed by their fellow townsmen, is an exemption from toll, the 
 benefit of turning cattle upon the moor and the marsh, and the exclusive 
 privilege of serving in the corporate offices of the borough.” 
 
 The festival of the Preston guild has been celebrated from the earliest 
 known periods with great pomp and profuse hospitality. Dr. Jvuerden 
 has preserved the following record of several of the earlier guilds 0 :— 
 
 1329. 
 
 In 21 of K. Edward 3<1, there is mention made of a Grand or Gild Court, holden at 
 Preston, in Amoundernes, before Aubert the Son of Robt. Major; and William the son 
 of Roger Paulin, and Roger of the Wych, Balives of the same Towne ; on Munday after 
 the Feast of the Nativity of St. John Baptist, the yeare raigning of K. Edw : 3d. after 
 the conquest of the 21, and at the said Guild divers others confirm'd, that had been made 
 at a procedent Guild. 
 
 1397. 
 
 Item, A Guild Merchant held here before Will: Ergham, then Mayor ; and Jeoffry, of 
 the Males, Thomas More, John Ilaconshawe, Stewards of the s<l Gild ; Ri : Blundell, 
 Hen : le Counter, Simon of Preston, Johanes Marshall, Ri : of Bretherton, W : de 
 Cane, Jo : Alston, W: de Walton, Mercer, W. Grimbaldeston, and Jo : Lambart, 
 Aldermen; and Clerk of the sav’d Gild, on Munday next after the feast of 
 
 the Ascention of our Lord, in the 20th year of K. RI. 21. 
 
 1415. 
 
 Item, Another Gild likewise held here, before II. Johnson, Mayor of that Gild ; and 
 W. Clifton, W. Winter, senior, Robt. Males, Stewards of that Gild; W. Ergham, Jo: 
 Blundell, Roger Wicb, Jo : del Walton, Jo : de Alston, W. de Greenhills, Jo : de More, 
 Tho : do Bretherton, Rob : Albin, Jo: Lambart, W. Grimbaldeston, Jo: Breton, A. de 
 Marshall, and W. Blundell, Aldermen ; and Clerk of the same Gild, upon 
 
 Munday after Trinity Sunday, in the 3rd yeare of the Raign of K. H. the Fifth. 
 
 1459. 
 
 Item, Another Gild held here before Rob: Houghton, Mayor; John Houghton sen 1 ’. 
 Rob: Preston, Ri : Walley, Stewards; Jo: Boteler, Rich: Blundell, Gilbert Hydson, 
 Rob: Blundell, Rob: Taylor, Ri : Johnson, W. Cook, Jo : Whaley, Rob: Coke, Jo: 
 
 n See chap. 7. 
 
 o These notices are printed from the work published by Mr. Wilcockson. They are copied 
 from the manuscript printed by Mr. Taylor, previously referred to, with a “ few blanks supplied, and 
 one or two corrections made from collating the account with the public documents in the town clerk’s 
 office.” 
 
 V 
 
290 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 llaly well, Aldermen ; and W. Walton, Clerk of the same Gild, upon Munday next after 
 the Invention of the Holy Crosse, in the 7 yeare of K. Hen : 6th. 
 
 1501. 
 
 Item, Another Gild held within (his Town of Preston, upon Munday next after the 
 Decolation ot St John Baptist, in the 16*4* yeare of King Hen : 7th, before W. Marshall, 
 Major-, H. Preston, W. Ergham, Law: Houghton, Ri: Avnsworth, Stewards; Adam 
 Skillicome, W. Tipping, Lawr : Whaley, Ri: Tipping, W. Sadler, Ri : Arrowsmith, 
 Tho : Alcock, Tho : Davel, Gilbert Arrowsmith. Will: Bonk, Tho : Wainwright, Aider- 
 men ; and William Walton, Clerk of the same Gild. 
 
 1543. 
 
 Item, Another Gild held within this Burrough of Preston, upon Munday next after the 
 Feast of^ the Ascention of our Lord, iu the 34th yeare of the Raign of King Henry 8th, 
 before Tho : Tipping, then Mayor; and Christopher Hadak, Evan Wal, Rad : Dawson, 
 and Oliver Breres, Stewards ; Jam : Walton, Alex : Clayton, W. Ergham, H. Preston, 
 Jam: Walton, Tho: Camberall, Thos. Sadler, and Will: Walton, Clerk of the same 
 Gild, 
 
 1562. 
 
 Item, Another Gild held within this Burrough of Preston, upon Munday after the 
 Decolation of St. John Baptist, in the 4th yeare of the Raign of Queen Eliz : before Tho : 
 Wall then Mayor; Evan Wall his Brother, Tho: Tipping, W. Banester, Stewards; 
 Christopher Hadock, Oliver Breres, Rad: Dawson, H. Blundel, W. Bostock, W. Preston, 
 Evan Hodgkinson, senr. Jo: Werden, Jo: Banester, Rad: Cumberal, Aldermen; and 
 Lawr : Wal, Clerk of the same Gild. 
 
 1582. 
 
 Item, Another Gild held within the Burrough of Preston, upon Thursday, being the day 
 after the Decolation of >t. Jo: Baptist, in the 24 Year of the Raign of Queen Eliz: 
 befor George Walton, g : then Mayor ; W. Hodgkinson, senr. Tho : Breres, Hen : Preston, 
 Stewards; Rog: Hodgkinson, Rob: France, Tho: Cooper, senr. Ri: Cuerdall, Jams 
 Helm, Jams Dyke, Aldermen ; and Roger Gillihrand, Stewards of the said Gild. 
 
 1602. 
 
 Item, Another Gild held within this Burrough of Preston, upon Munday, being the day 
 after the Decolation of St. John Baptist, in 44 yeare of the Raign of Queen Elizabeth, 
 before Henry Catterall, Mayor ; Wm : Hodgkinson, Ri: Blundel, and Edmund Lemon, 
 Stewards ; Tho: Wal, James Hodgkinson, Ri: Cuerdal, Ri: Hodgkinson, Jo: Chorley, 
 Rog ; Langton, W. Garstang, Jo : Hynd, James Weiden, and Nicholas Sudell, Alder¬ 
 men ; and Jo : Breres, Clerk of the said Gild. 
 
 1622. 
 
 Item, Another Gild Merchant, held within this Burrough of Preston, upon Munday next 
 after the Decolation of St. John Baptist, in the 20 yeare of the Raign of Kiug James, 
 before Willm. Preston, g: Major-, Ri: Blundall, Rog: Langton, & Hen: Breres, 
 Stewards; Tho: Banister Jo: Crook, Jo; Hynd, W. Walton, Hen: Sudall, Seth 
 Bushel, W. Lemon, Ri: Shawe, Geo : Hodgkinson, and W. Wall, gen. Aldermen; and 
 George Hodgkinson Clerke of the said Gild Merchant. 
 
 1642. 
 
 Item, Another Gild Merchant held within this Burrough of Preston, upon Munday 
 29th August in the Feast of the Decolation of St John Baptist, in the 18th year of the 
 Raign of King Charles the first, before Edm : Werden, Mayor; Rog: Langton, W. 
 Sudall, Hen: Blundall, g. Stewards; H. Sudall, Jams. Wall, George Addison, Jams. 
 Archer, Ad. Mort, W. Cottom, Tho: Sumner, Tho : Bickerstaffe, Math. Addison, 
 W T . Shaw, g. Aldermen ; and Christopher Banister, Esqr Clerk of the sd Gild. 
 
 1662. 
 
 Item, Another Gild Merchant held within the Borrough of Preston, 34 day of September, 
 in the 14 th yeare of the blessed Raign and happy restoration of our Soveraigne Lord King 
 Charles the 24 before James Hodgkinson. g. Mayor ; W r . Sudal. Tho : Sumner, and Seth 
 Blaekhurst, Stewards; W. Baniester, W. Turner, Luk : Hodgkinson, Tho: Mertin, 
 Sylvester Jugha, Tho: Walmslev, Lawr: Weal, W. Hodgkinson, Tho : Werden, Tho : 
 Rishton, Aldermen of the s4 Gild ; and Edw : Rigby, Esqr clerk of the sJ Gild. 
 
 1682. 
 
 Item, Another Gild Merchant, according to the ancient rights, precedent practice, and 
 laudable custome of this Burrough of Preston upon day of in the 34 yeare of 
 the Raign and happy restoration of our said Soveraign Lord K. Charles 24- now intended, 
 by Gods assistance, to be begun, held, and kept within this Burrough of Preston before 
 Roger Sudall, Mayor of this present Gild, p 
 
 p “ Eroni the state of the MS. here, it is evident that it was originally compiled after the Election 
 of the Guild Mayor in 1G81, and before the time of the Guild in 1G82. The other officers of this 
 
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, GUILD MERCHANT, ETC. 
 
 291 
 
 Kuerdcn’s description of tlie style in which these municipal carnivals 
 wore conducted about two hundred years ago, is not only pertinent to the 
 present section of this history, but instructive as to the habits, manners, 
 and social morals of that period. He says:— 
 
 “Upon Munday next after the Decolation of St. John Baptist, about 8 in the morning, 
 all the Companys of Trades, with the Wardens of each Company in their Gowns and long 
 white Rods, each Company ranged into 2 fyles, the flags of each Company displayed, and 
 variety of musick attending each Company, march regularly up and down the streets, 
 wayteing for the Guild Mayor’s attendance. 
 
 “And the young men within the Town, not being as yet free to Trade of themselves, have 
 a Captain and Leftenant of their own, their ensign bearing the Towns Arms, a Flagg with 
 the Holy Lamb : and they march and attend in the like order, as aforesaid, with their 
 drums and musiq. 
 
 “After which marches, a proper man, bearing the great Baner, with the King's Arms : 
 and after that, following in ranks, the Mayor’s pensioners or guard before the Baner, 
 with Partezans, and those after with halberts, after which followeth singly the Black Ser¬ 
 jeant with his halberd, and then the two Sarjents with their Maces, then the 2 Balives 
 with their white Rods, and the Aldermen in their Robes, and after them the Guild Mayor 
 with his great Staff of Authority, and attended on each side with the Nobility ar.d 
 Gentry of the country, as wel as with the Gentry of the Town. 
 
 “The Mayor first proceeding from his own House, with his more private attendance, to 
 the Town Hall, where the 12 Aldermen attend his coming in their brown fur’d Robes, 
 with the rest of his Council in their Gownes appropriat; from whence, with sound of 
 trumpet, they march to the High Crosse in Market-place, where, after proclamation there 
 made that the Guild is now to be opened and solemnized, in the interim the Bells ringing, 
 all the Companys of Trade, souldery, and guards, are ranged in order for their more 
 solemn attendance, iviz.) the Company of Smiths, then that of the Cuttlers and Sadlers 
 Company, having in the midst of their trayn, a man on horse back armed Cap-ape, 
 brandishing a naked sword ; they marching in order from the Market-crosse towards the 
 Church, their drums beating, music of all sorts playing, they from the Church style divid 
 to the right hand and left, Mr. Mayor, the Nobility and Gentry, passing through them, 
 and so into the Church, where, after prayers performed by the Vicar of the Parish, and 
 a learned Sermon preaclit by the Guild Mayor's Chaplin, comonly a man of noted 
 knowledge and eloquence, chosen upon that occasion, where, after Sermon ended, the 
 Mayor with his great attendance is received in the streets by his guards of Souldiers and 
 Companys of Trade, he maks his procession to the Church gate barrs, where he and his 
 attendance are entertained with a speech made by one of the chief Schollars of the School, 
 a Barrel or Hogshead of nappy Ale standing close by the Barrs is broached, and a glass 
 offered to Mr. Mayor, who begins a good prosperous health to the King, afterwards to 
 the Queen, the Nobility and Gentry having pledged the same; at each health begun by 
 Mr. Mayor, it is attended with a volley of shot from the musketiers attending ; the 
 contry people there present drinking of the remainder, after which the Companys of 
 Trade and others, facing about, march in the same order toward fhe Fishergate Barrs, 
 where they are entertained with another speech in Latin by a .''choller appointed for the 
 same, where another Hogshead is set a broch with the ceremony of healths aud volleys 
 of shott, the people shouting and seizing of the residue left. Then, in the same order, 
 they march in great equipage to the Friergate Barrs, where entertained in the same 
 manner by a 3d speech and another Hogshead of ale as aforesaid, then the Guild Mayor 
 and all his noble retinue, returning back towards the Market place, to the High Crosse, 
 where the Schollmaster himselfe entertains them with a learned speech, and verses con¬ 
 cerning the prosperous Government of his Majestie, and his gracious confirmation of 
 their unparaled franchises of a Gild Merchant in such grandeur to be solemnis’d each 
 20 years ; after which a Hogshead of Wine standing at the Crosse, is broached, the King’s 
 and Queen’s health drunk, with joy full acclamations of the people and volleys of shot as 
 afoiesaid, all the Companys of Trades, Soldiers, Mayor’s guards in good order surround¬ 
 ing the High Crosse, Mr. Mayor and his honourable retinue, whilst these things were in 
 
 Guild were Law. Wall, Thos. Ilodgkinson, Geo. Addison, Stewards; James Ashton, John Kellctt, 
 Wm. Lemon, junr. Thos. Winckley, Christopher Nowell, Rich. Taylor, Jno. Chorley, Win. Wenlen, 
 Joseph Bolton, Ralph Rishton, Aldermen ; and Edwd. Rigby, Serjeant-at-Law, Clerk ol the Gild.” 
 —Wileockson. 
 
292 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 performing, afterwards reducing themselves in their methods, march before Mr. Mayor 
 towards the Gild Hall appointed for entertainment, where coming they lodg, and hang out 
 at some of the higher windows, the King's Flag and the Burrough Flag with the Holy 
 Lamb, at which Mr. Mayor being present, with great acclamations of the people and a 
 volley of shott, each Company of Tradesmen draw off in order to their respective Halis, 
 appointed for their Societys, their Flag of Trade hung out in like manner before their 
 Halls, and their entertein nobly each their own society, the Forren Burgesses at that 
 solemnity in order marching with their respective fraternityes particepatry in theirsplendid 
 entertainment, feastings, and what additional treats are sent unto them by the Guild Mayor 
 at that time. 
 
 “ Here it will be necessary to premise the Checke Roll officers and Servants appointed 
 as necessary for this Grand Solemnity. 
 
 “ 1st The 3 High Stewards of the Guild, one to compare the old Guild Book, what 
 persons are surviving in each family of Burgesses, whether they be inhabitant, remoted, 
 restored, or yet forren Burgesses. 
 
 “2d Steward to consider what additional Burgesses since the last Guild are procreated 
 or admitted by Court Roll, since the last Guild. 
 
 “3d Steward to be Bonser, and receive the fines at that time to be pay’d ; and if any 
 new Compounder or Court Roll Burgess, or Admitted Apprentice, at or before this 
 Guild that is now to compound, or requires confirmation of his Freedome; the 3rd 
 Steward, together with the Benchers, are to appoint a fine for any such, to be payd over 
 to the Stewards, and to be inrolled accordingly, which the Clerk of the Guild is to do in 
 a distinct part of the Guild Book appointed for yt purpose. 
 
 “ CniEF Clerke or Senescal is to enroll the same, and the names of the Burgesses, 
 either admitted de novo, or claiming antient priviledges within this Burrough. 
 
 “ Coxtroler of the Hodsehoi.d is generally chosen out of the 12 Benchers or Aider- 
 men, who is, in the Guild time of entertainment, to survey the inferior officers of the 
 household, walking in his gown, with a white rod in his hand, and giveing directions to 
 other servants, of their dutyes ; and to advise with the Clerke of the Kitchen and Master 
 Cook and others, what preparations to be made for each several dayes entertainment 
 in Feasting, and to receive accompts, each morning, of the precedent dayes expences. 
 
 “ Clerke of theKitchf.n, adviseing with the Controler, is to give order totheMaster 
 Cook and Butchers, what beef, muttons, and veals to kill; what venison to prepare, what 
 rabets or variety of fowls, as phessants, green geese, ducks, capons, pullets; and the 
 Catterars to provide and to be delivered to the Larderer and Cook, to bee in readynesse 
 with other necessarys of the like nature, and with the Baker what bread and flower for 
 the pastery, and with the Bruer what bear, ale, or malt is in store by the Chief Butler's 
 order, and what wines are in readiness, under the custody of the Yeoman of the Wine 
 Cellar, or what may be wanting, to be provided for, and account given up to the said 
 Clerke of the Kitchen and Controller of the Household. The Clerk of the Kitchens to 
 receive accounts dayly, from his inferior Officers, as relating to their kitchen; and weekly 
 to deliver the same up to the Controller, who at the publiq audit, at the shutting up of the 
 Gild, is to render up his account, and compare them with the accounts of other inferior 
 officers. 
 
 “ The Chief Cook is to give order to his under cooks, for prepairing such victualls, 
 boyld, roast or baked as he, with the Clerke of the Kitchen and Controller, have con¬ 
 sidered to be needful as occasion of entertainment shall require : and to see each dish 
 furnished and sent up with what art, ornament can possibly be perform’d. 
 
 “ The Under Cojks to obey their Maisters with all diligence. 
 
 “And the servants in the scullery and turnspitts to be attended upon them, as wel as 
 the servants attending in the slaughter, are to do the like upon occasion. 
 
 “Chief Butler to wayt in the buttery, and entertain strangers with all kindness and 
 curtesse, and to take charge of the plates in his custody, to be returned. 
 
 “ The Under Butlers to attend in the cellar, and to draw beer or ale for strangers, 
 either below or in the cellar, for divers suppers or entertainment above staires. 
 
 “Yeomen of the Wine Cellar to entertain the gentry with Wine or Sack nobly, in 
 the office or wine cellar, and charg’d with the plates in his custody, to furnish the dining 
 roome or other places of entertainm’t above the stares, as he shal receive comand from 
 the Controller or other great Officers of the household. 
 
 “ Inferior officers of the wine cellar as attendant to the yeoman thereof, and other 
 drawers of wine below. 
 
 “Bread Baker and Panti.er to provoide and deliver out, upon order,bread,&c.out 
 of the pantry, as occasion shall require, as likewise cheese or butter upon all occasion 
 needfull. 
 
 “The Guardian of the Spicf.rv and Sweetmeats. &c. to have Tobacco and Pipes, 
 and to deliver out to Mr. Cook what is necessary for the kitcheD, or furnishing of dishes 
 at or after the 2d course. 
 
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, GUILD MERCHANT, ETC. 
 
 293 
 
 “Table Wayters, young men appointed decently to carry up meat, and to attend at 
 dinner or supper, to furnish each guest with plates, beer or wine, or other viends, and 
 Gentlemen’s Servants to be taken into their number for the like service. 
 
 “ The 2 Gentlemen Sewers to receive the Dishes of meat from Wayters, and place 
 them decently and in order upon the Tables, the one upon the one side, the other upon the 
 other or opposite part. 
 
 “The Tables to be prepar’d and cover’d by the chief or 2d ary Butler furnished with 
 plates, napkins, bread, salt, and beer, ale, and wine, in greater vessells standing in 
 cestrons, close by the side cupboard of plates. 
 
 “Gentlemen of the Naeery, attending the cupboard of plate and glasses, directs 
 the wayting Men where to be furnished with botles of sack, white or claret, and Renish 
 or Frontiniak, or ale strong, or small beer, and to deliver to them plates, glasses,&c. and 
 see bowls, tankers and the same placed again or redeliver’d after Dinner or Supper. 
 
 “ The Dapifer or Gentleman Carver to attend at the Mayor's Table, and carve as 
 he shall be cald upon. 
 
 “The Marshall of the Procession or Master of theCeremonys, in procession 
 time, to rang in decent order of the Company of Trads, Souldiers and the Mayor’s guards 
 or halberts; and when procession is ended, to attend, conduct and see placed, the Gentry 
 according to their due procedencv at Table, and after to comit the method thereof to 
 writing for future Guilds remembrance. 
 
 “Usher of the IIai.l, a proper man in his Gown and black Staf, stil attending below 
 stayrs, and conducting Gentlemen and Strangers up the stayrs. If persons of Honor 
 they are to be usher’d up by the Master of the Ceremonys, into the great dining Roome 
 to Mr. Mayor or into his retiring Roome. 
 
 “Groom Porters in black Gowns, one at the Foregate, another at the Back-gate, 
 to keep of Croud and lett in Gentry and Strangers into the Hall or Butteryes. 
 
 “ As soon as the Kings Baner and the Flag, with the Holy Lamb, are hung out att the 
 Guild Hall, the Mayor, with his noble Attendants enter the Hall, passing by the Groom 
 Porter, in his black Gown and black Statf, who keeps of pressure of the crowding people. 
 They are conducted up into the dining Roome by the Controuller of the Household and 
 the Usher of the Hall, both in their Gowns and white Staves, where, when arrived, they 
 are kindly and nobly welcomed, and treated with good Sack and Bisket, until Dinner be 
 brought up, which is attended by G or 8 able Musitians, with their wind Instruments ; 
 and caryeing of the first course, upon the first day of the Guild, is by the Aldermen or 
 12 Benchers, the senior Aldermen bearing and presenting the first dish unto the attending 
 Gentlemen Sewers, who receiveth that and the other dishes, decently and reverently 
 placing them upon the Table, after which the Mayor with his Master of the Ceremonys 
 moveth the Nobility and Gentry to take their places at the Table, which, when so placed, 
 the Reverend Divine (the Guild Mayors Chaplain for that solemnity) with great reverence, 
 craves a blessing upon the Meat; after which, the carver attending, being cal’d upon, 
 attends in his office as occasion requires, the Attendants at the Table, with reverence being 
 very dutiful! in supplying what may be required. Att Dinner time, after the 1st Course 
 be served up, the Musick playing upon their stringed Instruments, at a due distance in or 
 near unto the Dyning Roome, as may be most pleasant and audible, to the contentment 
 of the Nobility and Gentry attending at this great Solemnity. 
 
 “ Against the 2<1 Course, they goe down towards the Kitchen, attending that service with 
 their wind Instruments to the Dyning Roome. After Meat plac’d upon the Table, betake 
 them again to their stringed Instruments as before, their playing melodiously all Diner 
 time, where is all varietye of mirth and good vietualls, nothing is wanted that may either 
 give a plenary contentment to the Guests or credit and honour to Mr. Mayor; where the 
 King, Queens, and many a noble health, in good liquor, passeth round and round all the 
 Tables; and lastly, after great variety of Fruites and Sweet Meats be sufficiently over, 
 in comes the concluding dish, of all store of Pipes and Spanish Tobacco, drenched well 
 with healths in Spanish Wine ; and this last dish served up, after the Chaplain hath given 
 thanks for the plentifull refreshment already made use of. 
 
 “After the Table is diffurnished of Vietualls, the memory of Absent Friends is then 
 revived in the best Wine or Sack, as the Cellar will afford. 
 
 “Towards 2 or 3 o’clock notice is given to the Guards and Companys of Trads to attend 
 again in their Equipage, as before is said, they having sufficiently feasted themselves at 
 their severall Halls, with Flags hung out; each Company having, besides their own 
 splendid provisions, a present at Diner sent them from the Guild Hull, each Company a 
 Venison pasty, piping hott, and a great store of Wine and Sack presented from Mr. 
 Mayor. 
 
 ************ 
 
 “ Mean while new preparations are making ready, about midd afternoone, to entertain 
 the Ladyes who are pleas’d to honor Mr. Mayor with their presence, in the great Dining 
 
294 
 
 PRESTON' AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Roome, where they are treated most nobly with a splendid supper, rich banquet, pleasant 
 musick, Balls and revellings, where their excellent skill in dancing is expressed to the full; 
 Mrs. Mayores (if any) or otherwise a representative appointed to make them welcome: 
 no gates are shutt this night, no persons of gentry or credit debarred from being spec¬ 
 tators (if not active themselves), in this Jubile. I have known 200 or more Ladyes and 
 Gent!ewoemen entertain’d at supper, at 3 or 4 sittings down, the great dining room pre¬ 
 paired with diverse ascents for the ladys better prospect, divers Wislers in antiq apparell, 
 with links and torches to keep of the more intruding ot spectators, for greater liberty and 
 freedome to the dancers each—them showing their learned skill and mysteryes in the art 
 of dancing—Corantes, Galliards, Serabrands, with their Castinenetts, French and Country 
 Dances, with great delight to the spectators, and glorious reputation to the deserving 
 actors, coming hither from all parts of the County and neighbouring parts upon this 
 occasion and Grand Solemnity. Morning and Wearines having concluded these revel- 
 ings ; after a new treatmt all depart to their severall apartments with their attendance. 
 
 “The2>l Day of the Guild Mr Mayor is attended with his train to the Church, to prayers, 
 his Chaplain there wayting for him about 10 of the clock; after the Ceremony of Prayers 
 ended, other nobility and gentry not being present the 1st day of the Gyld, attend Mr. 
 Mayor the 2d 3d or 4tl> days to the Gyld Hall, where they dine splendidly and are nobly 
 treated, somwhat resembling the 1st Dayes Entertainmt. After dinner in the Burrough 
 or Town Hall, they take their Oaths, pay their Fynes, and are enrolled Burgesses in 
 manner as afsd pubiq attendance to the Company’s, upon extraordinary occasion, being 
 call’d to each day in the 1st Week of the Gyld, is attended with feasting of Forren 
 Burgesses that appear then at court, with great solemnity, as hath been said already. 
 
 “ Upon Sunday following after divine service and Sermon, The Inhabitant Burgesses, 
 the better and greater sort of which that are Wardens of Companys or Housekeepers, 
 Mr Mayor publiqly entertains at diner the young men of an inferior rank are treated 
 occasionally in the Mayors Cellers and Butteryes, when vacant from Forrein Burgesses. 
 
 “ Each Company of Trads kecue the Flags daily hanging at their Wardens Hall or 
 Lodging, all the time of the Gyld; and when the Wardens are treated abroad in the 
 Burrough, they attend in order, with their Flags display'd ; and upon return, lodge them 
 at their Wardens lodging, each Mr of any trade treating his Warden and Brethren, 
 severally, att his own apartment; thus continuing, for most part of the Gyld, which 
 generally continues about C weeks. 
 
 “ The Mayor this last Gyld, after the first week ended, treats openly every other day, 
 vizt-—Mundayes, Wednesdayes, and Frydayes; but if any Nobleman, Baronet, or Kts 
 approach, att any other day, as often they doe appeare in Companys, the Mayor having 
 notice thereof, entertains splendidly upon their appearances, as if it had been upon more 
 publiq and solemn feasting dayes : or in like manner upon the Judges and Sheriffs return 
 from the Assizes, with their retinues of the long Robe and other gentry. 
 
 “This Treatment is not much unlike that of the first day of the Gyld, setting Publiq 
 Procession from barrs to barrs aside. Most of these strangers, as wel as the Judges 
 themselves, if not already Burgesses, have at this time their freedom granted them, and 
 are enrolled forren Burgesses with great solemnity.” 
 
 The learned doctor likewise describes, in his usual quaint manner, 
 the fashion in which the proceedings, both civic and festive, were brought 
 to a conclusion :— 
 
 “ The time of shutting up the Gyld being appointed, all the Comptmyes of Tradesmen 
 attend (as the first day of the Gyld) and all the Burgesses upon Mr. Mayor, to the 
 Town Hall, the adjourn’d Court being call’d, and the attendance of the Burgesses being 
 required, the orders of each Company then sealed, de novo, and included within the Gyld 
 Book, after 3 Proclamations; and the Burgesses inhabitant, being cal’d by their names, 
 the Gyld Book of new Orders is held up before them, and the general heads or 
 contents thereof, declared unto them, it is demanded by the Mayor, whether they 
 approve of what is done, which by them precedent Oath of Burgesses, they were 
 engaged to assent to all such orders to be made according to Regal Authority, and the 
 laudable customs of precedent Gylds, which they with loud acclamations do cry 
 consent—God bless the king. 
 
 “ Then doth the Clerk of the Gyld draw back the Book, and affixes the Holy Lamb, 
 &c., the Burrough Seal unto the same, in presence of them all; and then the Mayor 
 and Steward, holding up the Book, say, “ Here is your Lawe.” God bless the king. 
 
 “ And the Clerke of the Gyld, by Proclamation made by the Sergeants, says the 
 Court is adjourned for twenty years, untill a new Gyld be proclaimed and held. 
 
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, GUILD MERCHANT, ETC. 
 
 295 
 
 “ Then great acclammation by all, God save ye king, and echoed with Drums, 
 Trumpets, aud a Volley of Shott. 
 
 “Mr. Mayor, with attendance, returns from the Gyld Hall, and each Warden with 
 his company of Trades to their severall apartments. 
 
 “The Mayor, solaceing the Gentlemen and his own attendance, with Bisket, Ale, 
 Beer and Wine; and after is attended to his own lodging, or to some publiq Tavern, 
 where they give him many thanks and great applause for his Great Care, Labour, 
 Toyle, and Charge, exhibited with such Grandure, unparalled by other Burroughs, 
 though injoying the liberty of a Gyld Merchant by their Charters Itoyall, and so each 
 goes to his own appartment.” 
 
 No detailed records of the proceedings at the following guilds, previously 
 to that which was celebrated in the year 1762, are known to exist. From a 
 pamphlet published by J. Moon, it appears that the festivities, processions, etc., 
 were upon this occasion on a veiy extensive scale. About three hundred 
 ladies walked in procession on the second day of the guild, “ all splendidly 
 and elegantly dressed. * * During the procession, the companies of trade 
 were drawn up in liues, on each side, (many gentlemen also attending) to 
 prevent the ladies from being interrupted, or incommoded by the numerous 
 crowd of spectators, who were assembled to view this uncommon and 
 memorable sight. There was on this occasion an amazing concourse of 
 people from many parts of the kingdom, and from all parts of the country. 
 This spectacle was allowed to surpass any thing of the kind ever seen in 
 the country, and exceeded the expectation of every one present, as well in 
 point of the brilliancy and grandeur that attended it, as in respect of the 
 regularity and decorum, with which it was conducted.” The pleasures of 
 the festive season were diversified by balls, public breakfasts, concerts, 
 horsemanship, theatrical performances, r tumbling, vaulting, dancing on 
 the stiff rope, * * puppet shows, wild beasts, horses of knowledge, 
 etc. “The Guild Hall, an elegent structure, designed by Mr. Carr, an 
 eminent architect, in York,” was erected in anticipation of this festivity. 
 The cost of candles for the illumination of the “state room and adjoining 
 Town Hall” in the several entertainments is said to have amounted to 
 two hundred pounds. The rooms were considered “ capable of containing 
 near one thousand people; which number it was conjectured by many 
 appeared therein each ball night.” 8 Mr. Moon’s pamphlet further states 
 that “ large quantities of ale and beer, and cold provisions of till sorts, 
 were ordered to be distributed amongst the populace each day,” and that 
 the guests and inhabitants were much gratified by the exhibition of 
 reciprocal acts of courtesy, and especially with the conduct of Mr. Mayor, 
 
 r In addition to the old theatre in Woodcock’s-yard, a “oommodious temporary theatre was built for 
 the purpose in Church-street, in which plays were performed by his Majesty’s comedians from the 
 Theatre-royal, London.” 
 
 s This appears an extraordinary number, when considered in relation to the then population of the 
 town, which is supposed to have remained nearly stationary, at six thousand persons, since the time 
 when Kuerden wrote his description, nearly a century previously. 
 
296 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 (II. Parker, esq.,) “who was singularly studious to please, and to inspire 
 mirth and festivity into every individual.” The pamphlet gives the names 
 of six hundred and twenty-nine persons of the nobility and gentry who 
 dined with the mayor during the jubilee. It likewise records that 
 four hundred and fifty-fom’ persons subscribed one guinea each, for the 
 privilege of attending the ladies’ assemblies, on the Tuesday and Thursday 
 evenings during the month. 
 
 Prom a notice of the festivities in the “ Liverpool Advertiser,” of Sep¬ 
 tember 19, 1782, it would appear - that some advance had been made at 
 the guild of that year, in the style and character of the popular enter¬ 
 tainments. The writer thus sums up his observations :—“In a word, the 
 plays, oratorios, masquerades, assemblies, and races, formed a diversity of 
 amusements for every description of taste, and greatly contributed to make 
 up a degree of refulgence such as no former period has equalled, nor is it 
 probable that any future one will surpass. There were upwards of three 
 hundred people at the masquerade, ou Tuesday se’night, a number of 
 which assumed characters, which were exceedingly well supported.” A 
 neighbouring poet celebrated this festival in tolerable verse, 1 in which the 
 beauty and fascinations of the congregated ladies are highly extolled. The 
 poet, however, frankly acknowledges that, 
 
 “-feasting and dancing, and music, and noise, 
 
 Are the soul of a Guild, and the chief of its joys.” 
 
 At the guild of 1802, amongst the vehicles which perambulated the 
 streets of the town, carrying emblematical devices or machinery with 
 operatives actively engaged in their peculiar callings, was exhibited, for the 
 first time, a miniature steam-engine, and other machinery, “ at full work, 
 and performing all the various operations of the cotton factory.”" 
 
 An article in the Monthly Magazine describes the festivities on this 
 occasion, from which the following paragraphs are extracted:— 
 
 “ The gentlemen’s procession commenced on Monday morning, immediately after break¬ 
 fast; it was preceded by the Marshal, armed cap-a-pee, on horse-back, trumpeters on 
 horse-back, &c.; then came twenty-four young, blooming, handsome women, belonging 
 to the different cotton mills, dressed in a uniform of peculiar beauty and simplicity. Their 
 dress consisted wholly of the manufacture of the town. The ground petticoats were 
 of fine white calico; the headdress was a kind of blue feathered wreath, formed very 
 ingeniously of cotton, so as to look like a garland; each girl carried in her hand the 
 branch of an artificial cotton-tree, as the symbol of her profession. The gentlemen 
 walked in pairs, preceded by Lord Derby, and the Hon. T. Erskine. They amounted to 
 
 t The Rev. Thomas Wilson, B.D., author of the Achaeological Dictionary, and formerly master of the 
 Free Grammar school, Clitheroe. 
 
 u The cotton spinning business had begun to make some figure in the town at this period. The 
 Monthly magazine says,—“ This very curious and singular piece of mechanism attracted very great 
 attention.” The introduction of the cotton business, and the abandonment of the old claims of the 
 companies to the exclusive privileges of trade, had operated so favourably upon the general prosperity 
 of the town that the population had increased from six thousand to twelve thousand, since the pre¬ 
 ceding guild. 
 
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, GUILD MERCHANT, ETC. 
 
 297 
 
 about four hundred, consisting of all the principal noblemen, gentlemen, merchants, and 
 manufacturers of this and the neighbouring counties. At the head of the manufacturers 
 were J. Horrocks, esq., M.P., and J. Watson, esq., arm in arm, (the two principal and 
 indeed rival manufacturers of the couuty,) carrying white wands in their hands ; 
 upwards of one hundred workmen and mechanics followed, two and two. They paraded 
 through all the principal streets of the town, attended by bands of music, and flags, with 
 various emblematical devices, &c., and then proceeded to the parish church. In the 
 course of the procession, came Nicholas Grimshaw, esq., the mayor, with his maces, the 
 recorder, bailiffs, aldermen, common-council-men, halbert-men, and other corporation 
 officers, town-crier, beadle, Sec., as likewise all the different companies or incorporated 
 bodies, headed hy their wardens, with staves of office, in their state dresses, and with the 
 usual insignia ; also one of the lodges of free-masons, in their appropriate decorations. 
 
 “On Tuesday was the ladies’procession. A numerous body of gentlemen, holding 
 white rods in their hands, walked before, and filed off, making a line on each side of the 
 street, through which the ladies were to pass. The girls from the cotton manufactory, led 
 the van as before; afterwards came the ladies, two and two. The Rev. Mr. Shuttleworth, 
 rector, and Mrs. Grimshaw, the mayoress, and queen of the guild, walked first; after 
 them came the Countess of Derby, and Lady Charlotte Hornby ; Lady Stanley, daughter 
 of Lord Derby, and Lady Ann Lindsay ; Lady Susan Carpenter, and the Hon. Mrs. 
 Cawthorne ; Lady Gerard, and Lady Houghton ; Lady Jerningham, and Lady Fitzgerald. 
 Several other baronets' ladies, and the rest of the other ladies, followed, walking in pairs ; 
 in all, near four hundred in number, consisting of the most distinguished ladies in this 
 and the neighbouring counties. They were all superbly dressed, and adorned with a pro¬ 
 fusion of the richest jewels. Each of them wore an elegant fashionable plume of feathers, 
 branching from the coeffoure. This part of the spectacle (especially the first covp d’oeil, 
 when the ladies had all got out of the town-hall into the street), comprehending such a 
 brilliant display of beauty, elegance, and fashion, deservedly attracted universal attention 
 and admiration, and produced one of the grandest, most uncommon, and charming sights 
 ever beheld. So splendid an exhibition of female attractions has seldom been witnessed 
 in this part of the country, and indeed every possible variety of taste, elegance, and art, 
 were displayed by both sexes during the whole festival, in costume, ornaments, and 
 decorations. Some of the dresses worn by the ladies, on this occasion, were said to be 
 worth more than £10,000. On Monday, there was a splendid assembly at the town-hall, 
 (the tickets at half-a-guinea each) which was crowded to an uncommon degree, and on 
 Wednesday night the Mayoress gave a ball at the same place, for which more than 400 
 tickets were issued. The crowd was so great, that dancing was scarcely practicable. The new 
 theatre at Preston, a very elegant and convenient house, was attended by crowded audi¬ 
 ences every night, at double prices ; a great part of the pit had been laid into boxes ; not¬ 
 withstanding which, hardly a place was to be had on most of the nights. The prodigious 
 concourse of visitors, especially those of the higher ranks, was such as to excite the 
 astonishment of all the townsmen.—More than 20J gentlemen’s carriages were daily parad¬ 
 ing the streets of Preston. The races begun on Wednesday, and the concourse of people 
 on Fulwood Moor was greater than ever before remembered.” 
 
 The guild of 1822, found a faithful historian in Mr. Isaac Wilcoekson, 
 from whoso “Authentic Records” the following particulars are gathered;— 
 In ordinary routine, the senior alderman generally succeeded the retiring 
 chief magistrate; but on this occasion the precedent was set aside, and 
 Nicholas Grimshaw, esq., was elected Guild Mayor, for the second time. 
 William Clayton, esq., was appointed the “ Town’s Bailiff,” and Edmund 
 Grimshaw, esq., the mayor’s bailiff, by the nomination of his father. In 
 the April previous to the guild, two of Mr. Grimshaw’s sons were unfor¬ 
 tunately drowned in the river, by the upsetting of a pleasure boat. This 
 bereavement prevented Mrs. Grimshaw from taking part in the festivities, 
 as Lady Mayoress. The duties of the position were, however, sustained 
 with becoming dignity by her daughter, the lady of Richard Atkinson, 
 esq., of Stodday Lodge, near Lancaster. 
 
 The Town and Guild Halls were re-decorated, and a suite of four 
 
298 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 temporary rooms, tastefully fitted up, erected upon the spot now occupied 
 by the Corn Exchange. The halls and assemblies, and the Lady Mayoress’ 
 public breakfast, were held in the latter, the mayor retaining the Guild¬ 
 hall rooms for his dining parties, etc. “For six months previous, every 
 joiner, painter, and decorator, was in constant employment, and when the 
 Guild was opened there was scarcely a dwelling in the town, from the 
 mansion of the mayor, to the hovel of the cotter, that did not shew itself 
 off in a holiday garb.” 
 
 The processions passed off with great eclat, especially that of the ladies, 
 on the second day, Tuesday, Sep. 3rd. “ Every eye,” says Mr. Wilcockson, 
 “ was instantly turned towards the spot from which the procession was to 
 approach, in order to gain the earliest glance of the delightful spectacle. 
 The sun shone resplcndently; the air cooled by the rain which had fallen 
 in the morning, felt most refreshing. The procession was led by Mrs. 
 Atkinson, supported, as before, by the mayor and the mayor’s chaplain. 
 The countess of Wilton, and the Hon. Mr. Stanley, followed, and these 
 were succeeded by a train of beauty and elegance which could not he 
 equalled out of the fair circle of ‘ Lancashire witches’—'Twas a light 
 that ne’er will shine again, until twenty revolving years shall bring the 
 season of another Guild.” About one hundred and sixty ladies appeared, 
 in full hall-room costume, in this procession, which included the countess 
 of Derby, the daughter of Lord Stanley, Lady Hoghton, and many mem¬ 
 bers of some of the most distinguished families in the coimty. 
 
 The exhibition of cotton machinery, in full work, was again one of 
 the chief features in the trades’ procession. The commercial companies 
 and fraternities, numbered about as follows:—Tanners and curriers, 60 ; 
 cotton trade, 800; cordwainers, 40; carpenters, 120; butchers, 70; 
 vintners, 90; tailors, 50; T smiths, 100; odd-fellows, 250; plasterers, 100; 
 gardeners, 60; printers and bookbinders, 40 ; free masons, 450. 
 
 It was computed that 50,000 persons joined or -witnessed the procession 
 on the first day, which number was increased on the following morning 
 by about ten thousand new arrivals. w 
 
 v The journeymen tailors took umbrage at the place assigned to them in the procession, which was 
 the seventh in the list of thirteen. The}* refused to walk, alleging that their profession boasted 
 the highest antiquity, and was consequently entitled to the first place, “ which,’* said their written 
 protest, “ has always been assigned to them from the creation of the world to the present time (the 
 last guild excepted), and they are resolved never to be disgraced by tamely accepting any other!” Their 
 employers, however, were not so squeamish. They cheerfully accepted the place assigned them by the 
 committee. 
 
 w The population of Preston had increased to about twenty-four thousand souls; about double the 
 number inhabiting the town at the guild of 1802. This is sufficient to show that the Preston guild 
 festivities enjoyed more than a local reputation. From the list of distinguished visitors, indeed, it 
 would appear that the gentry from almost every part of the kingdom contributed to the splendour 
 and eclat of this ancient municipal jubilee. 
 
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, GUILD MERCIIANT, ETC. 
 
 299 
 
 The entertainments continued for a fortnight, and comprised dress and 
 fancy costume halls, a masquerade, oratorios, concerts, races, banquets, 
 and various other amusements, including the ascent of Mr. Livingstone, 
 in his large balloon. The lady mayoress’s public breakfast was attended 
 by about seven hundred persons. The masquerade concluded the festival, 
 which passed off with the "greatest order, harmony, and good feeling;” 
 the civil authorities, notwithstanding the immense congregation of people, 
 being fully equivalent to the preservation of the public peace. 
 
 This was the last celebration of the Guild Merchant under the old 
 regime. The Corporation Reform Bill, passed in 1835, placed Preston, as 
 well as other “chartered boroughs,” under its provisions. The exclusive 
 privileges of the “free burgesses” are now things of the past; but the 
 memory of the great jubilee has not yet departed. It will doubtless con¬ 
 tinue to be celebrated, as a period of festivity, for a long time yet to 
 come, though judiciously contracted in point of duration. Such was the 
 case in 1842, during the mayoralty of Samuel Horrocks, esq., when the 
 proceedings occupied seven days. The festivities of the previous guilds 
 extended over a fortnight; and the guild books continued open for the 
 registration of freemen during twenty-eight days. 
 
 Previously to September, 1842, considerable difference of opinion was 
 expressed relative to the propriety of celebrating the guild in the future, 
 as the alteration in the municipal law rendered the legal portion of the 
 ceremony unnecessary. The reformed council, notwithstanding, resolved 
 that the guild books should be opened as usual, and the procession and 
 festivities conducted with all the splendour of their predecessors. Pre¬ 
 parations were accordingly made upon the most extensive scale. The 
 suite of rooms at the Guild Hall were tastefully painted and decorated. 
 The area of the Corn Exchange was covered over, and temporarily 
 converted into a magnificent ball-room, one hundred and twenty-six feet 
 in length, by about sixty-tliree feet in mean breadth. The roof in the 
 centre was thirty-one feet six inches in height, and around the sides, about 
 nine feet. The large intermediate space was twenty-one feet high. This 
 peculiarity gave the saloon something of the character of a cathedral nave, 
 the pillars supporting the roof being festooned, so as to imitate, to some 
 extent, architectural form and embellishment. The general decorations 
 were very gorgeous; the lights in the “clerestory” were formed of 
 coloured transparencies, resembling stained glass, which much enhanced 
 the effect in the day time. The entire floor was covered with a deep 
 crimson drugget. The present large assembly room and the galleries were 
 tastefully decorated, and converted into promenades and refreshment 
 rooms. 
 
300 
 
 PEESTOX AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 On Saturday, the 27th of August, the mayor and corporation met at 
 the Guild Hall, aud, after chinking the health of the queen, proceeded to 
 the obelisk in the Market-place, and made proclamation of the guild in the 
 usual form. On then- return, the “silver punch bowl” and the “loving 
 cup” 1 were replenished, and the members of the council and their friends 
 commenced the festive enjoyments. 
 
 On Monday, the guild court was opened at the Town Hall, and after¬ 
 wards adjourned to the Exchange. The usual ceremonies being gone 
 through, a Latin oration was spoken by Master Humber, a pupil at the 
 grammar school, with such effect as to call forth an eulogium from the 
 recorder, T. 15. Addison, esq., who responded, and from the mayor, who, 
 with his own hands, decorated Master Humber with a silver medal of the 
 guild. 
 
 Cricket matches, boat races on the Ribble, wrestling matches, formed 
 the staple amusements during the day. In the evening, a magnificent 
 display of fireworks was given in the Market-place, by Mr. Bywater, of 
 Sheffield. 
 
 On Tuesday, the grand guild procession took place, when members of 
 the following trades, accompanied by flags, banners, hands of music, and 
 vehicles, containing craftsmen actively employed in their several occu¬ 
 pations, attended the mayor and corporation to church, and afterwards 
 paraded the principal streets of the town, the corporate body joining the 
 procession during a portion of the perambulation. Joiners, plasterers, 
 plumbers, glaziers, and painters, smiths, coachmakers, letterpress printers 
 and engravers, glass cutters, butchers, and members of the various lodges 
 of Freemasons likewise joined the procession. 
 
 A bazaar, for the benefit of the Abbey Church of St. Bernard, Cham- 
 wood Forest, Leicestershire, was opened in the school-room of the Sisters 
 of Charity, near St. Ignatius Church, and remained open during the week. 
 The bazaar was patronised by the principal Roman catholic families in the 
 town and neighbourhood. Amongst the ladies, the Princess Doria Pamphili, 
 and the countess of Shrewsbury, presided at stalls. The earl of Shrews¬ 
 bury, the Prince Doria Pamphili, and other illustrious members of the 
 family, were present at the opening. They were prevented, however, 
 from honouring the remaining portion of the guild festivities with their 
 presence, in consequence of a previous engagement, which required 
 their attendance at the earl’s beautiful seat, Alton Towers, Staffordshire, 
 on the following morning, to receive, as their guest, his royal highness 
 the duke of Sussex. 
 
 x The silver bowl was presented to the corporation by the earl of Derby, on the 24th of August, 
 1742. It will contain nearly two gallons. The loving cup is a beautiful silver tankard, of the 
 capacity of about two quarts. 
 
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, GUILD MERCHANT, ETC. 
 
 301 
 
 A grand miscellaneous concert was given in the theatre, in the evening. 
 
 A second day’s “Westmoreland and Cumberland Wrestling” was likewise 
 provided, at which the “Champion’s Guild Belt” was carried off by Mr. 
 George Donaldson, of Patterdale. 
 
 Ou Wednesday morning, the oratorio of the Messiah was performed at 
 the parish church. A grand procession of upwards of one hundred ladies, 
 in morning concert dress, accompanied the lady mayoress. The members of 
 several friendly or benefit societies, with their emblems, banners, and 
 regalia, joined the procession to the church, and afterwards perambulated 
 the streets of the town. At the conclusion of the oratorio, the members of 
 the twenty-four lodges, forming the Preston district of the Manchester 
 Unity of Oddfellows, formed in two lines, extending from the church to 
 the Town Hall, between which the ladies in procession returned. Nearly 
 four thousand members of friendly societies took part in the day’s pro¬ 
 ceedings. It was generally remarked that the reputation of the ladies of - 
 Preston, for personal attractions, had in no respect degenerated. 
 
 A grand full dress ball, in the guild saloon at the Corn Exchange, 
 which was attended by upwards of five hundred persons, furnished 
 amusement for the upper classes in the evening. 
 
 On Thursday morning, the performance of Hossini’s celebrated “Stabat 
 Mater” took place, at St. Wilfred’s catholic chapel, and the lady mayoress 
 gave her public breakfast in the grand guild saloon, at the Corn Exchange. 
 The children belonging to the schools of the established church, to the 
 number of about two thousand five hundred, marched in procession to the 
 parish church, and were treated, in conjunction with about two thousand 
 others, which the church would not accommodate, with suitable refresh¬ 
 ments. The festivities were varied by horse-racing upon the “ Holme,” 
 and rowing matches upon the river. In the evening, a grand concert, 
 principally of Italian music, was given in the theatre, and a ball took 
 place in the school room attached to St. Augustine’s catholic church. 
 
 On the Eriday, the scholars belonging to the various religious denomi¬ 
 nations walked in procession. Those appertaining to the establishment were 
 treated with an excursion to Fleetwood; those belonging to the B om an 
 catholic body, to the performances of Mr. Pablo Eanque’s equestrian 
 troupe; and others to suitable refreshments in then’ respective school-rooms. 
 
 The weavers likewise, walked in procession, accompanied by a vehicle, 
 containing one of the trade, with a boy assistant, in the act of weaving fancy 
 cloth. 
 
 The afternoon was principally devoted to the races. The festivities 
 were brought to a close in the evening by a grand costume hall in the 
 guild saloon. Nearly a thousand persons were present, the chief portion 
 
302 
 
 PRESTOS AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 of whom appeared in elegant and costly fancy dresses. This gathering 
 may, unquestionably, lay claim to the distinction of being the most bril¬ 
 liant and gorgeous spectacle ever presented to the inhabitants of Preston. 
 
 Amongst the distinguished visitors at the guild were, his highness the 
 duke of Brunswick, the Baron Audlaw, equerry and chamberlain to the 
 duke of Brunswick; the Prince and Princess Doria Pamphili, the earl and 
 countess of Shrewsbury, the earl of Traquair, the Viscount and Viscountess 
 Castlcmainc, the honourable Colin Lindsay, the honourable Miss Handcock, 
 the honourable H. Cholmondeley, Sir It. Brooke, bart., Miss Brooke, Major- 
 General Sir Thomas Whitehead, bart., the Misses Whitehead, the Chevalier 
 Datti, the honourable H. Pctre, Sir Thomas de Trafford, Sir Thomas H. 
 Hcsketh, bart., and the principal gentry of the town and neighbourhood. 
 
 The guild of 1842 passed off, on the whole, to the entire satisfaction both 
 of the inhabitants and their visitors. The town was filled with company, 
 notwithstanding the greatly increased accommodation since the holding of 
 the previous guild festival. The gross receipts of the committee of manage¬ 
 ment amounted to £2,500. After the payment of all demands, a surplus 
 of about £200. remained, which was handed over to the public charities. y 
 
 At the period ^immediately previous to the passing of the municipal 
 corporation act, Preston contained about three hundred resident, and three 
 thousand non-resident freemen. 2 These were respectively termed in-bur¬ 
 gesses and foreign burgesses. Those who were enrolled at a guild merchant 
 were styled guild burgesses; those entered on other occasions were called 
 burgesses by court roll. Freedom was obtained by grant of the corporation 
 and by birth, but it is the general opinion that in the earlier period of the 
 municipal government of the town “ almost every respectable housekeeper 
 was a burgess.” 
 
 At the time of the passing of the municipal reform act, the following- 
 gentlemen formed the corporate body:— 
 
 “ Mayor, Thomas Trougliton, Esq. Recorder, T. B. Addison, Esq. Town-Clerk, 
 Richard Palmer, Esq. Steward and Treasurer, Mr. Philip Park. Aldermen—Nicholas 
 Grimshaw, John Troughton, Thomas Miller, James Mounsey, James Dixon, John 
 Addison, and John Woodburn, Esqrs. 
 
 “ Common council, or capital burgesses.—Messrs. R. Palmer, R. Friend, J. Taylor, J. 
 Pedder, T. Moor, J. Robinson, J. Palev, C. Buck, T. Petty, W. Taylor, W. O. Pilkingtou, 
 S. Horrocks, junr., T. German, W. Clayton, E. Grimshaw, J. Paley, junr., Greenhow 
 Crane, Esqrs. 
 
 “ Town’s Bailiff, George Noble, Esq. Mayor’s do., Thomas Howard, Esq, Town’s 
 Sero-eaut, Thomas Walton; Sergeant at Mace, H. Bowerbank; Market-looker, Thomas 
 Green; Mace-bearer, George Longworth; Town-cryer, James Curie; Beadle and Hall- 
 keeper, William Topping.” 
 
 The first election of councillors under the new act took place on the 26th 
 of December; and of the aldermen, on the 31st of December, 1835. The 
 
 y For further details of the guild of 1842, see pamphlet published by W. Pollard, 
 z Municipal cor. rep. co. Lan. p. 1687. 
 
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, GUILD MERCHANT, ETC. 
 
 303 
 
 mayor was elected on the first of January, in the following year. The 
 following is a list of the gentlemen comprising the first reformed 
 council:— 
 
 “ Thomas Miller, Esq., mayor. Aldermen —Messrs. James Dixon, Charles Swainson, 
 George Gradwell, Peter Hay dock, Thomas German, John Horrocks, John Paley, Thomas 
 Monk, John Lawe, William Taylor, John Noble, Thomas Miller. 
 
 “Councillors.—St. John’s Ward.—Messrs. Joseph Walker, Thomas Munday, George 
 Jacson, Joseph Livesey, J. Fallowfield, Edward Lcece. 
 
 “Trinity Ward.—Messrs. Francis Sleddon, William Garstang, William Holmes, 1*. 
 Walker, John Knowles, R. Segar. 
 
 “Fislnvick Ward.—Messrs. John Swainson, Thomas Barker, John Horn, S. Horrocks, 
 jun., William Shaw, S. Horrocks, senr. 
 
 “Christ Church Ward.—Messrs. John Smith, Richard Pilkington, Thomas Leach, 
 Robert W. Hopkins, Thomas Clayton, Robert Brown. 
 
 “ St. George’s Ward.—Messrs. John Paley, senr., Richard Arkwright, William Hum¬ 
 ber, J. Bulman, Richard Threlfall, John Park. 
 
 “ St. Peter’s Ward.—Messrs. Thomas Swindlelimst, Robert Gardner, Thomas Carter, 
 Joseph Mitchell, Joseph Pomfret, James Park. 
 
 “ Recorder.—Thomas Batty Addison, Esq. Town Clerk and Coroner.—Richard 
 Palmer, Esq. Steward —Mr. Philip Park.” 
 
 The limited space which can be devoted to the proceedings of the 
 corporate body, in a work of this character, necessitates allusion but to a 
 few of the more important transactions. For further particulars and 
 details the reader is referred to the published minutes of proceedings. 
 
 Early after the inauguration of the reformed council, resolutions were 
 passed for the purpose of disposing of the stock of wine in the corporation 
 cellars, the superflous furniture, etc., and for ascertaining the validity of 
 the claim of the old freemen to the exclusive right of pasturage for their 
 cattle on the moor. a It was eventually decided that the ownership of the 
 laud in question was vested in the mayor, aldermen, and burgesses, in 
 their corporate capacity ; and that the freemen had no exclusive right to 
 the pasturage. The report in conclusion says :— 
 
 “ The 92nd section of the act, by the authority of which this council exists, directs 
 any surplus of the borough fund to be applied for the public benefit of the inhabitants 
 and improvement of the borough. 
 
 “ The disposing of this surplus to a favoured few cannot be complying with this 
 direction. 
 
 “ Every inhabitant, free or otherwise, has a right to the benefit of this clause, and your 
 committee think that the long enjoyment by the freemen of their exclusive and originally 
 usurped privileges, ought to reconcile them to the tardy justice now partially done to tho 
 public.” 
 
 The “marsh” land not having been “ enclosed ” by the preceding cor¬ 
 poration, remains as a free pasturage for tho cattle of freemen only. Like 
 their brctlu-cn of the old parliamentary franchise, these exclusives are fast 
 disappearing, the municipal reform act only recognising for the future the 
 rights or privileges of then existing freemen. No new burgesses of this 
 class can be added either by birth or grant. The only other privilege at 
 present enjoyed by the freemen is exemption from toll. 
 
 a The wine realised £226.3s. 74d. 
 
304 
 
 PEESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 In 1816, the claim of the freemen to the pasturage on the moor had 
 been decided “ not to be well founded,” in the case of Hodgkinson v. Clowes, 
 at the Lancaster Lent Assizes. Noth withstanding this, the exclusives 
 were dissatisfied, and in order to try their right, a cow placed upon the 
 moor, was impounded by the municipal authorities. The decision was again 
 adverse to the freemen’s claim. A resolution of the corporation on the 
 1st of January, 1841, authorises the town-clcrk, (in consequence of the 
 “ proceedings in the action by the freemen to try the right of pasturage on 
 the moor having terminated),” “ to discharge John Hodgkinson, the 
 plaintiff, now in goal for the costs of such action, from further custody.” 
 
 The reformed corporation have preserved the regalia of their predecessors. 
 These articles are rather numerous and possess some historical interest. In 
 addition to the halberds carried before the chief magistrate, and whose 
 probable origin has been previously discussed, the public processions of the 
 municipal authorities are graced by the presence of one large gold (or silver 
 gilt), and two smaller silver maces. The gold mace was presented to the 
 corporation by the duke of Hamilton, in the reign of Queen Anne. It is 
 ornamented by the royal af ms, the borough arms, and the heraldic emblazon¬ 
 ments of the donor, together with the letters A. It., and the rose and thistle, 
 each surmounted by the royal crown. The following inscription is engraved 
 upon the handle :— 
 
 “The Gift of the High and Mighty Prince, James, Duke of Hamilton, Marquess of 
 Clydsdale, Earl of Aran, Lanerk, and Cambridge, Lord Avon, Polemont, Machanshire 
 and Innerdale, and Knight of the most antient and most noble Order of the Thistle, &e., 
 &c., To the Towne of Preston, in Lancashire, in the year 1703, in Token of his Friendship 
 to that Corporation, and of their civilities to him and Elizabeth Gerard, Dutches of 
 Hamilton, his consort. Testified on several occasions during their abode in that Place, 
 and particularly upon the birth of their son James, Marquess of Clydsdale, who was born 
 at Preston, the 3rd day of January, 1701 [2].” b 
 
 The two silver maces carry no inscription. They are simply ornamented 
 
 b lie was the fourth duke of the title. His arms, together with those of the earl of Derby, 
 ornament the west end of the Bull Inn assembly room. The dukes of Hamilton were amongst the most 
 distinguished of the occasional residents of the town, ere the aristocratic element yielded before 
 the rapid progress of commercial enterprise. The nobleman, whose costly gift forms the chief 
 feature of the municipal insignia, was slain in a duel, through the treachery of General Macartney, 
 the second of his antagonist and challenger, Lord Mohun, who was himself killed. Macartney 
 although acquitted of the capital offence, was found guilty of manslaughter. Elizabeth Gerard was 
 only daughter and heiress of Digby, Lord Gerard, from whom the dukes of Hamilton inherited the 
 whole of their Lancashire property. 
 
 Agnes Strickland says, in her life of Mary Beatrice of Modena, wife of James II. and mother to the 
 Chevalier de St. George : “ The duke of Hamilton was at that time the main pillar of her son’s cause 
 in Scotland; he was in correspondence with herself; had just been appointed ambassador to the 
 court of France, secretly empowered, it has generally been supposed, by Queen Anne to make 
 arrangements with the court of St. Germains for the adoption of the exiled prince as her successor, 
 on condition of his remaining quiet during her life, little douht existing of the duke being able, by 
 his great interest in parliament, to obtain the repeal of the act of settlement for the royal succession.” 
 —Lives of Queens of England, vol. 10, p. 128. 
 
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, GUILD MERCHANT, ETC. 305 
 
 by the royal crown of the reign of George II., the letters G. It., and the rose, 
 thistle, and fleur-de-lis. 
 
 The wand of office carried by the mayor is silver headed, and bears the 
 following inscription:—“Ex Dono Edwardi Rigby arm.” (The gift of 
 Edward Rigby, Esq.) Another silver headed wand, apparently more 
 ancient, and probably borne by the mayor before the date of Mr. Rigby’s 
 gift, is inscribed “Thomas Sompner gen. Maior of Preston, 1644, Henry 
 Wcrden and Richard Feilden Bailiffs.” A representation of the borough 
 arms accompanies this inscription. 
 
 Edward, eleventh earl of Derby, great-grandfather of the present peer, 
 was a native of Preston. He served the office of mayor of the borough, 
 and was an alderman at the time of his accession to the chief honours of 
 the family. Soon after his elevation to the peerage, he presented to the 
 corporation a magnificent silver punchbowl, as a mark of his esteem. The 
 heraldic bearings of the noble donor and the Preston arms arc engraved 
 upon it, together with the following inscription: “ Preston in Amounder- 
 ness, A.D. 1742. The Gift of the Right Hon We Edward, Earl of Derby, 
 24th August, 1724.” The crest of the Stanley family ornaments the 
 silver ladle. 
 
 A large and elegantly chased gold, or silver gilt, cup, bears the follow¬ 
 ing inscription:—“Donum gratulatorium Henrici Banester de London 
 armigeri collatum in usu propriu Maioris de Preston in Andemcs ac fra- 
 trum eius pro tempore existentium in perpetuum. Anno Domini 1615.” 
 “A congratulatory gift of Henry Banester, of London, Esq., bestowed for the 
 particular use of the mayor of Preston, in Andernes [Amounderness], and 
 his brethren for the time being for ever. In the year of our Lord, 1615.” 
 The arms of the donor and of the borough are likewise engraved upon it. 
 
 The “ loving cup,” or “ Queen Anne’s cup,” as it is sometimes desig¬ 
 nated, is of richly cut glass, mounted upon a gold stand. It bears the arms of 
 theFleetwoods and of the borough, together with thcfollowing inscription:— 
 “ Prosperity to the Queen, the Church of England, and the corporation of 
 Preston.” It is doubtless the gift of one of the Eleetwoods, of Pcnwortham; 
 although no inscription testifies to the fact. 
 
 A silver goblet bears the following rude latin inscription : “Ex dono 
 Radi Longworth, Gent., Rico Hynde, Gent., Maiori Burg sive ville de 
 Preston et successoribus suis in perpetuum. A.D. 1671.” “ The gift of 
 
 Radus Longworth, Gentleman, to Richard Hynde, the Mayor, and the 
 burgesses of the town of Preston, and their successors for ever.” 
 
 A silver claret jug, resembling a coffee pot, is, “The gift of Richard 
 Atherton, of Atherton, Esq., to the corporation of Preston, 1722.” It 
 
306 
 
 PRESTON ANT) ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 bears the arms of the Athertons, impaled with those of the Faringtons, 
 of "Worden. 11 
 
 A gilt oar, emblematical of the port, and a handsome state sword, were 
 presented by Mr. John Addison, during his second mayoralty, in 1845. 
 The corporation regalia likewise includes two massive silver snutf boxes, 
 presented by Mr. Palmer, the town clerk, and Mr. Green, the borough 
 treasurer, in 1814. 
 
 The corporation of Preston still possesses the matrices of some of the old 
 borough seals. The oldest bears the head of a king, supposed to be 
 Edward III. Beneath the bust a lion couchant is represented, and on 
 each side of the portrait a crescent, bearing, in heraldic nomenclature, an 
 etoile or star. The inscription is as follows :— 
 
 “S’: EDW: REG': ANXEL': AD: RECOGN': DEBITOR' 
 There is likewise a portion of what appears to have been a duplicate 
 of this seal, which bears the inscription, “Ex dono, 1663.” These 
 seals, however, are believed to have belonged to some of the guild 
 companies, and not to the corporate body. The old corporation seal bears 
 a lamb passant, on a shield encircled by a wreath, and is without inscrip¬ 
 tion or date. The seal at present in use exhibits a lamb couchant, with 
 the letters P.P. (Princeps paeis), and the following inscription:— 
 “SIGILLYM- COMYXE- VILLA- DE- PRESTOV.” 
 
 The moor had been enclosed by the old corporation, and the centre 
 portion reserved for a public park. The new body not only proceeded 
 with this work, but took steps for the securing of land on Avenham 
 brows for the extension of the promenade, and the procuring of a survey 
 of the estuary of the Bibble, with a view to improvements in the 
 navigation. Application was likewise made to the “ Lords Commissioners 
 of His Majesty’s Treasury,” for power to sell a portion of the corporate 
 estate, in order to furnish funds for the carrying out these and other public 
 improvements. 
 
 In Eeb., 1836, Mr. Philip Park, treasurer, presented an elaborate 
 statement relative to the corporate property, in which he showed that the 
 annual income arising therefrom might fairly be set down at upwards of 
 £3,000. The following is a summary of the annual value of the three 
 distinct classes of property into which he divided the corporate estate:— 
 
 £. s. d. 
 
 “ Rents arising from Lands and Buildings exclusive of 
 the Exchange, in Lune-street, but including the 
 
 Fishery in the River Ribble. 
 
 Receipts at the Exchange, for the year ending Nov. 12, 
 
 1835 . 
 
 Rental of Tolls and Stallage, according to the letting of 
 the current year. 
 
 a Richard Atherton married Elizabeth, daughter of William Farington, Esq., high sheriff of tha 
 county in 1713. The present Lord Lilford is descended from this union. 
 
 ^ 2,283 11 4 
 
 £ 492 10 3 
 
 | 471 0 0 
 
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, GUILD MERCHANT, ETC. 307 
 
 The estate of the “ old corporation” was, however, indebted to the amount 
 of £6,052. 
 
 In June, 1837, it was resolved “that the present and all future mayors 
 of the borough have an allowance of £150., from the corporation funds, by 
 way of salary.” 
 
 During 1836 and 1837, valuable surveys of and reports on the navigation 
 of the Eibble, by R. StephensoD and Son, and Captain Belcher, 1 were 
 procured by the corporation. At a special meeting, held in Dec., 1837, 
 it was resolved that two hundred and fourteen shares should be taken by 
 the municipal body in the company formed to cany out the suggested 
 improvements, etc. The corporation afterwards considerably increased 
 their number of shares in this undertaking. 
 
 In July, 1837, the municipal authorities presented an address of con¬ 
 dolence to her present Majesty, on the death of her uncle, William IV., and 
 of congratulation on her accession to the throne. 
 
 In 1837 and 1838, steps were taken with the view to the erection of a 
 convenient covered market. A committee was appointed to procure plans, 
 estimates, etc. 
 
 In 1839, the corporation memorialised the Postmaster-General respect¬ 
 ing the situation of the post-office in Church-street, which they proposed to 
 remove to Eishergate, “ because,” says the memorial, “ the persons to 
 whom two-thirds of the letters sent through the post-office to Preston 
 reside in Eishergate.” This is principally caused by the law offices 
 being chiefly situated in that neighbour-hood. They likewise prayed for 
 an extension of the limit to free delivery of letters, and an earlier despatch 
 of mails. 
 
 The corporation, in 1840, presented loyal addresses to the Queen and 
 Prince Albert, on the occasion of the royal nuptials. A petition from the 
 council was presented against, and other steps taken to oppose, so much of 
 a “ BiR to amend the Act for the Establishment of County and District 
 Constables,” “as proposed to compel Borough Towns to appoint and 
 maintain the same number of Constables in proportion to the population of 
 the rest of the County, and to adopt the rules in force for the government, 
 pay, clothing, accoutrements, necessaries, and qualifications of County and 
 District Constables, without any discretion being vested in the Watch 
 Committees.” 
 
 In Dec., 1840, a loyal address was presented to the queen, congratu¬ 
 lating Her Majesty on the birth of the Princess Royal. 
 
 a Captain Belcher was conducting the survey of the estuary and the coast for the lords of the 
 Admiralty. He received a special vote of thanks for his valuable assistance to the surveyor 
 appointed by the corporation. 
 
308 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 In 1841, the corporation appeared seriously disposed to erect a covered 
 market. Plans were ordered, and, at several meetings, their details discussed. 
 Three distinct sites were proposed; one to the east of the present Market¬ 
 place, including a portion of the now open square; another to the west, 
 between Friargate, Fishergate, and Lune street; and a third in the 
 “ Orchard.” 
 
 In 1841, an address of congratulation was presented by the mayor and 
 corporation to the Queen and Prince Albert, on the occasion of the birth of 
 the Prince of W ales. Similar expressions of loyalty were tendered on 
 each succeeding addition to the royal family, and others, of “deep concern” 
 on the occasions when traitorous attempts were made upon her Majesty’s 
 life. 
 
 After much discussion, the proposition respecting the erection of a covered 
 market was rejected in Feb., 1842, by twenty-four votes to nine, in 
 “ consideration of the state of the corporation finances.” The absorption 
 of the municipal revenue by the Eibble navigation improvements, led to 
 this decision. The lords of the treasury, this year, granted permission to 
 borrow the sum of £12,000., on security of the corporate property, “ the 
 same to be applied in discharging the debt incurred by the corporation on 
 account of the improvement of the navigation of the river Eibble, in meet¬ 
 ing present and future payments, and in carrying out further projected 
 improvements.” This year the celebration of the guild entailing additional 
 expense upon the mayor, his salary was temporarily raised to £500., 
 “being an addition of £350. to the mayor’s usual allowance.” The peace 
 of the town was disturbed by serious notings in Augusts 
 
 In 1843, the corporation and other inhabitants, obtained for Preston its 
 recognition as an independent port of the sixth class, with “ privileges as 
 extensive as those granted to the port of Lancaster.” Fleetwood, then a 
 “ supernumerary port,” was made a “ creek under Preston.” The memorial 
 prayed for the “restoration of Preston to its former rank as an independent 
 port.” Steps were likewise taken for the erection of bonded warehouses 
 and a custom house. The stalls erected in Church street and Friargate, 
 on market days, were ordered to be removed to the Shambles and 
 Molyneux square. 
 
 In 1844, the corporation resolved to purchase the reversionary interest 
 in six acres of land, in the occupation of Mr. Charles Jackson, “for the 
 purpose of preserving for ever uninjured the public walk at Avenham, and 
 of extending it and forming other walks and public gardens, when the 
 existing interests shall expire, or so soon as a satisfactory agreement can 
 be made with the parties having present interests” therein. 
 
 The corporation memorialised the postmaster general, “ praying for the 
 
 a See Chap. 8. Trade and Commerce. 
 
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, GUILD MERCHANT, ETC. 
 
 309 
 
 establishment of a mail in the middle of the day, between the towns of 
 Preston, Liverpool, and Manchester; for the removal of the post office to a 
 more convenient situation with better accommodation, and for the estab¬ 
 lishment of receiving houses for letters.” The post-office has since been 
 removed to Lancaster-road. 
 
 In 1845, the corporation ordered the purchase of other land in the 
 neighbourhood of Avenham-walk, the widening of the south end of the 
 original promenade, and the formation of the lower terraces. In the fol¬ 
 lowing year a “ committee of taste ” was appointed to conduct these exten¬ 
 sions, with power to expend the sum of £500. on the same. Other sums 
 were afterwards voted for this object, and the improvement of the Moor 
 park. Application was likewise made to the lords of the treasury for 
 £1078., from the funds granted by parliament for such purposes. The 
 commissioners of woods and forests, however, only recommended the sum 
 of £300., which amount the lords of the treasury eventually granted. 
 Several additions and improvements at the New Quay were also effected 
 this year. 
 
 In 1846, and the following year, the question of public baths and wash 
 houses began to be agitated in the council, and the condition of the grammai 
 school and Shepherd’s library, with a view to the erection of suitable 
 edifices for their respective objects. 
 
 On the 21st of September, 1847, her Majesty the Queen, Prince Albert, 
 and the royal children, landed at Pleetwood, en route from Scotland to 
 London. Great rejoicing took place. The mayor and corporation voted 
 “ a dutiful and loyal address, on the occasion of her visiting her county 
 palatine, disembarking within the limits of our port, and honouring our 
 borough with her presence.” 1 
 
 The address was presented by the mayor, recorder, and some of the 
 corporation, through Lord Palmerston, at Fleetwood. The Preston station 
 was crowded by parties anxious to catch a glimpse of the royal party, but 
 owing to other arrangements, the train did not stay at Preston. The 
 mayor and corporation were at the station, and shared in the general 
 disappointment. 
 
 The municipal authorities, in 1848, resolved, that the market committee 
 be authorised to obtain all surveys, plans, and valuations, and to take all 
 proceedings which may be necessary to obtain an act of parliament “ to 
 erect a covered market between Lune street and the Market place, and 
 between Fishergate and Friargate, in the said borough ; and for power to 
 borrow a sum not exceeding £40,000. upon the security of such market, 
 and the tolls, stallage, etc., to be received therein.” After some agitation, 
 
 a Fleetwood has since been made an independent port. 
 
310 
 
 PEE ST ON AND ITS ENVTEONS. 
 
 however, this scheme was, like its predecessor, abandoned; the corporation 
 resources being at the time, in the opinion of the majority of the council, 
 sufficiently taxed by the improvements in progress at Avenham walk, and 
 the prospective erection of baths and wash-houses. 
 
 This year was one of great political excitement, serious disturbances 
 being threatened by the more violent of the chartist agitators. In May, 
 the municipal authorities addressed her majesty in terms of congratulation, 
 “ on the peaceable issue of the late political agitation,” and of assurance 
 of the “unabated loyalty of the council and of the inhabitants of the 
 borough of Preston.” 
 
 In November, 1848, the sanatary committee submitted a report to the 
 council on the general health of the town, from which it appeared that the 
 average mortality, for the preceding seven years, was at the rate of twenty 
 eight deaths to one thousand of the population. The public health act, of 
 1848, gave power to the general board to direct a superintendent inspector 
 to visit and inquire into the general sanatary condition of any city, town, 
 or borough, where the proportion of deaths to the population had exceeded 
 twenty three to one thousand. The committee, therefore, recommended, 
 and the council passed, a resolution, requesting the general board of 
 health “ to send down an inspector, pursuant to Lord Morpeth’s Public 
 Health Act.” 
 
 At the end of the year 1849, some steps were taken to provide a public 
 cemetery for the town, but the project eventually fell to the ground. 
 
 The council in 1850, entered into contracts for the erection of baths and 
 wash houses, and introduced the Public Health Act. The members of the 
 corporation form the local board. 
 
 In 1851, another attempt was made to proceed with the proposal to 
 erect a covered market between the Market place and Lune street, which 
 ended in —“ doing nothing.” 
 
 Subsequently to the Queen’s landing at Fleetwood, in 1847, her Majesty 
 passed through Preston on two different occasions, without staying for 
 refreshment, or for the reception of any address. a 
 
 In October, 1852, the Queen determined to stay at Preston, on her route 
 from Balmoral to the metropolis. Extensive preparations were made to accord 
 to her Majesty a suitable reception. The station was gaily decorated with 
 flags, mottoes, etc. The first class refreshment room, which was set apart 
 
 a On the 30th September, 1848, the royal train did stay a few minutes; when, says the Preston 
 Chronicle, “ from the defective arrangements of the railway authorities, the crowd pressed incon¬ 
 veniently upon the carriages,” and created some slight annoyance to the royal party. The queen 
 passed through Preston on the 8th of October, 1851, eu route from Lancaster to Liverpool and 
 Manchester. 
 
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, GUILD MERCHANT, ETC. 
 
 311 
 
 for the royal party, was elegantly decorated; several gentlemen of the town 
 and neighbourhood contributing from their collections many first class works 
 of art for this purpose. Other rooms were likewise prepared for the Queen’s 
 suite and servants. The principal of the ladies and gentry, as well as a 
 large concourse of the inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood, attended 
 to gratify themselves, and to do honour to her Majesty and her family. 
 The mayor, Thomas Monk, Esq., presented, on the part of the municipal 
 authorities, a suitable address, and the bishop of Manchester performed a 
 similar office for the clergy. Her Majesty’s reception was of the heartiest 
 character, and afforded evident gratification to the royal party, although the 
 time of their sojourn did not much exceed thirty-five minutes. 
 
 On the death of Mr. Palmer, in 1852, Mr. Robert Ascroft, solicitor, was 
 appointed town clerk. 
 
 In 1853, resolutions were passed with the view to the demolition and 
 the re-erection of the corporate property between Fishergate and the Market¬ 
 place, Cheapside and the Old Shambles. 
 
 On her return from Balmoral in October, this year, the Queen again 
 honoured Preston with a brief visit. She stayed about fifteen minutes for 
 refreshment, and was presented with an address by the mayor, on behalf of 
 the municipal authorities. The station and waiting rooms were decorated 
 appropriately, and an enthusiastic welcome greeted the royal party. It 
 may, perhaps, be difficult to decide at what particular point overt exhibitions 
 of loyalty degenerate into troublesome routine; but, if all the towns through 
 which her Majesty passes, on her way to her Scottish retreat, were to enter¬ 
 tain her with attention similar to that bestowed upon her by the municipal 
 authorities and sight seeing inhabitants of Preston, the “ progress ” of 
 the popular Queen would be speedily converted into something very 
 different to the notion of pleasant travelling cherished by ordinary people. 
 The mere fact that her Majesty requires refreshment, on her way from 
 London to Balmoral, demands some little stretch of the imagination to 
 invest it with the character of either a state or a private visit to the 
 ancient and loyal borough. 
 
 The corporation having determined upon the erection of new Town-hall 
 buildings, offered prizes for suitable designs. A large number of tasteful 
 and elegant architectural drawings were exhibited at the Institution, 
 Avenham, and the public began to anticipate that a truly splendid edifice 
 would shortly adorn the centre of the town. The project included the 
 entire re-construction of the block of buildings between Cheapside and the 
 Old Shambles. The lower story was devoted to shops, the upper and 
 interior portions to a Town-hall, Exchange, and other public offices. The 
 first prize, of one hundred guineas, was awarded to Mr. Hill, of Leeds, and 
 
312 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 the second, fifty guineas, to Mr. Gingill, of Bristol. The contem¬ 
 plation of the large expense about to be incurred, had, however, somewhat 
 cooled the enthusiasm of some of the council, for at the meeting ordering 
 the payment of the prizes, it was resolved,— 
 
 “ That the building committee be re-appointed, and that they be directed to inquire 
 into the expediency of proceeding with or postponing the erection of the new Town- 
 hall buildings; and also of the removal or re-letting the present buildings, or some part 
 thereof, and report their proceedings to a special meeting of the council.” 
 
 The committee duly reported, a and the council passed a resolution, 
 postponing “for the present” the erection of the buildings, the “ state of 
 the money market and the town” being assigned as the reason for such 
 postponement. 
 
 Mr. Philip Park, b presented a report and a plan for rendering the 
 present property to some extent available, and materially reducing the cost. 
 A somewhat similar plan, by Mr. Hill, was approved by the council on 
 the 1st Jan., 1855, for the “re-erection of the Town-hall buildings upon 
 the site of the old buildings, at a cost not exceeding £9,500, leaving the 
 (present) Council-room and Town-hall standing. 0 The committee were 
 empowered to enter into the necessary contracts. In May, the demolition 
 of the old Elizabethan structure in the Market-place commenced, and the 
 site was soon cleared; but all further progress was arrested by the follow¬ 
 ing resolution, passed on the 5th of June :—“ That inasmuch as the cost 
 of the new Town-hall buildings will so far exceed the estimate stated by 
 the architect, it is not expedient to proceed with their erection.” 
 
 From a report presented by Mr. Philip Paik, it appears that the annual 
 value of the coi'porate property, in 1855, was estimated at £4,398 15s. 6d., 
 including the Eibble navigation and railway shares. 
 
 The public feeling was much excited by the stirring events of the short 
 but severe and costly war with Russia. The news of the several victories 
 were welcomed with great public rejoicing. On the day set apart for the 
 celebration of the roturn of peace, however, the demonstration, though 
 highly gratifying in itself, did not present that universality of feeling 
 which was to be desired. The principal mill-owners refused to close 
 their establishments. Notwithstanding, a very large and respectable pro¬ 
 cession of the inhabitants accompanied the mayor and council to the Marsh, 
 where the troops stationed at the barracks, assisted by the militia, fired 
 feux de joie, and performed several military evolutions. An immense 
 crowd of people assembled to witness the proceedings. The town 
 was gaily decorated with flags, banners, etc., and the strains of several 
 bands of music added further zest to the proceedings. In the evening, 
 
 a February 27th. b August 24th. 
 
 C The estimated cost, according to Mr. Hill’s previous plans, was £30,000. 
 
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, GUILD MERCHANT, ETC. 313 
 
 several of the principal tradesmen exhibited appropriate transparent 
 pictures, and otherwise illuminated their places of business. The corpora¬ 
 tion likewise secured the services of Mr. Bywater, of Sheffield, who 
 exhibited a large selection of fire-works, in the Avenham-park. Thousands 
 witnessed the spectacle ; the sloping hanks below liibblesdale-place being 
 literally crowded with human beings. 
 
 In Feb., 1857, the mayor, Lawrence Spencer, esq., laid the first stone 
 of an edifice to be erected in Lancaster-road, for the joint accom¬ 
 modation of the police authorities and the magisterial bench. 
 
 In 1815, an act of parliament was obtained, to “light, watch, pave, 
 cleanse, and improve the streets, highways, and places within the borough 
 of Preston, * * and to provide fire-engines and firemen for the pro¬ 
 
 tection of the said borough.” 
 
 The town had not previously been without some organization for the 
 protection of property from the ravages of fire. A resolution appears in 
 the corporation book of proceedings as early as 1724, from which it appears 
 the mayor intimated that he had received a letter from “ y* Hon bIe Daniel 
 Pulteney, Esq r one of y e Representatives in Parliam 4 for the Burrough, 
 signifying the said Mr. Pulteney’s incencons of making a p.sent to y e 
 Town of an engine for y e extinguishing of fire, of late invencon & which 
 has been tried with success.” The corporation resolved that the sum of 
 twenty pounds should be granted from the corporation revenue, towards the 
 piu’chase of another engine of “ such size, make, and invencon as that 
 intended to he given by Mr. Pulteney.” It was likewise recommended to 
 “Mr. Mayor to appoint some proper Pson to goe ah* in ord r to get con- 
 trabucons to defray the remaining p* of y° charge.” 
 
 The gas company was established in 1815, and the town lighted with 
 gas in the following year. d 
 
 On the passing of the Corporation Reform Act, the powers of the Com¬ 
 missioners, under the act of 1815, so far as related to the “watching 
 department,” were transferred to the municipal authorities ; and, on the 
 introduction of the “Health of Towns Act,” in 1850, the remaining powers 
 became vested in the council as the “ Local Board of Health.” 
 
 The works belonging to the Preston Water Company were purchased by 
 the municipal authorities, in the year 1853. Very extensive additions 
 are now in progress for the purpose of securing to the town a first-class 
 supply of water from the best available sources. The municipal authorities 
 as the “ Local Board of Health,” arc likewise, at the present time, intro¬ 
 ducing a most comprehensive system of sewerage, with the view to the 
 thoroughly efficient drainage of the town/ 
 
 d See Part IT. Gas-works. 
 
 e See Part II. Water-works. 
 
314 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 The following list of all the known guild mayors is from the record in 
 the council chamber :— 
 
 1329 Aubert son of Robert 
 1397 'William Ergbam 
 1415 Henry Johnson 
 1459 Robert Houghton 
 1501 William Marshall 
 1543 Thomas Tipping 
 1562 Thomas Wall 
 1582 George Walton 
 1602 Henry Catterall 
 1622 W 7 illiam Preston 
 1642 Edmund Werden 
 
 1662 James Hodgkinson 
 1682 Roger Sudall 
 1702 Josias Gregson 
 1722 Edmund Assheton 
 1742 Henry Farington 
 1762 Robert Parker 
 1782 Richard Atherton 
 1802 Nicholas Grimshaw 
 1822 Nicholas Grimshaw 
 1842 Samuel Horrocks 
 
 The following list of the mayors, bailiffs, and recorders, from the 
 commencement of the last century to the passing of the Municipal Eeform 
 Act, with the exception of a few corrections, and the addition of the officers 
 subsequent to the publication of his work, is extracted from Mr. Taylor’s 
 notes to Kuerden’s manuscript:— 
 
 Dates. Mayors 
 
 1701 Josias Gregson (Guild) 
 
 1702 Geoffrey Rishton 
 
 1703 William Lemon 
 
 1704 John Atherton 
 
 1705 Thomas Winckley 
 
 1706 John Chorley 
 
 1707 Roger Sudell 
 
 1708 John Harrison 
 
 1709 John Loxham 
 
 1710 George Lamplugh 
 
 1711 William Grad well 
 
 1712 Richard Ashton 
 
 1713 Edmund Assheton 
 
 1714 Lawrence Wall 
 
 1715 William Lemon 
 
 1716 Robert Chadwick 
 
 1717 Joseph Curtis 
 
 1718 Richard Casson 
 
 1719 George Lamplugh 
 
 1720 William Gradwell 
 
 1721 Edmd. Assheton (Guild) 
 
 1722 Lawrence Wall 
 
 1723 John Thornton 
 
 1724 John Clayton 
 
 1725 Thomas Garlicke 
 
 1726 John Myers 
 
 1727 Richard Addison 
 
 1728 J. Curtis 
 
 1729 E. Ashton 
 
 1730 Lawrence Wall 
 
 1731 Sir Edward Stanley, bart, (after¬ 
 
 wards Earl of Derby) 
 
 1732 "William Atherton 
 
 1733 J. Clayton 
 
 Bailiffs 
 
 Joseph Curtis, Josias Drinkwater 
 Rob. Chaddock, Adam Cooper 
 Rich. Ashton, Rich. Casson 
 Lawrence Wall, John Orme 
 Edm. Assheton, Will, Coope. 
 
 Benjam. Tod, Thomas Garlicke 
 Wm. Prescot, Jas. Drinkwater 
 Joseph Brearley, John Waller 
 James Chorley, John Birchall 
 Thomas Rishton, Thomas Myers 
 Will. Hebson, Rob. Ashburner 
 Peter Harrison, Jos. Tomlinson 
 John Thornton, John Clayton 
 Hen. Atherton, Jacob Parkinson 
 John Addison, Richard Price 
 William Wall, Jos. Drinkwater 
 John Myers, Richard Addison 
 Rich. Atkinson, Will. Harrison 
 Richard King, James Riley 
 Will. Hardman, Henry Fisher 
 William Patten, Richard White 
 Edw. Entwistle, Jos. Drinkwater 
 James Derbyshire, Henry Smith 
 William Atherton, John Ravald 
 Anth. Davis, Robert Walshman 
 Will. Prichard, John Myers, jun. 
 
 Sir Edward Stanley, baronet, (after¬ 
 wards Earl of Derby) and Banastre 
 Parker 
 
 W. Shackleton, R. Pedder 
 E. Knigbt, J. Walshman 
 T. Astley, James Naylor 
 
 Thomas Hesketh, Alexander Osbaldeston 
 Henry Farington, J. Assheton 
 J. Hopkinson, J. Bolton 
 
MUNICIPAL GOVEENMENT, GUILD MEECHANT, ETC. 
 
 315 
 
 Mayors. 
 
 1734 J. Myers 
 
 1735 Richard Addison 
 
 1736 Henry Faring ton 
 
 1737 E. Assheton 
 
 1738 William Atherton 
 
 1739 J. Ravald 
 
 1740 Lawrence Rawstorne 
 
 1741 Henry Farington (Guild) 
 
 1742 J. Walshman 
 
 1743 William Pritchard 
 
 1744 W. Harrison 
 
 1745 J. Darby shire 
 
 1746 Thomas Starkie 
 
 1747 Richard Shepherd, M.B. 
 
 1748 Richard Pedder 
 
 1749 Thomas Astley 
 
 1750 Lawrence Rawstorne 
 
 1751 J. Bolton 
 
 1752 Robert Parker 
 
 1753 William Prichard 
 
 1754 Thos. Starkie 
 
 1755 Richard Shepherd, M. B. 
 
 1756 Richard Pedder 
 
 1757 Robert Hesketh 
 
 1758 J. Bolton 
 
 1759 William Prichard 
 
 1760 Lawrence Rawstorne 
 
 1761 Robert Parker (Guild) 
 
 1762 Thomas Jackson 
 
 1763 Edward Pedder 
 
 1764 Richard Assheton 
 
 1765 William Prichard 
 
 1766 Joseph Myers 
 
 1767 Robert Moss 
 
 1768 Thomas Grimshaw 
 
 1769 Richard Assheton 
 
 1770 Edward Pedder 
 
 1771 James Cowburn 
 
 1772 Ralph Watson 
 
 1773 Richard Atherton 
 
 1774 Bartholomew Davis 
 
 1775 John Grimshaw 
 
 1776 Edward Pedder 
 
 1777 James Cowburn 
 
 1778 Ralph Watson 
 
 1779 Thomas Pedder 
 
 1780 Bartholomew Davis 
 
 1781 Richard Atherton (Guild) 
 
 Bailiffs 
 
 J. Hopkins, R. Pedder 
 John Winckley, John Garlick 
 Lawrence Rawstorne, R. Robinson 
 R. Assheton, Dr. Escolme 
 Thomas Garlick, C. Barton 
 H. Orme, J. Todhunter 
 Thomas Starkie, Richard Shepherd, M.B. 
 (founder of the Shepherd’s Library in 
 this town) 
 
 Dr. Parkinson, R. Prescott ( Guild) 
 
 J. Dixon, Richard Loxham 
 J. Hesketh, Gilbert Woosey 
 R. Briggs, Thomas Jackson 
 Edward Pedder, J. Wilkinson, (after¬ 
 wards town clerk,—discharged about 
 1765) 
 
 Thomas Winckley, S. Prescott 
 Joseph King, J. Wilkinson 
 J. Astley, Joseph Myers 
 Robert Parker, N. Walton 
 R. Hesketh, Evelyn Charles Franckes 
 William Coward, Will. Green 
 Dr. Escolme, R. Livesey 
 Nicholas Starkie, Robert Moss 
 Thomas Grimshaw, James Cowburn 
 Thomas Aldred, Ralph Watson 
 J. Whittle, J. Derbyshire 
 Edward Bolton, JohnNabb, (afterwards 
 town clerk) 
 
 William Riddihough, Bartholomew 
 Davis 
 
 John Watson, Thomas Wilson 
 Richard Atherton, John Taylor 
 John Jackson, jun., John Grimshaw, 
 Fleetwood Hesketh, William Prichard 
 Thomas Pedder, John Smalley 
 Casson, Thomas Aldred 
 William Leake, Alexander Nowell 
 Thomas Cowburn, Will. Briggs 
 Nicholas Winckley, Rob. Farrer 
 Edward Pedder, Richard Wilson 
 J. Woods, J. Nuttall 
 Will. Wickstead, James Knowles 
 James Clieetham, Thomas Greaves 
 Thomas Walshman, R. Bailey 
 Edward Atherton, Edward Robert 
 Travers, 
 
 O. Farrer, John Greaves 
 Thomas Cowell, James Heald 
 James Pedder, Thomas Bolton 
 John Latus, John Fallowfield 
 Henry Watson, Will. Brandreth 
 Thomas Briggs, Tlio. Winckley 
 Richard Loxham, William Serjeant, 
 (died in office, succeeded by Thomas 
 Farrer) 
 
 Robinson Shuttleworth, Nicli. Grimshaw 
 town clerk 
 
316 
 
 PRESTON ANT) ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Mayors. 
 
 1782 John Grimshaw 
 
 1783 William Green 
 
 1784 Ralph Watson 
 
 1785 Bartholomew Davis 
 
 1786 Richard Atherton 
 
 1787 Thomas Cowburn 
 
 1788 John Grimshaw 
 
 1789 William Green 
 
 1790 Edward Redder 
 
 1791 Thomas Greaves 
 
 1792 William Prichard 
 
 1793 Robinson Shuttleworth 
 
 1794 James Pedder 
 
 1795 Henry Walshman 
 
 1796 James Moore 
 
 1797 John Fallowfield 
 
 1798 Edward Robert Travers 
 
 1799 John Grimshaw 
 
 1800 William Prichard 
 
 1801 Nicholas Grimshaw (Guild) 
 
 1802 Samuel Horrocks 
 
 1803 Daniel Lyon 
 
 1804 George Blelock 
 
 1805 Edward Robert Travers 
 
 1806 John Grimshaw 
 
 1807 Richard Newsham 
 
 1808 Nicholas Grimshaw 
 
 1809 Daniel Lyon 
 
 1810 George Blelock 
 
 1811 Edward Robert Travers 
 
 1812 Nicholas Grimshaw 
 
 1813 Richard Newsham 
 
 1814 Daniel Lyon 
 
 1815 Edward Robert Travers 
 
 1816 John Troughton 
 
 1817 Nicholas Grimshaw 
 
 1818 Richard Newsham 
 
 1819 Hugh Dewhurst 
 
 1820 Tlios. Miller 
 
 1821 Nicholas Grimshaw 
 
 1822 Dan. Lyon 
 
 1823 John Troughton 
 
 1824 Richard Newsham 
 
 1825 Nicholas Grimshaw 
 
 1826 Thomas Miller 
 
 1827 Hugh Dewhurst 
 
 1828 John Troughton 
 
 1829 James Mounsey 
 
 1830 Nicholas Grimshaw 
 
 1831 James Dixon 
 
 1832 John Addison, jun. 
 
 1833 John Woodburn 
 
 1834 Thos. Troughton 
 
 Bailiffs. 
 
 Henry Walshman, John Green 
 James Cowburn, Joseph Seaton Aspden 
 James Blackhurst, JohnHeald 
 James Moore, Daniel Lyon 
 Richard Newsham, Richard Loxham 
 William Wilson, George Blelock 
 Seth German, Henry Fisher 
 Rich. Riddihougli, Robt. Gornall 
 Hugh Waterworth, Sept Gorst 
 James Lorimer, James Cowburn 
 Ralph Assheton, George Bolton 
 Geo. Dewhurst, Hugh Dewhurst 
 Thomas Sill, John Horrocks, (afterwards 
 M. P. for Preston) 
 j Roger Fleetwood, Peter Blelock 
 
 John Troughton, Sam. Horrocks (late 
 M. P. for Preston) 
 
 William Brakell, Thomas Ogle 
 John Startifant, John Whitehead 
 Thomas Starkie Shuttleworth, George 
 Fleming 
 
 James Heald, Richard Palmer, (town 
 clerk) 
 
 Thomas Wilson, Thos. Norcross 
 William Leighton, Thos. Miller 
 Robert Friend, James Mounsey 
 Jolm Taylor, George Cotton, (died in 
 office) 
 
 James Pedder, John Daniel Lyon 
 John Knock Grimshaw, Charles Ambler 
 Thomas Tomlinson, Jas. Dixon 
 Thos. Moore, Jonathan Lodge 
 Arthur Milsom, William Brade 
 Joseph Robinson, John Paley 
 Wm. Buck, R. R. W. Robinson, MD. 
 Charles Buck, Thomas Petty 
 Thomas Green, John Woodburn 
 Thomas German, William Petty 
 James Newsham, Wm. Taylor 
 Thomas Troughton, John Baron, 
 
 Jno. Addison, jun., Rich. Addison 
 T. B. Addison, W. O. Pilkington 
 Thomas Dewhurst, Robert Buxton 
 Sami. Horrocks, jun.. Geo. Jacson 
 Wm. Clayton, Edmd. Grimshaw 
 Jtthn Paley, jun., S. G. Crane, 
 
 John Startifant, John Troughton, jun. 
 Alex. Moore, M. D., Rd. Newsham, jun. 
 Jos. Bray. Wm. Nicholson 
 T. S. Shuttleworth, Wm. A. Hulton 
 Bulman, Geo. Todd 
 
 Thos. Troughton, jun., John Abraham 
 Jos. Walker, Bowman 
 
 S.R. Grimshaw, H. P. Fleetwood 
 Threlfall, Robt. Brown 
 Thomas Pedder, John Gorst 
 Kaye, Wm. Ainsworth 
 Geo. Noble, Robt. Troughton 
 
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, GUILD MERCHANT, ETC. 
 
 317 
 
 RECORDERS. 
 
 Edmund Starkie, Esq., Barrister-at-Law, of this Borough. 
 
 John Aspinall, Esq,, Serjeant-at-Law, of Standen Hall. 
 
 Robert Moss, Esq., Barrister-at-Law, of this Borough, and of Sandhills. 
 Sir James Alan Park, Knt., one of the Justices of his Majesty’s Court of 
 Common Pleas. 
 
 Thos. Batty Addison, Esq., Barrister-at-Law, Preston. 
 
 The following have been mayors of Preston since the passing of the 
 Municipal Reform Act:— 
 
 1836, Thomas Miller; 1836-7, P. Ilaydock; 1837-8, Thomas German; 1838-9, 
 John Paley, sen ; 1839-40, William Clayton; 1840-1, George Jacson; 1841-2, Samuel 
 Horrocks; 1842-3, William Taylor; 1843-4, John Addison; 1844-5, John Paley, jnn.; 
 1845-6, Thos. German; 1846-7, John Paley, jun,; 1847-8, Thomas Birchall; 1848-9, 
 Richard Pedder; 1849-50, James German; 1850-1, John Catterall; 1851-2, Thomas 
 Monk; 1852-3, Peter Catterall; 1853-4, Thomas Walmsley; 1854-5, Wm. Humber; 
 1855-6, Richard Threlfall. jun.; 1856-7, Lawrence Spencer. 
 
 PRESTON POOR-LAW UNION. 
 
 In the year 1837, the “New Poor-law Amendment Act” was introduced. 
 Much feeling has been manifested by the rate-payers, and several dis¬ 
 cussions have taken place at the guardian meetings relative to the work- 
 house question. The poor-law commissioners, and one section of the 
 guardians, (including a large majority of the ex-officio members of the 
 board), have propounded a scheme for the erection of a new and sufficiently 
 large workhouse, to provide accommodation for the whole union. Another, 
 (with a large majority of the elected guardians), has hitherto successfully 
 opposed this movement. The parties are at present, when in the hoard- 
 room, nearly balanced; but judging from the circumstance that a majority 
 of the entire body have lately been privately induced to append their 
 signatures to a document in favour of the scheme, its eventual adoption may 
 almost be regarded as a certainty. The outlay in the first instance will 
 unquestionably be heavy, but the annual expenses of conducting one well 
 adapted establishment, it is contended, will be much less than under the 
 present divided and imperfect system. 
 
 The following tables exhibit the state of the union at the period when 
 the “ Amendment Act” was first introduced, and at the time when the 
 last valuation of rateable property and average expenditure in relief were 
 taken:— 
 
318 
 
 PHESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS, 
 
 }Z5 
 
 O 
 
 I—( 
 
 k; 
 
 P 
 
 £ 
 
 p 
 
 P 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 P4 
 
 O 
 
 H 
 
 m 
 
 P 
 
 P 
 
 P 
 
 P 
 
 i—i 
 02 
 
 M 
 
 P 
 
 P 
 
 O 
 
 o 
 
 m 
 
 P 
 
 i—i 
 
 W 
 
 02 
 
 £ 
 
 o 
 
 p 
 
 Average 
 Yearly Ex¬ 
 penditure in 
 Relief for 
 1849-50-51. 
 
 £8069 
 
 38 
 
 <00 
 
 P tD ^ to P Ttt 
 
 HCOHH 
 
 W 05 pH rf CO 
 OCOrHtOioOOCOCO 
 
 iH H i-i M H 5*3 
 
 00 O 
 I-l 
 
 Parochial 
 Assessment or 
 Rateable 
 Value in 1855. 
 
 £187,826 
 
 6353 
 
 O CO NNOO H o CO 
 
 H CO OKO H CO r-i 
 
 «3 CO C3 O 00 CC <N 
 
 ^COCOiOOOHQ 
 
 CD ^ 40 CO o ^ 
 
 (N (M 
 ^ CO 
 CD O 
 
 Population 
 in 1851. 
 
 68356 
 
 1005 
 
 vjMT. CO O >C O O » 
 rf CO CO 00 CO r-i 
 
 ^ O CO « 1^3 no GO ■'t 
 CONTjir}»C51^NiO 
 WCONNHP3COXH 
 
 1932 
 
 202 
 
 Average 
 Yearly Ex¬ 
 penditure in 
 Relief for 
 1835-6-7. 
 
 £5641 
 
 107 
 
 C^COQMhNNN 
 
 Q vf — 'O O Q CO 
 
 iH ^ r-t 
 
 OOOTC-cOPlO 
 NOC5CO»ONOCO 
 <— •”< (N r* r-. 
 
 238 
 
 65 
 
 Parochial 
 Assessment or 
 Rateable 
 Value in 1829. 
 
 £120,156 
 
 4878 
 
 C5 O CO 
 
 COQrJ'ClONiO 
 OWO^-r-<00O^ 
 <NCOHC0r-i(NHr-i 
 
 N C5 COOOl^iO 
 
 C5CO(NCOrJH^iC^ 
 
 3053 
 
 1000 
 
 Population 
 in 1831. 
 
 33112 
 
 759 
 
 O C5 t* O O -f O 
 
 05 00 CO H (CN 
 
 ■vf* GO GO O CO f—i 
 
 ONONNffiO^ 
 
 (M(MCCOO-HT}i 
 
 cD-^uacD^-f'-t^.oo 
 
 CO 05 
 I'- GO 
 
 CD rH 
 
 Statuto 
 
 Acres. 
 
 lO *0 
 
 CD 
 
 i—1 
 
 «5M1 , mWOON 
 
 CDOWCOCDOCO^ 
 
 COQKCJCOCON 
 
 M(NH M ^ 
 
 CO CO ^ iD »"H 05 t'- *“H 
 © ^ ^ C5 ^ C5 05 O 
 
 co^OOoocor^oo 
 
 (N(M<NCOHTj<(^N 
 
 3190 
 
 846 
 
 TOWNSHIPS. 
 
 Preston . 
 
 Fish wick. 
 
 Dutton. 
 
 Ribehester . 
 
 Dil worth. 
 
 Alston. 
 
 Hotliersall . 
 
 Griinsargh-with-Brockholcs 
 
 Elston. 
 
 Ribbleton. 
 
 Broughton. 
 
 Barton. 
 
 Fulwood. 
 
 Lea, Ashton, Ingol,& Cottam 
 
 Haigbton. 
 
 Woodplumpton . 
 
 Whittingham. 
 
 Goosnargh . 
 
 Farington . 
 
 Little Hoole . 
 
 DISTRICTS. 
 
 
 V J 
 
 J 
 
 
 Preston. ' 
 
 i 
 
 Alston . \ 
 
 fc 
 
 o 
 
 H 
 
 H 
 
 O 
 
 t3 
 
 o 
 
 « 
 
 PQ 
 
 Longton .j 
 
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, GUILD MERCHANT, ETC, 
 
 319 
 
 • The county assessment, in 1829, gives the total value at £195,930. The total net annual value of rental is given at £228,309, 
 t The total will not exactly accord with the addition of the several items, as the shillings and pence of the latter are omitted. 
 
320 
 
 PBESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Tlie following additional particulars respecting the Preston Union are 
 extracted from the sixteenth annual report of the registrar-general, pub¬ 
 lished 1855 :— 
 
 Preston Union, in the Yeah 1852. 
 
 Area in Statue 
 Acres. 
 
 Population 
 in 1851. 
 
 Marriages. 
 
 Births. 
 
 Deaths. 
 
 Excess of Births 
 over Deaths. 
 
 68035 * 
 
 96545 * 
 
 1015. 
 
 3876. 
 
 2909. 
 
 967. 
 
 Births including Illegitimate 
 Children. 
 
 Illegitimate Births 
 
 Deaths. 
 
 Males. 
 
 Females. 
 
 Males. 
 
 Females. 
 
 Males. 
 
 Females. 
 
 1975. 
 
 1901. 
 
 205. 
 
 187. 
 
 1468. 
 
 1441. 
 
 * From some unexplained cause the total area of the townships composing the union is 6,783 
 acres less in the union hooks than in the registrar-general’s report. The deficiency is divided over 
 the various districts. The population in the union hooks is 181 below that of the registrar-general. 
 The deficiency in this respect is almost entirely confined to the Preston district. 
 
PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION. 
 
 321 
 
 PART I.—HISTORICAL. 
 
 CHAPTER VII.—PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION. 
 
 Elective principle of Anglo-Saxon Government—Norman Despotism—The Great Charter 
 —Charter of Henry I.—Parliaments summoned by Henry I.—Henry II. and 
 Henry III.—The “Reforming Barons”—Edward I —Earliest Recorded Representa¬ 
 tion of Preston, and the County of Lancaster—Boroughs—Lords and Commons— 
 Influence of the Crown—Payment of Members—Preston Unrepresented through 
 Poverty—Henry VI.—Forty Shilling Freeholders—Civil Wars—Cromwell’s Par¬ 
 liament—Annual, Triennial, and Septennial Parliaments—Property Qualification— 
 Universal Suffrage at Preston—Disputed Rights—Resolutions of the House of 
 Commons—Rivalry of the Corporation and the Derby Family—The “Great Election” 
 —Serious Riots—Rise of the Manufacturing Interest—The Coalition—The Reform 
 Bill—Election Details—List of Representatives. 
 
 The Norman conquest, as has been shown in the previous chapters, did 
 not simply transfer the crown from one dynasty to another, but almost 
 annihilated the civil and political laws of the Saxon people, and trans¬ 
 ferred nearly the whole of the landed property to the military chiefs of 
 the successful adventurer. 
 
 The Anglo-Saxon principle of government was unquestionably represen¬ 
 tative in its generic character; that of the early Norman princes autocratic, 
 or oligarchial. In process of time, the Anglo-Saxon element began to regain 
 some of its lost influence. This has gradually expanded into the present 
 constitution, composed of a limited monarchy, with a joint oligarchial and 
 representative legislation. One writer says :— 
 
 “ For a clear exposition of the necessarily republican basis of all the public institutions 
 of the Anglo-Saxons, up to their kingship itself,—which, though now becoming generally 
 understood, it is necessary to insist upon again and again, in opposition to the mis¬ 
 statements on the subject., which are even yet being propagated,—we would refer to Mr. 
 Allen’s learned and sagacious ‘ Inquiry into the Rise and Growth of the Royal Pre¬ 
 rogative in England,’ 8vo, 1830. The indiscriminating use, by our historians, of the 
 words king and kingdom, as if bearing precisely the same import, after the Norman 
 conquest as before it, has contributed not a little to the confused apprehension of the 
 matter which has generally prevailed. The very etymology of the Saxon compounds 
 cyn-ing and cyne-dcm (according to modern orthography kin-ing and kin-dom ), denotes 
 an elective national head. The cyne or kin of the Saxons was synonimous with nation or 
 people; and cyne-ing or kin ing (by contraction king), implied, as Mr. Allen well 
 remarks, that the individual so designated, was, in his public capacity, not, as some 
 modern sovereigns have been willing to be entitled, the father of a people, but their 
 
322 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 offspring. In the introduction and use of the modern word kingdom, we trace a still 
 more remarkable perversion. The Anglo-Saxon cyne-dom or kin-dom denoted the 
 extent of territory occupied and possessed by the kin or nation—an import diametrically 
 differing from that of king-dom, which, in the decline of the Norman tongue as the 
 language of the government implanted by the conquest, was substituted for the Norman 
 royaulme (in modern English realm )—as the word king itself, with as little regard to 
 its etymological derivation, was substituted for the Norman roy. Thus it is manifest 
 that the difference of meaning between kin-dom and kingdom is as wide as that between 
 the principle which recognised the nation at large as the original proprietor of the soil, 
 and that which vests such absolute proprietorship exclusively in the crown—a distinction 
 which it is most important to perceive and bear in mind. It is not possible to form any 
 just conception of the political history of the English municipal towns, without first 
 possessing a more correct notion than is to be gathered from the greater part of our 
 modern historians, of the real character of the great revolution effected in England by a 
 foreign conqueror towards the close of the eleventh century. Want of diligence or of 
 candour lias betrayed them into giving always a faint and often a false representation 
 of that transaction.” a 
 
 The conquered people were not only stripped of their property, hut of 
 all civil or political influence. 
 
 “ The highest condition of the English in the rural districts was that of the humble 
 farmer and rustic artizan, whom their Norman masters called villains; and in the 
 municipal towns, the townsman or resident householders, according to the Normans the 
 burgess, —no longer a freeholder, was placed on precisely the same social level as the 
 villain —that of men not indeed personally enslaved like the serfs and bondsmen, but 
 wholly excluded from political rights, and therefore subject, according to the feudal 
 maxims of the Normans, beside the rent of their individual holdings, and besides the 
 rigorous payment of the rents and service due by the old English custom, in the nature 
 of contributions to the general exigences of the state, to arbitrary taxation by the crown, 
 in the shape of occasional levies, called by the Normans taillages or tallages.” b 
 
 The “Great Charter,” wrung from the vacillating John, on the field of 
 Runnymede, by the barons, curtailed greatly the absolutism of the early 
 Norman monarchs, and paved the way for the gradual further enfranchise¬ 
 ment of the people. The burgesses of the city of London, and other large 
 towns, actively interested themselves in the procuration of this magna 
 charta, which expressly declares that all cities, boroughs, and ports shall 
 “ have their liberties and free customs” preserved. A sense of common 
 interest had by this period induced, to some extent, a fusion between the 
 Norman proprietors of the soil, and the wealthier portion of the mercantile 
 Anglo-Saxon people. Still the national council represented solely the 
 barons and the extensive landed proprietors. The lesser holders of 
 land, of the second, third, and other inferior classes, (being all tenants or 
 vassals of the upper class of landholders), together with every other interest, 
 commercial or mercantile, were regarded as “ too insignificant” to be 
 represented in the great council of the king. 
 
 a Penny Cyclopaedia, art. Boroughs of England and Wales. 
 
 b Ibid. In the eleventh year of the reign of Henry III., a tallage was levied, towards which Preston, 
 contributed fifteen marks, equal to about £150. of the present money. Lancaster paid thirteen 
 marks, and Liverpool eleven marks and a half. 
 
PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION. 
 
 323 
 
 The original charter was really granted by Henry I., who, on espousing 
 Matilda, of Scotland, united the Saxon and Horman royal families. He 
 caused one hundred copies of a digest of the laws of Alfred and Edward 
 the Confessor to he distributed amongst the several bishoprics and principal 
 monasteries. Henry did not, however, scruple to violate his engagement 
 to observe these laws, and it is believed he caused the greater quantity of 
 the copies deposited to be destroyed. According to Rapin, only one coidd 
 be found, when searched for by the confederated barons in the reign of 
 John. Miss Strickland 0 contends that Henry I., by the advice of his 
 queen, assembled parliaments, in the election of which the burgesses of 
 the chartered boroughs were consulted. She says :— 
 
 “ Our earliest historian who writes in English, Robert of Gloucester, declares,— 
 
 * When his daughter was ten years old, to council there he drew. 
 
 On a Whitsuntide, a great parliament he name (held) 
 
 At Westminster noble enow, that much folic came.’ 
 
 “Piers of Langtoft, a parallel historian, who wrote in French, with the most 
 minute detail points out the classes of whom Matilda advised Henry to take counsel, 
 viz., barons, lords of towns, and burgesses. Here are the lines :— 
 
 * Maid the good queen gave him in counsell 
 
 To love all liis folks and leave all his turpeile, (disputing) 
 
 To bear him with his barons that held of him their fees (feofs) 
 
 And to lords of towns and burgesses of cities : 
 
 Through council of Dame Maid, a kind woman and true, 
 
 Instead of hatred old, there now was love all new ; 
 
 Now love they full -well the barons and the king, 
 
 The king does ilk a deal at their bidding.’ ” 
 
 Long after the first signing of the great charter, however, the levying 
 of tallage upon the burgesses as upon the villains, was still claimed as an 
 inherent right of the Anglo-Norman crown, and was of itself an abundant 
 source of vexatious oppression. 
 
 By virtue of this prerogative, Homy II., under pretence of a crusade, 
 in 1087, procured a list of the more wealthy citizens in the boroughs and 
 towns, and summoned them to appear before him. In consideration of the 
 honour of an interview with his majesty, each party was informed by an 
 interpreter of the amount of contributions which the king’s emergencies 
 required. “ And thus,” says a contemporary chronicle, d “did the king 
 take from them a tenth of their properties, according to the estimate of 
 good men and true, that knew what income they had, as likewise what 
 goods and chattels. Such as he found refractory he sent forthwith to 
 prison, and kept them there until they had payed the uttermost farth¬ 
 ing. In like manner did he to the Jews within his realm, which brought 
 him incalculable sums.” 
 
 c Lives of the Queens of England, vol. 1, p. 17G. 
 d Roger de Hoveden, Annales. 
 
324 
 
 PIIESTOX AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Henry III. being in want of money for the prosecution of his wars, and 
 deeply embarassed, had recourse to a hind of parliament, which was con¬ 
 vened at Oxford, in 1258. It would appear that the arbitrary spoliations 
 previously practised had begun to produce serious discontent in the nation. 
 A contemporary historian e says that, “justice itself was banished from the 
 realm; for the wicked devoured the righteous, the courtier the rustic, the 
 oppressor the innocent, the fraudulent the plain man, and yet all these 
 things remained unpunished.” This parliament was composed of “ the 
 grandees of the realm, major and minor, with horses and arms, together 
 with the clergy.” They were convened together to make “provision and 
 reformation, and ordination of the realm.” Amongst other acts, this parlia¬ 
 ment decreed that foiu’ knights should be chosen by each county, whose 
 duty should include the investigation of local grievances, with the view to 
 their removal. Parliament was to meet three times in each year. By a 
 writ in chancery, the sheriffs were commanded to pay “ reasonable wages” 
 to the knights delegated, for their public services. Other encroachments 
 upon the absolutism of the monarch were introduced, which eventually 
 involved the king, Prince Edward, and the chief coin-tiers, in a sanguinary 
 war with the “reforming barons,” headed by Simon de Montfort, count of 
 Leicester, and Robert de Eerrers, earl of Derby. In the course of events, 
 the king fell into the power of the former, who, in 1264, summoned a 
 parliament to meet at Worcester. This parliament enacted that the sheriff 
 of each county should return, together with two knights of the shire, “ two 
 citizens for each city, and two burgesses for each borough ” within his juris¬ 
 diction. The defeat of Hontf'ort, shortly afterward, frustrated for a time 
 the enfranchisement of the Saxon citizens and burgesses. Edward I. in 
 in the twenty-third year of his reign, however, had the penetration to see 
 that the innovation was necessary to the peace of the country, and the 
 security of his throne. Though, in his writs he declares, “that it was a 
 most equitable rule that that which concerns all should be approved by 
 all,” his main object in calling acoimcil of knights, citizens, and burgesses, 
 was to procure supplies with the least possible trouble and show of injus¬ 
 tice. But parliament once formed soon acquired a permanent and influen¬ 
 tial position in the state. The parties who voted the money for the 
 exigences of the government, required conciliating, and sometimes satisfying 
 as to the wisdom or necessity of the expenditure. As early as the twenty- 
 fifth year of the reign of Edward I. (1297), the right of raising taxes by 
 royal prerogative was disclaimed, and the political existence of a house of 
 representatives guaranteed by statute. The knights of the shire, who pre- 
 
 c Ann. Burton, p. 424. 
 
PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION. 
 
 325 
 
 viously held separate consultations, afterwards amalgamated with the citizen 
 and burgess representatives, and formed one council or estate of the 
 realm. The title “ commons ” appears to have been first used in the writs 
 issued by parliament for the proclamation of Edward III. king, on the 
 deposition of his father Edward II. in the year 1327. f 
 
 The earliest public record of members serving in parliament for Lanca¬ 
 shire, does not extend further hack than the twenty-third Edward I. (1295) 
 though it is probable, writs were issued, both for knights of the shire and 
 representatives of the borough towns as early as the forty-ninth Henry III. 
 (1264). Mr. Edward Baines says:— 
 
 “ The boroughs for which returns were made were principally ‘ walled towns,’ lield of 
 tlie king in ancient demesne; and the only places in Lancashire entitled to the privilege, 
 if that could he considered a privilege which was felt as a public burthen, were Lancaster, 
 Preston, Liverpool, and Wigan. The inhabitants of the boroughs, under the feudal 
 system, were for the most part, villeins, either in gross, or in relation to the manor in 
 which the town stood, and belonged to some lord.g The former held houses called bur¬ 
 gage tenures, at the will of the lord, and carried on some trade such as carpenter, smith, 
 butcher, baker, clothier, or tailor ; and the election of members was in the inhabitants of 
 the burgage tenures, so far as they were free agents. There were also in these boroughs 
 certain free inhabitants who held burgages, and were in consequence invested with the 
 elective franchise. In incorporated cities and boroughs, the right of election was gene¬ 
 rally in the corporate body, or freemen, as they were called, subject To such limitations, 
 however, as the charters imposed. When the wages of the members representing the 
 cities or boroughs were paid out of the rates, the election was in the inhabitant house¬ 
 holders paying those rates, and the right of election was hence designated ‘scot and lot 
 suffrage.’ ” 
 
 The two first recorded members for Preston were "William Eitz-Faul, 
 and Adam llussel. They were returned in the year 1295. 
 
 From this period a house of commons became a necessary condition to 
 the power and security of any English monarch. The absurd attempt to 
 rule without, or in defiance of, this governing element, by the Stuarts, cost 
 them an empire. The Plantagencnts and Tudors regarded the “ manage¬ 
 ment" of the house of commons rather than its “coercion," as the safest 
 method for the accomplishment of their 'wishes. Some historians are of 
 opinion that the “ packing” of the house, in defiance of solemn enactments 
 to secure the purity of election, was the true cause of the fall of the house 
 of Lancaster, in the reign of Henry VI., as the sanction of a really popular 
 representation formed the basis of its permanent restoration in the reign of 
 Henry VII. 
 
 The writs being directed to the sheriff, in Iris capacity of king’s bailiff, 
 considerable power was exercised by this official, in influencing the 
 
 f “ In former times both lords and commons sat together in one house in parliament, says Sir 
 Edward Coke, in his 4th Institute, 23; but this is clearly a mistake, as is shown by Sir Robert 
 Cotton and others, and is decidedly proved by 6, Edward III. n. 3, pari, rol., where is said—‘The 
 bishops by themselves, the lords by themselves, and the commons hy themselves, consulted and 
 advised the king touching the war with Scotland.’ So that in reality, the early parliaments of 
 England consisted, not of one house, but of three houses.”—Edward Baines. 
 
 g Arclueologia. 
 
326 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 return of individual members, and even to the suppression of the writ, in 
 the ease of an intractable borough. In the seventeenth year of the reign 
 of Edward II., the high sheriff of the county of Lancaster, by a singular 
 act of presumption, claimed for himself the right to the selection of mem¬ 
 bers to represent the county. In the following reign, (thirty-sixth 
 Edward III.,) this stretch of arbitrary power was even exceeded by the 
 audacity of the under sheriffs, Edras Lawrence and Mathew Eisheton, who 
 elected themselves, and pocketed the expenses amounting to £18. 16s. 
 This being complained of, wilts of enquiry were issued by the king. The 
 investigation resulted in the unseating of these worthies, by authority of 
 the crown. The Xorman princes, as well as the Stuarts, frequently testi¬ 
 fied their notion that a parliament was merely a convenience to aid the 
 monarch in carrying out the behests of his individual will. Kichard II., 
 in 1398, summoned the sheriffs, and with unparalleled autocratic insolence 
 charged them to permit of the election of no one who would not promise 
 to agree to the measures of the king. This imbecile monarch, had the 
 daring hardihood to ask of the sheriffs what force each county could furnish, 
 as he proposed raising an army to punish such of his subjects who should 
 act in opposition to his wishes. His solemn impeachment and deposition was 
 the first act of the first “ free parliament ” called by him ; a proof that the 
 majority of the nation had, even then, begun to entertain notions concerning 
 the royal prerogative, very different from those cherished by the descen¬ 
 dants of the conqueror. 
 
 The power of the commons had, however, by the latter portion of the 
 reign of Bichard II., become so much increased, that statutes were enacted 
 by which sheriffs were fined, who did not “ literally obey the writ,” and 
 the citizens and burgesses subjected “to be amerced or otherwise punished,” 
 for neglect or non-compliance, without sufficient excuse. The wages of the 
 members were paid by the burgesses, whose voices were, nevertheless, 
 little more than the mere formal echoes of the wishes of the lords of the 
 soil. Several of the smaller towns consequently petitioned for exemption 
 from so questionable a privilege. It appears the borough of Preston after 
 furnishing its due quota to the legislative wisdom of the nation for seven 
 successive parliaments, “ declined the honour,” in the reign of Edward II. 
 (1326). It was common about this period for the sheriffs to conclude their 
 returns with an intimation that there were “not any other cities or 
 boroughs within the county, from which any citizens or burgesses can or 
 are accustomed to be sent to the said parliament, by reason of their decay 
 or povertv.” The daily stipend, fixed by royal writ, for knights of the shire, 
 was four shillings, and that of the borough representatives, two shillings. 
 
 The sittings did not generally extend over a month ; yet the burgesses 
 
PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION. 
 
 327 
 
 of Preston regarded tlie representative privilege, either as useless, or as too 
 expensive an article for their indulgence. The expenses of the journey 
 would form a serious item, for, according to Prynne, the time for travelling 
 from Lancashire to Westminster, allowed to members of parliament in the 
 reign of Edward III., was from five days to eight, according to the state 
 of the weather! It can be accomplished now in as many hours !! It must 
 not, however, be forgotten that the practical value of two shillings iu the 
 reign of Edward II., was more than equivolent to that of a sovereign 
 at the pi’esent day." It appears that the burgesses of Preston suffered 
 their right to parliamentary representation to remain in abeyance during a 
 period of 221 years. It was resumed in the first year of the reign of 
 Edward the sixth, a.d. 1547. h Lancaster Liverpool, and Wigan, at the 
 same time resumed, by royal authority, their dormant privileges. In the 
 first of Elizabeth, the boroughs of the county were increased in number by 
 the addition of Clitheroe and Newton. * 1 * Manchester, with the exception 
 of two returns during the period of the commonwealth, remained disfran¬ 
 chised till the passing of the reform bill, in 1832. 
 
 In the sixth year of the reign of Henry IY., the Icing commanded the 
 sheriffs not to return any persons “ learned in the law,” from which cir¬ 
 cumstance the legislative assembly, which met at Coventry, was nicknamed, 
 in derision, the “ lack-learning parliament.” 
 
 In the seventh Henry VI. the privilege of voting in the election of knights 
 of the shire was confined to “ forty shillings freeholders.” All the free¬ 
 holders previously claimed the right, as at present, in the case of election 
 of coroner, 3 which according to the preamble of the act caused “man- 
 
 g Mr. Edward Baines says, vol. 4, p. 345, “the burgesses were required to make payments to the 
 members of 2s. 6d. per day.” This is an error. The sum is correctly stated at 2s. in the same work, 
 vol. 1, p. 300, and again at page 308 and 309. 
 
 h Mr. Baines (History of Lnn. vol. 4, p. 345), says, “ Preston resumed the electoral privileges in 
 the first Edward IV. In vol. 1, however, p. 310 and 317, and in the list of members, p. 347. vol. 4, 
 the period is correctly stated as the first Edward VI. These errors having been copied elsewhere, 
 necessitates this comment. 
 
 i It was customary about this period, as well as with the Stuarts, to create nomination boroughs, 
 
 as one means of “ managing ” the parliament, which sometimes became the property of ladies, as in 
 the case of Mistress Packington, who introduced her nominees to the “free” burgesses, in the 
 following candid and constitutional manner Know ye, Me, the said Dorothy Packington, to 
 have chosen, named, and appointed, my trusty and well-beloved Thomas Lichfield and George 
 Burden, esqrs., to be my burgesses of the said town of Aylesbury. And whatsoever the said Thomas 
 and George, burgesses, shall do in the service of the queen’s highness in that present parliament, to 
 be assembled at Westminster, the eighth day of May next ensuing the date hereof, I the same 
 Dorothy Packington do ratify and approve to be my own act as fully and wholly as if I were 
 present there!” This modest document is addressed “ to all Christian people to whom this pre¬ 
 sent writing shall come !” By this it would appear the English constitution has not always entirely 
 excluded females from exercising the parliamentary franchise. 
 
 j The election of coroners, in whatsoever district of the county they, by arrangement, may 
 practice, always take place at Preston, which gives an undue preponderance to the freeholders of 
 
328 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 slaughter, riots, batteries, and divisions amongst the gentlemen and other 
 people of the said counties.” A forty shilling freehold of that period would 
 be about equivalent to one of twenty pounds at the present time. 
 
 The parliament of 1653, in the time of the commonwealth, consisted of 
 only one hundred and twenty-one persons, including the celebrated “ Praise 
 God Barebones,” member for London. None of the Lancashire boroughs 
 were represented, hut the county sent three knights of the shire. Preston 
 never failed to respond to the summons, from the reign of Edward YI. 
 to the present time; for in this instance, the parliament was a “packed” 
 one, and no writs were issued to any of the Lancashire boroughs. 
 
 Parliaments were by statute in the reign of Edward III. ordered to be called 
 annually, andoftener, if required. This was confirmed in the reign of Edward 
 YI. In the sixteenth year of the reign of Charles II., the practice of holding 
 parliaments triennially was adopted. The law so remained until the com¬ 
 mencement of the reign of George I., when the present septennial act 
 was introduced. The property qualification ivas first adopted in the 
 ninth year of the reign of Queen Anne, when it was by statute enacted 
 that no person should be qualified to sit in parliament, as the representative 
 of any city or borough, who was not possessed of a freehold or copyhold 
 estate of the annual value of £300., over and above all incumbrances what¬ 
 ever. The only exceptions were in favour of the eldest sons of peers of 
 the realm, or of persons qualified to sit as knights of the shire. 
 
 Preston, previously to the passing of the Parliamentary Reform Bill, 
 in 1832, enjoyed a more democratic suffrage than any other borough in 
 the kingdom. The personal right to the “franchise,” it would appear, 
 was not either very clearly defined in law, or reduced to anything like a 
 uniform system by the practice of the burgesses of the various cities and 
 boroughs. The report of the Royal Commission on municipal corporations, 
 printed in 1835, says:— 
 
 “ Without enquiring when corporations in the country assumed their present form, it 
 may be safely asserted that the body, however, named, which was originally intended to 
 share, and which in fact did share, in the rights which the early charters conferred, 
 embraced the great mass of the householders or inhabitants. Ey degrees, exclusive 
 qualifications were insisted on with increasing strictness, and with new exceptions, as 
 the privileges to which these exclusive bodies laid claim, rose in importance. This 
 importance again was enhanced by the narrowing of the access to the privilege, and the 
 consequent diminution of the number of individuals sharing in its advantages.” 
 
 Amongst other municipalities, Plymouth, with a population of 75,000 
 (including Devonport), had only 437 freemen, 145 of whom were non¬ 
 resident ! In Norwich, the great hulk of the respectable inhabitants were 
 
 that neighbourhood, and causes much fraudulent voting. It is probable, however, that ere long, if 
 the office of coroner be not altogether abolished, or the duties consolidated with those of some other 
 public functionary, that the mode of their appointment will be thoroughly reformed. 
 
PAELIAMEXTARY REPRESENTATION. 
 
 329 
 
 excluded from the corporate body, -while paupers, lodgers, and other parties 
 who contributed not to the rates, exercised the privileges of the freemen ! 
 Ipswich presented a still more flagrant pervertion. The resident freemen, 
 out of a population of 20,000, only formed a fifty-fifth part, and about 
 one-ninth of these were paupers ! More than one-third were not rated, 
 and many amongst those who were, were often excused payment! More 
 than eleven-twelfths of the property assessed belonged to parties excluded 
 from the privileges of freemen ! The commissioners found that in sixteen 
 of the largest cities and boroughs, with an aggregate population of 715,702, 
 there were only 34,697 resident and non-resident freemen! The object 
 sought to be gained by this gradually encroaching exclusiveness, did not 
 arise so much from the desire to prevent the inhabitants generally from 
 interference in municipal affairs, as with the view to the monopoly of the 
 political franchise, which, in proportion to the limitation of numbers, 
 conferred additional personal and pecuniary importance upon the “ free 
 and independent biu’gcsscs.” Many municipal institutions had been 
 preserved solely on account of the political privileges conferred by their 
 incorporation, and numerous instances of gross perversion of municipal 
 authority to political ends, were exposed by the commissioners. 
 
 The corporation of Preston had gradually assumed to itself the exclusive 
 right to select the parliamentary representatives of the borough, though 
 not without considerable opposition from the resident freemen. In the 
 year 1661, the corporation returned Mr. Rigby and Mr. Fife; but the 
 Inn-burgesses proceeded to the poll and elected Mr. Rigby and Dr. Rishton. 
 The disputed claim was adjudicated upon by the whole House of Com¬ 
 mons, and not merely by a select committee, as is the practice at the 
 present time. Mr. Rigby and Dr. Rishton were declared duly elected. 
 This decision, eventually produced results utterly unexpected by either of 
 the litigant parties. The resolution not only repudiated the notion of 
 exclusive privilege claimed by the corporation, but likewise the pre¬ 
 tensions of the municipal authorities and burgesses conjoined. It 
 literally declared that the right to vote lay -with “the inhabitants 
 at large,” and thus created, though evidently unintentionally, a suffrage 
 absolutely universal. The following is the resolution passed by the House 
 of Commons :— 
 
 “ Sergeant Cliarleton made report from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, 
 that upon the petition of Dr. Fife and Dr. Rishton they had proceeded to examine the 
 matter touching their election for the borough of Preston; and the question being 
 whether the mayor and twenty-four burgesses had only voices or the inhabitants at 
 large; the committee is of opinion that all the inhabitants have voices in the election; 
 and the majority of such voices is with Dr. Rishton ; and that lie is duly elected and 
 ought to sit. Resolved, upon the question that this house do agree with the said eom- 
 mitttee, that all the inhabitants of the said borough of Preston have voices in the 
 
330 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 election ; and that the majority of such voices is with Dr. Rishton ; and that the said 
 Dr. Rishton is duly elected a burgess for the said borough, and ought to sit in this 
 house.” t 
 
 It does not appear that the general population became cognizant of the 
 comprehensive nature of the expressions used in the resolution for a con¬ 
 siderable period. However, in 1768, upwards of a cent my afterwards, 
 the non-freemen resident in the borough claimed the franchise, and pro¬ 
 ceeded to the poll. The non-freemen were usually designated as 
 “foreigners,” in contradistinction to the inhabitants. This explains the 
 nature of the error committed by parliament, and the century of 
 indifference with which the non-burgesses regarded the decision. * 1 
 
 The mayor declared that Sir Peter Leicester, hart., and Sir Prank 
 Standisli, were legally elected to represent the borough, although General 
 Burgoyne and Sir Henry Hoghton, through the influence of the earl of 
 Derby, had secured a majority of the voices of “ the inhabitants at large.” 
 Sir Henry Hoghton and the gallant general, together with some of their 
 friends, petitioned the house of commons, and unseated the chosen of the 
 exclusives. The case was heard by the whole house of commons. The 
 council for the corporation argued that the term “ all the inhabitants” 
 had reference only to “ such in-burgesses of the last guild, or those 
 admitted since by copy of court roll, as were inhabitants of the place.” 
 One hundred and thirteen voted for this view of the case, and one hundred 
 and eighty-three against it. This vote interpreted the previous decision 
 of the house of commons, in 1661, to mean that the elective franchise 
 extended to the “ inhabitants at large,” or in other words that “ all the 
 inhabitants had voices in the election of members.” In practice, however, 
 this very comprehensive expression was always understood in a more 
 limited sense. The right was confined to all the male inhabitants above 
 twenty-one years of age, who had resided six months in the town, and 
 were untainted with pauperism or crime. So much importance was 
 attached to these proceedings, that the struggle acquired the distinguished 
 appellation of “the great election.” Of course the exertions of the Derby 
 family in this matter resulted not from any sympathy with “universal 
 suffrage,” as a political principle. Dining the first seven days of the 
 “ great election,” their own party did not attempt to poll any persons 
 except freemen. Finding themselves in a minority, their ingenuity was 
 taxed to avert defeat. Some cunning lawyer or other, probably remem¬ 
 bering the words of the resolution of the house of commons, suggested the 
 
 k Journals of the House of Commons. 
 
 1 The corporation records contain many allusions to the two distinct classes then occupying the 
 town. “Foreigners" are forbidden to graze their cattle on the moor to the “ prejudice of the 
 inhabitants.” The closing of places of business on Sundays is strictly enforced upon both “foreigners 
 and “ inhabitants.” The term foreigner appears to have descended from the Roman municipal 
 
PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION. 
 
 331 
 
 expedient of polling all their friends, freemen and non-freemen. According 
 to a contemporary document, “ the Vicar of the Parish” (the Rev. R. 
 Andrews), stood forward upon the hustings to expound the resolution of 
 1661.” He declared his opinion that all were legally entitled to vote, 
 notwithstanding the previous practice. The hint was acted upon, and the 
 Derby party spared defeat. This undignified ruse de guerre, however, 
 produced the most alarming consequences. A letter from Preston, dated 
 February 21st, and quoted in the Gentleman’s Magazine for March, 1768, 
 says:— 
 
 “ The contest here is attended with imminent danger. I have just escaped with 
 many friends. The country is now up in arms. As the town is now abandoned by our 
 men, the cry is Leave not a freeman alive ! God knows where this will end. I tliink 
 to-night or to-morrow may he fatal to many. This is shocking work in a civilized 
 country.” 
 
 The same magazine, in the month following, on the authority of a letter 
 from Lancaster, says, “ the violence committed on account of the ensuing 
 election at that town and at Preston exceed belief; murdering, maiming, 
 pulling down the houses, destroying places of public worship, and breaking 
 the furniture and binning the effects of each other, are among the acts of 
 the inflamed mob.” 
 
 Bands of drunken “roughs,” designated “bludgeon-men,” were hired 
 by the contending parties ostensibly for “ protection and defence.” These 
 lawless blackguards were incited to acts of violence by inflammatory 
 placards and election squibs. The Homan catholic chapel of St. Mary, on 
 Friargate brow, was, according to an address published soon afterwards, 
 “ scandalously and impiously plundered and violated by a band of unprin¬ 
 cipled ruffians.” Cottam catholic chapel was almost destroyed, and the 
 one at Hew House, near Hollowforth, narrowly escaped a similar fate. 
 The mayor of the borough was subjected to the inconvenience and indignity 
 of a public drenching at the Fishcrgate pump, and his friends so maltreated 
 for their remonstrances, that one of them died in consequence of the 
 injuries he received. A judicial investigation followed these outrages, 
 with the following result:— 
 
 “ Saturday, 6th May, 1769. The Court of King’s Bench gave judgment in the case 
 of the riot at the last general election at Preston, when Mr. Justice Yates, after a most 
 nervous and pathetic speech on the turpitude of riots at elections, pronounced sentence: 
 an officer” (Burgoyne) “was fined £1,000.; four other defendants £100. each, and 
 three months’ imprisonment; and three rioters on account of their low circumstances, 
 six months’ imprisonment.” m 
 
 The following extract from a document issued by the Derby party, gives 
 the proportion of voters on each qualification as follows :— 
 
 nomenclature. Dr. Adam says“AU those who were not citizens were called by the ancient 
 Romans foreigners (Peregrini), wherever they lived, whether in the city or elsewhere.”—Roman 
 Antiquities, page 70. 
 
 m Gentleman’s Magazine. 
 
332 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 “ These are the numbers admitted by the Mayor, and upon 
 
 H. 
 
 B. 
 
 L. 
 
 S. 
 
 which he has made his return . 
 
 230 
 
 259 
 
 289 
 
 276 
 
 “Although by a resolution of the House of Commons, and 
 confirmed by act of parliament, the right of election, for the 
 said borough is vested in the inhabitants at large, who, 
 although rejected by the Mayor, voted for. 
 
 328 
 
 330 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 “ This is insisted upon to be the true state of the poll . 
 
 558 
 
 589 
 
 290 
 
 277” 
 
 Another attempt was made to limit the franchise in 1780, when Sir 
 John Fenton petitioned against the return of one of the members, on the 
 plea that the “ universal suffrage” practice was illegal. The previous 
 decision of the house of commons was, however, adhered to. Mr. Fenton’s 
 petition was dismissed, and Burgoyne declared duly elected. The following 
 resolution was passed :— 
 
 “That it being the opinion of this Committee that the Resolution of the 18th Dec.’ 
 1661, by which all the Inhabitants of the Borough of Preston are declared to have 
 voices in the Election, is a last Determination within the meaning of the Act 2 Geo. II.; 
 but it being also the opinion of the Committee that such a right of election is too 
 indefinite,— Resolved ,—That the Chairman be directed to move for leave to bring in a 
 Bill to ascertain the Description of Inhabitants who shall for the future have Voices in 
 the Election, humbly recommending it to the House that the Right be confined to all 
 In-Burgesses resident and to all other Inhabitant Householders paying Scot and Lot.” 
 
 The report was considered by the house on the 1st of May. The Derby 
 influence was, however, powerful enough to prevent any action being 
 taken thereupon. It was “ ordered that the said report he taken into 
 consideration that day three months.” 
 
 This silenced for a time the obnoxious proposition. Notwithstanding 
 this confirmation, the singular decision of the committee on the original 
 appeal has ever been regarded, by competent authority, as a direct con¬ 
 travention of the law of the land. 0 Its “legality,” however, now became 
 established by precedent; another and last attempt to overthrow the 
 practice, in 1784, being equally unsuccessful. This last effort was made 
 by Ralph Clayton and Michael Angelo Taylor, who in vain petitioned 
 against the return of Hoghton and Burgoyne. The corporation 
 incurred considerable expense in prosecuting their petitions for the 
 exclusion of non-freemen, and consequently, after a private subscription 
 fund was exhausted, they trespassed a little on the corporate revenue for 
 the liquidation of a portion of the charges. They voted the “ sum of 
 Fifty pounds to he applied to the discharge thereof, and if the said sum of 
 Fifty poirnds shall not be found sufficient, then let any further sum not 
 exceeding £20. he paid and applied for the purpose aforesaid.” “All the 
 
 n See pamphlet on the “ Parliamentary Representation of Preston during the last hundred years,” 
 by Mr. W. Dobson. 
 
 o Sergeant Merewether’s History of Boroughs, p. 365. 
 
PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION. 
 
 333 
 
 inhabitants” from this period peaceably enjoyed the exercise of their 
 singularly acquired privilege till the passing of the reform bill. 
 
 The Derby family continued to possess the chief influence over the par¬ 
 liamentary elections, owing to the extent of the franchise, till 1796, 
 when the “manufacturing interest,” then comparatively in its infancy, 
 backed by the corporation, resolutely attacked the aristocratic monopoly, 
 and nominated John Horrocks, esq., in opposition to Lord Stanley (the 
 late earl of Derby), and Sir Henry Philip Hoghton, hart. Hr. Horrocks 
 was also supported by the then government, the earl of Liverpool, chan¬ 
 cellor of the duchy of Lancaster, and by the “ Church and King Club,” 
 of Manchester. The contest was a most severe one, not a single “ tally” 
 being supposed to remain unpolled at the close. The numbers were, 
 for Lord Stanley, 772; Sir H. P. Hoghton, 756; John Horrocks, esq., 
 742. Itidiculous exhibitions of party spirit were occasionally indulged in 
 by the rival factions during these contests. The author of the pamphlet 
 previously alluded to, thus cleverly hits off some of the “ small spite” 
 exhibited by the rival political zealots :— 
 
 “ Not merely was tlie feeling of hostility between the rival competitors for political 
 influence carried into the business of the town, but even into its pleasures, and for six 
 years, from 178G to 1791, races were held under the auspices of each party, the corporation 
 races being held on Preston moor, the earl of Derby’s races, as an opposition meeting, on 
 Fulwood moor, a lease of which had been obtained from the duchy of Lancaster. The 
 political differences which divided the town extended even to sedan chairs ! The coats 
 of the chairmen had collars of the colour of one or other of the two great parties, and as 
 the ladies were equally warm in their political sympathies as the rougher sex, they showed 
 their predilections not only in the ribbons they wore, but in the choice of their sedans. 
 A lady of the family of Pedder, or Starkie, or Gorst, would have walked home in a 
 thunder storm, before she would have been carried in a Derbyite or Burgoyne chair, 
 while the wives and daughters of the Shawes, the Ilornbys, and the Whiteheads, would 
 have missed going to the best ball of the season, rather than have been taken there in a 
 corporation sedan.”P 
 
 “Church street mill,” now the property of Messrs. Ainsworth and 
 Co., owes its origin to political causes. It was built with a view to 
 strengthen the interest of the Derby family against the powerful influence 
 of the corporate body of that day. In those days, when cotton mills were 
 few in number, and labour scarce, the proprietor of a factoiy could, and 
 did, exercise great influence over the voters employed by him, constraining 
 them, under pain of instant dismissal, to vote for Ids party or nominees; 
 thus converting that which was intended as a political privilege into an 
 engine of wrong and oppression. Happily for society, such an unconstitu¬ 
 tional exercise of power is of much rarer occurrence at the present day. 
 The employer, who would presume to interfere with the conscientious dis¬ 
 charge by his workman of his duty to the state, is to some extent, held in 
 
 p Ili'toi'y of Par. Rep. of Preston (luring the last hundred years. 
 
334 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 check by the force of public opinion, the increased intelligence of the 
 mass of the people, and a wholesome dread of a receent act of parliament. 
 
 The growing strength of the manufacturing interest, however, soon 
 became so apparent, that a compromise was eventually agreed upon; 
 and, consequently, in 1802, Lord Stanley and John Horrocks, esq., were 
 elected -without a contest. This arrangement was effected, according 
 to Mr. Edward Baines, “ through the intervention of Thomas Butterworth 
 Bayley, esq., of Manchester, and ratified by the signatures of eleven gen¬ 
 tlemen of Preston, the leaders of the parties, to a written agreement pre¬ 
 pared for the purpose.” This compromise or “ coalition,” as it was then 
 called, quietly nominated the members for two succeeding parliaments. 
 At the general election in 1807, an effort was made by the “radicals” to 
 break through the “ coalition.” Joseph Hanson, esq., of Manchester was 
 nominated, and contested the election during a poll of eleven days’ duration. 
 The numbers were, Lord Stanley, 1619; Samuel Horrocks, esq., q 1616; 
 Colonel Hanson, 1002. Some rioting occurred during this struggle ; indeed, 
 from the peculiar tone in which the circumstance is alluded to by the Preston 
 Journal of the day, it would appear that an “ election row ” was no great 
 novelty at that period. The editor observes:—“We are concerned to 
 have to state that a man was killed in an electioneering squabble, last 
 night. We trust that the friends of all parties will recommend more 
 peaceable behaviour than has hitherto been observed.” This was written 
 after the second day’s polling. 
 
 In 1812, Lord Stanley represented the county. His cousin and brother-in- 
 law, Edward Homby, esq., was nominated for Preston, in conjunction with 
 Samuel Horrocks, esq. The “independent” party brought into the field 
 Edward Hanson, esq., brother to the gentleman, who, in 1807, unsuccessfully 
 opposed the “ coalition ” nominees. On the fourth day of the election 
 some rioting took place, during which two flags belonging to the “coalition 
 party” were destroyed by their opponents, who afterwards proceeded to 
 break the windows of the public houses “ attached to the interest of Mr. 
 Horrocks and Mr. Hornby.” They demolished the windows, both glass and 
 frame work, of eight or nine of these establishments, together with the frames 
 and windows of Mr. Horrocks’s porter’s lodge. “ They were, however, at 
 length stopped in their lawless career, on Mr. A abb, a particular friend of 
 Mr. Hanson’s going amongst them and requesting, in the name of Mr. 
 Hanson, that they would desist from these violent proceedings; and, Horn 
 the readiness with which they complied it is to be regretted that the 
 experiment was not earlier tried.” r 
 
 q John Horrocks, esq., died in 1S34, and was succeeded in the representation of the borough, by 
 his brother, Samuel Horrocks, esq. 
 
 r Preston Chronicle, October 17th, 1812. 
 
PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION. 
 
 335 
 
 No serious personal injury appears to have resulted fromtliis outbreak. 
 It was considered, however, sufficiently alarming to induce the magistrates 
 to call in and retain the aid of the military, notwithstanding the protest of 
 the Mends of Mr. Hanson. The polling lasted eight days, when the 
 numbers were, Horrocks, 1379; Hornby, 1368; Hanson, 727. On the 
 first day, Mr. Horrocks and Mr. Hornby each polled twenty votes and 
 Mr. Hanson nineteen. The “independent” electors apparently preferred 
 watching the tide of events to relieving themselves from them onerous 
 duties! 
 
 The suicidal policy of the Stanley family brought its own punishment. 
 The popularity of the “universal suffrage” coup d'etat, as it may not 
 improperly be termed, naturally for a time conferred upon nominees 
 of the family the parliamentary honours of the borough. The progress of 
 the cotton business, however, introduced a large number of voters, who 
 were, at the time, completely under the influence of their employers. Hence 
 a counter interest sprung up, which threatened to destroy the aristocratic 
 power and prestige. This necessitated the first concession, and the “coali¬ 
 tion ” resulted. The representation of the borough was virtually nil, 
 on most important public questions, as the voice and influence of 
 one member counteracted that of the other. But this was not the only 
 humiliation. As a matter of course, from such elements the independent 
 party sprung into existence, and wrestled with the coalitionists. “Universal 
 suffrage,” under those circumstances, became transmuted into an extremely 
 intractable animal, with some of the peculiarities of the hydra. Nay 
 the modern monster vastly exceeded in number of “ polls ” the many 
 headed victim of Hercules, and became infinitely more voracious. The 
 thirteen hundred and odd votes, which secured the triumph of the coalition 
 party at this election, cost the enormous sum of £5671. 17s. 6d. 
 
 By a fortunate incident the enfranchised of the present day are enabled 
 to ascertain with unquestionable accuracy, what were regarded as 
 “legitimate election expenses” by their immediate progenitors. The 
 author of the pamphlet previously quoted, accidentally obtained possession 
 of the accounts of the treasurer to the coalition candidates . 3 The folio-wing 
 particulars from this document, demonstrate to a certainty, that neither the 
 Stanley nor the corporation influence, nor both combined, was all powerful 
 with even a majority of the “free and independent” burgesses,-without 
 immense sacrifice at the altar of Mammon, and copious libations at the 
 shrine of Bacchus; the veritable deities who have long presided over election 
 mysteries ’.— 
 
 s “ The late Samuel Crane, Esq., was the treasurer. The accounts appear to have been made up 
 with peculiar care, the various items being entered with great minuteness, and they are scarcely less 
 remarkable for their methodical arrangement than for their singularity." 
 
336 
 
 PEESTON AND ITS ENVIEONS. 
 
 “ First of all in tlic accounts appear the names of ‘ staffmen, intended to act as special 
 constables, at 20s. each.’ These ‘ special constables,’ or more properly bludgeon-men, 
 were 276 in number, and cost (one of them received 40s.) £277. Something beyond 
 their services was no doubt looked for in return for the 20s.; as, out of the whole num¬ 
 ber, only seven voted against their paymasters; a few were apparently not voters. Then 
 follows “ paid sundry others as under,” and twenty-four names are appended with sums 
 varying from 3s. to 40s., a total of £19. 14s., but for what is not stated. Most of the parties 
 were voters. One non-elector’s name occurs, ‘Betty Spencer, 5s.,’ but there is no 
 record of the nature of Betty’s assistance to the cause. Then another batch of ‘ staffinen ’ 
 for £54. 6s. The music cost£18S. 12s.; the messengers, £29. 15s. 4d.; the captains, or 
 superintendents of districts, £7. 8s.; twelve waiters, at 4s. a day, £24.; solicitors and 
 clerks, £367.7s. 6d.; this included a retaining fee of £10. 10s. to Mr. T. B. Addison, and 
 one of £5. 5s. to Mr. T. S. Shuttleworth for their services at the next election: overseers 
 of townships, £56. 2s. These were from all the neighbouring milages, and would be in 
 attendance to object to persons from the neighbourhood voting as residents, or to anv 
 residents in the town who had relief from their rates, as a person having received relief 
 within twelve months was disqualified. The sum of £24 was incurred in bringing twelve 
 men of the 2nd Lancashire Militia from Plymouth to vote, but they came too late; £9. 
 11s. to men attending the horses for ‘the riding;’ £577. 14s. 6d. for ribbons; £94.14s, 
 6d. for printing and stationery; and £3,807. 13s. 7d. for public-houses! Fifty-six 
 publicans had bills varying from £10 to £246. 10s. After the election, an expense of 
 £131. 4s. 7d. was incurred in prosecuting some parties for rioting, and Mi - . Baines had 
 £20 for ‘ keeping list of the inhabitants.’ ”t 
 
 Nothing daunted by previous defeat, the “independent party” again 
 determined to oppose tbe “ coalition,” and, at the ensuing election, in 1818, 
 nominated Dr. Crompton, of Liverpool. This gentleman, in his address 
 expressed the satisfaction he should feel in assisting to rescue “ the town 
 of Preston from the degraded state into which it had been plunged by the 
 coalition,” but stated that, neither directly nor indirectly, would he “ endea¬ 
 vour to obtain one suffrage by means inconsistent with the most perfect purity 
 of election.” The only local journal existing at that time in the town, 
 (the Preston Chronicle) in commenting upon this portion of Dr. Crompton’s 
 address, makes the following pertinent observations, which until the 
 recent contest (1837), applied with equal force and propriety, not only to 
 the electoral constituency of Preston, but to the enfranchised of most other 
 boroughs:— 
 
 ‘ - If this example should he followed by the opposite parties, we may hope to see estab¬ 
 lished in this borough, a system of appointing representatives to serve us in parliament, 
 which will render us worthy of the high privileges we possess. Free from the influence 
 of gin and beer, the polling may then he conducted in a manner becoming rational beings, 
 called to exercise an important national duty; and each elector having given a con¬ 
 scientious vote, it will betray a persecuting spirit of tbe very worst description, should 
 any he made to suffer in person or estate for an act which the law of the laud requires to 
 be performed with purity under the solemn pledge of an oath.” 
 
 From the speeches of the parties nominating Dr. Crompton, it appears 
 
 t “ Since this was in type the writer has been informed that Betty Spencer at that time was a worker 
 at the Moss Factory, of Messrs. Horrockses, Whitehead, Miller, & Co., as the firm then was, and as 
 ‘ she knew everybody,’ she was stationed at the Town-hall to object to any unqualified person who 
 should come up to vote for Mr. Hanson. Several women were thus always engaged at the elections, 
 from thirty to fifty years ago. Among these female eleetioneerers was a woman of the name of Alice 
 Abbott, a quakeress, of a respectable family in the town, who, during the whole of the election of 
 1796, stood beside Lord Stanley and Sir H. P. Hoghton, in the Town-hall, to object to disqualified 
 voters, and few men could have equalled the tact and spirit with which she discharged her duty.” 
 
PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION. 
 
 337 
 
 that the old members both enjoyed the private esteem of the liberal party, 
 and that Mr. Hornby’s political sentiments and ability met with consider¬ 
 able approval; but the “ coalition” was still regarded as most offensive to 
 the “ freedom of election.” At the end of the second day’s polling, Dr. 
 Crompton headed Mr. Horrocks by one vote, and Mr. Hornby by five. 
 At the conclusion of the third day, Mr. Horrocks and Dr. Crompton 
 were equal; the votes being, Horrocks and Crompton, 468; Mr. Hornby, 
 464. At the conclusion of the sixth day, Mr. Horrocks led, and Mr. 
 Hornby and Dr. Crompton were equal, the numbers for the latter being 
 1166 each. On the seventh day, however, Dr. Crompton fell so far behind, 
 that he declined any further contest. The total numbers polled were: for 
 Horrocks, 1694; Hornby, 1598; Crompton, 1245. 
 
 During the election, the general conduct of the belligerent parties was 
 such as to call forth the following eulogy from the local journalist:— 
 
 “ The active supporters of the respective candidates have evinced throughout the 
 struggle a liberal and gentlemanly conduct towards each other; and we feel a proud 
 satisfaction in stating that the greatest regularity and order have been preserved, and 
 not the slightest disposition to break the peace has been manifested on the part of the 
 great body of the electors. Our streets, as compared with the scenes of brutal drunken¬ 
 ness which have prevailed on all former occasions of this kind, have presented a contrast 
 highly creditable to the present improved state of the public feeling.” 
 
 The election closed on Thursday, and the successful candidates were 
 “ chaired" in the usual manner; “ that is, they rode upon gaily decorated 
 horses, amidst a procession of their fiiends and admirers, accompanied by 
 music, flags, banners, and other gorgeous paraphernalia.” Singularly 
 enough, the parties who conducted themselves so laudably during the 
 excitement of the contest, relapsed into the “brutal drunkenness which 
 had prevailed on all former occasions,” immediately after the “ chairing” 
 of the members. The journal above quoted thus describes this remarkable 
 transaction and its results :— 
 
 “ It is with deep regret that we are compelled as faithful historians, to make an abate¬ 
 ment from the above favourable report of the proceedings at our election. Up to seven 
 o’clock last evening, no one who witnessed the contest will say that our account of it is 
 overcharged. At that time a great portion of the public-houses were opened at the 
 expense of the returned members, and about ten or eleven o’clock, a mob, whose heads 
 were charged with coalition ale, but with hearts true to Crompton, assembled in front of 
 the Bull and Bed Lion Inns, assaulting the company with stones and mud, as they came 
 out; and in the course of the evening broke several windows at the Bull Inn.” v 
 
 A very probable aud natural result of the system of 'purchase adopted ! 
 A peep into the account book of the worthy treasurer will satisfactorily 
 explain away scepticism on the subject:— 
 
 “ The election of 1818 was a little more expensive The music cost £233. 12s. Gd.; 
 the messengers, £19 4s.; the attendants on members at “the riding,” £8. Is.; court 
 fees, £55. 4s.; ribbons, £712 11s. 5d.; law agents and clerks, £422. 6s. 6d.; miscel¬ 
 laneous charges, £250. 14s. 4d.; overseers, £106. 2s. 8d.; public-houses £4,111. 4s. Id.! 
 
 v Preston Chronicle, June 27th, 1818. 
 
 Y 
 
338 
 
 PllESTON AND ITS ENVIKONS. 
 
 aud printing and stationery, £98. Is. One of the entries quaintly enough describes the 
 
 payment to “ twelve men employed the first day of the election by Mr.-to assist 
 
 in resisting any attempt that might he made to create riot, £1. 16s.! ” 
 
 On the death of George III., in 1820, parliament was dissolved, and the 
 “ independent ” party determined upon another contest with the “coali¬ 
 tionists.” On this occasion John Williams, esq., afterwards Mr. Justice 
 Williams, was nominated, together with Mr. Henry Hunt, the celebrated 
 “ radical reformer,” and “ hero of Peterloo,” as he was sometimes desig¬ 
 nated. The contest was remarkably severe. Mr. Horrocks, however, 
 always kept the lead ; and Mr. Hornby retained the second place on the 
 poll, during the whole period, with the exception of the second day, when 
 the numbers for each were as follows:—Horrocks, 143; Hornby, 141 ; 
 Williams, 141 ; Hunt, 141. The election lasted thirteen days. The 
 return at the close gave for Horrocks, 1,902; Homby, 1,649; Williams, 
 1,525; Hunt, 1,127. The coalition candidates on this, as on the two 
 previous occasions, issued a joint address; and, notwithstanding their con¬ 
 flicting political sentiments, worked side by side at the election, with as 
 much zeal as if their own votes in parliament were to be devoted to the 
 furtherance of the same principles or measures. A considerable amount of 
 “ treating ” was practised during this election, which led to rioting. The 
 windows of the Town-hall, Guild-hall, Mr. Friend’s shop, under the Guild¬ 
 hall, the Bull Inn, and the Gentlemen’s Coffee Boom opposite, were smashed, 
 and some flags destroyed. The mayor, assessor, and town-clerk endea¬ 
 voured to “ read the riot act ” from a window of the Grey Horse Inn, 
 Church-street, hut they were forced to retreat before a shower of stones. 
 They made their exit by the back premises, and after climbing over some 
 pailings, entered the yard of the Bull Hotel. After an ineffectual attempt to 
 read the proclamation against rioting, from the lower windows of the hotel, 
 they succeeded in effecting their object from the upper story, the great 
 height preventing the missiles projected towards them from causing serious 
 interruption. Ho person was killed in the uproar, though several received 
 contusions more or less severe. About nine o’clock in the evening of 
 Thursday, a party of the 7th dragoons arrived in the town, but the mob 
 had in a great measure dispersed. The assessor having announced to the can¬ 
 didates that the military should not be allowed to interfere with the election, 
 but simply remain within call in case of further disturbance, all parties 
 appeared satisfied, and the voting proceeded without further interruption. 
 Mr. Hunt left town before the conclusion of the election, in order to pre¬ 
 pare for his trial at York, where he was found guilty, along with Messrs. 
 Joseph Johnson, John Knight, Joseph Healy, and Samuel Bamford, “ of 
 assembling with unlawful banners, at an unlawful meeting, for the pur¬ 
 pose of moving and inciting the subjects of our lord the king, to con- 
 
OL/A, 
 
 wa&nj < st/UsU/ tyusfel/. 
 
PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION. 
 
 339 
 
 tempt and hatred of the government and constitution of the realm as 
 by law established.” The trial arose out of the proceedings of the cele¬ 
 brated 16tli of August, in the previous year, in St. Peter’s Field, Man¬ 
 chester. Mr. Hunt was afterwards sentenced to two years and six months 
 imprisonment in Ilchester gaol, with a further condition that, at the con¬ 
 clusion of his incarceration, he should enter recognizances to keep the peace 
 for five years, himself in £1000. and two sureties in £500. each. In answer 
 to a question from Mr. Hunt, Mr. Justice Bayley informed the court, that 
 “his confinement was to be with as few privations as the due execution of 
 the sentence would allow.” Mr. Hunt being a great favourite with the 
 populace, was cheered loudly as he passed from the court of king’s bench, 
 Westminster, to the prison, after the passing of the sentence. 
 
 At this election, the purchase money for the very questionable honour 
 of representing Preston in parliament, amounted to the enormous sum of 
 £11,559. 12s. 8d. There must have existed some singular infatuation at 
 the period, to induce parties to make such a sacrifice for the mere political 
 negation of the borough. Mr. Dobson informs his readers, on the authority 
 of the accurate and painstaking treasurer, that:— 
 
 “The music cost £454. 11s.; attendance of overseers, £207. 8s. 6d. ; advocates and 
 attorneys, £753. Os. lOd.; ribbons, £1,047. 6s. 9d.; district committees, £403. 5s. 6d.; 
 writers and clerks to committees, £117. 12s. 6d .; public-houses, £8,203. 19s 4d.and 
 ‘ O monstrous ! but one half-penny worth of bread to this intolerable deal of sack; ’ 
 printing and stationery, £129. 6s.! Certain charges entered as expenses were £244. 2s. 
 3d. There is a memorandum in pencil in the book to the effect that Mr. Williams’s 
 expenses were £ 6,000., but upon what authority this statement is made does not 
 appear.” w 
 
 Such is the instability of political law, that, at the present day, a meet¬ 
 ing similar in character to the one at Peterloo, might he held with perfect 
 impunity; while the exposition of such election accounts as those of the 
 successful candidates, would he visited with the concentrated wrath of a 
 parliamentary committee ; and that, in 185 7, is no trifling matter. 
 
 In June, 1826, the next election took place. Mr. Horrocks having 
 signified his intention to retire from the representation of the borough, 
 the corporation wisely resolved to interfere no more, in their collective capa¬ 
 city, with the free choice of the voters. Mr. Hornby, likewise retired, 
 and his nephew, the honourable E. G. Stanley, (the present earl of Derby) 
 offered himself to the electors, on the family interest. The “ coalition ” 
 thus collapsed without a struggle, after uninterruptedly maintaining its 
 ground for twenty-four years. Doubtless, the gradually increasing demands 
 of the faithful treasurer had considerable influence in hastening this 
 
 w This, of course, is the statement of the “ enemy,” and consequently merely exaggerated con¬ 
 jecture. Those in the secrets of Mr. Williams’s committee state his expenses amounted to about 
 £2,700., a sum large enough, in all conscience, for a defeated candidate. 
 
340 
 
 PRESTON AXI) ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 catastrophe. Mr. Stanley solicited the suffrages of the electors on what 
 was then called “whig” principles. Mr. John Wood, (thelate chairman of 
 the Board of Inland Revenue) was nominated by the “liberals;” Mr. 
 William Cobbett, by the “ radicals,” and Captain Barrie, R. N., by the 
 “tories.” The contest was maintained with much vigour, during fifteen 
 polling days; the full extent of time then allowed by law for the recording of 
 the votes. During this election an immense amount of violent partisan 
 “ speech making ” was perpetrated. Some of the candidates and their 
 friends at the hustings, often became heated in temper, and occasionally 
 indulged in indecent or irrelevant personalities. The spacious area of the 
 Corn Exchange, being for the first time available, was selected as the scene 
 for the nomination of the candidates and the voting of the electors. 
 The old system of polling in “ tallies ” was found very inconvenient with 
 so many candidates; for the number was increased to eight, merely as an 
 election “ruse,” to prevent “split votes” being given to opponents, and 
 for obtaining freer access to the polling booths. Each candidate adopting 
 the “ ruse ” stultified its influence.* Sir Thomas Becvor was thus nomina¬ 
 ted by Mr. Cobbett’s friends, Mr. Lawe by Mr. Stanley’s, Mr. Phillips by 
 Mr. Wood’s, and Captain Colquitt by Captain Barrie’s. Some rioting took 
 place, in which banners were torn and windows broken. A military force 
 stationed at Kirkkam, was twice called upon to preserve the peace of the 
 town. On the latter occasion, several men, armed with bludgeons, were 
 taken into custody. Though some unpleasant knocks were given and received, 
 no lives were lost on the occasion. The Preston Chronicle of that date 
 says, the military were not sent for on account of the election riots, which, 
 for Preston, were not considered excessive, but sufficiently within the 
 control of the police force. The introduction of power looms into the 
 factories, about this period, caused serious apprehension of disturbance 
 of another character, which the drunken recklessness of the election 
 was by no means calculated to allay. The contest was, on several days, very 
 severe between Mr. Wood and Captain Barrie. Notwithstanding, the relative 
 positions of the candidates, at the close of each day’s poll, remained the 
 same from the first to the last. The polling continued during the then 
 f ull legal period of fifteen days. The numbers at the close were :—Stanley, 
 2944; Wood, 1974; Barrie, 1653; Cobbett, 995. The number of persons 
 voting amounted to 4222. A large number of Roman catholics walked 
 in the procession, on the “ chairing” of the members, with the view 
 
 x Previously to the passing of the Reform Bill, it was the practice at the hustings to permit each 
 candidate to poll no more than ten voters consecutively, providing his opponent called the attention 
 of the clerks to the fact that he had friends wishful to record their votes. Hence the term “tally,” 
 which signified a troop of ten voters, marshalled to the electoral arena by an agent named a 
 captain. 
 
PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION. 
 
 341 
 
 to express their satisfaction at the result. The bulk of them did not vote, 
 in consequence of the friends of Captain Barrie insisting upon the adminis¬ 
 tration of the “ oath of supremacy.” Several distinguished foreigners 
 visited Preston during the contest, attracted by curiosity to -witness the 
 exciting scenes presented by an English parliamentary election. Amongst 
 others, were one of the ministers of the king of Bavaria, whose name did 
 not transpire; the Duke de Monte Bello, (son of the celebrated Marshal 
 Lannes); M. Prosper Duvergier, and Signor Panizzi, (at present chief 
 librarian to the British Museum). 
 
 No treasurer’s accounts of the expcnces of this election are available for 
 public instruction. The cost, however, to some of the candidates, must 
 have been immense, far exceeding, it is said, that of any previous struggle. 
 
 Another contest took place in Aug., 1830, immediately after the 
 accession of William IY. The candidates were the Hon. E. G. Stanley, 
 John Wood, esq., and Henry Hunt, esq. The polling lasted four days. 
 The following was the result:—Stanley, 2,996; Wood, 2,489, Hunt, 
 1,308. Although the public houses were liberally patronised by the voters, 
 at the expencc of the successful candidates, the election passed off in a very 
 orderly manner. A fracas did occur at the polling place, in the Exchange 
 area; but the loss of a coat tail, by one of Mr. Stanley’s friends, was the 
 most serious part of the damage. Some gentlemen of influence in the 
 “Tory” party, were said by Mr. Stanley to have subscribed towards the 
 fund raised to meet Mr. Hunt’s election expcnces, with the view to the 
 exclusion of the hou. gentleman, from personal motives, and not sympathy 
 with Mr. Hunt’s political character. The general courtesy of the candi¬ 
 dates and their friends towards their opponents, presented a striking con¬ 
 trast to the ribaldry at the preceding election. This, however, did not 
 prevent the occasional exchange of a little badinage by Mr. Stanley and 
 his democratic competitor. 
 
 The “ Emancipation Bill” having received the royal assent during the 
 preceding year, the Homan catholic population were, for the first time, 
 enabled to register then- votes, without doing violence to their religious 
 sentiments. 
 
 Another contest occurred in December, 1830, in consequence of the 
 acceptance of the office of chief secretary for Ireland, under the “reform 
 government,” by the Hon. E. G. Stanley, the sitting member. Mr. 
 Hunt was again nominated; but he did not arrive in the town until Tuesday, 
 tlio 14th December, when the poll had been open during five days. On 
 the first day, Mr. Hunt polled 1,204 votes, and Mr. Stanley only 791. 
 Mr. Stanley gained gradually a little upon his opponent, but he remained 
 in a minority at the close of the poll, on the seventh day. The numbers 
 
 i 
 
342 
 
 PEESTON AXI> ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 were:—Hunt, 3,730, Stanley, 3,392; majority, 338. Many statements 
 and conjectures were made as to the cause of' Mr. Stanley’s defeat. The 
 majority gained hy Mr. Hunt, on the first day’s polling, sadly damaged 
 Mr. Stanley’s chance. He is understood to have declined treating the 
 electors, according to ancient usuage, feeling confident of success, from 
 his large majority at the preceding election. The customary practice, 
 however, was adopted after the first day’s polling, but without materially 
 altering his position. The “ tory ” party, too, or at least a section 
 of them, were either antagonistic to the principles of parliamentary reform, 
 professed by Mr. Stanley, or indifferent to his personal success. The 
 voting was unquestionably of a very irregular character; the number of 
 recorded franchises being greater than the supposed male population of 
 the borough entitled to the privilege. Both sides polled men who had 
 previously registered their votes. Many supported Mr. Stanley, during 
 the latter part of the contest, in consideration of the electioneering 
 liberality of his friends, who had previously tendered their “sweet 
 voices” for his opponent, on the first day of the polling. Mr. Stanley, 
 at the conclusion, demanded a scrutiny; hut, after more mature 
 consideration, abandoned it. With the exception of some disturbance at 
 the polling booths, there does not appear to have been much rioting, not¬ 
 withstanding the numerous processions which paraded the streets dining 
 the contest. Mr. Hunt’s partisans perambulated the town in the evenings, 
 carrying lighted tar barrels, and flags and banners. These processions 
 created considerable excitement, and some terror; hut no serions breach of 
 the peace occurred. The defeat annoyed much the Derby family, and caused 
 them for a time to withdraw their countenance from the borough, for 
 which they had successfully nominated one or both representatives during 
 a lengthened period. It has been shown that the influence of the family 
 materially assisted, if it did not entirely procure, the retention of the 
 evidently illegal decision of the committee of the house of commons, which 
 vested the franchise in “ the inhabitants at large.” Thus, the means 
 adopted by the corporation and the Derby family, to monopolize the 
 representation of the borough, eventually defeated both their objects. The 
 Bight Hon. E. G. Stanley was afterwards elected for Windsor. Mr. 
 Stanley represented Stockbridge previously to his offering himself for 
 Preston. He was not quite “of age” at the election in 1820, or 
 he would have been nominated in the place of Mr. Hornby. The 
 radicals of England were so overjoyed with their victory, that each voter 
 was presented with a silver medal struck expressly for the occasion. The 
 funds were furnished by a national subscription. On the obverse, sur¬ 
 rounded by a wreath of laurel, are the following words :—“ H. Himt, Esq., 
 
PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION. 
 
 343 
 
 M.P. for Preston, Dec. 24, 1830and outside the wreath : “ The time is 
 come. The triumph of principle.” On the reyerse : “ One of the 3,730 
 electors of Preston. The grateful tribute of the people of England.” A 
 small democratic political periodical was afterwards established in the 
 town, which bore, as its distinguishing title, “ The 3,730.” 
 
 Another general election took place in April, 1831. Several attempts 
 were made to procure a candidate to oppose Mr. Hunt. Colonel (now 
 General Sir) De Lacy Evans, issued an address, and made a partial canvass 
 of the borough; but a request from Mr. Wood’s committee, who thought a 
 contest might endanger their friend’s election, in conjunction with his having 
 received an invitation from the borough of Eye, which the gallant 
 colonel had previously contested, induced him to to withdraw. Mr. Wood 
 and Mr. Hunt were therefore returned without opposition. Col. Evans was 
 successful at Eye. 
 
 The Parliamentary Eeform Act, of 1832, confined the franchise to 
 parties occupying houses ot the annual value of ten pounds and upwards. 
 Yet, although the “ universal suffrage” principle was destroyed, and the 
 improved practice of registering the electors introduced, the Preston 
 constituency still includes a large number of “ potwallopers,” as 
 the claimants under the phrase “inhabitants at large” are sometimes 
 designated. By a special clause in the act, all parties who were in pos¬ 
 session of the right, or, in other words, were twenty-one years of age, and 
 had resided in the town for six months prior to the bill becoming law, still 
 retained their privileges. They continue, however, gradually to decrease ; 
 and, in the course of a few years, but a very small number will remain 
 on the register. In addition to those who die off, parties leaving the 
 town, even though they should return after a six months’ absence; all 
 persons who become necessitated to apply for parish relief; together with 
 those who neglect for one year to register themselves, are disfranchised. 
 At the present time (1857), the register contains the names of 1023 persons 
 who claim under the old franchise. Of these, however, 208 likewise 
 possess the new qualification. The true number, therefore, is 815. 
 
 In Dec., 1832, the first election took place under the reform act. 5 ' The 
 candidates were Peter Hesketli Fleetwood, esq., supported chiefly by the 
 “tory party;” the hon. H. T. Stanley, brother to the late member, 
 whig; Mr. Hunt; Captain Forbes, radical; and Mr. Charles Crompton 
 (now Mr. Justice Crompton), liberal. The polling was limited by the 
 act of parliament to two days’ duration. Notwithstanding, much rioting 
 occiuued, aggravated considerably by the employment of “ bludgeon-men,” 
 
 y By the boundary act, which followed, the franchise was extended so as to include all qualified 
 persons resident in “ the old borough of Preston and the township of Fishwick.” 
 
344 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 or '‘roughs,” armed with staves and decorated with ribbons, whose osten¬ 
 sible occupation was the protection of the flags and banners of their respec¬ 
 tive parties; but who not unfrequcntly themselves created the disturbance 
 they professed to oppose. Much of the rioting might have been pre¬ 
 vented if the candidates had mutually consented to the abolition of pro¬ 
 cessions during the contest. They served little purpose, except to congregate 
 the most intemperate and lawless of the population in the public streets, and 
 bring them into collision, when liquor, music, and party zeal had excited 
 their worst passions, and blinded the limited rationality or sense of decorum 
 which they previously possessed. Mr. Hunt’s friends again paraded the town 
 in the evenings, carrying lighted tar barrels, banners, etc. The votes were 
 taken for the first time at several distinct poll booths, situated in 
 different portions of the town. The polling of all the voters previously took 
 place in the area of the Corn Exchange; and, anterior to its erection, at the 
 Town-hall. At this election the practice of “ chairing ” the successful 
 candidates was discontinued, at the request of the mayor, Jno. Addison, 
 esq. The contest lay entirely between Mr. Fleetwood and Mr. Stanley 
 on the one hand, and Mr. Hunt and Mr. Forbes, on the other. Mr. 
 Crompton retired before the close of the first day’s poll. The numbers at 
 the conclusion were:—Fleetwood, 3,372; Stanley, 3,273; Hunt, 2,054; 
 Forbes, 1,926; Crompton, 118. 
 
 In Jan., 1835, another contest took place. Although considerable 
 efforts were made to unseat the old members, Messrs. Fleetwood and 
 Stanley triumphed by a large majority. The former gentleman’s votes in 
 the house of commons had gained him many supporters amongst the 
 “ liberal” section of the electors, while he still retained the confidence of 
 a majority of his conservative friends. The “radicals” nominated Col. (now 
 Gen.) Thompson, editor of the Westminster Review, author of a pamphlet 
 entitled “ Catechism of the Corn Laws,” etc., and Mr. Thomas Smith, of 
 Liverpool, a friend and admirer of Mr. Cobbett. Previously to the arrival 
 of Colonel Thompson, he was ably represented by his friend, the learned 
 Dr. Bowring (now Sir John Bowling, governor of Hong Kong), 
 who delivered several eloquent speeches during the election, notwith¬ 
 standing the call upon his time arising from the circumstance that he was 
 contesting the neighbouring borough of Blackburn, on the “liberal” 
 interest. The peace of the town was again disturbed by hired “bludgeon- 
 men.” Many windows were broken, and other damage sustained. The 
 votes recorded were:—Fleetwood, 2,165; Stanley, 2,092; Thompson, 
 1,385 ; Smith, 789. 
 
 In July, 1837, a general election took place, consequent upon the 
 demise of William IY. R. Townley Parker, esq., of Cuerden, was nomi- 
 
PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION. 
 
 345 
 
 Dated by the “conservative” party, and Jno. Crawfurd, esq., by the 
 “ radical” party. The sitting member, I*. Hesketh Fleetwood, esq., 
 again solicited the suffrages of the electors; but the Hon. H. T. Stanley 
 did not again offer himself. Mr. Fergus O’Connor was nominated, with 
 the view to afford him an opportunity of addressing the electors ; but he 
 did not go to the poll. The proceedings were again disgraced by much 
 drunkenness and rioting, especially between some “bludgeon-men” and 
 a party of Irish labourers. Several persons were seriously injured, and 
 some property destroyed. The mayor was necessitated to call in the aid 
 of the military, to protect the peace of the borough. The following was 
 the final state of the poll:—Fleetwood, 2,726; Parker, 1821; Crawfurd, 
 1,562. The act of parliament, which confined the voting to one day’s 
 duration, first became operative at this election. 
 
 In July, 1841, the “liberals” supported Sir P. Hesketh Fleetwood, 
 bart., and Sir George Strickland, bart. The “conservatives” nominated 
 Mr. Townley Parker, and Mr. Chas. Swainson. The great political parties, 
 who joined issue at this election, were “ protectionists and free-traders.” 
 Lord Melbourne had been defeated on his free-trade measures, as well as 
 on Sir It. Peel’s motion, declaring a want of confidence in the ministry, 
 on the part of the house of commons. The nomination was seriously 
 interrupted by combats of hired “bludgeon-men,” and conflicts, disgraceful 
 to all parties concerned, occurred in the streets. The windows of the 
 Bull Hotel and other places were broken, and several of the “ hirelings” 
 severely bruised. The result of the polling was in favour of the liberal 
 candidates. For Sir P. II. Fleetwood, bart., there were tendered 1,655 
 votes; for Sir G. Strickland, bart., 1,629; for It. Townley Parker, esq. 
 1,270; for Charles Swainson, esq., 1,255. Although the free-traders 
 succeeded at Preston, the protectionists were generally successful through¬ 
 out the country, and shortly afterwards Sir E. Peel displaced Lord 
 Melbourne. This election is said to have cost the four candidates between 
 £13,000. and £15,000. 
 
 The next parliamentary election took place in July, 1847. Sir P. H. 
 Fleetwood, hart., retired, and the “ liberals” nominated Charles Pascoe 
 Grenfell, esq., in conjunction with Sir George Strickland, bart. The con¬ 
 servatives again supported E. Townley Parker, esq. Considerable dis¬ 
 turbance was created, previously to the day of nomination, by hired 
 “navvies” or “bludgeon-men,” and the windows of the Bull and Eed 
 Lion Hotels were broken. The borough magistrates issued a proclamation, 
 requesting all parties to aid the authorities in the preservation of the 
 peace, and calling upon all persons concerned in the election, to abstain 
 from the practice of perambulating the town in procession, with music, 
 
346 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 flags, banners, etc. This proclamation, being respected by all parties, 
 produced a most salutary effect, and the remainder of the contest was not 
 disgraced by further important disturbances. The struggle proved one of 
 the closest in the history of the borough representation. The numbers 
 were—Strickland, 1,404; Grenfell, 1,378; Parker, 1361. Some voters 
 considered the election to be a “ diy one,” notwithstanding the evidently 
 liberal treatment they received, both in a liquid and pecuniary sense. 
 
 Another election took place in July, 1852, and was severely contested. 
 The “ liberal” party was divided in opinion respecting the conduct of Mr. 
 Grenfell, who had supported the “ecclesiastical titles bill.” Mr. Grenfell’s 
 votes and attention to his parliamentary duties, otherwise appeared to 
 have given general satisfaction to his party. The Roman catholic electors, 
 however, refused to vote for him, notwithstanding the certainty that his 
 place would, through their course of policy, be filled by a gentleman 
 whose attachment to the church of England and opposition to their claims, 
 was well known. Sir George Strickland, on the other hand, voted against 
 the measure, and consequently received the strenuous support of the Roman 
 catholic body. James German, esq., likewise offered himself on “liberal” 
 principles. This caused a still further division in the party. The con¬ 
 servatives, perceiving this disunion, rallied round their old friend, 
 R. Townley Parker, esq., and eventually placed him at the head of the 
 poll. The numbers were—Parker, 1,335; Strickland, 1,253; Grenfell, 
 1,127 ; German, 692. Mr. German retired soon after eleven o’clock. At 
 the request of the mayor, all the candidates agreed to dispense with the 
 usual custom of parading the town with banners and music. Notwith¬ 
 standing the intensity of the political excitement, no rioting of any con¬ 
 sequence took place. There was upon the whole less drunkenness than at 
 some previous contests; but a general impression remained, that the 
 direct appeals to the pocket sympathies of the “free and independent” 
 electors, exceeded those of many a previous struggle. 
 
 After this contest, an act of parliament was passed with the view to the 
 more effectual suppression of corrupt practices at parliamentary elections. 
 Some of its provisions are well calculated to render the investment of a 
 few thousand pounds in the procuration of a seat in the legislature, 
 rather a precarious speculation. A public auditor is appointed for the 
 examination of all election expences accounts. Payment of any, without 
 the sanction of this officer, will, on proof being made, unseat the member. 
 
 Mi’. Cobden’s motion with reference to the conduct of Sir John Bowring, 
 at Canton, being supported by a large section of the conservative as well 
 as of the “ Peelite ” party, placed Lord Palmerston’s government in a 
 minority of sixteen. This implied a vote of censure or a want of confi¬ 
 dence in the administration. Lord Palmerston dissolved parliament, and 
 
PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION. 
 
 347 
 
 appealed to the country. The energy with which he and his colleagues 
 had conducted the Russian war, after the vacillating policy of the earl of 
 Aberdeen’s government had caused much discontent, and the failure of the 
 carl of Derby to maintain the office of premier, told favourably for the 
 veteran war minister. Messrs. Cobden, Bright, Milner Gibson, and 
 other leaders of the “ Manchester school,” and advocates of the 
 doctrines of the “ Peace Society,” were rejected by their own friends; 
 other liberals occupied their seats. Several of the conservatives and 
 Peelites likewise were defeated or retired, owing to the unpopularity 
 engendered by their votes on the Chinese question. Thus the coup was 
 eventually fatal to those who triumphed in its first success. 
 
 The election at Preston, was not however, materially affected by the 
 question. Mr. Townley Parker, who voted adversely to the govern¬ 
 ment, had, for some time previously, expressed a desire, owing to the 
 unsatisfactory state of his health, to retire from the representation of the 
 borough. Sir George Strickland, on the other hand, supported the 
 ministers. The conservatives selected as their candidate, Richard Assheton 
 Cross, esq., banister-at-law, and brother to Major Cross, of Red Scar, near 
 Preston. This gentleman declared he would give an independent support 
 to the government of Lord Palmerston; and Mr. Grenfell, expressed a 
 similar determination. The latter gentleman, notwithstanding his defeat 
 at the previous election, had not ceased his friendly intercourse with 
 Preston. Although his courteous attention to all parties had procured 
 him many friends, and an impression had long prevailed that Sir George 
 Strickland would not again offer his services, yet his election was by no 
 means regarded as certain by many of his most sanguine admirers. Some 
 of the friends of Sir George, and especially those belonging to the Roman 
 catholic body, anxious to secure Ills re-election and the second defeat of 
 Mr. Grenfell, at any cost, determined to “ plump ” their champion. This 
 policy proved fatal to the party. The numbers at the close of the poll 
 were:—Grenfell, 1503; Cross, 1433; Strickland. 1094. The plumpers 
 were as follows:—Strickland, 590; Cross, 296; Grenfell, 75. Total 
 number of electors who recorded their votes, 2495. Total number of 
 electors on the register, 2793; being a decrease of 61 as compared with 
 the register in 1851-2, which was used at the previous contest. The 
 number unpolled, including dead and absent persons, was, in 1857, 289; 
 in 1852, 247. 
 
 The most remarkable feature of this election was the relatively quiet and 
 orderly manner in which it was conducted. With a single exception, no 
 literary “ passage at arms,” in the shape of a “ squib ” contest, disturbed 
 the even tenor of the proceedings. No bands, no banners, no bludgeon- 
 men, no bribery, treating, or intimidation ! strange features in a Preston 
 
348 
 
 PHESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 election. True; perhaps, gold, strong beer, and the “screw,” might still 
 he slightly operative in sundry dark comers; hut the general opinion 
 appealed to be that the recent act of the parliament, and the publication 
 of some of its provisions, by the joint committees of the candidates, pro¬ 
 duced a marvellous effect. Some of the friends of the defeated candidate, 
 of course, threatened a petition; but, perhaps, from a wholesome fear, that 
 some of their own agents might not have been quite so discreet as their 
 leaders could have wished, combined with the evident state of opinion, as 
 expressed by the numbers, the threat was not carried out. It is expected 
 the total expenses of the three candidates will amount to no more 
 than £1600. or £1800. 2 
 
 As might have been expected, many of the “free and independent elec¬ 
 tors,” who regarded a couple of sovereigns and “oceans of beer,” and “rivers 
 of gin,” as in no way discordant with their political sentiments, felt, and 
 sometimes expressed, considerable indignation at the altered state of affairs. 
 But, the great body of the voters and inhabitants, regarded the change 
 with much satisfaction. Had there been a tithe of the intoxicating liquor 
 consumed, which many have been taught to regard as the orthodox quantity 
 on such occasions, serious rioting, must unquestionably have ensued ; the 
 feeling of some of the disappointed, amongst the uneducated, being strongly 
 exhibited at the close of the proceedings. Handfuls of mud and discordant 
 hooting might, under higher “spiritual” pressure, have found substitutes 
 in paving stones and extemporary bludgeons. 
 
 The next step, in the right direction, is to discountenance the practice of 
 house to house canvass. There are many difficulties in the way; but 
 greater have yielded before combined action. As in the case of bribery 
 and intimidation, its suppression has now become the interest of every 
 influential and well disposed individual; some improvement may, therefore, 
 be looked for in the direction indicated, even if the practice be not entirely 
 discontinued. The application of the provisions of the new law to Municipal 
 elections, would likewise be productive of much benefit, and materially 
 assist in the elevation of the moral tone of society at large. 
 
 The following is a list of the gentlemen who have represented the 
 borough of Preston in parliament since the time of Edward I. The earlier 
 portion is extracted from Edward Baines’s history of Lancashire, and differs 
 considerably from the one published by "Whittle. The latter part of the 
 list (from 1700), has been carefully revised and corrected by Mr. W. 
 Dobson, and published in his pamphlet “ on the Parliamentary Bcprcsen- 
 tation of Preston during the last hundred years — 
 
 z The precise expenses, after being audited, 'will be published according to the provisions of the act 
 of parliament. When this sheet was put to press they had not appeared. The result will, however, 
 he found in the appendix. 
 
PAKlIA’IENTAHY REPKESENTATION 
 
 49 
 
 MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT FOR TRESTON. 
 
 1295.—Willielmus fil’ Pauli, Adam Russel. 
 
 1298.—Adam fil’ Radulpbi, Adam de Biri. 
 
 1300—Wili’ fil’ Paulini, (The name of the other Burgess is lost.) 
 
 1304—Robertus fil’ Willielmi de Preston, Ilenricus til’ Willielmi de 
 Townhende. 
 
 1306. —Robertus fil’ Rogeri, Ricardus Banastre. 
 
 1307. —Henricus del Kykestyle, Ricardus Banastre. 
 
 1326.—Laurencius Travers, Willielmus de Graistuk. 
 
 1547.—Geo. Prcvil, esq., John Hales, esq. 
 
 1552-3—Anthony Browne, Tho. Fleetwood. 
 
 1553. —Will. Gerard, Anth. Browne. 
 
 1554. —Tho. Ruthel, esq., Will. Bernere, esq. 
 
 1554. —Rich. Sharborne, kt., John Sylyard, esq. 
 
 1555. —John Arundel, esq , John Ilearle, esq. 
 
 1557.—Rich. Sherborne, kt., Rob. Southwell, knt. 
 
 1558-9.—John Alford, Rich. Cooke. 
 
 1563.—Gilb. Moreton, esq., Roger Askham, esq. 
 
 1571. —Edw. Basslie, esq., Reginald Williams, esq. 
 
 1572. —James Hodgekinson, esq., Geo. Horsey, esq. 
 
 1585. —Edw. Basshe, esq., Reginald Williams, esq. 
 
 1586. —John Brograve, esq., Thomas Hesketh, gent. 
 
 1588.—John Brograve, esq., Michael Doughtie, gent. 
 
 1592.—James Dalton, Tho. Balbeck, gent. 
 
 1597.—John Brograve, esq., John Stanhope, knt. 
 
 1601.—John Brograve, attorney of the duchy of Lancaster,—Will. Wood, esq. 
 1603.—Vincent Skinner, kt.. Will. Hall, esq. 
 
 1614—Edward Moseley, knt. 
 
 1620.—Edw. Moseley, kt.. Will. Pooley, kt. 
 
 1623.—Edw. Moseley, kt.. Will. Harvey, kt. (in place of Will. Pooley, kt., 
 chosen also for Sudbury.) 
 
 1625.—Will. Harvey, knt.. Hen. Banister, esq. 
 
 1625.—Geo. Gerard, esq., Tho. Farnshaw, esq. 
 
 1628.—Rob. Carre, let.. Geo. Gerard, kt. 
 
 1640.—Rich. Shuttleworth, esq., Tho. Standisli, esq. 
 
 1640.—Rich. Shuttleworth, esq., Tho. Standisli, esq. 
 
 .—William Langton, esq. 
 
 1653. —(No return for Preston.) 
 
 1654. —Rich. Shuttleworth, esq. 
 
 1656.—Rich. Shuttleworth, esq. 
 
 1658-9.—Col. Rich. Shuttleworth, esq.. Col. Rich. Standisli, esq. 
 
 1660. —Edward Rigby, Jeffrey Rushton. 
 
 1661. —Edward Rigby, Jeffrey Rushton. 
 
 1678.—Edward Rigby, Sir Robert Carr. 
 
 1681.—Sir Jervis Elwys, Sir Robert Carr. 
 
 1685.—Sir John Cliicliley, Richard Fleetwood. 
 
 1688.—James Stanley, Thomas Patten. 
 
 1690.—Sir Charles Greenfield, Sir Edward Chisnell. 
 
 1695.—Sir Thomas Stanley, Thomas Moliueux. 
 
 1698.—Henry Ashurst, Thomas Moliueux. 
 
 1700 1—Henry Ashurst, Edward Rigby. 
 
 1701. —Henry Ashurst, Thomas Moliueux 
 
 1702. —Sir Cyril Wyche, knt., Charles Stanley. 
 
 1705. —Edward Rigby, Francis Annesley. 
 
 1706. — Death of Edward Iligby —Arthur Mamvaring. 
 
 1708.—Henry Fleetwood, Arthur Mamvaring. 
 
 1710.—Henry Fleetwood, Sir Henry Hoghton, hart. 
 
 1714. — Henry Fleetwood, Edward Southwell. 
 

 350 
 
 PRESTOS' AND ITS ENTIBONS. 
 
 1715.—Henry Fleetwood, Sir Henry Hoghton, bart. 
 
 1722.—Thomas Hesketh, Daniel Pulteney. 
 
 1726.— Daniel Pulteney appointed Clerk of the Council in Ireland — 
 Daniel Pulteney. 
 
 1728.—Sir Henry Hoghton, bart., Daniel Pulteney. 
 
 1732.— Death of Daniel Pulteney —Nicholas Fazackerley. 
 
 1735.—Nicholas Fazackerley, Sir Henry Hoghton, hart. 
 
 1741.—Nicholas Fazackerley, James Shuttleworth. 
 
 1747.—Nicholas Fazackerley, James Shuttleworth. 
 
 1754.—Nicholas Fazackerley, Edmund Starkie. 
 
 1761.—Nicholas Fazackerley, Edmund Starkie. 
 
 1767. — Death of Nicholas Fazackerley —Sir Peter Leicester, hart. 
 
 1768. —Sir Peter Leicester, hart.. Sir Frank Standish, hart., who were 
 
 unseated on petition, and in their stead the House of Commons 
 seated Col. John Burgoyne, Sir Henry Hoghton, hart. 
 
 1774.—Col. John Burgoyne, Sir Henry Hoghton, bart. 
 
 1780.—General John Burgoyne, Sir Henry Hoghton, bart. 
 
 1784.—General John Burgoyne, Sir Henry Hoghton, bart. 
 
 1790.—General John Burgoyne, Sir Henry Hoghton, hart. 
 
 1792.— Death of General Burgoyne —William Cunliffe Shawe. 
 
 1795. — Death of Sir H. Hoghton —Sir Henry Philip Hoghton, bart. 
 
 1796. —Lord Stanley, Sir Henry Philip Hoghton, hart. 
 
 1802.—Lord Stanley, John Horrocks. 
 
 1804.— Death of John Horrocks —Samuel Horrocks. 
 
 1806. —Lord Stanley, Samuel Horrocks. 
 
 1807. —Lord Stanley, Samuel Horrocks. 
 
 1812.—Edmund Hornby, Samuel Horrocks. 
 
 1818.—Edmund Hornby, Samuel Horrocks. 
 
 1820.—Edmund Hornby, Samuel Horrocks. 
 
 1826.—Hon. E. G. Stanley, John Wood. 
 
 1830.—Hon. E. G. Stanley, John Wood. 
 
 1830. — Hon. E. G. Stanley appointed Chief Secretary for Ireland, 
 
 Henry Hunt. 
 
 1831. —John Wood, Henry Hunt. 
 
 1832. —Peter Hesketh Fleetwood, Hon. Henry Thomas Stanley. 
 
 1835.—Peter Hesketh Fleetwood, Hon. Henry Thomas Stanley. 
 
 1837.—Peter Hesketh Fleetwood, Robert Townley Parker. 
 
 1841.—Sir Peter Hesketh Fleetwood, hart.. Sir George Strickland, bart. 
 1847.—Charles Pascoe Grenfell, Sir George Strickland, hart. 
 
 1852.—Robert Townley Parker, Sir George Strickland, bart. 
 
 1857.—Charles Pascoe Grenfell, Richard Assheton Cross. 
 
TRADE AND COMMERCE. 
 
 351 
 
 PART I—HISTORICAL. 
 
 CHAPTER YIII.—TRADE AND COMMERCE. 
 
 Early Trade—Portus Setantiorum —Roman Commerce—Trade of the Saxons—Norman 
 Conquest—Henry III: Preston the Wealthiest Town in Lancashire—Edward III.— 
 The Woollen Trade—The Flemmings—Condition of the People—Henry VIII.— 
 Woollen Cottons—Progress of Manchester—Revocation of the Edict of Nantes— 
 Assize and Assay—Ulnage and Sealing—Vegetable Cotton—Fustians—Calicoes—Linen 
 Trade—Refugees from the Spanish Netherlands—Early Spinning Machines—British 
 Exports—Rapid Progress of the Cotton Trade—Inventions of Wyatt, Arkwright, 
 Kay, Hargreaves, etc—Disputed Claims—Arkwright’s Early Difficulties—Opposition 
 to the Introduction of Machinery—Riots—First Cotton Factory in Preston—Further 
 Improvements in Machinery—Arkwright’s Success—Infringements of his Patents— 
 Litigation—Arkwright’s Claims as an Inventor—Further Improvements in Machinery 
 —Power Looms—Riots—The Steam Engine—Rapid Extension of Preston—Influence 
 of Trade upon the National Character—Internal Communication—Transit of Goods 
 and Passengers—Roads during the Eighteenth Century—Coaches, Canals, etc.—Pro¬ 
 gress of Trade and Commerce—Effects of War—Steam Vessels and Railways. 
 Kibble Navigation. —Early Commerce—State of the River during the Past Century 
 —Original Company—Surveys of Messrs. Stephenson, etc.—New Company Improve¬ 
 ments—Preston an Independent Port—Traffic, Tonnage, etc.—Sale of Land. 
 Strikes and Lockouts.— Condition of the People—Decline of Serfdom—Legislative 
 Interference witli Labour and Capital—Singular Laws—Wages and Prices of Provi¬ 
 sions, etc.—Competition—Early Strikes—Great Strikes in 1836 and 1853-4—Additional 
 Statistics with reference to Trade and Commerce. 
 
 Previously to the Norman era little is known which peculiarly characterises 
 the trade or commerce of the people inhabiting the district now known as 
 Lancashire. In all probability their internal barter or “ home trade” was 
 limited to the interchange of the rude necessaries of a rural and warlike popu¬ 
 lation. Anterior to the Roman occupation, the aborigines of Rritaiu were 
 almost entirely unacquainted with the use of money. Pieces of brass, iron, 
 and other metals, were sometimes used, but they were not impressed with any 
 distinctive device, and were merely valued according to weight. Doubtless 
 the “ Tortus ” of Ptolemy, whether situated on the Ribble, the AVyre, or 
 the Lune, would afford facilities for commercial enterprise; and it is pro¬ 
 bable the Roman merchants would not neglect so important and well 
 protected a position. 
 
 Referring to the Sctantian port, J. Whitaker says :—“It was the only 
 commercial harbour along the whole line of the western coast, and had no 
 
352 
 
 PRESTOS AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 rival from the Cluyd to the Land’s End. And the exports of the neigh¬ 
 bouring region, the lead of Derbyshire, and the salt of Cheshire, the com, 
 the cattle, and the hides of the whole, must have been all shipped at the 
 port of the fribble. a The British dogs in general were a very gainful 
 article of traffic to the Romans.” h 
 
 Nevertheless, the trade, in the estimation of modem civilization, must 
 have exhibited very insignificant results. The Romans, however, in the 
 early period of their domination in Britain, introduced the woollen manu¬ 
 facture, and probably Lancashire, which afterwards became so celebrated 
 for its textile productions, received its earliest impulse in this direction 
 from the world’s conquerors. Gildas, the early British historian, states 
 that at the period of the departure of the Romans, Britain was “ adorned 
 •with her large spreading fields, pleasantly seated hills, ever famed for good 
 husbandry, which ever mastereth the ground, and mountains most con¬ 
 venient for the changeable pasture of cattle,” and was “ enriched with the 
 mouths of noble floods, by which outlandish commodities have, in times past, 
 been transported into the same.” The arts of agriculture must have made 
 considerable progress under the Roman regime, for according to Camden 
 the corn fields of Britain furnished large supplies of grain for the susten¬ 
 ance of the Roman armies defending the Rhine frontier of the empire. 
 The Romans deiived considerable revenues from the mineral products of 
 the country. During the reigns of Augustus and Trajan, according to Strabo, 
 mines of gold and silver were worked in Britain. The tin mines of Corn¬ 
 wall, and the salt rocks and pits of Cheshire, presented at that period, 
 likewise, considerable sources of mercantile wealth. 
 
 At the time of the settlement of the Romans, according to the Rev. J. 
 Whitaker, the imports consisted principally of “ earthenware, salt, and 
 brass.” The articles exported were chiefly “ tin, gold, silver, iron, lead, 
 hides, cattle, com, slaves, dogs, gems, pearl muscles, polished horse hits of 
 bone, horse collars, amber toys, and glass vessels.” According to the 
 same authority, the articles introduced by the Romans after their occupa¬ 
 tion included the following :—“ Sugar, pepper, ginger, uniting paper,” and 
 others of a similar character. The exports he states to have been “partly 
 the same as before, and partly the additional particulars of gagate or jet, 
 bears for the foreign amphitheatres, baskets, salt, corn, and oysters.” 
 The British jet appears to have been highly prized upon the continent, on 
 account of its superior quality. 
 
 The advent of the Saxons, a rude and barbarous people, little acquainted 
 with the refinement of Roman civilization, produced a retrograde move¬ 
 ment. The fertility and comparative wealth of the country, tempted these 
 
 a See chap. ], page 14. 
 
 b Gratius, page 26. 
 
MADE AXD COMMERCE. 
 
 353 
 
 roving warriors. Spoliation and plunder followed their track, and the 
 previously fertile domains relapsed into primitive wildness. 
 
 At the time even of the Norman conquest, the Anglo-Saxons “were in 
 general, a rude uncultivated people, ignorant of letters, unskilled in the 
 mechanical arts. * * The Norman historians, notwithstanding 
 
 the low state of the arts in their own country, speak of them as barbarians, 
 when theymention the invasion made upon them by the dukeof Normandy.” 1 ' 
 Still, according to the learned and venerable Bede, London, though but the 
 capital of one of the minor kingdoms of the heptarchy, as early as the 
 beginning of the seventh century, was regarded as a great commercial 
 port, and enjoyed an extensive trade with the merchants of many European 
 nations. The wiser of the Saxon monarchs were not unmindful of the 
 importance of the industrial arts, in the furtherance of peace and civiliza¬ 
 tion. Skilful foreigners were encouraged to settle in the country, and 
 navigation and commerce progressed under their fostering protection. 
 Markets and fairs were pretty generally established in the more populous 
 portions of the kingdom. Macpherson, in his “Annals of Commerce,” 
 states that, in the Anglo-Saxon times, merchants from Cologne and other 
 cities of Germany, visited the southern ports of the island, to purchase the 
 wool of the numerous flocks of sheep which grazed upon the downs and 
 pastures of Britain. The trade and commerce of Lancashire at this 
 period, must have been of a very insignificant character. Such as it 
 was, however, Preston appears to have possessed a greater portion of it 
 than any other town in the county. From the taillagc assessed by “Master 
 Alexander de Dorseto and Simon do Hal,” in the second year of the reign 
 of Henry ILL, it appears that Preston paid 15 marks ; Lancaster, 14 marks; 
 Liverpool, 11 marks, 7s. 8d.; and the “town” of West Derby, 7 marks, 
 4s. 4d. d Manchester and Wigan are not mentioned in this return. 
 
 The commercial enterprise of the kingdom made but little progress 
 during the disturbances which characterised the period of the earlier 
 Norman princes. In the reign of Edward I. laws were enacted for the 
 encouragement of trade, by affording to merchants a cheaper and more 
 expeditious method of recovering their debts. It would appear from the 
 seizure by this king of the property of the Jews, and of “ all the wool and 
 leather in the kingdom,” 6 and the increased taxes imposed upon the 
 former article, that the woollen trade had begun to assume some importance. 
 Hume observes, that, “in 1296, the famous mercantile society, called the 
 ‘Merchant Adventurers' had its origin: it was instituted for the improve- 
 
 c Hume. Gul. Piet, p. 202. 
 d Mag. Rot. 11 H. III. Rot. 1. a. Lankastre. 
 
 Z 
 
 e Hume. 
 

 354 PRESTON' AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 ment of the woollen manufacture, and the vending of cloth abroad, parti¬ 
 cularly at Antwerp. For the English at this time scarcely thought of any 
 more distant commerce.” Another writer states, however, that soon after 
 the Norman conquest, the merchants of Florence and Yenice traded largely 
 with England in the raw material for their woollen manufactures .' The 
 inhabitants of Lancashire appear to have always preferred the grazing of 
 cattle to sheep. At the present time M'Cullocb says, the chief wealth of 
 the Cheshire farmers consists in their 100,000 milch cows, and that the 
 farmers of Lancashire possess nearly double that number. During the 
 reigns of the earlier Flantagenet princes the manufacture of flax was like¬ 
 wise cultivated to some extent. Mention is made of a “ fulling mill ” on 
 the banks of the river Irk, near Manchester, in the reign of Edward II. 8 
 After the marriage of Edward III. with Philippa of Hainault, a considerable 
 impetus was given to the woollen manufacture. According to Fuller, the 
 English, previous to this period, “ were ignorant of that art, as knowing no 
 more what to do with their wool than the sheep that ware it, as to any 
 artificial curious drapery; their best clothes then being no better than 
 friezes, such was their coarseness for want of skill in making.” h The 
 king procured large supplies of continental workmen, whom he distributed 
 over various parts of the kingdom. The Flemings were located 
 chiefly in Norfolk, York, Kendal, Halifax, Manchester, the districts of 
 Rossendale and Pendlc, and in the west of England; most of which localities 
 still maintain their original reputation for superior skill in the woollen 
 manufacture. Fuller says the skilful, though poorly remunerated Flemish 
 artisans, were prevailed upon to leave their country by the promises of the 
 king’s emissaries. Amongst other temptations, the following were held 
 out:— 
 
 “ They should feed upon fat beef and mutton till nothing but their fulness should 
 stint their stomach; yea that they should feed on the labours of their own hands, enjoy¬ 
 ing a proportionable profit of their pains to themselves : their beds should be good, and 
 their bed fellows better; seeing the richest yeoman in England would not disdain to 
 marry their daughters unto them. * * * Those yeomen in whose houses they 
 
 harboured soon preceded gentlemen, gained great estates to themselves, and arms and 
 worship to their estates. Here they found fuller’s earth, a precious treasure, whereof 
 England hath better than all Christendom besides. And now was the English wool 
 improved to the highest profit, passing through so many hands, every one having a fleece 
 of the fleece, sorters, combers, carders, spinners, weavers, fullers, dyers, pressers, packers, 
 and these manufactures have been heightened to the highest degree of perfection.” i 
 
 f Daru’s Venice. g Kuerden. 
 
 h FuUer further observes, in his quaint and humourous style, that after the king’s marriage he 
 began to grow sensible of the great wealth the Netherlands gat by our English wool, in memory 
 whereof the Duke of Burgundy, a century after, instituted the order of the Golden Fleece, wherein 
 indeed the fleece was ours, but the gold theirs, so vast was their emolument by the trade of 
 clothing.” 
 
 i Church History, p. 110. 
 
TRADE AND COMMERCE. 
 
 355 
 
 From an enquiry^ into the value of property in all the boroughs of England, 
 made during the reign of this monarch (1343), it appears that Freston was 
 the wealthiest town in Lancashire at that period. Manchester was not at 
 the time a manufacturing town, but the centre of an agricultural popula¬ 
 tion. In this respect the parish was amongst the very first in the county, 
 the produce of the soil being worth eighty marks, or nearly, in the money 
 value of the present day, £800. per annum. Manchester had not even suffi¬ 
 cient trade to render it liable to pay the tax upon merchandise and move¬ 
 able property. Most of the other now large towns were in a similar 
 condition. There were hut four “ royal boroughs” in the county: Preston, 
 Liverpool, Lancaster, and Wigan. The ninth portion of “ the goods of the 
 men dwelling in the borough ” of Preston was valued at £6. 17s. 4d.; in 
 Liverpool, £G. 16s. 7d ; in Lancaster, £6. 13s. 6d.; and in Wigan, 
 £5. 9s. 4d. The £6. 17s. 4d. has been computed to he equal to about 
 £100. of our present money ; which, multiplied by nine, gives less than 
 £1000., as the value of the “goods” of the Prestonians of that period. 
 Thus the whole county could only boast of “ merchandise and moveable 
 property,” liable to the tax, amounting to about £3,500. At the same 
 time, according to a similar calculation, the town of Nottingham possessed 
 property of the class named to the value of £50,000., and Bristol 
 £30,000. 
 
 A singular piece of legislation was attempted in the reign of this monarch, 
 with the expressed object of “restraining the malice of servants,” who 
 refused to work for the same amount of wages they had received previously 
 to the outbreak of a great plague, by which the number of artisans had 
 been considerable lessened, and the value of labour consequently increased. 11 
 It appears the legislators of that period understood not, or refused to recog¬ 
 nise, the modern doctrine in political economy, that all mercantile value 
 depends upon the relative proportion between the supply of, and demand 
 for, any given commodity. This act arbitrarily fixed the wages of the 
 labourer at the price paid before the plague diminished the supply. This 
 rate was fifteen pence per week; but corn at the time sold at tcnpcnce per 
 bushel. The labourers, of course, immigrated to localities where their 
 services commanded higher reward. A second act of parliament was con¬ 
 sequently passed, which prohibited a servant leaving, in summer, any town 
 or parish where he usually dwelt iu winter, if employment were offered 
 him in his own locality, on the terms of the act. Exceptions were granted 
 during the harvest, to labourers residiug in Lancashire, Stafford, Derby, 
 
 j Nonaruui Inquisitiones. 
 
 k According to Stowe fifty thousand persons died of the plague in the city of Norwich, and as 
 many were interred in one burial ground within the precincts of the city of London. 
 
356 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 and some other places. Delinquents were punished with “ the stocks,” or 
 three days’ imprisonment. 
 
 The great mass of the labouring people were, in fact, slaves, in the truest 
 sense of the term, down to a much later period. Sir. E. M. Eden, in his 
 “ History of the Labouring Classes,” 1 says:— 
 
 “ If we except tlie baronial proprietors of land, and their vassals, the free tenants and 
 socmen, the rest of the nation seems to have been involved in a state of servitude, which, 
 though qualified as to its effects, was uniform in its principle, that none who had been 
 born in or had fallen into bondage, could acquire an asbolute right of property. * * * 
 In both Magna Charta and the charter of Henry the Third, in 1225, a class of men are 
 mentioned who appear to have been considered in the light of moveable property. The 
 prohibition to guardians from wasting the men and cattle on the estates of minors, is a 
 clear proof that villeins, who held by servile tenures, were looked upon in the light of 
 negroes on a rice, a tobacco, or sugar plantation. Long after the year 1225, they were 
 considered as a saleable commodity. In 12S3, a slave and his family were sold by the 
 abbot of Dunstable, for 13s. 4d.; in 1333, a lord granted to a charity several messuages, 
 together with the bodies of eight natives (villeins) dwelling there, with all their cattle 
 and offspring; and in 1339, we meet with an instance of a gift of aneif (a female slave), 
 with all her family, and all that she possessed, or might subsequently acquire.” 
 
 Other acts of parliament, of a similar character to those of Edward III., 
 were continually passed down to the time of George III. The emancipa¬ 
 tion of the working classes, as the term is now understood, has been a 
 gradual achievement, extending over many centuries. 
 
 In the reign of Edward VI., a law was passed which prohibited any 
 person making cloth, unless he had served a seven years’ apprenticeship to 
 the trade. In the first year of the reign of Mary, this act was repealed, 
 in consequence of the injury sustained by the woollen manufacture of the 
 kingdom, through its operation. It was, however, again enacted in the 
 reign of Elizabeth, and continued in force until within a very recent 
 period. 
 
 Little is known of the progress of the woollen manufacture in Lan¬ 
 cashire, till about the period of the Deformation. In the reign of Henry 
 Till. (1520), Hollinworth, in his “Mancuniensis,” says, “there were 
 three famous clothiers living in the north contre, viz., Cutlibert, of Kendal, 
 Hodgkins, of Halifax, and Martin Brian (some say Byrom), of Manchester. 
 Every one of these kept a great number of servants at work, carders, 
 spinners, weavers, fullers, dyers, sheermcn,” etc. Leland, the antiquary, 
 visited Lancashire about 1538. He speaks of Manchester as the “ fairest, 
 best builded, quickhest, and most populous tounne of al Lancastreshire.” He 
 further remarks that “ Bolton-upon-Moore market stondith most by 
 cottons, divers villages in the moores about Bolton do make cottons.” The 
 statute 33 Henry VIII., abolishing the privilege of “ sanctuary” at Man¬ 
 chester, mentions the town as a place where the manufacture of cotton 
 and linen cloths was rapidly increasing the wealth and importance of the 
 
 1 Vol. 1, pages" and35. 
 
TEADE AND COJIMEECE. 
 
 357 
 
 inhabitants. It had already become a kind of depot or market for the 
 sale of the staple manufactures of the county. Parties congregated thither 
 from various parts of England and Ireland, for traffic in wool and linen 
 yarn. “Many persons,” says the statute, “were accustomed to resort to 
 this town with cottons to he sold.” The cloths, then denominated Man¬ 
 chester and Bolton cottons, like the Kendal and Welsh cottons of the 
 present day, were made from a coarse wool. It appears from the statutes 
 of Edward VI. and Elizabeth, regulating their manufacture, that they 
 were heavy, milled, goods. The former says, “ all the cottons called 
 Manchester, Lancashire, and Cheshire cottons, full wrought to the sale, 
 shall ho in length twenty-two yards, and contain in breadth three-quarters 
 of a yard in the water, and shall weigh thirty pounds in the piece at the 
 least” Camden, in 1590, states that Manchester “excels the towns 
 immediately around it in handsomeness, populousness, woollen manufac¬ 
 ture, market place, church and college ; hut did much more excel them in 
 the last age, as well by the glory of its woollen cloths, which they call 
 Manchester cottons,” etc. A modern authority says :— 
 
 “ The application of tlie term ‘ cottons’ to a woollen fabric may either have arisen, as 
 some conjecture, from a corruption of the word ‘ coatings;’ or from the manufacturer 
 having imitated the foreign cottons, which were fustians and other heavy goods, and 
 having given the name to their imitations. It is, however, not a little singular, that a 
 manufacture destined afterwards to eclipse not merely the ‘ glory’ of the old ‘ Manchester 
 cottons,’ but that of all other manufactures, should have existed in name long before it 
 existed at all in fact.” m 
 
 The unsettled state of the continent during the latter portion of the 
 sixteenth century, and the revocation of the edict of Nantes, in 1685, 
 caused many skilled artisans from France and Flanders to seek an asylum 
 in England. Lancashire manufactures consequently received a powerful 
 stimulus, and rapidly increased in extent and importance. 
 
 The statute of the 8 th of Elizabeth states that the aulneger" for the 
 county of Lancashire “ shall appoint and have his lawful deputy within 
 every of the several towns of Manchester, Kochdale, Bolton, Blackburn, 
 and Bury.” From this it might at first sight appear that the chief manu¬ 
 facture was confined to the localities mentioned. The other important 
 towns of Lancashire were, however, chartered boroughs, and enjoyed the 
 special privilege of appointing their own officers for the performance of 
 these duties. The charter of Elizabeth confers upon “ the mayor, bailiffs, 
 and burgesses of the borough of rrcston,” the privilege of “ assize and 
 assay of bread, wine and beer and other victuals, the ulnage and sealing of 
 all cloths, weights and measures whatsoever, and the amendment and 
 
 in History of the Cotton Manufacture, by Edward Baines, jun. 
 
 n The duties of the aulneger included the measuring of all cloth offered for sale, and stamping the 
 6nmc with the king’s seal and the name of the maker, for which he received the prescribed fee. The 
 length, breadth, and weight of each piece of cloth was regulated by act of parliament. 
 
358 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 correction thereof.” The population of the borough at this period is not 
 supposed to have much exceeded three thousand persons, but it is evident 
 no inconsiderable portion of them were employed in the woollen manu¬ 
 facture, the then staple trade of the county. 
 
 The record of the Preston corporation 0 contains an entry dated 
 1633, setting forth the names of poor children who had been apprenticed 
 under certain specified charities. One of these children, Margaret 
 Osbaldeston, is bound “prentice” to Thomas Hodgson, of Preston, chap¬ 
 man, “to be instructed in the art or craft of weavinge Boone Lace, and in 
 other arts which the said Thomas Hodgson now uses.” Another is bound 
 apprentice to one Thomas Hesketh, glover. 
 
 A resolution of the corporation, in January, 1674-5, ordered the 
 establishment of a workhouse and other offices, for the employment of the 
 poor in the woollen manufacture. 
 
 Prom the passing of the act of the 8th of Elizabeth, nearly a century 
 elapsed, during which authentic records are silent respecting the manu¬ 
 factures of the county ; but within that period the cotton manufacture of 
 England must have originated. The plant is supposed to be indigenous 
 to Persia and Hindostan. The cultivation and manufacture of cotton had 
 arrived at considerable perfection amongst the eastern nations anterior to 
 the Christian era. The Aztecs, or aborigines of Mexico, appear to have 
 made great progress in this species of textile manufacture, previously to the 
 time of their conquest by the Spaniards. It is not positively known 
 whether the plant is or is not indigenous to America. The excellence of 
 the Georgian cotton is attributed to the fact that the American colonists 
 originally procured their seed from Smyrna. A species of cotton plant is, 
 nevertheless, found growing in a wild state upon the plains of the new 
 world. Cotton is first alluded to, as an article of commerce, by an 
 Egyptian Greek writer, of the first or second century of the Christian era, 
 who states that cottons were brought by Arab traders to the ports of the 
 Bed Sea. Calicoes were exported from Barygaza (now Baroche), and 
 Masalia (now Masalipatam); and Bengal muslins were then, as now, the 
 most esteemed. 
 
 The records of the middle ages make no allusion to the manufacture of cot¬ 
 ton in Europe. It flourished, however, in Spain under the Mahomedan califs, 
 as early as the tenth century, and by the fourteenth had arrived at great 
 perfection. It was not much cultivated, as a branch of European trade, 
 even at this period. “ The silken fabrics of Italy and Sicily were well 
 known and esteemed in the twelfth, thirteenth, and fourteenth centuries; 
 the woollen trade was carried to great extent and perfection in Flanders, 
 
 o Booke of Orders, 
 
TRADE AND COMMERCE 
 
 359 
 
 Lombardy, and Romagna at that period ; -while Greece added to these the 
 manufacture of linen goods, -which, with more intellectual arts, she had 
 learned from Egypt; still cotton finds no place in the general enumeration 
 of the fruits of industry and science.” p 
 
 In an old poem, entitled the “ Progress of English Policy,” published 
 in “ Hackluyt’s Collection of Voyages,” in 1430, the Flemings are des¬ 
 cribed as in the habit of exporting fustians to Spain, and importing similar 
 articles from the Easterlings, Prussia, and Germany. Eustians are men¬ 
 tioned by Guicciardini, as an article of commerce between Italy and the 
 Low Countries, in 1560. They were produced, at a still earlier period, at 
 Barcelona, in Spain. In the middle of the thirteenth century, the manu¬ 
 facturers of this city were incorporated. Their chief productions were sail 
 cloth and fustians. The latter name is supposed to be derived from the 
 Spanish word fuste, meaning substance. 
 
 The use of the spindle and distaff was superseded, in England, about the 
 end of the reign of Henry VIII., hy the spinning wheel; yet the manu¬ 
 facture of cotton received little or no impetus in Britain, and for a long 
 period made hut slow progress on the continent of Europe. Euller, writing 
 in 1662, calls fustians a “foreign commodity.” Printed calicoes were 
 first imported into England by the East India Company, in 1631. The 
 name is derived from Calicut, in Hindostan. In 1676, they were first 
 printed in London . q 
 
 Before the close of the seventeenth century, the linen trade would appear 
 to have made so much progress in Preston, as to have become the staple 
 manufacture. In Jan., 1704-5, the mayor, aldermen, capital and other 
 burgesses, and tradesmen, presented a petition to the house of commons, 
 in wliich they state that “ the making of linen cloth hath, for many ages, 
 been the settled trade of their neighbourhood, and is the sole dependence 
 of thousands of families.” r There is evidently some mistake in the word 
 “thousands,” as it is highly probable, at this period, that the entire 
 population of the borough did not consist of more than from twelve to 
 fourteen hundred families. But, from the general tenor of the document, 
 the linen trade of Preston must have been, relatively, both extensive and 
 important. 
 
 The precise period at wliieli the cotton manufacture was introduced into 
 England is not yet known. It probably began gradually to devclope 
 itself about the close of the sixteenth or the commencement of the seven¬ 
 teenth century. The earliest known allusion to it is in 1641. Cotton 
 was, previously to that period, only employed in the manufacture of 
 candlcwick and such inferior articles of the trade. 
 
 p “Cotton, from the Pod to the Factory." 
 r Journals of the House of Commons. 
 
 q Aiulerton’s History of Commerce. 
 
330 
 
 PRESTON AND IIS ENVIRONS. 
 
 The refugees from the persecutions of the duke of Alva, in the Spanish 
 Netherlands, are supposed by some authorities to have introduced the 
 cotton manufacture into England. A portion of these settled at Man¬ 
 chester, and received considerable encouragement, especially from the 
 ■warden and fellows of the college. The first authentic record of the 
 existence of the cotton manufacture in Manchester, or, indeed, in Great 
 Britain, is found in a work published in 1641, entitled “Treasure of 
 Traffic,” by Lewis Itoberts, in which he says :— 
 
 “ The town of Manchester, in Lancashire, must he also herein remembered, and 
 worthily for their encouragement commended, who buy the yarn (linen) of the Irish in 
 great quantity, and weaving it, return the same again into Ireland to sell: Neither doth 
 their industry rest here, for they buy cotton wool in London, that comes first from 
 Cyprus and Smyrna, and at home worke the same and perfect it into fustians, vermil- 
 lions, dimities, and other such stuffes, and then return it to London, where the same is 
 vented and sold, and not seldom sent into forrain parts, who have means at far easier 
 terms, to provide themselves of the said first materials.” 
 
 From tliis period the manufacture of cotton goods furnished occupation 
 for a large proportion of the population in various towns and villages in 
 Lancashire. The finished articles were chiefly sold in Manchester; but 
 the principal mai'ket for the coarser or unfinished goods was at Bolton. Yet, 
 up to the year 1738, observes Mr. Baines:— 
 
 “ The machines used in the manufacture were nearly as simple as those of India ; 
 though the loom was more strongly and perfectly constructed; and the hand cards, for 
 combing the fibres of the cotton straight, had been adopted from the woollen manfacture. 
 The one thread wheel was also used instead of the distaff; but this w T ell known appen¬ 
 dage of the houses of English farmers and peasants scarcely admitted of greater dispatch 
 in spinning than the more ancient instrument .” 
 
 Notwithstanding, the manufacture progressed rapidly, towards the end of 
 the seventeenth century; and the annual value of the general British export 
 trade more than trebled, between 1662 and 1699. In the latter year it 
 amounted to £6,788,166. The manufacture of cotton continued to advance 
 rapidly during the earlier part of the eighteenth century. Still, in relative 
 importance, as a national staple, it ranked considerably below the woollen 
 manufacture. It was not until after the introduction of those mechanical 
 inventions, which have so immensely augmented the productive power, 
 that the cotton trade of England began to exhibit colossal proportions. 
 The quantity of cotton wool annually imported into Great Britain, on an 
 average of five years, ending with 1705, did not exceed 1,170,881 lbs. • 
 and even so late as from 1771 to 1775, the average import was only 
 4,764,589 lbs. a year. The quantity of cotton spun into yarn iu Great 
 Britain, in the year 1832, amounted to no less than 246,935,124 lbs. The 
 annual value of the goods manufactured was estimated at about 
 £36,000,000 sterling. Nearly a million and a half of persons derived 
 their subsistence from this branch of industry; the greater portion of whom 
 were located in Lancashire. 5 In 1856, the quantity of cottonwool imported 
 
 6 Baines’s History of the Cotton Manufacture, 
 
TKADE AND COMMERCE. 
 
 361 
 
 into England, is estimated at upwards of one thousand millions of pounds! 1 
 
 A combination of many inventions, with subsequent additions and im- 
 pi'ovcmcnts, effected this mighty social revolution. In 1738, Mr. John Kay, 
 of Bury, invented the “fly shuttle.” By the use of this instrument, the 
 weaver was enabled to nearly double the amount of his production. The 
 shuttle had previously been thrown by the hand. In the manufacture of wide 
 cloths, this practice necessitated the employment of two men in the weaving 
 of one piece. The fly shuttle was first introduced into the woollen manu¬ 
 facture. It was not until about 17G0, that the cotton weavers adopted it, 
 in conjunction with a further improvement, introduced by Mr. Kay’s son, 
 named “ the drop-box ,” which enabled the weaver to use any one of three 
 shuttles, containing different coloured weft, without removing them from 
 the lathe. Mr. Kay, on the introduction of his improvement, met with 
 considerable opposition from the operatives. He found it necessary for 
 his personal safety or comfort to remove to Paris. 
 
 These inventions necessitated further improvements in the spinning 
 department, as the weavers were unable to procure material for their looms, 
 at the required rate. Dr. Aikin, in his “ History of Manchester,” says, 
 “the weavers, in a scarcity of spinning, have sometimes been paid less for 
 the weft than they paid the spinner, but durst not complain, much less 
 abate the spinner, lest their looms should be unemployed.” When a 
 weaver, from any cause, was desirous of completing a piece in a shorter 
 time than usual, “ a new ribbon or a gown was necessary to quicken 
 the exertions of the spinner.” u “ The one-thread wheel, though 
 turning from morning to night in thousands of cottages, could not keep 
 pace cither with the weaver’s shuttle or with the demand of the merchant. 
 Genius stepped in to remove the difficulty, and, as it were, gave wings to a 
 manufacture which had been creeping on the earth. A mechanical contri¬ 
 vance was invented, by wliich twelve, twenty, fifty, a hundred, or even 
 more threads could be spun at once, by a single pair of hands.” * v 
 
 The distinguished honour of this important invention, the precursor of 
 others pregnant with mighty results and lasting influence upon the 
 social condition of Lancashire, and of the civilization of the world, was, for 
 a long time, pretty generally accorded to a humble hair dresser, who daily 
 exercised his skill upon the perukes and chins of the good people 
 of Preston, at a little shop in Lord-street."' 
 
 t Holt’s Annual Circular. u Guest’s Hiatory of the Cotton Manufacture. 
 
 v Baines’s History of the Cotton Manufacture. 
 
 w The house or shop where Arkwright resided, was pulled down a short time ago. It stood on 
 the north side of Lord-street, a little to the west of Wood-street, and faced Molyneux-square. It 
 was afterwards tenanted by Mr. Clare, hosier. Its site is now occupied by one of the handsome 
 shops, lately erected by the earl of Derby. It forms the southern extremity of Stanley-buildings 
 Lancaster-road. 
 
362 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 But, although candid investigation has stripped much of the laurel from the 
 brow of Itichard Arkwright, sufficient evidence of his energy, enterprise, 
 mechanical ingenuity, and adaptive skill, still remains to justify his pre¬ 
 tensions to a high position amongst the public benefactors of his country. 
 Arkwright might not be the great original mechanical genius he was for 
 some time represented; but he possessed marvellous business qualities, 
 great foresight, and indomitable perseverance. His success was commen¬ 
 surate with his efforts. His qualities were such as transformed a ragged 
 barber x into a wealthy knight; while the men of genius, from whom he 
 received original ideas, pined in poverty and comparative neglect. 
 
 Mr. Baines, in his “ History of the Cotton Manufacture,” has satisfac¬ 
 torily proved that the method of spinning by rollers was practised 
 more than thirty years before Arkwright took out his patent for 
 a machine of this character. The original invention is due to John 
 Wyatt, of Birmingham, who, in the name of his partner, Lewis Paul, a 
 foreigner, took out a patent for spinning with rollers, in 1738. Another 
 patent was taken out, by the same parties, in 1748, which included some 
 improvements on the previous machine. The former was worked at Bir¬ 
 mingham, and the latter at Northampton; hut owing to some defects of 
 construction, or perhaps want of capital or business talent, the speculation 
 did not prove profitable to the projectors. Wyatt wrote a work in 1743, 
 which long remained in manuscript, entitled “A Systematical Essay on the 
 Business of Spinning, or the Manufacture of CottonWool into Tarn for 
 various uses,” etc. From this work we learn that the business failed in 
 consequence of Wyatt leaving the first establishment at Birmingham 
 to reside in London, for the purpose of disposing of the yarn spun at 
 the manufactory. Mr. Baines observes: “If Wyatt could have applied 
 himself as closely to the direction of his machinery, and to the perfecting 
 of the arrangements of his mill, as Arkwright afterwards did—finding 
 some one to make known and dispose of his yarn—the great impetus to 
 the cotton manufacture might have been given thirty years earlier. 
 
 Mr. Kennedy states, “that after the breaking up of Wyatt and Paul’s 
 establishment at Northampton, it was purchased by a hat manufacturer at 
 Leominster, and by him applied to the carding of wool for hats; and, about 
 1760, it was introduced into Lancashire, and re-applied to the carding of 
 cotton, by a gentleman of the name of Morris, in the neighhom-hood of 
 Wigan.” This evidently alludes to the carding and not the spinning 
 
 x Arkwright’s wardrobe, while preparing his first spinning machine, was in such a tattered con¬ 
 dition, that some friends subscribed the means necessary to render him presentable at the poll booth 
 on the occasion of the “ great election” at Preston, in 17C8. Sir. E. Baines, sen., says he voted for 
 Burgoyne and Hoghton. This is an error. His vote was tendered, according to the poU hook yet 
 extant, for the corporation candidates, and rejected on the ground of non-residence. 
 
TRADE AND COMMERCE. 
 
 363 
 
 portion of the machinery. Indeed, Mr. Kennedy afterwards explained, in 
 a communication to Mr. Baines, that it was the cylinder card which Mr. 
 Moms used at Leominster and Wigan. 
 
 Mr. Charles Wyatt, son of the inventor, says, in a letter, published in the 
 “Repertory of Arts, Manufactures, and Agriculture,” in January, 1818 : 
 “From a strange coincidence of circumstances, there is the highest proba¬ 
 bility, that the machinery got into the hands of a person, who icith the 
 assistance of others, knowing how to apply it with skill and judgement, and 
 to supply what might be deficient, raised upon it, by a gradual accession of 
 profit, an immense establishment and a princely fortune.” Mr. Charles 
 Wyatt still more pointedly alludes to Arkwright in the same communication. 
 After minutely describing his father’s machines, he says: “ Such or nearly 
 siich being the early history of this invention, I thought the late Sir 
 Richard would be gratified by possessing the very model to which I have 
 alluded; and I accordingly waited on him at Cromford with the offer, but 
 my reception did not correspond with my expectations.” 
 
 Arkwright confessed, in the “ Case,” which he drew up for presentation 
 to parliament, that he was aware “about 40 or 50 years ago, one Paul and 
 others, of London, invented an engine for the spinning of cotton, and 
 obtained a patent for such invention ; afterwards they removed to Notting¬ 
 ham and other places. They spent many years and much money in the 
 undertaking but without success ; and many families who were engaged 
 with them were reduced to poverty and distress.” As Arkwright’s 
 “ water frame ” is regarded as identical in principle with that of Wyatt, 
 though differing in minor details and extent of development, the probability 
 is, that the former had seen the machine of the latter, or read the 
 specifications on which the patent was founded. 
 
 But Wyatt was not the only original inventor to whom Arkwright is 
 supposed to have been indebted. Thomas Highs, of Leigh, a reed maker 
 by trade, gave evidence on the trial of the validity of Arkwright’s patent, 
 in 1758, and claimed a priority in the invention of spinning by rollers. 
 He stated that he had made a similar machine in 1767, two years previously 
 to Arkwright’s patent, and that he employed a man named Kay, a clock- 
 maker, to make wheels and rollers for him. Kay stated that he had, during 
 the same, or in the following year, communicated the plan to Arkwright, 
 at Warrington, and furnished him, at his request, with two models. Highs, 
 however, never perfected a machine, or took out a patent, till some years 
 after Arkwright’s successful experiments were well known to the public. 
 The fact that Arkwright engaged Kay to accompany him to Preston and 
 Nottingham, and his remaining in his service for four or five years, is 
 however, strong presumptive evidence that Iliglis possessed some claim 
 to the invention afterwards perfected by his more successful compeer. 
 
364 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Arkwright was thirty-five years of age when he first met with Kay, the 
 cloekmaker, at AVarrington, in 1767. He employed this ingenious man to 
 assist him in some experiments, which had for their object the discovery 
 of perpetual motion. Arkwright afterwards devoted his energies in a more 
 profitable direction ; hut, being no practical mechanic, he engaged Kay to 
 assist him in the construction of his spinning machine. Kay being unable 
 to make all the required machinery, Hr. Peter Atherton, afterwards of 
 Liverpool, was applied to for assistance. He lent Arkwright a smith and 
 watch tool maker, to make the heavier part of the engine. Kay undertook 
 to make the clockmaker’s part of it, and to instruct the workmen. In this 
 manner, under Arkwright’s personal superintendence, his first spinning 
 machine was constructed. 
 
 Arkwright’s poverty, for some time, prevented him completing his 
 machine. He repaired to Preston, his native town, and was fortunate 
 enough to secure the sympathy and assistance of Mr. John Smalley, “a 
 liquor merchant and painter.” This gentleman allowed Arkwright the use 
 of a room in his own house, for the prosecution of his labours. In this 
 room the first complete machine constructed and afterwards patented by 
 Arkwright, was fitted up. The house is situated at the bottom of Stony - 
 gate. It was afterwards for a long period the residence of the Hev. Robert 
 Harris, B.D., headmaster of the grammar school. It has since been con¬ 
 verted into a public-house, and is now known by the sign of the “ Arkwright’s 
 Arms.” The parlour in which the first “ spinning engine” was fitted up, 
 has been restored as nearly as possible to its original condition, with the 
 view to enhance the historical interest attached to it. 
 
 Another invention, by James Hargreaves, a weaver, of Stand-hill, near 
 Blackburn, called the “ spinning-jenny,” was introduced in 1767, about 
 the time Arkwright became acquainted with Kay, and two years before 
 he obtained a patent for his “ water frame.” The machine of Hargreaves, 
 being entirely different in principle from that of AVyatt, must be regarded 
 in the light of an original invention. It is said that Hargreaves first con¬ 
 ceived the idea of his “jenny,” from the accidental overturning of a one- 
 thread wheel. As the wheel and spindle continued to revolve, he conjec¬ 
 tured that a frame might be constructed, in which a number of spindles 
 placed upright would spin several threads at one time. His first experi¬ 
 ment was with eight rovings and eight spindles. Mr. Baines thus describes 
 Hargreaves’s machine :—■ 
 
 “ The rovings which extended to the spindles, passed through two horizontal bars of 
 wood, which opened and shut something like a parallel ruler; when pressed together the 
 clasp held the threads fast. A certain portion of roving being extended from the spindles 
 to the wooden clasp, the clasp was drawn to a considerable distance from the spindles 
 which lengthened out the threads; this was done with the spinner’s left hand, and his 
 right hand at the same time turned a wheel, which caused the spindles to revolve rapidly 
 
TEADE AND C03IMEKCE. 
 
 365 
 
 and thus the thread was spun into yarn. By returning the clasp to its first situation, 
 the yarn was wound upon the spindles.” 
 
 Hargreaves did not patent his invention, but endeavoured to confine the 
 knowledge of it to his own family. In this however, lie did not long 
 succeed. 
 
 Mr. Guest advocated the claim of Highs, of Leigh, to the invention of 
 the “jenny.” The evidence adduced is, however, by no means conclusive. 
 Highs was unquestionably a man of remarkable genius, and is entitled to 
 the gratitude of his country for many partially successful efforts for the 
 improvement of spinning machinery. He certainly invented, at a later 
 period, a kind of “ double jenny;” and, according to his evidence on Ark¬ 
 wright’s trial, he had made what he called a “ perpetual carding machine,” 
 in 1773. Highs called his machine, according to the evidence of Thomas 
 Leather, a jenny, in compliment to his daughter Jane, the produce from 
 whose labour it was intended to augment. 
 
 The perfected roller machines of Arkwright were found to produce a 
 “ hard firm thread,” well adapted for warps, which had been previously 
 made of linen. Hargreaves’s jenny made a superior kind of “weft.” 
 The two machines, therefore, rather aided than opposed each other in their 
 practical results, and produced, for the first time in England, a fabric made 
 entirely from cotton. 
 
 These inventions were regarded, as most other innovations upon ancient 
 usage, with great jealousy, not only by the workmen, but by the middle 
 classes and gentry, and even by the then established manufacturing 
 capitalists. The workmen fancied the new machinery would supersede 
 their labour, and the wealthier inhabitants feared an augmentation of the 
 poor’s rate in consequence. Mr. Baines asserts that they “ connived at, 
 and even actually joined in, the opposition to machinery, and did all in 
 their power to screen the rioters from punishment.” Hargreaves’s house 
 was broken into, and his machines destroyed. He fled to Nottingham, 
 took out a patent in 1770, and entered into partnership with one Mr. 
 James; but his affairs did not prosper. His patent was invaded by a 
 “ powerful combination of spinners,” he was reduced to poverty, and 
 ultimately perished in the Nottingham workhouse a striking example of 
 the national ingratitude to one of its greatest benefactors. Many riots 
 occurred in the neighbourhood of Blackburn, in 1779. Jennies, carding 
 engines, and all machines turned by horse or water power, were destroyed. 
 Some progress had, however, been made in public enlightenment on this 
 subject; for jennies, containing no more than twenty spindles, were spared, 
 
 y Baines’s “ History of the Cotton Manufacture.” The author of 4< Cotton from the Pod to the 
 Factory,” however, says, “ Hargreaves died at Nottingham, in 1778, having maintained his family 
 in comfort by the fruits of his invention.” 
 
366 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 as useful and necessary. Arkwright’s large mill, at Birkacre, near Cliorley, 
 was destroyed by a mob, notwithstanding a large body of police and 
 military were present, who received no order from the magistracy to pre¬ 
 vent or suppress the outrage. The grandfather of the late lamented Sir 
 Itobert Peel left the county in disgust, and commenced business at Burton- 
 on-Trcnt, in Staffordshire. He had been subjected to personal insult at 
 Altham, and his machinery thrown into the river. Thus, the very places 
 where the inventions originated, were deprived, for a time, of the many 
 advantages which resulted from their introduction into other parts of the 
 country. 
 
 Arkwright obtained his first patent in 1769, and erected a mill at 
 Nottingham, which was worked by horse power. The necessary capital 
 was advanced by Messrs. Wright, hankers, of that town. By these 
 gentlemen he was afterwards introduced to Mr. Need, a stocking manu¬ 
 facturer, of Nottingham, and Mr. Jedediah Strutt, of Derby, the improver 
 and patentee of the stocking frame. The latter gentleman remedied some 
 practical objections to Arkwright’s spinning frame. Messrs. Need and 
 Strutt entered into partnership with Arkwright, and doubtless materially 
 aided in his success. In 1771, a second mill was erected at Cromford, on 
 the hanks of the Derwent, near Matlock, Derbyshire. The spinning 
 machinery was worked by water power, hence the name “ water-frame,” 
 by which Arkwright’s invention was for a long period knoivn to the 
 public. 
 
 The first cotton mill erected in Preston was built in Mooi-lane, in 1777, 
 by Messrs. Collinson and Watson, the year previous to Hargreaves’s death. 
 The structure is yet standing, and is used as a weaving establishment. 
 The “yard factory,” at the east end of Church-street, was built in 1792, 
 by Mr. John Horrocks; whose energy and enterprise, if it did not found the 
 cotton trade in Preston, unquestionabfy gave the chief impetus, 
 which, in little more than half a century, converted the quiet aristocratic 
 town, of about 6,000 or 7,000 inhabitants, into a busy hive of industry, 
 with a population augmented more than ten-fold. In 1796 and 1797, 
 Mr. Horrocks erected two other mills upon the “ Spital’s Moss,” and the 
 “Prencliwood Cotton-mill,” near Lark-hill. The Lord’s factory (Messrs. 
 Ainsworth and Co.’s), was built in 1796. About 1799, the “ Old Friary” 
 was transformed from a house of correction into a cotton-mill. Messrs. 
 Biley and Paley’s establishment was erected in 1802. 
 
 After the first impulse had been given to the cotton manufacture, its 
 progress was by no means rapid. Inventive skill was not wanted to per¬ 
 fect the new machinery, hut ignorance and cupidity, intent upon present 
 aggrandisement, and blind to the future advantages, for some time success- 
 
TRADE AND COMMERCE. 
 
 307 
 
 fully crippled its operations. Inventors were citlier proscribed, or ruthlessly 
 robbed of their rights. Even Arkwright, the most enterprising and 
 successful business man amongst them, was seriously opposed and annoyed 
 by the manufacturers of his time. Notwithstanding the acknowledged 
 superiority of his yams, the Lancashire capitalists entered into a com¬ 
 bination to discountenance the productions of his machinery, and refused 
 to purchase his goods. Arkwright complained, in a pamphlet which he 
 issued in 1782/ that:— 
 
 “ It was not till upwards of five years liad elapsed after obtaining bis first patent, and 
 more than £12,000. bad been expended in machinery and buildings, that any profit 
 accrued to bimself and partners. * * The most excellent yarn or twist was produced : 
 
 notwithstanding which the proprietors found great difficulty to introduce it into public 
 use. A very heavy and valuable stock, in consequence of these difficulties, lay upon 
 their hands; inconveniences and disadvantages of no small consideration followed. 
 Whatever were the motives which induced the rejection of it, they were thereby neces¬ 
 sarily driven to attempt, by their own strength and ability, the manufacture of the yarn. 
 Their first trial was in weaving it into stockings, which succeeded; and soon established 
 the manufacture of calicoes, which promises to he one of the first manufactures in the 
 kingdom. Another still more formidable difficulty arose; the orders for goods which 
 they received being considerable, were unexpectedly countermanded, the officers of excise 
 refusing to let them pass at the usual duty of 3d. per yard, insisting on the additional 
 duty of 3d. per yard, as being calicoes, though manufactured in England; a besides these 
 calicoes when printed were prohibited. By this unforseen obstruction, a very consider¬ 
 able and very valuable stock of calicoes accumulated. An application to the commissioners 
 of excise was attended with no success ; the proprietors, therefore, had no resource but 
 to ask relief of the legislature; which after much money expended, and against a strong 
 opposition, of the manufacturers in Lancashire, they obtained.” 
 
 It is somewhat difficult to account for the animus exhibited by the 
 Lancashire cotton manufacturers against the introduction of a new and 
 profitable branch of their own trade. The legislature of the country 
 proved, however, more enlightened upon the subject. The ridiculous 
 demands of the “ Lancashire manufacturers” were rejected, and a law 
 passed, which states that “ a new manufacture of stuffs, made entirely of 
 cotton spun in this hinydom, had lately been introduced, and some doubts 
 were entertained whether it was lawful to use it, it was declared to be 
 not only a lawful but a laudable manufacture, and was therefore permitted 
 to bo used on paying threepence per square yard when printed, painted, 
 or stained with colours.” 
 
 The silk and woollen manufacturers of England, towards the conclusion 
 of the preceding century, had succeeded in obtaining the “ entire pro¬ 
 hibition of Indian silks and calicoes, both plain and printed, for home 
 consumption.” Notwithstanding this stringent measure, these elegant 
 fabrics found their way into general use in this country, much to the 
 chagrin of the native manufacturers, whose woollen goods they in some 
 
 z The “Case” for presentation to parliament. 
 
 a Calicoes were first made in imitation of the cotton goods imported from the East Indies. The 
 name is derived from Calicut, the original place of their manufacture. 
 
368 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 measure superseded. Their influence was such, however, that an act was 
 passed, in 1721, which prohibited the use of printed calicoes, under a 
 “ penalty of five pounds for each offence on the wearer, and twenty pounds 
 on the seller” ! With reference to these singular enactments, Mr. Baines 
 judiciously observes, that the laws passed at the instigation of the British 
 woollen spinners, “ though injurious to the public, were (for the time at 
 least), beneficial to the home manufacturer; but the prohibition of 
 English made calicoes was so utterly without an object, that its being 
 prayed for by the cotton manufactui’ers of this country, is one of the most 
 signal instances on record of the blinding influences of commercial jealousy.” 
 
 Notwithstanding the value and importance of the inventions already 
 recorded, the remaining machinery of a cotton mill was still of a very imper¬ 
 fect character, especially that portion which prepared the cotton for the 
 spinning frames. Lewis Paul, the partner of Wyatt, took out a patent in 
 1748, “for two different machines for accomplishing the same purpose; 
 the one a flat, the other a cylindrical arrangement of cards.” Mr. Baines, 
 after describing minutely the machine of Paul, says:— 
 
 “ Here, then, are the carding cylinder, the perpetual carding, and the comb for 
 stripping off the carding. It must be admitted that the invention was admirable and 
 beautiful, but not perfect. Its defects were,—that it had no feeder, the wool being put 
 on by hand,—that the cardings were taken off separately by a moveable comb, which of 
 course required the machine to stop,—and that the perpetual carding was produced by 
 joining short lengths with the hands, whereas now it is brought off the machine in a 
 continuous roll, by a comb attached to the cylinder, and constantly worked against it by 
 a crank. This machine, though so great an improvement on the old method, was not 
 known in Lancashire for twelve years, nor generally practised for more than twenty 
 years after the date of the patent.” 
 
 Successive improvements were made in these machines by John Lees, of 
 Manchester, in 1772; Messrs. Wood and rilkingtou, in 1774; James 
 Hargreaves, the inventor of the jenny, in 1773, and Itichard Arkwright, 
 previouslyto 1775; the latter, with his usual tact and judgment, embodying, 
 improving, and adapting, and afterwards patenting, the various discoveries 
 of his contemporaries. With respect to these inventions, Mr. Baines 
 pronounces the following judgment :—“ The cylinder must be ascribed to 
 Paul,—the feeder to Lees,—the mode of producing a perpetual carding to 
 Wood and Pilkiugton,—the crank and comb to Hargreaves,—but the 
 perfect machine to Arkwright.” 
 
 Arkwright’s patent, in 1775, included improved machinery for drawing 
 and roving. He described himself as “ the first and sole inventor,” and 
 declared “ that the same had never been practised by any other person or 
 persons whatsoever, to the best of his knowledge and belief.” The sliver, 
 by the former process, is drawn out and afterwards doubled, to be again 
 drawn out and the previous operation repeated. “ Every time the drawing 
 and doubling is repeated, the irregularities in the substance or grist of the 
 
TRADE AND COMMERCE. 
 
 369 
 
 sliver will be reduced in exactly tbe same ratio as the doublings arc 
 multiplied.” 1 Thus a greater uniformity in the thickness and strength 
 of the thread is produced. 
 
 “ The roving frame performs the first process of spinning, by twisting the sliver into 
 a thick loose thread. This is done by a machine on exactly the same principle as the 
 spinning frame. The carding is drawn out of the can into which it was delivered from 
 the drawing frame; it passes through two or more pairs of rollers, which by their 
 different velocities stretch it out; and it is then slightly twisted and wound on the 
 bobbins. Arkwright, however, did not wind tbe thread on bobbins, but allowed it to 
 fall into an upright can, revolving rapidly on its axis ; the revolution of the can gave 
 the roving its twist, no spindle being used; when the can was filled, the roving was 
 wound upon bobbins at the winding frame. He claimed the can as Ins own invention, 
 but it was proved at the trial to have beeu in use long before be obtained bis patent.” a 
 
 Arkwright now began to reap the reward of his enterprise and ingenuity. 
 Poets sung his praise, and the reputation of his patented machinery rapidly 
 increased. 1 ' From his “ Case” intended for presentation to parliament, 
 we learn that he “ sold to numbers of adventurers residing in the different 
 counties of Derby, Leicester, Nottingham, “Worcester, Stafford, York, 
 Hertford, and Lancaster, many of his patent machines. Upon a moderate 
 computation, the money expended in consequence of such grants c amounted 
 to at least £60,000. Mr. Arkwright and his partners also expended in 
 large buildings in Derbyshire and elsewhere, upwards of £30,000.; and 
 Mr. Arkwright also erected a very large and extensive building in Man¬ 
 chester, at the expense of £4,000.” From these data, he contended that in 
 consequence of his patented inventions, “a business was formed which 
 already employed upwards of five thousand persons, and a capital, on the 
 whole, of not less than £200,000.” 
 
 z Baines: Cotton Manufacture. a Baines: Cotton Manufacture. 
 
 b Dr. Darwin, in bis “ Botanic Gardens,” thus eloquently describes the marvels of Arkwright’s 
 establishment at Cromford 
 
 “ Where Derwent guides his dusky floods 
 Through vaulted mountains and a night of woods, 
 
 The nymph Gossypia treads the velvet sod, 
 
 And warms with rosy smiles the wat’ry god ; 
 
 His pondTous oars to slender spindles turns, 
 
 And pours o’er massy wheels his foaming urns ; 
 
 With playful charms her hoary lover wins, 
 
 And wields his trident while the Monarch spins. 
 
 First, with nice eye, emerging Naiads cull 
 From leathery pods the vegetable wool; 
 
 With wiry teeth revolving cards release 
 
 The tangled knots, and smooth the ravell’d fleece 
 
 Next moves the iron hand with fingers fine, 
 
 Combs the wide card, and forms tli’ eternal line : 
 
 Slow with soft lips the whirling can acquires 
 The tender skeins, and wraps in rising spires; 
 
 With quicken’d pace successive rollers move, 
 
 And these retain, and those extend the rove r 
 Then fly the spokes, the rapid axles glow, 
 
 While slowly circumvolvcs the labouring wheel below, 
 c That is anterior to 1782. 
 
370 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Only three years afterwards it was stated by the counsel employed to 
 oppose Arkwright, that thirty thousand people were employed by the 
 capitalists who acted in defiance of his patents, and that the money sunk 
 in the buildings and machinery of these establishments amounted to near 
 £300,000. 
 
 The success of Arkwright thus stimulated the enterprise of other 
 capitalists. His patents were infringed, and his claims to the original 
 inventions disputed. In 1781, nine actions were instituted by Arkwright 
 against persons who had set up his machines, without obtaining from him 
 a license for such proceedings. An association of Lancashire spinners 
 defended the only one tried (that against Colonel Mordaunt), and non¬ 
 suited Arkwright, on the ground of the obscurity or insufficiency of the 
 specifications in his second patent. Arkwright, thus baffled by his com¬ 
 petitors, published the pamphlet already alluded to, in which he argued 
 his claims to special legislative protection. 1 He did not, however, proceed 
 in this direction. In 1785, having obtained new evidence, he commenced 
 another action, with a successful result. But the vast and increasing 
 interest of the manufacturing spinners, especially in Lancashire, was again 
 arrayed against him, as the second decision would subject them to penalties 
 for continuing the use of the machines. An association was formed, which 
 employed the best legal advice, and specially retained scientific gentlemen 
 to expose the technical defects, etc., of the patent, and to procure and digest 
 the evidence necessary to its overthrow. A writ of scire facias was 
 obtained from the lord chancellor to try the validity of the patent. The 
 case was heard before Judge Buller. Amongst other witnesses examined 
 against Arkwright’s claim were Highs and Kay, and the widow and son 
 of Hargreaves. The result was that the jury, without a moment’s 
 hesitation, returned a verdict which nullified the patent. The Manchester 
 spinners were in ecstacies, and overt demonstrations of satisfaction were 
 exhibited by the rival manufacturers. In the following term, a new trial 
 was applied for by Arkwright, on the plea that he had procured evidence 
 
 a This pamphlet is entitled, “ The Case of Mr. Richard Arkwright and Co., in relation to Mr. Ark¬ 
 wright’s invention of an engine for spinning cotton, etc., into yarn ; stating his reasons for applying to 
 parliament for an act to secure his right in such invention, or for such other relief as to the legislature 
 shall seem meet.” Eespecting this pamphlet Mr. Baines remarks, “ Whatever were the services Ark¬ 
 wright had rendered his country—and they are delusively and greatly over-rated in this ‘Case’—he here 
 asked for an enormous reward. His first patent, obtained in 1769, would expire in 1783, the year after 
 the ‘ Case’ was drawn up; and the second patent, obtained in 1775, would not expire till the end of 
 the year 1789. He was therefore asking for the patent right of all the machines to be continued to him 
 for eight years longer, which alone would have secured to him a large fortune.”—Whatever doubt there 
 may he respecting Arkwright’s mechanical genius, there can be none as to his business capabilities. 
 His immense fortune was not accumulated without the expenditure of much energy, ingenuity, and 
 commercial tact. In common with most other eager speculators, he had ever a sharp eye to his own 
 interest, and but little practical sympathy for the inventive genius of others. 
 
TKADE AND C0M3IEECE. 
 
 371 
 
 which contradicted that of his opponents. The rule was refused, Judge 
 Buller expressing his conviction, that on the previous trial Arkwright 
 “had not a leg to stand upon.” Arkwright, however, still continued at 
 the head of the principal cotton spinning firm in the country, and for a long 
 period his prices for twist furnished the standard to which all other manu¬ 
 facturers conformed. After accumulating a large fortune, he died at 
 Cromford, in 1792. 
 
 Much difference of opinion still obtains, in well informed circles, 
 respecting the precise measure of Arkwright’s claims as an inventor. Mr. 
 Baines’s summary, though somewhat severe, appears to he candid and 
 based upon the evidence adduced. He says :— 
 
 “Truth and justice have compelled us to strip Sir Richard Arkwright of borrowed 
 plumes. We have shown that the splendid inventions which even to the present day 
 (1836) are ascribed to him by some of the ablest and best informed persons in the king¬ 
 dom, belong substantially to other and much less fortunate men. In appropriating those 
 inventions as his own, and claiming them as the fruits of his unaided genius, he acted 
 dishonourably, and left a stain upon his character, which the acknowledged brilliancy of 
 his talents cannot efface. Had he been content to claim the merit which really belonged 
 to him, his reputation would still have been high, and his wealth would not have been 
 diminished. For in improving and perfecting mechanical inventions, in exactly adapting 
 them to the purposes for which they were intended, in arranging a comprehensive system 
 of manufacturing, and in conducting vast and complicated concerns, he displayed a bold 
 and fertile mind and consummate judgment; which, when his want of education, and the 
 influence of an employment so extremely unfavourable to mental expansion as that of 
 his previous life, are considered, must have excited the astonishment of mankind. Such 
 high merit must be accorded to him. Rut the still more rare and exalted merit of 
 original invention —the creative faculty, which devised all that admirable mechanism— 
 so entirely new in its principles, and characteristic of the first order of mechanical 
 genius—which has given a new spring to the industry of the world, and within half a 
 century has reared up the most extensive manufacture ever known,— this did not 
 belong to Arkwright; this laurel must be taken from the brow of the wealthy knight of 
 Cromford, and if it may be awarded to any one individual, it must be given to the 
 modest insolvent of Birmingham.” 
 
 The author of the article, “Arkwright, Sir Richard,” in the Penny 
 Cyclopaedia, claims for the ingenious and energetic Prestonian more 
 original inventive power than Mr. Baines accords; but he advances no 
 new evidence to controvert that already adduced. He says:— 
 
 “ Even without claiming for him the honour of having been an original inventor,— 
 an honour which, upon the best consideration we can give to the conflicting evidence 
 brought forward, we a'c still inclined to award him, —we may certainly ascribe to him 
 the possession of a clear and comprehensive mind, as well as the most unerring judgment. 
 His plans were all laid with skill, and pursued with energy; he displayed the most 
 unwearied perseverance in pursuit of his object under difficulties which would have 
 borne down most men; and he forms one amongst the bright instances afforded by the 
 annals of this country, that talent, when thus allied with patient energy and persevering 
 industry, will not fail to ensure ultimate success to its possessor.” 
 
 The description by Thomas Carlyle, the celebrated litterateur, of Preston’s 
 most distinguished son, written with his characteristic eccentricity and 
 almost savage power, will be read with interest:— 
 
 “Richard Arkwright, it would seem, was not a beautiful man, no romance hero with 
 haughty eyes, Apollo lip and gesture like the herald Mercury; a plain, almost gross, 
 
 2 a 2 
 
372 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 bag-cheeked, pot-bellied, Lancashire man, with an air of painful reflection, yet also of 
 copious free digestion; a man stationed by the community to shave certain dusty beards 
 in the northern parts of England, at a halfpenny each. To such end, we say, by forethought, 
 oversight, accident, and arrangement, had Richard Arkwright been, by the community 
 of England and his own consent, set apart. Nevertheless, in strapping of razors, in 
 lathering of dusty beards, and the contradictions and confusions attendant thereon, the 
 man had notions in that rough head of his ; spindles, shuttles, wheels and contrivances 
 plying ideally within the same;—rather hopeless looking, which, however, he did at last 
 bring to bear. Not without difficulty ! His townsfolk rose in mob around him, for 
 threatening to shorten labour, to shorten wages,—so that he had to fly, with broken 
 wash-pots, scattered household, and seek refuge elsewhere. Nay, his wife, too, as I 
 learn, rebelled; burned his wooden model of his spinning wheel, resolute that he should 
 stick to his razors rather,—for which, however, he decisively, as thou wilt rejoice to 
 understand, packed her out of doors. O reader, what a historical phenomenon is that 
 bag-cheeked, pot-bellied, much-enduring, much-inventing barber ! French Revolutions 
 were a-brewing; to resist the same in any measure, imperial Kaisers were impotent 
 without the cotton and cloth of England; and it was this man that had to give 
 England the power of cotton.” 
 
 Between the years 1774 and 1779, Samuel Crompton, a respectable 
 weaver, residing in one of the cottages forming a portion of the ancient 
 edifice denominated “The Hall i’th "Wood,” near Bolton, was diligently 
 employed in still further improving the newly introduced spinning 
 machinery. His labours resulted in the production of a machine which 
 combined the principles of Hargreaves’s jenny and Arkwright’s or Wyatt’s 
 roller frame. From this circumstance it received the appellation of “the 
 mule jenny.” 
 
 “ The distinguishing feature of the mule is, that the spindles instead of being stationary, 
 as in both the other machines, are placed on a moveable carriage, which is wheeled out 
 to the distance of fifty-four or fifty-six inches from the roller-beam, in order to stretch 
 and twist the thread, and wheeled in again to wind it on the spindles. In the jenny, 
 the clasp which held the rovings, was drawn back by the hand from the spindles; in the 
 mule, on the contrary, the spindles recede from the clasp, or from the roller-beam which 
 acts as a clasp. The rollers of the mule draw out the roving much less than those of 
 the water frame; and they act like the clasp of the jenny, by stopping and holding fast 
 the rove, after a certain quantity has been given out; so that the draught on the thread 
 is chiefly made by the receding of the spindles. By this arrangement, comprising the 
 advantages both of the rollers and the spindles, the thread is stretched more gently 
 and equally, and a much finer quality of yarn can therefore be produced.” b 
 
 Other improvements rapidly followed, step by step, till the present 
 wonderfully complex, but coherent factory machinery resulted. Crompton’s 
 first mule was only calculated for about twenty or thirty spindles. 
 
 These machines were afterwards enlarged and improved in details by 
 Stones, of Horwich, and others, till Hr. Wright, of Hanchestcr, constructed 
 a double mule, by which contrivance no less than four hundred spindles 
 were worked by one frame. As many as twelve hundred are, at the present 
 time, frequently placed in one machine. Kelly, of Lanark, introduced the 
 principle of the self-acting mule, as early as 1792. He but partially 
 succeeded, however, and soon afterwards abandoned his experiments. 
 Others followed with indifferent success, till Hr. Eoberts, of Hanchester, 
 
 b Baines’s History of the Cotton Manufacture. 
 
Tit .IDE AND COJIMEKCE. 
 
 373 
 
 of tlxe firm of Sharp, Roberts, and Co., overcame the difficulty. His first 
 patent is dated 1825, and a second, for further improvements, in 1830. 
 The self-acting mule does not require the superintendence of a spinner, a 
 “minder,” and a “pieccr,” to re-unite the threads which accidentally 
 break, being alone necessary to its perfect operation. Amongst other im¬ 
 portant improvements may be mentioned the “throstle,” the “fly frame,” 
 and the “ tube frame.” The first is a modification of Arkwright’s spin- 
 ing machine, by which its speed, and, consequently, amount of productive 
 power is much increased. 
 
 As “ necessity is the mother of invention,” improvements in the weav¬ 
 ing machinery rapidly succeeded the introduction of the spinning-frames. 
 The first “ power-loom ” was patented in England, by Dr. Edmund Cart¬ 
 wright, in 1785, although as early as 1078, a weaving machine, moved by 
 water power, had been constructed by M. de Gennes, but does not appear 
 to have succeeded in practice. Dr. Cartwright’s weaving establishment, 
 at Doncaster, notwithstanding the introduction of several valuable improve¬ 
 ments in his looms, was commercially unsuccessful, and he abandoned it. 
 The merit of his invention was, however, recognized by parliament, in 
 1809, when the sum of £ 10,000. was granted to him, in consideration of the 
 advantage derived by the manufactures of the country from his labours and 
 discoveries. 
 
 Dr. Cartwright was not, however, the first native of Great Britain who 
 constructed a power-loom. This honour is claimed for Mr. Andrew 
 Kinloch, who, iu 1793, with the assistance of an operative joiner and a 
 clockmaker, set up, at Glasgow, what is described as the “first power- 
 loom ever made.” The sum of one hundred pounds was subscribed by 
 some friends, to aid Kinloch in his experiments. Power was applied to 
 his machine by a wheel, turned by the hand. The expenditure of the 
 one hundred pounds produced about ninety yards of cloth. He after¬ 
 wards set up some power-looms for Messrs. Pollock Shaw, and Co., at 
 Paisley. He removed to Staley-bridgc, in 1800, and there set up several 
 looms. A portion of these were removed to, and several others made for, 
 West Hoghton, near Wigan. During some riots, in 1813, the operatives 
 destroyed about one hundred and seventy of his looms, together with other 
 property, at West Hoghton, and would, as Kinloch expressed it, have 
 consigned himself likewise to the flames, if he had not promptly decamped. 
 Kinloch, in 1845, when on a visit to Glasgow, was presented with a hand¬ 
 some silver snuff box, containing fifty sovereigns, as a testimony to Iris 
 ability as an ingenious mechanic, and as a token of respect for his moral 
 worth. Andrew Kinloch died at the residence of his son, in Preston, on 
 the 15th of Jan., 1849, and was buried in St. Peter’s churchyard. When 
 
374 
 
 PEESTOX AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 a boy, Kinloch, after a hard race of about eight miles, was captured by a 
 press-gang, and served for some time on board the Shannon frigate. He 
 took part in the memorable struggle between that vessel and the American 
 frigate, Chesapeake. Kinloch has heen heard to remark that he turned his 
 attention to the construction of a power-loom, owing to the impression 
 made upon his mind by an observation of Sir Richard Arkwright. The 
 roller machines of the latter produced so large a quantity of twist, that 
 the manufacture of it into cloth became, with the then means, a serious 
 difficulty. This being mentioned to Arkwright, as an objection to his 
 invention, the shrewd Prestonian remarked, that an effort ought to be 
 made to weave cloth by machinery likewise, and the mischief complained 
 of would be obviated. Kinloch was born at Port Glasgow, in the year 
 1760 ; and was, consequently, in his eighty-ninth year at the time of his 
 death. 
 
 The “power-loom” did not successfully compete with hand 
 labour for many years. The continual necessity which existed for 
 stopping the loom, in order to “dress” the warp, as it unrolled from the 
 beam, was at length overcome by the introduction of the “ dressing 
 machine ” of Messrs. Radcliffe and Ross, of Stockport, by which the warp 
 is prepared previously to its being placed in the loom. This machine was 
 patented in 1803, and again in 1804. The principal inventor was a work¬ 
 man in the employ of Messrs. Radcliffe and Ross, called Johnson, in whose 
 name the patent was taken out. c Radcliffe, however, failed to realise a 
 profit by his ingenuity and enterprise. 
 
 Mr. H. Horrooks, cotton manufacturer, of Stockport, patented a power- 
 loom in 1803, which he afterwards improved in 1805, and again in 1813. 
 Radcliffe claimed the method of taking up the cloth introduced by Horrocks 
 as the invention of his workman Johnson. This ingenious individual was 
 known amongst his fellow operatives as “ the conjuror,” on account of his 
 inventive skill. Horrocks’s power-loom, with additional improvements, 
 is the one now generally adopted. It is a compact machine, constructed 
 of iron, and occupies little room. The power-loom and dressing machines, 
 however, did not, for a long period, receive much attention from manufac¬ 
 turers. They were employed chiefly in the production of coarse goods, the 
 finer qualities being still woven by hand labour. Horrocks was unfortu¬ 
 nate in his commercial speculations, and ended his days in poverty, “the 
 common destiny of inventors;” business habits and commercial acumen 
 being seldom compatible with the dreamy temperament and delicate sensi¬ 
 bility, which usually accompanies creative genius. 
 
 C The dressing machine itself lias now (1836) in some establishments been superseded, and the 
 warp is dressed in a shorter and simpler way by an improved sizing apparatus.—Baines. 
 
TRADE AND COMMERCE. 
 
 375 
 
 The operatives, fearing for their occupation, employed physical force to 
 prevent the introduction of these machines. Although, in 1813, there were 
 not supposed to be more than two thousand four hundred power-looms in 
 use, the hand-loom weavers became alarmed. Riots took place at Middle- 
 ton, West Hoghton, etc., and the obnoxious machinery was destroyed. In 
 1808, a large body of weavers met on Preston moor, to devise means to 
 induce their employers to raise their wages. A military force was in 
 attendance to preserve order, though it does not appear that the destruction 
 of the uew weaving machinery formed a part of the objects entertained by 
 the workpeople. In 1818, a body of twelve hundred handloom weavers 
 paraded the streets of Preston, with the view to enforce the manufacturers 
 to increase the remuneration of their labour. 
 
 In 1826, serious riots occurred in various parts of Lancashire, and a 
 large number of looms were destroyed. Preston, to some extent, was 
 fortunate during this crisis, The “ big factory,” at Fishwick, (Messrs. 
 Swainson and Birley’s), was converted into a kind of fortress, and armed 
 with cannon. Small arms were likewise provided for the workmen, to 
 defend the establisment, and large quantities of paving stones were stowed 
 upon the roof and in the upper stories. These preparations checked the 
 progress of the rioters, who threatened the town from the Chorley and 
 Blackburn roads. 
 
 In 1836, the number of these weaving machines or power-looms in 
 Great Britain, was calculated to be nearly seventy thousand, fifty 
 thousand of which were at work in England alone. Notwithstanding 
 the extensive introduction of power-looms, it is supposed that, between 
 1820 and 1829, the number of hand-looms remained undiminished. 
 In 1835, about 108,632 power-looms, employed in the manufacture 
 of cotton, are said to have been at work in Great Britain. In 
 1850, the number had increased to 249,627. In 1835, the total 
 number of power-looms running, including those employed in the 
 woollen, worsted, flax, and silk manufactures, was 115,782; in 1850, 
 298,916. d At the present time, hand-loom weaving has become almost 
 extinct, except for certain kinds of fancy goods. According to Mr. Kennedy, 
 in 1815, the spinning machinery, then in use, was calculated to produce, 
 by the labour of one man, about two hundred times the quantity of yarn 
 more than that in use fifty years previously. Mr. Baines says, the pro¬ 
 duction of cotton goods, in 1836, per individual labourer, was “equal to 
 what could have been done by two or three hundred men sixty years 
 previously.” This enormous amount of productive power has been still 
 further augmented by improvements in the machines themselves, and by 
 the increased speed to which they are subjected. In 1857, the spinning 
 
 d Parliamentary Report. 
 
376 
 
 PHESTON AND ITS ENVIE0N8. 
 
 machinery, with one man to superintend, will do the work of eight hun¬ 
 dred individuals. At the present time, the production of cotton goods by 
 machinery is four or five hundred-fold per man employed, to that of the 
 old distaff and hand-loom system. 
 
 Extensive improvements in the machinery and the chemical processes used 
 in bleacliing, dyeing, and printing cotton goods, followed in the wake of 
 the spinning and weaving inventions. Mr. Whittle says:— 
 
 “ At Mosney, near Preston, cylinder printing was invented by Mr. Bell, a Scotch¬ 
 man, and was successfully applied in the year 1785, at Mosney, near Walton-le-Dale, 
 by the house of Livesey, Hargreaves, Hall, and Co., so much celebrated for the 
 extent of their vast concern, and the magnitude of their failure in 1788, which 
 gave a severe shock to the industry of the vicinity of Preston, and even to the 
 town itself.” e 
 
 Additional value was given to these discoveries, by the introduction of 
 Watt’s improved steam engines. Wyatt’s frames at Birmingham, were turned 
 by asses; and Arkwright first employed horses as the motive power. Wyatt, 
 at Nottingham, and Arkwright, at Cromford, availed themselves of the 
 water wheel. The first discovery of the power of steam, seems due to 
 Solomon De Caus, a Ercnchman, in 1615. f David Bamsey, a groom of 
 the privy chamber, obtained a patent in England from Charles I. The 
 Marquis of Worcester still further developed the principle. Captain 
 Savery’s engine, patented in 1698, was the first which proved of much 
 practical value. The pumping of water from coalpits and other mines, 
 appears to have been the chief object aimed at by the original inventors. 
 Thomas Ncwcombe improved Savery’s machine. A joint patent was taken 
 out in 1705. The movements were simplified, in 1717, by Mr. Beighton. 
 No improvement of importance followed, till 1769, when Watt took out his 
 patent for “ lessening the consumption of steam and fuel in fire engines.” 
 Watt afterwards became connected with Mr. Boulton, a capitalist, of Soho, 
 Birmingham, and took out another patent in 1775, or rather was invested 
 by a special act of parliament with the “ sole use and property of certain 
 steam engines (or fire engines), of his invention,” for a period of twenty 
 years. He effected still further improvements, which he patented in 
 1781, 1782, and 1784. 
 
 Messrs, llobinson, of Papplewich, in Nottinghamshire, were the first to 
 introduce Boulton and Watt’s engines into a cotton mill, in the year 1785. 
 The first erected in Lancashire, for cotton spinning, was for Mr. Drink- 
 water, of Manchester, in 1789. The new inventions did not receive the 
 patronage of Arkwright till 1790, when one of Boulton and Watt’s engines 
 
 e His. Pres. vol. 2, p. G2. 
 
 f See the letter of Marian De l’Orme, quoted in Sir John Barrow’s autobiography. From this 
 document it appears the Marquis of Worcester originally received his knowledge of the applica¬ 
 bility of steam power to machinery from a pamphlet by De Caus. The “ Century of Inventions,” by 
 the Marquis, was published in 1CG3. 
 
TKADE AND COMMEECE. 
 
 377 
 
 was set up for him at Nottingham. Messrs. Scott and Stevenson introduced 
 the first into Glasgow, for the purposes of cotton manufacture, in 1792. 
 Other improvements have from time to time been effected, from which the 
 several powerful engines at present in use have resulted. 
 
 An improvement in the method of spinning flax was introduced by Mr. 
 Kay, of Preston, about 1822-3. The principal feature in Kay’s patent 
 consisted in bringing the drawing and retaining rollers within two and a 
 half inches from each other. Considerable improvements were afterwards 
 effected by Marshall, of Leeds, who introduced steam and “ troughs,” for 
 “ macerating ” the flax. Others had previously only steeped the slivers 
 in cold water, contained in “cans.” Marshall, eventually succeeded, after 
 much litigation, in overthrowing Kay’s patent right, on account of the 
 imperfect character of the specification. Kay’s flax mill was situated in 
 Kay-strect, Marsh-lane, Preston. Mr. Seed, of Preston, patented a 
 “ presser,” constructed on what he called the “ centrifugal principle.” 
 This presser, which was attached to the “ roving flyers,” was for a long 
 time regarded as the best of many patented articles professing to attain 
 similar results. After some litigation with Mr. Lamb, of Manchester, as 
 to the validity of the patent, Mr. Seed united his interest with that gentle¬ 
 man, and their separate inventions arc now amalgamated. 
 
 It is to the combined influence of the various inventions thus hastily 
 noticed, that the marvellous development of industrial energy and com¬ 
 mercial enterprise presented by the Lancashire cotton manufacture is 
 mainly to he attributed. Preston has played no insignificant part in this 
 mighty social revolution. Hot only did she give birth to Arkwright, hut 
 she produced or fostered men of similar energy and commercial sagacity, 
 whose united action has converted, in about seventy years, the quiet little 
 chartered borough of six thousand people, with its “well-horn” hut “ ill- 
 portioned old maids and widows,” and aristocratic feelings and prejudices, 
 into the second manufacturing town of Lancashire, where about eighty 
 thousand persons find pleasurable or profitable occupation, and where 
 capital, combined with intelligent enterprise, yearly extends the productive 
 power, and adds to the wealth of the locality. 
 
 The great social value of these wonderful inventions was, however, 
 for a long period, disputed, not only by the operative population, who 
 suffered at the time from the innovation, but by men of high standing, 
 and acknowledged intelligence. Change of any kind is ever terrible to a 
 certain classes of very amiable individuals. So long as their nests are 
 warmly lined, and their larders well supplied with both necessaries and 
 luxuries, they can perceive nought hut misery and desolation in the rear 
 of the social and political antagonism ever attendant upon human progress. 
 
378 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Amongst those whose fears and prejudices overpowered their judgments 
 on this subject, one of the most distinguished was intimately connected 
 with this neighbourhood. Dr. T. D. Whitaker, in his History of Kicli- 
 mondshire, 8 makes the following remarkable observations : — 
 
 “ Thirty years after” (1745), “in the last generous but hopeless effort to restore the 
 exiled family, Preston merely witnessed the orderly and well conducted march of the 
 insurgents on their way to Derby, and their precipitate and undisciplined retreat with 
 the Puke of Cumberland in close pursuit. Had he been two days earlier it is not 
 improbable that Fulwood moor would have been remembered for what Culloden was, 
 and Falkirk should have been. Times are now altered; and Preston instead of wit¬ 
 nessing the noble struggles of loyalty or liberty, and the efforts of contending branches 
 of the same family to recover or retain the throne, has since had nothing better to 
 agitate the fears of its inhabitants than the base and brutal efforts of anarchy, stimu¬ 
 lated by those hotbeds of insubordination and sedition, the manufactories, which have 
 debased the manners of the lower orders more rapidly than they have increased the 
 population of the place. It is the nature of the dreadful visitation of Providence, which 
 for our sins, has fallen upon this age and country, that it tends at once to ruin the prin¬ 
 ciples and multiply the number of our species: and if not checked by the removal of the 
 evil into other countries, who, grasping like ourselves at immoderate gain, are insensible 
 to its consequences, 
 
 -mos 
 
 Progeniem dabit vitiosiorem.” h 
 
 Never was prophet more unfortunate in his vaticination ! Whatever 
 evils may be inseparable from overstrained commercial enterprise, surely 
 they are neither irremediable in themselves, nor more degrading than the 
 vicious habits fostered by war. To the most ordinary mind, at the present 
 day, it would be difficult to suggest any worse occupation in which a 
 people could be employed than the slitting of their neighbours’ throats and the 
 devastating of their common country, merely for such an inadequate consi¬ 
 deration as the pleasure or profit resulting to u contending branches 
 of the same family” endeavouring “ to recover or retain the throne.” These 
 “noble struggles of loyalty and liberty” may be all very grand to boast 
 about; but how the morals of the public are improved by the deeds and 
 influences of civil war is somewhat difficult of comprehension. An act of 
 parliament, passed in 1692 (the fourth year after “the revolution,”) tells 
 a rather different story. The preamble declares it was passed expressly 
 for “ encouraging the apprehension of highwaymen.” The highways and 
 roads had become more infested with thieves and robbers than formerly; 
 and “so many murders and robberies had been committed, that it was 
 become dangerous, in many parts, for travellers to pass on their lawful 
 occasions.” It was, therefore, enacted that a gratuity of £40. should be 
 given for the apprehension and conviction of every offender; and as a fur¬ 
 ther inducement, the robber’s horse, arms, money, and other property taken 
 with him, were ordered to be transferred to the party effecting the capture. 
 
 g Vol. 2, p. 433. 
 
 h “ Will soon produce a still more vicious progney.”—Horace. 
 
TRADE AND COMMERCE. 
 
 379 
 
 Nay more; any one turning informer, and discovering and convicting two 
 other robbers, was to receive a pardon for all previous otfences. A modern 
 writer truly observes: ‘ “ The evil must have been great to warrant the 
 application of such remedies, which lowered the dignity and moral purity 
 of justice, hy thus allying it with crime.” Ay, and every reader of the 
 “ Newgate Calendar ” or other “wholesome literary food” of the past 
 generation, knows well the evil continued rife until within a comparatively 
 recent period. 
 
 From the statute passed in the second George II., in 1746, the year after 
 the last “noble struggle” between the aforesaid “contending branches 
 of the same family,” it seem not only does “insubordination and 
 sedition” result from such conflicts, but that the “manners of the lower 
 orders” are seriously “debased” thereby; nay, that depravity of morals 
 permeated every class of society, to such an extent, that “ constables, 
 tithing-men, and peace officers,” were required to “seize and secure,” not 
 only the canailles, the “vagabonds,” “sturdy beggars,” and “incorrigible 
 rogues,” then so prevalent, but “gentlemen” (?) guilty of habitual pro¬ 
 fane cursing and swearing! The said offenders are ordered to be mulcted 
 in the following proportions:—“ A day labourer, a soldier, or a sailor, one 
 shilling; if under the degree of gentlemen, two shillings; and if above 
 that degree, five shillings! ” This resulted not from the slightest tincture of 
 piu'itanism in the government, but from the natural recoil after excessive 
 licence. The preamble of the act expressly declares that “ the horrid, 
 impious, and execrable vices of profane cursing and swearing, so highly 
 displeasing to Almighty God, and loathsome and offensive to every Chris¬ 
 tian,” were becoming so common as to justly provoke the divine vengeance. 
 There exists, however, one glorious exception to this rule of a life of plunder 
 and debauchery amongst disbanded troops previously engaged in civil war. 
 It is thus eloquently described by Macaulay:— 
 
 “ Fifty thousand men, accustomed to the profession of arms, were at once thrown on 
 the world,” [at the period of the restoration] “ and experience seemed to warrant the 
 belief that this change would produce much misery and crime, that the discharged vete¬ 
 rans would be seen begging in every street, or would be driven by hunger to pillage. 
 But no such result followed. In a few months there remained not a trace indicating 
 that the most formidable army in the world had just been absorbed into the mass of the 
 community. The royalists themselves confessed that in every department of honest 
 industry, the discharged warriors prospered beyond other men, that none was charged 
 with any theft or robbery, that none was heard to ask an alms, and that, if a baker, a 
 mason, or a waggoner, attracted notice for his diligence and sobriety, he was in all pro¬ 
 bability one of Oliver’s old soldiers.” 
 
 This contrasts oddly with the licentious roystcring of the Stuart 
 cavaliers, and speaks volumes in honour of those stern old warriors to 
 
 i Sir George Nicholls’s History of the English Poor Law. 
 j History of England, vol. 1, page 154. 
 
380 
 
 PRESTOS' AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 whom English liberty owes so much, and who, till lately, have been 
 rewarded by those most benefited, with abuse instead of gratitude. With 
 this exception, however, experience has ever proved that riot, violence, 
 debaucheiy, famine, and crime, both accompany and follow in the track of 
 the heroes of the sword, and in no case with more revolting and unnatural 
 accessories, than when warriors fiesh their weapons in the strife termed, 
 with bitter irony, civil warfare! Peace may have its vices, and 
 “indolent ease’’may be “ inglorious commercial enterprise may, nay 
 does, give birth to selfish avarice, and sometimes to cold-hearted tyranny; 
 but the worst of these attributes must be added to the other characteristics 
 of the good old fighting period, or the portraiture is neither true nor com¬ 
 plete. Some of the vices of our ancestors, too, have vanished before the 
 progress of mechanical aid in the production of the necessaries and comforts 
 of human existence. Dr. Whitaker himself laments the drunken debauch¬ 
 eries of the Stuart partisans and complains bitterly of the filthy habits 
 and brutal sports which did not spring from modern commercial sym¬ 
 pathies. He says :— k 
 
 “ Many laudable exertions have been lately made, and are making to procure for our 
 parish churches, not oidy the removal of annoyances to sight and the smell, but some 
 degree of that silence and sequestration which their sanctity demands. Never was the 
 removal of a nuisance of the last species more loudly called for than at this place,” 
 (Preston) “ where the parish church is visited by the audacious neighbourhood of one of 
 those human pandemonia, a cockpit; so that, on a hot day when the windows were 
 open, the writer of this has distinctly heard the infernal yells, the diabolical oaths and 
 curses, which issued from that place, while standing before the altar of God.” 
 
 The Preston cockpit was converted into a Temperance Hall, in the days 
 of mechanical skill and commercial enterprise ! * 1 Pugilism, bull-baiting, 
 and cock-fighting were virtues in the deeply lamented defunct age of high 
 “principle” and “ noble struggle.” The present, with all its faults, and 
 truly they are more than the utilitarian spirit of the hour has yet disco¬ 
 vered, or at least willingly acknowledges ; the despised present patronises 
 free schools and libraries, cheap books and periodicals, baths and wash¬ 
 houses, public parks, cheap trips, extensive sewerage, and other sanitary 
 improvements ; better legacies, at least, to posterity, than bloody victories, 
 however glorious ! The “good old times,” it must not be forgotten, evoked 
 these struggles, and produced, of necessity, rebels and tyrants as well as 
 patriots and heroes. The best possible cure for this hankering after sup¬ 
 posed by-gone perfections, would, if it were practicable, be the transporta¬ 
 tion of the most antiquated section of the present generation into a country 
 inhabited by a people with dwellings, manners, and intelligence, identical 
 with those so grievously lamented. They would, perhaps, find them- 
 
 k History of Richmondshire, vol. 2, p. 425. 
 
 1 It lias since been converted into the “Derby Assembly Room.’ 
 
TRADE AND COAIAIERCE. 
 
 381 
 
 selves in a somewhat similar mood to the fashionable young lady, who, 
 compelled by the will of a crabbed old uncle cither to marry her great-grand¬ 
 father or resign a princely fortune, complied with the testator’s wishes to 
 the letter, but eloped on the afternoon of the same day with a modem 
 spark of eighteen. Truly no man is a hero to his own valet; and there 
 are no “goodold times” to those who live in them ! The much abused 
 industrial clement of the present age needs nothing but a quiet consignment 
 to the tomb of the past, to draw down unavailing regrets from the stagnant 
 souls of the next generation. 
 
 Doubtless, on the first introduction of the factory system, the complexion 
 of the new order of things was much more dingy than at present; 
 hence the virtuous indignation of the erudite antiquary and orthodox 
 theologian. Mankind, however, has gained much and lost little by the 
 change. The true remedies for existing evils arc to be found in the volume 
 dedicated to the devclopcment of future progress, and not to the deification 
 of the musty records of the past; in which, after all, men read more of 
 wrong and falsehood than truth and right. When the present edifice 
 shall be completed, the ugly scaffolding which, though necessary to its con¬ 
 struction, disfigures its beauty, will be removed. It will then cease to be 
 viewed through the spectacles of prejudice and personal selfishness. Its 
 claims to public consideration will be asserted by an after present, when 
 time hath robed it with some of the venerable but profitless weeds which 
 adorn the tottering limbs of its mouldering competitor. And the spirit 
 of this same after present, now throbbing in the womb of time, true to the 
 eternal law, will, hi turn, dispute its perfection; and, Avrcnching from tho 
 mysterious and inexhaustible hoard of natural wealth some new truth, 
 supersede its protege, to be itself superseded in turn by the genius of a still 
 more remote but equally active and progressive future. 
 
 The improvement in the power for production necessitated a cor¬ 
 responding advance in the means of transit. In the early portion of the 
 eighteenth century, the great bulk of the roads in Lancashire Avcre scarcely 
 passable for carriages, except in very fine weather. They were merely 
 “bridlepaths” or “horse-tracks.” “There was not a proper carriage 
 road from Liverpool to the great northern highway at Warrington, until 
 about the time of the accession of George III.” ra 
 
 In 1720, an act Avas obtained for making and keeping the river Douglas 
 navigable from Wigan to the Kibble. The preamble declares that flic 
 carrying out of the project would be beneficial to trade, advantageous to the 
 poor, and convenient for the carriage of coal, cannel, stones, slate, and 
 other goods and merchandise to and from the towns and places adjacent; 
 
 iu Thos. Baines's History of Liverpool, p.401. 
 
382 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENYIRONS. 
 
 and -would very much tend to the employment and increase of watermen 
 and seamen, and be a means of preserving the highways. The act limited 
 the charge to 2s. 6d. per ton for the conveyance of goods along the river. 
 In the same year, acts were obtained for rendering the river Weaver 
 available for the carriage of goods between the river Mersey and the 
 Cheshire salt works, and for the conversion of the Irwell and Mersey into 
 a means of communication between Liverpool and Manchester. About 
 this period the first Liverpool dock was completed. 
 
 The means for personal locomotion, or the transit of goods, in the interior 
 of the country, were nevertheless very limited at the middle of the 
 eighteenth century. Not a single stage coach left Liverpool “for Manchester, 
 London, or any other place,” as late as the year 1753.“ The roads were 
 infested with robbers; and travellers, in consequence, generally proceeded 
 in companies. Every Friday morning, a kind of caravan or “gang of 
 horses,” set out from the Swan with Two Necks, Lad-lane, London, and 
 arrived generally at Liverpool on the following Monday evening ; taking 
 four days and three nights for the journey. 
 
 “ This was considered very swift travelling. The old Lancashire and Cheshire stage- 
 waggons, which started from the Axe Inn, Aldermanbury, London, every Monday and 
 Thursday, were ten days on the road in summer, and eleven in winter; goods were for¬ 
 warded from Liverpool at about the same speed of travelling, by various earners to 
 Wigan, Blackburn, Preston, Lancaster, Halifax, Leeds, York, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 
 and Sheffield. The cost of carrying goods to Sheffield was 3s. 6d. per cwt.” ° 
 
 Williamson’s Liverpool Advertiser, published in 1756, contains an 
 announcement, that a Mr. Lenen travelled regularly from Liverpool to 
 Lancaster. This gentleman politely announces that he has “two good 
 double horses,” for the accommodation of ladies. This journal, on the 
 ninth of June, in the same year, contains the following announcement:— 
 
 “ Warrington Flying Stage Coach ! Sets out from the Red Lyon Inn, in Warrington 
 every Monday and Thursday evening, and arrives at the Bull Inn, in Wood-street, Lon¬ 
 don, every Wednesday and Saturday evening; and sets out from the Bull Inn, Wood- 
 street, London, every Monday and Thursday morning, and arrives at the Red Lyon Inn, 
 in Warrington, every Wednesday and Saturday evening. Each passenger to pay two 
 guineas, one guinea as earnest, and the other guinea on taking coach ; and every passen¬ 
 ger to be allowed 14 lbs. of luggage; all above 141bs. to pay after three pence a pound. 
 Outside passengers and children on safety to pay half price. To be performed, if God 
 permit, by Anthony Jackson and Henry Secrit.” 
 
 Preston passengers had to ride on horseback to Warrington, to meet this 
 “flying coach.” 
 
 During the second half of the last century, rapid advances were made in 
 the means of internal communication. In the 10th George II., Scroop, 
 duke of Bridgewater, the predecessor ot the more celebrated Duke Francis, 
 obtained an act for the rendering navigable the streamlet which runs from bis 
 Worsley estates into the Irwell. This was not carried into effect. His 
 successor, Francis, in the year 1758 (32nd Geo. II.), received parliamen- 
 
 n Thos. Baines’s His. Liverpool, p. 418. 
 
 o Ibid. 
 
TRADE AND COMMERCE. 
 
 383 
 
 tary sanction to form a canal from the neighbourhood of Manchester to 
 Worsley mill and Middlewood, and from thence to Hollin’s-ferry, on the 
 Mersey. Anotlier change was determined upon, and a new act rendered 
 necessary. This was obtained in the 2nd year of the reign of George III. 
 The canal was made from Manchester to Longford Bridge, near Stretford 
 under the act of 1759, and from thence to Runcorn, on the Mersey, 
 by virtue of the powers conferred by the 2nd George III. This 
 gave a great impulse to the efforts for the improvement of the internal 
 communication by means of navigable canals, and opened a wide field for 
 the development of the genius of Brindley. The river Mersey, at 
 Runcorn, was joined to the Trent, near Wilden ferry. The Leeds and 
 Liverpool canal and others speedily followed. The act was granted in 
 1769. 
 
 Arthur Young, in his tour, refers to the state of the road between 
 Preston and Wigan, in 1770, in the following indignant strain :— 
 
 “ I know not, in the whole range of language, terms sufficiently expressive to describe 
 this infernal highway. Let me most seriously caution all travellers who may acciden¬ 
 tally propose to travel this terrible country, to avoid it as they would the devil, for a 
 thousand to one but they break their necks or their limbs by overthrows or breakings 
 down. They will here meet with ruts which I actually measured four feet deep, and 
 floating with mud only from a wet summer! What must it therefore be in winter ? ” 
 
 Mr. Whittle states that, in 1771,— 
 
 “ The route to the metropolis of England from Preston, was by way of Warrington. 
 The first stage-coach established in this town was about this time—Sumpter horses were 
 used previous to this in the carriage of parcels and provisions. Strings of pack horses, 
 thirty and forty in a gang, were used for carrying coals and lime. The leading horse of 
 a gang carried a bell to give warning to travellers coming in the opposite direction, by 
 any sharp turn or narrow pass. It very frequently happened that the Roman causeway 
 between Preston and Wigan, scarcely afforded room to pass” (probably from being out 
 of repair'', “ they were obliged to make way for each other by plunging into the side 
 road (which was soft, and sometimes almost impassable), out of which they found it 
 difficult to get back upon the causeway.” P 
 
 Doubtless the Roman highway, between Preston and Wigan, had done 
 service for several centuries, without any substantial repair. In 1648, 
 it is described by Oliver Cromwell, in his dispatch to parliament, after the 
 great battle of Preston, in no very favourable terms. He says ,—“ We lay 
 that night in a field close by the Enemy” (near Wigan); “being very 
 dirty and weary, having marched twelve miles of such ground as I never 
 rode in all my life, the day being very wet.” 
 
 A stage-coach began to run in April, 1774, three times a week, between 
 Manchester, Warrington, and Liverpool. The vehicle started at seven 
 
 p Ilis. of Preston, vol. 2, p. 61. Sir. Whittle gives no authority for this statement. It is, how¬ 
 ever, evidently an extract from some previous writer—probably Nichols, who described the Roman 
 way, in 1793. 
 

 384 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 o’clock in tlie morning, and proceeded so slowly that the passengers 
 stayed at Warrington to dine.' 1 
 
 Coaches, from Liverpool to Preston, commenced running on the fifteenth 
 of June, 1774. They were oddly named, “Liverpool and Preston 
 machines on steel springs.” r They started at eight o’clock in the morning, 
 waited for the passengers to dine at Ormskirk, and returned the same 
 evening. The inside fare was eight shillings and sixpence. Fourteen 
 pounds of luggage only were allowed free, one penny per pound being 
 charged for all above that weight. 
 
 The war with America caused great stagnation in the trade of the 
 country. In Sep., 1775, a writer in a Lancashire journal says:— 
 
 “ Our once extensive trade to Africa is at a stand ; all commerce with America is at 
 an end. Peace, harmony, and mutual confidence must constitute the balm that can again 
 restore to health the body politic. Survey our docks; count there the gallant ships 
 laid there and useless. When will they be again re-fitted ? What become of the 
 sailor, the tradesman, the poor labourer, during the approaching winter ?” s 
 
 The Bridgewater canal, from Manchester to Liverpool, was opened in 
 March, 1776. Passengers were earned from the latter place to Wigan, for 
 one penny per mile, in boats “ fitted in an elegant manner.” 1 
 
 In Feb., 1778, an inquiry was instituted by the house of lords respecting 
 the injury done to the British commerce from the commencement of the 
 war with America. It appeared that the British had lost 559 ships, after 
 deducting the number of those retaken. Their value was estimated at 
 £1,800,000! American and West Indian produce had risen to an 
 enormous price. On the other hand, this state of things was considered 
 satisfactory, because, forsooth, the English had captured 904 American 
 vessels, of the value of £1,808,000 ! The historian of Liverpool 
 pertinently remarks that oiu - legislators seem to have overlooked or 
 “forgotten that the enormous sums thus taken from the merchants of 
 England were not transferred to the merchants of America; nor those 
 taken from the merchants of America transferred to the merchants of 
 England; but that the whole were taken from commerce and turned 
 into prize money.” u 
 
 Privateering was very rife about this period, especially after the 
 Spaniards and French joined in the struggle. The famous Paul Jones 
 appeared on the coast. Liverpool was placed in a state of defence. “The 
 Liverpool merchants and shipowners fitted out upwards of one hundred 
 
 q Williamson’s Liverpool Advertiser. r Ibid. s Liverpool General Advertiser, 
 
 t Williamson’s Liverpool Advertiser. u Thomas Baines, p. 155. 
 
TRADE AND COMMERCE. 
 
 385 
 
 and twenty privateers, and made a great number of rich prizes.” v 
 Holland was added to the number of the enemies of Britain, and commerce 
 thus received another deadly thrust. The speed of internal transit 
 improved notwithstanding, for the “London and Liverpool flying machine” 
 performed the distance in forty-eight hours. The “Diligence,” however, 
 was not quite so reckless in its motion. It arrived in London in the afternoon 
 of the third day, after treating the passengers to ten hours’ rest, on the 
 second evening, at Stony Stratford." The journey from Liverpool, through 
 Preston, to Carlisle, occupied a day and a half, in 1781/ 
 
 The Liverpool Advertiser announced, early in the year 1782, that the 
 inland navigation had been opened to the river Douglas, and that goods 
 were regularly forwarded, by the canal and river, to Preston. 
 
 In Jan., 1783, the London Gazette announced the definite treaty of peace, 
 between England, France, Spain, and the United States. The welcome 
 news was received by the whole nation, and especially by the commercial 
 portion of the community, with great rejoicings. A writer, in the 
 Liverpool paper before quoted, says :— 
 
 “ The mercantile world is in a hurry and bustle unknown at any former time. The 
 merchants are endeavouring to out-strip each other in the race of traffic. European 
 goods, and particularly the produce of England, being greatly wanted in the ports of 
 America, the destination of many of the vessels now in the river is altered from the 
 West India islands to the American ports, where it is expected the cargoes will sell at 
 an immense profit.” 
 
 The interval of peace between the American war and the French revo¬ 
 lution, was most valuable for the commercial interests of the country. 
 It has been seen that the great inventions in machinery, and improve¬ 
 ment in the means of internal transit, had materially facilitated commercial 
 operations, and given a mighty impetus to the industrial energies of the 
 north of England. 
 
 The first mail-coach for the conveyance of letters, etc., was dispatched 
 from London to Bristol, in August, 1784. One to Liverpool speedily 
 followed. 
 
 In 1778, the traffic in slaves produced an annual profit to the Liver¬ 
 pool merchants, of from two to three hundred thousand pounds/ A long 
 aud spirited controversy arose, during this year, as to the morality of this 
 traffic. The Rev. Raymond Hands, a Spanish Jesuit, a native of Seville, 
 settled in Liverpool, astonished the Christian world by the publication 
 of a pamphlet, in which he maintained that the practice was not repugnant 
 to the teachings of the scriptiu’es. It required many years’ severe struggling, 
 before those Europeans interested could be brought to acknowledge that 
 
 v Thos. Baines’s Ilis. of Liverpool, p. 456. 
 x Williamson’s Liverpool Advertiser. 
 
 w Prestwich’s MS. History of Liverpool, 
 y Baines’s His. Liverpool, p. 471. 
 

 386 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 so great a source of profit was sufficiently criminal to justify its repression 
 by act of parliament. 
 
 Notwithstanding the interruptions of the wars of the French revolution, 
 commercial enterprise still struggled onward. Mr. Thos. Baines says:— 1 
 “ The canal fever, of 1792, was not less intense than the railway fever, of 
 1845 ; nor were the undertakings projected at the former period less hold 
 than those of the latter, if allowance be made for the inferiority of the 
 national resources at the former time.” 
 
 Billinge’s Liverpool Advertiser, for Nov. 29, 1796, reports that “the 
 engineers are now completing the survey of the canal from Kendal to 
 Burton, the making of which will commence in a short time. It is 
 expected the canal from Burton, by Lancaster, Garstang, etc., to Preston, 
 will be navigable in the course of next summer.” The tram-road and 
 wooden bridge, over the Kibble, by means of which a junction was effected 
 between the Lancaster and the Leeds and Liverpool canals, were not con¬ 
 structed till 1802. It was originally proposed to cany an aqueduct across 
 the Kibble valley. The canal was not opened till 1798. 
 
 In 1798, subscriptions were entered into for assisting the government to 
 carry on the war with France. The Irish rebellion broke out in the same 
 year. Volunteer corps for the defence of the country were established in 
 Preston, as well as in other towns in the county. The royal Preston volun¬ 
 teers were commanded by Lieut. Col. Nicholas Grimshaw, and Lieut. Col. 
 J. Watson. Mr. Watson, in conjunction with his partner, Mr. Collinson, 
 first introduced the cotton manufacture into Preston. 
 
 In the year 1800, the opening of the Grand Junction Canal completed 
 the inland water communication between the Thames, the Severn, the 
 Mersey, and the Humber, with the exception of the Blisworth tunnel, 
 which was not finished till 1805. 
 
 The temporary peace at Amiens, concluded in 1801, proved but a hollow 
 truce. The war was resumed with more determination than ever. 
 Bonaparte assembled his army of 200,000 men, and 2,000 gun-boats, at 
 Boulogne, and threatened to invade England. Volunteer corps were formed 
 with spirit and enthusiasm all over the county. Preston lagged not 
 behind in patriotism. In addition to the militia and volunteers, a regular 
 army of reserve, for the general defence of the kingdom, was formed, the 
 Lancashire contingent to which amounted to 2,425 men. Lord Castlcreagh 
 announced, in 1803, that the total naval and military force of the empire 
 of Great Britain amounted to upwards of 700,000 men. The navy 
 included more than five hundred vessels of war, of various sizes. 
 
 The destruction of the combined fleets of France and Spain, off Cape 
 
 z His. Liverpool, p. 488. 
 
TRADE AND COMMERCE. 
 
 387 
 
 Trafalgar, by Lord Nelson, in 1805, relieved, to some extent, the fears of 
 the commercial world; and although the war continued, the trading 
 interest of the country was still progressive. In 1807, the traffic between 
 Liverpool and Manchester maintained twenty-seven stage-coaches. a In 
 1770, a single vehicle sufficed. 
 
 The celebrated Berlin decree, issued by Bonaparte, in 1807, by which, 
 under severe penalties, all trade or correspondence with Great Britain was 
 prohibited,—the counter resolution of the English government, declaring 
 all the ports of the Erench empire in a state of blockade, and the general 
 embargo laid on all ships in the ports of America, threatened the total 
 subversion of commercial prosperity. 
 
 The Preston volunteers, under Lieut. Col. Grimshaw, and the rifle 
 corps, under Captain Brade, in 1808, joined the militia. 
 
 Still commerce struggled onward, notwithstanding occasional panics. 
 In 1809, the then Liverpool docks were found “insufficient for the 
 accommodation of the business of the port ; which, about that time, 
 had received a sudden impulse from the opening of the trade with Spain 
 and Portugal, and with the Spanish and Portuguese colonies in America.” b 
 This proved delusive. “After sometime” (close of 1810), “it began 
 to be seen that there were no returns for these immense shipments, and 
 then a terrible panic took possession of the public mind, prices falling as 
 rapidly as they had risen. The government, in the hope of ameliorating the 
 distresses of the mercantile and manufacturing classes, agreed to make a 
 considerable loan for the relief of trade.” c 
 
 Before the close of the war, the price of food rose so high that tho 
 greatest distress prevailed, and public subscriptions were generally entered 
 into for the purpose of purchasing “rice, peas, potatoes, and other sub¬ 
 stitutes for bread and flour,” which were afterwards sold to the starving 
 
 O 
 
 poor at reduced prices. In Eeb., 1811, a public meeting was held at the 
 Town-hall, Preston. The subscriptions amounted to upwards of one 
 thousand pounds. So severe were the privations of the people at this 
 period, that resolutions of the following character were circulated by local 
 committees:— 
 
 “ That it be strongly recommended to all housekeepers to be economical in the use of 
 bread and potatoes, to abstain altogether from pastry, and not to use any bread until 
 after the expiration of twenty-four hours from the time of its being baked ; and that it 
 be also strongly recommended to all persons who keep horses, to be economical in the 
 feeding of them, by diminishing the quantity as much as possible.” d 
 
 a Billinge’s Liverpool Advertiser. b Baines’s His. Liverpool, p. 539. 0 Ibid. 
 
 d Copy of resolution issued by the Liverpool committee.—Baines’s His. Liverpool, p. 547 . The 
 effect of war upon commerce, at this period, is illustrated by the fact that, in 1809, 92,812,282 lbs. of 
 cotton were imported into England. In 1810, the quantity increased to 132,483,935, and again 
 decreased, in 1811, to 91,570,535. 
 
 2 B 2 
 
388 
 
 PKESTOX AXD ITS EXVIEONS. 
 
 The government of England still adhered to their “ orders in council,” 
 notwithstanding the complaints of the American people, and the mercan¬ 
 tile and industrial classes at home. In June, 1812, Lord Castlereagh 
 announced in parliament the intention of their withdrawal. This reasonable 
 concession, however, came too late. In the same month, the exasperated 
 Americans declared war against England. The straggle lasted two years 
 and a half, -with immense loss and little gain to either party. Nearly a 
 thousand merchant ships, on each side, were captured, and converted 
 into prize money. Mr. Thos. Baines says :— 
 
 “ In the latter part of the war, the risk of capture was so great that the freight on 
 cotton, from Savannah to France, rose to 10(1. a pound. At the close of the contest, 
 upwards of 200,000 bales of cotton, which was then more than a year’s supply, was 
 piled up in the warehouses of America ; whilst in this country, that great article of con¬ 
 sumption was sold at prices ruinous to trade.” e 
 
 In 1811, Russia, exhausted by the results of the Berlin decree, had, for 
 some time, indirectly encouraged trade with England; and, at length, not¬ 
 withstanding the threat of Bonaparte, under certain restrictions, openly 
 authorised it. This led to the celebrated Russian campaign, so fatal to 
 the French armies, and to the prestige of the great Napoleon. Wellington’s 
 successes in Spain, conjoined to the defeat of Napoleon at Leipsic, hastened 
 the overthrow of the French emperor. Peace was proclaimed at the 
 close of the year 1813, to the infinite joy of the whole nation. 
 
 The trade had increased to such an extent, that the old highways 
 leading to Preston were inadequate to its requirements. The present 
 excellent road from Stanley-street to Walton bridge was cut about 1812. 
 The old way passed over the Swillbrook, a little to the right of the new 
 road, and descended towards the bridge by the valley in Mrs. Walmsley’s 
 strawberry garden. The steep hill, at the end of Fishergate, was lowered, 
 and the present embankment, leading towards Broadgate, was con¬ 
 structed shortly afterwards. The new road to Lancaster, over Gallows 
 Hill, and the one to Blackburn, by Brockholes, were not cut till a 
 few years later. f 
 
 About this period, the application of steam power to navigation began 
 to be introduced. Thus, another powerful auxiliary to commercial enter¬ 
 prise was gained. In 1812, the first steam-boat, for commercial purposes, 
 in Great Britain, was introduced by Mr. Ilenry Bell, on the river Clyde. 
 In the following year, one plyed on the Tare, between Norwich and 
 Yarmouth. About the same time, a steamer was launched at Bristol, and 
 another at Manchester. In 1814, steam-boats were introduced on the 
 Humber and Thames; and in June, the following year, the first vessel 
 
 e His. Liverpool, p. 549. 
 
 f The Lancaster-road was cut in 1817, and the Blackburn one in 1824. 
 
TBADE AND COHHEECE. 
 
 89 
 
 propelled by steam power appeared on the waters of the Mersey. She 
 was built on the Clyde, and could accommodate in her cabin about one 
 hundred passengers. 5 
 
 lionaparte’s return from Elba renewed the war; but Wellington’s victory 
 at Waterloo, in June, 1815, again brought peace to Europe. From this 
 period, commercial progress was rapid. The deficient harvest of the follow¬ 
 ing year, however, caused great distress. It has been described as “ one of 
 the worst ever known in England, both for quantity and quality.” At a 
 meeting in Preston, the sum of five hundred pounds was subscribed in one 
 hour for the relief of the poor. The total subscription amounted to one 
 thousand four hundred and nineteen pounds. 
 
 The opening of the branch from the Leeds and Liverpool canal, at Wigan, 
 to the duke of Bridgewater’s canal, at Leigh, took place in 1820. This was 
 one of the last of the canal extensions in Lancashire. A new and still more 
 wonderful stride in the march of progress followed; the locomotive and 
 the railroad superseded, to a great extent, the water transit, and opened 
 out still greater facilities for commercial intercourse. 
 
 In twenty years from the commencement of the century, the town of 
 Preston had doubled its population. According to the census of 1821, the 
 number of inhabitants was 24,627. Half a century previous it did not 
 exceed 6,000. This mainly resulted from the extension of the cotton 
 trade. 
 
 In September, 1823, “ seventy-two coaches ran in and out of Preston, 
 every Wednesday. Fifteen stage-coaches went in and out of the town, in 
 one liour.” h In the same year the new road by Brockholes to Blackburn 
 was first projected, and the cutting soon afterwards commenced. 
 
 In 1825, application was made to parliament for an act to facilitate the 
 construction of a railway between Liverpool and Manchester. * 1 The work 
 was commenced on Chat-Moss, in June, 1826. The first journey to and 
 from Manchester was made on the 11th June, 1830. On the 15th of 
 September following, the railway was formally opened. The duke of 
 Wellington, Sir Bober t Peel, bart., and other distinguished personages 
 were present. A cloud was thrown over the enthusiasm of the party, by 
 an accident which caused the lamented death of the Bight Honourable 
 William Huskisson. 
 
 g His : of Liverpool, p. 5CG. li Whittle’s His. Preston, vol. 2, p. 115. 
 
 i A paragraph published in August, 1802, in the Leeds Mercury, quotes a pamphlet, by Eichard 
 Lovell Edgeworth, on railroads, of which he claimed the invention. Mr. Edgeworth says that 
 “ in 17G8, he presented models to the Society of Arts for which he received their gold medal.” lie 
 however, only proposed to use horse power. Mr. Trevethick, of Cornwall, took out the first patent 
 for a locomotive engine in 1802. One was introduced on a colliery railway near Leeds, in 1811, by 
 Mr. Blenkensop ; another at Killingworth colliery, by Mr. George Stephenson, in 1814. Stephenson’s 
 after improvements are well known. 
 
390 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Mr. Whittle records that, in June, 1830, “eighty-one coaches ran in 
 and out of the good old town of Preston. About twenty years ago, about 
 a dozen coaches were moving in and out of the town, to the great amaze¬ 
 ment of the inhabitants. This may be called the March of Coaching.”* 
 
 The Grand Junction railway, which connected both Manchester and 
 Liverpool with Birmingham, was opened in July, 1837. j 
 
 At the close of 1829, a meeting was held to devise a plan for amelio¬ 
 rating the distress amongst the poor of the town. Soup kitchens were estab¬ 
 lished. The use of Patten house, in Church-street, was granted for the 
 purpose by the earl of Derby. Soup, beds, and blankets, were liberally 
 distributed, and much suffering alleviated. 
 
 The first steamer that crossed the Atlantic was the Sirius. She left 
 Cork harbour on the morning of the 4th April, 1838, and arrived at Yew 
 York, eighteen days afterwards. Her return voyage from Yew York to 
 Falmouth, occupied twenty-two days. The first steamer that ever left 
 England for America, was the “ Great Western.” She departed from 
 Bristol, on the 8th of April, in the same year, and arrived at Yew York, 
 twelve hours after the Sirius, on the 22nd, thus makiug the run in four¬ 
 teen days. Severe commercial difficulties were experienced in this year. 
 
 The Manchester and Bolton railway was opened to the public, in May, 
 1838. In September, the same year, the London and Birmingham line 
 was completed. Portions of the distance had previously been available for 
 public transit. The Yorth Union railway from Preston to Wigan, com¬ 
 pleting the junction to Parkside, was opened on the 22nd of October fol¬ 
 lowing. This railway was first projected in 1830. 
 
 In 1840, three other railways in connection with Preston were opened ; 
 the Preston and Longridge on the 1st of May, the Preston and Lancaster 
 on June 25th, and the Preston and Wyre on the 15th July. In 1841, the 
 junction from Bolton to Euxton was finished, completing the railway com¬ 
 munication between Preston and Manchester. Branch lines from the Wyre 
 railway were opened to Blackpool and Lytham shortly afterwards. 11 
 
 In 1845-6, trade was much depressed, and considerable suffering experi¬ 
 enced, especially in Ireland, owing to the failing of the potatoe crop. 
 
 The line from Preston to Blackburn was completedin 1846, that to Liver¬ 
 pool in 1849, and the branch line connecting Preston with Southport in 1855. 
 An act was afterwards obtained for the construction of a railway in continu- 
 tion of the Longridge line to Wlialley, with an extension to the Maud- 
 land’s station of the Wyre railway. The expensive cutting and tunnelling 
 through the town, in pursuance of the latter object, has been completed, 
 
 j Hist. Prest. vol. 2, p. 130, k The Blackpool branch was opened in April, 1846; and the 
 pne to Lytham in February, 1846, 
 
TEADE AND C0M31EECE. 
 
 391 
 
 but the remainder of the scheme has been for some time in abeyance. A 
 branch line from the principal station to the quays on the Marsh was 
 completed in 1846. 
 
 KIBBLE NAVIGATION. 
 
 Many efforts have been made, from time to time, to render the Kibble 
 navigable for vessels of moderate burthen. Its pretensions to the dis¬ 
 tinction of being the “ Setantian Port ” of Ptolemy, have already been 
 disposed of. 1 It has doubtless, from an unknown period, been navigated 
 as far as Preston, by the smaller description of vessels. It has long en¬ 
 joyed the privileges of a port, and is described as such in several resolutions 
 of the house of commons. Its early history is, however, enveloped in 
 much uncertainty. In the time of Charles the I., when Lancashire was 
 assessed at one ship, of forty tons burthen, and one hundred and sixty 
 men, or £1000. in money; the proportion for Preston was £40., against 
 £30. for Lancaster and £25. for Liverpool. But “ ship money” was not 
 levied upon maritime places exclusively; consequently, no relative supe¬ 
 riority, in mercantile matters connected with the port, can be inferred from 
 this fact. Wigan appears to have been the most wealthy borough in Lan¬ 
 cashire at the period, it being assessed at £50. for ship money. 
 
 Mr. E. Baines says, “ Preston in this reign seems to have been one of 
 the chief ports of Lancaster, paying in 2nd Henry III., no less a talliage 
 than 15 marks.”” This, however, exhibits not, any more than “ship 
 money,” the relative importance of the port of Preston. 
 
 In the reign of Edward I., a mandate was issued by the magistrates of 
 all the ports in England, prohibiting the exportation of coin, bullion, etc., 
 but no port in Lancashire is mentioned. Later in the same reign, when 
 all the ports on the east, as well as on the west coast, w r ere required to 
 send ships and men to Dublin, for the transportation of the earl of Ulster 
 and troops to Scotland, still Lancashire received no precept for this pur¬ 
 pose. Eroin the contiguity of the county to the scene of operations, the 
 inference is obvious. Had Lancashire possessed any important maritime 
 trade, it would doubtless have been called upon to furnish its quota of 
 vessels. Dr. Kuerden, however, towards the end of the seventeeenth cen¬ 
 tury, speaks of the river as if it were used as a port, though not to any 
 great extent. He says :— 
 
 “ Now westward, below this Burrough of Preston, lyeth a marsh, belonging to the 
 same, wither yet, at higher water, a vessell of reasonable burden may arrive from the 
 Western Sea, guided by a knowemg and well skill’d pylot; though the river below at 
 present is much choked up with sand, and by the destruction of the neighbouring marshes 
 is made more shallow than formerly. The river having been no doubt bound in a nar- 
 
 1 See chapter 1, page 14. 
 
 m Vol. 4, p. 303. Lancaster paid 13 marks, and Liverpool 11 marks, 7 shillings, and 8 pence. 
 
392 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 rower compass, which at present is more dangerous to strangers, which in autient time 
 very probably was much better; and over against the marsh belonging to this burrougb, 
 under the opposite and high banks at Penwortham, a safe harbour from the western 
 storms, over which was placed a small castle or fort, probably there placed to defend the 
 same, or for the greater preservation of the Burrougb of Preston.” 
 
 Mr. Murdock Mackenzie was employed by the admiralty about the year 
 1770, in making a survey of the coast. From his instructions, it appears 
 that the Itibble was, at that period, little frequented, and its few vessels 
 were of very limited burthen. He describes the channel as “crooked, 
 without buoys, perches, and distant land-marks,” and intimates that “ no 
 instructions will be sufficient for a stranger,” to enable him to navigate it 
 with safety. Nevertheless, Preston was regarded in the light of a seaport, 
 as will appear from the following resolution, adopted by the house of 
 commons, on the 26th of April, 1776 ; and, in pursuance of which, a bill 
 was introduced by Sir H. Hoghton, bart., and received the sanction of the 
 legislature :— 
 
 “ Eesolved,—That Corn, Grain, and Flour, imported into the Port of Preston, be 
 allowed to be landed without payment of the duties, under the like restrictions as Corn, 
 Grain, and Flour, are allowed to be landed at the several ports mentioned in an act made 
 on the 13tli year of the reign of his present Majesty, intitled, ‘An act to regulate the 
 Importation and Exportation of Corn.’ ” 
 
 The act referred to, was passed with a view to the reduction of the then 
 high price of corn, and other articles of food. The duties were merely 
 nominal. 
 
 In the year 1806, an act of parliament was obtained by the prin¬ 
 cipal proprietors of the land in the neighbourhood, “ incorporating 
 them a company for the improvement of the Navigation of the IUvcr 
 Nibble,” but with a limited capital. Forty shares of £50. each, were 
 created. The company likewise obtained power to add twenty more 
 shares, and to dispose of them to parties not immediately interested in the 
 neighbouring lands. The money was spent in the erection of cauls, or 
 jetties. A duty of “ 2s. 6d. per ton, annually” was levied on each vessel. 
 The river was undoubtedly much improved by the operations of this com¬ 
 pany, but the investment proved unremunerative. The “memorandum for 
 the company on their interview with the committee appointed by the 
 borough of Preston, on the 17th of May, 1837,” gives the following as 
 the state of affairs at that period :— 
 
 “By order made at a" meeting held 31st January, 1825, interest to that day was 
 added to the principal money advanced, and a statement entered in the order book at 
 that meeting, of the interest of each proprietor in the undertaking, making the total of 
 principal and interest £4706. 13s. lid., since which no interest has heen paid. 
 
 “ 1st Feb. 1830, the value of one share was ascertained to be £200. 8s. 4d., n * * * 
 
 n The “ Memorandum” gives the following as the original cost of each share:— 
 
 “ The Price of a share by the Act is.£50 
 
 “ Since advanced as a loan for each share. 25 
 
 £75” 
 
 It appear? that only one of the proposed additional shares was created. 
 
TRADE AND COMMERCE. 
 
 393 
 
 £ 8. d. 
 
 “On the 1st of Feb., 1830, the value of 41 shares, 
 
 at £200. 8s. 4d., was. 8217 1 8 
 
 “ The debt due to the Bank of Messrs. Pedder, Fleet- 
 
 wood, and Pedder, on 31st Dec., 1836, was. 3884 4 0 
 
 £12,101 5 8” 
 
 Notwithstanding the operations of this company, the navigation of the 
 river was for a long time almost exclusively confined to “ flats,” and 
 “lighters.” At the spring tides, which flow as high as Cuerdale, vessels 
 of one hundred and fifty tons burthen occasionally reached the cpiays at 
 Preston, but the craft generally employed did not exceed sixty or seventy 
 tons burthen. Nevertheless, when Captain Belcher surveyed the coast of 
 Lancashire, in 1836, he found the rise of the tide, in the channel opposite 
 to Lytliam, in the month of July, to be not less than twenty-five feet seven 
 and a half inches. Captain Belcher thought so well of the Itibble entrance, 
 that he considered it desirable that a harbour of reiuge should be established 
 at Lythain. 
 
 From the report of Messrs. Robert Stevenson and Sons, civil engineers, 
 Edinburgh, presented in March, 1837, it appears that the Eibble possesses 
 some natural advantages for maritime purposes. The report says :— 
 
 “ The off-shore part of the great Lancashire bay, according to the best modern charts, 
 also preserves the same depths of soundings that it had in Mackenzie’s time, as appears 
 from his testimony. ‘Tbe ground,’he says, ‘ along the coast is clean sand; and the 
 depth, for two or three leagues, not above five or six fathoms. Ships in moderate wea¬ 
 ther, or when the wind is off shore, may stop a tide anywhere from three to six miles 
 from the land.’ In this great bay, it is observeable that the Ribble holds a central posi¬ 
 tion ; and that the land, especially on the northern side of the entrance, stands prominently 
 forward, forming on the whole, perhaps, the best point of departure for a ship that is to 
 be found on this part of the coast. The mariner, with the use of well defined sea-marks, 
 may, therefore, make boldly for the Kibble, and still preserve a good offing at those 
 times when it is not found advisable to enter. The favourable nature of this approach, 
 together with the reasons assigned for believing that the general features of the sea¬ 
 ward channels are of a permanent description, induces the reporters, with confidence, 
 to recommend the improvement of the interior or higher parts of this navigation.” 
 
 The report further states that— 
 
 “ Although the Ribble, seaward of Lytliam, possesses a depth of from 10 to 20 feet at 
 low water of ordinary spring tides, and the rise of tide upon this coast is upwards of 30 
 feet; yet at the quays of Preston, there is not a depth or rise of more than between six 
 and seven feet of tidal water. 0 * # # # It appears that off or near the Naze Point, 
 
 there is a depth of about 17 feet at high water of Spring Tides. What the reporters, 
 therefore propose, is to deepen the navigable channel from thence to the quays of Preston, 
 so as to admit ships drawing at least 14 feet, at high water of these tides.” 
 
 Messrs. Stevenson -were of opinion, by the employment of steam dredging 
 machines, and the excavation of the sand stone rock in the bed of the river, 
 
 o One of Messrs. Stevenson's reports states that “the tidal waters at the entrance of the Clyde do 
 not rise more than about one-third of those of the Ribble ; ’’ and another that the tide of the latter 
 river “ rises fully double the height of that on the coast at the entrance of the Firth of the Tay.” 
 
394 
 
 PRESTOS AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 near the quay, that “ a large and most useful class of vessels, of from 200 
 to 300 tons burthen,” might navigate the Itibble with facility. 
 
 Some other projects were propounded about this time, such as the forma¬ 
 tion of docks at Preston and at Lytham, together with a ship canal to 
 connect the same, but these were ultimately abandoned. 
 
 In 1837, a new Joint Stock Company was projected to cany out the 
 improvements suggested by Messrs. Stevenson. It was proposed to raise 
 £50,000. in shares of £50. each, and it was agreed that the shareholders 
 in the original undertaking “ should receive four shares in the new com- 
 any for one share in the old company,” as a compensation for their pre- 
 pvious investments. The corporation subscribed for 214 shares, and 
 afterwards considerably increased the number. This undertaking, at the 
 onset, was very warmly supported by one section of the commercial popu¬ 
 lation of Preston ; and was as coldly regarded by another. Some parties 
 argued in favour of a line of railway to Fleetwood, where the condition of 
 the harbour was such as to induce them to anticipate a successful rivalry 
 with Liverpool. Others contended that the formation of a railway to 
 Liverpool would remove the necessity for the carrying out of either 
 project. 
 
 The company became incorporated under the “ 1 and 2 Yic. I. & p. c. 
 8,” entitled, “ An act to repeal an act passed in the 46th year of the reign 
 of his Majesty King George III., for improving the navigation of the 
 river Kibble, and for further improvement of the said river.” 
 
 Mr. Paines says, “ Preston was formerly a port of more importance than 
 at present.” p This, however, is merely conjecture, and is not borne out 
 by any documentary evidence. Mr. Paines himself records that “ previous 
 to the year 1798, the total amount of tonnage is calculated not to have 
 exceeded 6000 tons of merchandise annually. About the year 1802, a 
 more extensive trade, hitherto confined to the coast, was established 
 between Preston and Drogheda, which proved very beneficial to the 
 town.” q It was, however, previously to the year 1826, an “independent 
 port, extending from a place on the south side of the river Kibble, caUed 
 the Hundred end, being the division of the ports of Preston and Liverpool, 
 to another place on the north side of the river AVyre, called Proad Fleet, 
 being the divison of the ports of Preston and Lancaster; and the river 
 "Wyre, was then a creek within the port of Preston.” r The principal 
 custom-house was at that time situated at Preston. In 1826, the custom’s 
 business was removed to Lancaster, in “consequence of the Kibble and 
 Wyre being incorporated with the port of Lancaster.” 
 
 p 1835. His. Lan. vol. 4., p. 361. 
 
 q Ibid. 
 
 r Corporation Memorial, 1840. 
 
TRADE AND COMMERCE 
 
 395 
 
 The number of vessels which entered and cleared at the Preston custom¬ 
 house, in 1825, was as follows :— 
 
 
 INWARDS. 
 
 OUTWARDS. 
 
 VESSELS. 
 
 TONS. 
 
 VESSELS. 
 
 TONS. 
 
 Irish Coasters... 
 
 277 
 
 21,876 
 
 181 
 
 14,530 
 
 Other Coasters . 
 
 246 
 
 13,806 
 
 96 
 
 5,622 
 
 Total. 
 
 523 
 
 35,682 
 
 277 
 
 20,152 
 
 In the previous year, the total tonnage was: inward, 33,640, in 514 
 vessels; outward, 20,253, in 296 vessels. 
 
 In the year ending the 5th June, 1830, the tonnage was: inwards, 
 39,595 tons; outwards, 32,420 tons. 
 
 In 1839, Preston was separated from the port of Lancaster, and placed 
 under the newly created port of Fleetwood-on-Wyre. This not being in 
 accordance with either the dignity or interest of the inhabitants of Preston, 
 the corporation, in the following year, presented a memorial to the lords 
 of the treasury, praying that Preston might be restored to its original 
 position as an independent port, with the privilege of bonding goods not 
 wanted for immediate use. This was, however, not fully acceded to, until 
 the year 1843, when the lords of the treasury considered the improve¬ 
 ments effected by the company in the navigation of the Ribble justified 
 the change. 
 
 In the “ Corporation Memorial, praying for permission to raise £12,000. 
 at interest,” in 1841, it is set forth that the corporate body is “possessed 
 of nearly the whole of the frontage land to the said river Itibble, within 
 the said borough, extending in length 1,950 yards, and about 84 statute 
 acres of land adjoining, a great part of which has hitherto lain waste and 
 been unproductive; and, in consequence of the improvement in the navi¬ 
 gation of the river, the trade now requires the erection of quays, sheds, 
 wharfs, warehouses, and other erections, which will, when erected, be a 
 great benefit to the navigation of the said river and the town and trade 
 of this borough, as well as very considerably augment the revenue of the 
 corporation.” 
 
 The new company commenced their labours with great vigour. In 
 1839-40, the rock was excavated near the quays, and the channel of the 
 river below much deepened by the dredging operations. In 1839, a steam 
 tug, the “ Lily,” was placed upon the river. Previous attempts had been 
 
396 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 made to navigate tlie Kibble by steamers; one about the year 1829, and 
 another some time afterwards. The first steamer was named the “Kibble,” 
 and the second the “Enterprise.” Both were, however, unsuccessful, 
 owing to the difficulties of the navigation. 
 
 The rock near the quays was excavated four feet deeper than was 
 originally contemplated by the engineers, by which a depth of twenty feet 
 of water was secured. This was not completed till 1841. In addition to 
 the dredging operations, the channel of the river was protected by stone 
 walls, which the company have gradually extended to the Xaze Point. It 
 is understood that a similar walling of the channel of the Douglas will 
 shortly be undertaken. 
 
 In 1841, a dock was constructed near Lytham, with the view to afford a 
 safe harbour and anchorage for vessels, until the tides permitted their 
 approach to Preston. 
 
 In 1842, the company resolved to increase their capital to the amount 
 authorised by act of parliament. This was effected by the issue of new 
 shares, of the value of £16,666, nearly the whole of which were taken by 
 the old proprietors. At the end of this year, the improvements began to 
 tell, in a financial sense; the tonnage for the half year being, according to 
 the report, “ double in amount, as compared with the last corresponding 
 half year.” 
 
 Spacious quays were erected by the corporation, in 1843; and, Preston 
 having been made a free bonded port, arrangements were made for the 
 erection of suitable warehouses. These were completed in 1845. 
 
 Erom the directors’ report, in Jan., 1844, it appears that during the 
 previous year, “ no fewer than eleven timber vessels arrived in the 
 Kibble, direct from the British possessions abroad, and that the timber met 
 with a ready sale.” The amount of customs duties had increased to 
 £19,375., against £6,309. in the year 1841. 
 
 In 1844, the company obtained power to raise, by loan, the sum of 
 £22,000., for the purpose of completing the proposed improvements. The 
 amount received for customs this year, was £23,303. 13s. 2d. The report 
 further states that the tonnage had “gradually risen from £500. to near 
 £2,000. a year.” 
 
 The want of a lighthouse, at the mouth of the Kibble, began to be 
 seriously felt. To meet the expenses attendant upon such an undertaking, 
 together with a branch railway to the quays, and other improvements, 
 the company, in 1845, created one thousand new shares, which were 
 nearly all taken up by the previous proprietors. The branch railway 
 was completed in the following year. 
 
TRADE AND COMMERCE 
 
 397 
 
 In 1845, the dues for tonnage at Preston, amounted to £1,812. 7s. 10d., 
 and at Lytham dock to £151. 4s. 9^-d.;—total, £1,963. 12s. 7\d. The 
 customs for the same year amounted to £66,921. 4s. 9d. 
 
 The failure of the potatoe crop in Ireland, and the general stagnation of 
 trade, in 1846, materially affected the revenue of the navigation, “there 
 being,” according to the directors’ report, “ little or no grain or provisions 
 comparatively” imported from Ireland to Preston. The trade ■was 
 still dull in the early part of 1847. The channel, however, continued 
 to deepen, and the lighthouse, on the “ double stunner,” at the river’s 
 entrance, was completed. The report states, that “ the land reclaimed is 
 fast grassing over, and, in 1848, will become productive to the company. 
 The total quantity they eventually expect to reclaim will not he far short 
 of two thousand acres.” The directors further state that several largo 
 foreign ships had arrived, and that many more were on their way to the 
 port. The exportation of coal, likewise, continued to increase. 
 
 In their report, at the end of 1848, the directors express a “regret that 
 their revenue does not increase to that extent they were promised and led 
 to expect, when they had deepened the river and afforded facilities for 
 vessels to come direct to Preston ; they trust, however, that a revival of 
 trade, and more prosperous times, will bring a corresponding increase of 
 revenue.” They likewise “ thought it prudent, under existing financial 
 circumstances, to suspend, at present, any further outlay in the works 
 beyond what was necessary for repairs.” 
 
 In their July report, 1849, the directors— 
 
 “ Have again to regret that they cannot report an increase of revenue, although it 
 was confidently assumed that by a reduction of the tolls (which after much deliberation 
 and discussion was finally resolved upon), a great increase in tire exports of coal and 
 imports of iron, would probably he the result. The imports for the half year ending the 
 30th of June last, of 13,325 tons, in the place of 16,605 tons for the corresponding half 
 year of 1818, and the exports (consisting principally of coal,) of 10,659 tons, in the 
 stead of 12,759 tons, for the corresponding half year, shew a considerable decrease.” 
 
 During the second half of the year, the trade, however, somewhat 
 improved. This was still further apparent in 1850. During this year, 
 the imports were 30,389 tons, and the exports, 28,096 tons. The report 
 states that— 
 
 “ Notwithstanding the continued competition with the river from various sources, the 
 increase of the tonnage for the year 1850, over that of 1849, amounts, in imports, to 
 3,352 tons register, and in exports to 3,427 tons. The directors find that the revenue 
 of the company, for the year 1850, has amounted to £1550. 10s. 3d., and that the 
 interest paid on loans, preference shares, and for hank commission, has been 
 £926. 18s. 3d., leaving a balance of £623. 12s., available for the working expenses of 
 the company.” 
 
 In 1851, the report intimates that the “pilots and mariners frequenting 
 the river, all concur in their testimony of the great improvement which is 
 

 398 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 being effected in the navigation of the river.” The directors likewise 
 published the following analysis of the traffic for the first six months in 
 the years 1849, 1850, and 1851 :— 
 
 
 Tonnage. 
 IIalf-year ending 
 30th June, 1849. 
 
 Tonnage. 
 Half-year ending 
 30th June, 1850. 
 
 Tonnage. 
 Half-year ending 
 30th June, 1851. 
 
 Irish Traffic . 
 
 13,285 
 
 14,646 
 
 14,276 
 
 Iron Traffic . . 
 
 1,087 
 
 1,480 
 
 2,954 
 
 Liverpool Traffic . 
 
 3,030 
 
 3,291 
 
 3,459 
 
 Other Coasting Traffic. 
 
 5.961 
 
 7,407 
 
 6,170 
 
 Foreign Traffic. 
 
 1,247 
 
 2,065 
 
 3,096 
 
 Total.’”... 
 
 24,610 
 
 28,889 
 
 29,955 
 
 In 1852, the “Gem” steamer ivas placed upon the river, its predecessor, 
 the “ Lily” having been previously disposed of. The imports for the 
 year were 39,716 tons, and the exports 24,888 tons. 
 
 The engineer (Hr. P. Park), reported that “ the hank of gravel, about 
 three quarters of a mile in length, stretching downwards from the chain- 
 caul, had been efficiently and effectually removed by the dredging 
 operations ; 104,940 tons of gravel having been dredged from the river’s 
 bed, at a cost, including all wages and repair’s, of 3fd. per ton.” Mr. 
 Park likewise intimated that the channel had been much obstructed by 
 forest trees, “ some of very large dimensions, in one or two instances con¬ 
 taining one hundred cubic feet of timber in each tree.” Upwards of one 
 hundred of these trees had been taken from the river’s bed during the 
 previous six months, containing from two thousand to three thousand cubic 
 feet of timber ; a great proportion of which was found at and near to that 
 part of the river “ not inappropriately named 4 Peg Hill,’ opposite to 
 Ashton marsh.” 
 
 In 1853, the directors obtained another act of parliament, to facilitate 
 the disposal of reclaimed lands, together with other powers. They 
 report,— 
 
 “ According to the general wish of the parties connected with the trade of the river, 
 powers were taken * * to levy dues as well upon vessels as upon cargoes. # * * 
 
 The new scale came into operation on the 1st November last, (1853). From a compari¬ 
 son of the tolls received in the months of November, December, and January last, s with 
 the corresponding months of November and December, 1852, and January, 1853, the 
 company’s revenue has increased in those months by the sum of £221. 7s. lid., and the 
 tonnage for the year has increased 1,943 tons. * * The total quantity of land laid 
 
 down in the deposited plan as reclaimed is 9l3a. 2r. 4p. which will become available to 
 the company in the autumn of this year.” 
 
 Mr. ^ r . Threlfall, iron merchant, this year placed upon the Kibble, a 
 fine new steamer, named “ The Preston,” two hundred and sixty-two tons 
 register. The vessel was intended for the Scotch trade. Land on the 
 
 s The report is dated February 23rd, 1854. 
 
tba.de and commerce. 
 
 399 
 
 bank of the Ribble, was let to Messrs. Watson and Allsop, for tl^e build¬ 
 ing of iron vessels. The dredge was actively employed near the “ Savick 
 Caul,” a locality which hitherto had presented an important obstruction to 
 the navigation. 
 
 In 1854, the directors reported an increased revenue from tolls and dues. 
 The total receipts from this source amounted to £1831. 16s. 3d. The 
 directors likewise published the following statement respecting the reclaimed 
 land, outlie 21st of February, 1855 :— 
 
 ON TnE NORTH SIDE OF THE RIVER. 
 
 Quantity of Price Purchase 
 
 Land reclaimed. To whom sold. per acre. money. 
 
 A. R. P. £ s. D. 
 
 In Lea. 49 0 12 .. Sir. H. B. Hoghton .. £26 .. 1275 19 0 
 
 In Clifton .146 1 0 .. J. T. Clifton, esq. .. £25 .. 3656 5 0 
 
 In Freckleton. 47 2 28 .. H. Pedder, esq. .. £25 .. 1191 17 6 
 
 InNwton. 36 1 10 .. Messrs. Fisher & Loxham .. £25 .. 907 16 3 
 
 ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE RIVER. 
 
 In Hutton . 90 2 20 1 The purchase money for these lots to be fixed by 
 
 In Hesketh.436 2 10 JT Arbitration.t 
 
 In Howick. 100 3 29 .. Vested in the company absolutely, and retained 
 
 by them. 
 
 The dredge was principally employed during this year in cutting a per¬ 
 manent channel through the clay bank at the Haze. 
 
 In 1855, land was leased to Messrs. Ogle and Robinson, for the purpose 
 of ship building. Mr. Thomas Smith had previously formed a graving- 
 dock and ship building establishment, on the bank of the river. Several 
 large vessels (iron and timber), are at the present time in the course of 
 construction by these firms. One on the stocks, in Mr. Smith’s yard, is about 
 a thousand tons burthen; and another, nearly the same size, of iron, will 
 be launched this summer, from Messrs. Ogle and Robinson’s establishment. 
 
 The “ Lady Lindsay” steamer, engaged for the Irish trade, was unfor¬ 
 tunately lost at sea, in 1855. Messrs. M'Clure and Tamplin, of Liverpool, 
 advertised their intention of placing screw steamers on the station between 
 Liverpool and Preston. This announcement has not, however, been 
 carried into effect. In the early portion of this year, “in consequence of 
 the interruption of steam communication on the river, and other causes,” 
 the directors were “ unable to report an increase in the traffic.” The 
 receipts of dues and tolls, for the six months ending December 31st, 1855, 
 however, “ amounted to £1030. 11s. 10d., while for the corresponding 
 six months, ending 31st December, 1854, they amounted to £780. 3s. 9d. 
 
 Mr. Robert Parker was this year appointed managing director for the 
 company. Mr. E. Haydock continues to act as secretary. 
 
 t The prices awarded were, for Hutton, £1,184 0s. Od.; Hesketh, £5,108 0s. Od.; making the total 
 “ amount realised from the sales of land,” £13,323. 17s, 9d. The directors’ report, dated February 
 21st, 1856, says,—“The entire quantity of land which will ultimately be recoverable from the river, 
 (exclusive of the 913a. 2r. 4p. now reclaimed) will exceed 3,000 acres.” 
 
400 
 
 PKESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 
 The engineers report— 
 
 “ That the company’s works have been in a great measure suspended during the past 
 half year (1855); the ordinary repairs of the walls have been duly attended to. The 
 navigable channel is in a very good state, and continues to improve by the action of the 
 flood waters upon its bed. The reclamation of the land is progressing favourably, and 
 the vegetation is gradually extending on both sides of the estuary.” 
 
 The tolls and dues for the six months ending June 30th, 1856, amounted 
 to £802. 15s. lOd. The amount for the corresponding six months in 1855, 
 was £794. 15s. 4d. 
 
 The directors, in their report (August), “regret the entire suspension of 
 steam traffic on the river,” and urge upon shareholders “ the great impor¬ 
 tance of rendering every assistance and support ” to this species of traffic. 
 They further state, that they “have deemed it prudent, in the present 
 state of the money market, to confine the works to mere repairs of the 
 walls, and to delay the commencement of the important works on Hesketh 
 and Longton marshes. They have now determined to proceed with those 
 works, and accordingly have made arrangements with Messrs. Cooper and 
 Tullis, for the supply of stone for the walls to he formed there.” 
 
 STRIKES AND LOCKOUTS. 
 
 Preston has become somewhat celebrated as the principal “battle field,” 
 where the capital and labour engaged in the cotton manufacture fight 
 in defence of what each deems its respective rights or privileges. As a 
 manufacturing town, Preston possesses a few advantages, combined with 
 some drawbacks. It is thirty miles Rom the chief market at Manchester, 
 and some distance north of the great Lancashire coal field. These are 
 disadvantages; hut on the other hand, it is situated a little outside the 
 thoroughly manufacturing area, and, therefore, commands the first offer of 
 the services of a continually immigrating surplus agricultural population. 
 Its markets, from the same cause, being better supplied, provisions are 
 consequently cheaper. This is demonstrated by the prevailing practice of 
 many farmers in the neighbourhood, who regularly transfer their produce 
 to Blackburn, Bolton, etc., simply because, by so doing, they obtain better 
 prices. These circumstances, added to the acknowledged fact, that Preston 
 is a more desirable place of residence than most other neighbouring towns, 
 will explain why the manufacturing capitalists require a somewhat lower 
 rate of ivages to compete with the general trade; and, likewise, how they 
 continue so to rule it, notwithstanding the severe struggles consequent upon 
 its supposed injustice. 
 
 The true history of the labour and wages question is so little under¬ 
 stood, even by those most interested, that a cursory glance at the various 
 statutes affecting labour and capital, and the gradual emancipation of both 
 from the thraldom of legislative domination, will be neither uninteresting 
 nor uninstructive. 
 
TRADE AND COMMERCE. 
 
 401 
 
 It is very gratifying, no doubt, to l’ead or listen to eloquent expositions 
 on the liberty-loving propensities of the Anglo-Saxon people. But, in 
 plain modern English, during what is termed the Saxon period, the self- 
 styled “ people” formed but a small portion of the entire population ; 
 the great majority being, both in name and in fact, slaves. The free popula¬ 
 tion was divided into two classes, “ the Eorl and Ceorl, the men of noble 
 and ignoble descent. 
 
 “After the royal family, the highest order in the state was that of ealdorman or earls. 
 The districts which they governed were denominated their shires, confined originally to 
 a small tract of country, but gradually enlarged to the extent of our present counties. 
 The ‘thanes,’ so called from thegnian, to serve, were a numerous and distinguished 
 order of men, divided into several classes of different rank, with different privileges. The 
 lowest class of freemen was that of ceorls or husbandmen ; of these some possessed 
 bocland, but not in sufficient quantity to raise them to the rank of thanes; others held 
 land of their lords by the payment of rent, or other free but inferior services. # * * 
 
 These several classes formed but a small part of the population, of which, perhaps, not 
 less than two-thirds existed in a state of slavery.” u 
 
 These slaves were of various classes, but all were alike deprived of the 
 privileges of freemen. Their persons, families, and goods of every 
 description, were the property of their lord. Ho could dispose of them 
 as he pleased, either by gift or sale. He could annex them to the soil, 
 or remove them from it. He could transfer them with it to a new pro¬ 
 prietor, or leave them by will to his heirs. v 
 
 It has been previously shown that this state of vassalage was not mi¬ 
 tigated during the dominion of the early Norman monarchs. Edward III. 
 encouraged the trading of “merchant strangers;” but passed severe 
 enactments against all workmen who presumed to take more for their 
 labour than they had been accustomed to receive “ five or six common 
 years next before.” Butchers, bakers, poulterers, and other tradesmen 
 were ordered to sell their provisions at a price dictated by parliament; 
 and the wages of all classes of labourers were fixed by the same authority. 
 Labourers and artificers were compelled to remain in their own localities. 
 Those who left service were put in the stocks, and branded on the fore¬ 
 head with the letter E, “ in token of falsity.” The mayor and bailiffs of 
 any town were subjected to a fine of ten pounds, if they failed to deliver 
 up any such workman who had left service. In fact, the working men, 
 and, to some extent, even their employers, were still slaves. The very 
 food and clothing of each class was regulated by parliamentary enactment. 
 Workmen were restricted to one trade or mystery, and merchants were 
 permitted to deal in one kind of merchandise only, on pain of fine and 
 forfeiture. 
 
 In the reign of Eichard II. (1381), the rebellion under Wat Tyler 
 
 u Lingard’s His. Eng. Sea Palgrave, Sharon Turner, and others. v Ibid. 
 
402 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 broke out. The four conditions demanded by them, and, in the first 
 instance, granted by the king, show what was the state of the people, and 
 the real cause of the rising. They were,— 
 
 “1st. The total abolition of slavery for themselves and their children 
 for ever.—2nd. The reduction of the rent of good land to 4d. the acre.— 
 3rd. The full liberty of buying and selling, like other men, in all fairs 
 and markets.—4th. A general pardon for all past offences.” 
 
 The 12th of Itichard II. (1388), fixes the wages of labourers, and 
 punishes both the giver and receiver, by a fine equivalent to the excess so 
 given or taken ; double the amount for a second offence ; and for a third, 
 treble. Forty days’ imprisonment were awarded in default of payment. 
 A statute of Henry V. (1416), however, repeals the penalty so far as the 
 giver of higher wages is concerned, because, says the statute, they “will in 
 no wise present such excesses to eschew their own punishment.” The work¬ 
 men, however, are still subjected to “the pain contained in the said statute.” 
 Another of the same reign empowers justices to “ examine all manner of 
 labourers, servants, and their masters, of all things done contrary to the 
 said ordinances and statutes, and to punish them upon their confession, as 
 though they were convict by inquest.” The “ glorious days” of the 
 hero of Agincourt lose some of their splendour, when viewed through the 
 medium of these “ordinances and statutes.” 
 
 With such a system of “honourable labour,” it is in no way surprising 
 that the country was over-run by “rogues, vagabonds, and valliant 
 beggars,” concerning whom severe enactments follow side by side with 
 the laws regulating capital and labour. When a villein or serf contrived 
 to save a little property, without the knowledge of his owner, he generally 
 contrived to escape and conceal himself in some town. If he were suc¬ 
 cessful, for a year and a day, he acquired his freedom for ever. 
 
 The statute prices of labour, in 1350, and in 1444, were as follows. 
 The price of wheat, at the latter period, was, according to Sir Frederick 
 Eden, tenpence per bushel. A fat ox was worth 31s. 3d., a lean do., 
 13s.; a sheep (1449), 2s. 5£d, ; a calf, 2s.; a pig, 3s.; a goose, 3d.; 
 three pigeons, Id.; a quarter of malt, 4s. :— 
 
 In 1350. In 1444. 
 
 “A master carpenter . 3d. per day . 5d. per day. 
 
 A master or free mason . 4d. „ 4d. „ 
 
 Other common labourers about buildings Id. „ ... . 3d. „ 
 
 A mower . 5d. „ 6d. „ 
 
 A reaper . 3d. „ 5d. „ 
 
 Women and other labourers . Id. „ 4d. „ 
 
 The emancipation of the population from serfdom was a gradual 
 achievement. Mr. Macaulay says" - :— 
 
 w History of England, vol. 1, p. 22. 
 
TRADE AND COMMERCE. 
 
 403 
 
 “ Moral causes noiselessly effaced, first the distinction between Norman and Saxon, 
 and then the distinction between master and slave. None can venture to fix the 
 precise moment when either distinction ceased. Some faint traces of the old Norman 
 feeling might perhaps have been found late in the fourteenth century. Some faint 
 traces of the institution of villeinage were detected by the curious so late as the days 
 of the Stuarts; nor has that institution to this hour, been abolished by statute.” 
 
 Though the civil wars between the rival houses of York and Lancaster 
 hastened the progress of emancipation, neither the labour of the workman 
 nor the capital of the employer was freed from legislative dictation. Acts 
 of parliament were continually passed of a similar character to those pre¬ 
 viously quoted. The limited space available for the examination of this 
 question, in the present work, will permit, however, of reference to only 
 a few of the more important. 
 
 The dissolution of the religious houses, in the reign of Henry VIII., 
 induced an increase of vagabondage and mendicany. This, and the partial 
 emancipation of the villeins, necessitated the poor laws of Elizabeth. The 
 master, previously, was compelled, after his fashion, to keep his serfs, as 
 well as his cattle, whether he employed them or not. A new species of 
 slaves were created, however, after the Reformation; for, by the 1st 
 Edward VI., enacted “ for the punishment of vagabonds, and for the 
 relief of the poor and impotant persons,” it is ordained that, if a man 
 refuse to labour at statute prices, he is to be branded with the letter V, 
 and declared a slave for two years to any one who shall demand him. 
 Should he attempt to escape, an additional letter S is to be burnt upon 
 his cheek, and himself adjudged to be a slave for life. For any further 
 attempt to escape, he is to suffer death as a felon. “ Loitering and idle 
 wanderers,” male or female, of three days’ duration, are to be marked on 
 the breast with the letter V, sent to their place of birth, and compelled to 
 labour in chains as the slaves of the inhabitants, who are to keep them at 
 work under severe penalties. The master had the privilege of placing a 
 ring of iron about the leg, neck, or arm of his slave, “ for the more 
 knowledge and surety of keeping him.” 
 
 In this reign, combinations, both of capitalists and labourers appear to 
 have been formed. “.In Act touching Victuallers and Handicraftsmen” 
 (1548), recites that,— 
 
 “ Sellers of victuals, not contented with reasonable and moderate gain, have conspired 
 and covenanted together to sell their victuals at unreasonable prices ; * * and that 
 
 artificers, handicraftsmen, and labourers, have made confederacies and promises, and have 
 sworn mutual oaths, not only that they should not meddle one with another’s work, or 
 perform and finish that another hath begun ; but also to appoint how much work they 
 should do in a day, and what hours and times they shall work, to the great hurt and 
 impoverishment of the king’s subjects.” 
 
 Severe penalties are enacted against all sucb combinations. Parties 
 belonging to them are subjected, for the first offence, to a fine of ten 
 pounds, or twenty days’ imprisonment; for a second offence, twenty 
 
 2 c 2 
 
404 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 pounds, or the pillory; and for a third, to a penalty of forty pounds, or 
 the pillory, and loss of ears; and also, “ at all times afterwards to be 
 taken as a man infamous, and his depositions or oath not to be credited.” 
 
 By the 5th Elizabeth (1562-3), the rate of wages, hours of work, times 
 for meals, etc., are ordered to he settled annually by the justices in session 
 assembled; after calling “ unto them such discreet and grave persons as 
 they shall think meet, and, after conferring together respecting the plenty 
 or scarcity of the time, and other circumstances necessary to he considered.” 
 
 These rates are to he approved by the privy council, and afterwards 
 proclaimed by the sheriffs. Any employer giving excessive wages is sub¬ 
 jected to a penalty of five pounds, and ten days’ imprisonment; any 
 labourer receiving such, to twenty-one days’ imprisonment; and all such 
 contracts are to be void and of none effect. 
 
 Strype records that, owing to the threatened disturbances in the north, 
 a strict search was made in every part of the kingdom, on the night of 
 Sunday, the 10th July, 1569, for vagrants, beggars, gamesters, rogues, or 
 gipsies. The search commenced at nine o’clock in the evening, and was 
 continued till four o’clock on the following afternoon. It resulted in the 
 apprehension of thirteen thousand “ masterless men.” The offence 
 charged against these individuals was, that they had no visible mode of 
 living, “ except that which was derived from unlawful games, especially 
 of bowling, and maintenance of archery.” The offenders were “ all passed 
 to their own counties, under the direction of the magistrates.” 1 
 
 In Elizabeth’s reign, acts were passed directing how leather should be 
 tanned, and hats and caps manufactured. The hatters’ statute orders that all 
 persons above the age of six years, except ladies, lords, knights, and gentle¬ 
 men worth twenty marks per year in land, to wear upon their heads “ one 
 cap of wool, made within this realm of England, and dressed and finished by 
 some of the trade or science of cappers.” Contumacy was punished by a 
 fine of 3s. 4d. This was protection to the home manufacturer with a 
 vengeance! 
 
 Sir George Xicholls gives the following as the average rate of wages, 
 including the allowance for clothing, for the periods referred to. y He 
 says : “It will be seen that an increase had taken place, nearly cor¬ 
 responding with the increase in the price of provisions ” :— 
 
 By the Year. 
 
 1495. 
 
 1593. 
 
 1610. 
 
 A bailiff in husbandry . 
 
 s. d. 
 
 ..31 8 . 
 
 s. d. 
 
 .40 0. 
 
 s. d. 
 .52 O 
 
 A bine, shepherd, or husbandry servant' 
 of the best sort . i 
 
 | 25 0. 
 
 .34 4. 
 
 .50 0 
 
 A common servant in husbandry. 
 
 .20 8. 
 
 .30 0. 
 
 .40 0 
 
 x Strype’s Ann., vol. 1, p. 572. 
 
 y Ilis. Eng. Poor-law, vol. 1. p. 209. 
 
TRADE AND COAIAIERCE. 
 
 By the Yeae. 1495. 
 
 s. d. 
 
 An inferior servant in husbandry..... 
 
 A woman servant .14 0.. 
 
 A youth under sixteen . 9 8.. 
 
 By the Day. 
 
 
 405 
 
 1593. 
 
 1610. 
 
 s. d. 
 
 s. d. 
 
 25 0.. 
 
 .29 0 
 
 .17 4.. 
 
 .26 8 
 
 16 0.. 
 
 .20 0 
 
 0 10.. 
 
 
 0 5.. 
 
 
 0 5.., 
 
 
 0 4.. 
 
 
 0 8 S 
 
 on an ^ 0 10 
 
 0 7 ( 
 
 average ) 0 8 
 
 A reaper or carter, do. 0 5. 
 
 All other labourers without } in summer ... 0 4.. 
 
 meat and drink.) in winter . 0 3. 
 
 Artificers without meat and j in summer ... 0 6. 
 
 drink. j in winter . 0 5. 
 
 A document, in the possession of It. Townley Parker, esq., gives the 
 
 rate of -wages as fixed hy the magistrates, for the hundred of Blackburn, 
 at the sessions held in Preston, in April, 1673. The local legislators pre¬ 
 mise their tariff with a declaration, that they have been induced to devote 
 their attention to the subject, in “consideration to what exorbitant 
 height, for want of putting ye laws in execucon, servantes ai’e now 
 growne; for reformation thereof; and to ye end that masters and mistresses 
 of families shall not soe frequently tcmpte a good servante to leave his 
 service hy offering more or greater wages than ye Law permitts.” The 
 following is the scale agreed upon; any infringement of which subjected 
 the offenders to similar punishments to those previously recited. The 
 removal of a workman to another parish, without authority, is likewise 
 expressly prohibited:— 
 
 Seevants and Artificeks of Husbandry. 
 
 1. —A Bayliffe or foreman of Husbandry yt is hyred with a Gent, or a rich yeomon yt 
 doth not labour liimselfe but putteth his whole charge to his servt shall not take by the 
 yeare for his wages with meate & drinke above iij A xs. (£3. 10s.) 
 
 2. —A chiefe servt in Husbandry to a yeomon or Husbandman yt can mow plow or 
 Bowe & doe other Husbandry shall not take for his wages with meate & drinke above 
 ij/. xs. 
 
 3. —A miller shall not take by the year above iij/. 
 
 4. —An ordinary servt in Husbandry yt can mowe and plowe well shall not take by 
 ye yeare with meate and drinke above ip. xs. And every other comon servant in Hus¬ 
 bandry shall not take by ye yeare above ip. 
 
 5. —A young man betweene the age of 12 and 18 yeares shall not take by the yeare 
 with meate & drinke above xxvjs. viijrf. 
 
 0.—A woman servante that taketh charge of Brewinge, Bakeinge, & Kitchinge, 
 Milkehouse, or Maltinge, yt is hired with a gent, or rich yeomon whose wife doth not 
 take the paines & charge upon her, shall not take wages by the yeare with meate and 
 drinke above xxxs. 
 
 7.—A woman servt yt servetli a Husbandman or farmer or any other woman servt 
 shall not take by the yeare with meate and drinke above xxvjs. viijcf. 
 
 Harvest worke. 
 
 8. —A Mower of grasse shall not take by the day with meate and drinke above six 
 pence, aud without meate and drinke above xijri. 
 
 9. —A man shearer or Bynder of corne shall not take by the day with meate & drinke 
 above fouer pence & without meate and drinke viijrA 
 
 10. —A man Haymaker iijrf. a woman ij d. a Wecder or Lowker of corne being a man, 
 shall not take by the day with meate and drinke above ijr/., without meate and drinke 
 vje?., and a woman iiijd. 
 
406 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 11. —Every man labourer for Ditchinge, Pailinge or Raileinge, Hedgemge, Threshinge, 
 or otlier comon labourers, from ye Feast of All Sts to the first day of March, shall not 
 take for wages by the day with meat and drink above iijc/., without meate & drinke not 
 above six pence; and from ye first day of March untile All Saintes with meate and 
 drinke not above fouer pence, and without meat and drinke not above Eight pence. 
 
 12. —Noe man shall for castinge or settinge any ditch, haveing the Quick wood layed 
 besides him, which ditch is more than one yarde, and Quarter broade and a yard deep, 
 above yj d. for a roode, and when the ditch is bigger or lesser according to the Quantity 
 and rate. 
 
 13. —Noe man that scowreth a ditch three spade Breadth and two depth shall not 
 take for one Rood scowring above ijrf., and for one spade gripp in breadth and depth for 
 making every roode not above a lialfepenny. 
 
 14. —Noe man shall take for makeing a rough drye stone wall, hauing the stones layed 
 heside him, which wall is one yard and lialfe high & halfe a yard thick, above xiji. a 
 roode without meate and drinke. 
 
 Artificers & Handicraftsmen. 
 
 A master Mason that taketh charge of a mans buildinge, liauinge under him or them 
 one two or three men yt. have been two or three yeares at the occupion, shall not take 
 for wages for himself by the day at any time of the yeare, with meat and drinke, above 
 yj</., and without meat and drinke not above xijrf., & for every one yt worketh under him 
 hee shall not take by the day, with meate and drinke, from ye feast of St. Michaell tlieArch- 
 angell untill ye 25th day of March, with meate and drinke not above iij., without meate 
 and drinke not above vjc?., and from the 25th day of March, until the feast of St. 
 Michaell the Archangell, with meate and drinke, not above iiijc?. and without meate and 
 drinke not above viijrf. 
 
 16. —A Master Carpenter who taketh charge of buildinges that hath one two or 
 three men under him that hath been two or three yeares at the science, shall not take 
 for wages by the day, with meat and drinke, above yjrf., and without meat and drinke 
 not above xijrf. 
 
 17. —A Mason or other Carpenter that hath but one man or none and that are not 
 masters of a charge of a building but of other work, as Hewing, Squaring, Walling, or 
 such like, or Plumer, Glazier, Lymeburner,Cowper, Bricklayer, or Thatcher,Turner, Brick- 
 maker, Slater or Taylor, shall not take by the day for wages, with meat and drinke, not 
 above yjrf. from ye Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary untill Michaelmas and 
 without meate & drinke not above xij d. And from the feast of St. Michael ye Arch¬ 
 angell untill ye 25th of March, with meate & drinke, not above iijrf., and without meate 
 and drinke, not above viijrf., except Thatchers, who may take by ye day throughout ye 
 whole yeare vjrf. 
 
 18. —A master Taylor that shall make a Gent, or Gentlewoman their Apparell shall 
 not take by the day above yj d., his servante iijd. 
 
 Cloath Workers and Dyers. 
 
 19. —Noe Journeyman Webster, fuller, cloath workers, shereman, or dyer shall not 
 take for his wages above iiij d. with meate & drinke, and without meate and drinke not 
 above viijrf., and if hee be hired by the yeare, if hee bee a very skillfull workeman in 
 these sciences he shall have iij/. per annum, and comon weavers, cloath-workers, shoremen, 
 fullers, & dyers shall not take for their wages yearly above ij/. xs. 
 
 Colliers. 
 
 20. —No Collier or workeman that is skilfull in getteinge of coaels shall take wages by 
 ye day, without meate and drinke, above xd. 
 
 21. —Noe filler or drawer of coaels shall take for his wages by ye day, without meate 
 and drink, above vj d. 
 
 22. —Noe Bankesman or drawer up of coaels shall take for his wages by ye day, with¬ 
 out meate and drinke, above viijrf. 
 
 The following documents, in the possession of the Eev. W. Thoraher, 
 will serve to show the value of household furniture and farming imple- 
 
TRADE AND COMMERCE. 
 
 407 
 
 ments and stock, in Lancashire, at the end of the seventeenth century, 
 and illustrate the difference in the value of money at that period and the 
 present time z :— 
 
 “October 16th, 1669. Then ; a Sale Bill made of all such Goods and Chattells as 
 were sold in open Sale, by Thomas Chippindale, of Borrands, w th in Gressingham, as 
 followeth:— 
 
 “Impr. £. s. d. 
 
 Britt Chippindale, 6 Bands .00 00 04 
 
 Tho. Barber, 6 Bands.00 00 03 
 
 Barthol. Parker, Harrow Bulls .00 00 041 
 
 Itm. two Tarr Kitts.00 00 03 
 
 ffran. Chapman, a pan- of Gripes .00 00 03 
 
 Itm. a Spade .00 00 06 
 
 Rob. Latas, a Spade.00 00 03£ 
 
 Rob. Heysam, a Spade . 00 00 03 
 
 Rich. Thompson, a fforke.00 01 06 
 
 Rob. Lutus, a sheep Cribbe .00 00 06J 
 
 Mr. Rich. Eskrigge, Timber wood.00 09 08 
 
 Itm. for a Plough .00 00 11 
 
 Itm an Ox Calfe.01 01 07 
 
 Itm. a Heifer .01 10 00 
 
 Anth. Thompson, a Heifer. 01 16 08 
 
 Bry. Birkett, a Heifer.02 14 06 
 
 Marg. Barker, a Heifer . 02 16 00 
 
 Tho. Townson, a Heifer .02 17 00 
 
 Josuah Bryer, a Heifer .03 15 06 
 
 Rob. Lucas, a Cow .03 17 06 
 
 Tho. Townson, two Oxen .08 09 00 
 
 Mr. Rich. Eskrigge, two Oxen .09 16 01 
 
 Rob. Cliorley, a Cow .03 12 00 
 
 Tho. Walters, 10 Sheep .02 07 06 
 
 Rich. Thompson, 10 Sheep .01 19 02 
 
 James Craven a ffilly . 04 03 04 
 
 In all.51 11 01£ 
 
 “ A true and perfect Inventory of all the Goods, Chattells, and Debts, w cl ‘ of late did 
 belong to Thomas Chippindale, late of Borrands, w 111 in Gressingham, in the Comity of 
 Lancaster, yeoman, deceased. Apprized the 13tli Day of November, Anno Dnj., 1699 
 as followeth :— 
 
 “ Impr. £. s. d. 
 
 His purss and Apparrill. 02 00 00 
 
 Bedding and Bedcloths .01 10 00 
 
 Cupboards and Chests.00 02 04 
 
 Tables, Chaires, and Boards .01 02 00 
 
 Brass and Pewther.01 00 00 
 
 Wooden vessell. Girdle, & Brand Iron .00 18 06 
 
 Hemp, Wooll, & other things.01 14 00 
 
 Sacks, Poaks, & Hempseed.00 10 00 
 
 Meal, Malt, & a fflesh tubbe .00 15 00 
 
 Plough & Plough Gear .00 06 00 
 
 Cartts, Wheeles, wth Husband Gear.00 12 00 
 
 Corn, Hay, & Straw .16 00 00 
 
 /. See Chapter 5., page 207, for a similar document, of the middle of the seventeenth century, 
 likewise in the possession of Mr. Tliornbcr. 
 
408 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 Sheep & one Mare .10 12 00 
 
 Two Cows.06 00 00 
 
 Money upon Speeialtye a .148 05 00 
 
 Money wtb out Speeialtye.015 11 01 
 
 Pullen, Turffe, & Dunghill .000 09 00 
 
 “ In all.207 17 11 
 
 “ Apprized by us, Tno. Burton. 
 
 Tho. Dixon. 
 
 Kicn. Thompson.” 
 
 In tlie 18th and 19th Charles II. (1666), anactforthe “encouragement 
 of the woollen manufacture in the kingdom,” orders that, under a penalty 
 of £5., no person shall he buried “ in any shirt, shift, or sheet,” other 
 than what is made from woollen only. 
 
 How little the legislators of the earlier portion of the last century under¬ 
 stood the coming destiny of commercial and manufacturing Britain, may 
 he gathered from the following “act to preserve and encourage the woollen 
 and silk manufactures,” (7th George II., 1720). The preamble declares 
 it “ most evident that the wearing and using of printed, painted, stained, 
 and dyed calicoes in apparel, household stuff, furniture, and otherwise, 
 does manifestly tend to the great detriment of the woollen and silk manu¬ 
 factures, and to the excessive increase of the poor, and if not prevented, 
 may be the utter ruin and destruction of the said manufactures, and of 
 many thousands whose livelihoods do entirely depend thereupon.” The 
 wearing of printed or dyed calico is forbidden by the statute, under a penalty 
 of five pounds ! The seller of it, except for exportation, was mulcted in 
 the sum of £20 ! ! By another act passed the same year, it was resolved, 
 under a penalty of £5., “ that no buttons or button-holes made of cloth, 
 serge, drugget, frieze, camblet, or any other stuffs, should be made, set, or 
 bound on any clothes or wearing garments whatsoever, by any tailor or 
 other person.” This was passed with the object of relieving the “ great 
 impoverishment ” of the manufacturers of buttons made of silk, mohair, 
 and thread. 
 
 In 1720, another act was passed “for regulating journeymen tailors.” 
 It declares that “ great numbers of journeymen tailors in and about the 
 cities of London and "Westminster, and others who have served apprentice¬ 
 ships, or been brought up in the art and mystery of a tailor, have lately 
 departed from their services without just cause, and have entered into 
 combination to advance their wages to unreasonable prices, and lessen their 
 usual hours of work, which is of evil example, and manifestly tends to the 
 prejudice of trade, to the encouragement of idleness, and to the great 
 
 a Invested on special security, or by deed under seal. 
 
TRADE AND COMMERCE. 
 
 409 
 
 increase of the poor.” The act then proceeds to denounce all such 
 covenants or agreements for the advancement of wages, or for lessening 
 the usual hours of work, as illegal and void; and subjects all persons offend¬ 
 ing therein, to two months’ imprisonment with hard labour ! The men are 
 ordered to work from six in the morning till eight at night, with an allow¬ 
 ance, by the employer, of “ one penny halfpenny a day for breakfast, and one 
 hour for dinner.” The wages were not to exceed two shillings a day, 
 between the 26th of March and the 24th of June ; for the remainder of 
 the year, one shilling and eightpence must suffice. It likewise declares 
 that if any journeyman tailor quitteth his labour, or if he, “not being 
 retained or employed, shall refuse to enter into work or employment, after 
 request made for that purpose by any master tailor, for the wages and 
 hours limited as aforesaid, unless it be for some reasonable and sufficient 
 cause to be allowed by two justices of the peace,” his Utopian notions 
 respecting personal freedom are to be subjected to the discipline of hard 
 labour in the house of correction, for any period not exceeding two months! 
 In what shape harder labour, than he was expected to perform as a 
 peaceful citizen, could be administered or endured, it is difficult, in these 
 days of comparative freedom, to conjecture. The employer’s liberty of 
 judgment or action was not a whit more respected. A penalty of five 
 pounds was decreed, on any master tailor or other person who should pre¬ 
 sume to pay greater wages than those prescribed by the act! one half of 
 which was given to the informer, and the other to the poor of the parish. 
 
 Five years afterwards, a similar act was passed “ to prevent unlawful 
 combinations of workmen employed in the woollen manufactures.” This 
 act, however, prohibits, under a penalty of £10., all manufacturers of 
 woollen cloths from paying any portion of the wages of their weavers, or 
 others in their employ, “in goods or by way of track, or in any other 
 manner than in money.” The employers are protected against violence or 
 dictation on the part of the workmen, by the terrors of a seven years’ trans¬ 
 portation. 
 
 The introduction of some such statutes, to regulate the cotton manufac¬ 
 ture, during the late “strike” and “lock-out,” at Preston, would have 
 somewhat astonished both the operatives and their employers ! 
 
 This species of legislation must have, in itself, materially aided in the 
 propagation of mendicancy and vagabondism; against which acts were 
 passed, reeking with the vengeful spirit of the lowest of savageism. Dr. 
 Burn, 1 ’ writing in 1764, forcibly observes:—“The prevention of poverty, 
 idleness, and a loose and disorderly education, would do more for this 
 kingdom, than all the gibbets and cauterizations, and whipping posts, and 
 
 b History of the Poor Laws. 
 
410 
 
 PRESTON' AND IT3 ENVIRONS. 
 
 gaols, in the kingdom; and would render these kinds of discipline less 
 necessary and less frequent.” Experience has proved the truth of the 
 doctor’s observations. The question may be studied yet to further 
 advantage. 
 
 The 20th George II. (1747), empowered justices, not only to fix the 
 rate of wages, but to settle all disputes between masters and workmen. 
 Sir George Nicholls, in his History of the English Poor Law, says,:— c 
 
 “ The last occasion on which the power of limiting wages appears to have been exer¬ 
 cised, was a little more than twenty years previous to the passing of the present act (20th 
 George II.), when the justices of the county palatine of Lancaster, ‘upon conference 
 with discreet men of the said county,’ on the 22nd of May, 1725, established the follow¬ 
 ing as a maximum scale :—d 
 
 A bailiff in husbandry or chief hind, by the year, .not above 
 
 The best millers. 
 
 A chief servant in husbandry, that can mow or sow, or do other 
 
 husbandry well. 
 
 A common servant in husbandry, of 24 and upwards . 
 
 A man servant from 20 to 24 years of age. 
 
 A ditto from 16 to 20 ditto. 
 
 The best woman servant being a cook, or able to take charge of a 
 
 household .not above 
 
 A chamber maid, dairy maid, and wash maid or other mean 
 
 servant .not above; 
 
 A woman servant, under 16 years of age.. 
 
 LABOURERS BY THE DAY. 
 
 The best husbandry labourer, from the midst of March to the 
 
 midst of September. 
 
 An ordinary sort of husbandry labourer ditto 
 
 The best husbandry labourer, from the midst of September to the 
 
 midst of March .not above 
 
 The ordinary sort of ditto. „ 
 
 Man haymaker . „ 
 
 Woman haymaker. „ 
 
 A mower of hay. „ 
 
 Man shearer . „ 
 
 Woman shearer. „ 
 
 Hedgers, ditchers, pailers, and thrashers. „ 
 
 Masons, carpenters, joiners, plumbers, tilers, slaters, coopers, and 
 
 turners, who are not master workman.not above 
 
 The master workman, who has others working under him ,, 
 
 Bricklayers, plasterers, wliiteliners. „ 
 
 A master bricklayer, who has others working under his direction 
 
 A pair of sawyers, by the day . „ 
 
 A master tailor . „ 
 
 A journeyman tailor and apprentice. „ 
 
 WORK IN GREAT. 
 
 For an acre of oats, seven yards to the rood . „ 
 
 Without 
 
 Meat 
 
 and Drink. 
 
 With 
 Meat and 
 Drink. 
 
 £ 
 
 s. 
 
 d. 
 
 £ 
 
 s. 
 
 d. 
 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 5 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 10 
 
 0 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 10 
 
 0 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 10 
 
 0 
 
 } 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 10 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 1 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 6 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 10 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 5 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 10 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 5 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 9 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 4 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 10 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 6 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 7 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 3 
 
 0 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 9 
 
 0 
 
 1 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 6 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 10 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 6 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 10 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 6 
 
 0 
 
 1 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 6 
 
 0 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 0 
 
 1 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 6 
 
 0 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 0 
 
 2 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 1 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 1 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 6 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 10 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 5 
 
 c Vol. 2, p. 47. 
 
 il See Sir F. Eden’s “State of the Poor,” vol. 3, p. 106. 
 
TRADE AND COMMERCE. 
 
 411 
 
 WORK IN GREAT. 
 
 Without 
 
 Meat 
 
 and Drink. 
 
 With 
 Me at and 
 Drink. 
 
 For an acre of barley ditto . 
 
 For an acre of wheat ditto . 
 
 Thrashing, winnowing, or farming a quarter of oats. 
 
 Ditto barley, beans, and peas . 
 
 Ditto wheat and rye. 
 
 £ 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 WHEELWRIGHTS. 
 
 Sawing a rood of hoards, 22 feet to the rood. „ 
 
 Hewing a gang of fellies . „ 
 
 Making a plough. „ 
 
 BRICKMAKERS. 
 
 For casting the clay, moulding it according to the statute, making 
 the kiln, and burning it, having straw and other necessaries laid 
 by, for every thousand of six score to the hundred.not above 
 
 HEDGERS AND DITCHERS. 
 
 For a new ditch out of the whole ground, 4 feet wide, 3 feet deep, 
 18 inches in the bottom, double set with quicks, and setting a 
 hedge upon it, after the rate of 8 yards to the rood, and gather¬ 
 ing sets for the same. 
 
 For making a rood of ditch of like breadth and depth, without 
 
 quicks . 
 
 For making a rood of a usual hedge, the stuff laid hy. 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 COLLIERS. 
 
 Miners in high delfe (a standing delfe), for 24 baskets, (a tunn) ... 0 
 Miners in low delfe (a sitting delfe), for 24 baskets . 0 
 
 PAVIOURS. 
 
 For paving every square yard, having the usual foundation made, 
 and the materials laid by . 0 
 
 6 0 
 7 0 
 
 1 0 
 1 6 
 
 2 0 
 
 8 0 
 1 0 
 2 0 
 
 3 0 
 
 1 0 
 
 0 10 
 0 3 
 
 1 0 
 1 3 
 
 0 1 I 
 
 Referring to this table, Sir George Nicliolls observes :— 
 
 “ The above order shews the minute precision with which the justices exercised the 
 powers conferred upon them for regulating the rates of wages, and the remuneration of 
 labour; and the scale therein prescribed affords a means of comparison with what is 
 usually paid on like occasions in the present day. In 1725, the price of wheat in the 
 Windsor market, according to the Eton tables, was 43s. l|d. a quarter, Winchester 
 measure. At the time I now write (1853), the Mark-lane price of wheat is 44s. the 
 quarter, scarcely differing from what it was a century and a quarter ago, whilst wages 
 have at least doubled since then, and the price of clothing has fallen at least one half.”e 
 
 What British workman would wish to restore the slavery and fare of 
 the first quarter of the eighteenth century? What capitalist would 
 rejoice at the resumption of the paternal authority of the state over such 
 details in his commercial arrangements ? The workmen, were however, 
 far the worse used; the object of this species of legislation evidently being 
 to prevent the law of supply and demand influencing the gains from their 
 labour. The order referred to, expressly declares the labourer shall not 
 
 e His. Eng-. Poor Law. vol. 2, p. 49. 
 
412 
 
 PRESTOX AXD ITS EXVIROXS. 
 
 receive above the specified sum, but is silent as to the acceptance of less! ! 
 Truly, personal slavery was not extinct in England, either then, or for 
 some time afterwards. Such selfish class legislation, however, harmonized 
 hut indifferently with the growing intelligence of the people. Combina¬ 
 tions amongst workmen were formed to resist this system of tyranny, but 
 they were as speedily interdicted by legislative enactment. The 22nd 
 George II. cap. 27, prohibits all combination amongst workmen of every 
 trade. The right to dispose of their labour to the best advantage is 
 thoroughly ignored. With reference to this act, Sir George Nicholls 
 makes the following just, practical, common sense observations :— 
 
 “ Such a prohibition can only be justified, on the ground of its being necessary for the 
 protection of life and property, or for the preservation of the public peace; but no such 
 cause of justification was adduced on the present, or on the previous occasions, and this 
 absolute prohibition of all combinations must, therefore, be held to have been opposed to 
 justice and sound policy.” 
 
 Eesistance, however, was not extinguished; for in 1768, the 8th George 
 III. declares that the frequent combinations of the London tailors led “ to 
 the prejudice of trade, to the encouragement of idleness, and to the great 
 increase of the poor.” The act determined that the hours of labour should 
 be from six in the morning to seven in the evening, “ with an interval of one 
 hour only for refreshment.” It likewise decreed the wages should not exceed 
 2s. 7id. per day, except at a period of general mourning; when, for the space 
 of a month, 5s. l^d. might he paid. Any workman receiving, or master pay¬ 
 ing, more, was subjected to a penalty of two months’ imprisonment and hard 
 labour! And this was not all. In order to prevent the said “masters” 
 evading the law by the employment of workmen who did not reside within 
 five miles of the city of London, a penalty of £500. was imposed, “ one 
 half to the king, and the other half to the person suing for the same.” 
 
 In 1795, (35 George III.) some progress was made in the legislative 
 policy respecting migration in search of employment. It was enacted that 
 poor persons should not be removed to their own parish, until they actually 
 became chargeable. This was a great boon at the time, and relieved the 
 persevering operative from the capricious interference of parish authorities. 
 Previously, the possibility that a person might obtain a settlement and 
 become chargeable, was a sufficient excuse for ordering his removal. 
 
 At the end of the last century, a practice had become very prevalent of 
 eking out labourers’wages from the poor’s rate. Parties were sent “on 
 the rounds,” as it was termed, by the overseers; that is each householder 
 in turn was compelled to employ the applicant, or pay a portion towards 
 his sustenance, the remainder being provided by the parish authorities. 
 
 An attempt was made by the Berkshire justices to regulate the rate of 
 wages, in 1795, according to the price of provisions. It was decreed 
 that:— 
 
TRADE AND COMMERCE. 
 
 413 
 
 “ When the gallon loaf of second flour, weighing 81b. 11 oz., shall cost Is., then every 
 poor and industrious man shall have for his own support 3s. weekly, either produced by 
 his own or his family’s labour, or an allowance from the poor rates; and for the support 
 of his wife and every other of Iris family, Is. 6d. 
 
 “ When the gallon loaf shall cost 1 s. 4d., then every poor and industrious man shall 
 receive 4s. weekly for his own, and Is. lOd. for the support of every other of his 
 family. 
 
 “ And so on in proportion, as the price of bread rises or falls (that is to say) 3d. to the 
 man and Id. to every other of the family, on every penny which the loaf rises above a 
 shilling. 
 
 This “ Berkshire Bread-scale ” was locally known as the “ Speenliamland 
 Act of Parliament.” According to Sir George Aid tolls, it was extensively 
 adopted in other counties/ 
 
 Such a practice produced the most unfortunate results. Ao insignificant 
 portion of the wages of the operative population, especially in the agricul¬ 
 tural districts, was derived from the parish. This indiscriminate pauperis¬ 
 ing of industrious labourers was not eradicated until after the intro¬ 
 duction of the much abused “ Poor Law Amendment Act,” in 1834. 
 
 The honour of first propounding a sounder principle of legislation respect¬ 
 ing labour and wages, appears to he due to Mr. Pitt. In 1796, he 
 opposed a measure, introduced by Mr. "Whitbread, for the purpose of 
 regulating wages, and forcibly observed that, “ trade, industry, and 
 barter, would always find their own level, and be impeded by regulations 
 which violated their natural operation, and deranged their proper effect.” 
 He contended that to give “justices the power to regulate the price of 
 labour, would be endeavouring to establish, by authority, what would be 
 much better accomplished by the unaided operation of principle.” 
 
 Considerable advance in the price of provisions, etc., took place at the 
 commencement of the present century. Many reasons have been assigned for 
 the change, none, perhaps, individually, very satisfactory. Various causes 
 may have operated to produce the result. The effect on the working 
 population was severe in the extreme, and especially during the period of 
 scarcity which continued for some time after the conclusion of the war 
 with France. Sir George Aicholls says:— 
 
 “ Whatever may have been the cause of the rise which took place during the period 
 under consideration, in the price of all the articles necessary for sustaining life, the effect 
 must at the time have borne hard upon those who lived by labour, and must have 
 exposed the working classes generally to much privation; for wages neither rise nor fall 
 in immediate nor in exact proportion to the changes of price. Mechanics and operatives 
 in towns, might succeed in obtaining an advance of wages in some degree commensurate 
 with the advance in prices; but such would not be the case with labourers generally, 
 nor with the agricultural labourers in particular—the advance they obtained was too 
 often, if not most commonly, from the poor-rate. In a debate on the presentation, by 
 Mr. Calvert, in 1817, of petitions from two parishes in Dorsetshire, S complaining of the 
 burthen of the poor-rates, which in one year amounted to 19s., and in the other to 21s. in 
 
 f English Poor Law, vol. 2, p. 13 
 
 g See Hansard’s Debates for March 7, 1S17. 
 
414 
 
 PRESTON AND IT’S ENVIRONS. 
 
 the pound, Lord Castlereagh, whose official position afforded him the means of obtaining 
 the best information, expressed his conviction, ‘ that in cases where 19s. or 20s. in the 
 pound were paid for poor-rates, 15s. of that would be found to be wages paid in the 
 shape of poor-rates,’ for that the fanners had been long in the habit, in many parts of 
 the country, of paying a great proportion of the wages of farm labour out of the poor- 
 rates.” 
 
 The good harvest of 1818, materially improved the condition of the 
 labourer, which has gradually progressed since, notwithstanding some 
 important interruptions. 
 
 It was not until 1814 (54th George III.), that the act of Elizabeth, 
 which restricted the exercise of any “ art, mystery, or manual occupation” 
 to parties who “ shall have been brought up therein seven years at the 
 least as an apprentice,” was repealed. There is a special provision, how¬ 
 ever, that “ the ancient customs, usages, privileges, or franchises of the 
 city of London,” are to remain intact! 
 
 It would appear, after all, that the operatives have learned most of 
 their notions, crude, erroneous, or otherwise, respecting the regulation of 
 wages and trade, from their superiors in station and intelligence; and that 
 ancient usage and personal prejudice can prevent progress, in this respect, 
 in wealthy corporations, as well as in working men’s trades unions. 
 
 After the establishment of the “Hew Poor-law Board,” the com¬ 
 missioners, finding an excess of labour in the southern counties, and a 
 corresponding demand in the manufacturing districts,— 
 
 “ So far interfered as to put the manufacturers of Lancashire into communication 
 with certain of the most burthened rural parishes, which led to the voluntary removal of 
 many families from places where wages were very low, to others where they were com¬ 
 paratively high, and where, moreover, there was full employment for women and children. 
 A large migration from the most pauperised districts took place in consequence ; and 
 the commissioners state that all these migrants were employed, ‘ and earning collectively 
 as families, three times the amount of wages which they had at any time earned in the 
 districts which they had quitted,’ whilst the effect upon the parishes was a proportionate 
 reduction of the rates.” h 
 
 Since the emancipation of the operative population from this state of 
 semi-serfdom, two important struggles have taken place in Preston, 
 with reference to the price of labour, and the conditions of its employ¬ 
 ment,—one in 1836, and the other in 1853-4. During the present 
 century, some minor efforts amongst various trades have transpired, but 
 not of sufficient public importance to demand special notice. The strug¬ 
 gles between the employers and the employed, in the staple manufacture, 
 will sufficiently illustrate those of capital and labour generally. 
 
 Mr. Whittle mentions that, as early as 1808, “the cotton weavers of 
 the town assembled on the Moor in great numbers, in order to consult and 
 induce their employers to raise wages.” He further records the significant 
 fact, that “the military were ready at a moment’s notice on this occasion.” * 
 
 J 
 
 Jh 
 
 h Sir George Nicholls. English Poor-law, vol. 2, p. 324. i History of Preston, vol. 1, p. 311. 
 
TRADE AND COMMERCE. 
 
 415 
 
 
 
 Considerable destitution bad prevailed in tbe town, and subscriptions had 
 been raised for the relief of the poor. As no mention is made of any 
 results from the weavers’ meeting, it is most probable no change was 
 effected. 
 
 A petition from the manufacturers and inhabitants of Preston, containing 
 9,812 signatures, was presented to the house of commons, in 1817, 
 “against the exportation of cotton twist.” This exhibits a somewhat 
 different principle of commercial legislation to that propounded by the 
 free-trade capitalists during the strike of 1853-4. 
 
 In 1818, an unsuccessful attempt was made to raise wages by the 
 weavers. Upwards of 1,200 persons paraded the streets on this occasion. 
 
 In 1821, a reduction of ten per cent, being made in the operative cotton 
 spinners’ wages, they suspended labour for about three weeks. They 
 resumed their employment, however, without obtaining their object. 
 
 Disturbances occurred in 1831, and some damage was done to the mill 
 belonging to Messrs. Iiirley and Turton, the “ big factory,” at Pishwick. 
 Wages was not the question at issue on this occasion ; but the prevention 
 of the introduction of improved machinery. In the following year, the * 
 “martello towers” were erected at the House of Correction, with the view 
 to strengthen the place, which had been threatened with an attack by the 
 rioters. 
 
 In 1836, the memorable struggle known as the “spinners’ strike,” 
 took place. The agitation commenced in October. The strike itself 
 lasted three months. The dispute originated in a demand of the operatives 
 for an equalisation of their wages with the prices paid in Bolton. The 
 employers agreed to give an advance of ten per cent., on condition that 
 the operatives seceded from the trades-union; but this was rejected. On 
 the 7th November, the spinners discontinued their attendance, and con- 
 scquently the mills were closed. Eight thousand five hundred people 
 tvere thus suddenly thrown out of employment, seven thousand eight 
 hundred and forty of whom were altogether unconnected with the dispute, 
 as will be seen from the folloAving table, extracted from a paper read before 
 the British Association, at Liverpool, and printed in the “Working Man’s 
 Companion,” for 1838 :— 
 
 Spinners. 660 
 
 Piecers, and children employed by spinners.1320 
 
 Card-room hands, reelers, and power-loom weavers.6100 
 
 Overlookers, packers, engineers, etc. 420 
 
 Total.8500 j 
 
 j Mr. Whittle says (His. Preston, vol. 2, p. 174), “ upwards of 15,000 persons (including women 
 and children), ” were thrown out of employment; bn: this is evidently an exaggerated statement, 
 formed upon conjecture without positive data. 
 
416 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 The same paper gives the following details and statistics relative to this, 
 the first grand struggle between capital and labour in Preston :— 
 
 “ During the first fortnight of the turn-out, no change was apparent in the condition 
 of the work-people; some meetings were held both by masters and men, but nothing 
 resulted from them. At the commencement of the second fortnight, complaints began 
 to be heard from the card-room hands, and from the shopkeepers of the town. 
 
 “ Early in December, when the mills had been closed for a month, the streets began 
 to be crowded with beggars, and the offices of the overseers were besieged with applicants 
 for relief. The inmates of the workhouse began to increase rapidly, and scenes of the 
 greatest misery and wretchedness were of constant occurrence. At this period the spin¬ 
 ners were receiving from the funds of the union five shillings a-week each, and the 
 piecers, some two, and others three shillings a-week; the card-room hands and power- 
 loom weavers [forming, be it observed, nearly three-fourths of the whole number cut of 
 employment] were destitute of all means of support, receiving no assistance except such 
 as the masters afforded them, which (except in the cases of eighteen or twenty individuals 
 who had not joined the union) extended to only one meal a-day for each person. 
 
 “ In December, £100. was granted by the corporation towards relieving the general 
 distress, and a meeting was convened for the purpose of raising a further sum, and of 
 considering the most effectual means of putting an end to the turn-out ; but nothing 
 resulted from it. Towards the middle of December, when the turn-out had lasted six 
 weeks, it was evident that the funds of the union were nearly exhausted. 
 
 “ By the end of December, the distress had become universal and intense, and the 
 masters came to the resolution of opening their mills, in order to give those who wished 
 for it an opportunity of resuming their work. In doing so, they announced their deter¬ 
 mination to abide by their former offer of an increase of ten per cent, on the rate of 
 wages ; but to require from all those who should enter the mills a written declaration to 
 the effect, that they would not, at any future time, whilst in their service, become mem¬ 
 bers of any union or combination of workmen. 
 
 “ Immediately on the re-opening of the mills, which took place on the 9tli of January, 
 all the card-room hands rushed anxiously to their work ; but the continued absence of 
 ^ the spinners rendered it impossible to give them employment. 
 
 “ At the end of the first week after the mills had been opened, forty spinners were at 
 work, of whom eighteen were those who, as before stated, had not joined the union, and 
 the remaining twenty-two had never before been regularly employed in that kind of 
 work. 
 
 “ In the course of the second week, the number had increased to one hundred, of 
 whom some were entirely new to the work, and three were seceders from the union; 
 and at the end of the third week, there were one hundred and forty spinners at work, 
 
 » some of the additional forty having been procured from neighbouring towns. Besides 
 
 l this, in two of the factories a few self-acting mules, or spinning-machines, were sub- 
 ^ V stituted for common mules, thereby dispensing with the services of the spinners. As 
 
 i the number of the spinners increased, of course a corresponding increase took place in 
 
 the number of persons employed in the other departments. 
 
 “ Towards the middle of the fourth week, the supplies from the funds of the union 
 suddenly stopped, and those who had depended on this resource had no alternative left 
 but to endeavour to obtain readmission to the factories. On the 5th of February, 
 exactly three months from the day on which the mills were first closed, work was 
 resumed in all the mills to its usual extent; but about two hundred of the spinners who 
 had been most active in the turn-out, were replaced by new hands, and have since either 
 left the town, or remain there without employment. No systematic acts of violence, or 
 violations of the law, took place during the turn-out. Detachments of military were 
 stationed in the town to preserve order, but their services were not required. Some 
 inflammatory hand-bills appeared on the walls, but without creating much sensation. 
 
 “ While the turn-out lasted, the operatives generally wandered about the streets 
 without any definite object; seventy-five persons were brought before the magistrates, 
 and convicted of drunkenness and disorderly conduct; twelve were imprisoned or held 
 to bail for assaults or intimidation; about twenty young females became prostitutes, of / 
 whom more than one-half are still so, and of whom two have since been transported for 
 
tka.de and commence. 
 
 417 
 
 theft; three persons are believed to have died of starvation ; and not less than five 
 thousand must have suffered long and severely from hunger and cold. In almost every 
 family the greater part of the wearing apparel and household furniture was pawned. In 
 nine houses out of ten, considerable arrears of rent were due; and out of the sum of 
 sixteen hundred pounds deposited in the Savings’ bank by about sixty spinners 
 or overlookers, nine hundred pounds were withdrawn in the course of the three months; 
 most of those who could obtain credit got into debt with the shopkeepers. The trade 
 of the town suffered severely; many of the small shopkeepers were nearly ruined, and a 
 few completely so. 
 
 The following estimate may be made of the direct pecuniary loss to all classes of 
 operatives in consequence of the turn-out:— 
 
 £. s. d. 
 
 The wages of the 660 spinners for 13 weeks, at 22s. 6d. 9,652 10 0 
 
 1,320 piecers for 13 weeks, at 5s. 6d. 4,719 0 0 
 
 6,520 weavers, card-room hands, overlookers, 
 
 -engineers, etc., etc., for 13 weeks, 
 
 8,500 averaging 9s. 38,142 0 0 
 
 Estimated loss sustained by hand-loom weavers in consequence 
 
 of the turn-out. 9,500 0 0 
 
 Estimated loss sustained by clerks, waggoners, carters, mechanics, 
 
 dressers, sizers, etc., in consequence of the turn out. 8,000 0 0 
 
 v' 
 
 Total.£70,013 10 0 
 
 From which must be deducted— 
 
 Estimated amount of wages earned during the partial resump¬ 
 tion of work between the 9th Jan. and the 5th Feb. 5,013 0 0 
 
 Estimated value of relief given by the masters. 1,000 0 0 
 
 Other private charity and parish relief. 2,500 0 0 
 
 Allowance to the spinners and piecers from the funds of the 
 
 union. 4,290 0 0 
 
 £12,803 0 0 
 
 Leaving a not pecuniary loss to the whole body of the Preston 
 
 operatives of ... 57,210 10 0 
 
 (But to the town at large it may be said the loss was that of the whole 
 sum of £"0,013. 10s. as the amount of the deductions are mostly of a 
 charitable nature.) 
 
 Loss to the Preston operatives . 57,210 0 0 
 
 The loss to the masters being three months’ interest of £800,000, 
 some of which being sunk capital was not only unpro¬ 
 ductive, but was taking harm from being rendered useless, 
 
 has been estimated at . 45,000 0 0 
 
 And the loss sustained by the shopkeepers from loss of business, 
 
 bad debts, etc., etc. . 4,986 0 0 
 
 Making the total loss to the town and trade of Preston, in this 
 
 unavailing struggle.£107,196 0 0 
 
 In Aug., 1842, alarming riots took place throughout the manufacturing 
 districts generally. In Lancashire, the flame appears to have been first 
 lighted at Staley-bridge. The principal object sought was evidently a 
 higher rate of wages, although many other elements entered into the com¬ 
 position of this serious “mass movement.” Chartism was rife at the 
 period, and general dissatisfaction prevailed. Mobs scoured the county, 
 and forced the willing workmen to leave their employment. On Friday, 
 the 12th August, a meeting was held in the “ Orchard,” at Preston. 
 
 
 
418 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Some of the mill hands turned out, and endeavoured to compel the closing 
 of several other establishments,—sometimes not without success. On the 
 following morning, this conduct was repeated; hut by eight o’clock, the 
 authorities of the town, aided by the police and a detachment of mili tary, 
 put a stop to the career of the mob, but not until a volley of musketry had 
 stretched on the earth eight men, five of whom were mortally wounded. 
 On the Wednesday following, serious riots took place at Farrington, 
 Leyland, and Penwortham, chiefly created by “navigators,” or “navvies,” 
 as they are now called. Humours arrived that a powerful mob was 
 marching from Chorley, to compel the Preston mills to close, and to 
 avenge the deaths of the men slain on Saturday. Another, although a 
 bloodless battle, took place at Walton, where the rural police, under 
 Captain Woodford, totally routed the mob, without the assistance of a 
 party of rifles, by whom they were accompanied. About twenty-seven of 
 the rioters were taken prisoners, and several of them punished. The 
 manufacturing activity was not seriously affected by this demonstration ; 
 
 E et the town did not quite recover its habitual tranquility for some time 
 fterwards, notwithstanding the intervention of the guild festivities. x 
 The most important struggle between labour and capital commenced in 
 1853. In the earlier half of the year, the exports of the kingdom had 
 risen to £41,866,557., against £33,549,392., showing an increase of 
 £8,317,165. The prices of provisions were very high, and although this 
 does not materially affect the rate of wages, it uu questionably stimulated 
 the operatives iu their demands. Strikes were pretty general throughout 
 the country. The workmen triumphed at Stockport and other places. 
 The flame at length spread to Preston. The operatives contended that 
 they were entitled to “ the ten per cent, which was taken off in 1842, and 
 also the ten per cent, taken from them in 1847-8, and if the manufacturers 
 were men of their word they would not scruple to give it according to 
 their promise.” k Ten per cent, advance, accordingly was the war cry. 
 This was, at first, partially conceded, but some difficulties arose as to its prac¬ 
 tical adjustment in two or three mills. An attempt was made by the operatives 
 to assimilate the rates of remuneration in the various mills, taking the most 
 favourable, of course, as the standard. This caused a strike in two or three 
 establishments. The dispute eventually caused the locking up of all the 
 mills, and a determination on the part of both employers and employed to 
 contest the question to the uttermost. The latter were wishful to refer their 
 differences to arbitration, but the “masters” declined all interference with 
 their business arrangements. 
 
 k Cowell’s Speech in the Orchard, Aug. 11th, 1S53. 
 
THADE AND COMMERCE. 
 
 419 
 
 Several meetings were held in the “ Orchard” during August; and, by 
 the end of the month, the hands in four or five establishments, either 
 entirely or partially agreed to "strike.” At the end of September, about a 
 dozen mills were closed by the employers. This policy was soon afterwards 
 adopted by the remainder of the establishments in Preston and the neigh¬ 
 bourhood, with a very few exceptions. This constituted the “ lock-out.” 
 The struggle lasted till nearly the end of May, in the following year. 
 The commercial prosperity, which heralded the strife, had passed away, and 
 the workmen were compelled to resume their employment on the masters’ 
 terms. The affairs of the operatives were managed by two distinct com¬ 
 mittees, one representing the spinners, and the other the power-loom 
 weavers. The greatest distress was felt by the remainder of the hands 
 unemployed; many of whom did not wish to suspend labour, as they were 
 not in a position to claim relief from the funds of any union. 
 
 The total number of hands thrown out of employment, has been variously 
 estimated at from 20,000 to 26,000. The most important facts relative to 
 this "labour battle,” maybe learned from the statements published by the 
 various parties interested. The " thirty-ninth, and final report of the 
 income and expenditure of the funds subscribed for the Preston power- 
 loom weaver’s lock-out, from August 29th, 1853, to May 22nd, 1854, 
 both inclusive,” gives the following summary of their expenditure :— 
 GENERAL EXPENDITURE. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 £ 
 
 s. 
 
 d. 
 
 11,619 
 
 Weavers. 
 
 at 6s. Od. each 
 
 
 ... 3,485 
 
 14 
 
 O 
 
 2,343 
 
 Winders and Warpers 
 
 „ 
 
 6s. Od. ,, 
 
 
 ... 702 
 
 18 
 
 0 
 
 523 
 
 Beamers and Twisters 
 
 9f 
 
 6s. Od. „ 
 
 
 ... 156 
 
 18 
 
 0 
 
 7,791 Helpers . 
 
 fi 
 
 3s. Od. „ 
 
 
 ... 268 
 
 13 
 
 O 
 
 1,989 
 
 Weavers. 
 
 if 
 
 5s. 6d. „ 
 
 
 ... 2,196 
 
 19 
 
 6 
 
 27 
 
 Ditto . 
 
 if 
 
 4s. 6d. „ 
 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 6 
 
 843 
 
 Winders and Warpers 
 
 ,, 
 
 5s. 6d. ,, 
 
 
 ... 232 
 
 7 
 
 6 
 
 39 
 
 Ditto 
 
 a 
 
 4s. 6d. „ 
 
 
 8 
 
 15 
 
 6 
 
 226 
 
 Twisters and Drawers 
 
 
 5s. 6d. „ 
 
 
 62 
 
 3 
 
 0 
 
 73,562 
 
 Weavers. 
 
 99 
 
 5s. Od. „ 
 
 
 ...18,390 
 
 10 
 
 0 
 
 6,247 
 
 Winders and Warpers 
 
 Jf 
 
 5s. Od. „ 
 
 
 ... 1,561 
 
 15 
 
 0 
 
 1,685 
 
 Beamers and Twisters 
 
 99 
 
 5s. Od. „ 
 
 
 ... 421 
 
 5 
 
 0 
 
 114,770 
 
 Weavers. 
 
 a 
 
 4 s. Od. „ 
 
 
 ...22,954 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 12,779 
 
 Winders and Warpers 
 
 
 4s. Od. „ 
 
 
 ... 2,555 
 
 16 
 
 0 
 
 3,284 
 
 2,271 
 
 Beamers and Twisters 
 
 a 
 
 4s. Od. „ 
 
 
 ... 656 
 
 16 
 
 0 
 
 Weavers. 
 
 if 
 
 3s. Od. „ 
 
 
 ... 340 
 
 13 
 
 0 
 
 546 
 
 Winders and Warpers 
 
 
 3s. Od. „ 
 
 
 81 
 
 18 
 
 0 
 
 140 
 
 Beamers and Twisters 
 
 a 
 
 3s. Od. „ 
 
 
 21 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 15,446 Helpers andotlier hands,, 
 
 2s. 6d. „ 
 
 
 ... 1,930 
 
 15 
 
 0 
 
 12,642 Helpers. 
 
 „ 
 
 2s. Od. „ 
 
 
 ... 1,264 
 
 4 
 
 0 
 
 3,434 Helpers andotlier hands „ 
 
 Is 6d. „ 
 
 
 ... 257 
 
 11 
 
 0 
 
 5,372 Helpers and others... 
 
 99 
 
 Is. 0d. „ 
 
 
 ... 268 
 
 12 
 
 0 
 
 871 Helpers. 
 
 ,, 
 
 Os. 6d. „ 
 
 
 21 
 
 15 
 
 6 
 
 
 Cash to Dressers’ Committee . 
 
 
 ... 446 
 
 5 
 
 4 
 
 
 Cash to Children and other Distressed Cases 
 
 ... 1,363 
 
 7 
 
 
 
 Cash to Cloth Lookers’ Committee ... 
 
 
 20 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 
 Cash paid over to other Committees in 
 
 Town 
 
 ... 120 
 
 17 
 
 3* 
 
 2 D 2 
 
420 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Cash to Strikes, Lock-outs, Victims, &c., in 
 
 other Districts . 
 
 Cash to Executive Committee, Propagandist 
 Committee, and Assistants, with Railway 
 
 Fares . 
 
 Printing, Stationery, &c. 
 
 Cash Removing Families, Emigration, &c. 
 
 Rent of Committee Rooms, Pay Rooms, &c. ... 
 
 Committee Expenses. 
 
 Salaries of Secretary, Assistant, and Treasurer 
 
 Incidental Expenses. 
 
 Balance on hand . 
 
 £ 
 
 S. 
 
 d. 
 
 912 
 
 9 
 
 11* 
 
 1,368 
 
 9 
 
 Of 
 
 1,625 
 
 1 
 
 31 
 
 257 
 
 0 
 
 9 
 
 80 
 
 8 
 
 3 
 
 36 
 
 13 Hi 
 
 66 
 
 19 
 
 0 
 
 96 
 
 15 
 
 2f 
 
 38 
 
 13 
 
 Of 
 
 64,230 
 
 0 
 
 101 
 
 Total of 38 Weeks. 
 
 Number of Hands paid...278,629. 
 
 £. ^ s. d. 
 
 Amount paid to Hands...67,847 0 6 
 Amount paid to Distressed 
 
 Cases and to Children .. 1,363 7 3f 
 
 Amount of Working Ex¬ 
 penses, including £207. 
 
 Os. 9d., for removing 
 Families .3,481 7 6 
 
 Average of 38 Weeks. 
 Number of hands paid Weekly. .7332f. 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 Amount paid to Hands 
 
 Weekly . 1469 13 2 
 
 Amount paid to Distressed 
 
 Cases’and to Children 33 4 11J 
 
 Weekly Amount of Work¬ 
 ing Expenses . 9112 3| 
 
 The largest amounts contributed to this fund were,—Blackburn, £18,645. 
 Is. 7yd. ; Preston, £7475. 8s. 8fd.; Stockport, £6916. 7s. lOd. 
 
 In addition to the weavers’ and spinners’ committees, a third was formed 
 called the “Amalgamated,” which received subscriptions for the general 
 cause, and afterwards apportioned the fund amongst the various classes 
 locked out. 
 
 The following shows the total expenditure of all the operative com¬ 
 mittees, from the commencement, including expenses of every kind 1 :— 
 
 WEEK. TOTAL AMOUNT. WEEK. TOTAL AMOUNT. WEEK. TOTAL AMOUNT. 
 
 
 £ 
 
 s. 
 
 d. 
 
 
 £ 
 
 s. 
 
 d. 
 
 
 £ 
 
 s. d. 
 
 1 
 
 . 80 
 
 1 
 
 3i 
 
 14 ... 
 
 ... 3094 
 
 12 
 
 6f 
 
 27. 
 
 3592 
 
 19 7* 
 
 2 
 
 .381 
 
 6 
 
 6 
 
 15 ... 
 
 ... 3089 
 
 2 
 
 5 
 
 28. 
 
 3634 
 
 0 2f 
 
 3 
 
 .561 
 
 17 
 
 51 
 
 16 ... 
 
 ... 3169 
 
 5 
 
 10f 
 
 29. 
 
 3610 
 
 11 8f 
 
 4 
 
 .671 
 
 3 
 
 81 
 
 17 ... 
 
 ... 3213 
 
 11 
 
 If 
 
 30. 
 
 3480 
 
 19 3 
 
 5 
 
 .707 
 
 12 
 
 6i 
 
 18 ... 
 
 ... 3253 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 31. 
 
 3619 
 
 14 0 
 
 6 
 
 .1153 
 
 15 
 
 6* 
 
 19 ... 
 
 ... 4012 
 
 1 
 
 8* 
 
 32. 
 
 3604 
 
 0 5 
 
 7 
 
 .1317 
 
 5 
 
 9 
 
 20 ... 
 
 ... 3237 
 
 5 
 
 Ilf 
 
 33. 
 
 3553 
 
 4 10 
 
 8 
 
 .1684 
 
 8 
 
 6 
 
 21 ... 
 
 ... 3366 
 
 12 
 
 4* 
 
 34. 
 
 3337 
 
 0 5 
 
 9 
 
 . ...2521 
 
 9 
 
 «* 
 
 22 ... 
 
 ... 3250 
 
 15 
 
 Of 
 
 35. 
 
 2808 
 
 3 11 
 
 10 
 
 .2569 
 
 5 
 
 7f 
 
 23 ... 
 
 ... 3426 
 
 19 
 
 6* 
 
 36. 
 
 1819 
 
 8 10 
 
 11 
 
 .2830 
 
 18 
 
 3 
 
 24 ... 
 
 ... 3281 
 
 9 
 
 9 
 
 37. 
 
 946 
 
 15 0 
 
 12 
 
 .2832 
 
 1 
 
 2* 
 
 25 ... 
 
 ... 3711 
 
 9 
 
 7 
 
 38. 
 
 995 
 
 15 5* 
 
 13 
 
 .2939 
 
 2 
 
 7 
 
 26 ... 
 
 ... 3572 
 
 12 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 
 Purther sums 
 
 were received 
 
 and distributed 
 
 amongst 
 
 the distressed 
 
 operatives ; hut no other balance sheets were published. 
 
 Prom the report of the “ Alaster Spinners and ^Manufacturers’ Defence 
 
 1 Preston Guardian, May 20th, 1854. 
 
TRADE AND COMMERCE. 
 
 421 
 
 Fund,” the following table of the probable cost of the struggle is 
 extracted:— 
 
 Capital sunk in the establishments of the Associated Manu¬ 
 facturers of Preston... ... ... ... ... ... £1,000,000 
 
 Estimated trading loss to the Employers ... ... £50,000 
 
 Loss by depreciation, interest, and other contingencies 
 
 for 36 weeks ... ... ... ... ... 67,000 
 
 Unavoidable expenses in wages, fuel, and other items, 
 
 during the Strike .. ... ... ... ... 28,000 
 
 Loss in working machinery without adequate num¬ 
 ber, and with inferior description of hands ... 20,000 
 
 - 165,000 
 
 Loss of wages to the Operatives during the strike ... ... 250,000 
 
 Loss to the contributors to the Strike Fund, whose 
 contributions have become abortive by its failure:— 
 
 Blackburn ... ... ... ... ...£30,000 
 
 Stockport ... ... ... ... ... 10,000 
 
 Preston ... ... ... ... ... 7,000 
 
 Ashton, Hyde, Glossop, and Stalybridge ... 10,500 
 
 Over-Darwen ... ... ... ... ... 4,000 
 
 All other places and Trades ... ... ... 35,500 
 
 - 97,000 
 
 Estimated loss of profits to Shopkeepers and Inn¬ 
 keepers ... ... ... ... ... ... 11,250 
 
 Estimated loss to Carriers, Railway Companies, 
 
 Mechanics, Dressers, Sizers, and other ancillary 
 occupations... ... ... ... ... ... 10,000 
 
 - 21,250 
 
 Total loss to the community by the Preston Strike... ... £533,250 
 
 Perhaps the above figures are as correct as the circumstances permitted, 
 but some of the conclusions are by no means so satisfactory. How the 
 £97,000. contributed by other towns, and spent by the operatives princi¬ 
 pally m Preston, can be included in the loss to the community is ditficult 
 to understand. Even the largest portion of the operatives’ subscriptions 
 from other towns, can scarcely, with justice, be termed individual loss; 
 for, had they refused to enter into the contest, an amount equal or 
 greater would have been deducted from their earnings, as was proved by the 
 result in many cases. They, at the worst, merely contributed what they per¬ 
 ceived they could not retain without such contribution. Had the operatives 
 of Preston gained the “ten per cent.,” the operatives of Blackburn, etc. 
 would have retained theirs; and, of course, as the result at Preston was unfa¬ 
 vourable, they were compelled to submit to a reduction. How the £11,250. 
 loss to innkeepers and shopkeepers can be added to the loss of the capitalists 
 and the loss of the operatives’ wages is equally mysterious; as the deficiency 
 referred to could not have taken place, had the £250,000. operatives’ 
 wages been forthcoming in the local market. However, the sacrifice was, 
 under any calculation, large enough for all practical teaching. The Preston 
 
422 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 strikes have furnished valuable material for future reflection, but they 
 have not yet evolved a practical principle, calculated to put an end to 
 such struggles. The passage from serfdom to perfect freedom has not yet 
 been accomplished. The victory obtained by the employers merely demon¬ 
 strated that which every one previously knew, viz., the strongest party in the 
 end would -win. But this is not sufficient to set at rest the mighty ques¬ 
 tion, which yearly throbs with increased vitality beneath the surging mass 
 of mercantile contention. No one really wins in these struggles. They are 
 essentially productive of loss to all, except in so far as they inculcate 
 lessons of wisdom. It is, therefore, the duty and interest of all, that the 
 differences which must occur occasionally between the buyers and sellers 
 of labour, as well as of any other commodity, should be settled in a 
 commercial, and not in a military spirit. A talented writer in the "West- 
 minster Be view, makes the following observations, which are worthy of 
 the serious consideration of every well-wisher to social progress and national 
 prosperity:— 
 
 “Of those problems which this age must solve, if it would live and prosper—which it 
 can neither pass by on the other side, lior push off upon its successor—the true and jit 
 relation between employer and employed -—is one of the most pressing, and the most 
 perplexing. To ascertain what it ought to be, and to make it what it should be, is one 
 of the first tasks allotted to our epoch and country.” 
 
 The select committee appointed to enquire into the expediency of 
 establishing equitable tribunals for the amicable adjustment of differences 
 between masters and workmen, issued their report last year. A 
 majority of the witnesses examined, express themselves in favour of 
 boards of arbitration between masters and workmen, but they differ as to 
 the constitution of the proposed boards, and still more as regards their 
 jurisdiction. The existing law on the subject of arbitration (the act of 5th 
 George IV., cap. 96), is found to be nearly inoperative, as hardly any one 
 resorts to it, and few are aware of its existence. Three causes are assigned 
 for the failure of this measure;—viz., the unwillingness to go before a 
 magistrate; the reluctance to defer to the decision of unknown arbitrators; 
 and the objection of workmen to the magistrates in manufacturing districts, 
 who are generally manufacturers themselves. To obviate these objections, 
 it has been proposed to establish in the various manufacturing districts, 
 “Courts of Conciliation,” like the “ Cornetts de Prud’hommes,” in France. 
 The committee believe that the formation of such courts in this countiy, 
 more especially in the large commercial, manufacturing, and mining dis¬ 
 tricts, would be beneficial; and suggest the introduction of such a measure 
 as an amendment to the present “ Arbitration Act.” In these “ Courts of 
 Conciliation ” masters and operatives choose referees from their own class or 
 calling, equal in number, who are presided over by a chairman, unconnected 
 
TRADE AND COMMERCE 
 
 423 
 
 with either party, elected by the referees. The tribunal would be 
 appointed to act for a certain period. These boards of arbitration, on 
 being licensed by the secretary of state, would have full power to act and 
 decide on all questions of existing contracts. The committee, however, 
 think it would be highly impolitic to give to these or to any other tribunal 
 power of forcibly regulating the rate of wages. 
 
 ADDITIONAL STATISTICS WITH REFERENCE TO 
 TRADE AND COMMERCE. 
 
 The following is an estimate of the quantity of cotton wool imported 
 into Great Britain during the years specified :— 
 
 In 1801 56,004,305 lbs. 
 
 1811 91,576,535 „ 
 
 1821 129,536,620 „ 
 
 1831 280,674,853 „ 
 
 In 1841 489,900,000 lbs. 
 
 1851 760,142,000 „ 
 
 1855 .901,138,000 „ 
 
 1856 . 1,021,021,000 „m 
 
 The relative proportion of the cotton imported into the various ports of 
 the kingdom, in 1851, is as follows:—Liverpool, 1,748,946 bales; London, 
 65,800; Glasgow', 67,000; Bristol and Hull, 21,800; total, 1,903,546. 
 
 In 1855, Liverpool, 2,142,699; London, 101,000; Bristol and Hull, 
 700; Scotland, 33,700; total imports into Great Britain in 1855, 
 2,278,099 bales. 
 
 In 1856, Liverpool, 2,308,660; London, 92,700; Bristol and Hull, 
 4,400; Scotland, 62,300; total 2,468,160. 
 
 In 1791, only 68,404 bales were imported into Liverpool; and in 1811, 
 174,132; in 1821, 413,182; in 1831, 791,582; in 1841, 1,164,269.“ 
 
 In 1850, the actual quantity and value of cotton consumed in the whole 
 kingdom was 584,000,000 lbs., of the value of £17,374,000. The value 
 of the goods manufactured therefrom was £48,490,300. 
 
 The value of the goods and twist exported in 1850, is as follow's :— 
 goods, £21,432,000; twist, £6,820,000; total, £28,252,000. 
 
 The value of the home consumption for the same year was £20,227,600.° 
 
 In 1850, in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, there w r erc 1,932 
 cotton factories, containing 20,977,017 spindles for spinning yarn, and 
 249,627 power-looms for weaving cloths. 
 
 In Lancashire, the number of cotton mills in 1850, was 1,235; spindles, 
 13,955,497; power-looms, 176,947. 
 
 In Lancashire, in 1850, there were 26 woollen factories, 238,492 spin¬ 
 dles and 4,839 power-looms. In the United Kingdom, 1,497 factories, 
 1,356,691 spindles, and 9,439 pow'er-looms. 
 
 The total number of worsted factories in the United Kingdom in 1850, 
 Avas 501, spindles 875,830, poAver-looms 32,617. 
 
 in Holt’s Annual Circular. n Ibid, 
 
 o Du Fay and Co.’s Annual Circular. 
 
424 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 The total number of flax mills in the three kingdoms in 1850, was 393, 
 spindles 965,031, power-looms 3,670. Lancashire contained 9 flax mills, 
 with 117,356 spindles. 
 
 The number of silk mills in the United Kingdom, in 1850, was 277, 
 containing 1,225,560 spindles, and 6,092 power-looms. Lancashire had 
 29 mills, 162,988 spindles, and 1,977 power-looms. d 
 
 In 1856, the number of factories in the united kingdom amounted to 
 5,117, against 4,600 in 1850, and 4,217 in 1838. Of these 2,210 are 
 cotton factories; 1,505 wollen; 525 worsted; 417 flax; and 460 silk. 
 The cotton factories have increased 142 per cent, and the silk 66 per cent. 
 The number of spindles in 1856 amounted to 33,503,580; power-looms 
 369,205. The actual horse power returned was 161,435. The average 
 value of the cotton goods and yam exported in the three years, 1853, 
 1854, and 1855 was, in round numbers, £31,000,000, of woollen and 
 worsted goods and yam £10,000,000. 0 
 
 According to the parliamentary report, the number of persons employed 
 in factories in the United Kingdom, in 1835, 1850, and in 1856, was as 
 follows:— c 
 
 
 1835. 
 
 1850. 
 
 1 
 
 1856. 
 
 Number of male persons between 13 and 18 
 years of age. 
 
 47,768 
 
 67,864 
 
 72,220 
 
 Number of females above 13 years of age. 
 
 167,130 
 
 329,577 
 
 387,806 
 
 Number of males above 18 years of age. 
 
 82,336 
 
 157,866 
 
 176,400 
 
 Number of boys under 13 years of age. 
 
 27,715 
 
 21,137 
 
 46,071 
 
 Number of girls under 13 years of age. 
 
 28,378 
 
 19,638 
 
 Total. 
 
 353,327 
 
 596,082 
 
 682,497 
 
 In 1856, the number of firms engaged in cotton spinning and the manu¬ 
 facture of cotton goods, in Preston, was about 37; in spinning only, 15; in 
 the manufacture only, 23 ; total 75. Four new mills were likewise 
 in course of erection, or being filled with machinery. 
 
 In the flax trade, in 1856, hut two firms were engaged; in the worsted, 
 one, and in silk none. A very few mixed goods are woven in the town. 
 
 In 1836, according to Mr. Baines, Preston produced chiefly the follow¬ 
 ing description of cotton cloths :—Superfine printing calicoes and muslins, 
 ginghams, jaconets, muslins, and cotton shirtings. At the present time 
 the character of the goods manufactured remains much the same. The 
 greatest increase has, however, taken place, relatively, in the cotton 
 shirting department. 
 
 o Parliamntary Returns : Factory Inspectors* Report. 
 
 c The factory act began to be effective in 1834. d Parliamentary Returns. 
 


TRADE AND COMMERCE. 
 
 425 
 
 Several of the manufacturing establishments of Preston are very- 
 extensive, and the goods produced maintain a first-class reputation in the 
 markets. This is especially the case with “ Horrockses’ long cloths,” a 
 species of stout shirting, manufactured by the firm of Horrockses, Miller, 
 and Co. This firm now possesses ten mills, driven by twelve steam 
 engines, with an aggregate nominal power of 540 horses. Above 3,000 
 hands are employed, whose labour combined with the action of 154,334 
 spindles and 2,775 looms, produces weekly about 95,000 lbs. of yarn, and 
 400,000 yards of cloth weekly. Messrs. Ainsworth and Co. run 54,696 
 6pindles, and 1,100 looms. The large weaving shed belonging to this firm 
 covers 6922 square yards of land, and will contain 2000 thirty-inch 
 power-looms. Messrs. Swainson and Birley’s establishment (the “ Big 
 Pactory,”and those of Messrs. Aapier and Goodair, as well as some others, 
 are very extensive. 
 
 There are likewise in Preston several establishments for the founding of 
 metals and the manufacture of machinery, and some of the cotton manu¬ 
 facturers employ a large number of mechanics, in connection with their 
 mills. 
 
I>REST0N AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 42(3 
 
 PART II-TOPOGRAPHY, ETC. 
 
 General Aspect of the Town—Preston in the Seventeenth Century—Bucks’ Prospect in 
 1728—Lang’s Map in 1774—Shakesliaft’s Map in 1809—Miller’s Map in 1822— 
 Survey by J. J. Myres, in 1836 and 1846—Further Extensions— Public Squares, 
 Parks, etc.—Market-place—Winckley-square—Stephenson’s Terrace, Deepdale-road 
 —Avenham Walk—Moor Park—The Orchard.— Public Buildings, Institutions, 
 etc. —The Town Hall—The Corn Exchange—The Court House and Prison — Magis¬ 
 trates’ Court and Police Station—Baths and Wash-houses—Fire Brigade Building— 
 Overseers’ Buildings—Workhouse—House of Recovery—Dispensary—Gas-works— 
 Water-works—Theatre Royal—Temperance Hall—The Preston Railway Stations.— 
 —Dr. Shepherd’s Library—Institution for the Diffusion of Knowledge—Literary 
 and Philosophical Institution—The Winckley Club—Law Library.—The Press.— 
 Banks— Old Bank — Savings Bank—Lawe and Co.—Roskell and Arrowsmith— 
 Lancaster Banking Co.—Preston Banking Co.— Bridges —Walton, Penwortham, 
 Tram-road, Brocklioles, North Union, East Lancashire.— Churches, Chapels, 
 Schools, Charities, etc. —Parish Church, St. George’s — St. Peter’s—St. Paul’s 
 —Christ Church—St. Mary’s—St. Thomas’s—St. James’s—All Saint’s.— Roman 
 Catholic Chapels —-St. Mary’s—St. Wilfrid’s—St. Ignatius’s—St. Augustine’s— 
 St. Walburge’s. —Chapels of Protestant Dissenters— Unitarian — Friend’s — 
 Baptist—Methodist—Independent—Episcopalian—New J erusalem—Mormon, etc.— 
 The Cemetery.— Public Schools —Educational Statistics—Grammar School—Blue 
 Coat School—Commercial—St. John’s—Christ Church—St. Peter’s—St. Paul’s— 
 St. James’s—St. Thomas’s—St. Mary’s—German’s—All Saints—Trinity.— Roman 
 Catholic Schools —St. Wilfrid’s—St. Augustine’s—St. Ignatius’s—St. Walburge’s. 
 —Dissenters’ Schools, etc. —-Wesleyan School—Friends’ School—Ragged School 
 —Private Schools.— Public Charities, Provident Societies, etc. — Law— Public 
 Offices—County Court, Wapentake Court, etc. 
 
 Preston is a borough and market town, situated in the township and 
 parish of Preston. It is the principal town in the hundred of Amounder- 
 ness, and the seat of the legal offices in connection with the duchy and 
 county palatine of Lancaster. Its longitude is 2 deg., 42 min., 30 sec. 
 west from Greenwich; its latitude 53 deg. 45 min. 24 sec., north. 
 The true time at Preston is about 10 min. 50 sec. later than at Greenwich 
 observatory. 1 
 
 Notwithstanding the occasional carpings of a splenetic traveller, 
 who may have passed through the place in foul weather, and visited the 
 sins of the elements upon the streets and buildings, Preston is generally 
 
 n These figures are from observations by Mr. Moses Holden, astronomer, Jordan-street, Preston. 
 
TOPOGRAPHY, ETC. 
 
 427 
 
 and deservedly recognised as one of the cleanest and most pleasantly 
 situated manufacturing towns in England. The cotton factories are 
 erected chiefly to the north and east of the old aristocratic borough, 
 significantly named “ Proud Preston,” and do not as yet materially inter¬ 
 fere with the more “fashionable” or picturesque sections of the district. 
 The generality of manufacturing towns rear their tall chimneys from the 
 lower level and the sloping sides of mountain valleys. They corrupt and 
 almost solidify, with the debris of the mills and workshops, the once 
 limpid streamlets; which, converted into open common sewers, crawl like 
 slimy envenomed snakes, through their very hearts, and pollute the sur¬ 
 rounding atmosphere; while black heated smoke, belched forth in dense 
 volumes from the sooty nostrils of the forge and the engine furnace, scorches 
 the scanty herbage struggling for existence on the neighbouring sterile slopes. 
 Preston is a striking exception to this rule. Situated upon an elevated hank 
 above the ltibble valley, with a gently undulating surface, it possesses not 
 only the advantage of good natural drainage, but its atmosphere is hourly 
 subjected to the untrammeled action and salutary influence of either the sea 
 or the mountain breeze. That melancholy mixture of smoke and fog, which, 
 during a portion of the winter months, enshrouds many of our modern 
 “hives of industry” in semi-darkness at noon day, is seldom seen at 
 Preston, except in a very diluted condition. The streets and squares are 
 generally clean and well paved, though some exceptions to this rule may 
 yet be found, which are neither creditable to the owners of the properties 
 nor the authorities. Great improvement has, however, latterly been 
 effected in this respect by the operations of the local hoard of health; and 
 still more and efficient purgation may yet be anticipated on the completion 
 of the extensive public sewerage now in course of construction. 
 
 The main thoroughfare of Preston, composed of Eishergate and Church- 
 street, intersects the town nearly in a straight line from east to west. 
 Several good streets from the north enter this line of road nearly at right 
 angles. The principal northern thoroughfare, or what will speedily be¬ 
 come such, is not yet completed. It forms nearly a continuous line from 
 the “ Gallows Hill” to Church-street. Its southern extremity passes 
 through the “Orchard” and the property of the earl of Derby, in 
 Molyneux-square and the Shambles. From the elegant and substantial 
 buildings erected on this portion of the new street, by the noble proprietor, 
 from designs by the late Mr. Dawson, it is probable that in the course 
 of a few years, Lancaster-road will not only become the handsomest public 
 thoroughfare in Preston, hut one that will exhibit artistic excellence rarely 
 surpassed in the street architecture of the largest provincial towns. The 
 Friargate forms still a busy and important thoroughfare, leading from the 
 
428 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Market-place in a north-westerly direction, to the junction of the roads 
 from Lancaster and the Fylde. Fishergate and Church-street divided the 
 old town of Preston nearly into two equal parts. Such, however, is not 
 the case at present. The principal extension of the town, since the intro¬ 
 duction of the cotton trade, has been on the north, the north-east, and 
 north-west of this line ; the steep hank of the Ribble valley having inter¬ 
 fered, to some extent, with its progress southward. The mass of building, 
 exclusive of many suburban erections, .extends over an area of about a mile 
 and a half from east to west, by one mile from north to south. The great 
 bulk of the town has been erected during the present century, and, con¬ 
 sequently, except in the centre, bears an unmistakably modern aspect. 
 
 It is generally thought, previously to the struggle between Charles I. 
 and the parliament, that the town did not contain many more than 
 3000 inhabitants, and that in point of population it had remained 
 nearly stationary a considerable period. At the end of the seventeenth 
 century it had expanded to about 6000, and did not receive any material 
 addition for nearly one hundred years. 1 ' In 1801, the impetus imparted 
 by the cotton trade, had raised the number of inhabitants in the township 
 to 11,887. 
 
 A large engraving, styled “ The South Prospect of Preston, in the 
 county of Lancaster,” (a reduced copy of which, in outline, illustrates the 
 present work), was published in 1728, by S. and N. Puck. This view 
 will convey a better notion of the character and extent of the town than 
 any verbal description. The parish church steeple exhibits, at its north 
 western angle, a smaller tower, surmounted by a spire. Church-street, 
 or Fenkel-street, does not appear to have extended very much further than 
 Sir Edward Stanley’s house. Avenham walk is quite detached from the 
 town, and “ French wood,” between it and Walton bridge, presents no 
 more than a couple of trees; a few others skirt the river on the plain 
 below. The old bridge at Walton appears in excellent condition. The 
 river Darwen, though somewhat incorrectly represented in proportion and 
 detail, meanders in its old channel, from Walton-hall to the Ribble. The 
 double “horse shoe form” is an error. The curve next to its junction 
 with the Ribble should be omitted, as there is not sufficient space for the 
 site of the Roman station. The true size and form is given opposite page 
 38 of this work, from Robert Porter’s survey. The hill upon which Walton 
 church stands, is not sufficiently elevated. A similar error is committed 
 on the opposite side of the picture. The site of Penwortham church and 
 the Priory, is much too nearly on a level with the Holme below. The 
 latter appears as two distinct islands. The windmill at the end of Friar- 
 
 a Taylor’s notes to Kuerden’s description. 
 
T//F XOVTFmOJjPZCr OFmfiXTONW 7 # COVJ^TFFJZJrim Of 7 JsJjV(JJST£R. 
 


 
 
 
 
 X □ 
 
T0F0GKATO1’, ETC. 
 
 429 
 
 gate, from which one of the barricades, erected in 1715, took its name, is 
 outside the town. The “ Old Friary,” described as the “ House of Cor¬ 
 rection,” is likewise detached from the mass of buildings. 
 
 A map of the township of Preston was executed by George Lang, a local 
 surveyor of some repute, in 1774. It is at present in the possession of Mr. 
 Philip Park, treasurer to the corporation. It exhibits “Preston Town ” 
 at the period immediately preceding the introduction of the cotton manu¬ 
 facture. From this plan it appears that the number of edifices in the 
 borough had increased but very little since the time of Kuerden.' 
 The chief mass of building, with a slight exception, on the south ot 
 Church-street, is included in a square formed by the present Lord-street, 
 St. John-street, Church-street, and the west side of the Market-place. 
 From its peculiar configuration, this area has evidently constituted the 
 extent of the ancient burg, or walled town, in the time of the Plantagenets. 
 On the north, are a few buildings about the “ vicarage ” and the present 
 Tithe-barn-strect. Chadwick’s orchard appears as “Colley’s Garden.” The 
 enclosure in the rear of “ Patten House ” is described as “ Lord Stanley’s 
 Garden.” The old “ Play-house ” is indicated as situated in the midst of 
 an open space up Woodcock’s court. Fishergate extends no further than 
 Mount-street. Church-street reaches nearly to the present House of Correc¬ 
 tion. Friargate appears to be the longest street, although the old “ Fight¬ 
 ing Cocks Inn,” now superseded by the Adelphi, is still a little way in 
 the country. The “ Friary” remains the prison described by Kuerden, and 
 is situated at some distance from the town. The site of one of the 
 ancient “ cucking stools ” is indicated by the name of a field near Meadow- 
 street. Another “ cucking stool ” stood not far from the present 
 House of Correction. In 1683, the bailiffs were fined 40s. for want of a 
 cuck stool in the town, but the fine was remitted on their supplying the 
 deficiency. d The accompanying print is copied from the centre portion 
 of Lang’s map. 
 
 The town of Preston must, at this period, have presented but a very 
 melancholy aspect. Several of the channels ran down the centre of the 
 streets. Previously to the year 1699, the town was not even lighted by oil 
 lamps. The municipal authorities of that period resolved that, “for the better 
 going in the streets in the winter evenings in the decrease of the moon, 
 or when clouds interpose, it has been thought necessary that some lamps 
 or convex lights should be provided.” One was procured at the expense 
 of the corporation, and three others were furnished by private gentlemen. 
 One of these was placed in the Market-square, one near the Parish church, one 
 at the top of Main-sprit-wiend, and another near the Butter-cross. A huge 
 
 d Freston in the Olden Time : A lecture by W. Dobson. 
 
 e See page 208. 
 
430 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 lantern, formerly carried by the mayor of the borough is still in the 
 possession of the corporation/' 
 
 Shakeshaft’s map of the town was published in 1809. Though the 
 town had more than doubled its population, scarcely any building is shown 
 on this plan to the west of the “ tram road ” and the Lancaster canal, with 
 the exception of the “ Old Friary ” and Butler-street. The greater por¬ 
 tion of the land between Friargate, Fishergate, and the canal, is covered 
 with ornamental and kitchen gardens. On the east, Stanley-street exhibits 
 but very few houses. Beyond the new House of Correction, a few cottages 
 and weaving shops, the nucleus of “Hew Preston,” stand at a little dis¬ 
 tance from the rest of the town. “ The Park ” yet honestly responds to 
 its cognomen. AYith the exception of a few houses on the north of Church- 
 street, this now densely populated district, is clothed with verdure and 
 stately trees. Spring Gardens and Everton Gardens are two rows of 
 cottages, with veritable vegetable producing enclosures intervening, the 
 present Horth-road as yet having no existence. High-street forms the 
 northern boundary in the centre opposite to the “ Orchard.” Friargate 
 exhibits an unsteady straggling towards the north-west as far as the Moss 
 factory. Singleton-row and Crown-street are detached and surrounded by 
 fields. The entire space south of the Syke-brook or “ Avenham Sykes,” 
 now the common sewer, is in a rural state from Vauxhall-road to its junc¬ 
 tion with the Kibble, with the exception of a few houses in Avenham-lane, 
 the “Folly” and Avenham-house. On the south-east, Lark-hill appears 
 a suburban residence, detached from the town, Water-street and a 
 few others of less importance alone creeping towards the “Frenchwood 
 factory.” 
 
 In 1811, the population of the township had increased to 17,065. 
 
 In 1819, the number of inhabited houses was 1,546; uninhabited, 
 including new buildings, 170, and the population 21,958. 
 
 In 1821, the township of Preston contained 24,627 persons. 
 
 In 1822, Mr. William Miller published a new edition of Shakeshaft’s 
 map. The chief distinguishing features between tliis plan and its pre¬ 
 decessor are a slight extension of the extremities of the town, and a greater 
 compactness of building about the centre. Horth-road and Park-road are 
 both opened, but not much built upon. 
 
 In 1831, the township of Preston contained 33,112 inhabitants. 
 
 The earl of Derby’s house, situated on the north side of Church-street, 
 near the present Derby-street, was pulled down in 1835. This building 
 was named “ Patten House.” It came into possession of the Derby family 
 after the marriage of Sir Thomas Stanley, in 1688, with Elizabeth, only 
 
 c Dobson’s Lecture 
 
TOPOGRAPHY, ETC. 
 
 431 
 
 daughter and heiress of T. Patten, esq., of Preston. It was a large sub¬ 
 stantial building in the domestic architecture of the period. It stood at 
 some distance from the line of street, the intervening area being enclosed. 
 The Derby family added an iron gateway surmounted by the arms of the 
 family. d On the destruction of this residence, some human skeletons were 
 found, which occasioned at the time much idle speculation. From its 
 situation, it is more than probable they were the remains of parties slain 
 in some of the many conflicts which occurred during the civil wars. This 
 was doubtless the house described as belonging to “ Sir Henry Horton,” 
 by the chroniclers of the seige, in 1715. e 
 
 In 1836, Mr. J. J. Myres published his map. The population at this 
 time exceeded 36,000. A great change is apparent since 1822. The 
 building in the centre of the town wears a more solid aspect, with the 
 exception of the “ Orchard,” the land about Derby-street, gardens between 
 Lune-street and the Market-place, and some others to the south of Fisher- 
 gate. The "Green Dank” and “Maudland” estates are “laid out” for 
 building land, and the Moor-park is enclosed. There are many new streets in 
 the neighbourhood of Fylde-road and “ Spital’s-moss,” and much building 
 land occupied between Fisliergate and Bridge-lane, as well as a little to 
 the west of Bow-lane. Avenham-lane has become a principal thorough¬ 
 fare, and exhibits many branch streets. Between Oxford-street and Alfred 
 street, however, the land is merely “ laid out.” Such is likewise the con¬ 
 dition of the plot between Winckley-square and Avenlmm-kouse. On the 
 south-east, London-road has extended over the Swilbrook, and modern 
 Fish wick begins to appear. A large portion of the space between Lark- 
 hill and London-road is, notwithstanding, though marked out on the map, 
 yet unbuilt upon. To the east of Park-road and Park-lane, several branch 
 streets appear. Deepdale-terrace is formed, and Ilibbleton-lane shows a 
 few scattered buildings. 
 
 The population, according to the census of 1841, was 50,073. In 1846, 
 Mr. Myres published a new edition of his map. The chief peculiarity 
 which it presents, is the increase of buildings upon sites previously laid out. 
 As the town has considerably extended since its publication, Mr. Myres is 
 at the present time engaged in the preparation of another edition. f 
 
 d This gateway at present ornaments the entrance to Howick House, the residence of Thomas 
 Norris, esq. It was purchased, on the demolition of Patten House, by the late W. Rawstorne, esq., 
 and placed in its present position. 
 
 e See page 22". 
 
 f The Park estate, belonging Sami. PoleSbawc, esq., w as opened for building land about the year 
 1822 ; Green Bank estate and Ox Heys estate, belonging to the late William Tomlinson and Thomas 
 Tomlinson, esqs., in 1834, to which was added, in 1856, by purchase from John Myers, esq., 100 acres 
 from the Moor Hall estate ; Maudlands estate, belonging Edw ard Pedder, esq., in 1834 ; Peel Hall 
 
432 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 In 1851, tlie population of the township amounted to 68,356, and 
 it has considerably increased since. After the passing of the Reform Bill, 
 in 1832, the township of Fishwick was incorporated with the borough of 
 Preston. Fishwick had 287 inhabitants in 1801 ; 295 in 1811 ; 284 in 
 1821 ; 759 in 1831 ; 756 in 1841 ; and 1,005 in 1851. The total popu¬ 
 lation of the borough of Preston was thus, at the last census, 69,361. 
 PUBLIC SQUARES, PARKS, Etc. 
 
 The Market-place is simply at the present time an opened paved area, 
 nearly square in form. In the reign of Henry VIII., it was described by 
 Lcland, the king’s antiquary and topograper, as possessing some attraction, 
 though whether from its beauty or its size is rather doubtful, owing to the 
 quaint and curt style of expression used by the erudite gentleman. He 
 merely intimates that “ the Market-place of the town is fair.” b All the 
 buildings which existed in Leland’s time have been succeeded by more 
 modern erections, and only a few remains of their immediate successors 
 are now in existence. In 1855, the fine old picturesque pile of “Eliza¬ 
 bethan” architecture, which formed so prominent a feature of the Preston 
 Market-place, was razed to the ground. The buildings had become some¬ 
 what “rickety,” and the corporation proposed to erect a new Town Hall 
 and Exchange upon the site. This intention, however, has not yet been 
 carried out, consequently, at the present time, the only available benefit 
 derived from the demolition of these interesting specimens of the domestic 
 architecture of the seventeenth century, is an increase of market 
 accommodation. 
 
 These old houses possess some historical interest. Adam Morte, the 
 mayor, who, together with his son, fell in the seige of Preston, in 1643, 
 occupied one of them. 0 The date of the erection of this edifice (1629), 
 was carved over a doorway, together with the initials The lower 
 
 house at the eastern corner was an older erection. When the beam over 
 the window was exposed, it exhibited the date 1618, and the initials x . a.. f 
 
 estate (135 acres), belonging to the trustees of Gen. Fletclier, in 1846 ; Lancaster-road and Harri¬ 
 son’s Hill, in 1835 ; Freehold Park estate, Fulwood (45 acres), in 1850; Hole House estate, in 1855, 
 (belonging to Lady Shelley,) about 30 acres. In 1851, Swainson, Birley, and Co. opened 7 acres, 
 purchased from Lord Derby ; and Edward Stanley, esq., opened, in 1852, several detached fields in 
 the vicinity of Fishergate. The estates at Tulketh and Ashton (100 acres), the property of J. Bray, 
 esq., E. Pedder, esq., and Jno. Able Smith, esq., were opened for building in 1S53. 
 b Leland’s Itin., vol. 5, fo. 84, p. 91. 
 
 c Morte is described by Prince Rupert, as Major (Mayor), but from the records of the cor¬ 
 poration, it appears that, though elected, he refused to serve. See chap. G, page 235. 
 
 d The “ frame-work” forming the front of this house was purchased by Mr. Richards, and sent 
 to Longridge, with the view to its re-erection upon the bowling-green belonging to the Railway 
 Hotel. 
 
 f The initials I. A. represent James Archer, the name of the original proprietor. The larger 
 building showing the letters I. I. A, (Jenkinson, John and Ann) was built under instructions 
 
TOPOGHArHY, ETC. 
 
 433 
 
 The only buildings now remaining in the Market-place, of this period, are 
 the low shops on the western side near Friargate. But the oaken frame¬ 
 work has been plastered over, and their true character destroyed. The 
 “Grey Horse Inn,” Church-street, is the only good specimen left in 
 Preston of this class of architecture. The environs, however, yet present 
 several excellent examples. 
 
 From the earliest incorporation of the borough, a “cross” or orna¬ 
 mental structure of some description, appears to have occupied the centre 
 of the Market-place. Mr. Peter Whittle, a few years ago, published a 
 lithographic print, purporting to be a “ perspective view” of the cross, as 
 it appeared in 1273. 
 
 The “perspective view” of this “gem of the olden times,” as it is 
 styled, however, appears to have been solely indebted for its existence to 
 the ingenious fancy of a modern local architect, assisted by the following 
 description, quoted by Mr. Whittle :—• 
 
 “ Tlie ancient cross in the Market-place, at Preston, in Lancashire, was erected in the 
 year of redemption D,CCOCCCC,LXXIIII—temp. Edward 1st, by Willus Fitzpaul, 
 Armiger, and Burgess in Parliament. This cross consisted of V octagon steps each way 
 from the pavement, and III tiers,—pedestal oblong with blank niches, containing seats 
 for pilgrims—Zig Zag Norman heads terminating at the uppermost step, and slender 
 shafts after the Norman fashion at each angle. Second tier contained within ornamented 
 Norman canopied niches, the statuary, viz.—St. Wilfrid, Archbishop of York, and patron 
 Saint of the church, facing the east. The rest were the B. V. Mary and the Infant 
 Jesus.—St. Joseph, the other was St. John Baptist, patron of the Gild—the Agnus Dei, 
 or the holy Lamb, was placed within a foliated escutcheon, and the motto— “ Pkinceps 
 Pa CIS,” in relievo—the third tier of masonry, had blank niches with Norman heads 
 plain. The whole was XXI feet high exclusive of the steps; on the basement, under the 
 figure of Blessed Wilfrid, was a brass plate bearing the following inscription— 
 
 ‘ Humiliate capita vesteo I)eo —rendered ‘ Bow down your heads to God.’— 
 From Niclioll’s Port Folio of 18^6.” 
 
 In tbe year 1729, the corporation permitted the erection of a “conduit, 
 not to exceed twelve yards by six,” on the site of the old cross. But, in 
 
 contained in the will of John Jenkinson, dated 13th February, 1628, the will says—“Whereas, I 
 kould to mee and my assignes a mesuage with the appurtenances situat lyinge and being in Preston 
 aforesaid in the Markett Place late in the possession of James Breeres, and one barn and croft in 
 St. John’s Weend, now or late in the possession of Christopher Banister, Esquire, all being of the 
 yearly rent of twentie six shillings eight pence or thereabouts for ” &c., &c.; “ and whereas I had a 
 purpose and intente by the sufferance of the Almightie God to build and erect an house uppon thefronte 
 towards the streete of the said mesuage and have provided divers and sundrie materialls for and towards 
 the said building. It is my mynde and will that the said buildinge and frame intended to bee erected as 
 afforesaid shall bee accomplished and p formed in convenient tyme at the direction and discretion of my 
 said loving wyfe or her assignes and that the charge disbursed in the said erecon and of all things there¬ 
 unto belonginge shal be taken had and received out of the whole personall estate of me the said 
 John Jenkinson undevyded.” The will then bequeaths the building in prospective to his wife Ann, 
 during her life, and afterwards to his two daughters, Grace and Elizabeth. 
 
 After passing through various hands, the property was sold to the corporation of Preston, in 
 1822, by the father of the present Mr. Alderman Walmsley, A detailed account of the owners and 
 occupiers of these premises from the period of their erection, together with other minute informa- 
 tion respecting them, was published in the Preston Chronicle, at the time of their demolition, and 
 afterwards reprinted in a pamphlet form. 
 
434 
 
 PEESTON AND ITS ENYIBONS. 
 
 1738, the mayor and corporation being “ wishful to repave and adorn," 
 commanded the external structure to be pulled down, and the basin to be 
 tilled up. a An obelisk was afterwards erected upon the spot. 
 
 In 1782, the authorities entered into a contract with William Eoper, 
 stonemason, to “ build and compleat a good and sufficient obelisk, upon 
 the base of the old obelisk formerly standing there, but which,” says the 
 document, “some years ago, lately fell, or was taken down.” The erection 
 was to be “ thirty-three feet high, to be computed from the surface of the 
 said old base.” This obelisk presented no veiy peculiar feature, either of 
 beauty or deformity. The shaft was formed of three “clustered” columns, 
 although the rest of the structure partook more of the character of Roman 
 than Gothic architecture. During the latter period of its existence, it admir¬ 
 ably served the purpose of a huge lamp post, and thus at least contributed 
 to the comfort and convenience of the inhabitants. It was taken down in 
 1853, and the Market-place has since remained without either “ ornament” 
 or encumbrance. The “fish stones,” which formerly stood between the 
 centre of the square and the end of Friargate, were originally erected in 
 1605, b and were removed in 1853. 
 
 Several attempts have latterly been made to provide better market 
 accommodation, and some extensive schemes inaugurated, but hitherto all 
 have proved abortive. 
 
 Winckley-squaee, situated to the south of Fishergate, is a large 
 parallelogram, with enclosed gardens in the centre, similar to the 
 “squares” of London. In point of extent and picturesque beauty, this 
 provincial “rus in uric" might successfully compete with many in the 
 metropolis. It is ornamented by some of the handsomest buildings in the 
 town, including the Literary and Philosophical Institution, Mr. Ains¬ 
 worth’s “ Italian Villa,” Mr. Miller’s newly-erected mansion, and the 
 residences of several of the more wealthy and influential of the inhabitants. 
 The statue, erected to the memory of the late Sir Robert Peel, bart., 
 situated within the railing of the garden enclosure, opposite the end of 
 Cross-street, likewise adds to the beauty and interest of the locality. This 
 statue, which is cut from one block of limestone, is considered a very good 
 likeness of the deceased statesman, and certainly possesses considerable 
 pretensions as a local work of art. The general effect, however, is injured 
 by the incongruous character of the drapery of the lower limbs. Mr. 
 Thomas Duckett, the sculptor, 0 in this, his first production of similar 
 
 a Conveyance deeds from the Corporation of Preston to Abbatt and Kellett, the founders of the 
 “ Folly” Waterworks, now in the possession of the Preston Gas Company. 
 
 b Mr. Whittle’s Lecture, at Preston, 1849. 
 
 c Mr. Duckett is a native of Preston, and has deservedly gained considerable reputation in his pro¬ 
 fession, especially for bust sculpture, as many excellent and characteristic portraits of several of tha 
 gentry of the town and neighbourhood amply testify. 
 

TOPOGRAPHY, ETC. 
 
 435 
 
 magnitude, appears to have hesitated whether he should yield to the old 
 fashioned conventionalism, which dogmatically invested all sculpture, 
 portrait or otherwise, with antique drapery, or boldly represent the modern 
 dress in its integrity. The clothing appears to cling to the lower limbs as 
 though it had been soaked in water. Neither one nor the other object has 
 been truly effected; but the vacillation has considerably injured the 
 general effect of the statue. The following inscription is carved upon the 
 pedestal:— 
 
 SIR 
 
 ROBERT PEEL, 
 
 BARONET. 
 
 ERECTED 
 
 BY PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION. 
 
 1852. 
 
 THOMAS MONK, ESQ, MAYOR. 
 
 The entire cost of the monument amounted to no more than six hundred 
 and twenty pounds. 
 
 Stephexsoh Tereace, Deepdale-road, or rather the open space in 
 front of it, might be considered a public “ square,” but for the triangular 
 form of the enclosed and planted area. It is situated upon a portion of 
 what was termed, in the earlier part of the present century, the “ Washing 
 Moor,” from the number of laundresses, professional and otherwise, who, 
 in the exercise of their vocation, availed themselves of the then public 
 common as a drying ground. This area was judiciously enclosed, and the 
 neat lodge at the southern corner erected by the corporation, in the year 
 1850. As buildings are rapidly increasing in this direction, the open 
 space thus preserved will, in the course of a few years, be prized as a 
 valuable “lung” to the eastern portion of the town. The handsome 
 stone terrace was erected by Mr. Geoi’ge Mould, contractor, and named 
 after the celebrated engineer. 
 
 Avenham Walk, though latterly considerably enlarged and improved by 
 the municipal authorities, has long existed as a favourite promenade of 
 the inhabitants. It forms a conspicuous object in the “ South Prospect of 
 Preston,” published in 1728, by J. and N. Buck. Until 1846, however, 
 the walk extended no further than the present upper terrace. In the 
 previous year, the corporation secured the neighbouring property, including 
 Mr. Jackson’s garden, and other lands to the west, lying between the 
 tram-road and the river’s edge. The upper walk has been widened at 
 its southern extremity, and two additional terraces added. The latter are 
 chiefly formed of removed earth. The fences in some of the fields below 
 Bibblesdale-plaee, have been cleared away, with the view of preparing the 
 
 2 e 2 
 
43G 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 ground for a public park. The pathways have been much improved, and 
 the railway embankment planted with shrubs ; but no further steps have 
 latterly been taken, although it is the intention of the corporation shortly 
 to lay out and plant the whole land in an ornamental manner. The view 
 from the upper terrace invariably receives the warmest commendation from 
 visitors. Few towns, manufacturing or otherwise, of the size of Preston, 
 possess so agreeable a promenade, within five minutes’ walk from the 
 business centre of the borough. The beautiful scenery, and the well 
 kept walks, on the banks of the Kibble, form a natural landscape infinitely 
 superior in picturesque aspect, to many artificially formed parks, where 
 the character of the locality has been less favourably adapted to such a 
 purpose. 
 
 The Moor Park was enclosed in 1834. Originally horse races were run 
 upon it, imder the patronage of the corporation. An opposition meeting 
 was got up by the political supporters of the Derby interest, on Fulwood 
 moor, in 178G. a The latter meeting continued until 1833, when the 
 races were abandoned. They were, however, revived during the last 
 guild festivities, when the “Holme,” beneath Penwortham church, was 
 converted into a course. They lingered, however, but an odd season or 
 two ; and although several efforts, and especially one during the past year, 
 have been made for their revival, the project appears to have entirely 
 failed. The Moor Park already possesses something of an ornamental 
 character. The fine straight avenue, from west to east, called “the ladies’ 
 walk,” is adorned by plantations, and picturesque entrance lodges. The 
 “ Serpentine-road,” across the northern side of the moor, is likewise varied 
 by some planting. A small lake and picturesque lodge also add to the 
 variety and beauty of the park. Much, however, is yet required in the 
 shape of landscape gardening before the corporation can be said to have 
 carried out their original purpose. The air is very salubrious, and the 
 situation admirably adapted to meet the growing wants of the town on the 
 north. Even in its present condition, Moor Park is much frequented, and 
 will doubtless, in a short time, become so general a promenade, that further 
 additions to the planting and laying out of the ground may confidently 
 be anticipated. 
 
 The Orchard, so well known as an arena for public meetings, is 
 merely a large plot of valuable building land, in the centre of the town. 
 It is highly probable that this area will, in a short period, receive its 
 destined quantity of bricks and mortar. It was formerly a fruit garden, 
 in the occupation of Mr. Chadwick; hence its name,—“Chadwick’s 
 Orchard.” It is described in Lang’s map, in 1774, as “Colley’s Garden.” 
 
 a See chap, 7, p. 333. 
 


TOrOGKAPHY, ETC. 
 
 437 
 
 At Whitsuntide, and other holidays, this plot of land has, for s.me years, 
 furnished accommodation for the numerous shows, travelling theatres, fly¬ 
 boats, swing-boxes, whirligigs, etc. On such occasions, the otherwise 
 dingy looking “Orchard” presents a very animated appearance. These 
 shows were, during the festive periods referred to, previously located 
 in the “Lord’s field,” at the top of Grimshaw-street. 
 
 PUBLIC BUILDINGS, INSTITUTIONS, Etc. 
 
 The Town Hall. —Preston, doubtless possessed a “ Hoot,” or Town 
 Hall, from the earliest period of its incorporation. No description of such 
 building has been preserved, anterior to the latter portion of the seven¬ 
 teenth century, when Dr. Kuerden records that, “ in the midle of the 
 burrough,” there “is placed an ample antient and yet well beautifyed 
 gylde or town hall, or toll boothe, to which is annexed, at the end thereof, 
 a counsell chamber for the capitall burgesses at their court days, to retire 
 for consultation.” The lower portion of this building, according to the 
 same authority, presented “ two rows of butchers’ shops on either side, 
 and a row at either end, were victuals” were daily exposed “for the use 
 of man,” excepting on Sundays, market days, etc. The roof, and a portion 
 of the walls of this edifice, fell to the ground, on the 3rd of June, 1780. 
 The corporation and burgesses resolved to entirely re-build the structure. 
 They ordered that “the Chimney Piece, with the Town’s Arms upon the 
 same,” should be “well dressed and fixed up again as the Chimney 
 Piece for the said intended new Town Hall.” “The old Cupola, which 
 stood upon the old Town Hall,” was likewise “ to be well dressed and 
 repaired, and fixed up again upon the new Town Hall.” This cupola was 
 removed in 1814, and the present one substituted. The contractors for the 
 erection of the new building were “ Itobert Bailey, Michael Emmett, and 
 John Emmett, joiners and cabinet makers, of Preston.” The amount of the 
 contract is no more than six hundred and fifteen pounds; yet the said 
 Itobt. Bailey and Co. covenant that the neighbouring Guild Hall shall be 
 propped up during the work, and left in the same state as it then was, 
 “ except as to the paper with which the same was hung.” The old music 
 gallery was likewise to be “repaired and cleaned, and fixed up again in 
 the new Town Hall.” The contract was signed in 1781, and the building 
 finished in the following year, in time for the guild festivities. No 
 architect’s name is mentioned. The present Town Hall, though a sub¬ 
 stantial structure, is but a mean edifice for so populous and wealthy a 
 borough. Its site encroaches very much upon the busy thoroughfare 
 called the “Old Shambles.” The interior of the hall is dark, and not 
 sufficiently spacious for the transaction of the borough magistrates’ 
 business. Although this objection will shortly cease to exist, owing to 
 
438 
 
 PEESTON AND ITS ENVIEONS. 
 
 the erection of the new offices and Magistrates’ Court in Lancaster-road ; 
 still the building is in no way adequate to the growing wants of the town. 
 The guild hall, or council chamber, is certainly a better room, and not ill 
 adapted to its present purpose. Several schemes have been propounded 
 for the erection of a suitable edifice, hut none have yet been carried out. c 
 In the present Town Hall, the magistrates’ bench was formerly situated 
 at the northern end. It has latterly been removed to the niche on the 
 southern side. The hall is decorated with a tablet, on which the names 
 of the guild mayors are inscribed; a bust of the late Thomas German, esq., 
 by Mr. Duckett, and four full length portraits, of the following individuals: 
 George II.; 'Sir Edward Stanley, hart.; the Hon. Daniel Pulteney ; and 
 Nicholas Fazackerley, esq. The portrait of George II. is either a duplicate 
 or a copy of one by Kneller, at Hampton Court. This monarch’s picture 
 was presented to the corporation of Preston by Sir Edward Stanley, bart. 
 It was placed in the Town Hall on the king’s birthday, October 30th, 
 1729. Sir Edward Stanley’s portrait is supposed to have been painted by 
 the same artist. If the picture of the king be a copy, this is not improbable. 
 Sir Edward Stanley, bart., afterwards earl of Derby, was bailiff of Preston, 
 in 1727, and mayor in 1731. The picture was probably placed in the 
 Town Hall soon after his completion of the duties of the mayoralty. The 
 Hon. Daniel Pulteney was member of parliament for Preston, from 1722 
 to 1734. Nicholas Fazackerley was member for Preston, from 1734 to 
 his death in 1767. He was likewise recorder of Preston from 1742 to the 
 time of his demise. This picture was painted by a Mr. Davis, brother to 
 Bartholomew Davis, who occupied the civic chair of the borough three 
 different times, namely, in 1774, 1780, and 1785. From the great 
 similarity of manner, it is highly probable Davis painted Pulteney’s 
 portrait likewise. 
 
 The Coen Exchange is a plain substantial erection, on the west side 
 of Lune-street. It was first opened to the public in 1824. In its original 
 condition, the building, which in form is nearly a parallelogram, contained 
 a large area in the centre, open to the weather. This area, which measures 
 one hundred and thirty-three feet in length, with a mean breadth of sixty- 
 two feet, was covered with a glazed roof in 1853. It forms now not only 
 an excellent corn market, but a spacious hall for general purposes. 11 This 
 building originally provided extensive accommodation for clothiers and 
 others engaged in the woollen trade, as well as for dealers in toys, hard¬ 
 ware, trinkets, and fancy goods generally, during the fairs periodically 
 
 c See chap. 6, p. 311. 
 
 d Ill 1842, the area of the Exchange was temporarily converted into a handsome ball-room, in 
 which were held public assemblies in connection with the guild festivities. 
 
TOPOGBAPHT, ETC. 
 
 894 
 
 held in the town. The three large rooms in the upper story, fronting 
 Lune-street, were thrown together in 1848, and now form a spacious 
 assembly room, 105 feet long, somewhat in the form of a cross. Its 
 general breadth is about 33 feet, and that of the centre portion, which 
 may be termed the transept, 45 feet. It is upwards of 18 feet in height. 
 In connection with this spacious hall, there is a lengthy promenade, 
 and refreshment and retiring rooms, formed from the upper galleries, which 
 had previously been named the “ cloth hall.” The rooms below the 
 salle de bal are used as a mart for the sale of cheese and butter. The one 
 to the north end was converted into a fish market on the removal of the 
 fish-stones from the central Market-place, in 1853 ; but the project failed. 
 No regular fish market at present exists. The open area at the front of 
 the Exchange is, on market days, devoted to the sale of eggs, poultry, 
 etc. The pork market is still at the western end of the building. Other 
 shops were formed on the south side in 1853. The external dimensions 
 of the Exchange buildings are, length 193 feet, mean breadth 100 feet. 
 
 Tiie House of Coiirectiox.— Dr. Kuerden, nearly two centuries ago, 
 described the “ old Friary,” situated to the south of the present Marsh- 
 lane, as being “ only reserved for the reforming of vagabonds, sturdy beg¬ 
 gars, and petty larcenary thieves, and other people wanting good behaviour; 
 it is now the country prison to entertain such persons with hard work, 
 spare dyet, and whipping, and it is cal’d the House of Correction.” e This 
 place remained the common gaol of the neighbourhood until the erection 
 of the modern prison, at the end of Church-street, which was first opened 
 for the reception of criminals in the year 1789. This gaol is said 
 to have been constructed according to the improved plans laid down 
 by the celebrated prison philanthropist, John Howard, who resided 
 for some time in the neighbouring town of Warrington. The site of this 
 edifice was well chosen. A large quantity of land was secured in its 
 immediate vicinity, from which circumstance ample available space has not 
 been wanted for the further extension of the buildings, which the increasing 
 population gradually demanded. At the present time, a large grassed area 
 remains in front of the governor’s house, which, with a considerable 
 quantity of land in the rear, and on the south side, still gives a semi¬ 
 suburban character to the establishment, notwithstanding its comparative 
 proximity to the present centre of the town. Eighteen additional cells 
 were added in 1817. The prison was visited in June, 1819, by the cele¬ 
 brated Mrs. Fry, and her brother, Jno. Gurney, esq., of Norwich. Mrs. 
 Fry again visited the place in Oct., 1820, and expressed herself gratified 
 with the mode of treatment adopted. Mr. Gurney, in his notes, afterwards 
 
 e See chap. 3, page 115, and chap. 5, page 211. 
 
440 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 published, says ,—“ About one thousand persons are computed to pass 
 through this House of Correction in the course of the year ; and many of 
 them learn in it those habits of industry, and that knowledge of a trade, 
 by which they are enabled to respectably maintain their families when 
 they leave it.” The same writer further adds :—“ We have indeed in the 
 course of our journey, visited no prison which appeared to us to be so 
 much a house of reformation as the bridewell at Preston. More com¬ 
 pletely, however, to effect that great object, one thing seems wanting; 
 namely, more religious care and instruction. The prisoners meet for 
 divine worship only once in the week; and there is no school in the prison.” 
 Mr. Liddell was governor at this time, he having been appointed in 1817. 
 He was succeeded by Captain Hansbrow, the present governor of Lancaster 
 Castle. A new females’ ward was erected in 1842, which contains thirty- 
 three cells, six day rooms, residence for matron and female warders, together 
 with wash-houses, laundry, and other offices. Iu 1842, the first corridor, or 
 block of sixty cells, under the new regulation for separate confinement, 
 Avas erected; and, in 1847, a second corridor, or block of ninety-six 
 cells, was added. Previously to these additions, which are on the most 
 approved plans, the prison contained three hundred and ten cells, which, at 
 three persons each, would hold nine hundred and thirty prisoners. 1 In 
 1832, three “ martello towers” were erected upon the walls, with the view 
 to protect the prison from threatened attacks by mobs of machinery breaking 
 operatives. In the previous year, the promptitude and courage of the 
 governor, Captain Hansbrow, frustrated an attempt of this character. The 
 governor’s house, which forms the principal front, was re-built in 1834, 
 from designs by Mr. Jno. Dewhurst. It is of undressed stone, in the 
 “ castellated style,” and although without much pretension to architectural 
 merit, presents a very characteristic and commanding aspect. The chapel 
 has likewise been enlarged and decorated. The benches, communion 
 table, and handsome chairs, railing, reading desk, as well as the decorated 
 roof, emblazoned with golden stars, together with the gilt letters cut from 
 card hoard, which form the apostles’ creed, etc., near the altar, are the pro¬ 
 ductions of prisoners who have been confined in the gaol. A large figure of 
 Christ upon the cross, painted by the chaplain, the Kev. J. Clay, adorns the 
 space above the altar. A large and very superior instrument, which cost 
 eighty guineas, called a “ seraphine,” has been placed in the chapel, by 
 subscription, collected by the governor, Col. Martin, who contributed 
 twenty-five pounds towards the fund. The chapel, which will contain 
 about five hundred persons, is warmed by gas apparatus. The average 
 
 a Governors of gaols are prohibited by statute from lodging two criminals in one cell. Each 
 apartment must be occupied by either one or three prisoners. 
 
TOrOGKAPHT, ETC. 
 
 441 
 
 number of persons confined in tbe gaol, for the last few years, is about 
 three hundred and fifty. The prisoners are taught in the cells and in 
 classes, on an average about two hours daily. Total separation is practised, 
 except during exercise and working hours, and during divine service in 
 the chapel. At these times, even, the prisoners are always under the eye 
 of an officer, who enforces the strictest silence. The discipline of this 
 gaol has been pronounced by competent authorities, from various con¬ 
 tinental states, as well as England, to be fully equal, if not superior, to 
 that of any other prison, either in Europe or America. Flogging was dis¬ 
 continued upwards of eleven years ago, except in the cases of criminals 
 imder the “ Juvenile Actbut even these are of rare occurrence. 
 There have not been, for some time, any irons or hand-cuffs in the 
 place. Col. Martin appears to prefer, as a portion of his discipline, 
 the principle acted upon in Ivuerden’s days, when prisoners were 
 “ entertained with hard work and spare dyetone of his maxims being, 
 that if a prisoner will not work, he ought not to feed. Parties 
 who have tried the gallant colonel’s drill, have often thanked him, 
 on their release, for having taught them how to earn their living by 
 honest industry. Some of the reports of the chaplain of this prison (the 
 Rev. J. Clay), have had a wide circulation, and have attracted considerable 
 attention. The staff of officials consists of the governor, the chaplain, the 
 surgeon, nine male warders, store keeper, taskmaster, two schoolmasters, 
 two porters, four night watchmen (two for each alternate night), one 
 matron, and two female warders. 
 
 The Court House is situated to the south of the prison. It is a hand¬ 
 some stone edifice, built about 1829, from designs by Mr. Rickman. 
 In 1849, the dome was removed ; and another of rectangular form erected 
 in its place. The latter, which is regarded as a great improvement over 
 the previous plan of lighting the court, was designed by Mr. Geo. Latham. 
 Owing to the weight of business at the sessions, a second smaller court has 
 been fitted up. The principal hall is spacious, and contains a commodious 
 gallery for spectators. A portrait of the late Col. Clayton, of Blackburn, 
 decorates the court. This gentleman had served as a county magistrate 
 fifty years at the time the portrait was placed in its present position. 
 Previously to the erection of this building, the “sessions-house” was 
 attached to the governor’s residence. 
 
 TnE Militia Stores. —A large quadrangular building of brick, with 
 square towers at the corners, was erected in 1854, to the south of the 
 Court House, for the purposes of the militia. The clothing, arms, 
 and accoutrements are here deposited. There are likewise apartments for 
 the commanding officer, the adjutant, the staff, and the regimental trades¬ 
 men, together with cells, stables, etc. 
 
442 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Magistrates’ Court and Police Station, Lancaster-road.— The 
 borough magistrates, at present, hold their court at the Town-hall, and 
 the police-station is in Avenham-street. Spacious premises, from designs 
 by Mr. J. H. Park, are, however, in course of erection, in Lancaster-road, 
 which will afford superior facilities for the transaction of this department 
 of the public business. Previously to the erection of the new police-station, 
 in 1832, the “lock-up” was situated up a dismal alley branching from 
 Turk’ s-head-court. The Avenham-street establishment is a massive struc¬ 
 ture, and affords sufficient accommodation for the police requirements; 
 but the site having been purchased by Messrs. Jacson and Co., cotton spin¬ 
 ners, -with the view to the enlargement of their premises, the erection of new 
 police buildings became necessary. It was therefore determined to erect a 
 suitable court in connection therewith, the Town-hall being ill adapted for 
 the transaction of the magisterial business. The ground floor of the new 
 building will contain a magistrates’ clerk’s room, superintendent’s office, 
 book-keeper’s and general police office, store room, washing room, and 
 four cells. The upper story will include a private room for the magis¬ 
 trates, jury or attorney’s room, three cells, and a court house, forty feet 
 long by thirty-two feet wide. The principal entrance, in Lancaster- 
 road, will present a front of fifty feet. The depth of the building, 
 with front to Earl-street, will be one hundred and four feet. The 
 estimated cost, including fire-proof floors, internal fittings, etc., is about 
 £3,000. The architectural character of the building may be described as 
 an adaptation of the Italian manner to modern and local requirements. 
 
 Batiis and 'Wash-houses. —Several projects had been mooted for the 
 establishment of public baths previously to the erection of the present 
 establishment, in Saul-street. In 1836, a prospectus was issued with the 
 object of procuring a capital of £1,000. for the furtherance of this object, 
 in shares of £40. each. The scheme, however, was ultimately abandoned. 
 After considerable discussion, it was eventually agreed, chiefly through 
 the instrumentality of the then mayor, James German, esq., that public 
 baths and wash-houses should be erected by the corporation. In 1851, 
 the Saul-street establishment was opened. It is furnished with every 
 convenience, and fitted up in the most approved manner. The plans of 
 the building are by P. P. Baly, esq., of London, civil engineer. The 
 frontage to Saul-street is upwards of eighty feet in length; and the building 
 extends backward about one hundred and nine feet. There are sixty- 
 three private bath rooms, sixteen first-class for men, eight first-class for 
 women, and thirty-one second-class for men and eight for women. The 
 swimming bath is thirty-four feet by twenty-four feet. This bath is supplied 
 with hot and cold water, and is generally kept tepid. There are likewise 
 
TOPOGRAPHY, ETC. 
 
 443 
 
 vapour and shower baths on the premises. The washing department is 
 fitted up with every convenience for the cleansing and drying of clothes. 
 The old company supplied the water gratuitously, dining which time the 
 establishment about paid its working expenses. Since the local board 
 purchased the water company’s interest, the usual charge has been made, 
 from which time the expenses have exceeded the receipts. The number 
 both of washers and bathers has slightly decreased during the past year, 
 as will be seen from the following statement:— 
 
 NUMBER OP BATHERS AND WASHERS POE THE PAST PIVE YEARS. 
 
 Sep. 1 to Aug. 31 . 
 
 Bathers. 
 
 Washers. 
 
 Hours Washing. 
 
 1851—2 . 
 
 .. 31,314 _ 
 
 6,778 .. 
 
 . 20,164 
 
 1852—3 . 
 
 . . 30,296 _ 
 
 _ 9,347 .. 
 
 . 24,004 
 
 1853—4 . 
 
 .. 27,472 .... 
 
 .... 10,775 .. 
 
 . 29,154 
 
 1854—5 . 
 
 .. 29,855 .... 
 
 .... 10,194 .. 
 
 . 31,279 
 
 1855—6 . 
 
 .. 27,294 .... 
 
 8,527 .. 
 
 . 26,783 
 
 From the capital account of the establishment, it appears that the land, 
 buildings, fittings, etc., cost £11,217. 12s. 7d., which sum was raised by 
 loans on mortgage of the borough rate. 
 
 The Fire Brigade Buildings were formerly beneath the “Lock-up,” in 
 Avenham-street. In 1852, however, suitable premises were erected in 
 Tithe-barn-street, especially for the accommodation of this branch of the 
 public service. The building is furnished with a tower, in which is 
 placed the alarm bell used in connection with the establishment. The 
 present fire brigade, under the direction of Mr. Superintendent Marriot, is 
 considered to be very efficient. In proportion to the amount of property, 
 destructive fires are very rare in Preston. The first record of the use of a 
 fire-engine in the borough, is found in the corporation minute book, of the 
 year 1724, when Dan. Pulteney, esq., member of parliament for Preston, 
 presented to the corporation “ an engine for y e extinguishing of fire, of late 
 iuvencon.” a The corporation immediately ordered a second engine, of a similar 
 character. The want of adequate protection from fire was so much felt in 
 1803, that a meeting was held, and a subscription entered into for the 
 purchase of engines. Four were procured soon afterwards. The “Victoria” 
 engine was purchased by the old police commissioners, in 1837. The estab¬ 
 lishment includes, at the present time, engines of the most approved 
 construction, together with hose-reel and other requisites. 
 
 The Overseers’ Offices, in Lancaster-road, were erected in 1848. In 
 this building the guardians meet, and the general business of the union is 
 transacted. 
 
 The Workhouse, on the Moor, was built in 1788, and has since been 
 enlarged. Considerable discussion relative to the propriety of erecting a 
 
 a See chap. G, p. 313. 
 
444 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 suitable edifice for the accommodation of the entire union has been fre¬ 
 quently discussed by the guardians; but the project, at present, remains 
 in abeyanee. b 
 
 The House of Recovery. —An institution of this character, in 
 connection with the Dispensary, was originally established near the 
 Trinity church, in 1813; but the building on the “Moor” was 
 not erected until 1833. It is at present used more as a fever ward in con¬ 
 nection with the Dispensary and the Workhouse. 0 
 
 The Dispensary, in Fishergate, was first established in 1S09. It is 
 supported entirely by voluntary contributions and annual donations. The 
 following extracts, from the last report of the house surgeon, for the 
 months of November and December, 1856, and January, February, and 
 March, 1857, show the valuable aid rendered to the poor by this 
 institution :— 
 
 “The number of patients admitted during the months of November and December, is 
 423; of these 34 were accidents; 193 attended personally at the Dispensary ; 228 were 
 visited at their own homes. The number for these three months is rather below the average, 
 and can only be accounted for by there having been less illness in the town than is usual 
 at this season. * * * The number of patients admitted during the months of Jan¬ 
 
 uary and February, is 448; of these 26 were accidents: 233 attended at the Dispensary; 
 253 were visited at their homes. * * * The number of patients admitted last 
 
 month ” (March), “ is 218 ; of these 118 attended at the Dispensary ; 100 were seen at 
 home; and 13 were accidents.” 
 
 Notwithstanding the amount of relief furnished by this institution, it is still 
 very desirable that Preston should ere long possess a large and commodious 
 Infirmary, capable of meeting the requirements of its numerous and 
 increasing population. Perhaps the example of the neighbouring borough 
 of Blackburn may eventually serve to stimulate the benevolence of the 
 wealthy inhabitants of Preston in this direction. From time to time some 
 efforts have been made; but, as yet, without practical results. 
 
 Gas Works. —Preston has the distinction of being the first provincial 
 town in England into which gas was introduced for public consumption. 
 Its old parish church was the first structure devoted to religious service 
 lighted with gas, not excepting those in the metropolis; and the first 
 government barrack which adopted the improved method of illumination 
 is the one at Fulwood. The gas company in Preston was formed in 1815, 
 chiefly through the instrumentality of the Rev. Joseph Dunn, who had 
 witnessed its successful introduction into the Roman Catholic college, at 
 Stonyliurst. The works were in operation early in 1816. So rapid has 
 been their extension, that the original capital stock of £2000. has, in the 
 short space of forty years, become augmented to £87,000 ! The old works 
 were erected in Avenham-lane. The company has gradually purchased 
 
 b See page 319. 
 
 c See page 319. 
 
TOPOGRAPHY, ETC. 
 
 445 
 
 so much of the neighbouring property that the entire space from east to 
 west, between Avenham-street and Glover-street; and from north to south, 
 between Syke-lane and Avenham-lane is now in their possession. Besides 
 which, other extensions have been found necessary, from time to time, to 
 meet the gradually increasing demand. Land in Upper Walker-street, 
 then on the outside of the town, was purchased in 1835, and gas¬ 
 holders erected on the new station. This was further extended in 1845, 
 and a second establishment commenced for the manufacture as well as 
 for the storing of gas. The property belonging to the old water-works 
 company in Syke-lane was purchased in 1833, and a large gas-holder 
 erected on the site in 1850, when the old “Folly well” was filled up. 
 An additional supply gasholder was afterwards erected at Walton-le-dale. 
 The company first obtained a special act of incorporation in 1839. In 
 1853, a further act was deemed necessary, and was accordingly procured. 
 The length of the mains from east to west, and from north to south, is 
 about two and a half miles in each direction. The quantity of gas annually 
 manufactured at the present time, is about one hundred and twenty-five 
 millions of cubic feet. The rate of charge has been considerably diminished 
 during the last few years. Meters were gradually introduced between 
 1835 and 1840. At first the price was fifteen shillings per thousand 
 cubic feet. At present it is four shillings and ninepence, with a discount 
 of ten per cent., if paid within one month from the end of each periodical 
 settlement. 
 
 The Water Works. —Originally Preston was supplied with water from 
 open wells or springs in the town, near which, in process of time, draw-wells 
 were sunk. It is impossible to say when open wells were first constructed. 
 In 1654, the municipal authorities ordered a “drawe well” to be made 
 “ in the Bottome of the Markett stidd.” Another ancient well was acci¬ 
 dentally discovered in 1852, by the workmen employed in excavating for 
 the mains of the new water company in Church-street, a little to the east of 
 Water-street. The well appeared to have been erected over or near the 
 spring which supplied the Syke-brook. It resembled a vault in form, was 
 about two yards deep, four yards long, and three in width. The bottom 
 was flagged, and the upper portion was covered with flags or stone slabs, 
 one of which, though broken, distinctly presented the following inscrip¬ 
 tion :— 
 
 “ William Turner, Maior. 
 
 George Addison, ) 
 
 Lawrence Farringdon, j Lay lives. 
 
 Anno. 1664.” 
 
 The vault was full of water at the time of its discovery. It is generally 
 believed to have been an ancient well, used previously to the erection of 
 
446 
 
 PEESTON AND ITS EXVIEOXS. 
 
 the town’s pumps. The cavity was filled with rubbish by the workmen, 
 but the stone bearing the inscription was removed to the water company’s 
 office. Dr. Kuerden, towards the end of the seventeenth century, des¬ 
 cribes Molyneux-square, now that portion of Lancaster-road immediately 
 south of Lord-street, as having a “ drawwell in the midst thereof.” “ 
 The well, sunk at the expense of the corporation, “ in the bottom of the 
 Market Stidd,” in the year 1654, was most probably near the site of the 
 old fish-stones pump, at the Friargate corner of the square. An open 
 sewer ran down the centre of this thoroughfare to “ Brown’s channel,” 
 which crossed Friargate opposite Lune-street, and which doubtless carried 
 away the overflow from the “ Stidd.” A drawwell in Fishergate, near 
 the site of the present pump, was constructed in 1666, at the expense of 
 the corporation. A Mr. Kellett, a carpenter, proposed in 1718, to supply 
 the town with water from the Itibble. The project, though encouraged by 
 the corporate body, was not, however, carried into effect. In 1729, 
 Messrs. Abbatt and Kellett received power from the municipal authorities 
 to supply the town with water. Land was leased to them at Avenham, 
 (near the present gas company’s office) for the erection of the necessary 
 machinery, and for the procuring of a supply of water. This establish¬ 
 ment, from the supposed Quixotic character of the innovation was named 
 the “ Folly.” The large well occupied the site of an ancient spring, des¬ 
 cribed by Dr. Kuerden as the “Minspitt well,” situated at the bottom of 
 “ Minspitt-lane or Pettycoat-alley, by reason of the frequent carrying of 
 water from the well by women. b The corporation likewise granted Messrs. 
 Kellett and Abbatt power to construct a conduit in the centre of the 
 Market-place, on the site of the old cross, and even furnished materials 
 for the structure, but in 1738, it was ordered to be destroyed.' The pipes 
 used by this establishment, were, in the first instance, made of wood, but 
 afterwards lead and iron were substituted. The company gradually assumed 
 more extensive proportions, and added a maltkiln to their business. 
 Owing to the low situation of the spring, power was required to force the 
 water to the higher level of the town. This was effected by the continual 
 perambulation of decrepid old horses around the main shaft of the primitive 
 machinery. The supply from this source, not keeping pace with the 
 extended requirements of the town, another scheme was set on foot in 
 1825, principally by the late Mr. John Smith, but the commercial panic 
 of 1826 prevented its realization. Soon afterwards Mr. W. "Wood erected 
 premises in Ormskirk-road, intended to supply water at least to the 
 tenants of his property in the neighbourhood. As little building has since 
 been placed upon the “ Orchard,” it may be supposed these “waterworks” 
 
 a See page 210. 
 
 b See page 210. 
 
 c See page 433. 
 
TOrOGEAPIIY, ETC. 
 
 447 
 
 were never brought into active operation. On the revival of trade, how¬ 
 ever, Mr. Smith’s project was resumed. In 1832, the “ Preston Water¬ 
 works Company” was incorporated by special act of parliament. The 
 capital was raised in three hundred shares at £50. each, power was granted 
 to borrow a further sum of £10,000. The water was procured and 
 stored in a reservoir at Grimsargh, on the way to Longridge. The con¬ 
 cern speedily realised ten percent, to the shareholders. In 1843, another 
 act of parliament was obtained, authorising an increase of capital, when 
 six hundred new shares, at £50. each were created. Eventually the 
 local board of health purchased the company’s interest in these works. 
 By the powers conferred by an act passed in 1853, the sum payable to the 
 shareholders, was assessed by the arbitrator, Sir John Bennie, at £135,225. 
 which, after discharging all liabilities, furnished a dividend of £116. 5s. 
 on each original £50. share. Since the waterworks have become the 
 property of the local board of health, most extensive improvements and 
 additions have been commenced, but most of these are at present in an 
 unfinished state. Recent disagreement, between the local board and Mr. 
 Wrigg, the engineer, which resulted in the resignation of the latter, for 
 a short time put a stop to the works, as well as to the sewerage of the 
 town. Mr. Newton has since been appointed surveyor, and Mr. Hawke- 
 sley has reported on the condition, and necessary steps to be taken with 
 respect to the new waterworks. Their speedy completion may, therefore, 
 with some confidence, be anticipated. 
 
 The Theatre Rotal, in Fishergate, was built in 1802, by a company 
 of shareholders, with a view to provide more efficient accommodation for 
 the festivities incident to the guild of that year. It is a large and com¬ 
 modious building, and is capable of being converted into a first-class pro¬ 
 vincial house. A smaller theatre previously occupied the site of Messrs. 
 Hunt’s maltkiln, in Woodcock’s court, Fishergate. See map of Preston 
 in 1774. 
 
 The Temperance Hall, in North-road, formerly a maltkiln, was opened 
 on July 5th, 1856. For some years previously, the temperance committee 
 leased from the earl of Derby, the old cockpit, which lias since been con¬ 
 verted into the “ Derby Assembly Room.” 
 
 Railway Stations. —The great general railway station in Fishergate, 
 has been enlarged from time to time, merely with a view to meet tempo¬ 
 rary requirements. It consequently presents a singular mixture of styles, 
 from the early dark and clumsy wooden shed, to the light iron and glass 
 roofing, lately so much in fashion. It is intended, however, shortly to 
 remove entirely the present passenger station, and erect premises suitable 
 to the traffic of the locality. A bill was introduced into parliament lately 
 
448 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 for tlie carrying out of a magnificent project; but, as the rival companies 
 could not agree as to the relative proportions of the expense, the scheme 
 was dropped. It has been said that more trains pass daily in and 
 out of the Preston station than at any other place. Derby is stated to be 
 the next upon the list. In June, 1853, the return was—London and 
 UortliWestcrn, 165; East Lancashire, 30; total, 195 trains. In April, 
 1857, the numbers were as follows:—London and North Western, 255 ; 
 East Lancashire, 62; total, 317. The goods station of the London and 
 North Western company is situated in Charles-street, and that of the East 
 Lancashire at the lower end of Butler-street. There are likewise branch 
 works in connection with the Crewe establishment, for the repair of locomo¬ 
 tive engines, etc. The whole of these buildings, attached to the London and 
 North Western, the East Lancashire, the Lancashire and Yorkshire, the 
 Lancaster and Carlisle, and the Wyre railways, arc situated within what 
 is called a “ring fence,” and occupy a very considerable space of ground. 
 There is yet standing a small goods-station, in connection with the Wyre 
 line, at the Maudlands. The Longridge railway and the Preston portion 
 of the unfinished Fleetwood and West Biding scheme are now worked 
 together. The station of the former, behind Stephenson-terrace, is to be 
 appropriated in future to the goods department alone, a commodious new 
 passenger station being in course of erection, near the house of recovery, 
 in Deepdale-road. A small station for passengers, has been lately opened 
 on the Maudlands, for the convenience of parties residing at the western 
 side of the town. The Lancaster and Carlisle company are erecting a 
 large and commodious shed on the Maudlands, as an engine depot. Their 
 principal establishment of this character is at Carlisle. 
 
 Dr. Shepherd’s Library. —A physician of Preston, Bichard Shepherd, 
 M.B., who died in November, 1761, bequeathed a valuable library to the 
 mayor and aldermen of the borough, for the public use. Dr. Shepherd 
 likewise devised the proceeds arising from the investment of a sum of £200. 
 as asalary for a librarian; together with the interest accruing from the residue 
 of his personal estate, (about £1000) as a perpetual fund for the further 
 augmentation of the library. The books were deposited for a long period 
 in a suitable building in Shepherd-street; but, owing to the rapid increase 
 of the town, and the change in the character of the locality, the mayor 
 and aldermen determined upon the provision of a more suitable site. A 
 portion of the present grammar school, Cross-street, was originally des¬ 
 tined for the reception of Dr. Shepherd’s bequest, but the room not prov¬ 
 ing sufficiently large to meet the probable increase in the number of works, 
 the project was abandoned. Several schemes were entertained for the 
 erection of a suitable edifice on the opposite side of the street, and plans 
 
TOPOGRAPHY, ETC. 
 
 449 
 
 ■were submitted by Mr. Barry, son of Sir Charles Barry, architect of 
 the new houses of parliament, Westminster, but nothing- further resulted. 
 The books have, since May, 1851, been deposited in a large room in the 
 upper portion of the Institution for the Diffusion of Knowledge, at 
 Avenham, where every facility is afforded to readers. The only condition 
 attached to the privilege of free access to this valuable collection of stand¬ 
 ard works, is a recommendation signed by the mayor or one of the aider- 
 men of the borough. In November, 183G, the library contained 4277 
 volumes; in January, 1852, 5,700 volumes; and at the present time, 
 about 7,000 volumes. 
 
 Institution foe the Diffusion of Knowledge. —Preston possesses no 
 Mechanics’ Institute, at least none which is so styled. There are, however, 
 several libraries and mutual improvement classes, in connection with some 
 of the leading establishments, which might, perhaps, with greater justice, 
 claim the title, than many of the so styled “ Mechanics’ Institutions.” 
 Preston was not, however, backward iu the cause of popular education, 
 for as early as October, 1828, the “ Institution for the Diffusion of Know¬ 
 ledge ” was opened in Cannon-street, avowedly with the same objects as 
 Mechanics’ Institutes. From six hundred to eight hundred members 
 joined diming the first twelve months of its existence, a large proportion 
 of whom were operatives. At the end of the first year the library con¬ 
 tained about 1,500 volumes, and the museum above 800 interesting speci¬ 
 mens, chiefly iu the departments pertaining to natural history. The 
 institution was, however, too far advanced in its character to meet the 
 then state of the education of the masses, and, like mauy other Mechanics’ 
 Institutes, soon ceased to be much patronised by that class. The number 
 of subscribers, in the course of two or three years, fell to between three 
 and four hundred. Previously to August, 1837, works of fiction, 
 including Shakspeare aud dramatic literature generally, were excluded. 
 The committee of the institution originally rented the upper room iu a 
 building on the east side of Cannon-street, which served as both library, 
 museum, and lecture room. The lower room was afterwards added, but still 
 the accommodation was very limited. The first effort towards the raising 
 of a fund for the erection of a suitable building was made in 18 -10, when an 
 exhibition of works of art, scientific apparatus, machinery, etc., was held 
 in the Exchange-rooms. It proved very successful, and realised a profit of 
 £280. This sum was afterwards increased by a legacy of £100., bequeathed 
 by Mr. Hamer Hargreaves, of Manchester, a talented and enthusiastic ama¬ 
 teur musician. This gentleman formerly resided in Preston; and was for 
 many years the conductor of the choral society, and chief patron of musical 
 talent in the town. Considerable exertions were afterwards made, and liberal 
 
 2 F 
 
450 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 subscriptions resulted. The corporation voted £250. in aid of the building 
 fund. In 1844, it was resolved to erect a suitable edifice in Cross-street. 
 This site was, however, afterwards abandoned. The foundation stone of the 
 present handsome building, at Avenham, was laid in June, 1846, by the 
 then mayor, the late Thomas German, esq. A bazaar was held in the 
 Corn-exchange during the spring of 1849, in aid of the funds. This 
 proved one of the most successful enterprises of the kind ever undertaken in 
 Preston. The total proceeds amounted to about £1,800. In order to 
 raise the necessary funds to complete the building, Thomas Birchall, esq. 
 advanced the sum of £600. This was entirely repaid in the year 1854. 
 The total cost, including fitting, was about £6,000. The building was 
 opened in October, 1849. In architectural character it partakes of the 
 Greek composite order, combined with modern Italian. It was erected 
 from designs by the late Mr. "Welch. The portico is, to some extent, 
 imitated from an antique edifice at Athens, known as the “ Temple of the 
 "Winds.” The basement contains several good offices and class rooms. The 
 principal story includes a large library and a reading room of similar 
 dimensions, committe room, ante-rooms, and large lecture hall. The latter, 
 including the gallery, will contain about six hundred persons. The plat¬ 
 form is spacious, and is tastefully ornamented by an architectural pros¬ 
 cenium. A fine oil picture, representing Eve pleading to Adam, decorates 
 the hall. This picture was presented through Thomas Birchall, esq., by 
 the artist, H. O’Neil, Esq. In the sides of the building are other class 
 rooms. The upper story consists of two large exhibition rooms, lighted 
 from the roof, and united by corridors. One of these has been set apart 
 for Dr. Shepherd’s library, the trustees of which pay a rent of £40. a 
 year to the council of the institution. Erom the top of the building, an 
 excellent view is obtained of the town and surrounding country. The 
 approach, or entrance terrace, was not added till 1849. It is in the Italian 
 villa style, and was designed by Mr. George Latham. The cost of this 
 work, about £350, was defrayed by James German, esq., and a few of his 
 friends. The number of members at the present time, about one half of 
 which may be included in the operative class, is nearly six hundred,” and 
 the number of volumes in the library upwards of 6,000. Lectures, 
 gratuitous and otherwise, are regularly given in the theatre of the institu¬ 
 tion ; and exhibitions and soirees, are occasionally held in connection with 
 it. The museum has not yet been fitted up within the present building. 
 
 a The actual numbers on the books in April last, were as follows 
 
 Out of business, professional, and tradesmen . 210 
 
 Operatives. 2G4 
 
 Females and minors. 67 
 
 Total. 571 
 

 
 
 
 x&a 
 
 
 6% 
 
 \'Ac*/#K 
 
TOPOGKAPHY, ETC. 
 
 4.51 
 
 Its contents have been greatly neglected, and portions irretrievably 
 injured. The project for the establishment of a free library and museum 
 in Preston has met with some favour. Several meetings have been held, 
 at one of which Lord Stanley and Sir Robert Peel, bart., and at another 
 the Eisliop of Manchester, and Sir J. Kay Shuttleworth, bart. advocated 
 the cause with great and much commended eloquence. The subscription list, 
 however, does not exhibit yet, an equal proof of practical zeal in the under¬ 
 taking. The total amount promised (April, 1857), is £2,274., of which 
 £476. 4s. 6d. is contributed by Preston operatives. Doubtless, the 
 recent praiseworthy example and munificence of William Browne, esq., 
 M.P., will stimulate the local patriotism of the inhabitants of Preston, 
 and, in a short time, the ancient borough will occupy a position in this 
 respect commensurate with its wealth and population. The numerous 
 and attentive audiences, which have frequented the Corn-exchange, during 
 the past season, to listen to a course of lectures, gratuitously provided by 
 the mayor, bears testimony to the increasing desire of the operative popu¬ 
 lation for the acquisition of knowledge. 
 
 Litekaby and Philosophical Institution. —Mr. Whittle mentions a 
 Literary and Philosophical Institution as existing in 1810, and that the 
 late Rev. J. Dunn, and Thos. Batty Addison, esq., were amongst its chief 
 patrons. In September, 1834, a “ Society of Arts” was instituted; which, 
 for some time, received the patronage of the principal gentry. Two 
 exhibitions of paintings were held in connection with this institution, one 
 in the society’s rooms, Fishergate, and another at the Court-house. In 
 1838, the committee announced their intention to give a number of prizes, 
 to be competed for by parties residing within twenty miles of Preston. 
 The following is a list of the successful competitors:—Best drawing, in 
 chalk, from the Townley Yenus: Chas. Hardwick; second do., William 
 Pilkington. Landscape view of Ribble valley: first prize, G. AY. Anthony; 
 second do., AY. Pilkington. Best design for a statue of the late John 
 Horrocks: Thomas Duckett. Architecture: George Benson. The society, 
 however, gradually fell into decay; and, eventually, its collection of 
 pictures, etc., was transferred to the new Literary and Philosophical 
 Institution. This society originated in a slight misunderstanding with 
 the committee and some of the members of the Institution in Cannon- 
 street, in 1840. Rooms were fitted up in the Corn Exchange for a library, 
 museum, and lectures. The project so far succeeded as to induce the 
 proprietors and subscribers to determine upon the erection of a suitable 
 building. During the mayoralty of Jno. Addison, esq. (August, 1844), 
 the first stone of the present picturesque edifice was laid. Ilis worship 
 presented a portion of the site. The building was designed by the late 
 
 2 f 2 
 
432 
 
 PRESTON AND Il'S ENVIRONS. 
 
 In 1851, tlie population of the township amounted to 68,356, and 
 it has considerably increased since. After the passing of the Reform Bill, 
 in 1832, the township of Fish wick was incorporated with the borough of 
 Preston. Fishwick had 287 inhabitants in 1801; 295 in 1811 ; 284 in 
 1821 ; 759 in 1831 ; 756 in 1841 ; and 1,005 in 1851. The total popu¬ 
 lation of the borough of Preston was thus, at the last ceusus, 69,361. 
 PUBLIC SQUARES, PARKS, Etc. 
 
 The Market-place is simply at the present time an opened paved area, 
 nearly square in form. In the reign of Henry VIII., it was described by 
 Leland, the king’s antiquary and topograper, as possessing some attraction, 
 though whether from its beauty or its size is rather doubtful, owing to the 
 quaint and curt style of expression used by the erudite gentleman. He 
 merely intimates that “ the Market-place of the town is fair.” b All the 
 buildings which existed in Leland’s time have been succeeded by more 
 modern erections, and only a few remains of their immediate successors 
 are now in existence. In 1855, the fine old picturesque pile of “Eliza¬ 
 bethan” architecture, which formed so prominent a feature of the Preston 
 Market-place, was razed to the ground. The buildings had become some¬ 
 what “ rickety,” and the corporation proposed to erect a new Town Hall 
 and Exchange upon the site. This intention, however, has not yet been 
 earned out, consequently, at the present time, the only available benefit 
 derived from the demolition of these interesting specimens of the domestic 
 architecture of the seventeenth century, is an increase of market 
 accommodation. 
 
 These old houses possess some historical interest. Adam Morte, the 
 mayor, who, together with his son, fell in the seige of Preston, in 1643, 
 occupied one of tliem. c The date of the erection of this edifice (1629), 
 was carved over a doorway, together with the initials The lower 
 
 house at the eastern corner was an older erection. When the beam over 
 the window was exposed, it exhibited the date 1618, and the initials x . -A_. f 
 
 estate (135 acres), belonging to the trustees of Gen. Fletcher, in 1846 ; Lancaster-road and Harri¬ 
 son’s Hill, in 1835 ; Freehold Park estate, Fulwood (45 acres), in 1850; Hole House estate, in 1855, 
 (belonging to Lady Shelley,) about 30 acres. In 1851, Swainson, Birley, and Co. opened 7 acres, 
 purchased from Lord Derby ; and Edward Stanley, esq., opened, in 1852, several detached fields in 
 the vicinity of Fishergate. The estates at Tulketh and Ashton (100 acres), the property of J. Bray, 
 esq., E. Pedder, esq., and Jno. Able Smith, esq., were opened for building in 1S53. 
 
 b Leland’s Itin., vol. 5, fo. 84, p. 91. 
 
 c Morte is described by Prince Rupert, as Major (Mayor), but from the records of the cor¬ 
 poration, it appears that, though elected, he refused to serve. See chap. 6, page 235. 
 
 d The “frame-work” forming the front of this house was purchased by Mr. Richards, and sent 
 to Longridge, with the view to its re-erection upon the bowling-green belonging to the Railway 
 Hotel. 
 
 f The initials I. A. represent James Archer, the name of the original proprietor. The larger 
 building showing the letters I. I. A, (Jenkinson, John and Ann) was built under instructions 
 
TOPOGKArUY, ETC. 
 
 433 
 
 Tlie only buildings now remaining in the Market-place, of this period, are 
 the low shops on the western side near Friargate. But the oaken frame¬ 
 work has been plastered over, and their true character destroyed. The 
 “Grey Horse Inn,” Church-street, is the only good specimen left in 
 Preston of this class of architecture. The environs, however, yet present 
 several excellent examples. 
 
 From the earliest incorporation of the borough, a “ cross” or orna¬ 
 mental structure of some description, appears to have occupied the centre 
 of the Market-place. Mr. Peter Whittle, a few years ago, published a 
 lithographic print, purporting to be a “perspective view” of the cross, as 
 it appeared in 1273. 
 
 The “perspective view” of this “gem of the olden times,” as it is 
 styled, however, appears to have been solely indebted for its existence to 
 the ingenious fancy of a modern local architect, assisted by the following 
 description, quoted by Mr. Whittle :— 
 
 “ The ancient cross in the Market-place, at Preston, in Lancashire, was erected in the 
 year of redemption D,CCCCCCC,LXXIIII—temp. Edward 1st, by Willus Fitzpaul, 
 Armiger, and Burgess in Parliament. This cross consisted of V octagon steps each way 
 from the pavement, and III tiers,—pedestal oblong with blank niches, containing seats 
 for pilgrims—Zig Zag Norman heads terminating at the uppermost step, and slender 
 shafts after the Norman fashion at each angle. Second tier contained within ornamented 
 Norman canopied niches, the statuary, viz.—St. Wilfrid, Archbishop of York, and patron 
 Saint of the church, facing the east. The rest were the B. Y. Mary and the Infant 
 Jesus.—St. Joseph, the other was St. John Baptist, patron of the Gild—the Agnus Dei, 
 or the holy Lamb, was placed within a foliated escutcheon, and the motto—- “ Princefs 
 Pacis,” in relievo—the third tier of masonry, had blank niches with Norman heads 
 plain. The whole was XXI feet high exclusive of the steps; on the basement, under the 
 figure of Blessed Wilfrid, was a brass plate bearing the following inscription— 
 
 * Humiliate capita vestro Deo —rendered ‘ Bow down your heads to God.’— 
 From Nieholl’s Port Folio of 1326.” 
 
 In the year 1729, the corporation permitted the erection of a “conduit, 
 not to exceed twelve yards by six,” on the site of the old cross. But, in 
 
 contained in the will of John Jenkinson, dated 13th February, 1628, the will says—“Whereas, I 
 hould to mee and my assignes a mesuage with the appurtenances situat lyinge and being in Preston 
 aforesaid in the Markett Place late in the possession of James Brecres, and one barn and croft in 
 St. John’s Wcend, now or late in the possession of Christopher Banister, Esquire, all being of the 
 yearly rent of twentie six shillings eight pence or thereabouts for ” &c., &c.; “ and whereas I had a 
 purpose and intente by the sufferance of the Almightie God to build and erect an house uppon thefronte 
 towards the streete of the said mesuage and have provided divers and sundrie materialls for and towards 
 the said building. It is my mynde and will that the said buildinge and frame intended to bee erected as 
 aforesaid shall bee accomplished andp formed in convenient tyme at the direction and discretion of my 
 said loving wyfe or her assignes and that the charge disbursed in the said erecon and of all things there¬ 
 unto belonginge shal be taken had and received out of the whole personall estate of me the said 
 John Jenkinson undevyded.” The will then bequeaths the building in prospective to his wife Ann, 
 during her life, and afterwards to his two daughters, Grace and Elizabeth. 
 
 After passing through various hands, the property was sold to the corporation of Preston, in 
 1822, by the father of the present Mr. Alderman Walmsley, A detailed account of the owners and 
 occupiers of these premises from the period of their erection, together with other minute informa¬ 
 tion respecting them, was published in the Preston Chronicle, at the time of their demolition, and 
 afterwards reprinted in a pamphlet form. 
 
 £ 
 
 o 
 
454 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 took place until the year 1622. The first provincial newspaper, in England, 
 was printed at Norwich, in 1706, at one penny, hut “ a halfpenny not 
 refused.” Warrington has claimed the honour of publishing the first news¬ 
 paper in Lancashire;' hut the Warrington Advertiser, appears to 
 have been preceded by the Liverpool Courant, which was issued in 
 1712, and also by the Manchester Journal, which was sold at a 
 halfpenny per copy, before the newspaper stamp was imposed. 4 It was 
 first published in 1719. The earliest newspaper published in Preston was 
 called “ The Preston Journal, with News both Eoreign and Domestick.” 
 It contained four pages, each measuring about fourteen inches by ten, and 
 was printed by Mr. W. Smith, in Church-street. A few numbers yet 
 preserved have not the publisher’s price printed on them. The sheet bore 
 a halfpenny stamp. Its intelligence was of the most meager character; 
 there was rarely any notice of a local occurrence, and seldom even 
 the announcement of a marriage. One of the few original paragraphs, 
 which appeared in the paper, is in the number for February 22nd, 
 1745. It announces an occurrence, common in Ireland, but seldom 
 known in England, viz., a moving bog; Pilling Moss was actually 
 in motion ! This phenomenon caused “ much terror and alarm,” as well 
 as serious loss. It was occasioned by heavy rains. The cause of such an 
 occurrence is now well understood. The following is the form in which a 
 marriage was announced in the Preston Journal, of Nov., 1744:—“We 
 hear from Lancaster that last week was married there Timothy Stern, of 
 Shipley, Esq., in Yorkshire, to Miss Wigglesworth, daughter and heiress 
 of the late Thomas Wigglesworth, of Woodfields, Esq., a young lady of 
 great beauty and merit, and a fortune of £10,000.” Singularly enough, 
 the election of a member of parliament for Clitheroe was inserted amongst 
 the news received from London. The advertisements, too, were few; but 
 some of them give a curious insight into the manners and customs of the 
 period. One announces the sale of “ a gang of packhorses and mares, with 
 pack-saddles,” belonging to a person at Croston, who was “ one of the 
 four monthly Lancashire carriers.” In the year 1745, there were two 
 newspapers published in Preston, the second one being called “ The True 
 British Courant, or Preston Journal, with News both Foreign and 
 Domestick.” Mr. Edward Smith published this paper in the Market¬ 
 place ; but it was printed by Mr. Moon, in Cheapside. Both newspapers 
 were decided partisans of the reigning family, both before and after the 
 
 c See “ A Morning Ramble in old Warrington,” by Dr. Kendrick, primed in the seventh volume 
 of the Lancashire and Cheshire H istoric Society’s Transactions. The author does not give the date of 
 the first publication of the Warrington paper, but refers to its existence in 1756. 
 
 d The earliest imposition of the newspaper stamp took place in 1720. In the first instance, the 
 impost amounted to only one halfpenny each copy. 
 
TOPOGRAPHY, ETC. 
 
 455 
 
 rebellion, in 1745. From the time of the “ young chevalier’s” entry into 
 Lancashire’, until his return through Preston, homeward, no paper was 
 printed. How long these journals were issued is not known. The next 
 caterer in the news line was the late Mr. Thomas Walker, father of Mr. 
 John Walker, who has lately retired from business as a printer. His 
 newspaper was the Preston Eeview. It appeared in June, 1791, and 
 was a great step in advance of its predecessors. It contained more 
 frequent allusions to local occurrences, but had few of the characteristics 
 of a modern newspaper. It existed only twelve months. Mr. Thomas 
 Croft next issued a newspaper. It was called the Preston Journal, 
 and was somewhat larger than the Eeview. Its notices of local events 
 were also more copious, and frequently “leading articles,” or comments on 
 political affairs, appeared; although, as was then the case with newspapers 
 generally, they were very meager, and bore little resemblance to the articles 
 published at the present day. Mr. Croft issued the Journal from 
 1807 to 1812, when he disposed of it to Mr. Isaac Wilcockson, who 
 changed its name to the Preston Chronicle, under which title it continued 
 to be published for many years, by Mr. Wilcockson, and since by his 
 successors, Messrs. Dobson and Son. A copy of this paper, in the earliest 
 period of its existence, contained something less than a fifth of the amoimt 
 of matter given in the Chronicle and other full-sized papers now published. 
 The Chronicle advocates the political views of the “reformers” or 
 “liberals,” and at present enjoys, as a local journal, an extensive circula¬ 
 tion. In 1821, Mr. L. Clarke published the Preston Sentinel, which 
 continued in existence twelve months. Mr. Clarke, however, in 1825, 
 issued the first number of the Preston Pilot, which paper is now published 
 by his son, Mr. E. Clarke. The Sentinel was the organ of the “ Tory 
 party.” The Pilot advocates the politics of the “Conservatives.” Its 
 circulation is not extensive. In 1837, the Preston Observer was in¬ 
 augurated by a company of proprietors. It changed hands several times, 
 and expired in 1840. In the same year, Mr. W. Pollard commenced the 
 publication of the Preston Advertiser, but it had a very short-lived 
 existence. Both these papers advocated “liberal” politics. In 1844, 
 Messrs. Livcscy and Son issued the first number of the Preston Guardian. 
 Its politics are “liberal” or “radical.” It is now published by Mr. W. 
 Livesey, and commands the largest circulation of any journal in North 
 Lancashire. About the time of the agitation for the repeal of the news¬ 
 paper stamp duty (1855), several attempts were made to organize in 
 Preston penny newspapers, and penny and even gratuitously circulated 
 advertising sheets. With a single exception, however, these have had hut 
 an ephemeral existence. One established by Mr. II. C. Barton, the 
 
456 
 
 RRESTOX AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Preston Herald, tlie joint production of a London and a Preston printing- 
 office, is yet published. The Herald professes “ conservative” principles. 
 Its circulation is moderate. The Standard, issued by Mr. W. Eailey, con¬ 
 tinued for some months. The rest were very short-lived. Several other 
 temporary publications, partaking in some degree of the character of local 
 journals, have, from time to time been issued, including “The 3,730,” 
 published shortly after Mr. Hunt’s first successful contest for the represen¬ 
 tation of the borough ; the “ Struggle,” issued by Mr. Joseph Livesey, to 
 aid in the procuration of the repeal of the corn-laws; the “Moral Reformer,” 
 edited and published by the same gentleman, etc. 
 
 BAXIvS. 
 
 The Old Bank. —The oldest bank established in Preston is that of 
 Messrs. Pedder and Co., in Church-street. It was first opened for business 
 in 1776. The name of the firm at the commencement was Atherton, 
 Greaves, and Company, the company consisting of Mr. Denison, of London, 
 and the grandfather of the present Mr. Edward Pedder. The establishment 
 was afterwards known as that of Messrs. Pedder, Xewsliam, Lomax, and 
 Denison. The next change was to Pedder, Xewsham, and Co., the late 
 Mr. Paul Fleetwood being a partner. The firm was afterwards changed 
 to Pedder and Fleetwood, and again to Pedder, Fleetwood, and Pedder. 
 Its present title is Pedder and Co. The building in which the business of 
 this establishment is transacted, is an excellent specimen of the style of 
 domestic architecture which prevailed at the earlier portion of the last 
 century, when Preston was the favourite winter residence of the neigh¬ 
 bouring nobility and gentry. 6 The noble porch, massive doorway, wains¬ 
 coted rooms, and broad staircase with its heavy oaken balustrade, pro¬ 
 claim the original builders and tenants to have moved amongst the classes 
 most favoured by fortune. There are several other houses, since converted 
 into shops, about Church-street and the southern side of the higher end of 
 Fishcrgate, which yet bear evidence of the class of persons by whom they 
 were originally tenanted. One in Church-street, near to the end of Grim- 
 shaw-street, a portion of which, occupied by Mr. Brandreth, though in a 
 dilapidated condition, yet retains a somewhat similar porch to that of the 
 old bank. This building is probably the one described as Mr. Eyre’s 
 house, by the parties engaged in the siege of Preston, in 1715/ 
 
 The Savings Bank.— Lune-street.—This elegant little edifice was 
 erected in 1842, from a design by Mr. John Latham, at a cost of £1,300. 
 It occupies the site of the premises originally rented by the trustees, and 
 
 e From an inscription found in the tear of the premises, it appears that the building was erected 
 in 1G90. 
 
 f See chapter 5, page 227. 
 
TOPOGRAPHY, ETC. 
 
 457 
 
 subsequently purchased by them. This bank has now been in operation 
 forty-one years. It was originally opened at the National school, Avenham- 
 lane. Here it remained about two years, when it was removed to more 
 convenient premises, in Chapel-street. In 1830, the trustees leased the 
 premises in Lune-street, when the bank was removed to its present loca¬ 
 tion, In 1830, the number of depositors was 1,234, and the amount 
 deposited, £12,105. 7s. lOd.; in 1836, depositors, 2383, amount deposited, 
 £26,572. 19s. 9d.; in 1846, depositors, 4616, amount deposited, £40,570. 
 10s. 4d. The following table shows the quantity and character of the 
 business of this valuable institution at the close of the last financial 
 
 year :— 
 
 No. of 
 Depositors. 
 
 Total Amount of 
 each Class. 
 
 453 Whose respective Balances on the 20th Nov., 1S56, (including Interest <£ s. d. 
 
 
 
 did not exceed 
 
 
 
 158 
 
 16 
 
 4 
 
 1123 
 
 
 ditto .... 
 
 were 
 
 above 
 
 £1 and not etceeding 
 
 .... 5 ,, 
 
 2909 
 
 15 
 
 10 
 
 974 
 
 
 ditto .... 
 
 were 
 
 above 
 
 5 and not exceeding 
 
 .... 10 „ 
 
 0846 
 
 19 
 
 0 
 
 724 
 
 
 ditto .... 
 
 were 
 
 above 
 
 10 and not exceeding 
 
 .... 15 ,. 
 
 8589 
 
 4 
 
 0 
 
 427 
 
 
 ditto .... 
 
 were 
 
 above 
 
 15 and not exceeding 
 
 ....20 
 
 7270 
 
 11 
 
 7 
 
 784 
 
 
 ditto .... 
 
 were 
 
 above 
 
 20 and not exceeding 
 
 ....30 „ 
 
 18597 
 
 9 10 
 
 584 
 
 
 ditto .... 
 
 were 
 
 above 
 
 30 and not exceeding 
 
 .... 40 „ 
 
 19394 
 
 0 
 
 9 
 
 289 
 
 
 ditto .... 
 
 were 
 
 above 
 
 40 and not exceeding 
 
 ....50 „ 
 
 12787 
 
 12 
 
 10 
 
 477 
 
 
 ditto .... 
 
 were 
 
 above 
 
 50 and not exceeding 
 
 .... 75 ,, 
 
 28812 
 
 3 
 
 0 
 
 195 
 
 
 ditto .... 
 
 were 
 
 above 
 
 75 and not exceeding 
 
 ....100 „ 
 
 15868 
 
 0 
 
 6 
 
 147 
 
 
 ditto .... 
 
 were 
 
 above 
 
 100 and not exceeding 
 
 ....125 „ 
 
 16272 
 
 14 
 
 3 
 
 75 
 
 
 ditto .... 
 
 were 
 
 above 
 
 125 and not exceeding 
 
 ....150 ,, 
 
 10107 
 
 3 
 
 7 
 
 107 
 
 
 ditto .... 
 
 were 
 
 above 
 
 150 and not exceeding 
 
 ....200 „ 
 
 17624 
 
 8 
 
 7 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 200 . 
 
 
 205 
 
 12 
 
 11 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 10399 
 
 J3 
 
 2 
 
 33 
 
 Charitable Societies .... 
 
 
 
 
 1558 
 
 8 
 
 6 
 
 6451 g; Total number of Accounts. Total Balances.£178,442, 14 1 
 
 The bank is open for business every Monday and Saturday, from ten to 
 one o’clock. 
 
 Messrs. Lawe, Eoskell, Arrowsmtth and Co’s. Bank, Fishergate, was 
 first opened in July, 1825. In 1833, the partnership was dissolved, 
 after which, the new firm, Messrs. Lawe and Hudson, continued the busi¬ 
 ness in Fishergate. The description of this firm at the present time is 
 Bobert Lawe and Co. Messrs. Eoskell and Arrowsmith opened, at the 
 time of the dissolution, a new bank, next to the Castle-inn, Market-place, 
 but afterwards removed to the premises at present occupied by them in 
 Fishergate. 
 
 Tue Lancaster Banking Company first opened a branch in Preston, in 
 1833. This company is about to erect suitable premises for the transac¬ 
 tion of their business, a little above their present offices, on the south side of 
 Fishergate. The designs are by Mr. J. H. Park. The new bank will be 
 situated at the western corner of Butler’s-court, the covered entrance 
 
 g Included in this statement are 152 Depositors in the Branch Bank at Lytham, the amount due 
 to whom is £1301 5s. Od. 
 

 458 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 to which will he dispensed with, by which means, this narrow cul de sac 
 will be better ventilated, and an angular view of the proposed edifice 
 obtained. 
 
 The Preston Banking Company was first established in 1844, on the 
 joint stock principle. Their new offices, on what was once termed the 
 “ Terrace,” in Fishergate, were opened for business in 1856. It is one of 
 the most elaborately decorated and attractive buildings in the town, and 
 materially improves the general aspect of this portion of Fishergate. It 
 is built of Longridge stone, in the “ Italian palazzo style,” from designs 
 by Mr. J. H. Park. The first story is in strongly “rusticated work,” 
 with arched heads to the doors and windows, carrying carved masks on the 
 key stones. The spandrils of the arches are filled with groups of fruit and 
 flowers, hanging from tiger’s mouths, inserted in the “ string course.” 
 Above this, an elegant Corinthian colonnade forms the facade of the 
 second story, each window of which is ornamented by a handsome cornice 
 in the form of a pediment. The whole is surmounted by a massive cornice 
 and carved string course, under which are the third story windows, with 
 moulded architraves. The ground floor is devoted solely to banking pur¬ 
 poses. The dimensions of the principal office are fifty-four feet by twenty- 
 six feet. The remainder of the building is occupied as a residence by 
 the manager. 
 
 BEIDGES. 
 
 W alton. —The Eihhle in the immediate vicinity of Preston, is spanned 
 by no fewer than six bridges. The old “ bridge of Eibble” was situated 
 a little below the present structure at Walton, immediately contiguous to 
 the great British and Eoman ford. It is impossible now to determine, 
 with certainty, when the first bridge was erected over the Eibble. 
 In the reign of Henry III. (1216 to 1272), however, the “bridge of 
 Eibble” is referred to, in a then old boundary deed, as a well known 
 object. In the reign of Henry IV. (1399 to 1413), letters patent were 
 granted for the “pontage of the Eiver Eibble, juxta Preston,” and some 
 time afterwards, similar authority was obtained for the “ paviage of the said 
 bridge.” 11 This structure is described byLeland,in the reign of Henry Till., 
 as “ the great stone bridge of Bybill, having V. great arches.” The 
 “South Prospect of Preston,” published by S. and H. Buck, in 1728, 
 shews the bridge as it then appeared, with its five pointed arches. Towards 
 the latter end of the last century, however, the old structure exhibited 
 unmistakable symptoms of decay; in consequence of which the present 
 bridge was built. It consists of three large arches, and is considered an 
 
 h See chap. 3, p. 128, and chap. 5, p. 209. 
 

TOPOGRAPHY, ETC. 
 
 459 
 
 excellent piece of masonry. Below the western battlement, on the north 
 end of the bridge, is the following inscription :—“Built by Sam' & Rob 1 
 Laws, in 1779, 80, & 81. Under the Inspection of Mr. Rich d Threlfall. 
 Cost £4200.” 
 
 Penwortham Bridge is situated a little above the ancient ford described 
 by Tvuerden.' An act of parliament was obtained in 1750. The preamble 
 declares that a bridge at this place was desirable, inasmuch as the fords 
 were, “ by reason of the great freshes and tides, which have, of late years, 
 happened therein, so much worn, and become so deep and founderous, that 
 his Majesty’s subjects, even at low water, especially in the winter season, 
 cannot pass the same on horseback, or with carts and carriages without 
 imminent danger.” It further states that several persons had “ lost their 
 lives in endeavouring to pass the said river;” and that, although the place 
 of fording had been “shifted, chaugcd, and removed,” still from the “force 
 of the current and the nature of the soil,” the new fords had become as 
 difficult and “founderous” as the previous ones; indeed, at the time, 
 it appeared highly probable that the passage of the river at this place 
 would shortly he “entirely lost and rendered impracticable.” By the act, 
 power was given to levy tolls for the maintenance of the bridge, to 
 borrow money on the secui’ity of such tolls, and to purchase from the 
 owners their right of ferry. The inhabitants of the “ villas or townships 
 of Broughton, Barton, Goosenargli, and Whittingham,” and “other places 
 in that neighbourhood,” who “ fetch their coal and canncl from such 
 distant places, that they usually set out in the afternoon or evening of one 
 day, and return home the next,” were exempt from toll on their return. 
 Subscriptions to the amountof £2,500. were raised from the principal gentry 
 of the neighbourhood. The corporation of Preston subscribed the sum of five 
 hundred pounds; and the two members for the borough (N. Fazakerley 
 and J. Shuttle worth), a similar sum. The bridge was erected higher up 
 the river than the old ford, to avoid the expense of crossing the then 
 double stream formed by the “Holme.” It was completed in 1755 ; and, 
 in September, 1756, a little more than a year after its being thrown open 
 to the public, owing to some defect in the foundation, one of the piers of 
 the centre arch gave way, and shortly afterwards five other arches fell. 
 The Rev. Randal Andrews, vicar of Preston, passed over the bridge 
 shortly before the accident. Another act was obtained in 1757, which 
 authorised the sum of two thousand pounds to he paid out of the county 
 rate, for the re-construction of the bridge, and conferred power to levy tolls 
 for necessary repairs. The bridge was so much damaged by floods, in 
 1768, that the toll was enforced. This toll was farmed for two hundred 
 
 i See chap. 5, p. 211. 
 
460 
 
 PEESTON AXD ITS ENVIEONS. 
 
 and seven pounds, and in the following year, for two hundred pounds. 
 From time to time, a bar has been placed on the bridge for similar 
 purposes. During the past year, about three hundred pounds were so 
 raised for the repair of the structure, and the providing of additional 
 accommodation for foot passengers. 
 
 Tbam-eoad Beidge. —This wooden structure was erected in 1802. It 
 forms a part of the tram-way formed to connect the Lancaster canal with 
 a branch of that from Liverpool to Leeds, near the “Summit” coal pits. 
 It is now but little used, the line having been leased by the Lancashire and 
 Yorkshire Bail way Company. On the brow of the hill, at Avenham, 
 a stationary engine is placed, which, by means of an “endless chain” 
 working round a shaft, erected near the centre of the bridge, raises the 
 waggons, laden with coal, to the level of the high bank of the river. 
 Accidents have frequently occurred, owing to the breaking of the chain, 
 or the accidental detachment of the waggons, when the latter have been 
 violently thrown over the wooden battlement into the “ stone delph” k 
 below. This bridge has already stood longer than the term originally 
 intended, and is at present in so very dangerous a condition, that the 
 footway over it is stopped during floods. 
 
 Beockholes Beidge. — This wooden structiu’e was built when the 
 Blackburn new road was excavated, in 1824. It has several times suffered 
 much damage from the breaking up of the ice, and the winter floods. It 
 is at present in good condition, having sustained little injury during the 
 last few years. 
 
 Foeth IJniox Bailway Beidge. —This bridge was opened, together 
 with the line of railway, in October, 1838. It was designed by Mr. 
 Yignoles, civil engineer, and built by Messrs. Mullin and Co. It is one 
 of the finest structures of the kind in England, being light and elegant, 
 and extremely well built. It consists of five elliptical arches, of one 
 hundred and twenty feet span each. Eroni beneath the dry arch, on the 
 north bank of the river, a very singular and powerful echo, repeated many 
 times, is evoked by the utterance of a few words at an ordinary pitch of 
 the voice. The embankment, connecting this viaduct with the southern 
 slope above the valley of the Bibble, is nearly three quarters of a mile 
 long. The construction of the two miles and a half of railway, from the 
 Preston station southward, was let to Messrs. Mullin and Me. Mahon, of 
 Dublin, at the enormous sum of £80,000. 
 
 East Lancashiee Bailway Beidge. —This structure, first opened for 
 traffic in June, 1846, is situated about half way between the Yorth Union 
 
 k This deep hole in the river is so named, because the place was once quarried, and the material 
 used for the erection of a steeple to the Parish church. The red sandstone rock, however, proved 
 very perishable, and the tower was soon afterwards again re-built. 
 
TOPOGRAPHY, ETC. 
 
 461 
 
 viaduct and the old Tram-road bridge. The river is passed by three 
 arches of iron. On the north side is a dry brick arch over the pathway; 
 and on the south, the railway is carried over the Ribble valley by a long 
 viaduct, formed of brick arches, and an embankment pierced by several 
 others. The amount of Mr. Comic’s contract, for the embankment and 
 viaduct, was about £55,000. Previously to the erection of this bridge, 
 the municipal authorities of Preston, having determined to convert the 
 neighbouring bank of the river into a public park, opposed the East 
 Lancashire Railway Company’s bill, when before a committee of the house 
 of commons. A compromise, however, was effected ; by which the com¬ 
 pany not only undertook to provide a public footpath, on the east side of 
 their viaduct over the Ribble, but likewise to plant the slopes of the 
 northern embankment with shrubs and forest trees; and thus promote 
 rather than frustrate, the objects proposed by the corporation. 
 
 CHURCHES, CHAPELS, SCHOOLS, PUBLIC 
 CHARITIES, etc. 
 
 The Parish Chtjrch. —It has been shewn that Preston possessed a 
 parish church during the Saxon period. At what precise time the earliest 
 edifice was erected, is not known. The lands in the neighbourhood were 
 first granted to the monks of Ripon, in 705, on the consecration of their 
 church, after its “re-edification ” by Archbishop Wilfrid. As the earliest 
 recorded structure is dedicated to St. Wilfred, its probable erection must 
 be placed some years later. Wilfrid died iu the year 709, and was buried 
 at Ripon. Mr. Whittle, 1 however, speaks of the “ church of St. Theobald’s 
 (St. Wilfrid’s afterwards),” being in the year 700, “repaired by Wilfrid, 
 the archbishop of York,” but he cites no authority ! It is more probable 
 the earliest church dedicated to Wilfrid was built soon after the grant of 
 Amounderness to the ecclesiastics at York, by Athelstan, in 930. Mr. Whittle 
 says, in his first vol., page 72, that the “ Parish church of Preston was first 
 dedicated, under God, to his (St. Wilfrid’s) memory on the 12th day of 
 October, 957, being the day his remains were deposited on the north side 
 of the high altar, in Canterbury cathedral, by St. Anselm.” For this 
 statement, however, he refers to no ancient authority, but speaks of the 
 12th of October being the “dedication feast for the whole of Preston 
 parish.” It is not improbable, however, that a church existed at or 
 near Preston, previously to the time of Athelstan, under the grant to 
 Eata, abbot of Mailros, a disciple of St. Columba, who was afterwards 
 superseded by Wilfrid." 1 The church is mentioned in the Domesday survey, 
 which was compiled between 1080 and 1086." Probably, on its being 
 
 1 History of Preston, vol. 2, page 129. m See chapter 2, page 63. n See chapter, 3, page 98. 
 
462 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 rebuilt soon after the reformation (about 1581), the Roman saint was dis¬ 
 carded, and the Protestant edifice dedicated to St. John, The body of the 
 church having given way, it was again rebuilt, in 1770. In 1814, the 
 tower 0 was taken down and rebuilt, and the chancel in 1817. The choir 
 was renovated in 1823. Dr. "Whitaker describes this edifice simply as a 
 “good ordinary parish church.” Mr. Edward Baines says, “ as a public 
 fabric there is nothing about the parish church of St. John to call for obser¬ 
 vation. The body of the church consists of two elevations with castellated 
 parapets. The nave is divided from the side aisles by pointed arches 
 deeply hollowed, and resting on octagonal pillars. There are no very 
 ancient monuments; but the copy of one which existed some centuries 
 ago, has been preserved. It is in memory of one of the Travers, of Tul- 
 keth, Nateby, Preston,” etc. p The “ old church,” as it was termed, 
 certainly well merited the very faint praise of the historians quoted. Its 
 pretensions to architectural beauty or even character were so ambiguous, 
 that it was sometimes quoted in derision as an excellent specimen of 
 “joiners’ gothic ! ” About the middle of the present century, it began to 
 exhibit symptoms of decay, and, as the growing wealth and importance of 
 the town demanded a more creditable structure, a public subscription 
 was entered upon for the purpose of raising funds for the erection 
 of the present edifice. With the exception of the lower portion of the 
 tower, the old building was completely razed in 1853. During its des¬ 
 truction, an old grave stone, which had evidently been buried for many 
 years beneath the then floor of the church, was discovered, bearing the 
 following inscription engraved upon a large plate of brass :— 
 
 “HERE LYETH INTERD SEATH BVSHELL WOOLLEN DRAPER BAYLIFE AND A 
 BROTHER OF PRESTON DYING THE XV OF SEPTr 1623 AGED 53 GAVE VNTO HIS 
 KINESFOOLKES AND GOD CHILDREN IN LEGACIES VI- C' L [£600] ALSO XX' L [£20] 
 TO THE POORE OF THIS TOWNE FOR EVER THE VSE [interest] TO BE GIVEN THE 
 SAID POORE BY THE MAIOR OR HIS DEPYTIE AT CHRISTs & EASTER 4 [£1] TO THE 
 POORE OF LEELAND & WALTON AL OVT OF HIS CHARITABLE MINDE.” 
 
 This plate was sold in a “ crumpled” state, with other old brass, to Mr. 
 
 o This tower is said to have been built of soft 
 at the “ stone delph,” below Avenham. 
 p “I Travers by birth a Norman, 
 
 To gain victorious conquest, 
 
 With William Conqueror in I came 
 As one chief rol’d among the rest. 
 
 His guerdon was a crown. 
 
 And ours subjects spoyle, 
 
 Some ransom’d tow’r & town, 
 
 Some planted English soyle. 
 
 Tolketh liis castle & lierison, 
 
 My captives maulger were ; 
 
 “ John Travers, of Tulketh, &c., occurs in the e 
 
 sandstone rock, taken from the bed of the river, 
 
 His daughter & his heire Dame Alison 
 I spoused to my fere. 
 
 Thirty winters thus were worn 
 In spousalls, mirth & glee ; 
 
 Four begotten I had & borne 
 
 Ere crowned was Beauclerk Henerey. 
 Arnold & Jordan Fitz-Travers, [orders ; 
 
 The one me succeed, th’ other tooke 
 With Constance & Blanch, my daughters 
 The one to spousalls, the other vow’d cl oysters* 
 ;ats of 36 Edw. III. (p. 2, n. 52.) ” 
 
TOPOGRAPHY, ETC. 
 
 463 
 
 W. Holland, who perceiving some letters upon it, preserved it from the melt¬ 
 ing pot. Hr. W. Dobson, in a communication to the Lancashire and 
 Cheshire Historic Society, gives the following interesting particulars res¬ 
 pecting the discovery of this monumental brass plate:— q 
 
 “ The ‘ Seatli Bushell ’ whose benevolence is thus recorded, was buried w ithin the 
 Parish Church of Preston, and his interment is recorded in the parish register, next to 
 one dated the 16tli of September, 1623, as follows :—Sep. [sepultus, buried] Mr. Seth 
 Bushed, eo ■ die [the same day.] He was, as stated in the inscription, a “ brother of 
 Preston,” i.e., a member of the corporation, his signature as ‘ Seath Bushed ’ being 
 affixed to some proceedings of that body in the corporation records, in the year 1612. 
 After possessing myself of this plate, which Mr. Holland kindly placed in my hands, 
 with a view to its restoration to the church, I made some enquiries as to the site of 
 Mr. Bushed’s grave, and felt anxious to obtain some particulars of one who had shewn 
 such a desire to benefit not only his ‘ kinesfoolkes,’ but the poor of his town and 
 neighbourhood. I learned that when the works in connection with the rebuilding of 
 our Parish Church were in progress (in 1854 and 1855), the workmen were told that if 
 they met with any plates (meaning, no doubt, ordinary coffin plates) they were to bury 
 them. Yet even an ancient coffin plate might have possessed some local, personal, or 
 historical interest. It would have been wiser to have ordered that ad should have been 
 submitted to some one in authority, who might have examined them. The workman 
 who met with this plate, which was affixed to a gravestone about two feet below the then 
 level of the church floor, knew that if a brass plate was of so little importance to a 
 churchwarden, it would at least be worth something to a marine store dealer; so he got 
 it removed and sold for old brass. In the progress of the work another workman met 
 with a second brass upon the same gravestone, and this being disclosed in the presence 
 of the parish sexton, some trouble was taken to obtain the former plate also, but of 
 course without success. An inscription, ‘ Spes altera vitas ’ [sic], cut in rude old 
 English characters, was above the plates on the gravestone. When I made enquiries 
 (in December last) a few months after the discovery, not a vestige of the stone could be 
 found. It had been destroyed in the course of the work, but fortunately Mr. John 
 Addison, of this town, who saw it soon after its discovery, had taken a rubbing of it, 
 from which this copy has been made. r The two brasses are of equal size, nineteen inches 
 by nine; the one discovered last was placed lengthwise on the stone, with the other one 
 crosswise below it. The former bears a rude representation of a person wearing a robe, 
 probably a municipal robe of that era; for our councillors then wore gowns, and rules 
 respecting their attire are in our corporation records. s There is also the broad turned 
 down collar seen in portraits of that date. Mr. Busliell, for I deem it to he intended 
 for His effigies, has the close cut hair of the Roundhead of that age, as well as the 
 moustache and ‘ beard of formal cut ’ clearly defined.” 
 
 Nothing is known, with certainty, of the family of this generous 
 Prestonian. He hears the same family name as Dr. William Dushell, 
 the founder of the hospital at Goosnargh. A Seth Bushcll, D.D., was 
 vicar of Preston, half a century after the demise of his charitable 
 namesake. 4 He most probably belonged to the same family. His legacy, 
 like some others of a similar character, appears to have been altogether 
 
 q Volume 8, page 247. 
 
 r “ Rubbings” from the brasses and stone accompanied Mr. Dobson’s paper. 
 
 s See chapter 6, page 273. 
 
 t An old pamphlet, bearing the following title, is yet occasionally to be met with:—“The 
 Believer’s Groan for Heaven ; in a Sermon at the Funeral of the Honorable Sir Richard Hogliton , 
 of Hoghton, Baronet, Preached at Preston, in Amounderness, Feb. 14, 1677. By Seth Busliell, D.D. 
 London, Printed for Thos. Sawbridg, at the Three Flower-de-luces , in Little Britain , and Philip 
 Burton, at Preston, in Lancashire , 1678.” 
 
464 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 forgotten. No record of it is found either in the corporation minutes, or 
 in the reports of the “ Charity Commissioners.” u The present footpath 
 in Church-street, to the north of the Parish church, occupies the site of a 
 terrace, which was removed in 1828. The terrace, at the eastern 
 extremity, was ascended by a flight of stone steps. The western end, 
 which was nearly level with the continuing parapet, was ornamented with 
 iron gates. On the removal of this terrace, a small tomb stone, with a 
 double cross sculptured upon it, was discovered. A silver coin of the 
 reign of Charles II., together with a dagger, with a neatly chased handle, 
 and some other relics, were likewise found. The churchyard was formerly 
 planted with trees ; but these ornaments to the urban cemetery gradually 
 decayed, after the extension of the town, consequent upon the introduction 
 of the cotton manufacture. The registers of the Parish church have been 
 preserved since 1611. The vestry books contain but few interesting 
 records relating to the church. The following are amongst the most 
 important:—In January, 1644, the sum of fifty pounds was ordered to be 
 disbursed in necessary repairs of the church, a previous grant of thirty 
 pounds for the purpose being found insufficient. A rude plan of the 
 church, dated Sep., 1647, is preserved. The arrangement of the pews, 
 etc., did not differ materially from that which remained in 1853. The 
 chancel was not in existence. A space at the south-east corner of the 
 church is designated as “ The aintient burying place of the Lords of 
 Hoghton and Lea.” All the pews are alike in size, with the exception of 
 a large square one near the Hoghton sepulchre. In 1668, the record says, 
 “ The style att y e lower end of y* churchyard, towards y e east, was built 
 of free stone, which stones were y e gift of Sir Richard Hoghton, 
 Earonett, but y e charge of setting up and making y e said style was by y e 
 town of Preston.” In 1674, an order was made to repair the pews and 
 flags, the former being “ exceedingly decayed, and undecently kept, and 
 out of order j” and the latter, “exceedingly broken and out of order, so as 
 yey lye in a very undecent and rude manner.” Of the date April 5th, 
 1675, is the following curious entry :— 
 
 “At a meeting of ye 24 gent, of ye parish, ordered yt ye pewter flagons belonging to 
 ye eburch, being 5 in number, and now by use worn out, shall be all exchanged by ye 
 churchwardens for new ones, and yat yere shall also be provided by ye said church¬ 
 wardens three new plates of ye best pewter for ye service of ye communion, to be 
 decently and well kept for ye future and not lent abroad to any funerals, or emploied in 
 any common services.” 
 
 The charnel-house appears to have become dilapidated about this period, 
 for, on April 20th, 1675, an order is made “by ye 14 gent, of ye parish 
 of Preston for ye building of a bone and charnel-house.” It appears that 
 
 u See chap. G, page 276. 
 
TOFOGEAriiV, ETC. 
 
 465 
 
 bones had remained scattered about the church and churchyard, which the 
 order declares to be an “ indecent and uncomely yinge” [thing], A penny 
 per funeral is ordered to be paid to the sexton, in consideration that he “do 
 gather up the fragments,” place them in the bone-house, and, from time to 
 time, re-commit them to the earth. In April, 1682, a new black hearse cloth 
 is wanted. At the same time, an order is made that “ ye church (being 
 foule and uncomly) shall be whitened and beautified.” In 1696, a fourth 
 bell is ordered to be procured at a cost of forty pounds. From this entry 
 it appears the Parish church steeple was previously furnished with no 
 more than three bells. From 1689 to 1693, several sums are ordered to 
 be expended in the repair of the bells. In 1694, twenty pounds were 
 expended in the putting up of a new dial in the churchyard, and in repair¬ 
 ing the clock. In 1719, a contract was entered into for the purpose of 
 maintaining in good repair the roof and windows of the church. For this 
 service, James Pert, the contractor, is allowed the apparently insignificant 
 sum of £1. 6s. 8d. per annum. It appears that the churchwardens had 
 been in the habit of feasting sumptuously at the parish expense ; for, in 
 April, 1731, at a “general meeting of the 24 gentlemen” previously 
 alluded to, it was resolved that the churchwardens should “for the future 
 bear all expenses that may happen, for what is called the churchwardens’ 
 dinner, at their coming into office, or any expenses on sacrament day, 
 except two bottles of wine to be allowed to any strange clergyman that shall 
 at any time preach.” Truly, clerical eloquence at the period was a some¬ 
 what droughty affair! In 1752, the “new casting of the peal of eight 
 bells” is ordered, together with “a compleat repair to the clock, and 
 making it a good one.” On the 6th November, 1768, the churchwardens 
 are ordered to procure contracts for the taking down and re-building of the 
 church, in consequence of its precarious condition having prevented the 
 celebration of divine service in the usual manner. The “ twenty-four 
 gentlemen,”on the 23rd March, 1770, passed the following resolution: — 
 
 “ Whereas, the nave or hoily of the Parish Church of Preston hath lately fallen down 
 (hut the steeple and vestry room, together with the chancel and north and south walls 
 are yet standing), and the parishioners are thereby prevented from resorting to and 
 attending the services of Almighty God ; and whereas it is of absolute necessity that 
 the same shall be forthwith repaired, or totally taken down and re-built, etc.” 
 
 A rate, amounting to six hundred pounds, towards the necessary expenses, 
 was ordered to be laid. On the 4th of April, following, at a meeting, not 
 of the “ four-and-twenty gentlemen,” but, (for the first time), of “ye select 
 vestry of ye Parish Church of Preston,” Messrs. Woodcock and Eoper, 
 masons and carpenters, reported upon the state of the edifice. Amongst 
 other matters they say :— 
 
 “ We have inspected and examined the present state and condition of ye said Parish 
 Church, and are of opinion that ye tower or steeple thereof, together with ye vestry and 
 
 2 a 
 
466 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 porch, are substantial and firm, and will stand, but that the north and south-west walls 
 of ye said church are insufficient and ruinous, and must be taken down and re-huilt, with 
 ye other part of ye said church that is fallen; that we have now' delivered a plan of ye 
 re-building and repairing of ye said parish church, together with an estimate of ye 
 expense thereof, amounting in ye whole to ye sum of £1,400 .; having all ye materials of 
 ye old church, except ye lead and timber.” 
 
 The vestry did not approve of the alterations proposed by the reporters, 
 bat ordered that the church should be re-built, “ agreeable to the plan 
 upon which the body of the old church was built, and that without any 
 addition, diminution, variation, or any other alteration whatsoever, in the 
 dementions, materials, or workmenship, in the walls, pillars, and roof 
 thereof.” A plan, by Mr. John Hird, was eventually approved of. His 
 estimate amounted to £1,006. 10s. In September, 1771, a further rate 
 of £406. 10s. was laid for the purpose of completing the contract. 
 Several parties refused to pay the rate, and were “presented” in the 
 Ecclesiastical court as defaulters. In December, Sir Henry Hoghton, bart., 
 agreed with the vestry for the erection of a gallery “ over a certain chap- 
 pel or aisle, situate at the south eastern corner of the said church, con¬ 
 taining, by a late admeasurement thereof, twenty-eight ffeet, or there¬ 
 abouts, extending westward, from the inside of the east wall to about a 
 ffourth part of the arch next the pulpit.” From this it appears that the 
 pulpit was originally placed against the centre pillar on the south of the 
 nave. The vestry meeting, in August, 1790, in consequence of money 
 being wanted for the repair of the church, ordered a rate to be levied in 
 the proportion of one half on the “ town district,” and “ each one quarter” 
 on “ the higher and lower districts.” This arrangement caused some 
 squabbling and litigation. The case was eventually tried at Lancaster, 
 during the autumn assizes, in 1797. The verdict was in favour of the 
 “ ancient custom,” by which the three divisions of the parish were rated 
 in equal proportion. The churchwardens reported, in 1799, that they had 
 placed a bench adjoining the vestry, as a baptismal seat, and erected a new 
 font. They had likewise made several other alterations at the west end 
 of the church. The old baptismal seat, on the north side of the middle 
 aisle, by these improvements became unnecessary; it was therefore ordered 
 to be sold, and the proceeds applied to the liquidation of the expenses 
 incurred in the alterations referred to. The burial ground being found 
 too small for the increasing number of inhabitants, in 1801, land was 
 purchased on the south side, from the earl of Derby, for its enlargement. 
 In the same year, the flags belonging to the Royal Preston Volunteers, 
 together with a painting of the royal arms, were deposited in the church. 
 The latter remained at the time of its demolition, but the flags, having 
 fallen into decay, had been previously removed. The churchwardens, it 
 appears, had again contrived to debit the parish with the expenses of a 
 
TOPOGRAPHY, ETC. 
 
 467 
 
 dinner, on the occasion of the “visitation of the officers of the spiritual 
 court.” These expenses, however, became so considerable that, in 1808, 
 it was ordered that the churchwardens, in future, should be allowed no 
 more than three shillings and sixpence each, on such occasions, for both 
 dinner and liquor. In 1810, it was discovered that the “turret staircase” 
 of the steeple, and the “cupola,” thereupon, were in a dangerous state. 
 It was resolved, by the select vestry, that the steeple should be taken 
 down and re-built. In April, in the same year, the following resolution 
 was placed upon the minute book :— 
 
 “ It appearing to this meeting that tlie expense of taking down and rebuilding the 
 steeple in its present form and new casting and replaeeing the bells would amount, upon 
 the average of the estimates now produced, to the sum of £1050, it is ordered by the 
 vestry that the sum be raised within this parish for the purposes above mentioned, by 
 £350. in each division thereof, according to the ancient custom within this parish for 
 expenses relating to the church. And it is also ordered that instead of rebuilding the 
 6teeple upon the old plan and site, the same be rebuilt upon a new plan, to be approved 
 of by the mayor and aldermen, as vestrymen for the town of Preston, and that the extra 
 expense of the steeple and bells, over and above the said sum of £1050., shall be borne 
 by the town of Preston.” 
 
 In May, in the following year, however, the town of Preston was relieved 
 from the “ extra expense ” referred to. Many meetings and discussions 
 took place relative to the subject, but no further progress was made, 
 except in the demolition of the upper portion of the tower. In August, 
 1812, however, plans were submitted for the rebuilding of the steeple 
 upon the old site, and “ preserving the east arch.” The estimate amounted 
 to the sum of £1204. Os. 8d., with an intimation that if it should be 
 thought desirable to carry the tower twenty-seven feet higher, a further 
 expense of £760. would be incurred. This project was carried out. In 
 
 1815, the pulpit, reading desk, etc., were removed to their present posi¬ 
 tion near the entrance to the chancel. There is a minute, dated August, 
 
 1816, which orders an “ engine house ” in the churchyard to be removed, 
 and the land so occupied to be added to the burial ground. In 1817, Sir 
 Henry Hoghton, bart., communicated to the vestry his intention of taking 
 down and rebuilding the chancel. In the same year funds were raised by 
 subscription for widening “ the arch at the entrance of the chancel.” In 
 1820, a new clock was ordered, with four dials. The expense of the extra 
 dials was borne by the “ town of Preston.” In 1824, the south wall of 
 the churchyard gave way and was shortly afterwards re-erected. In 
 August, 1835, the following resolution w'as passed :— 
 
 “ Messrs. Pedder, Bireball, and Smith, having reported to this vestry in favour of 
 procuring the requisite additional free sittings for the poor by erecting a gallery over the 
 present organ gallery, and by bringing forward the organ gallery as far as the east 
 pillar of the first arch,—resolved, that this vestry consents to the erection of the additional 
 gallery, and the extension of the present organ gallery in the mode recommended, and 
 that this vestry also consents to the further extension of the present gallery as pointed 
 
 2 G 2 
 
468 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 out by the Rev. R. Carus Wilson, the vicar, provided that the owners of all seats 
 affected thereby consent thereunto,” 
 
 This was carried into effect, and a brass plate on the east wall of the gal¬ 
 lery recorded that the “ sittings were free and unappropriated for ever, in 
 addition to the 1,500 sittings formerly provided, one hundred of which 
 were free.” An upper gallery formerly existed at the west end of the 
 church. On the donation of the organ, in 1802, hy John Horrocks, esq., 
 M.P., a minute records that the mayor requested the sanction of the vestry 
 for the taking down of an “upper gallery” in this portion of the edifice. 
 The present structure was completed in 1855, at a cost of about £9,500. 
 This sum was principally raised hy subscription. The following six gen¬ 
 tlemen guaranteed the payment of the estimated expense : Messrs. T. M. 
 Lowndes, It. Newsham, J. Eairstow, T. Miller, T. AValinsley, and AY. 
 Birley. A bazaar, held in April, 1853, in aid of the building fund, rea¬ 
 lised upwards of £2,000. The new church, which was designed by Mr. 
 Shellard, of Manchester, is regarded as a good specimen of the “ flowing 
 decorated style of English architecture.” It consists of a nave, two side 
 aisles, chancel, tower and spire, the height of the latter being two hundred 
 and five feet to the top of the vane. The present edifice is built upon the 
 foundations of the old church, with the exception of the entrance porch at 
 the north west, and an addition to the chancel on the south side. The 
 lower portion of the tower of the previous building Avas not removed. 
 The new structure is calculated to accommodate about 1700 persons. 
 Owing to the liberality of several gentlemen of the town and neighbour¬ 
 hood, the church will shortly be completely glazed with coloured glass. 
 The eastern window is the gift of Sir Henry Bold Hoghton, hart., and Avas 
 executed by AYailes, of Newcastle, after a design by the donor. It repre¬ 
 sents the crucifixion, and passages from Christ’s passion. The eastern 
 Avindow of the side chancel aisle, was presented by John Bairstow, esq. 
 It represents the four evangelists, Avitli parables from each in rich medal¬ 
 lions underneath. The next Avindow, the first on the south, is the gift of 
 John Horrocks, esq., and represents the calling of St. John. The next in 
 order was presented by It. Newsham, esq. The subject represented is 
 Christ blessing the little children. The neighbouring window, the gift of 
 Charles Jacson, esq., represents the Transfiguration. The whole of 
 these were executed by AA r ailes. The first window from the east, on the 
 north side of the church, is a memorial one, presented by E. C. Lowndes, 
 esq., on which are depicted figures of Faith, Hope, and Charity. It was 
 designed and executed by Lamb, of London. The next window is glazed 
 Avith the principal portion of the eastern Avindow of the old church. It Avas 
 presented by the late Thomas German, esq., and was executed by Ballantine, 
 of Edinburgh. The next is a memorial window, erected by Jolin Gorst, 
 
(Th.e Rov.CajioiL Parr,Vaoa.r ) 
 
 oy^f.c4^. 
 
 ThoRsv.TW. CUidv.M.i 
 
TOPOGRAPHY, ETC. 
 
 469 
 
 esq. It contains three figures, St. Stephen, St. Peter, and St. John the 
 Baptist. It was designed and executed by Lamb. The window in the 
 baptistry, by Willimont, of London, is the gift of Thomas Miller, esq. All 
 the nave and clerestory windows have been executed at the expense of 
 Thomas Batty Addison, and John Addison, esqs. They contain medallions 
 representing subjects from scripture, armorial shields of sovereigns who have 
 visited Preston, guild mayors, ecclesiastical functionaries connected with 
 the town and diocese, and several families in the town and neighbour¬ 
 hood. The handsome font in the baptistry was presented by Mrs. W. A. 
 Hulton, Miss Gorst, and Miss Bebecca Gorst. An elegant staircase to the 
 pulpit, of rich open work in polished brass, has recently been added. The 
 church can scarcely yet be said to be in finished state. Several other 
 benefactions have recently been announced. A large brass plate, 
 inserted in the west wall of the north nave, beneath the organ gallery, 
 bears the following inscription:—“This Parish Church of St. John 
 the Evangelist, Preston, was re-built by public subscription in the year 
 of our Lord, M.dceclv, John Owen Parr, M.A., vicar; William Birley, 
 and Miles Myres, Esquires, Churchwardens; Edwin Hugh Shellard, 
 Esquire, Architect.” The organ, originally erected in 1802, has since 
 been considerably enlarged. It bears the following inscription :—“ The 
 Gift of John Ilorrocks, esq., M.P., 1802. Repaired and Enlarged by the 
 addition of a Choir organ, at the expense of Samuel Ilorrocks, Esq., Mayor 
 of the Guild, MD.CCCXLII.” It is thus described in the “ Xew History 
 of the Organ,” by Edward F. Rimbault, L.L.D :— 
 
 “ The organ in the Preston Parish Church was originally built by Davis, of London, 
 in It02, and had a great organ from G.G. to P. in alt, and a swell to fiddle G. No 
 Pedals or pedal pipes—Diagonal bellows. 
 
 “ In 1822, a set of union pedal pipes (an octave and half), and new bellows, were put 
 in. 
 
 “ In 1842, a new choir organ was added by Gray and Davison, of London, at the cost 
 of S. Ilorrocks, Esq., Guild Mayor ; but, unfortunately, the great organ, and swell and 
 pedals, received no addition. 
 
 “In 1850, the organ was entirely re-built; anew pedal organ added; the sw-ell 
 extended to tenor C.; and several new stops added to it and to the great organ. These 
 additions were made by Jackson, of Liverpool, from funds raised by public subscription. 
 
 “In 1854, W. A. Cross, esq., of Red Scar, gave funds for a metal double diapason, 
 and a new great organ sound board ; Mr. Greaves, the organist, adding the twentieth at 
 his own expense. Two spare slides were prepared on the great organ sound-board for a 
 wood principal and a wood fifteenth. The organ has now 36 sounding stops, of which 
 the following is a list:— 
 
 Geeat, 16 Stops. 
 
 1 Double diapason, bass ) . , . 
 
 2 Double diapason, treble ) ln nu a 
 
 3 Stopped diapason 
 
 4 Open diapason, large scale 
 
 5 Open diapason 
 
 6 Principal, metal 
 
 7 Principal, wood * 
 
 8 Twelfth 
 
 9 Fifteenth, metal 
 
 10 Fifteenth, wood 
 
 11 Sesquialtera 3 ranks 
 
 12 Mixture, 2 ranks 
 
 13 Twentieth* 
 
 14 Trumpet, bass 
 
 15 Trumpet, treble 
 
 16 Clarion 
 
470 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Choir, 7 Stops. 
 
 18 Clarabella 
 
 19 Dulciana 
 
 20 Principal 
 
 17 Stopped diapason 
 
 21 Flute 
 
 22 Fifteenth 
 
 23 Cromorne 
 
 Swell, 9 Stops. 
 
 24 Double diapason 
 
 25 Stopped diapason 
 
 26 Open diapason 
 
 27 Keraulophon 
 
 28 Principal 
 
 29 Fifteenth 
 
 30 Mixture 
 
 31 Hautboy 
 
 32 Cornopean 
 
 Pedal, 4 Stops. 
 
 33 Open diapason, 16 feet 
 
 34 Principal, 8 feet 
 
 35 Fifteenth, 4 feet 
 
 36 Sesquialtera, 3 ranks 
 
 Accessory Stops, Movements, etc. 
 
 1 Couplar, pedals to great 
 
 2 Couplar, pedals to choir 
 
 3 Couplar, swell to great 
 
 4 Couplar, choir to swell 
 
 5 Couplar, octave couplar swell 
 
 6 7 Three composition pedals for 
 
 great organ stops 
 
 Compass. 
 
 Great and choir organs from from CC to f 3 in alt 
 Swell from tenor C to f 3 in alt 
 Pedal CCC to tenor e. v 
 
 The old church contained hut few monuments of interest. Those which 
 existed have been re-built into the present edifice. Iu the baptistry, 
 beneath the tower, is an altar tomb beneath a Gothic niche, to the memory 
 of Starkie Shuttleworth, esq., of Ashton. The baptistry likewise contains 
 three other mural tablets, one to the memory of Margaret Hornby, of 
 Poulton, 1815; one to William Pritchard, 1803, and another to Thomas 
 and Catherine Greaves, 1811. There are no monuments on the north 
 wall of the body of the church. The south wall, however, presents three 
 small ones, to the memories of Jannet Pedder, 1842; Mary Gertrude Pedder, 
 1810 ; and Joseph Atkinson, 1853. On the north wall of the chancel are 
 three monuments, of more pretensions. One, in the Italian manner, is 
 erected to the memory of Dame Mary Hoghton, and dated 1720. The 
 centre one is a neat Gothic structure, bearing the following inscription :— 
 “In Memory of William Hulton, aged XX years, Nicholas Charles Grim- 
 shaw, aged XX years, George Henry Grimshaw, aged XYII years, and 
 Joseph Kay, aged XX years, who in "a moment of youthful enjoyment 
 were drowned in the River Ribblc by the oversetting of a boat, on the 
 24th day of April, A. D. 1822.” The one to the right is inscribed to the 
 memory of Mrs. Ann Broughton, daughter of Sir William Broughton, of 
 Lawford, in Warwickshire, and sister to Lady Hoghton. On the south 
 
 v The double diapason, and the stops marked with an asterisk, have not yet been placed in the 
 organ. The latter are intended to be added by the present organist, Mr. Greaves. The donation 
 referred to, by Major Cross, was applied to the general fund for the re-construction of the church. 
 
TOPOGRAPHY, ETC. 
 
 471 
 
 wall of the chancel are two superior monuments. One is erected to the 
 memory of William St. Clare, M.D. who died in May, 1822. The other is 
 a memorial of the late vicar, the Rev. Roger Cams Wilson, M.A. It is a 
 beautiful work of art executed in Bath stone, by Theakstone, of London. 
 The base exhibits, in relievo, representations of the five churches, erected 
 through Mr. Wilson’s instrumentality. There is likewise a small tablet 
 over the arch which divides the chancel from the south aisle. The grave, 
 hearing the oldest date, is situated about the centre of the church yard, 
 on the south. The present stone was placed on the spot a little more than 
 forty years ago, but the following inscription is a literal copy from the 
 original:—“Here lyeth the body of George Rogerson, Salter,” (drysalter) 
 “ who dyed childles Feb. the 3rd, 1619, aged 68, and gave to the poor of 
 Preston, Nine Pounds yearly out of his lands for ever.” Mr. Whittle 
 says :—“ In 1806, the stocks were standing in the church-yard, and near to 
 them was a tombstone, dated 1642, ‘ To the memory of Richard Green¬ 
 field, who was slain in the lane near Walton-bridge, during the civil 
 wars.’ A rude outline was cut upon it of a man with a sword run through 
 his body.*** The last person put in the stocks was in 1816, when 
 George Arkwright was placed in the pillory.” Mr. Whittle conjectures 
 Richard Greenfield may be the officer alluded to by Southey in his Espriella 
 letters. w Another flat stone is inscribed to the memory of Thomas Myers, 
 who was interred on the 12th of January, 1670. There is likewise one 
 dated July 24th, 1690, which covers the remains of Christopher Santcr, 
 parish clerk. A large and handsome monument ornaments the churchyard 
 on the south, erected by John Walshman, to the memory of his mother, 
 who died July 14th, 1743. The monument was restored and “beautified” 
 in 1818, by John, son of Roger and Grace Blelock, who are interred 
 beneath it. There were several minor tablets in the old church which 
 have not yet been re-erected. Mr. Whittle, amongst some others of this 
 class, mentions two on the uorth-east wall of the nave, which he says bore 
 the name of Wall’s chapel. After the Norman conquest the church of Preston, 
 with the tithes, fisheries, etc., was granted to the priory of St. Mary, at Lan¬ 
 caster, by Roger do Poietou. St. Mary’s was “appropriated” to the 
 Norman Abbey of Syon or Sees. The living reverted to the crown before the 
 4th year of the reign of John. Henry III. presented it to the nephew of the 
 bishop of Winchester. Henry, duke of Lancaster, was patron in 1359, 
 and John of Gaunt in 1371. The abbot and convent of Whalley were 
 anxious to secure the benefice, and presented a petition to the duke of 
 Lancaster, with an intimation to that effect. They were however, unsuc¬ 
 cessful. The duke conferred the living upon his new college at Leicester, 
 
 w Lecture at Preston, in 1849. See page 249 of the present volume. 
 
472 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENTIRONS. 
 
 on the 17th of June, 1420. 1 The advowson remained with the dean and 
 canons of St. Mary’s College, Leicester, till the time of Edward YI. when 
 it again reverted to the crown. In 1607, the living was vested in the 
 Hoghton family, by James I. They retained possession of it until it was 
 purchased a few years ago, by the “Feoffees of William Hulme, of 
 Hulme and Kearsley, esquire.” A chantry was founded in the church 
 by Richard Whalley, in 1498, who “vested lands in Sir Alexander Hoghton, 
 to maintain a chaplain at the altar of St. Crux, in the said chantry.” 
 St. Mary’s chantry, in Preston church, is mentioned in the return of the 
 commissioners of chantries in Lancashire, in 1548. In 1650, Preston is 
 returned by the “Inquisitors” as a vicarage in the patronage of Sir 
 Richard Hoghton, hart., “ the Impropriator of the Tithes.” The tithes 
 were valued at £176. 12s. lOd. The return further states:—“Mr. Isaac 
 Ambrose, a painfull Min r , is Yicar of Preston, and receives for his Sailary 
 the profitts of his whole Vicarage, w rh about 30 years since was worth ah‘ 
 100 markes per ann. but in these distracted troublesome times, the same 
 is not so much worth ; besides which there is £50. per ann. of an augment” 
 from the Com. of Plund. Min rs , and £50. per anu. forth of y e Revenue of 
 the Duchy of Lancaster, to Mr. Ambrose, as one of the foure Itinerant 
 Ministers within the County.” y Bishop Gastrell, in his “ Notitia Cestri- 
 ensis,” gives the following additional particulars respecting the church 
 and living at Preston :— z 
 
 “ Preston, certified by the Yicar anno 1705, not above 57 1 , (4 1 of to be paid to 
 the Curate of Broughton Chapel, viz. one Acre of Land; Great Tyths of one Township 
 about 121 per annum ; Small Tyths and Easter dues uncertain; the rest Surplice Fees. 
 Vide Pap. Reg. 
 
 “ By other accounts it appears to be a good 1001 per annum, part of whch is pre¬ 
 carious ; but the Vicar now allows it to be above 80 1 per annum, in such dues as may be 
 legally demanded, anno 1717. a 
 
 “ Given to ‘ water dry and barren places in Lancashire,’ or to ‘ direct the People to 
 the glory of a Preaching Minister at Preston,’ by Mr. Henry Banaster, of Hackney, 101 
 per annum. The Mayor and Councill of Preston were Trustees for y e money [£200» 
 being part of a legacy of £600,] wch hath been laid out in Land in Brockholes, near 
 Preston, and is now applied to a Curate. 
 
 “Anno 1374, a Clerk instituted to the Bectory of Preston, upon the Presentation of 
 the Duke of Lancaster. Reg. Charlton, f. 16. 
 
 x “ Appropriatio Ecclesi® de Preston Monaster, de Syon: Dat. 17 die Junii, a. d. 1420.”_Dr. 
 
 Ducarel: Chart® Miscell. in the Augmentation Office, 
 y Pari. Inq. Lamb. Libr. 
 
 z “ Notitia Cestriensis, or Historic Notices of the Diocese of Chester, by the Right Rev. Francis 
 Gastrell, D.D., Lord Bishop of Chester, now first printed from the original manuscript, with illus¬ 
 trative and explanatory notes, by the Rev. F. R. Raines, M.A., F.S.A., Rural Dean, Hon. Canon of 
 Manchester, and Incumbent of Milnrow. Printed for the Chetham Society, m.d.ccc.l.” 
 a The annual value of the living in 1834, was estimated at £665.—Raines. 
 
TOPOGRAPHY, ETC. 
 
 473 
 
 “ The church of Preston in Amounderness belonged to ye Dutchy of Lancaster till it 
 was appropriated to ye Collegiate Church of St. Mary of Leicester; and then a vicaridge 
 was ordained. MS. Ebor. 
 
 “ Anno 142, a Presentation to the Vicarage of Preston, by the Dean and College of 
 St. Maryes of Leicester. Register of Archdeacon Boioet, f. 11. 
 
 “Value 16' Patron, the College of Leicester. MS. L. 
 
 “ Anno 1580, John Bold, of Nortlnneals, esq.. Patron. Institution Book, 2, p. 3. 
 
 “ 35 Elizabeth, Henry Bold, Patron. To. 
 
 “ Anno 1603, a vicar presented by virtue of a grant from Sr Richard Houghton, of 
 Houghton Tower, lb. p. 37. 
 
 “ Anno 1630, the King presented upon ye Outlawry of S 1 ' Richard Houghton. Vide 
 Subscription Book. Sir Richard Houghton is afterwards stated to have presented Mr. 
 James Starkie, on the 2d December, 1632. Inst. Bk. 
 
 “Patron, Sir Henry Houghton, Bart. 
 
 “ A Reader was nominated by the Mayor and Corporation and other Inhabitants. 
 Vide Nomination, 1695 ” 
 
 Mr. ’Whittle gives, from various sources, a number of early rectors and 
 vicars of Preston. He introduces the list with the following observations :— 
 “Whitaker, in his History of Whalley, p. 78, stated that the register of 
 Preston cannot be traced later than 1607, and the records of Chester have 
 been searched in vain.” We will supply this matter in part, therefore Mr. 
 Whitaker is mistaken. The names supplied by Mr. Whittle are as 
 follows :— 
 
 1243.—Benedict Osbaldestone, Clerico, son of Eilfi Osbaldestone. b 
 1297.—Dom. Willus Dacre, who held the advowson till 1322. A Cistercian. 
 
 1322.—A prior and two monks of the Cistercian order. 
 
 1359. —Henrica de Walton, a Cistercian monk. 
 
 1360. —Robert de Burton; Patron, Henry, duke of Lancaster. 
 
 1371.—Radbert de Ergliam, L.B. of Cockersand Abbey. Patron, John, duke of 
 Lancaster. 
 
 1416.—Rieardus de Walton, a Benedictine. 
 
 1418.—Doin. John White, pbr. a Benedictine. 
 
 1421.—Dom. John Lingard, pbr. do. 
 
 1452.—Tlios. Bolton, from Furness Abbey, Patron King Henry VI. 
 
 1561. —Nicholas Banester.c Patrons, Rieardus Werden and others. 
 
 1562. —Lawrence Wall, brother to Evan Wall, steward of Preston Guild. 
 
 1563. —Roger de Chorley; Patrons, Thomas Parker and Thomas Patchett. 
 
 156"’.—Leonard de Chorley ; Patrons, William Patten and John Bold, North Meols. 
 1568.—Nicholas Bradshaw.4 
 
 b Osbaldestone pedigree. 
 
 c Strype says, “ Bancster was an unlearned schoolmaster, for he was ordered to remain in the 
 county of Lancaster, (after being deprived of the living of St. Wilfrid’s), the town of Preston ex¬ 
 cepted : lie was vicar of Preston in Queen Mary’s days, and was sorely persecuted for conscience 
 sake, being known to be a rank Jesuit.” 
 
 d Mr. Whittle says, “During Bradshaw’s ministry we read from ‘ Blighted Ambition,' that ‘ (luring 
 Elizabeth’s reign, when she fell ill in 1563, she was most seriously affected with a belief in witch¬ 
 craft, and that the recusants of Preston in Lancashire, shut up St. Wilfrid’s church by main force, 
 and caused tire Itomish ritual of mass to be publicly read : the Bishop of Winchester during the same 
 time broke down the gates of Corpus Christi, and a new college, Oxford, that he might purge the 
 place of Popish delinquents who were there, and to expunge many practices which was symboliz¬ 
 ing with the ancient faith.’—Vide vol. 3d.” 
 
474 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENYIKONS. 
 
 Mr. Baines e gives the following list of the vicars of Preston, from the 
 6th Elizabeth, “collected from the episcopal registers of Chester and 
 other authentic sources.” 
 
 VICARS OP PRESTON, 
 
 IN THE DEANEEV OF AMOUNDERNESS, AND ARCHDEACONRY OF RICHMOND. 
 
 Date of 
 Institution. 
 
 Vicars. 
 
 On whose 
 Presentation. 
 
 Cause of vacancy. 
 
 Sep....29, 1567 
 
 Nicholas Bradshaw 
 Roger Chorley 
 
 Thomas Patchett 
 
 Death of Nich. Bradshaw 
 
 Sep.... 4, 14 Eliz 
 
 Nicholas Danyell 
 
 John Bold, of North Meols 
 The King 
 
 Resign, of Roger Chorley 
 
 Aug...27, 1580 
 
 Thomas Wall 
 
 Resign, of Nich. Danyell 
 
 Dec ...21, 35 Eliz 
 
 William Sawrey f 
 
 Henry Bold 
 
 Death of Thos. Wall 
 
 Feb....12, 1603 
 
 lohn Paler 
 
 Robert Parker, yeoman 
 
 
 May...28, 1621 
 
 James Martin 
 
 Sir Richard Houghton 
 
 Death of John Paler 
 
 July...21, 1623 
 
 Alexander Bradley 
 
 King James, patron by 
 
 
 May...19, 1625 
 
 John In skip 
 
 lapse of time 
 
 The King 
 
 
 Nov...18, 1626 
 
 i.ugustine Wildbore 
 
 Sir Richard Houghton, Kt. 
 
 
 Dec,... 2, 1630 
 
 James Starkie 
 
 and bart. 
 
 The same g 
 i 
 
 Resignation of Augustine 
 
 h 
 
 Seth Bush ell 
 
 Wildbore 
 
 Oct....12, 1682 
 
 Thomas Birch 
 
 Sir Charles noughton 
 
 Resign, of Seth Bushell 
 
 May...29, 1700 
 
 Samuel Peploe 
 
 The same 
 
 Death of Thomas Birch 
 
 July... 4, 1727 
 
 Samuel Peploe, jun. 
 
 King George 
 
 Promotion of Samuel Pep- 
 
 April 30, 1743 
 
 Randal Andrews 
 
 William Shaw, for this turn 
 
 loe to the bishopric of 
 Chester j 
 
 Resign, of Samuel Peploe 
 
 Oct....30, 1782 
 
 Humphrey Shuttleworth 
 
 only 
 
 Sir Henry Houghton 
 
 Death of Randal Andrews 
 
 Sep....26, 1809 
 
 James Penny 
 
 Sir John Philip Houghton 
 
 Resign, of Hum. Shuttle- 
 
 Mar... 1, 1817 
 
 Roger Carus Wilson 
 
 Wm. Wilson Carus Wilson 
 
 worth 
 
 Death of James Penny 
 
 Boger Caras Wilson died December loth, 1839. The living was shortly 
 
 afterwards presented by the trustees of the “ Hulme Exhibitions ” to the 
 present vicar, the Rev. J. Owen Parr, M.A., and honorary canon of Man¬ 
 chester. 
 
 Sr. George’s Chapel. —Preston appears to have possessed only one 
 place of public worship, in connection with the established church, till the 
 year 1723, when a plain brick edifice was erected on the south side of Fisher- 
 gate, as a chapel of ease to the parish church. This unassuming structure 
 
 e History of Lancashire, vol. 4, p. 334. 
 
 f Mr. Whittle prints this name Lawrie. There are some other descrepaneies between the 
 two lists. 
 
 g This is evidently an error. According to the Notitia Cestriensis, the Ling presented in 1G30, 
 owing to “ ye outlawry of Sir Rich. Houghton.” 
 
 h According to the Inquisitors’ return previously quoted, Isaac Ambrose was vicar of Preston, in 
 1650. Mr. Whittle says, “Ambrose remained minister of the church of Preston from 1646 till 1660, 
 and died in 1663, aged 59 years. Ambrose wrote an excellent work, on the ‘ first, middle, and last 
 things’ (in folio), printed after his death, in 1701. He was curate of Garstang for some time. 
 • • The Rev. Oliver Ilevwootl, B.A., the celebrated nonconformist, had an offer of Preston vicar¬ 
 age about 1655-9, from Sir Richard Iioghton, bart., but declined the acceptance on some account.” 
 
 i Whittle gives in 1662 : Thomas Clark ; patron, Sir Richard Hoghton ; and on January 4, 1667, 
 Seth Bashcll, D.D.; patron Sir R. Hoghton. 
 
 j i’eploe was made warden of Manchester, in 1717, by the king. The then bisbop of Chester (Dr. 
 Gastrell), refused to recognise the appointment, on the plea that I’eploe’s degree had been obtained 
 from the archbishop, at Lambeth, and not at the university of Oxford. The court of King’ Bench, 
 however, decided against the bishop. 
 
TOPOGRAPHY, ETC. 
 
 475 
 
 was, in 1843-4, faced with stone and otherwise ornamented, the necessary 
 funds being furnished by the liberality of the late T. M. Lowndes, esq.; 
 to whose memory an excellent mural monument in marble, by Mr. Duckett, 
 has been erected in the church, at the expense of his brother E. C. Lowndes, 
 esq. The deceased gentleman, whose patronymic was Gorst, hut who 
 assumed the name of Lowndes on succeeding to a large fortune bequeathed 
 by a relative of that name, was distinguished by unostentatious bene¬ 
 volence and liberality. He bestowed for a number of years a considerable 
 portion of his large income in works of charity. By this gentleman’s muni¬ 
 ficence, a new chancel was erected in 1848, and in the following year the 
 present elegant pulpit and reading pew were constructed. St. George’s 
 chapel is furnished with a good organ. 
 
 Trinity' CnuRCH.—The rapid increase of the town, in the early portion 
 of the present century, rendered further accommodation for religious wor¬ 
 ship necessary. In 1814, the first stone of a new church was laid by Sir 
 Henry Hoghton, hart., on a plot of ground then named ‘‘ Batten Field.” 
 In the following year, the edifice Yvas consecrated and dedicated to the 
 Holy Trinity. This church, though constructed in the “decorated” or 
 middle period of English architecture, has but little pretension to archi¬ 
 tectural beauty. It is, however, a good substantial edifice, with side and 
 end galleries, and a spacious eastern window filled with stained glass, the 
 work of Mr. W. It. Egginton, of Birmingham. Mr. Whittle says, k “the 
 total amount of the building of Trinity Church, cost nine thousand and 
 eighty pounds nine shillings and threepence.” He further records that 
 “ there are fifty sittings subject to an annual rent of one pound each, as a 
 stipend for the officiating minister; the salary is about £150. per annum, 
 besides what the congregation give gratuitously, aided by what is termed 
 Queen Anne’s bounty, for which a certain sum of money was expended to 
 obtain this. On the right and left side are excellent free sittings for the 
 use of the working classes of society'.” The church was erected partially 
 by subscription, and partially from funds derived from the sale of pews. 
 The right of presentation to the living is vested in the trustees and the 
 vicar of Preston alternately. In the year 1824, an organ was erected in 
 the west gallery. This was superseded in 1842, by the present excellent 
 instrument, constructed by Grey, of London. 
 
 St. Peter’s Church, Eylde-road.—The foundation stone of this church 
 was laid during the “guild week,” in 1822, by Mr. Justice Park, the 
 recorder of the borough. The entire expense of its erection, £6,900, was 
 defrayed by the “ commissioners for building new churches.” The land 
 for the site of both church and burial ground, was presented by Mr. James 
 
 k His. of Preston, vol. 1, p. G8. 
 
476 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Allan Park, son of tlie recorder. This church was huilt from plans 
 designed by the distinguished architect, Thomas Pick man, of Birmingham. 
 It is in the style of the latter period of English architecture, called per¬ 
 pendicular or florid gothic, and is much admired for the beauty of its 
 general form and elaborate decoration. The present organ, built by 
 Nicholson, of Rochdale, was presented by S. R. Grimshaw, esq., in 1846. 
 This instrument had previously been erected in the church, but was 
 removed by its proprietor to the Corn Exchange assembly room. By the 
 will of the late Thomas German, esq., the sum of £1,000. was invested in 
 trustees for the purpose of erecting a tower and spire to this building. 
 This was completed in 1852. Mr. Joseph Mitchell, of Sheffield, was the 
 architect. Mr. Edward Baines, 1 referring to this edifice and St. Paul’s, 
 says:— 
 
 “ It was generally wished that a spire might he attached to one of the new churches, 
 and that the additional expense should be raised by subscription, but the plans could not 
 be altered. The manufactories still tower over the churches, the highest building in 
 the town being the chimney of a steam engine ; and it is an extraordinary fact that 
 previous to the erection of the new catholic chapel of St. Ignatius, and the addition of a 
 spire to the church at Mellor, in Blackburn parish, there was not a spire between the 
 Lune and the Ribble, with the exception of one at Lancaster, nor is there a single spire 
 within fourteen miles of Preston.’ 
 
 This was written in 1836. During the last twenty years, however, 
 numerous spires have sprung up in the town and neighbourhood. 
 
 St. Paul’s Church, Park-road.—It was originaUy intended, when the 
 sum of £12,500 was granted by the commissioners, to expend it in the 
 erection of one church only. m But this determination was afterwards aban¬ 
 doned, from a conviction that the accommodation of the inhabitants would 
 be more efficiently attained by two smaRer edifices. The first stone of St. 
 Paul’s church was laid by the Rev. R. Carus Wilson, vicar, in October, 
 1823, upon land presented by Samuel Pole Shawe, esq. The building 
 cost rather more than £6,500. It is a very elegant specimen of the early 
 English style of architecture, and was designed by Messrs. Rickman and 
 Hutchinson. An exceRent organ was placed in this church, in 1844. 
 It bears the following inscription:—“The gift of Thomas MiUer, and 
 Henry MiUer, esqs., mdcccxliv.” A very smaU organ had been previously 
 used. 
 
 Christ Church, Bow-lane.—This church, one of a series erected chiefly 
 through the instrumentality of the Rev. R. Carus Wilson, M.A., late vicar 
 
 1 His. Lan. vol. 4, p. 337. 
 
 m “It is not generally known that the grant of £12,500. was obtained by the bishop of Chester 
 (Lawe), to defray the expenses of one church, St. Peter’s, on the representation of Nicholas Grim¬ 
 shaw, esq., and Thomas Trough ton, esq., hut that on the suggestion of the vicar, the commissioners 
 resolved upon the erection of two churches out of the original grant, which was effected, exclusive 
 of the burial ground attached to St. raul’s.”—Baines’s Lancashire, vol. 4, p. 336. 
 
TOPOGRAPHY, ETC. 
 
 477 
 
 of Preston, was consecrated on the 11th of October, 1836, by the bishop 
 (Sumner) of Chester, and opened for public service by the vicar on the 
 19th of March, in the following year. It is iu the Norman style of archi¬ 
 tecture, and was designed by Mr. John Latham. The principal entrance 
 is flanked by two octagonal towers, with curious stunted conical caps. 
 These towers are seventy feet in height. The length of the church is 
 about seventy feet, and the breadth fifty-six feet. The building furnishes 
 accommodation for nearly one thousand and fifty people. Four hundred 
 of the sittings are free. The gallery will accommodate about five hundred 
 persons. This church was enlarged in 1852, when several additional 
 sittings were provided. The organ was erected in 1843. 
 
 St. Mart’s Cjiuech. —The first stone of this edifice was laid in May, 
 
 1836. It was opened for service in 1838, and enlarged in 1853. It is 
 eighty-six feet in length, and the height of the spire is about one hundred and 
 four feet. In 1849, an organ, built by Messrs. Kirtland and Jardine, was 
 erected, the necessary funds being realised by public subscription. This 
 church likewise owes its existence principally to the exertions of the late 
 Rev. It. Cams Wilson. M.A. The land was presented by Mr. John Smith, 
 who likewise contributed two hundred pounds towards the funds for the 
 erection of a school in connection with the church. The structure was 
 designed by Mr. John Latham, and is in the Norman style of architecture, 
 witli a curious spire of a somewhat doubtful character. The enlargement 
 was effected under the superintendence of Mr. Shellard, of Manchester. 
 By the erection of this transept additional accommodation for about four 
 hundred persons is obtained. The original building was constructed to 
 seat about one thousand and fifty persons. 
 
 St. Thomas’s Church, Lancaster-road.—This is one of the new churches 
 erected through the instrumentality of the late vicar. The necessaiy funds 
 formed a portion of a legacy of about fifty thousand pounds, bequeathed for 
 church building purposes by Miss Catherine Elizabeth Hyndman. The 
 first stone was laid in August, 1837. The building, which is in the 
 Norman style of architecture, with a nave, side aisles, and a small 
 chancel, was built after designs by Mr. Jno. Latham. The tower supports 
 a spire, one hundred feet in height. It provides accommodation for about 
 eleven hundred persons. The organ was erected in 1855. 
 
 St. James’s CnuRcn, Avenham-lane.—This building was erected in 
 
 1837, as a dissenting chapel, by the friends of the Rev. Mr. Fielding. It 
 was afterwards purchased by the late vicar, the Rev. R. Cams Wilson, 
 and consecrated as a place of worship in connection with the Church of 
 England, on the 9tli of June, 1841. This church was originally a plain, 
 spacious building of brick. The walls have since been strengthened by 
 
478 
 
 PRESTON A XI) ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 stone buttresses, and its general appearance much improved, both 
 externally and internally. The organ was built by Mr. Jackson, of 
 Liverpool, and was erected in 1855. 
 
 All Saint’s Church, Elizabeth-street.—The first stone of this structure 
 was laid in October, 1846. The necessary funds were raised by public 
 subscription ; many of the contributors belonging to the operative classes. 
 Hence the edifice is often termed the “ Poor Man’s Church.” The sub¬ 
 scription originated in a desire to retain to the town the services of the Rev. 
 W. Walling, M.A., formerly pastor of St. James’s, but who had resigned his 
 appointment. This church, which is a large and substantial edifice of 
 brick, with a stone peristyle, in the Ionic order of Grecian architecture, 
 will accommodate from fourteen hundred to sixteen hundred people. The 
 designs were furnished by Mr. John Latham. 
 
 ROMAX CATHOLIC CHAPELS. 
 
 St. Mart’s, Friargate.—Mr. Baines says,” “it does not appear, that 
 at any period since the reformation, when the Franciscan Convent was dis¬ 
 solved, and the Parish Church passed out of their possession into the hands 
 of the protestants, that they” (the Roman catholics) “had ever more 
 than one place of worship in this town, till the year 1793. The original 
 chapel, called St. Mary’s, is situated at the top of Eriargate-brow.” This 
 is not precisely correct. For some time after the reformation, the Roman 
 catholics were, owing to the rigorous persecution to which they were sub¬ 
 jected, compelled to worship privately and in secret. The tone of public 
 feeling, in this respect, however, so far improved, that a small thatched 
 building, in a place called Chapel-yard, in Friargate, below Bridge-street, 
 is said to have been used by them as a place of public worship, as early as 
 1605. This building, after being converted into cottages, and again trans¬ 
 formed into a stable, was pulled down a few years ago, and a joiner’s 
 6hop erected upon the site. It was dedicated to St. Mary, probably in 
 memory of the ancient hospital on the Maudlands. The Rev. George 
 Oliver, D.D., of Exeter, in an account of the “ Preston Mission, com¬ 
 municated to a friend in Preston,” however, says :— 
 
 “ The Jesuits, from the accession of King James II., in 1685, at least had the pastoral 
 charge of the Catholics of Preston. Bishop Leyburn, during his visitation of the northern 
 counties, in 1687, confirmed at Preston and Tulketh 1,153 persons, on Sep. 7th. Divine 
 service was then performed in a harn at Fishwick. * * The first chapel in Preston, 
 
 I believe, was erected in 1761, by Father Patrick Barnewell, in honour of St. Mary, on 
 part of the site of the Convent of Grey Friars. He died shortly after, in 1762." He 
 was succeeded by Father Jos. Smith, who witnessed the spoliation of his chapel bv an 
 infuriated mob, in 1768’’ (during the great election), “ and died May 1, about a month 
 afterwards.” 
 
 The chapel alluded to by Mr. Baines, was opened in the year 1761. The 
 
 n His. Lan., vol. 4, p. 336. 
 
3tev JolmMxllezuM’ A. incximbeiit 
 
 JsZ/s?d<4 1^/iuAc^Scc 
 
 Kev.W.WJhng.lacumtclit 
 
TOPOGRAPHY, ETC. 
 
 479 
 
 old building, in Chapel yard, was closed, and the new one dedicated to 
 St. Mary. It continued to be the only place of worship, iu connection 
 with the Homan catholic body, till the erection of St. Wilfrid’s, in 1793. 
 It was then in turn closed, and afterwards converted into a cotton ware¬ 
 house. In 1815, however, the increased population requiring more 
 accommodation, it was re-opened for public worship. During the past 
 year (1856), it was entirely re-built and considerably enlarged. The 
 altar of St. Mary’s was embellished by a large oil picture, representing 
 the last supper. The picture painted by Mr. Hill, which formerly deco¬ 
 rated the altar at St. Wilfrid’s, has been removed to St. Mary’s. 
 
 St. Wilfrid’s, Chapel-street.—This plain but spacious edifice was 
 opened on the 4th of June, 1793. The south end was taken down a few 
 years ago, and the chapel considerably lengthened. Mr. Baines speaks of the 
 old “ altar-piece being enriched with several paintings of superior workman¬ 
 ship.” The chief subject was the “Ascension.” Over the altar was after¬ 
 wards placed a large and cleverly-executed oil picture, by Mr. Chas. G. Hill, 
 representing the “ Taking down from the Cross,” copied from an original 
 painting, supposed to be the production of ouc of the Carracci, which 
 forms a chief feature of the collection at Stonyhurst. This picture has 
 since been removed to St. Mary’s, Friargate; St. Wilfrid’s chapel has 
 lately been entirely redecorated by Mr. Balfe, of London. The 
 “ Crucifixion” forms the subject of the altar-piece. The organ, which 
 was built by Davis, in 1839, was enlarged in 1855. A small and 
 highly decorated building, erected “ from a model in Home,” named the 
 “Lady chapel,” was added in 1844. The chief of the ornamental decora¬ 
 tion was executed by Mr. Taylor Bulmcr. The chapel was con¬ 
 siderably enlarged and beautified in 1839, at a cost, including the 
 expense of the new organ, of about two thousand pounds. Previously to 
 its enlargement, this edifice was computed to accommodate three thousand 
 persons. A seminary, in connection with the Benedictine Huns of Ghent, 
 was established contiguous to this chapel, in 1792. The sisterhood removed 
 to Caverswcll Castle, in Staffordshire, in 1812. 
 
 St. Ignatius’s, St. Ignatius-square.—The first stone of this elegant 
 structure was laid on the 27th of May, 1833. It is a cruciform building, 
 in the latter period or perpendicular English style of architecture, and 
 was erected from designs by J. J. Scholes, esq., of London. It is about 
 one hundred and fourteen feet in length, and the breadth of the nave 
 forty-eight feet. There is sitting accommodation for about six hundred 
 persons, and standing room for nearly two hundred others. The building 
 is ornamented with a square tower, surmounted by an ornamental spire, the 
 entire height of which, including the cross, is nearly one hundred and 
 
480 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 twenty feet. The altai’ table, which is beautifully carved, and decorated 
 with figures of the apostles, was presented to the church by Jas. Anderton, 
 esq., of Haighton. This church has since been enlarged by an additional 
 sacristy or confessional. Several stained glass windows, by Barnett, of 
 York, and other decorations by Evans, Thompson, and Brown, of 
 Birmingham, have been added at considerable cost. In the immediate 
 neighbourhood is a commodious residence for the clergy, who belong to 
 the Society of Jesuits. The original cost of the building, including the 
 priests’ house, exceeded eight thousand pounds. A small tablet says that 
 one thousand and thirty pounds of this sum were raised by small weekly 
 subscriptions of poor catholics in Preston. It contains a very good organ, 
 built by Davis. On the north side of St. Ignatius-square, is a building 
 erected for the accommodation of the “ Sisters of Charity.” 
 
 St. Austin’s, St. Austin’s-place.—The foundation stone of this edifice 
 was laid in November, 1838. The necessary funds were raised by public 
 subscription. The land was presented by Dr. Briggs, the Roman catholic 
 bishop of the district. It is calculated to seat about one thousand persons. 
 The plan of the building is cruciform, with a sunk stone portico, in the 
 Roman Ionic order, facing Yauxhall-road. It was designed by the late Ur. 
 Tuach. The interior is handsomely decorated, the high altar being 
 adorned by a large oil painting, by Ur. Taylor Bulmer, after a celebrated 
 picture by Paolo Veronese. The excellent organ, by Grey, of London, 
 was erected in 1841. 
 
 St. "Wale urge’s, Uaudlands.—The first stone of this edifice was laid 
 on 'Whit-Uonday, 1850. It is erected on or near the site of the ancient 
 hospital dedicated to St. Uary Uagdalen. 0 It was opened for public 
 worship in August, 1854. It is built in the early decorated period of 
 Gotliic architecture, and is one of the largest and handsomest structures in 
 Preston. It is one hundred and sixty-five feet long, by fifty-five feet 
 wide. The western facade, or principal front, is divided into three por¬ 
 tions by two lofty buttresses, which rise to a height of sixty-nine feet. 
 This facade is ornamented by a circular or “ wheel” window, twenty- 
 two feet in diameter, highly decorated and filled with geometric tracery. 
 Above is a small arcade of five lancet-headed lights. The height from the 
 ground, to the top of the elaborately carved cross, is ninety-one feet. The 
 roof is eighty-three feet from the parapet, and is terminated by highly 
 ornamented ridge tiles. The tower is near the east end, on the south side 
 of the church. It is intended to carry a spire, which will support a cross 
 three hundred feet above the level of the street. The base of this tower 
 is nearly fifty feet square. "When complete, the tower itself will be one 
 
 o See page 116. 
 
TOPOGKArHY, ETC. 
 
 481 
 
 hundred and fifteen feet high, and capable of containing a peal of twelve 
 bells. At present it has been built no higher than sixty-one feet. The 
 body of the church is of grey flag, with dressings of white grit; but 
 the tower is of lime stone. The interior is very spacious, and highly orna¬ 
 mented. The east window, which is thirty-five feet high, by twenty-one 
 feet wide, is filled with stained glass. Other windows are likewise 
 decorated in a similar manner. These embellishments are chiefly the gifts 
 of private individuals. Several other decorations are at present in pro¬ 
 gress. There is a small gallery at the west end of the church capable of 
 holding about one hundred choristers. As there are no other galleries, 
 and as about one third of the entire area is occupied by the sanctuaries, 
 etc., the building, notwithstanding its large dimensions, is calculated to 
 accommodate no more than one thousand six hundred persons, for which 
 number benches are erected. The present arrangement with regard to 
 the sacristry and confessional, is merely temporary. These are intended 
 to be added to the present edifice, when not only will more internal space 
 be gained, but the exterior outline of the structure will be much improved. 
 There are three altars, highly decorated. The edifice has been erected 
 from designs by Mr. Joseph A. Ilansom. The organ was built by Messrs. 
 Hill and Co., in 1855. It contains thirty sounding stops, distributed 
 among two manuals and pedal, in the following manner :— 
 
 Geeat, 15 Stops. 
 
 Every Stop throughout. 
 
 1 Double open diapason ...16 feet 
 
 2 Open diapason . 8 feet 
 
 3 Garnba . 8 feet 
 
 4 Stopped diapason. 8 feet tone 
 
 5 Quint. 5 $ feet 
 
 6 Octave . 4 feet 
 
 7 Wald Flute . 4 feet 
 
 8 Twelfth. 2J feet 
 
 9 Fifteenth . 
 
 10 Piccolo .,.. 
 
 11 Sesquialtera, 3 ranks. 
 
 12 Mixture, 3 ranks .... 
 
 13 Posaune. 
 
 14 Clarion . 
 
 15 Cremona. 
 
 Swell, 12 Stops. 
 
 16 Double open diapason ...16 feet 
 
 17 Open Diapason. 8 feet 
 
 18 Salicional . 8 feet 
 
 19 Stopped diapason . 8 feet tone 
 
 20 Octave . 4 feet 
 
 21 Suabe flute. 4 feet 
 
 22 Twelfth. 
 
 23 Fifteenth . 
 
 24 Sesquialtera, 3 ranks. 
 
 25 Oboe . 
 
 26 Cornopean... 
 
 27 Clarion . 
 
 2 feet 
 2 feet 
 If foot 
 
 8 feet 
 4 feet 
 8 feet tone 
 
 2 J feet 
 2 feet 
 If foot 
 8 feet 
 8 feet 
 4 feet 
 
 Pedal, 3 Stops. 
 
 28 Open diapason.16 feet 
 
 29 Octave. 8 feet 
 
 COTJPLAES. 
 
 1 Swell to great 
 
 2 Great to pedal 
 
 3 Swell to pedal 
 
 30 Trombone .16 feet 
 
 Compass. 
 
 Great CC to f 3 in alt. 
 Swell CC to f 3 in alt. 
 Pedal CCC to tenor e. 
 
 2 H 
 
482 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS, 
 
 The Roman Catholics propose to erect a new church and schools under 
 the direction of the secular clergy of St. Austin’s, a little to the right of 
 Ribbleton-lane, behind Mr. Seed’s cotton mill. Some subscriptions have 
 been collected, and other steps taken in furtherance of this object. 
 CHAPELS OF PROTESTANT DISSENTERS, Etc. 
 
 Mr. Edward Baines p considers it “probable that a congregation of 
 protestant dissenters was formed in Preston soon after the passing of th« 
 memorable St. Bartholomew’s act, 1662.” He deduces this opinion 
 chiefly from the fact that the Rev. Isaac Ambrose, one of the most dis¬ 
 tinguished nonconformist ministers, resided in Preston, diming the Common¬ 
 wealth. No record, however, has been preserved of their occupancy of 
 any special building for public worship. 
 
 The Unitarian Chapel, to the north of Church-street, a very small 
 building, with no architectural pretensions, was erected in 1718. It was 
 originally occupied by the Presbyterians. 
 
 The Society of Friends originally held their meetings in a building 
 situated between Everton-gardens and Spring-gardens. 11 A more commodious 
 edifice was erected to the north of Eriargate, in 1784. This was re-built 
 and considerably enlarged in 1847-8. 
 
 The Baptists erected a small chapel in Leeming-street, in 1783. 
 This building was considerably enlarged in 1833. Mr. Baines mentions 
 a “ Particular Baptists’ place of worship,” in Cannon-street, opened 
 18th December, 1833; and a “ Sandemanian, or Scot’s Baptist Room,” 
 in Churcli-strect, commenced in 1823. The Leeming-street Chapel 
 is at present' closed. One portion of the congregation meet at the 
 Institution, Avenham, and the other at Pole-street chapel, the latter 
 building having been purchased by them, in 1855, from the trustees 
 representing Lady Huntingdon’s sect. This building, which is calculated 
 to seat nine hundred persons, was erected in 1825. 
 
 The Scotch Baptist Chapel, Meadow-street, a very small building, was 
 opened in 1845. 
 
 Zoar Chapel, Regent-street, a small building, was erected in 1853, 
 for a party seceding from the Baptist congregation worshiping at Yanxhall 
 chapel. 
 
 The Baptists are erecting a new chapel at the corner of Charnley- 
 sti’eet, Fishergate. According to the plans prepared by Messrs. Hibbert 
 and Rainford, it is intended to provide sitting for about six hundred 
 and twenty individuals. Beneath the chapel, accommodation will 
 be afforded for schools. The style of the architecture is “Byzantine.” 
 
 p His. Lan., vol. 4, p. 337. 
 
 q Baines’s His. Lan., vol. 4, p. 337. 
 
TOPOGRAPHY, ETC. 
 
 483 
 
 The building will be ornamented by a tower, upwards of sixty feet in 
 height, in which it is proposed to place an illuminated clock. 
 
 The earliest Methodist Chapel was built in Back-lane, in 1778. The 
 Rev. John Wesley preached in it on two occasions. This building 
 has since been converted into a corn warehouse. In 1817, the large 
 chapel in Lune-street was built. It is capable of seating about two 
 thousand persons. The organ was erected in 1845. A Sunday school 
 was established about the same time. It is attended by about four 
 hundred scholars. 
 
 Wesley Chapel, in Park-lane, now North-road, was built in 1838. An 
 organ was erected in 1840. It is a large and commodious building. 
 
 The Primitive Methodists’ small chapel, in Lawson-street, was first 
 used for worship about the year 1827. It was lately transferred to the 
 “ Mormons, or Latter-day Saints.” The Primitive Methodist chapel is at 
 present in Saul-street. 
 
 The Orchard Chapel, for the Protestant Wesleyan Methodists, was 
 built in 1831. It is intended shortly to considerably extend the accom¬ 
 modation afforded by this building. The plan includes the erection of a 
 larger chapel, with school rooms adjoining. 
 
 The Independent Chapel, in Grimshaw-street, was built in 1808. It 
 is at present proposed to take this building down, and erect a larger and 
 more commodious edifice on its site, capable of holding about nine hundred 
 persons. 
 
 The Independent Chapel, Cannon-street, was originally built in 1825, 
 and very considerably enlarged in 1852. This body had previously a place 
 of worship in Fishergate, at the corner of Chapel-street, erected in 1700. 
 The site has since been converted into shops. 
 
 The Yahxhall-eoad Chapel, dedicated to St. Paul, which was accord¬ 
 ing to Mr. Baines— 
 
 “Originally used, in 1814, by the followers of Mr. Alexander Killiam, a sect of 
 seccders from the Methodists, who contend for a more popular form of church govern¬ 
 ment, was purchased by a congregation of semi-episcopalians, in 1819, and the service 
 according to the ritual of the Church of England was performed here for a short time, 
 by a minister licensed at the quarter sessions, but not ordained by the bishop; it was 
 then purchased by the Wesleyan Methodists, who left it about two years ago” (1834), 
 “ and it was occupied for a short time by the General Baptists. It has now ”(1836) 
 “ reverted to the semi-episcopalians.” r 
 
 It is at present occupied by a Baptist congregation. A Sunday school was 
 erected behind the chapel, in 1849. 
 
 Episcopalian (Primitive) Chapel, Gorst-strect, Avcnham-lane, was 
 erected in 1837, as a place of worship for the followers of the Rev. Mr. 
 Aitkin. It was then denominated the “ New Christian Society’s Chapel.” 
 
 r His. Lan., vol. 4, p. 337. 
 
 2 H 2 
 
484 
 
 PEESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 The Countess of Huntingdon’s Chapel, Pole-street, was erected in 
 1825, and dedicated to St. Hark. For two years previously this congre¬ 
 gation met in a room in Cannon-street. In 1855, this chapel was pur¬ 
 chased hy a Baptist congregation. It furnishes accommodation for about 
 nine hundred persons. 
 
 The Hew Jeeusalem Chuech, Avenham-road, was first opened in 1844. 
 It is a small but elegant edifice, in the “ mixed Gothic ” or middle period 
 of English architecture, erected from drawings by the late Hr. Welch. 
 It will accommodate about two hundred and fifty persons, and was built 
 at the sole cost of Hugh Becconsall, esq. A house for the ofiiciating clergy¬ 
 man, at the rear of the chapel, is included iu the general design of the 
 edifice. A small organ was erected in 1856. 
 
 The Hoehons and some other sects have sometimes used the Cockpit or 
 old Temperance-hall, as a place of worship. This building about two years 
 ago was completely gutted, and converted into the “ Derby Assembly 
 Boom.” 
 
 The “Old Institution,” Cannon-street, as well as the lecture-hall of 
 the new building at Avenham, have been occasionally used for religious 
 worship. 
 
 THE CEHETERY. 
 
 On the passing of the “Burials (beyond the Hetropolis) Act,” 16 and 
 17 Victoria, steps were taken for the construction of a suburban cemetery. 
 Part of the Farington-hall estate, in Ribbleton, was eventually selected as 
 the site. The required land (about forty-five acres), was purchased from 
 Sir Thomas Hesketh, hart., at the rate of £150. per acre. The grounds 
 were laid out from designs hy Hessrs. Hyres and Veevers, who superin¬ 
 tended the general construction of the cemetery, including the fencing, 
 draining, etc. Three very neat and picturesque chapels, in the early 
 English style of architecture, are erected on the ground, from designs by 
 Hr. T. D. Barry, of Liverpool, and Lincoln’s-inn Fields, London. The 
 first interment took place on the first of July, 1855. All the burial 
 grounds, within the town, belonging to the Church of England and dis¬ 
 senting congregations were closed at the same time. The burial grounds 
 attached to St. Ignatius and St. Austin’s churches, were, however, per¬ 
 mitted to he used until the 31st December, 1856. St. Wilfrid’s was 
 closed in July, 1855. The three chapels at the cemetery cost about £6000., 
 the land about £6700. The total amount expended, including tenants’ 
 compensations, draining, fencing, ornamental planting, commission, etc., 
 was about £25,000. The ground in the cemetery is appropriated as 
 follows:—Church of England portion, 19 acres; Roman Catholic do., 
 11 acres; nonconformist do., 7 acres; unappropriated, 8 acres; total 45 
 
TOPOGBAPHY, ETC. 
 
 485 
 
 acres. The following table, showing the dimensions of the town burial 
 grounds, and the number of interments in each, during the year 1851, is 
 extracted from Mr. Myres’s report to the Burial Board :— 
 
 No. of Interments. Super, sq. yards. 
 
 Church of England. 1404 25,620 
 
 Catholics. 733 12,285 
 
 Society of Friends. 2 635 
 
 Unitarian. 3 371 
 
 Independents. 22 518 
 
 Baptists . 5 575 
 
 21C9 40,004 
 
 The population of Preston in 1851, being 69,361, the rate of mortality 
 appears to have been about one in thirty-two. The average of the king¬ 
 dom, according to the Eegistrar General’s returns, was one in 35.35. 
 This apparently high rate of mortality has been explained by a supposition 
 that a large number of non-residents were interred within the borough, 
 although no evidence is produced to show that such actually is the case. 
 Mr. G. T. Clarke, in his report to the General Board of Health, in 1849, 
 gives the annual mortality of Preston, at 2,924. From the opening of the 
 cemetery on the 1st of July, 1855, to the 12th of March, 1857, 1786 per¬ 
 sons were buried in the ground belonging to the Church of England ; in 
 that appertaining to the Nonconformists, from July, 1855, to February 
 12th, 1857, 380. The Boman Catholics, in consequence of two of their 
 burial grounds in the town being in use after the opening of the cemetery, 
 had interred, to February 14th, 1857, only 535 persons. Messrs. Myres and 
 Yeevers have prepared plans of the cemetery, with reference books, showing 
 the spaces to be used as graves, numbered in consecutive order. From 
 this it appeal’s that the Church of England ground contains room for about 
 29,200 places of sepulture; that of the Boman Catholics, 15,500; and 
 that appropriated to Nonconformists about 8200. The cemetery has been 
 laid out and planted with great taste. Several ornamented headstones and 
 other monuments have already been erected. In a short time, when the 
 trees and shrubs have advanced in growth, the cemetery will have the 
 appearance of a park or garden, and will doubtless be much frequented as 
 such. The sub-soil is a fine even sand of great depth, in consequence of 
 which, and the execellcnt superficial drainage, the walks are always dry 
 and clean. The view of the higher lands to the south of the Bibble valley 
 is very picturesque. From the elevated situation of the cemetery, the 
 atmosphere will receive regular and effectual purification. It is proposed 
 shortly to make a second entrance and a new carriage road, a little to the 
 south of Bibbleton-lane. This will give increased facility of approach to 
 parties residing to the north east of the town. 
 
486 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
 
 Educational Statistics, from the official report of Horace Mann, 
 founded on the census taken in 1851, and published in 1854. s 
 
 PRESTON (MUNICIPAL BOROUGH), Population 69,542. 
 
 SUNDAY SCHOOLS. 
 
 No. 
 
 of 
 
 Schools 
 
 No. of Scholars 
 belonging to Schools. 
 
 Both 
 
 Sexes. 
 
 Males. 
 
 Females. 
 
 35 
 
 11,187 
 
 5166 
 
 6021 
 
 Church of England. 
 
 12 
 
 4613 
 
 1830 
 
 2783 
 
 Independents. 
 
 4 
 
 1182 
 
 602 
 
 580 
 
 Baptists. 
 
 2 
 
 329 
 
 140 
 
 189 
 
 Society of Friends . 
 
 1 
 
 104 
 
 66 
 
 38 
 
 Unitarians. 
 
 1 
 
 54 
 
 30 
 
 24 
 
 Wesleyan Methodists. 
 
 3 
 
 1565 
 
 679 
 
 886 
 
 Primitive Methodists. 
 
 1 
 
 217 
 
 122 
 
 95 
 
 Wesleyan Association. 
 
 1 
 
 256 
 
 136 
 
 120 
 
 Lady Huntingdon’s connection. 
 
 1 
 
 130 
 
 56 
 
 74 
 
 New Church. 
 
 1 
 
 104 
 
 66 
 
 38 
 
 Undefined Protestant Congregations. 
 
 1 
 
 111 
 
 57 
 
 54 
 
 Roman Catholic . 
 
 7 
 
 2522 
 
 1382 
 
 1140 
 
 DAY SCHOOLS. 
 
 88 
 
 7677 
 
 4243 
 
 3434 
 
 Public Day Schools. 
 
 22 
 
 5312 
 
 3031 
 
 2281 
 
 Private Day Schools. 
 
 66 
 
 2365 
 
 1212 
 
 1153 
 
 Classification of Public Schools. 
 
 
 
 
 
 Class 1.— Supported hy General or Local ) 
 Taxation.J 
 
 2 
 
 189 
 
 136 
 
 53 
 
 Class 2. — Supported by Endowments. 
 
 2 
 
 144 
 
 144 
 
 
 Class 3.—Supported by Religious Bodies . 
 
 17 
 
 4959 
 
 2741 
 
 2218 
 
 Class 4.—Other Public Schools . 
 
 1 
 
 20 
 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 Pt iqq i ( Prison School. 
 
 £ Workhouse School. 
 
 1 
 
 41 
 
 39 
 
 2 
 
 l 
 
 148 
 
 97 
 
 51 
 
 p 0 S Grammar School. 
 
 s ' l Other Endowed School. 
 
 1 
 
 120 
 
 120 
 
 
 1 
 
 24 
 
 24 
 
 
 f Church of England, National.... 
 
 8 
 
 2S89 
 
 1521 
 
 1366 
 
 „ Others . 
 
 3 
 
 278 
 
 163 
 
 115 
 
 Class 3.—<j Independents. British . 
 
 1 
 
 131 
 
 91 
 
 40 
 
 1 Wesleyan Methodists . 
 
 2 
 
 303 
 
 223 
 
 80 
 
 (_ Roman Catholics. 
 
 3 
 
 1358 
 
 743 
 
 615 
 
 Class 4.— Other Subscription School of no I 
 
 
 
 
 
 specific character.j 
 
 
 
 IU j 
 
 
 A comparison -with the returns from forty-five of “ the principal 
 boroughs and large towns,” shows that Preston had above the average 
 
 s Pages 141 and 182. 
 
TOPOGRAM Y, ETC. 
 
 487 
 
 number of Sunday scholars in proportion to tlie population; and below 
 the average number of day scholars. 
 
 The Grammar School. —The origin of the grammar school is not known. 
 It was most probably established by the municipal authorities. In the 
 time of Edward YI. a sum of £2. 18s. 2d. per annum was charged upon 
 the lands belonging to the Duchy of Lancaster for a clerk and school¬ 
 master at Preston. Tanner, in 1705, writing to Dr. Kennett says, “I 
 remember to have met in our old friend Dr. Hutton’s collections, with 
 grammar schools at Richmond and Preston, in the fourteenth century, 
 which were under the cognisance of the Archdeacon of Richmond (who 
 you know had Episcopal power), and yet had no relation to any religious 
 houses.” In 1612, a resolution was passed by the corporate body, relieving 
 the bailiffs of the borough from the expense of providing “wine, beare, 
 breade, cheese, ayle, and other bankettinge stuffe and provisions ” at the 
 “Feast of Easter,” on condition that they should in lieu thereof, pay to 
 the “ Schole maister of the towne of Preston, or to his use the sume of 
 twentie marks in p te of p.ment of his stypende and wages. That is to saie, 
 either of them, six pounds thirteen shillings and four pence.” In 1650, 
 one William Curtis resisted the payment, but the municipal authorities 
 ordered him to comply or submit to a levy of ten pounds on his “ goods and 
 chattels by distresse & sale.” In 1652, however, the corporate body 
 themselves pronounced some of the orders respecting the schoolmaster’s 
 salary to be “ dissonent to ye laws of this nacon.” The bailiffs were 
 relieved of the tax, and a salary of £22. per annum voted from the corpo¬ 
 rate revenues.* Land was bequeathed for the support of the school in 1663, 
 by Bartholomew Worthington. At the time of the Charity Commissioners’ 
 inquiry, this land produced in ground rents the sum of £46. 3s. per annum. 
 A portion of a close of land in Fishergate, was sold to the Lancaster canal 
 company for £180., the interest arising from which forms a portion of the 
 schoolmaster’s salary. The head master, a few years ago, received from 
 the corporation £45. per annum, and the second master £40. Bishop 
 Gastrell speaks of the school and endowment in the early part of the last 
 century, in the following terms :— 
 
 “ There is a Free School, taught by a Master and Usher, who are nominated by the 
 Mayor and Councill. The Salary of the Master is 301 per annum, more or lesse, at the 
 discretion of the Mayor and Councill, besides a house and field, worth about 6 1 per 
 annum, given by Bartholomew Worthington, in 1663. The Usher’s Salary is 
 131 6s, 8d.” u 
 
 In January, 1855, the municipal authorities published the following 
 particulars relating to the school:— 
 
 t See chapter G, pages 272 and 279. 
 u Notitia Cestriensis , vol. 2, part 3, page 4G4. 
 
488 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 The original Endowment of the School now consists of— 
 The sum of £180. received by the Corporation from the Lancaster 
 Canal Company, for the sale of part of a close of land in Fishergate, 
 
 which, at £5. per cent., is per year. 
 
 Ground rents arising from the remainder of the same close. 
 
 Total. 
 
 The following is the present average yearly expense of the Corporation 
 in respect of the Grammar School:— 
 
 Payment to the Head Master. 
 
 ,, to the Second Master. 
 
 „ for Cleaning, Firing, &c. 
 
 Total 
 
 Deduct the amount of the original Endowment, as above... 
 Present yearly expenses out of the Corporation revenue ... 
 
 9 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 46 
 
 3 
 
 0 
 
 £55 
 
 3 
 
 0 
 
 100 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 45 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 16 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 161 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 55 
 
 3 
 
 0 
 
 £105 
 
 17 
 
 0 
 
 Number of Scholars at the School for the half year ending Dec. 1854.. 100 
 
 Number upon the foundation included in the above. 9 
 
 Quarterage payable by the Scholars upon the foundation to the 
 
 Masters. 2 guineas ^ ann. 
 
 Quarterage payable by other Scholars to the Masters. 8 ,, 
 
 The Scholars in the 1st and 2nd classes pay 2 guineas per year each, and the other 
 Scholars pay 1 guinea per year each, towards the rent of the School Buildings. 
 
 The Scholars upon the foundation do not pay anything towards the rent of the School 
 Buildings. 
 
 Since the publication of the above, the attendance of pupils has somewhat 
 decreased. The following extract from a communication made by the 
 head master, the Rev. Edwin Smith, M.A., to the municipal authorities, 
 dated January 10th, 1857, exhibits the present condition of the school and 
 the character of the instruction imparted:— 
 
 “ The number of Scholars who attended at the Grammar School during the half-year 
 ending Christmas, 1856, amounted to 72; five of whom were admitted on the recom¬ 
 mendation of the Corporation. The subjects which have engaged the attention of the 
 pupils, have been portions of Euripides, Xenophon, the Holy Scriptures in Greek and 
 English, Tacitus, Virgil, Ovid, Caesar, Cornelius Nepos, and the elementary books which 
 are usually read in Grammar Schools. The study of the Modern Languages, as well as 
 that of Geography, Chemistry, and of the Histories of Rome and England, has formed 
 a part of the usual routine. The subjects of instruction in Mathematics have been 
 Conic Sections, Trigonometry, Algebra, Euclid, Statics, and Arithmetic. Some of the 
 Mechanical and other drawings produced during the half-year have been very credit¬ 
 able.” 
 
 At a meeting of the corporation in December, 1856, in accordance with a 
 recommendation from the grammar school committee, a resolution was passed 
 by which ten additional boys, the sons of non-freemen, might be admitted 
 on the same terms as the sons of freemen. The object of this resolution 
 was to afford opportunity for the selection of the more meritorious boys 
 trained in the diocesan, national, and commercial schools in the town, and to 
 place them in a position to complete their education at the grammar school, 
 on the same terms and with the same privileges as the sons of freemen. 
 The mayor usually gives two prizes at the annual examination of the 
 
TOPOGRAPHY, ETC. 
 
 489 
 
 scholars; one for scripture and the other for history. The master’s prizes 
 are generally about seven in number. They include Greek, history, 
 mathematics, arithmetic, Trench, German, writing, etc. Several of the 
 scholars educated at this school have obtained university honours at Cam¬ 
 bridge. Amongst these are the following gentlemen :—Messrs. Thomas 
 Humber, Pearson, James T. Brown (double), Walter Clay, and John 
 Eldon Gorst. The latter gentleman was second wrangler of his year, and 
 is, at the present time, a fellow of St. John’s. The building referred to by 
 Dr. Kuerden as existing in his day at the bottom of Stonygate, was erected 
 in 1666, upon land belonging to the municipal authorities.' - The neigh¬ 
 bouring house, now converted into the “Arkwright’s Arms,” was erected 
 in 1728, as a residence for the master, from funds raised by subscription, 
 the corporation contributing the sum of £50. The neighbourhood having 
 altered in character, it was determined to provide more suitable accom¬ 
 modation. The present edifice in Cross-street, was erected in 1841, from 
 designs by Mr. Welch, the necessary fluids being furnished by a committee 
 of shareholders. It is a handsome building, in the Tudor style of archi¬ 
 tecture, and contains on the ground floor, a hall for recreation, sixty feet 
 in length. The principal story consists of a lofty open roofed hall for 
 study, class room, and a transept, forty feet long. On the ground floor 
 of the transept is the school-room, forty feet in length by twenty in 
 ■width. The windows of the hall bear some resemblance to those of Mer¬ 
 ton College, Oxford. Adjoining, to the west, is the “ Collegiate Library,” 
 above which is a school room for the superior classes. The latter, which 
 was originally intended for the reception of the books composing Dr. 
 Shepherd’s library, is decorated with some excellent specimens of stained 
 glass by Ballantyne. The principal hall is elaborately ornamented with 
 pictures in distemper, painted by Frank Howard, representing subjects 
 from English history, interspersed with decorative ornaments, mottoes, 
 etc. These embellishments were presented to the school by John Addison, 
 esq., judge of the county court. 
 
 Blue Coat Senoon:—Boger Sudell bequeathed, in 1702, some property 
 in Main-sprit-wiend, comprising a “stable and a hayloft,” for the purpose 
 of being converted into a school house. Mr. Sudell likewise charged his 
 estate with the sum of £12. per annum for its maintenance; £10. of which 
 was to be devoted to the schoolmaster’s salary, and £2. to the purchase of 
 the necessary books for the scholars’ use." - Other benefactions subsequently 
 augmented the funds to £1000, which, in 1813, was invested in stock. 
 The late vicar afterwards purchased property belonging to the earl of Derby, 
 situated at the top of the wiend, with the money belonging to the trust. 
 
 t See page 210. 
 
 w Report of Charity Commissioners. 
 
490 
 
 PEESTON AXD ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 At the time of the vicar’s death, the trust was indebted to him to the amount 
 of £200. In 1817, the “ Blue schools” were amalgamated with the then 
 recently established national schools. The funds afterwards increased, 
 and in 1830, a new school house was erected on the original site in 
 Main-sprit-wiend. The establishment is calculated to afford clothing and 
 education for twenty-five hoys and the same number of girls. The number of 
 pupils at the present time is nearly equal to the full amount. Mr. "Whittle 
 gives the following as an inscription placed over the doorway of the old 
 school:—“Mr. Boger Sudell, Bachelor, his Catechetical School, A.n. 1701.” 
 The Notitia Cestriensis contains the following notice of those charities. 
 The bishop, who wrote immediately after the demise of Roger Sudell, makes 
 the original endowment £17. pounds per annum. He says:— 
 
 “ There is a Charity School for Boyes, endowed with 151 per annum for a master, and 
 2i per annum for buying Books, Paper, Ink, and Fire; wch endowment wth a School- 
 house, are y e gift of Roger Sudell, [by will dated 26th Jan., 1702.] Th e Master is 
 nominated by the Vicar and one of Mr. Sudell’s executors. [In 1726, his nephew, the 
 Rev. Christopher Sudell, Rector of Holy Trinity, in Chester, (brother of James Sudell, 
 Woollen Draper,) made statutes for the Government of the School.] There, is another 
 Charity School, for Girls, which is maintained by Contributions. 2001 was given to both 
 Schools by Wm. Shaw, [in 1720 ;] 1001 by Mr. [Thomas] Loxham, [in 1723;] 101 
 by Mrs. [Mary] Stanley, [in 1720;] 20 guineas by Mr. Dan. Pultney, [M.P. from 1722 
 to 1734. His portrait is in the Court House.]” 
 
 The additional particulars within brackets are added by Bishop Gartrell’s 
 annotator, the Rev. Canon Raines. Pulteney’s portrait is in the Town 
 Hall." 
 
 Church of Exglaxd Commercial School, Ivnowsley-street.—This 
 building was erected in 1844, by Richard Xewsham, Esq., as a “testimo¬ 
 nial of his gratitude and affection to his honoured parents, for the education 
 of youth of the middle classes in God’s word, and other useful learning, 
 according to the principles of the Church of England.” The principal 
 subjects taught are such as constitute a sound commercial education, with 
 the addition of vocal music, mapping, elocution, etc. The upper room 
 was formerly devoted to the education of females. It is at present occupied 
 by the junior boys’ classes. The girls’ school did not prove successful, 
 owing it is supposed to the novelty of such an establishment for the middle 
 classes in Preston. Previously to the appointment of the present head 
 master, Mr. H. W. May, a short time ago, the number of male pupils 
 amounted to no more than 19. The number at present instructed is 64. 
 The school is not endowed, therefore the only source of emolument to the 
 teachers is the scholars’ fees. The following prizes, amongst others, have 
 been founded in connection with this school:—The Vicar’s prize, for 
 general good conduct, by the Rev. Canon Parr; theological prize, for the 
 greatest proficiency in Scripture history, by the Rev. S. Hastings; 
 
 x See pages 350 and 438. Mr. Dobson records an election in consequence of Pulteney’s death in 
 1732, Mr. Baines, in 1734. Mr. Dobson’s date is correct. See journals of the bouse of commons. 
 
TOPOGRAPHY, ETC. 
 
 491 
 
 commercial prize, for writing and book-keeping, by Richard Newsham, 
 esq.; and an arithmetical prize, by the Rev. Canon Parr. 
 
 German’s, Elizabeth-street:—This establishment was built and par¬ 
 tially endowed by James German, esq., in 1848. Its superintendence is 
 intrusted to the minister of All Saints’ Church. The northern gable 
 bears the following inscription :—“ These schools are erected by James 
 German, as an affectionate tribute to the Memory of the late Thomas 
 German, Esq., of this Town, and in grateful Remembrance of his liberal 
 and Christian example.” In the boys’ lower school about 40 pupils are 
 taught reading, writing, arithmetic, and geography. The upper school is 
 attended by about 80 pupils, who are taught, in addition, English grammar 
 mathematics, and the higher branches of a commercial education. The 
 lower “girls’ school” is devoted to infants of both sexes. About 180 
 c hil dren attend this department. In the girls’ higher school, about 60 
 pupils are instructed in the usual branches of education taught in the 
 national establishments. The pupils contribute a portion towards the 
 teachers’ salaries. 
 
 St. John’s, Avenham-lane, (boys) formerly called the “ National 
 School,” was erected by public subscription in 1814. The site, leased 
 from Dr. Bushell’s trustees, was presented by the earl of Derby. About 
 120 pupils at present attend, who are taught “ all subjects conducive to a 
 good English and commercial education.” The teachers are paid by 
 scholars’ fees, subscriptions, and government aid. This was the first 
 national school established in Preston, and was at one time attended by 
 between 600 and 700 children, who were educated free of charge. 
 
 St. John’s, (for girls) Vauxhall-road, was erected in 1828, and enlarged 
 in 1830. The necessary funds were raised by subscription and a bazaar, 
 chiefly through the exertions of the late Rev. R. Cams Wilson. The 
 teachers are remunerated from funds raised by subscription, scholars’ fees, 
 and grants from government. About 160 pupils attend. The subjects 
 taught are Scripture, reading, writing, arithmetic, grammar, geography, 
 English history, sewing, knitting, etc. 
 
 Christ Church, Bow-lane.—This building was erected in 1833. The 
 funds were furnished by local voluntary contributors, with aid from the 
 National Society. About 200 boys and 150 girls daily receive instruction. 
 The subjects taught include reading, writing, arithmetic, grammar, geo¬ 
 graphy, history, drawing, and vocal music. The girls learn knitting, 
 and sewing. The teachers’ salaries are paid from children’s pence, local 
 voluntary contributions, audaidbythe Committee of Council on Education. 
 In these school rooms, upwards of 250 girls, and about 150 boys are taught 
 on Sundays, by 39 voluntary teachers. It is proposed to build, during 
 
492 
 
 PBESTOX AXD ITS EXVIEOXS. 
 
 the present year, an additional school, in connection with Christ church, 
 in 'W’ellfield-road, at a cost of about £2000. There is an infant school 
 in Arthur-street, in connection with Christ church. About 160 pupils 
 are in daily attendance, and receive the rudimentary instruction usually 
 imparted in infant schools. The building was erected in 1838, by volun¬ 
 tary subscriptions and assistance from the National Society. The teachers’ 
 salaries are paid from grants by the Committee of Council on Education, 
 voluntary subscriptions, and children’s fees. 
 
 St. Petee’s, Fylde-road, (boys),—Erected by subscription, in 1829. 
 About 240 scholars attend. Salaries paid by voluntary contributions, 
 children’s pence, and government grants. Subjects taught, reading, 
 writing, grammar, and geography. 
 
 St. Petee’s, Brook-street, (girls)—Built by subscription, in 1839, for a 
 Sunday and a hoys’ national school, and enlarged in 1856. Subjects 
 taught: Scripture, geography, grammar, history, writing and arithmetic. 
 Teachers paid by school fees, government grants, and subscriptions. 
 Number of pupils, 278. The infant school in connection is attended by 
 about 260 children. 
 
 St. Paul’s, Carlisle-street and Pole-street.—The first school was built 
 in 1829, in Pole-street, consisting of one story, which is now used as the 
 infant school. The building in Carlisle-street was erected in 1832. This 
 was formerly occupied as a school for hoys and girls ; it is now entirely 
 devoted to the hoys. Dining the latter half of the past year, another story 
 has been added to the infant school room, and is used for girls. The 
 number of children in daily attendance at these schools is about 650. 
 The subjects taught are the elements of reading, writing, arithmetic, 
 English grammar, English history, geography, and “ common things,” 
 instruction on the bihle and church catechism, with the addition of sewing to 
 the girls ; and, if desired, algebra and mensuration to the hoys. The salaries 
 of the teachers, the largest staff in the town, consisting of a certificated 
 master, two certificated mistresses, and twenty apprenticed pupil teachers, 
 are derived from the children’s pence, voluntary subscriptions, and grants 
 from government. St. Paul’s schools have received, in aid of teachers’ 
 salaries alone, grants from government, amounting to between £300. and 
 £350. annually. This sum is independent of grants in aid of school appar¬ 
 atus and alterations in the buildings. There is likewise what is termed a 
 “second infant school” in connection with St. Paul’s, in Fletcher-road, 
 Bibbleton-lane. It was built by subscription, in 1853, and is attended 
 somewhat irregularly, the numbers fluctuating between one and two 
 hundred. The neighbouring plot of land has been secured as the site 
 for a new church, to which it is intended, eventually, to transfer the school. 
 
TOPOGRAPHY, ETC. 
 
 493 
 
 Deaf and Dumb School, St. Paul’s:—About 18 scholars are taught 
 scripture, arithmetic, writing, etc., in the class room of St. Paul’s national 
 school. The funds for the payment of the teachers, are raised by sub¬ 
 scription. 
 
 St. James’s, Knowsley-street:—About 200 pupils are instructed in the 
 branches of education usually taught in national schools. The building 
 was erected in 1848. The teachers’ salaries are paid from funds raised by 
 voluntary contributions, etc. The expence of the erection was defrayed 
 by grants from the Committee of Council of Education, the National Society, 
 and public subscriptions. 
 
 St. Thomas’s, Lancaster-road and Moor-lane, was erected in 1840, by 
 subscriptions and government grant. The teaching is of a similar character 
 to that of the other national schools. The teachers are likewise remu¬ 
 nerated from similar sources. The number of pupils is about 216 boys, 
 137 girls, and 170 infants. The infant school was erected in 1848. 
 
 St. Mary’s, St. Mary’s-street, (two buildings) erected in 1837 and in 
 1846, by subscription. The schools are attended by about 670 pupils, 
 (including girls and infants.) The teachers are paid by the local 
 national school committee, and from government grants. The subjects 
 taught are reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, history, English 
 grammar, and scripture. 
 
 All Saints’ Schools, Isabella-street, were erected by subscription and 
 government grants, in 1853. This establishment is at present used only 
 for girls and infants. The subjects taught are similar to those previously 
 mentioned. About 200 children attend the infant school, and 70 the 
 girls’ department. The teachers’ salaries are paid from children’s pence, 
 funds raised by the local school committee, and government grants. 
 
 Trinity.— There are two schools in connection with this church, one 
 in Trinity-place was erected about the year 1828; the other on Snow- 
 hill some ten or twelve years ago. 7 
 
 y The author regrets to state that the present incumbent of Trinity church, with characteristic 
 eccentricity, not only refused to communicate any information respecting these schools; but was 
 likewise so uncourteous as to prohibit others, over whom he possessed influence, from furnish¬ 
 ing the necessary data, to enable the writer to complete the educational statistics of the 
 town. The reason assigned by tbe Rev. F. Langhorne, for this singular conduct, is a fancied 
 slight on the part of the publishers, whose artist, unfortunately, having only a limited number of 
 illustrations to prepare, with commendable taste, regarded the Trinity church as a less suitable subject 
 for a pictorial sketch than some other buildings in the town and neighbourhood! These schools, 
 differ little in character from the others connected with the Established Church. It is generally 
 reported that the attendance of pupils is by no means so numerous as formerly. This is more than 
 probable, as the somewhat unamiable, and certainly unclerical, peculiarities of the reverend gentle¬ 
 man have caused a large portion of his flock to decline attendance at the church. It is much to be 
 regretted that so large and commodious a building, situated in a densely populous neighbourhood, 
 should be rendered comparatively useless, owing to unseemly squabbling between the clergyman, 
 the wardens, and other officials. 
 
494 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 ROMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS. 
 
 St. Wilfrid’s, Fox-street.—This building -was erected in 1814, by- 
 subscriptions raised principally through the exertions of the late Rev. J. 
 Dunn. The schools are supported by voluntary contributions and govern¬ 
 ment grants. The subjects taught are reading, -writing, arithmetic, his¬ 
 tory, geography, English grammar, etc. The number of scholars attend¬ 
 ing the hoys’ day schools, is about 160, night school 130 ; Sunday school, 
 200. The girds’ school is attended by about 160 day, 100 night, and 100 
 Sunday scholars. This includes the attendance at an infant school, in 
 connection with the establishment. 
 
 St. Austin’s, St. Austin’s Road.—This building was erected by sub¬ 
 scription, in 1841. There are about 480 pupils, including boys, gilds, and 
 infants. The teachers are paid from funds raised by subscription, and 
 childrens’ pence. The subjects taught include reading, writing, English 
 grammar, composition, geography, arithmetic, scripture history, English 
 history, book-keeping. The girls are taught sewing, knitting, and vocal 
 music. 
 
 St. Ignatius’s, Upper Walker-street.—Erected in 1844, by the 
 “ Socialists,” and called the “ Hall of Science.” It was converted into 
 a school in 1845. The teachers’ salaries are paid from school pence, 
 voluntary contributions, and grants from the Committee of Council on 
 Education. The number of scholars (boys and girls) on the books, is 
 about 464. The ordinary attendance averages about 320. The subjects 
 taught are reading, writing, arithmetic, geometry, algebra, mensuration, 
 English grammar, geography, elements of popular astronomy, history of 
 England, and general history, including that of the bible. The present 
 school, being found inadequate for the accommodation of so large a num¬ 
 ber of scholars, will shortly be taken down, and a larger and more suit¬ 
 able building erected, to meet the wants of the rapidly increasing 
 Catholic population. The plan has been already approved of by the 
 Committee of Council on Education, and it is expected that the new 
 building will he erected in the course of the present year. 
 
 St. Ignatius’s, St. Ignatius-square, (for girls).—Erected by subscrip¬ 
 tion, in 1840. The number of pupils in attendance is about as follows :— 
 Day scholars (including infants), 370; night scholars, 300; Sunday 
 scholars, 650. The teachers’ salaries are paid by subscriptions. The sub¬ 
 jects taught are reading, writing, grammar, arithmetic, needlework, and 
 religion. 
 
 St. Walburge’s (Talbot schools), Maudlands.-—This spacious edifice 
 was built in 1848. The funds were furnished by the munificence of the late 
 W. Talbot, esq., of Preston. The schools are at present supported by 
 
TOPOGRAPHY, ETC. 
 
 495 
 
 voluntary contributions and the pence of the children. The subjects 
 taught are religion, reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, history, 
 elements of natural philosophy, and chemistry. There are about 112 male, 
 and 120 female, day pupils; and 65 male, and 200 female, night scholars. 
 An infant school is established in connection with the Talbot schools, sup¬ 
 ported by scholars’ pence, and voluntary contributions. About 150 pupils 
 are daily in attendance. 
 
 Hope-street.— The Roman Catholics have, likewise a school in Hope- 
 street. From the inspector’s report, it appears that in April, 1856, 
 seventy-six pupils attended the public examination. The inspector (Mr. 
 Stokes) says :—“ This school deserves more suitable premises and a larger 
 teaching force. It belongs to the reformatory class.” 
 
 DISSENTERS’ SCHOOLS, etc. 
 
 Wesleyan School, Croft-street.—Erected in 1840. It is attended by 
 about 500 Sunday, and 200 day scholars. The teachers for the latter are 
 paid from the childrens’ pence, subscriptions, and government grants. 
 There is likewise a day school in connection with the Wesley chapel, 
 North-road, which is not under government inspection, at which about 
 160 children receive the ordinary rudimentary education. The teachers 
 are paid by subscriptions and the pupils’ pence. 
 
 Friends’ School, Friargate.—Erected in 1847, by subscription. About 
 fifty scholars are taught a “plain English education.” The teachers are 
 paid entirely by the parents of the pupils. 
 
 Baptists’ School, Pole-street.—In connection with St. Mark’s chapel, 
 the Baptist’s have a day school at which about fifty boys and forty girls 
 receive education of the usual character. 
 
 There are likewise Sunday schools in connection with most of the places 
 of worship. 
 
 Ragged Schools.— The experiment of ragged schools was first tried in 
 Preston, in 1848, under the auspices of the Preston Sunday School Union, 
 with the view to meet the requirements of a large class of young persons 
 too vitiated in habits, or wretched in circumstances, to mingle with 
 the ordinaiy Sunday scholars, and whose moral destitution required 
 most kind consideration and self-denying efforts in order to bring them 
 within the pale of civilised society. The experiment proved so far success¬ 
 ful, that it was determined to erect a more suitable building ; and accord¬ 
 ingly in 1853, the present neat edifice, near the site of the old com mill, 
 at the bottom of Friargate, was built from designs kindly presented by 
 Mr. J. S. Hardy, of York. It is gratifying to find that increased success 
 continues to reward the philanthropic efforts of the donors and subscribers. 
 At the present time, about 300 young persons avail themselves of the 
 
496 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Sunday and daily evening schools, and are making rapid progress in reli¬ 
 gions and secular knowledge. The large room, formerly Dr. Shepherd’s 
 library, in Shepherd-street, is now used as a “ Ragged Sunday School.” 
 
 Private Schools. —In addition to the public schools, the borough of 
 Preston possesses about thirty-six private seminaries of the usual diversi¬ 
 fied character. 
 
 PUBLIC CHARITIES, PROVIDENT SOCIETIES, etc. 
 
 The grammar school and blue coat schools have been previously described . 2 
 Mr, Baines gives the following particulars respecting other charitable 
 bequests, on the authority of the Parliamentary Commissioners’ report: — a 
 
 Bread Money. —Up to the year 1812, inclusive, £1. 10s. was paid out of the school 
 accounts, and was distributed in bread. After that time, the practice was discontinued; 
 but the vicar determined, in 1828, to revive the charity. In 1710 Mrs. Smith left the 
 interest of £10. for bread. 
 
 Charities for the Use of the Poor. —Richard Houghton, in 1613, left in rent £2. 10s. 
 per annum; Cosney, in 1678, £5. per annum interest; Crook, in 1688, £4. per annum 
 rent; Hodgkinson, in 1697, £2. 10s. per annum interest; Dawson, in 1698, £5 per 
 annum interest; William Rishton, in 1729, £5. per annum interest; Parker or Chorlev, 
 in 1747, £5. per annum interest. Total per annum £29. 
 
 George Rogerson's Charity. —In 1619, a rent charge of £13., of which £9. was 
 directed to be given to the mayor to assist poor apprentices, and the residue to be laid 
 out in meat and drink for poor prisoners in Lancaster castle. 
 
 Banister’s Charity. —In 1642, a rent of £16., of which £10. is paid to the vicar, and 
 the remaining £6. is applied, together with the produce of Rogerson’s charity, in bind¬ 
 ing out apprentices. These funds belong to the corporation. 
 
 Thomas Houghton's Charity —In 1649, land for the poor of Preston and Grimsargh, 
 as well as other places. The annual rent is £64., which is divided into four equal parts, 
 of which Preston and Grimsargh receive one. This is subdivided, and two-thirds given 
 to Preston, and one-third to Grimsargh. 
 
 I Yinckley's Charity.- —In 1710, the interest of £50. for binding poor apprentices. 
 This and Ilodgkinson’s charity, in 1697, belong to the corporation, and there is an 
 accumulation of interest amounting to £34. 9s. 4d. 
 
 Addison’s Charity. —In 1729, a rent charge of £5. to 20 poor housekeepers. 
 
 Henry and Eleanor Rishton's Charity. —In 1738, in trust for the poor, £300. Part 
 of the income is applied annually in binding out apprentices, and the remainder is given 
 to poor persons, in sums of 2s. 6d. each. 
 
 Rigby's Charity. —In 1741, the interest of £100 to six poor widows, £5. 
 
 Donors Unknown. —-Two benefactions, amounting to £70, appear upon paper, written 
 between 1750 and 1760, and are secured upon a close of land in Kirkham, left at the 
 yearly rent of £7. Two-sevenths of the rent are paid to St. Michael’s parish. 
 
 Ann Winckley’s Charity. —In 1779, the interest of £100. to poor widows. Annual 
 produce £5. 2s. 4d. 
 
 Lost Charities. —Eight benefactions, from the year 1605 to 1631, amounting to 
 £134. Wliittingham’s in 1690, the interest of £68. Ingham’s and Ashton’s, in 1609 
 and 1709, of £7. 4s. per annum, probably never received. 6 
 
 Sudell’s Charity. —£5. 10s. per annum, which has not been paid these 60 years.c 
 
 Worthington's Almshouses. —Built in 1663, were taken down about thirty years ago, 
 and the materials sold for £12. 12s.; which, with other money, was applied to building 
 one almshouse on waste land. 
 
 z See page 487. 
 
 a Report XI, pages 321 and 352. 
 
 b See chap. 6, page 276. 
 
 c “ Mr. Wm. Sudell, 31. per annum; Mr. James Sudeil, of Preston, Woollen Draper, in 1689, 
 for Bibles and Testaments, U. per annum, and 30s. to the Poor.”— Notitia Cestriensu. 
 
TOPOGRAPHY, ETC. 
 
 497 
 
 Corporation Almshouses .—In 1790, six almshouses were built on waste land, and are 
 occupied, rent free, by persons appointed by the corporation. There are also three others 
 at the top of the Clerk-yard, occupied by three persons put in by the mayor. d 
 
 The jSTotitia Cestriensis records others not mentioned above, viz: Sir 
 Thomas Hesketh, in 1G05, and Seth Bushell, Draper, in 1623, £20. 
 each; e Peter Burscough, of Walton, and William Martin, of Preston, in 
 1631, £40. each; J. Bogertson, Mrs. Sherburn, in 1625, and James 
 Stopford, £10. each ; W. Bogertson, £4.; and John Barrington, of Elston, 
 in 1670, 40s. a year. Several poor children have been bound apprentices 
 from the funds bequeathed for this purpose. A committee of the corpo¬ 
 rate body, at the present time, receives applications, and occasionally grants 
 a sum of £5. each, towards the fees required on apprenticing approved can¬ 
 didates. There are several charitable societies in the borough which distri¬ 
 bute relief to the sick and indigent poor. The ladies’ charity furnishes 
 medical attendance and necessaries to poor married women of good character, 
 during their confinement owing to childbirth. The Samaritan society 
 relieves the sick poor generally. From the last annual report it appears 
 that the committee during the past year “paid 2,157 visits, and afforded 
 relief in every instance.” Upwards of £110. were thus expended. 
 
 The Preston District Provident Society was established for the 
 “encouragement of industry, frugality, and forethought, and the suppres¬ 
 sion of mendicity and imposture.” The amount deposited in small sums 
 with the visitors of this society, in 1855, was £484. 19s. 4d.; and in 
 1856, £611. The depositors receive a premium for their forethougli, in 
 tho form of very high interest. The money thus granted during the past 
 year amounted to £16. Is. 9dJ. 
 
 Friendly Societies. —There are a large number of sick clubs in Preston, 
 instituted by the working classes for the purpose of securing independent 
 provision during sickness and at death. Some of the “burial clubs,” are 
 very extensive. One reports its number of members as upwards of 23,000, 
 two others nearly 8000 each, and in a fourth 4500. There are likewise 
 three or four smaller clubs of this character, whose aggregate numbers 
 exceed 4,000. The most extensive affiliated friendly society in the world 
 is the Manchester Unity of Odd-Fellows. Its branches extend to nearly 
 ever}' portion of the British dominions. It numbers at the present time 
 upwards of 262,000 members, who pay a periodical contribution for relief 
 during sickness and a small insurance at death. The Preston district 
 branch consists of twenty lodges, numbering upwards of 2,600 members. 
 The “Ancient Order of Odd-Fellows” have likewise several lodges in tho 
 town. The Preston district of the “ Independent Order of Mechanics” 
 
 d These have been since taken down. 
 
 c See page 4C2. 
 
498 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 numbers about twenty-five lodges, and nearly 1000 members, a large pro¬ 
 portion of which reside within the borough. The “Druids ” have about 
 900 members. The “Foresters” have ten courts, and about 515 members. 
 There are two lodges of “ Rechabites,” and four of the “ Sons of Tem¬ 
 perance,” numbering together about 500 subscribers. In addition to these 
 are many isolated sick clubs, some of which are held in connection with the 
 Sunday schools. The “Holy Guild of St. Wilfrid,” which meets at the 
 Fox-street school room, is instituted for similar objects. It numbers upwards 
 of 200 subscribers. There are likewise branch agencies to some of the 
 “ office friendly societies,” recently established on the plan of insurance 
 companies. Several of the affiliated societies have additional funds for 
 charitable purposes. One of the most important is a benevolent fund for 
 the relief of widows and orphans. The Manchester Unity branch expends 
 in Preston in this charitable object, nearly £150. annually. 
 
 Building Clubs, etc. —There are at present ten building clubs in 
 Preston, viz :—the “ Odd Fellows,” “ Second Improved,” “ Third Im¬ 
 proved,” “ Saving Fund,” “Union,” “Permanent,” “ Preston and North 
 Lancashire,” “ Prince of Wales,” “Prince Albert,” and the “Victoria.” 
 Belonging to these there are about 1570 members, holding about 2680 
 shares, of £120. each. There is one “Freehold Land Society,” with 
 about 196 members, holding 481 shares. This society purchased and laid 
 out the “Freehold Park,” inFulwood; and has since procured another 
 estate in Ribbleton-lane. It was originally established to create voters 
 for the northern division of the county. 
 
 LAW. 
 
 County Offices. —Although Lancaster is the county town, and still 
 shares with Liverpool the honour of holding the assizes, yet, all the public 
 offices connected with the administration of law in the county and duchy 
 are situated at Preston. This has doubtless resulted from its central posi¬ 
 tion. The shire of Lancaster, being a county palatine, possesses peculiar 
 legal privileges and immunities. The Chancery court exercises powers 
 within the county, similar in character to those of the high court. Its 
 chief officer is entitled the Chancellor of the Duchy, who is generally a 
 nobleman or a distinguished commoner ; always connected with the govern¬ 
 ment, and not unfrcquently a member of the cabinet. The vice-chancellor 
 presides at the sittings of the courts, which are held periodically at Preston, 
 Liverpool, and Manchester. The other officers are a principal registrar, 
 and several district registrars, and cursitors. The present officers are as 
 follows:—Chancellor of the duchy, the Bight Hon. M. Talbot Baines, 
 M.P.; vice-chancellor, Mr. W. M. James, Q. C.; principal registrar, Mi - . 
 Peter Catterall, ; district registrar, Mr. Joseph Catterall, Camden-place; 
 
TOPOGEAPHY, ETC. 
 
 499 
 
 acting cursitor, Mr. J. B. Dickson, AYinckley-street. Tlie keeper of the seal 
 for the duchy is Mr. It. AY. Hopkins, AYinckley-square; the prothonotary 
 for the court of common pleas of the county palatine, is the Hon. Charles 
 Beaumont Phipps ; and the deputy prothonotary, Mr. Edmund E. Harris, 
 Chapel-street; clerk to the crown, Mr. Thomas Starkie Skuttleworth, 
 Fishergate; clerk of the peace, Eobert Jno. Harper, esq.; deputy clerks 
 of the peace, Messrs. Gorsts and Birchall, Chapel-street. The present 
 sheriff of the county is Charles Towncley, esq., of Towneley; and the 
 deputy, or under sheriff, Mr. Thomas Birchall, Chapel-street. 
 
 The County Magisteates’ Couet is held every Saturday, at the Town 
 Hall, Preston. Clerks, Messrs. Pilkington and AYalker, Chapel-walks. 
 The comity magistrates likewise meet in annual session, at the Court 
 House, Preston; where the general business of the county is transacted. 
 Chairman, Mr. T. B. Addison ; treasurer, Mr. Christopher Moore AVilson. 
 
 The Quaetee Sessions for the hundreds of Amounderness, Leyland, 
 and Blackburn, arc held at the Court House, Preston. There are, in addi¬ 
 tion, four intermediate sessions annually, for the greater dispatch of 
 business. A second court is likewise formed, with a similar object. Mr. 
 T. B. Addison is chairman of the principal court. 
 
 The County Couet, for the recovery of debts under £50., is held every 
 fortnight, at the Court House. Judge, Mr. John Addison. Ecgistrar, 
 Mr. M. Myres, AVinckley-street. Mr. Myres is likewise one of the 
 coroners for the county, and, by arrangement, officiates in the Preston 
 district. 
 
 The AYapentake Couet, of the hundred of Amounderness, has juris¬ 
 diction in personal actions where the debt or damages do not amount 
 to forty shillings. Its officers are a steward, who is appointed by the 
 crown in right of the duchy of Lancaster; a deputy steward, who is 
 appointed by the steward; and bailiffs for the execution of processes. 
 The present steward is the duke of Hamilton; the deputy steward Mr. 
 Edmund Eobert Hands, Chapel-street. The court is holden every three 
 weeks. 
 
 TnE Boeough Couet meets every third Friday, at the Town Hall. 
 Its jurisdiction is in personal actions to the amount of £20. Mr. T. B. 
 Addison is judge or assessor; and Mr. Eobert Ascroft, Cannon-street, regis¬ 
 trar. Mr. Ascroft is likewise town clerk and clerk to the local board of 
 health. Mr. Thomas Dodd, Lune-street, is clerk to the borough magistrates. 
 They sit at the Town-hall, daily, for the purpose of adjudicating in 
 criminal matters. 
 
 2 i 2 
 
500 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 PART III—THE ENYIRONS. 
 
 CHAPTER I.—THE TALLEY OF THE RIBBLE. 
 
 A RAMBLE PROM LYTHAM TO RIBCHESTER. 
 
 Situation of Preston—The Valley of the Ribble—The Coast of Lancashire—The Horse 
 Bank—Lytham, Southport, etc.—St. Cuthbert—Lytham dock—Sub-marine Forest— 
 The “Neb of the Naze”—Drainage of Martin-mere—The Douglas—Freckleton- 
 pool—Portus Setantiorum of Ptolemy—Improvements in the Navigation—Lea, 
 Ashton, Penwortham, Tulketh, etc.—Roman outposts—Singular tradition—The 
 Past and the Present—Preston—The River, Bridges, etc.—Avenham walk—French- 
 wood—Walton—Historical Revery—Events which have transpired near the Pass of 
 the Ribble—Cuerdale, Hoghton Tower, Red Scar—Ribbleton-moor—Pope-lane— 
 Elston and Alston—-Remains of the great Forest of Oaks—Hothersall, Osbaldestone, 
 Balderstone, etc.—Historical Events—Ribchester and Salesbury—The Roman road 
 over Longridge Fell—The Country between the Ribble and the Mersey—View from 
 Tootal Height—Concluding Reflections. 
 
 Preston is situated near the junction of wliat may be termed the Ribble 
 proper, or the fresh water stream, and its tidal estuary. The scenery by 
 which it is environed, consequently presents much diversity of character, 
 and furnishes within itself, ample store of the variety necessary to a 
 continued enjoyment of even the most charming of individual perfections, 
 natural or artificial. Notwithstanding its present manufacturing impor¬ 
 tance, and the consequent aggregation of workshops and lean unsentimen¬ 
 tal looking factory chimneys, yet, thanks to its elevated site, southern 
 aspect, and the mild breezes prevalent from the west, “ Proud Preston ” 
 still smiles in graceful beauty from the sunny bank, beneath which the 
 ever meandering Ribble flows with seeming reluctance towards its ocean 
 goal. Preston does not appear to have yet satisfactorily solved the pro¬ 
 blem, whether dame Nature intended it for a seaport or an inland town. 
 Its western extremity is washed by the tidal wave; its eastern limbs 
 repose amongst green and flowery uplands. Like a favoured “ child of 
 Beauty,” with its right hand it gathereth the rose-lipp'd “ shells of ocean,” 
 while its left clutches the pale primrose on the mossy bank, or the wild 
 blue hyacinth in the shadowy woodland dell. The joyous songs of feath¬ 
 ered warblers in the rural grove are mocked by the sea-fowl’s mournful 
 cry. A neutral ground; where mighty manly Ocean, having spent his 
 fury, and satiated his ambition, rolleth gently to the embrace of the fair 
 Earth, and ratifies their union by gangling kisses on her peaceful shore. 
 
A RA3IBLE FROM LYTHAM TO RIBCHESTER. 
 
 501 
 
 Few manufacturing towns are so highly favoured by Nature. The 
 pure mountain air and the strong full sea breeze are each within a few 
 minutes’ railway ride from the workshop and the counting-house; equally 
 inviting the toil worn operative and the mentally fagged capitalist to par¬ 
 take of their invigorating influence. 
 
 The valley of the Itibble is justly celebrated for the rich luxuriance 
 of its general scenery. It has furnished a theme for both poets and prose 
 writers, of more than one age. Drayton, the metrical topographer, makes 
 the Itibble describe its own course, from the Yorkshire hills to the sea, 
 in the following quaint terms :— 
 
 “ From Penigent's proud foot as from my source I slide, 
 
 That mountain, my proud sire, in height of all his pride, 
 
 Takes pleasure in my course as in his first-born flood. 
 
 And Ingleborrough too, of that Olympian brood. 
 
 With Pendle, of the north the highest hills that bo. 
 
 Do wistly me behold, and are beheld of me. 
 
 These mountains make me proud, to gaze on me that stand, 
 
 So Longridge, once arrived on the Lancastrian strand, 
 
 Salutes me, and with smiles me to his soil invites. 
 
 So have I many a Hood that forward me excites. 
 
 As Hodder that from Home attends me from my spring, 
 
 Then Calder, coming down from Blackstonedge doth bring 
 Me easily on my way to Preston, the greatest town 
 Wherewith my banks are blest, where, at my going down, 
 
 Clear Danoen on along me to the sea doth drive. 
 
 And in my spacious fall no sooner I arrive, 
 
 But Savock to the north from Longridge making way 
 To this my greatness adds, when in my ample bay, 
 
 Swart Lulas coming in from Wigan, with her aids, 
 
 Short Taud and Lartow small, two little country maids. 
 
 In these low watery lands and moory mosses bred, 
 
 Do see me safely laid in mighty Neptune’s bed, 
 
 And cutting in my course, even through the heart 
 Of this renowned shire, so equally it part. 
 
 As nature should have said, lo! thus I meant to do. 
 
 This flood divides this shire, thus equally in two.” 
 
 Camden describes the “ River Ribell ” as follows :— 
 
 “ Running in a swift stream from Yorkshire Hills, it passes to the Southward by 3 
 great mountains. Near its source is Ingleborough hill, which to great admiration, shoot3 
 out in a vast ridge, rising as it were gradually to the Westward, and towards the end 
 mounts up as if another hill were rais’d upon the back of it. Penegent, so called perhaps 
 from its white and snowy head, since Pengwin signifies so in the British, is of a great 
 bulk, but not so high as the other : and Pendlehill, not far from thence, rises to a great 
 height, and on the top produces a peculiar Plant call’d Cloudesbury, as if it were tho 
 Offspring of the clouds.” 
 
 Its historical associations, however, rival in interest the charms of its 
 picturesque aspect. Tho slumbering echoes of its secluded glens have 
 been often startled into life by the rude clangour of fierce warriors in deadly 
 contention; and more gently awakened by shouts of joyous revelry, attend¬ 
 ant upon the peaceful progression of a potent nobility, and a loyal populace, 
 zealous in honour of a princely guest. The aboriginal Briton roamed in 
 
502 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 freedom amongst its luxuriant primaeval woods. The Boman, Saxon, 
 Danish, and Norman—(conquerors by courtesy, though pirates or free¬ 
 booters, none the less in fact,) alternately dominated over the land; and 
 each has left some well defined footprints behind, to testify to the truth of 
 the “ chronicles of old.” The pedestrian meets with a new scene of 
 historic interest or natural beauty, at almost every bend of the river’s 
 sinuous course. 
 
 The coast of Lancashire in general is low and flat, and presents but 
 little variety to the eye of the mariner or tourist. This is especially the 
 case near the mouth of the Babble. The great breadth of the estuary, 3 
 and its bell shaped form, prevent the river current and the tidal action 
 from scouring out a deep single channel, like that of the Wyre. A large 
 portion of this space is occupied by the famous “ Horse Bank,” which, 
 lying between the north and south channels, is suggestive, at low water, 
 of a huge sea monster, slumbering till the returning wave shall arouse him to 
 his duty, as guardian of the river’s entrance. The view from this bank 
 presents a kind of compound of Dutch and desert scenery. The broad 
 expanse of firm hard sand, extends in some directions beyond the range of 
 vision. Its dingy yellow monotony is relieved only by indistinct groups, 
 clustered here and there between the middle ground and extreme dis¬ 
 tance, comprising some three or four hundreds of human beings, busily 
 occupied in shrimping, or the gathering of cockles ; the sole produce of this 
 large tract of what may be, not inaptly, termed amphibious territory. b On 
 the north horizon, the pretty village of Lytham rises gently from the 
 water’s edge. The windmill, the elegant spire of St. John’s church, and 
 the bulkier mass of the tower of the elder ecclesiastical structure, on the 
 site of St. Cuthburt’s cell, cutting against the sky, agreeably break the 
 long dreary line of sand and sea. These flat village effects, combined 
 with the wooded mass near Lytham Hall, and the few low sand hills 
 stretching towards the modern lighthouse on the extreme western point, 
 beneath the soft light of the moon and a slightly hazy atmosphere, 
 would remind an artistic spectator of a picture by Yanderneer, but for the 
 utterly sterile character of the immediate foreground. The southern pros¬ 
 pect, including glimpses of Southport, Churchtown, Crossens, and the 
 North-meols generally, presents a somewhat similar aspect. Almost every 
 considerable object appears to have been subjected to a strange kind of 
 horizontal elongation. Both sea and land seem as if, disliking immediate 
 
 a The distance from Lytham point to Southport, is about seven or eight miles, 
 b There is a tradition that such was not always the case. Dodsworth indeed asserts that, in the 
 reign of James I., the Horse Bank afforded pasturage for cattle. The sea has evidently made 
 considerable encroachment upon the Lancashire coast, even within comparatively modern time. 
 
A RAMBLE FROM LYTHAM TO RIBCHESTER. 
 
 503 
 
 contiguity to human vision, they felt nervously anxious to resolve them¬ 
 selves immediately into middle ground or extreme distance. True, the 
 few far-otf buildings, trees, vessels and human figures, when under tho 
 influence of mirage, are occasionally converted into spectre-like perpen¬ 
 dicular forms of fantastic beauty, which slightly diversify the scene. 
 When, however, the temper of old Boreas has been seriously ruffled in the 
 west, and he rides in sullen anger upon the high tidal “ springs,” the 
 Horse Bank receives the first brunt of his fury, and the calm expanse of 
 sand and shallow water is converted into a scene of sublime desolation. 
 Then infuriated Ocean leaps and foams, and chafes in reckless ire, 
 “ Like a blind lion wasting all its might! ” 
 
 His force is not, however, always idly spent in the neighbourhood of this 
 terrible shoal. Too oft the long soughing howl of the dying hut still 
 maddened blast, resembles the wild glee of infernal gnomes rejoicing a^ 
 the addition of another “tall ship” to the many which already “lie 
 buried” in the bosom of the Lancashire “Goodwins.” The native seamen 
 occasionally relate strange traditional tales of gallant vessels, laden with 
 fabulous amounts of wealth, said to have been swallowed by this hungry 
 sand bank, in the “ olden time; ” and they sometimes even speculate upon 
 the probability of a portion of the treasure being recovered ! Though the 
 stranded hull and broken mast of a vessel or two may yet be sometimes 
 seen near its western margin, the improvements of the Itibble Navigation 
 Company, including the erection of the lighthouse and the buoying of the 
 channel, have now robbed the once dreaded Horse Bank of nine tenths of 
 its terror. 
 
 Situated a little within the mouth of the Lytham estuary, is, to some 
 extent, protected against the north western winds. During the past few 
 years, many elegant villas and handsome shops have been erected. A kind 
 of orderly, quiet gentility, is almost universally regarded as charastcristic 
 of the village and its inhabitants. The general aspect of the place, its 
 cleanliness and neatness, tend to confirm this impression. It is a favourite 
 resort of that class of invalids who find the ruder sea breeze at Blackpool 
 too strong for impaired constitutions. From its smooth, pleasant, and 
 extensive beach, the prospect, though level and monotonous in the imme¬ 
 diate vicinity, is, in fine weather, agreeably diversified in the extreme 
 distance. On the horizon, to the south west, the mountains of North 
 Wales are often distinctly visible, reposing in quiet majesty against the 
 calm evening sky. Their apparent contiguity is, however, according to 
 the faith of the “ weather-wise” of the locality, much more agreeable to 
 the eye, than gratifying to the judgment. The habitual visitors, as well 
 as the native fishermen, prognosticate, from tho atmospheric condition 
 
504 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 necessary to the realisation of this beautiful accessory to the landscape, 
 that rough weather will shortly intrude its unwelcome presence. The 
 larger buildings of the modem, fashionable bathing place, Southport, and 
 the older spire of the parish church of l\orth Jleols, at Churchtown, rise 
 above the mass of level waste, and slightly vary the aspect of the long 
 flat line of coast on the southern bank. As the eye glances towards the 
 east, the land gradually presents more picturesque characteristics, although 
 the immediate vicinity of the river is still low and comparatively uninter¬ 
 esting. The high lands in the neighbourhood of Latham and Standish, 
 are succeeded by the bolder outline of Itivington pike, whose modern 
 stone tower is suggestive of some more ancient military fortress, overlooking 
 and threatening the whole low country bordering on the western coast of 
 Lancashire. Further eastward, the broad form of Winter hill contrasts 
 agreeably with the conical apex of the “ pike.” Thin clouds of dark 
 vapour, formed by the smoke of Preston, floating lazily towards the upper 
 atmosphere, indicate the locality of the town. The wooded heights of 
 Hoghton and Billinge close in the prospect. The village of Lytham, its 
 pleasant promenade, and its picturesque old windmill, with black sails and 
 crown, and whitewashed walls, occupy the foreground, and shut out much 
 further mew to the left. 
 
 The distant accessories to the landscape are, however, only distinctly 
 visible during fine weather. The slightest haziness in the atmosphere is 
 sufficient to extinguish the greater portion. In the clear bright days of 
 summer and autumn, however, the prospect is ever agreeably diversified 
 by numerous groups of health and pleasure seekers scattered over the 
 beach. Pony chaises and saddled donkeys, bearing fair visitors and 
 merry laughing children, give life and human sentiment to the scene; 
 doubtless, much to the chagrin of the pious but ungallant St. Cuthbert, 
 whose intense and avowed horror of the “ weaker vessel” jostles rather 
 unnaturally against some of the precepts of his divine master. c 
 
 About a mile above the milage, the pedestrian meets with Lytham dock, 
 or Lytham pool. Some small vessels for the fishing or coasting trade are 
 occasionally built here. The two insignificant creeks, however, afford but 
 
 c In the reign of Richard I. lands in Lytham -were presented to the prior and convent of Durham, 
 for the foundation of a cell of the Benedictine order, dedicated to St. Mary and St. Cuthbert. St. 
 Cuthbert during his lifetime, -would not permit a cow to approach his sacred residence at Lindis- 
 farne. He excused himself for this strange freak, by averring that, “ Where there is a cow there 
 must be a woman, and where there is a woman there must be mischief," The crabbed old saint carried 
 this unamiable peculiarity with him to the grave. When Edward III. and his queen Philippa 
 rested for a night at the priory at Durham, the saint, say the monks, kicked his heels against his 
 coffin with such violence, that the expulsion of the queen, with but a portion of her clothing, was 
 necessary to propitiate his ire. Nay, so inveterate was his dislike to “lovely woman,” that he 
 shook and cracked the walls of a new chapel which one of his successors, Bishop Pudsey, proposed to 
 dedicate to the Virgin Mary ! 
 
A RAMBLE FROM LYTHAM TO EIBCHESTER. 
 
 505 
 
 little room or convenience for shipping. It was low water at the time of 
 our last visit, when about nine or ten sailing vessels and two steamers 
 were laying like hogs in the mud, the ebb of the tide leaving no more 
 water than the scanty supply furnished by a small rippling brook or two. 
 Vessels, however, frequently discharge the whole, or a portion of then- 
 cargoes here, into lighters, when the neap tides prevent their getting up 
 to Preston. 
 
 About a mile further, the curious observer will distinguish near the 
 tidal line, distinct remains of the celebrated sub-marine forest, which is 
 believed to extend from near the Welsh coast to Morecambe. Where the 
 action of the waves has displaced a portion of the firm “ sea sludge” near 
 the river’s bank, a thin layer of soft spongy peat is exposed, amongst 
 which fragments of trees lie scattered in curious disorder. Some huge 
 knarled roots appear to occupy still the spot on which they grew; large 
 trunks lay prostrate by their sides, while others crop out of the earth in 
 an oblique direction. Many of these blackened trunks have been lifted 
 from the bed of the river, by the dredging operations of the Bibble navi¬ 
 gation company, and are placed, as posts, upon the sea walls, to indicate 
 the depth of the tidal water, and to mark out the channel. 
 
 This submarine forest has long attracted the attention of the learned, as 
 well as of the fisherman and rural population along the coast. Various 
 conjectures have been hazarded, as to when and how it became submerged ; 
 and there are several traditions still faintly heard in the neighbourhood 
 respecting it. In the Bodlean library, Oxford, is preserved a manuscript 
 poem entitled, “Iter Lancastrense,” written in the year 1636, by the 
 Eev. Bichard Jones, B.D. This curious work, which has been lately 
 published by the “ Chetham Society,” Manchester, with annotations by 
 the Bev. Thomas Corser, M.A., contains the following description of the 
 remains of this forest as they appeared upwards of two centuries ago :— 
 
 “ But greater wonder calls me hence : ye deepe 
 Lowe spongie mosses yet remembrance keepe 
 Of Noahs Hood: on numbers inhnite 
 Of hrre trees swaines doe in their cesses light ; d 
 And in summe places, when ye sea doth bate 
 Downe from ye shoare, tis wonder to relate 
 How many thowsands of theis trees now stand 
 Black broken on their rootes, which once dry land 
 Did cover, whence turfs Neptune yeelds to showe 
 He did not allways to theis borders howe.” 
 
 Ormerod, the historian, e says that the coast of Cheshire, though now 
 bare of trees, was once so well timbered, as to give rise to the saying that 
 
 d “ Cesses,” probably excavations filled with water.— Corser. 
 e History of Cheshire, vol. 2, p. 262. 
 
506 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 a “ man might have gone from tree top to tree top from the Meols-stocks f 
 to Birkenhead/’ and to another proverb to the same purport which 
 says:— 
 
 “ Prom Blacon Point to Hilbree 
 A squirrel might leap from tree to tree.” 
 
 A considerable portion of the walk further inland towards “Naze 
 Point” is upon “ cops” or embankments, erected for the purpose of pro¬ 
 tecting the reclaimed Marsh lands from the action of floods and spring- 
 tides. Prom the extreme point of the projecting headland, or the “ Neb 
 of the Naze,” an extremely beautiful and extensive prospect is obtained. 
 Westward, the green level country, surrounding the broad estuary, owing 
 to the elevation of the point of view, is seen for a considerable distance, 
 gradually resolving itself into yellowish sterile sand-banks, which, in turn, 
 unite gently with the leaden hues of the tidal wave, creeping stealthily 
 from the deep azure of the extreme horizon. 
 
 As the eye passes southward and towards the east, the hills which separate 
 the valleys of the Nibble and the Mersey stand forth in bold relief: Riving- 
 ton, Winter hill, the fells about Darwen, Hoghton, Billinge; and, somewhat 
 obscured by the smoke hovering about Preston, the massive form of old 
 Pendle closes in the scene. The prospect eastward is further diversified 
 on the left by the height of Parlick, and Bleasdale, and Longridge fells. 
 Preckleton pool, the broad extent of flat marsh land and sludgey debris, 
 through which passes the Nibble like a subjugated hero, obedient from 
 necessity and not from will to the dictum of his captors, furnish the fore¬ 
 ground. The improvements in the navigation are here very apparent. 
 Large tracts of land are rapidly being reclaimed. The straight parallel 
 lines of the walls may detract somewhat from the river’s beauty at this spot; 
 but they, in compensation, have contributed much towards the increased 
 capabilities of the stream for commercial purposes. The middle distance 
 is agreeably diversified by windmills, cottages, clusters of trees, etc., 
 sprinkled upon the higher table land which encloses the low level valley. 
 Preston is seen to advantage from this spot. Its numerous tall chimneys 
 uprear their heads in the midst of a lovely pastoral landscape ; which, at 
 this distance, receives but slight blemish from the heavy cloud of coal 
 smoke that crawls leisurely through the morning mist into the clearer 
 upper atmosphere. Beautiful nature and human enterprise, ingenuity, 
 and industry, are here presented in harmonious conjunction. Tradition 
 and historical association likewise contribute to the interest of the scene. 
 
 f The term “ Meol,” according to Owen’s Welsh Dictionary, means “aheap or pile, a conical 
 hill, its top smooth, or void of rocks and woods.” The “ star-hills ” or “ sand-hills ” would there¬ 
 fore appear to have given the appellation of “ North-Meols ” to the district in the neighbourhood 
 of Churchtown and Southport. 
 
A RAMBLE FROM LYTHAM TO RIBCHESTER. 
 
 507 
 
 A tall chimney, faintly visible against the sky, on the south west horizon, 
 marks the spot where modern mechanical skill e has been brought to 
 bear, with so much effect, as to convert the greater portion of a shallow 
 inland lake and immense tracts of surrounding swamp and moss, into some 
 of the best land in the country for agricultural purposes. Martin mere 
 is now nearly extinct. Yet it is supposed that a district in western 
 Lancashire derived its old name “Linius, ” from the circumstance that it 
 contained within its boundaries a large lake, of which Martin mere is the 
 remnant. The river Douglas, whose present embouchure is opposite the 
 blaze, may have formerly flowed through this lake. * 1 ' The hanks of this 
 river have witnessed some struggles which have “shook the nations,” 
 both in ancient and more modern times,—from the days of the semi-fabulous 
 King Arthur, and his stalwart knights, to the wars of the Commonwealth, 
 when the chivalrous and gallant Tildesley closed his life of fidelity to the 
 Stuarts, at Wigan-lane. “ Freckleton Pool, ” at the spectator’s feet, formed 
 by the junction of the tiny river Dow with the estuaiy of the Kibble, 
 was long regarded by the learned as the site of the celebrated “ Portus 
 Setantiorum” of Ptolemy. The Mersey, the Lune, the Kent, and the 
 AYyre have successively been placed in competition with the Kibble for this 
 distinction, and the superior claims of the last mentioned appear to be 
 pretty generally acknowledged by modern antiquaries. Nevertheless, as Dr. 
 Whitaker confesses, it is more than probable that Roman vessels have floated 
 upon the broad expanse of the “Belisama Estuarium ”' and discharged 
 their cargoes at Freckleton pool; although it may not have been the chief 
 port of the Setantii mentioned by the learned Egyptian. j This is rendered 
 probable by its proximity ,to the Roman station at Kirkham, the site of 
 which is indicated by the windmill erected on the hill, at the eastern 
 entrance to the town. 
 
 The “pool” at Freckleton, though available only for the navigation of 
 small vessels, except during the higher springs, is well sheltered by the 
 promontory of the “Naze” from the westerly winds. There being no 
 dock, however, the various craft are stranded in the mud on the receding 
 of each tide. This circumstance, though it may please the eye of an 
 artist owing to the diversity of picturesque pose, incident to vessels in such 
 a predicament, is by no means gratifying to the merchant or shipowner, 
 whose property and business are seriously affected thereby. 
 
 g The chimney is connected with the steam pumping machinery erected by Sir Thomas 
 Hesketh, bart. 
 
 h Camden, writing in the reign of Elizabeth, says, “ near the mouth of the Douglas, is Merton, a 
 large broad lake that empties itself into this river,” etc. 
 
 i Many of the elder antiquarian topographers indentified the Belisama of Ptolemy with the Kibble. 
 See chapter 1, page 13. 
 
 j Ptolemy, the ancient geographer, was a native of Egypt. 
 
508 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 The high ground bordering the valley sweeps from the “ Naze,” in a 
 large curve, by Freckle ton and Clifton, to Lea. Considerable tracts of 
 enclosed and marsh land, on the lower “flats,” are now covered with 
 verdure, furnishing rich pasturage for large herds of cattle. The valley 
 has, however, yet lost hut little of its monotonous level form. 
 
 Lea Hall, the scene of the fight between Langton, lord of Newton in 
 Mackerfield, and Mr. Hoghton, the ancestor of the present baronet, stands 
 upon the high bank to the left. Though now converted into a humble 
 homestead for the farmer, it will, nevertheless, arrest for a moment the 
 traveller’s attention, and furnish matter for speculation upon the relative 
 degree of security to person and property enjoyed by ourselves in “these 
 degenerate days,” and our worthy progenitors in the “good old times.” 
 
 As we approach Ashton the valley begins to narrow. Suburban villas 
 crown the heights, and the bustle and stir of the town and port arrest the 
 attention. From the promenade on the large embankment, formed by the 
 Navigation Company near the site of the old “chain caul,” the appearance 
 of Preston is very imposing, and presents to the eye of the spectator many 
 indications of superior affluence, and commercial and manufacturing enter¬ 
 prise. The high lands at Ashton, belonging to Mr. Pedder and Mr. Bray, 
 are laid out for the erection of villa residences, and several structures have 
 been lately built thereupon. The general site is one of the very finest in the 
 immediate vicinity of Preston. An elegant villa, “Whinfield,” recently 
 built by Mr. Henry Newsham Pedder, a little nearer the hank of the river 
 than his brother’s mansion, Ashton-park, is most delightfully situated. 
 
 From the projecting headland, to the south-west of Tulketh Hall, a fine 
 prospect of the estuary is obtained. The river, although enclosed by walls 
 erected to improve the navigation, here pursues its serpentine course with 
 comparative freedom. The dark form of the “Naze,” projects boldly into 
 the wateiy plain, and shuts out Lytham from the view. The marshes 
 and reclaimed lands of Hutton, Howick, and Longton, stretch away to the 
 left, while the broad expanse of the Irish sea glitters in the sunlight on 
 the extreme horizon. 
 
 We are standing upon the site of what was probably one of the Eoman 
 speculce referred to in chapter 1 . k On the opposite promontory of Penwor- 
 tham, its companion outpost raises its bold conical head towards the 
 sky, as though conscious of its historic dignity, and the traditionary mystery 
 which yet lingers around it. Gossip lore still maintains that a subterranean 
 passage, a kind of ancient “ Thames tunnel,” once united the priory of 
 Penwortham with the temporary monastery at Tulketh! A germ of 
 
 k The recent levelling of the ground has filled up the ditch and reduced the height of the mound 
 nearly ten feet. 
 
A RAMBLE FROM LYTHAM TO RIBCHESTER. 
 
 509 
 
 truth is ever enshrined in any long cherished tradition, however distorted 
 or absurd may be its modern aspect. This notion of a secret passage, in 
 process of time, may have been engrafted upon the mystery which would 
 originally envelope the rude system of telegraphic communication employed 
 by the Roman or Saxon warriors when the promontories were used as out¬ 
 posts or specula. Their successors, the monks of Evesham, might from 
 policy countenance the tradition, especially in troubled times, on account 
 of the impression of power or security which such a belief would naturally 
 engender amongst the more ignorant of the population. 
 
 The dense foliage crowning the heights of Penwortliam, conceals from 
 view the mansion built upon the site of the ancient priory; but the grey 
 old tower of the church gently raises its venerable form amidst the rich 
 masses of shadowy verdure, and meekly reflects upon the cold world 
 around, a portion of the golden light breathed upon it, as if in spiritual 
 sympathy, by the declining Day. The immediately surrounding accessories 
 are all, as yet, in excellent keeping with the sentiment of this scene and 
 its historic associations. A very limited draught upon the imagination is 
 alone necessary to realise a vision of the “ olden time,” when the vene¬ 
 rable prior, accompanied by his sumpter horse, issued from its verdant 
 precincts, to convey the tribute rent to the parent establishment at Eves¬ 
 ham, including the “good Ribble salmon,” of the specified dimensions. 
 Penwortliam yet remains clothed in its ancient picturesque costume, 
 gazing, like the representative of twenty generations, with a mixture of 
 contempt and wonder, upon the somewhat unsightly parvenu connections 
 of its once respectable confrere on the opposite bank of the river. The Old 
 and the New are here in direct collision. It needs “ no ghost come from the 
 grave ” to tell us which eventually must conquer. The active energy and 
 commercial enterprise of Preston are fast absorbing the suburbs of the town. 
 All around, the face of the country speaks of past, present, and projected 
 change. The woods of Tulketh have bowed to the conqueror, the hill of 
 the Maudlands has yielded its time honoured site to the brickmaker, the rail¬ 
 way engineer, and the cotton spinner. The little white cottage, at the foot of 
 the cliff, with its neat garden and “Spa Bath,” looks friendless amongst 
 the mass of material activity by which it is surrounded. Nay, the very 
 “ Holme ” has submitted to the action of a couple of “jetties ” or “ cauls,” 
 resigned its individuality, and become incorporated with the main land. 
 The town appears to be stealthily creeping into the valley. The brick 
 walls of the cottage and the workshop are rapidly approaching the 
 “ wooden walls ” of commerce. Patches of red and yellow earth, tilling 
 up irregularities in the hill side, indicate that, notwithstanding the inter¬ 
 vention of the green plot, still named the “ Marsh,” the town and the 
 river will shortly become closely united. 
 
510 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 The Ribble winds with a gentle sweep below the southern portion of 
 the borough, and is, within about the space of a mile, spanned by five 
 bridges, some of no mean pretensions. 1 After passing the quays, the 
 valley becomes gradually more rural and picturesque. The Penwortbam 
 bank is occupied by several first class mansions, including the “ Oaks,” 
 “ Hurst Grange,” the “ Hall,” etc. More closely built but still handsome 
 edifices occupy the high land on the Preston side of the stream. 
 
 On passing the magnificent dry arch of the North Union Railway bridge, 
 the pedestrian enters the land now partially thrown open as a public park. 
 Though somewhat interfered with by the iron bridge and long line of 
 brick arches forming the viaduct of the East Lancashire railway, this mag¬ 
 nificent semi-amphitheatre, in conjunction with the “ Avenham-walk,” is 
 calculated, with but little assistance from a judicious landscape gardener, 
 to funish one of the most picturesque places of public recreation in England, 
 in the immediate neighbourhood of a manufacturing town. m 
 
 Passing along from the public walk, over the Swilbrook, the “ washing 
 stood,” of old Kuerden, but now one of the common sewers of the town, 
 the line of route leads by Erenehwood to Walton. Erenchwood is not yet 
 a misnomer, so far as the vegetable portion of its composition is concerned. 
 How long it may continue so, it would, in the present age of progress, be 
 hazardous to assert. 
 
 "We are arrived at Walton ; and here it is necessary to pause a while. 
 That we may gaze upon the beautiful site to more advantage, and include 
 within our view a larger field of historic interest, let us enter the straw¬ 
 berry garden overlooking the river, and, having climbed its steep side, 
 take our station near the camera which crowns its summit. Modern 
 Preston is just behind us, towering with Yankee-like “bounce” over its 
 humbler but older neighbour. For a time we will turn our backs upon 
 the parvenu; its numerous steam engines, its power-looms, and its spindles; 
 fit representatives of the substantial, though, perhaps, somewhat soulless 
 Present, and we will gaze upon lowly Walton, and the rich pastoral 
 valley of Cuerdale, while we commune with the visionary Past. 
 
 Clouds of ignorance, or, more truly, imperfect knowledge; for conven¬ 
 tionalism has invested the term ignorance with contemptuous associations; 
 clouds of uncertainty and imperfectly developed truth rest upon the scene. 
 All is dreary and obscure. Presently a ray of light penetrates the shadowy 
 mass. The eye rests upon one mighty and dense forest of pines. n The 
 rhinoceros, the hyena, the tiger, the bear, the wolf, and lesser carni- 
 
 1 See page 458. 
 
 m See page 435. 
 
 n The trees forming the submarine forest along the coast, are said to be composed chiefly, if not 
 entirely, of pines. 
 

A RAMBLE FROM LYTHAM TO R1BCHESTER. 
 
 511 
 
 verous animals, long since extinct in England, liold dominion over it. 
 The voice of man hath not yet “ awakened its echoes.” 0 
 
 Another wide and dense shadow rests upon the scene. Unrecorded 
 time passeth. Twilight glimmerings succeed, followed by brighter flashes 
 of historic truth. Huge oxen and deer browse beneath umbrageous 
 oaks. The wild bear and grizly boar dispute the empire with savage 
 man, the degenerate son of a previous partial civilization. 1 ’ Yet stagnation 
 with him, as with all other earthly things, is death. Once sunk to the 
 lowest degradation, by the unerring law of eternal motion, he must perish 
 or progress. 
 
 Time passeth, and more light penetrates the semi-gloom. Barbarian 
 men have begun to form communities. Society, though rude and 
 imperfect in many of its relations, has germinated. Petty tribes of 
 partially nude and frightfully disfigured human beings have entered into 
 combinations for mutual defence against combinations ostensibly formed for 
 a similar purpose! Where the Dwr-gwen, the “white and beautiful 
 stream,” is wedded to the Goch-ui, or the “red-water,” 11 nature hath pro¬ 
 vided sufficient defence against sudden irruption. Rude huts congregate 
 upon this small peninsula, and the stalwart savage chief increases the 
 strength of his fortification, by barricades formed from the limbs of the then 
 luxuriant forest monarch. Ages pass in desultory but savage warfare. One 
 petty tribe yields to another, until the Setantii, or the “dwellers by the 
 waters,” acknowledge a single head. The chief rulers of this tribe assem¬ 
 ble at Caer Gochui, or the “fortress of the red water.” r Its great natural 
 strength, its central position, and the influence of the most distinguished 
 warrior, secure for it the distinction of the “ Supreme City.” Lesser 
 states in savage neighbourhood arc gradually absorbed by greater. The 
 Setantii and their neighbours, the Yolantii, become part of the great nation 
 of the Brigantes, which now includes all the country from the western to 
 the eastern coast. 
 
 A new era begins to dawn. Britain has attracted the attention of the 
 warriors of all-powerful Rome. After more than a century of gradual con¬ 
 quest, the Brigantine chiefs of the western coast learn that the formidable 
 imperial legions, led by the famed Agricola, are marching to subdue them. 
 The valour and skill of the brave Venutius and his rude charioteers had 
 
 o A skull of the rhinoceros was found in Lancashire, and figured by Leigh.—See Buckland’s 
 Eeliquae Diluviance. 
 
 p It is held by some, with evident probability, that the earlier settlers in Britain, brought with 
 them some of the knowledge of their eastern forefathers, and that they afterwards degenerated. 
 A few thousand emigrants in Australia, if cut off from all communication with the mother country, 
 would, at the present day, rapidly deteriorate from the European standard. 
 
 q The Darwen and the Kibble. r See chapter 1, page 37. 
 
512 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 prevailed not against the discipline of Rome and the military genius of 
 Suetonius and Cerealis. What was to be hoped for by the lesser tribes when 
 the strength of the nation was broken ? 
 
 Caer Gochui is crowded with warriors; the cattle of the tribe are 
 driven within the trenches formed by the two rivers. The narrow neck 
 of land is strongly fortified. The fords are protected by brave hearts, will¬ 
 ing to perish in defence of “ hearths and homes,” notwithstanding their 
 rudeness. The scouts announce the approach of the enemy. The semi- 
 naked Setantii rush to their posts. It is in vain! The Roman spears and 
 helmets glisten on the hill. A haze passes over the scene. The fight is 
 over, and Agricola himself is ordering the necessary works to secure the 
 pass of the river and protect his rear. The conqueror presses forward 
 towards the north, and Roman Cocoium rises from the ruins of the British 
 fortress. Some of the legionaries repose on the banks of the Belisama, or 
 chief river, and teach the natives the arts of peace. Coccium, however, 
 still remains relatively a free town, governed in part by a British prefect, 3 
 under the surveillance of the Roman commander of the fortress or station. 
 
 Upwards of three centuries more join the irrevocable Past. Luxury 
 and vioe have done their work ; the power of the once “ almighty Rome ” 
 is broken ! Britain is covered with her roads, fortresses, cities, and colo¬ 
 nies. Some slight gleam of Christianity flickers over the land. Civiliza¬ 
 tion has materially advanced amongst the natives, but still they are slaves. 
 The tide of conquest ebbs; the barbarian nations of the north and east 
 devastate the empire, and plunder the “ eternal city.” The legions in 
 Britain are wanted at home. The subjugated Celtse and other continental 
 nations revolt and assert their freedom. The Roman governors and the 
 Britanni or “ Romano-British” population, can not resist the native 
 onslaught. In vain they solicit imperial succour. 
 
 Unused to liberty, the British tribes sink into license, and contend for 
 the superior domination. Emigration has already infused some Teutonic 
 blood into the population of the eastern portion of the country. 1 Their 
 relatives on the continent are invited to aid in the struggle. A period of 
 sanguinary desolation follows. The Teutonic stock triumphs. The 
 Angles settle in the valley of the Rhi-bell, and the little village 
 of Walton springs into existence from the fragmentary remains of Roman 
 Coccium." 
 
 s Richard of Cirencester. 
 
 t During the Roman dominion, the south eastern portion of the kingdom must have been inha¬ 
 bited chiefly by German emigrants. The commander of the district about Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, 
 etc., was termed “ Comes Littoris Saxonici,” or count of the Saxon coast or shore. See chapter 1, 
 page 1, and chapter 2, pages 57 and 93. 
 u See Chapter 1, pages 25, 33 and 37. 
 
A BAUBLE FROM LYTHAM TO RIBCHESTEK. 
 
 513 
 
 Christianity dawns apace. The disciples of Paulinus and St. Columba 
 convert the sanguinary idolaters. The kingdom of Northumbria champions 
 the cause against the pagan Mercians. The pious Oswald marches by the 
 " pass of the Kibble ” to his “ martyr-grave ” at Maserfield. T Lands on 
 the Kibble, in "Hacmunderness,” are granted to the monks of Kipon, and 
 the “ Priest-town” begins to emerge from the darkness of the past. 
 
 The next important page of historic record is somewhat mutilated. 
 The Scandinavian vikings ravage the coast, and settle in the valley of 
 the Kibble. Scenes of bloody contention arise. The rovers maintain 
 their footing, and successfully dispute the sovereignty with the Anglian 
 lords. The genius and resolution of Alfred can but save the south and 
 western portions of the island. 
 
 The struggle still continues with varied fortune. The "star” of 
 the " right royal ” Athelstan, the worthy grandson of the Great Alfred, is 
 now in the ascendant. The Northumbrians and even the Scottish monarch 
 render him homage. With true regal munificence he purchaseth "with 
 his own money, at no little cost,” the whole of Amounderness, and 
 bestows it upon the cathedral church of York. The " Priests’ town” begins 
 to flourish and becomes the capital of the district. 
 
 The Scandinavian population of Northumbria still yearn for a chief of 
 their own blood. The Welsh and Scottish kings seek to humble the 
 growing power of Athelstan. The Danish and Norwegian pirates scouring 
 the seas for plunder, are ever eager for a descent on the Eritish coasts. 
 Anlaf, chief of Dublin, son of the late Scandinavian ruler, Sigtryg, hastens 
 to seize the proffered crown. Northumbria is simultaneously invaded at 
 four points. Gudrekir, one of Athelstan’s deputies, is overpowered and 
 slain by the invading hosts from Norway and the Ealtic. His colleague 
 Alfgeirr, flies before the " irregular and disorderly Irish ” troops under 
 Anlaf; but first buries his coin and other treasure near the " pass of the 
 Kibble,” at Cuerdale. w The confederate invaders ravage the country. 
 Amounderness, the king’s gift to York, is desolated. Athelstan himself 
 shortly afterwards appears upon the scene. A series of murderous strug¬ 
 gles ensue. The great grandson of the renowned Kagnar Lodbrog, the 
 terrible Danish pirate king, and the descendant of the honoured Alfred, 
 contend for dominion. The confederated armies are at length routed. 
 The Danish chief, with the remnant of his disorderly Irish followers, 
 escapes with difficulty to his ships in the Wyre and the Kibble. The 
 Scotch and Welsh princes become tributary to Athelstan, the first undis¬ 
 puted possessor of the crown of all England ! 
 
 v Win-wick. See chapter 2, page 64. 
 
 w It is not improbable that the treasure may have belonged to the Danish chieftain. See 
 chapter 2, page 83. 
 
 o 
 
 K 
 
514 
 
 PUESTON AXD ITS EXVIEOXS. 
 
 The Dane and Saxon alternately triumph; till the decisive battle of 
 Hastings transfers the crown to the “ Bastard of Normandy,” the most 
 ruthless of the conquerors of Britain. 
 
 “ Prestune ” is now risen into importance. All Amoundemess belongs 
 to it, together with three churches. The ford is superseded by the “Bridge 
 of Bible.”* Several monarchs pass, with retainers or armed force, before 
 the first Edward rests here, on his way to Scotland. In the following 
 reign, Preston expiates, in part, the cruelties of the English in Scotland. 
 The fire-brands of llobcrt Bruce, consume a large portion of the town, but 
 the “ pass of the Bibble ” stops the further ravages of the predatory 
 army. 
 
 A fierce domestic struggle now disturbs the repose of the valley. Adam 
 de Banistre fruitlessly copes witli his relative and superior, Thomas, earl 
 of Lancaster, brother to the king. 
 
 The third Edward advances to Scotland. Besting at Preston, he draws 
 many of the youth of the neighbourhood to his standard. The saekage of 
 the town is avenged by the slaughter of thirty thousand Scots, at 
 Halidown-Hill. 
 
 The house of Lancaster acquires the throne of England. Letters patent 
 provide for the “ pontage ” of the Bibble, “juxta Preston.” 1 A noble 
 structure rises, worthy of the fame of the ecclesiastical builders. 
 
 The “ wars of the roses ” disturb not the vaUey. Their thunder but 
 faintly echoes in the distance. 
 
 The Scots, profiting by the absence of Henry VIII., invade England. 
 “ Lusty lads, liver and light, from Blackborne and Bolton in ye moorcs,” 
 with other south Lancashire and Cheshire heroes, led by “ lusty Stanley, 
 stout ” Sir Edward, pass the Bibble. The warriors of Amounderness, 
 including pikemen from Preston and Pilling, “ brought up from babes, 
 w th beefe and bread” 1 join them. The old song, which celebrates the 
 victory and records the terrible slaughter at Eloddcn, testifies to the cour¬ 
 age and patriotism of the “ lads ” of Lancashire, exhibited on that fatal 
 field ; the record of which furnishes the most mournful page in the annals 
 of Scotland. 
 
 A discreet and thoughtful looking man gently draweth his horse’s rein, 
 and gazes in silent admiration, upon the “ great stone bridge of Mybill, 
 having v great arches.” It is the learned and accomplished Leland, king 
 Henry VIII’s. antiquary, on his journey through the country, “ in search 
 of England’s antiquities.” a It would be, perhaps, to “ consider too curi¬ 
 ously,” as the gentle Horatio expresses it, if we were to ponder long upon 
 
 x See pages 209, and 458. 
 z Flodden ballad. See page 135. 
 
 y See page 128. 
 a See page 138. 
 
A RAMBLE FROM LTTHAM TO RIBCHESTER. 
 
 515 
 
 tlie question whether “ deathless fame ” is more dependent upon great 
 achievements, or upon the industry, imagination, or prejudice of those 
 by whom they are chronicled ! A real living Achilles might possibly cut 
 a sony figure in a modern drawing room ! It is by no means precisely 
 certain whether such a man would, “ in these degenerate days,” win a 
 peerage, or the championship of the prize ring! On the other hand, there 
 is some truth in the couplet, 
 
 “ Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, 
 
 And waste —” 
 
 Stay; “The proverb is somewhat musty.” If all “the secrets of antiquity” 
 were to become suddenly revealed, what a frightful reign of literary terror 
 might ensue! what a revolution in the world’s hero-worship! The 
 subject is too painful to contemplate. Revenons a nos moutons. 
 
 Who is here ? Another scholar endeavouring to extract intelligence 
 from the mouldering and imperfect records of the past ? No. His veiy 
 opposite ! This man wishes to read the future ! A much more “ learned 
 fool ” than the most imaginative antiquary ; excepting so far, of course, 
 as there may be knavery rather than folly in the composition of the 
 exorcist! Edward Kelly is doubtless well paid for “ raising the devil ” in 
 Walton park. The promised “secret information,” whether derived from 
 such infernal communion, or from a resuscitated corpse in the church-yard, 
 on the top of the hill, was a marketable commodity, very much in demand 
 in the reign of “ good Queen Bess.” b 
 
 What have we here ? More folly ? Shade of the immortal Touchstone ! 
 do we gaze upon thy veritable earthly prototype ? That “ wise fool,” 
 Archie Armstrong, accompanied by the august patron and lover of 
 “foolerie,” yclept, in eloquent derision, the “English Solomon,” with a 
 holiday train of gay gallants, and knightly and noble attendants, furnishes 
 food for “ merric laughter,” as the cavalcade passes southward to 
 Hoghton Tower. The courtly Buckingham pays an elegant compliment 
 to the beautiful scenery of the valley, and dreams not of Felton’s dagger. 
 
 “ Wise King Jamie ” cracks his broadest joke, in still broader Scotch, in 
 happy ignorance that he treads upon the spot, where the cup of Hope will 
 be rudely dashed from the parched lips of his dethroned and imprisoned 
 son! c 
 
 A widely different “ masque ” to that performed at Hoghton is now 
 being enacted. The nation’s blood, at fever heat, pulsates wildly. Two 
 elements of authority grapple in fierce antagonism. Many conflicting and 
 discordant items enter into the composition of the “Great Rebellion,” 
 
 b See page 149. c See page 151. 
 
 2 K 2 
 
516 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 but tbe true principle at stake is really misunderstood by none. ‘ Arbi¬ 
 trary power, or tbe “ Divine Right of Kings,” is arrayed against con¬ 
 stitutional government, and tbe progressive spirit of human liberty. Tbe 
 governors and tbe governed are earnestly endeavouring to solve tbe grand 
 problem,—which is the master and which is the servant,—by an appeal to 
 that most potent of all human arguments,—physical force. Gay cavaliers, 
 loyal to the Stuart, and cautious legislators, who fear anarchy worse 
 than despotism, measure blades with grim fanatics and stern earnest men, 
 whose patriotism includes “ the people ” as well as “ the crown.” Preston 
 and the “pass of the Ribble” is won and lost, and won again; the parlia¬ 
 ment triumphs ; Charles, though still king, is a prisoner. 
 
 All is not yet lost. The Scotch, who venerate the blood of the Stuart, 
 in conjunction with northern royalists, invade England, and demand the 
 restoration of the captive monarch. The valley of the Ribble is alive 
 with troops. The duke of Hamilton issues his commands from Preston; 
 while Sir Marmaduke Langdale rests on Ribbleton moor. Are we on the 
 eve of a day of vengeance ? Is the scaffold to drink the “ rebel blood ” of 
 the Commonwealth leaders ? Hot so. The master spirit of the time is here, 
 when least expected; one by Nature fitted “ to disturb the peace of all the 
 world, and rule it when ’tis wildest.” Genius, energy, and military dis¬ 
 cipline totally annihilate an opponent numerically three-fold the stronger ! 
 Oliver Cromwell achieves one of his most brilliant and decisive victories. 
 The exploit is celebrated by the great poetic genius of the age; the crown¬ 
 ing wreath is added to the historic interest of the scene:— 
 
 “ Cromwell, our chief of men, who through a cloud 
 Not of war only, hut detractions rude. 
 
 Guided by faith and matchless fortitude. 
 
 To peace and truth thy glorious way has plough’d, 
 
 And on the neck of crowned Fortune proud 
 Hast reared God’s trophies, and his work pursued. 
 
 While Darwen stream with blood oe Scots imbued, 
 
 And Dunbar field resound thy praises loud, 
 
 And Worcester’s laureat wreath. Yet much remains 
 To conquer still; Peace hath her victories 
 No less renown’d than War; new foes arise 
 Threat’ning to bind our souls with secular chains : 
 
 Help us to save free conscience from the paw 
 Of hireling wolves, whose gospel is their maw.” cl 
 
 The Commons of England behead the king. The Scotch, still true to 
 the Stuart, advance with his son, Charles II., into England. He passes 
 the bridge of Ribble, on his way to "Worcester. The faithful, but unskilful 
 and unfortunate earl of Derby, after landing at "Wyre, from the Isle of 
 Han, passes the Ribble to the scene of his last defeat at "Wigan-lane, where 
 the gallant Tildesley, closes his chivalrie career. 
 
 d Milton's Sonnet “to the Lord General Cromwell.” 
 
A RAMBLE FROM LYTHAM TO RIBCHESTER. 
 
 517 
 
 The Commonwealth passes away with the breath of the man whose 
 genius alone could direct it. Charles II. is restored to the throne of his 
 ancestors, but with a limited prerogative. His brother and successor, James, 
 doubly imbued with the proverbial infatuation of the Stuart race; to whom 
 “necessity ” was not “ the mother of invention,” and whose selfish folly 
 experience itself could not convert into wisdom, endeavours to follow in 
 the footsteps of his father, and restore absolutism. The liberty-loving 
 spirit of the Anglo-Saxon people is again roused. The last of the Stuart 
 kings in terror flies! By this act he saves his head, but deprives it of its 
 regal ornament. 
 
 Time passeth, and the Hanoverian dynasty occupies the throne of the 
 Stuart. The Scotch and the northern “legitimists” are still faithful to 
 the old cause. They invade England and proclaim the son of James 
 king. They are met again at the fatal “ pass of the Babble.” Mackintosh 
 prepares to defend the bridge; but withdraws his troops into the town, 
 and erects barricades. The little army under Wells, advances, and 
 Preston is besieged. The Scotch are beaten, and the partizans of the 
 Stuarts shot or hanged as criminals! The “ loyalty ” of 1648 and 1651, 
 is, by the potency of the magic word “failure,” converted into “treason.” 
 On the other hand, the spirit of the “great rebellion” had, in the mean¬ 
 time, passed through the alembic of “ success,” and, in 1688, the “glorious 
 revolution ” was the product! Truly, “ What’s in a name ? ” 
 
 Yet another effort. Prince Charles Edward, or the “young pretender,” 
 is received by the Scottish people, and his father is again proclaimed king. 
 England is invaded, and the dreaded “ pass of the Bibble ” safely reached. 
 Superstition darkly insinuates that a Scottish army can never in triumph 
 proceed beyond it. Some regiments are quartered at Walton, to dissipate 
 the gloomy foreboding. The invaders pass southward to Derby. Will 
 they reach the metropolis ? The destinies of the houses of Stuart and 
 Hanover oscillate on the balance! But for a moment, however! The 
 partisans of the “ young chevalier ” return in a somewhat disorderly 
 plight. Hark! the bugles of the duke of Cumberland echo on the horizon ! 
 Is the valley of the Bibble again to witness the destruction of a Scottish 
 army, and the final extinction of hope for the exiled family ? Ho ; they 
 make no stand. Like hunted hares they have “ doubled,” and are hurry¬ 
 ing home again, to close the sad drama on Culloden moor. 
 
 More than a century passeth. We are arrived at the “ignorant present.”(?) 
 The heavy breathing of the steam engine, and the quick whirl of machi¬ 
 nery, almost obliterate from the memory the echoes of past struggles. 
 Part of Cromwell’s great battle field, upon which we stand, is converted 
 into a fruit and pleasure garden. The deep hollow, where the general’s life 
 
518 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 was in imminent peril, resounds with the merry laughter evoked by 
 holiday enjoyment. 6 
 
 From this spot, a charming coup d'ceil is yet presented. The village 
 nestles quietly in the valley; while the old church, on the richly 
 wooded height, seems to gaze, with maternal pride, upon the time honoured 
 locality over which it presides. "Walton Hall has been razed, and its site 
 usurped by a kitchen garden; but the immediate back ground of the 
 picture yet includes the verdant park and luxuriant foliage. In the 
 middle distance, the angular form of the rocky hill, clothed with its forest 
 mantle, and crowned by the now deserted baronial hall, that once echoed 
 with the mirth and revelry of the . princely, noble, and knightly guests 
 of the hospitable Sir Richard Hoghton, bart., gives dignity and variety to 
 the landscape. Beyond, the varied outline of the east Lancashire hills 
 circumscribes the prospect. The river meanders gracefully from the sha¬ 
 dowy “deeps,” beneath the church, where the nets of fishermen entrap 
 the celebrated Babble salmon, on their passage to and from the ocean. 
 A little higher, on the bank of the stream, near Cuerdale hall, just hidden 
 by the projecting headlands of Fish wick and Brockholes, stands the sapling 
 planted upon the spot which disgorged the long sought treasure of the 
 days of Athelstan. f The broad gravel bank, below the hill on which we 
 stand, yet marks the original ford. In the field on the right, beyond the 
 present Swilbrook lane, the course of the Roman road, is yet indicated by 
 the deep zigzag indentation, on the face of the steep ascent. A large 
 fragment of one of the centre piers, a substantial relic of the past, gradually 
 crumbling beneath the action of time, yet lingers on the site of the ancient 
 viaduct. 
 
 To the left, through the dingle in the strawberry garden, passed the 
 “ deep narrow lane,” on its approach to the bridge, where the victorious 
 CromwcU had nearly met his death. It is not difficult to trace remains 
 of the quicksand into which his horse leaped, when he dexterously avoided 
 the stone hurled upon him, from the high land that commanded the narrow 
 pass. 8 But commercial enterprise has laid its persevering hand upon the 
 locality. Two factory chimneys rise from the bosom of the valley, and 
 more fringe its borders. Yet, but a little time, and Preston and Walton 
 will become united. If not converted into “ one flesh,” they will at least 
 present one mass of substantial bricks and mortar. 
 
 From Cuerdale the Ribble passes through rich pasture lands and well 
 wooded banks, by Brockholes and Samlesbury, towards “Red Scar.” 
 Above the modern wooden bridge, slight remnants may yet be seen of the 
 
 e See pages 184 and 284. f See chapter 2, page 74. 
 
 g See chapter 4, page 184, and chapter 5, page 224, 
 

 
 
 
A. RAMBLE FROM LTTHAM TO R1ECHESTER. 
 
 519 
 
 weir, -which was destroyed, after most expensive and exciting litigation, 
 some years ago, on account of its obstruction to the passage of the much 
 prized salmon. Itibbleton moor, the scene of Langdale’s defeat, crowns 
 the table land on the left. Samlesbury’s rural church reposes quietly in 
 the valley on the opposite bank of the river, no “ witches ” troubling its 
 pastoral congregation with mystic power, derived from demoniac coin-^ 
 munion. Lancashire’s “ angelic” spell workers, have fairly routed their 
 Pandemonian namesakes . 11 
 
 Passing the remains of a line old Elizabethan hall, now converted into a 
 farm house, the pedestrian, after mounting a steep and rugged path, which 
 occasionally does double duty as a by-road and watercourse, stands upon 
 the plateau overlooking the “lied Scar.” 
 
 No single picture can do justice to this beautiful and unique scrap of 
 English scenery. The whole is not presentable on canvass, from any 
 one given point of view. It contains rather, within itself, a complete port¬ 
 folio of sketches. It is a place to ramble about in, and not simply to stand 
 staring at! 
 
 BEAUTIFUL NATURE! 
 
 Whene’er I gaze on thy untrained grace 
 
 My heart o’erttows once more with Boyhood’s gladness; 
 
 The guileless smile that lights thy varied face 
 Re-germinateth Hope and calms my bosom’s sadness! 
 
 Truly, an Eden spot, fashioned by bounteous nature, to dispel the fierce 
 burning passion and choking heart-ache, engendered by rude collision 
 with the outward world. 
 
 The valley of the Nibble is generally about a mile iu breadth, and the 
 soil entirely river debris or alluvial deposit. The table land rises between 
 one and two hundred feet above this fertile plain. The river, playfully 
 meandering amongst level green meadows and pasture lands studded with 
 cattle, with a divided love, alternately courts the cooling shadows beneath 
 the rugged “ sears ” and verdant wbods which limit its domain on either 
 hand. At the “ Red Scar,” a semi-circular indentation has been scooped out 
 of the northern bank, by some natural causation. This is so singularly 
 perfect in its form, as to suggest, contrary to the fact, the possibility of 
 Nature having been assisted by Art, in its formation. The river sweeps, 
 from nearly the southern bank, entirely round the foot of this concave pre¬ 
 cipice, partially forming, in its erratic course, the figure of an ellipse. This 
 is no ordinary or miniature feat of natural geometry, the longest diameter 
 of the “ horse shoe,” as it is locally termed, being nearly a mile. The 
 high and steep outer bank of the river is superbly robed with rich and 
 
 h Several recent occurrences may appear to challenge the truth of this assertion. But the 
 exception only tends to prove the rule. 
 
520 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 varied forest foliage. On the western arm of the curve, the bank is so steep, 
 that huge trees are continually being detached from the soil, by the action 
 of frost and rain, and projected, by their own weight, into the stream below. 
 Others, bending over the precipice, like wounded warriors, unable to con¬ 
 quer yet unwilling to yield, cling tenaciously to the crumbling earth. 
 The stream below is full of shallows and rapids. The subject is not quite 
 wild and savage enough for the pencil of Salvator Rosa. It is more sug¬ 
 gestive of trout and salmon fishing than of brigands and desperadoes. 
 Our own Tennant would better enter into its sentiment. It would make 
 a glorious picture under his masterly treatment. Owing to the thinness 
 of the plantation at this spot, the best single view of the entire scene is 
 obtained. The water in the opposite reach is still and smooth as a pond. 
 Its transparent bosom reflects darkly the green, brown, and russet of the 
 overhanging woods, with here and there a patch of clear blue sky, and the 
 primrose tinted fringe of a passing sunny cloud. "Were Diana a material 
 existence, she would select this retired and sylvan nook as a favourite 
 bath. The “yellow sands” of the inner beach are so smooth, the water 
 so pellucid, and the spot so quiet and secluded, that, at eventide, when the 
 wind’s gentle music gives a spirit voice to the forest quire, the poetic 
 faculty may easily realise Shakespere’s beautiful vision of the “ dainty 
 Ariel ” and the loveliest dell in Prospero’s enchanted isle ! 
 
 The river advances towards this seclusion through the open plain, 
 between irregularly broken rows of stately trees, and glitters like molten 
 silver, as it almost imperceptibly glides over the slight terraces of red 
 sandstone rock, which form its bed. In the distance, Pendle Hill, famous 
 in story, as the chief locale of the Lancashire witches of old, uplifts his 
 broad shoulders to the sky above the heads of the lesser compeers by whom 
 he is surrounded. Amongst the latter, our old acquaintance, the half rock, 
 half wooded height of Hoghton, with its stem grey embattled mediaeval 
 fortress-mansion, like a lingering frown of the dead and mouldering Past 
 upon the fair brow of the living Present, by contrast, heightens the beauty 
 and interest of the scene. The spire of Hellor church crowns the 
 summit of the neighbouring hill; whilst, in immediate contiguity, the 
 ruined tower of a relatively modern windmill indicates, within a trifling 
 distance, the site of a specula or outlook, from which the Roman sentinels 
 gazed upon several of the neighbouring stations, and warned their brethren 
 in arms, when the brave though discomfited Celt, indignant beneath the 
 yoke, spurned the conqueror’s power, and futilely essayed “ one blow 
 more” for their rude but cherished—and all the more cherished, because 
 lost —liberty !' 
 
 i From Ribbleton-moor to the edge of Red Scar, is a perfectly straight road called “ Pope-lane,” 
 with about three feet of its breadth paved with boulders. A similar pavement is likewise yet in 
 

 
A BAUBLE FKOM LYTHAM TO KIBCHESTEK. 
 
 521 
 
 “Red Scar,” the seat of Major Cross, a quaint Elizabethan mansion, 
 with modern additions, is situated on the table land opposite to the centre 
 of the curve. It is no slight privilege to he permitted to ramble through 
 the winding paths, shadowy vistas, and secluded dingles, musical with the 
 voices of singing brooks and birds, embosomed in the depths of these woods, 
 from the lone quietude of which we occasionally catch a glimpse of 
 the bright couutry beyond. Here are stately halls of Nature’s architecture, 
 domed by the azure heaven, and paved in rich mosaic, lustrous with the 
 bloom of the wild blue hyacinth, and flakes of golden sheen by the bright 
 attenuated fingers of stray sunbeams at random flung! Hanging leaves 
 form verdant curtains with quivering fringe, so perfect yet picturesque in 
 form, that sympathetic fancy denies that the rude east wind hath ever 
 breathed upon them, or the eye of living being previously mirrored their 
 beauty! 
 
 This little Eden is within about three miles from the manufacturing 
 town of Preston, and yet few of its inhabitants ever visit the spot. Some 
 animals, in dire extremity, are said to feed upon their own limbs. Doth the 
 ravenous appetite for material wealth absorb that portion of the soul which 
 rejoices and expands in the presence of the Beautiful ? 
 
 After three or four miles ramble by the woods of Elston, Alston-liall is 
 gained. Here the river merrily pursues its picturesque course, and carols 
 away in joyous contentment, while the ruddy and almost perpendicular 
 cliff called “ Balderstone scar,” on the opposite bank, scowls like a crabbed 
 sentinel, fatigued with lengthened watching. The old mansion at Alston, 
 is now converted into a farmer’s homestead; but its fine large hall is yet 
 in excellent preservation. 
 
 The chief attraction here, however, is the famous oak, with its 
 “lightning-blasted” limb, huge hollow trunk, and still luxuriant foliage; 
 realising to the view a rare specimen of the forest monarch in his “ green 
 old age.” Enthusiastic admirers of rural scenery occasionally congregate 
 at this spot, and some six or seven of them have been known simul¬ 
 taneously to enjoy a pic-nic feast within the hollow stomach of the wood¬ 
 land patriarch. This venerable relic of the old forest may almost be 
 truly said to “ stand in his pride alone,” the last of his noble race* 
 
 existence beyond the “ scar.” It passes through the wood by “ Tunbrook.” This road is doubtless 
 very ancient. Some regard it as a Koman vicinal way, which led to the mineral springs of Boilton. 
 This is, however, by no means certain. It would be difficult to determine where it communicated 
 with the “ Watling-street,” as the two roads are rather parallel than otherwise. The term “Pope 
 lane ” is a modern designation, derived from a comparatively recent occupant of a farm in the 
 neighbourhood. On Lang’s map of Preston, surveyed in 1774, there is a plot of land marked 
 “ Causeway field,” which strengthens the impression that a vicinal way may have existed, which 
 passed from the great Koman road at Preston over Ribbleton-moor to a villa at or near lied Scar. 
 So beautiful a spot would scarcely be neglected by the refined southern warriors. 
 
522 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Near him, however, a small withered fragment of the old stock, a remnant 
 of a still mightier brother, tottering on the verge of destruction, yet pre¬ 
 serves his neighbour from utter solitude.■> 
 
 Rambling along the hank of the Ribble, the pedestrian at length reaches 
 Hothersall Hall. From the table land which overlooks the valley, a beau¬ 
 tiful prospect to the west is obtained. The buff coloured buildings of the hall, 
 nestle snugly below. Above, the neat little residence, “ the Woodlands,” 
 peeps from amidst the foliage which crowns the brow of the hill. The rich 
 verdure of Stubbin’s wood and King’s wood closes in the landscape on the 
 extreme right, while the luxuriant groves of Alston, Elston, Boilton and 
 Red Scar, vary the perspective line and conduct the eye gradually towards 
 Preston. The shadowy height of Hoghton peeps over the table land of 
 the middle distance, and the chimneys of some of the suburban 
 factories, south of the Ribble, are visible in the horizon. The river 
 from Osbaldestone Hall, on the left or southern bank, flows with a ser¬ 
 pentine course, in form of the letter S, to Baldcrstone scar. Sunderland and 
 Osbaldestone Halls repose securely on the margin of the stream, sheltered 
 by the neighbouring picturesque foliage and the higher lands, from the 
 storm's ruder blasts. The bosom of the valley rejoiceth in rich green 
 pastures and sheets of waving golden grain. The colour and surface of 
 the extensive plain is further varied by numerous flocks of sheep and 
 herds of cattle. Groups of the latter repose upon the cool sands, whilst 
 others stand in listless dreamy enjoyment, mid deep in the clear cool 
 stream, which reproduces somewhat distortedly, within its depths, their 
 somnolent bovine images. 
 
 The view eastward is equally picturesque. To the right, the high bank, 
 with its richly wooded knoll and dingle, shelters Osbaldestone Hall, 
 renowned, in the folk-lore of the neighbourhood, for its redoubtable “siege.” 
 Let not the reader for a moment fancy that the combatants were mail-clad 
 warriors of the musty days of yore, or their valiant modern representatives, 
 resplendent in scarlet cloth, pipe-clay and stunted cockades! No, the chief 
 of its gallant defenders were “ limbs of the law in possession;” gentlemen 
 more famous for deeds on parchment and forensic triumphs, than deeds of 
 
 j The trunk of the oak at present flourishing at Alston is nearly ten feet in diameter, at the 
 earth’s surface. About three or four feet from the ground, the circumference is upwards of twenty 
 feet. Its companion, which succumbed to the joint action of Time and Boreas, about six and 
 twenty years ago, was a much larger tree. The hollow trunk was so capacious that it was occupied 
 as a shippon, and two “ head of cattle ” were frequently “ sealed ” in it! It was likewise often used 
 as a cart-house, the entrance being wide enough, and the internal space sufficiently large, to render it 
 available for this purpose. In its prime, it must have'been one of the mo?t magnificent oaks in the 
 kingdom. When this hoary forest monarch fell, a single root still adhered firmly to “mother 
 earth,” and retained a portion of the hollow trunk. It yet stands at the end of the garden wall. 
 Although this singular relic puts forth a few leaves and gives other signs of vitality, its robe of ivy 
 but imperfectly conceals the internal decay, which ere long will consign it to the fagot shed. 
 
A KAMBLE FROM LYTHAM TO EIBCHESTEE. 
 
 523 
 
 pei’sonal prowess or daring valour. Its assailants consisted chiefly of the 
 peasantry of the neighbourhood, who sympathised with the “ distress” of 
 the unfortunate occupier, rather than with the legal instrument commonly so 
 termed, by authority of which his homestead had been successfully invaded. k 
 
 Near this spot stands what was once a small chapel, now converted into 
 a barn, a fate often attending sacred as well as profane edifices. Ou the 
 right, Mellor church and mill “ come off sharp ” against the sky. The old 
 parsonage house and estate is prettily situated on a knoll, in the middle 
 distance, on the north hank of the river. Beyond this peeps the tower of 
 Ribchester church, hacked by the high lands of Ramsgrave, Clayton-le- 
 dale, Salesbury, etc. In the extreme distance the broad full profile of 
 huge Pendlo closes in the prospect. Near its lower end, the hills in the 
 neighbourhood of the Calder valley, and the moors about Billington, 
 infuse a little rugged variety into this lovely pastoral landscape. 
 There are gossips in the neighbourhood who shake their heads, when 
 they gaze ou the old parsonage, and mutter words of disapprobation at the 
 conduct of certain high church dignitaries, whom they (foolishly no doubt) 
 fancy to have appropriated to the uses of others, revenues originally inten¬ 
 ded to provide for the spiritual wants of the inhabitants of the locality. 
 
 Modem Ribchester, though possessing but little attraction to the tourist, 
 is, nevertheless, not the mean and despicable spot it has been described. 
 It is an ordinary well-built country village; without any particularly 
 distinguishing feature. It is chiefly remarkable at the present day, for 
 two grotesque carvings in wood, purporting to represent a black and a 
 white bull. It is not yet decided by connoisseurs, which of the specimens 
 of public house sculpture at Ribchester, or the one which adorns the neigh¬ 
 bouring village of Longridge, is the most remarkable for taste or execution. 
 The thing is, however, not of very much consequence, as it is believed the 
 said bulls (evidently Irish) owe their existence to one and the same genius, 
 who studied animal form (?) and wielded his chisel somewhere in the 
 neighbourhood of the “ Trough of Bolland.” 
 
 The parish church stands on the site of the Roman castrum. Part of 
 the artificial fosse is yet visible on the western side of the ancient fortifi¬ 
 cation. Cowley brook bounds the camp on the east, and the Ribble on the 
 south. Though the earth is rich in Roman remains, little of the ancient 
 Rigodunum meets the eye, with the exception of three pillars taken 
 from the river, now forming part of the porch of the principal inn. Other 
 remains are yet preserved by the vicar and Mr. Patchet, but the greater 
 bulk have found their way into the British Museum and public and private 
 
 k This sturdy resistance to the constituted authority took place some forty years ago. It required a 
 tolerably significant demonstration on the part of the military, before the law was permitted to take 
 its course. 
 
524 
 
 P HESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 collections, remote from the locality. Coins are yet often found. In the 
 spring of 1855, the clerk of the church turned up in his garden a silver 
 denarius, of Titus Vespasian, in capital preservation. On the reverse is a 
 female figure, with the inscription “ Concordia.” 
 
 Roman roads in the neighbourhood may yet be traced. Near “ Stubbin’s 
 nook,” about two miles from Rihchester, the pavement of the road from the 
 portus, at the Wyre, may be traced for some distance. On the opposite bank 
 of the river, behind Salesbury Hall, some fragments are visible in the wood 
 to the right of the modem road to Whatley. A little to the west, on the 
 summit of the brow, the remains of what appears to have been a fosse, 
 belonging to an outpost or specula, may be seen. It is probable from some 
 such outwork the name “Salesbury” is derived. The road from Manchester, 
 after crossing the ford over the Ribble, passes directly over Longridge fell. 
 Considerable portions of this highway are yet in existence. Prom 
 “Cherry gate,” the modern road, called Stonygate lane, is occasionally iden¬ 
 tical with it, and sometimes leaves it a little to the left. Remains may 
 easily he detected either in the fence or in the neighbouring fields. After 
 crossing the road from Longridge to Stonyhurst, the ancient way still 
 continues its direct line, leaving the modern zigzag road a little to the 
 right. After passing the summit of the fell, the Roman way turns 
 abruptly to the right, and, crossing the Hodder, enters Yorkshire. Some 
 remains of the agger are yet visible in the fields to the left of the present 
 road. 
 
 There are many objects of beauty and historic interest in the environs 
 of Rihchester. Salesbury hall may have sheltered Henry VI. when a pri¬ 
 soner to the Talbots, after his capture at “ Bungerley hyppyngestones,” a 
 little higher up the river. 1 In 1642, the Manchester puritan forces out¬ 
 witted the then supposed vacillating Talbot, who sought to entrap them 
 by a show of sympathy with their cause. Shortly afterwards, the earl of 
 Derby, being routed by Colonel Shuttleworth, at Whalley, was chased 
 across the Ribble to Rihchester, by the intrepid and indefatigable 
 victor. In the immediate neighbourhood, the venerable “ Stydd church,” 
 one of the oldest buildings in the county, yet stands a solitary semi-ruin. 
 It is something more than strange, that funds cannot be raised for the resto¬ 
 ration of this little monument of past ages. Surely there is antiquarian 
 zeal and enthusiasm sufficient in the county, to make an effort powerful 
 enough to snatch this choice morsel from the devouring maw of Time, 
 ere it be too late. It is mere waste of breath, to expend our elo¬ 
 quence in denouncing the Vandalism which destroys, while we ourselves 
 
 1 Henry was captured at Bungerley, near Clitheroe, by Thomas Talbot, of BashaU, near Wadding- 
 ton, Yorkshire, and his cousin John, of Salesbury.—See chapter 3, page 130. 
 
A RAMBLE FROM LYTHAM TO RIBCHESTER. 525 
 
 carelessly suffer that which is preserved to us to sink into decay, through 
 practical indifference. 
 
 From Longridge fell side, a glorious view of the valley of the Kibble, 
 and the greater portion of south Lancashire, is obtained. The Jesuits’ 
 college of Stonyhurst occupies a fine site on its southern slope. The 
 village of Mitton, its ancient church and interesting monuments, lie hid 
 amongst the foliage which luxuriates on the Hodder’s hanks. At the foot 
 of I’endle, the village of Whatley, with its picturesque abbey ruin, and its 
 long modern railway viaduct, lies cradled in the centre of a lovely amphi¬ 
 theatre of gently sloping hills, rich in varied beauty. A wide expanse of 
 wood and plain, glittering in the sunlight, or reposing in cool transparent 
 shadow, lies at our feet. The whole of our course from Lytliam is seen 
 at a glance; the objects which have been familiar to us, during our 
 journey, are spread out like a chart before us. Moderately sized hills, 
 shrunk into puny mounds, have lost their individual importance, but con¬ 
 tribute towards the construction of the mighty panorama by which we are 
 environed. Truly the scene is lovely enough to justify the enthusiastic 
 aspiration of the good old poet of 1636, who exclaims :— m 
 
 I love ye men, ye countrye and ye fare. 
 
 And wish heere my poor fortunes settled were. 
 
 Far from ye courts ambition, citties strife. 
 
 Reposed in silence of a countrye life. 
 
 Amongst ye Dingles and ye Appennines, 
 
 Whose safetye gaue occasion to ould lines. 
 
 Thus riming: ‘ When all England is alofte 
 
 Then happie they whose dwelling’s in Christs crofte •’ 
 
 And where tliincke you tins crofte of Christe should be 
 But midst Ribchesters Ribble and Mercy ?” 
 
 From the angle of the Koman road on the north, just over the crown of 
 the fell, the valley of the Loud and part of the valley of the Hodder, 
 surrounded by the Bleasdale fells, Parlick pike, the Bowland fells, 
 and the lesser Yorkshire hills, over-capped by the rugged heads of Peni- 
 gent and Ingleborough, form another landscape of grander proportions 
 and still more powerful features. From “ Tootal Height,” above the 
 Longridge stone quarries, both valleys may be seen. To the west, from 
 this point, the majestic panorama, like a sea of verdure, stretches from the 
 shores of Morccambo Bay to near the estuary of the Mersey, the glittering 
 sea line sparkling on the horizon. In the centre of this glorious prospect 
 rises “ Proud Preston,” slightly disfigured, it is time, by the heavy cloud 
 of coal smoke hanging like a sombre pall above its tall thin factory chim¬ 
 neys. Preston has, nevertheless, still good reason to be justly proud of its 
 beautiful site, its historic antecedents, and its present envied position as 
 the second manufacturing town in the county. 
 
 m Rev. Richard Jones, B.D. Iter Lancastrense. 
 
526 
 
 P HE ST OX AXB ITS EXVIKOXS. 
 
 An hour’s repose on “ Tootal Height ” is a fitting close to our ramble. 
 Here, -while we gaze upon the open honest face of Haturc in one of her 
 loveliest moods, and admire the delicate and harmonious blending of the 
 Beautiful with the Grand, we may reflect calmly upon the Past, and, guided 
 by its teachings, we may speculate with profit upon the probable contents 
 of the succeeding pages in the volume of universal and eternal Truth, 
 in which the spirit of all History, present, past, and future, lies enshrined ! 
 
THE HUNDRED OF AMOUNDERNESS. 
 
 52 7 
 
 PART III.—THE ENVIRONS. 
 
 CHAPTER II.—THE HUNDRED OF AMOUNDERNESS. 
 
 Origin of the term Amounderness—Boundaries of the Hundred—Norman Proprietors— 
 Harrison’s description of Amounderness—Leland’s Ditto—The Fylde—Parish of 
 Preston—Fulwood and Myerscough—Parish of Kirkham—Lytham—Bispham, including 
 Blackpool—Poulton, including Fleetwood—St. Michael’s—Garstaug. 
 
 The origin of the term Amounderness has not yet been satisfactorily 
 explained. It has, however, most probably been derived from Ac, oak; 
 munder, estuaries, or mouths of rivers ; and ness, promontory. This inter¬ 
 pretation exactly accords with its natural characteristics.” 
 
 At the period of the Norman conquest, Amounderness included the 
 parishes of Chipping and Ribchester, the Ribble forming the natural boun¬ 
 dary between it and “ Blackburn-shire.’’ These parishes were, however, 
 afterwards added to the territory of the De Lacies, probably from 
 their contiguity to the stronghold of Clitheroe castle. The original boun¬ 
 daries of Amounderness, as described in the charter of Athelstan, in his 
 grant of the laud to the church of St. Peter, at York, 1 ’ appear to have like¬ 
 wise included a considerable portion of the land to the north of the Wyre, 
 at present appertaining to the hundred of Lonsdale. Dr. Whitaker, refer¬ 
 ring to this document, says :— 
 
 “ Tlie boundaries on three sides were simple, natural, and strongly defined—the sea, 
 the Kibble, and the Hodder : the limit of the fourth, from the source of the Coker to 
 the point where it falls in with Hodder, is rather obscure, ‘ ab illo fonte direcle in alium 
 fontum qui dicitur Saxonice Dulesliope, sic per dcscensum rivuli in Hodder' Dulesliope 
 was, therefore, a fountain which descended into the Hodder, having its source in the 
 great ridge which forms the limit of Bowland to the north. This can be no other than 
 Duneshope, the stream of Whitendale. By this demarcation, the course of Wire, which 
 has long been the boundary between Loynesdale and Amunderness, was wholly neglected, 
 and a right line, defining the two hundreds, carried from the source of Cocker to the top 
 of Whitendale, so that great part of Over Wiresdale would fall within Amunderness.” c 
 
 It has been shown that Lancashire, Westmoreland, etc., were most pro¬ 
 bably not formed into counties anterior to the Norman conquest. The eccle¬ 
 siastical divisions of the country are evidently of much more ancient date. d 
 In the valor of Pope Nicholas, completed in 1292, in the reign of Edward 
 
 a See chapter 2, page 73. b See chapter 2, page 70. 
 
 c His. Eicliiliondshirc, vol. 2, page 420. 
 d See chapter 2, pages 59 and 93 ; and chapter 3, page 97. 
 
528 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 I., the parishes of Preston, Kirkliam, Poulton, Garstang, St. Michael’s, 
 Lancaster, and Itibehcster, are included in the deanery of Amoundemess 
 and the archdeaconry of Pichmond. When Chester ■was erected into a 
 distinct bishopric in the 33rd year of the reign of Henry YIII., a new 
 valuation was made, in which the rectory of St. Bartholomew, at Chipping, 
 the perpetual curacies of Bispham and Lytham, and the discharged vicar¬ 
 age of Cockerham, are included in the deanery of Amounderness. 
 
 The Domesday survey says, that all the villages in Amoundemess, in¬ 
 cluding three churches, belonged to Preston. It further adds,—“Of these” 
 (villages) “sixteen have few inhabitants—but how many inhabitants 
 there may be is not known.” From this it has been supposed that the 
 remainder of the sixty-two villages or townships enumerated therein, were 
 without, or nearly without, inhabitants. It is more probable, however, 
 that forty-six of the villages, possessed an average population, and that 
 the sixteen had partially fallen into decay, in consequence of the ravages 
 of the victorious Norman soldiery. The document further adds that the 
 remaining lands in the hundred were “ waste,” and that the whole was 
 held by Boger de Poictou. 6 It was subsequently conferred upon Theobald 
 Walters, son of Herveus, another follower of the conqueror, whose line 
 according to Dr. Whitaker, still remained unbroken to the present century 
 in the Butlers of Kirkland. f Mr. Baines says the “ name of Walter origi¬ 
 nally signified an office; and, by Yerstigan, in his Decayed Intelligence, 
 is derived from the Teutonic ‘ Wald-huter,’ a forester ; and, having been 
 assumed by Herveus, Carte is of opinion that he was warden of the forest 
 of Amunderness.” On the death of Theobald Walter, Amoundemess 
 reverted to the crown, in the possession of which it remained until the 51st 
 year of the reign of Henry III., when, as stated in the pleadings on a Quo 
 Warranto, in a subsequent reign, this monarch granted the Wapentake to 
 Edmund Crouchback, earl of Lancaster, with the castle and honour of 
 Lancaster, and the manors of Preston, Bigby, and Singleton. They again, 
 merged into the possessions of the crown, on the accession of Henry IY. 
 A portion is still retained by the queen, as duchess of Lancaster. 
 
 Harrison, the oldest English topographer, has left the following descrip¬ 
 tion of the rivers in Amoundemess and the neighbourhood :— 
 
 “ The Darwent divideth Lalandshire from Audernesse, S and it riseth by east, above 
 Darwent Chappell, and soone after uniting itselfe noth the Black-burne and Rodlesworth 
 water, it goeth through Howghton parke, by Howghton towre, to Walton hall, and so 
 on to the Ribell. As for the Sawocke brooke, it ryseth some what above Longridge 
 chappell, goeth to Browghton towne, Cottam, Lee hah, and so into Ribell ; and here is 
 all that I have to say of this river. 
 
 “ The Wyre riseth eight or ten miles from Garstan, out of a hill in Wyresdale, whence 
 it runneth by Shireshead chappell, and then going by Wadland, Garstang, and Kyrke- 
 
 e See chaper 3, page 98. f See chapter 3, page 112. 
 
 g This is an error. See chapter 3, page 138. 
 
THE HUNDRED OF AMOUNDERNESS. 
 
 529 
 
 lande lmll, it first receyveth the second Calder, that cometh down by Edmersey chappcll, 
 then another channel, increasd with sundrie waters, which I will here describe before I 
 begin with the Wire. I suppose that the first water is called Plympton brooke. It 
 riseth south of Gosner, and cometh by Cawforde hall, and ere long, receyving the Barton 
 beclce, it proceedetli forward till it joyneth with the Brocke rill, that cometh by Claugli- 
 ton hall, where in Broke holes doth lie, and so thorough Mersco forest. After this con¬ 
 fluence, the Plime or Plympton water meeteth with the Calder and then with the Wire, 
 which passeth forth to Mighell church and the Raw clifles, and above Thorneton erosseth 
 the Skipton that goeth by Polton, then into the Wire rode, and finally into the sea, 
 according to his nature. 
 
 “ Beying past the fall of the Wyre, wee coasted upp by the salt cotes to Cocker mouth, 
 whose sliortnesse of course deserveth no description. The next is Cowdar,h which coming 
 out of Wiredale, as I take it, is not encreased with auie other waters more than Coker, 
 and therefore I will rydde my hands thereof so much the sooner.” 
 
 Iu the reign of Henry VIII., Leland the king’s antiquary and topo¬ 
 grapher, passed through Aruouuderness, of which hundred he has left the 
 following description :— 
 
 “ Prom Preston to Garstone X mile. 
 
 “ A mile without Preston I rode over Savok, a bigge brooke, the wich rising in the 
 lfilles a iii or iv miles of on the right hand, not very far of goeth into Ribel. 
 
 “ After I rode over Brock water, rising a vi miles of in the hills on the right hand, 
 and goeth at last into Wyre. Calder rising about the same hills, goeth also into Wyre; 
 I rode over it. By the townes end of Garstone I rode over a great stone bridge on 
 Wy ver or I cam to hit. Wyre riseth a viii or tenue myles from Garston out of the hilles 
 on the right hande, and cummeth by Grenehaugh, a praty castel of lord Darby’s and 
 more than half myle thens to Garston in Anderness. Sum saith that Garstone was a 
 market towne. 
 
 “ From Garstane to Sainct Mikels, a village ii miles, and a mile lower on the further 
 6ide be the places of Mr. Ivirkeby of Raueliffe and Mr. Boteler of Raueliffe; so a vii 
 mile to Alhalois village, and thens to the sea. Raudcliffe of Wimmerlaw a mile from 
 Garstan, hath hys place at Wimmerlaw. 
 
 “ Wyre ebbeth and flowetli a iii miles beneath Garstane, and at a chapel of Alhalows, 
 at a x miles from Garstane goeth into the main se. 
 
 “ Or I came to Garstane, by a mile and an halfe, I left Merscow, a great parke partly 
 enclose with hegge, al on the moor side with pale; on the right it is replenished with 
 redde dere. The Erie of Darby hath it in ferine of the kinge. 
 
 “ Up towards the hill by Grenehaugh be iii forests of redde dere, Wyredale, Bouland, 
 and Bleasdale; that be partly woody, partly hetlie. The ground bytwixt Morle and 
 Preston enclosed for pasture and corne, but were the vast mores and mosses be, whereby 
 as in hegge rowes. by side grovettes, ther is reasonable woode for building, and sum for 
 fier, yet al the people ther for the most part burne turfes. Likewise is the soil bytwixt 
 Preston and Garstan ; but alway the moste part of enclosures be for pasturage. 
 
 “ Whete is not very comunely sowed in tlies partes aforesaid. 
 
 “ Al Aundernesse for the moste parte in time paste hath been full of woode, and many 
 of the moores replenished with by fyrre trees. But now such part of Aundernesse as is 
 toward the se is sore destitute of woodde. 
 
 “ From Garstane I passed partely by moore ground, partly by pasture and sum corne, 
 and so riding over Goker river that maketh no grete course or he cum to the sandes by 
 Cokerliam village, not a mile of upon which sandes I passed Ivoker river ons or twis 
 again, not without sum feere of quickkesandes. At the ende of the sandes I saw divers 
 salt cootes wher were divers hepes of sandes of salt strondes, out of the wich, by often 
 weting with water, they pike oute the saltnes, and so the water is drived into a pit and 
 after sodde.” 
 
 li “ This Cowdar, so far as I know, is a nonentity; but the word, however mis-spelt, seems to havo 
 been meant by Harrison to denote the Couder, which is the next rivulet to Cocker, though within 
 Lovnesdale hundred.”—Dr. Whitaker’s Ilis. Rich. vol. 2, p. 418. 
 
530 
 
 PRESTOS AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 The eastern portion of Amoundemess is hilly; the -western, bordering 
 upon the sea, is a level champaign country, varied with slight knolls, and 
 interspersed with moss lands. The level division is termed the Fylde, 
 which is interpreted to mean the field or flat cleared land.' This tract of 
 country now abounds with fertile arable, as well as meadow and pasture 
 land. Considerable improvements have latterly been effected in the drain¬ 
 age and cultivation of many portions of the district, and others are now 
 in progress. 
 
 The population of the hundred of Amoundemess, which, with the excep¬ 
 tion of Preston, Kirkham, and a few minor places, is chiefly occu¬ 
 pied in agricultural pursuits, was in 1851, 113,243. According to the 
 ordnance survey, the hundred contains 162,643 statute acres. The annual 
 value of the property, according to the assessment made in 1854, for the 
 county rate, was £414,272. In 1841, it was £364,454.> 
 
 PARISH OF PRESTON. 
 
 Preston parish, besides the township of Preston, includes Lea, Ashton, 
 Ingol and Cottam, Rroughton, Barton, Haighton, Elston, Grimsargh with 
 Brockholes, Ribbleton, and Fishwiek. 
 
 Lea, Ashton, Ingol, and Cottam, four hamlets, to the north west of the 
 town of Preston, form one township for parochial purposes. In the reign 
 of John, Arthur de Estonc held a carucate of land in Estone, Tulket, and 
 Ingole. k Mr. Baines says:— 
 
 “ Sir Richard de Hocton, son of Adam de Hocton by his wife Avica, widow of Roger 
 de Ashton, married Sybilla, daughter of William de Lea, and heir of Henry de Lea, 
 2 Edward II., and he occurs in the Duchy Feodary, as holding the manor of Lea by the 
 service of 3s. 4d. per annum, and a moiety of the town of Ashton by the service of 50s. 
 yearly.l The other moiety was then held by Lawrence Travers and William Lawrence, 
 in right of their wives.” 
 
 A Marmaduke Tulketh lived at Tulketh hall in 1124. It afterwards 
 reverted to Lawrence Travers, of Nateby, near Garstang. m John Travers, 
 of Xateby, in the 36th Edward III., held land and meadow at Tulkethe. 
 The estate afterwards passed to the "Wordens and the Rawstornes, and 
 eventually to the Heskeths. The estate was lately purchased by John 
 Abel Smith, esq. It is at present the property of Edward Pedder, esq., 
 of Ashton park, and Joseph Bray, esq. The hall, though a building of no 
 
 i “ This last tract is commonly denominated the Filde, by which is commonly understood the 
 field or champagn country, and this is probably right, for Alfred, in his version of Orosius, has on 
 fildum land urn in the plural, to denote level countries.”—Whitaker’s His : Rich : vol. 2, p 415. 
 
 j The increased value is, however, much greater than is shown by these figures ; as the follow¬ 
 ing deductions were made in 1854. “Fromthe value of all lands, tithes, canals, navigations, docks 
 watercourses, reservoirs, quarries, delphs, and brick-yards, one-twelfth part. From the value of 
 all buildings, .(except farm buildings), mines, railways, and gasworks, one-sixth part.” 
 
 k Rot. Chart. 1. John. 
 
 1 “It was an escheat of the crown from the earl of Ferrers, at the compilation of the Testa de 
 Neville.” m See page 462, 
 
THE HUNDRED OE AMOUNDERNESS. 
 
 531 
 
 great antiquity or architectural pretensions, forms a striking object from the 
 bank of the river, owing to its light colour and castellated form. Tulketh 
 was occupied by the monks under Evanus, during the erection of their 
 magnificent abbey at Furness. m The woods have been partially cut down 
 and the neighbouring land laid out for the' erection of villas. A small 
 but neat church was built at Ashton a few years ago, principally through the 
 exertions of the late vicar, the Bev. 11. Carus Wilson. Lea, Ashton, 
 Iugol, and Cottam, in 1851, contained 743 inhabitants, and according to 
 the ordnance survey, nearly 3,488 statute acres of land. The property 
 was assessed to the county rate, in 1854, at the annual value of £8,361. 
 
 Broughton most probably derived its name from the circumstance that 
 a small Koman outwark originally existed in the neighbourhood. It is 
 situated on the line of the great road from Preston to Lancaster. 
 Theobald Walter was deprived of lands in Brochton, in the reign of King 
 John. He, however, afterwards regained possession of them. In the 
 reign of Edward I., a rent of 8s. was derived from land in Broughton, by 
 Edmund, carl of Lancaster.” A messuage, two mills, fifty acres of land, 
 and a close called Earnihalgh, were held by Gilbert de Singleton, in the 
 19th Edward II.° Mr. Baines conjectures the messuage referred to 
 to have been a massive structure of stone, razed about fifty years ago, 
 called Broughton tower. Some remains of a moat are still visible near 
 the farm house erected upon the site. It continued in the family 
 of Singleton until about the 13th James II., when it passed by 
 marriage to Lawrence Eawstorne, esq., of Penwortham. In 1810, 
 part of the estate was conveyed to the trustees of Kirkham school, and 
 another portion to James Iiothwell, esq., of Hoole. Broughton is a town¬ 
 ship comprising five hamlets, viz., the Church, Ingol Head, Lightford 
 Houses, Dorton, and Sharoe Green. It forms in conjunction with Barton 
 and Haighton, a parochial chapclry. The origin of the church is not 
 known. The older portion of the present edifice is evidently of the time 
 of Henry VIII. Laurence Stadaghe bequeathed his lands, in the event 
 of a school not being founded, for the repair of Broughton church and the 
 church bridges, in the 18th year of the reign of that monarch. The body 
 of the church was rebuilt in 1822, when many interesting inscriptions 
 and carvings were destroyed. On the oaken roof of the chancel, the dates 
 1537 and 1539 were carved. The old building contained two chapels, one 
 on the north, founded by the Bartons, of Preston ; and the other on the 
 south side of the chancel, by the Singletons, of Broughton tower. The old 
 church tower is yet preserved. It bears the date of 1533. On the base of the 
 
 n Kuerden’s manuscript. 
 
 m See chapter 3, page 117 and part 3, page 303. 
 o Escaet. 45 Edw. II. n 67. 
 
 2 I. 2 
 
532 
 
 TRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 stone pedestal which supports a sun dial in the churchyard, is the follow¬ 
 ing inscripton, “J. B. 1550.” The initials, together with the arms of 
 Singleton, Langton, Barton, and Eedmayne, carved in stone, which formed 
 a portion of the previous structure, are rebuilt in the east wall of the pre¬ 
 sent edifice. Bishop Gastrell records that in the early portion of the last 
 century, the salary of the master of the free grammar school was £13. 7s. 
 6d., arising from messuages and land, bequeathed in the 18th year of the 
 reign of Henry YIII., by Hr. Laurence Stadaugh, “ towards the exhibi¬ 
 tion and finding of an honest person, sad and discreet, to teach grammar 
 and school at Broughton.” By deed, dated 3rd November, 1656, one 
 pound per annum was given and secured on lands for a similar purpose, 
 by William Daniel, yeoman. The widow Daniel bequeathed one pound 
 per annum ; and, in 1649, Hr. Thomas Houghton devised “one-fourth 
 part of twenty-two acres of land, to the poor. Bishop Gastrell likewise 
 mentions other legacies of similar character; one, the “ interest of £41., 
 taken care of by trustees; ” the other, “ the interest of £21., given long 
 ago by a person unknown.” At Fernyhalgh, a chapel existed in the fifteenth 
 century. The site is still marked by a cross. In the immediate neigh¬ 
 bourhood, a modern catholic chapel was erected, about sixty years ago. 
 In 1718, Christopher Tootel, the catholic minister, having refused to 
 take the then legal oaths, was twice summoned to appear before the com¬ 
 missioners at Preston. He still refusing to comply, the officials visited 
 him in a somewhat unceremonious manner, as appears by the following 
 memorandum in the possession of the present pastor:— 
 
 “On Monday, June the last, 1718, the two chappells at Holywell, were visited by 
 twenty soldiers, sent from Preston by the commissioners, mounted on hired horses, and 
 conducted by Mr. Hitchmugh; the value of the booty is variously reported, but much 
 less considerable than at first it was said to be, as not exceeding £100.” 
 
 Fernyhalgh and Holywell are situated at the head of a secluded and 
 picturesque valley. A singular tradition of a miraculous character, still 
 obtains some credence as to the origin of the chapel. The estimated 
 annual value of property in the township of Broughton, in 1854, was 
 £6,196; the population in 1851, 685; and the area, according to the 
 ordnance survey, 2,367 acres. 
 
 Barton. —Barton in the reign of Henry III., was held by Grimbald de 
 Barton. About the year 1612, it passed by marriage to the Shuttleworths, 
 of Gawthorpe. In 1833, the manor was purchased by the late George Jacson, 
 esq., of Preston, whose son, Charles Jacson, esq., resides at the modem 
 mansion, Barton lodge. The old hall has been converted into a farm-house. 
 St. Lawrence’s chapel existed before the reformation. It is mentioned as 
 early as 1577. In the parliamentary inquiry, in 1650, it is stated to be 
 without minister or maintenance. Bishop Gastrell says :—“ This chapell 
 
THE HUNDRED OP AMOUNDERNESS. 
 
 532 
 
 Repaired by y e Family who enjoyed y e Estate, and lived in y e Manour- 
 house, to w ch this seems to have been a Domestic Chapell; w ch House and 
 Estate now belong to Mr. Shuttleworth. Certified that nothing belongs 
 to it.” p St. Lawrence’s chapel was enlarged and decorated with a stained 
 glass window, in 1845, by the late George Jacson, esq. An excellent 
 organ, built by Mr. Joseph Roome, of Preston, comprising fourteen stops 
 (including swell and couplars), was presented to the chapel, in 1856, by 
 Mr. Hawkins, of Hewsham house. The population of Barton, in 1850, 
 was 370; annual value of property, in 1854, £3,336 ; area, 2,707 statute 
 acres. 
 
 IIaighton. —This township, from the inquisitions in the duchy office, 
 appears to have been held at a distant period by several proprietors. 
 Mr. Baines says “an ancient building, called IIaighton house, was occu¬ 
 pied in the last century by Henry Haigliton, gent., who was doubtless the 
 representative of the local family.” There are two mansions, one of which 
 was more recently purchased by Mr. Anderton, from the Gerards, of Holt, 
 in Brindle; and the other, Haighton hall, from the heirs of Edward 
 Pedder, esq., late of Lancaster, by Richard Uewsham, esq., of Preston. 
 The township of Haighton contains 1,077 statute acres. In 1854, the 
 property was assessed at the annual value of £1,388. The population in 
 1851, amounted to 193. 
 
 Elston. —According to Mr. William Elston, who wrote, at the com¬ 
 mencement of the seventeenth century, a curious work, entitled “Mundana 
 Mutabilia, or Ethelestophylax,” q the original name of this township was 
 Ethelestone. He alludes to an ancient deed, which specifies that King 
 Athelstan, when “ lyinge in camp in this county upon occacon of waiTS, 
 gave the land of Etheleston vnto one to whom himself was Belsyre.” r 
 Mr. Elston likewise quotes another document, of the 45th Edward III., 
 which, he says, had “ a faire seale, with an eagle displayed with two 
 heads in a scuehion, and there was engraven about plainely to be read 
 these words, Sigillum Johis dc Etheleston The land passed through 
 various hands, until Sir John Radcliffe, of Ordsal, disposed of it to Sir 
 Thomas Walinsley. It was again several times transferred, until it fell 
 into the hands of a Mr. Roger Charnock, who was contemplating the sale 
 of the property at the time Mr. Elston was occupied in the compilation of 
 his curious work. The principal owner at the present time is Thomas 
 
 p There exists a tradition, that Mr. Shuttleworth being threatened with the honour of a visit by 
 King James I., on his temporary sojourn at Myerscourgh-lodge, in 1617, set fire to his kitchen, in 
 order that he might be armed with a sufficient apology for declining the responsibilities of 
 furnishing entertainment for the monarch’s princely retinue, 
 q Harl MS. 1727, fo. 336. r See chapter 2, page 93. 
 
534 
 
 rRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Walmsley, esq., of "VTinckley-square, Preston. The population of Elston, 
 in 1851,consisted of fifty-four persons. The area, according to the ordnance 
 survey, is 961 acres. The assessment to the county rate is £1,005. 
 annual value. 
 
 Grimsargh.— -In the 23rd Henry III., William de Eton held the “ town 
 of Grymesargh.” Roger de Etheleston likewise held property in this 
 township at the same period. Each paid in consideration the sum of three 
 shillings per annum. The manorial rights, including those of Alston, etc., 
 were disposed of by the late Sir Henry Hoghton, bart., to William 
 Assheton Cross, esq., of Red Scar. A small picturesque chapel, dedicated 
 to St. Michael, was erected about the year 1716, by subscription. Bishop 
 Gastrell says :— 
 
 “ New chapel, lately erected, viz. anno 1716, in ye Township of Grimsargh, but not 
 yet Consecrated, anno 1722, Certified that nothing at all belongs to it. £200. was 
 subscribed by Mr. Peplo, Min r of Preston, Sir Henry Houghton and others, towards ye 
 augmentation, anno 1717; £40. of w cd was given by a Gentlewoman who desired not 
 to be known.” s 
 
 The following letter, addressed by the Rev. Samuel Peploe, vicar of 
 Preston, (afterwards Bishop of Chester), to his predecessor, Bishop Gastrell, 
 gives some interesting particulars respecting the origin of this chapel: — 
 
 “ My Lord,—I beg leave to acquaint yr Ldp yt there are three Townships and part of 
 another in this Parish, w c h lie three, four, and five miles from the church, and have no 
 other convenient Place of public worship. That by this unhappy Situation they have 
 still been exposed to temptations and Popery, (wch is too prevalent in these Parts of 
 your Lordship’s Dioeess,) and are thereby an easier Prey to the Priests of that Commu¬ 
 nion ; we having no less than six of these men in y s one Parish. From my first coming 
 to this place I have wished for some hopeful remedy agt y s growing evil; and I hope we 
 are now in a way for it if yr Lp. please to give your approbation. 
 
 “ Sir Henry Hoghton, the Patron of y s Church, (and who has done several good things 
 for increasing our Congregation, and is the person who do’s me the favour to put ys paper 
 into yr hands), has promised Land to build a Chapel where it will be serviceable to the 
 Inhab ts above ment d ; and wth his assistance, I doubt not to procure a decent place for 
 y e worship of God among ’em. 
 
 “ When the intended Chappel is opened, I have taken care already yt there shall be ten 
 pounds per ann. at least, annexed to it, besides what some of the Inhabitants will Sub¬ 
 scribe, and wt may be got by Teaching School, it being a place where a diligent man 
 may help himself that way. These together, will he a competency for a Curate in y 3 
 cheap Country; and I hope if ye work be perfected, it will be of great use to men’s 
 souls, as well as of service to our Church. I wait only for yr Ltip’s pleasure to p’ceed. 
 If I have y l encouragement I shall im’ediately set about it, and hope to give you a good 
 account of ye affairs in a little time. I am, yr L'lp’s unknown, but very dutiful! son 
 and obedient Servt Signed, Sami. Peploe. 
 
 “ I was at Chester to pay my Duty to y r L (i p, soon after you went for London. 
 
 “ Preston, in Lancashire, Deanery of Richmond, Apr. 4, 1715.” t 
 
 The chapel was enlarged about 1815. This edifice was almost covered 
 with ivy, and formed a very picturesque rural object. It was partially 
 
 s Notitia Cestriensis, vol 2, page 470. 
 
 t Gastrell’s MSS. Registry, Chester. St. George’s chapel, Preston, was likewise erected chiefly 
 through the exertions of the Rev. S. Peploe. 
 
THE HUNDRED OF AHOUNDEUNESS. 
 
 535 
 
 rebuilt, and considerably enlarged in 1844, the chief expense being borne 
 by John Cross, esq., of Eed Scar." It now contains some handsome stained 
 glass windows. A portion of the ivy yet creeps around the old tower. 
 
 Brockholes. —The lordship of Brockholes, at a very early period was 
 held by the barons of Manchester. Boger de Brochol in the 38th Henry 
 III., held the land. It passed by marriage to the Ethelestons, of Ilibble- 
 ton, and the Singletons, of Brockholes ; and afterwards to the Winckleys, 
 by whom it was conveyed to Sir John Shelley, bart. Two old buildings 
 are called respectively Higher Brockholes hall and Lower Brockholes hall. 
 Grimsargh and Brockholes form one township, the annual rateable value of 
 which, in 1854, was £3,108; the acreage, according to the ordnance sur¬ 
 vey. 1,937 ; and the population, in 1851, 360. 
 
 Ribbleton. —According to Mr. Elston’s manuscript, previously referred 
 to, Ribbleton was held, in the reign of Henry III., by Avica de Ribbleton. 
 Her grandson conveyed all his lands, buildings, and gardens in Ribbleton, 
 to be held of the chief lords, to Roger de Etheleston. The township is 
 sometimes styled, in the old deeds, Ribbleton Scalis. AVilliam, son of 
 Roger del Scalis, gave the manor to Roger de Etheleston, in the eleventh 
 year of the reign of Edward II. Erom the Elstons it passed to Sir 
 Thomas de Hesketh, bart., of Rufford. Ribbleton hall is the seat of 
 Thomas Birchall, esq., of Preston. A largo tract of still unenclosed land 
 called Ribbleton-moor, is celebrated as the battle field where Cromwell 
 overcame Sir Marmaduke Langdale, in 1648. Should the cultivation of 
 this waste be determined upon, doubtless many relics of the contest will be 
 discovered/ On Ribbleton-moor, some time ago, were the remains of two 
 stone crosses, one of which yet stands near to the boundary which divides 
 the township from Preston. On the road from Broughton, a curious 
 circular perforated stone, believed to be the pedestal of an ancient cross, 
 may still be seen. The area of Ribbleton township is 648 statute acres. 
 The population in 1851, numbered 189; and the annual rateable value 
 of the property in 1854, was £1,675. 
 
 Eishwick. —According to the Testa de N’evill’, Roger Gernet held 
 Fisewic or Fyswyc by serjeanty as forester. It was valued at twenty 
 shillings per annum. Sir William Dacre, in the reign of Edward I., 
 acquired the manor of Eishwick by marriage with Joane, heiress of Bene¬ 
 dict Gernet. Ranulph de Dacre fell at the battle of Towton-field. His 
 estates were by attainder forfeited to the crown. Sir Thomas Assheton, of 
 Ashton-under-Lync, held Fysshewick, in the 7th year of the reign of Henry 
 VIII. By marriage with his daughter, it passed to theHoghton family, by 
 whom it was held till the middle of the last century, when it was disposed 
 
 u See page 590. 
 
 t See page 183. 
 
536 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 of to the father of the late TWnley Bigby Shawe, esq., of Preston. Fishwick 
 during the present century has become attached to Preston, and now forms 
 a part of the parliamentary and municipal borough. The population in 
 1851, numbered 1,005 persons. The annual rateable value of the pro¬ 
 perty in the township, in 1854, was £5,028. According to the ordnance 
 survey it contained 692 statute acres of laud. The population of Preston 
 was 68,537 ; the annual rateable value of the property £168,770.; and 
 the area 2,126 acres. Total: Population, 69,542; value of property, 
 £173,798.-; area, 2,818 acres. Until lately a spring existed at “ Common 
 bank,” which possessed the property of “ petrifying ” or covering with 
 earthy matter plants and other objects submitted to its action. Mr. Baines 
 mentions a spring of this character in Frenchwood. Near Boilton wood, 
 between Lower Brocklioles and Eed Scar, is a spring possessing medical 
 properties. It has acquired some fame as “ Boilton-spa.” It is not much 
 frequented at the present time. Dr. Southey says :—“ There is a spring 
 about three leagues from hence (Preston), the water of which will burn 
 with blue flame like spirits of wine.” It is difficult to say what spring 
 is here alluded to. Mr. "Whittle assumes the one at Boilton. 1 But this is 
 neither three leagues (not miles as he prints it) distant from Preston, nor 
 does it possess the peculiar property referred to. Dr. Leigh describes 
 several springs in Lancashire. He mentions one at Inglewhite, with a 
 “ very sulphureous smell, as strong as that near Harrigate in Yorkshire.” 
 Another at “Aucliff,” near Wigan, he thus describes:— 
 
 “ The Well is at the Bottom of a Tree, the Water Cold, and without any Smell; 
 when any Person comes to see it, a Man clears the Well from all its Water, that done 
 you will immediately hear a hissing Noise in a Corner of it, and by holding a lighted 
 Candle near to it, the Sulphureous Halitus immediately takes Fire, and afterwards 
 spreads itself upon what Water has issued in, and tis only then indeed it ought to be 
 call’d the Buming-Well.” y 
 
 This, in all probability, is the spring referred to. 
 
 Fulwood, although immediately contiguous to the township of Preston, 
 is an isolated portion of the parish of Lancaster. It forms, however, one 
 of the suburbs of Preston, and in the course of time, will doubtless become 
 incorporated with the town. Fulwood is not mentioned in the Domesday 
 survey, unless it is alluded to by the term Watelei,* which is not impro¬ 
 bable, as the Eoman Watling-street traverses the township. Fulwood was 
 one of the parks or forests belonging to the duchy of Lancaster. It was 
 latterly held in fee by the earl of Derby. A large portion was moor or 
 common, until 1814. Some relics of Cromwell’s victory over Langdale in 
 
 w Letters from England, No. XL., by Don Manuel Alvares Espriella, second edition, 1S08. 
 
 x His. Preston, vol. 2, p. 97. y Nat. His. Lan. Ches. Book 1, p. 41. 
 
 z See chap. 3, page 99. 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ;' 
 

 
THE HUNDRED OF AMOUNDERNESS. 
 
 537 
 
 1648, have been found on a farm bearing the name of Killingsough, 3 near 
 which an immense quantity of human bones were discovered during some 
 draining operations. Yarious reasons have been assigned for their deposit 
 in this locality, though none are perfectly satisfactory. 11 A portion of the 
 land in Pul wood, between the brook which separates it from Moor-park 
 and the Watling-street, has been purchased by the Freehold Land society, 
 and laid out for building purposes. Several houses have already been 
 erected. This pleasantly situated subiu'b is called the “Freehold-park.” 
 The new barracks are situated a little to the left of Freehold-park, at the 
 distance of about a mile and a half from the centre of Preston. The land 
 occupied by this military station comprises twenty-eight and a half statute 
 acres. It is built upon a part of the site of the old race course, over which 
 the ancient Watling-street passed. The preparatory works were com¬ 
 menced in July, 1842, and the first stone was laid on the 28th of August, 
 1843. The whole was completed in June, 1848. The establishment 
 includes a large square for infantry, and a second for cavalry exercise, 
 together with an extensive general parade ground in the rear. The whole of 
 the buildings, which are spacious and admirably adapted to secure the 
 health and comfort of the occupants, are of stone, from the lower quarry 
 at Longridge. They are calculated to accommodate one battalion of infan¬ 
 try, one squadron of cavalry, and demi-battery of artillery. In addition 
 to the offices for purely military purposes, there is a neat chapel, erected 
 over the principal inner gateway, which gives some little architectural 
 character to this large mass of substantial building. The following in¬ 
 scription is placed upon the inner side of the wall near the principal 
 entrance :— 
 
 “ This Barrack, built by order of 
 TnE Master General and Board of Ordnance 
 was 
 
 Commenced in August, 1843, and Completed in June, 1848, 
 Amount of Estimate, £137,615. 15. 4£. 
 
 Amount of Cost, £137,921. 2. lOf. 
 
 T. Foster, 
 
 Major & Com^P Boy’ Engineers.” 
 
 Extensive additions are at present in progress. On the west side of the 
 parade ground a range of substantial buildings are in course of erection, 
 calculated to afford suitable accommodation for about eighty married 
 soldiers and their families. The situation of the Fulwood barracks is 
 remarkably healthy, being rather high, and freely exposed to the sanitary 
 influence of both the sea and mountain breezes. The population of Ful- 
 
 a See chap. 4, page 19G. 
 
 b See chap. 2, page 64. 
 
538 
 
 DUEST0X AXD ITS EXVLRONS. 
 
 wood in 1851, numbered 1,748; the area, according to the ordnance sur¬ 
 vey, is 2,116 acres; and the annual rateable value of the property, in 
 1854, was £5,971. In 1707, the corporation of Preston, at the request 
 of the Rev. Samuel Peploe, M.A., the vicar, granted a piece of land 
 iu the “ townships of Cadeley and Fulwood ” for the erection of a 
 school. The sum of one hundred pounds was invested in five acres of 
 land called “Norshaw,” and conveyed to Mr. Peploe and the Rev. W. 
 Chamley, curate of Broughton, in trust. Four fifths of the rental were to 
 be applied towards the maintenance of the school; one tenth was to be 
 distributed in bread, by the vicar for the time being, and the remaining 
 tenth to be paid to the said Samuel Peploe, his heirs, and assigns for ever. 
 Mr. Peploe received £80. out of the one hundred so invested under the 
 will of John Hatch, of Preston, for the use of the school, and £10. more 
 for the purchase of the bread to be given to the poor at Preston, on Sacrament 
 Sunday. The remaining £10. Mr. Peploe added himself, hence the rever¬ 
 sion of his interest to his heirs. 
 
 Myf.escougii is likewise in the parish of Lancaster. It was formerly a 
 forest or park pertaining to the crown. In the reign of Henry Till., 
 Leland speaks of the red deer in “ Merscow park.” The land of the 
 forest until lately has generally been held by the earls of Derby. The 
 manor is held under the duchy by Thomas Fitzherbert Brockholes, 
 esq., of Claaughton. Messrs. William and John Humber, of Preston, now 
 hold Myerscough park in lease from the crown. Myerscough lodge, the 
 residence of the gallant Sir Thomas Tildesley, has been converted into a 
 farm house. Although much modernised, some portions still retain their 
 original character. Amongst these is the broad staircase with its fine oak 
 balustrade. The “ chimney piece,” in a small room to the left of the 
 staircase is an extremely massive and elaborate specimen of the oak carv¬ 
 ing of the period. It occupies the entire space between the firep lace and 
 the ceiling. It contains eight panels. The four lower ones are ornamented 
 with carved heads; and two of the upper ones bear the arms of the 
 Tildesleys, and the initials T. T. The Rev. Canon Raines says :— 
 “Edward Tyldesley, esq., had arms allowed in 1644, and was probably 
 the individual who about this time restored this part of the lodge.” c 
 The Derby crest is carved over one of the medallion heads, and the Manx 
 arms over the other. Above the door of the stable, there is built in the 
 wall, a stone, ornamented with rude carving, which carries the following 
 singular inscription : “old dog lad 1714.” This has been interpreted to 
 read as follows : “ Oswald Lord Derby, H)emense of Garstang, Lord Archer 
 
 c Annotations to the Assheton Journal, published by the Chetham Society. 
 
THE HUNDRED OF AMOUNDERNESS. 
 
 539 
 
 of the Duchy.” In a manuscript diary of Thomas Tildesley, esq., which 
 commences in March, 1712, and concludes in November, 1714, there is 
 an entry dated March 28th, 1712, in which he styles himself, in a list of 
 parties at dinner, as “Old: Dog: Lad:” From this it would appear 
 that the phrase originated with one of the Stanley family, who held the 
 office of “ Lord Archer ” under the duchy, and that Mr. Tildesley adopted 
 it as a nickname on account of his connection with the forest. Edward 
 Tildesley, in 1617, entertained King James I. at Myerscough lodge, on his 
 return from Scotland. Charles II. likewise rested there one night, on his 
 way to 'Worcester.' 1 The population of the township, in 1851, amounted 
 to 459 persons; the area, according to the ordnance survey, is 2,706 
 acres ; and the rateable value of the property in 1854, was £4,181. 
 
 KIRKHAM PARISH. 
 
 From the numerous remains discovered, Kirkham was undoubtedly 
 occupied as a station by the Roman people. e Coins, potter}-, etc., have 
 been frequently found. The pottery is all of the coarser kind, no specimen 
 of the “ Samian or red lustrous ware ” having been met with. One 
 extremely rare and interesting relic of the Roman people was taken from 
 the brook in the Mill Iley Field, in 1792. It is of brass, and is considered 
 to be the ornamented boss or umbo of a shield. Dr. Whitaker has evidently 
 been mis informed as to the locality where this relic was found. The 
 same article is described by him as having been discovered on the line of the 
 Roman road, near Garstang, in 1800. It was examined, according to Mr. 
 Baines, by Dr. Hunter, of York, and afterwards passed into the hands of Sir 
 William Hamilton. Dr. Whitaker says it “ was purchased soon after its 
 discovery by Charles Towneley, esq., and deposited, with the rest of his 
 collection in the British Museum.” The entire diameter is about eight 
 inches. In the centre its form is semi-globular. The diameter of this 
 embossment is about live inches. In the surrounding flat portion, there 
 are four holes, evidently intended for the rivets by which it was originally 
 fastened to the wood of the shield. In the centre is represented a dignified 
 figure, seated, witli a bird, apparently an eagle, on the left. This is most 
 probably intended to represent either Jupiter or some one of the Roman 
 emperors. f On either side of the boss is a naked figure engaged in some 
 athletic exercise. Beneath the feet of the figure is an eagle and some 
 other birds. The remainder of the level portion is decorated with repre¬ 
 sentations of swords, shields, and military trophies. The Romau road 
 
 d See pages 151, 202, 210. e See chapter 1, page 36. 
 
 f Dr. Whitaker says this bird has “ more the character of a goose than might havebeen expected 
 in so dignified a situation,” 
 
540 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 from Eul wood-moor, passed by Kirkham on its way to the “ Portus ” of 
 Ptolemy, at the AVyre. Some remains of it are yet visible, especially part 
 of an embankment of gravel, over the moss betwixt Kirkliam and Poulton. 
 Several remains have been picked up on its line. g The farmers in the 
 neighbourhood, however, are very industriously destroying the last remains 
 of the agger, the material being handy for the repair of roads. Kirkham 
 at the time of the Domesday survey, possessed a church, as the name 
 implies. Roger de Poictou conferred the church and tithes of Kirkham, 
 upon the abbey of Sees, for the benefit of the priory of Lancaster. It 
 afterwards passed to the convent of Shrewsbury, aud again, after some 
 further partial transfers, to the abbey of Yale Royal, in the ninth Edward I. 
 In the following year, the town was incorporated. At the dissolution of 
 the monasteries, both the manor and advowson of the church were trans¬ 
 ferred to Christ church college, Oxford. The college retains the right of 
 presentation to the vicarage, but the manor is held in fee by the Cliftons, 
 of Lytham. Several other charters have been granted to Kirkham, inclu¬ 
 ding one of the 9th Elizabeth, which confirms the previous grant of a 
 weekly market on Thursday, and an annual fair of five days. It was 
 declared, in the 1st Edward, a free borough for ever, with power to hold 
 a free guild, witfi a prison, pillory, and ducking stool; and assize of bread, 
 beer, weights aud measures. The borough, however, never sent any 
 members to parliament, probably on account of its relative poverty. The 
 duties of town council, appear to have been discharged by thirty burgesses, 
 who arc styled in the records the “ Thirty Men.” Kirkham possesses 
 several charities, and a free grammar school, which was in existence before 
 the year 1585. In 1291, the living of Kirkham was valued at £160. h 
 per annum ; but at the dissolution of the monasteries its revenues were 
 estimated at no more than £21. Is. 0£d. ‘ In 1835, it appears from a 
 petition presented to the house of commons, from the inhabitants, that, 
 with a population of 12,000 persons, scattered over seventeen townships, 
 comprising 130 square miles of land, eight of the townships were without 
 any means of religious instruction ; and that in one direction, for a distance 
 of twelve miles, not a single place of worship was to be met with. Some 
 little improvement has since taken place. The parish church was probably 
 re-built by Cuthbert Clifton, who died in 1586, and whose arms are 
 engraved upon one of the buttresses. The “ church was entirely rebuilt, 
 by the aid of a parish rate, in the year 1822,” at a cost of £5,000. j In 
 1845, the tower was taken down, and the present one surmounted by a 
 
 g See chapter 1, page 5. h Valor of Pope Nicholas. i Liber Regis. 
 
 j Over an arch in the chancel is an inscription as above quoted. It is, however, not 
 strictly correct, inasmuch as the tower and a portion of the chancel of the elder building were 
 preserved. 
 
THE HUNDBED OE AMOUXDEBNESS. 
 
 541 
 
 spire 150 feet in height erected. There are several interesting monuments 
 in the church. Amongst others, it is said, there formerly existed a singular 
 epitaph to the memory of the Eev. Cuthbert Harrison, A. B., a celebrated 
 ejected puritan minister, who founded, by royal license, in 1672, a meeting 
 house, at Elswick Lees, in the parish of St. Michael. The Eev. E. Clegg, 
 vicar of Kirkham, a bitter opponent of Harrison, is said to have caused a 
 satirical epitaph to be placed over his grave. This gave displeasure to 
 the friends of the staunch nonconformist, some of whom altered the ver¬ 
 sion to the disparagement of Clegg. The epitaphs read as follows : —• 
 
 Clegg's version, 
 “ Here lies Cud, 
 
 Who never did good. 
 But always was in strife: 
 Oh ! let the Knave 
 Lie in his grave, 
 
 And ne’er return to life. ” 
 
 As altered by Harrison’s friends. 
 “ H ere lies Cud, 
 
 Who still did good, 
 
 And never was in strife. 
 
 But with Dick Clegg, 
 
 Who furiously opposed 
 His holy life. ” k 
 
 The truth of the story is, liotvever, denied by the Eev. Canon Eaines, who 
 says: “ The fact appears to be that the doggrel in question was the harm¬ 
 less effusion of an obscure poet, and written hi chalk, a few years since, 
 on a gravestone in the Church-yard.” 1 Kirkham possesses several other 
 places of worship in connection with various religious denominations. A 
 handsome catholic chapel, at the “Willows,” near Kirkham, erected from 
 designs by the elder Pugin, was opened in April, 1845. It was dedicated 
 to St. John; but is commonly designated the “Church of the Holy Cross.” 
 It was erected entirely at the expense of the Eev. Thos. Sherbourne. 
 The tower contains a peal of six bells. A chapel previously existed 
 near the site, erected in 1809. The trade of Kirkham appears to have 
 formerly depended chiefly on the manufacture of cordage, sail cloth, 
 and some coarse and fine linens. One or two cotton mills have lately 
 been introduced, and considerable advance made in the linen manu¬ 
 facture. Kirkham appears to be gradually recovering from the state of 
 retrogression, which was veiy apparent to even a casual visitor a few years 
 ago. The population of the township in 1851, was 2,799; the acreage, 
 according to the ordnance survey, 857 ; and the rateable value of the 
 property in 1854, £5,737 per annum. The parish of Kirkham comprises 
 the following townships:—Kirkham, Freckle ton, Warton, Bryning-with- 
 Kellamargh, Kibby-with-Wray, Westby with Great and Little Plumpton, 
 Weeton, Medlar and Wesham, Greenlialgh-with-Thistleton, Great and 
 Little Singleton, Hambleton, Little Ecclcston and Larbrick, Kosacre, 
 Wharles and Trcales, Newton and Scales, Clifton and Salwick, Goosnargh- 
 with-Kewsham, and Whittingham. The three last named are contiguous 
 to Preston. 
 
 k Baines’s Lan., vol. 4, page 334. 
 
 1 Notitia Cestriensis, vol. 2, page 420, published 1850. 
 
512 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Clifton -with-Salwicx. —Clifton manor has been held by the family of 
 Clifton, of Lytham, from a very early period. In the 42nd Henry III., a 
 William de Clifton held, in the hundred of Amounderness, ten carucates 
 of land. The site of an ancient hall, formerly existing here, was, a short 
 time ago, occupied as a farm-house, called “Hall-yards,” at the eastern end 
 of the village. This has since given place to the modem hall, the erection 
 of which commenced about twenty-three years ago. It is in the Elizabethan 
 style, and was built by the late Thomas Clifton, esq. It is at present the 
 residence of Edmund Birley, esq. The village consists chiefly of a long 
 straggling row of houses, with barns and outbuildings on the opposite side 
 of the street, which is rudely paved with large boulders. Salwick hall, 
 the property of Mr. Clifton, is situated in the northern portion of the town¬ 
 ship. About forty years ago, Salwick possessed a catholic chapel. The 
 small episcopal chapel of Lund, situated in a retired portion of the locality, 
 supposed, from the name, to have been originally used by the Danish 
 settlers as a place of pagan sacrifice, was partially rebuilt about 1825. m In 
 1662, the Rev. J. Harrison was ejected from the benefice. The parish 
 registers record that in 1688, a churchwarden was “presented” for 
 setting up a “ scandalous font” in this chapel. This objectionable article 
 is further described as a “ scandalous trough.” Canon Raines conjectures 
 it to have been “ a veritable Roman altar, and the honest Warden to have 
 had very loose notions on ‘ the peril of Idolatry.’ ” Calamy says, that 
 Joseph Harrison, “ the minister of Lun Chapel” was “fixed in a dark 
 comer, where he was wonderfully followed and very useful.” Lund 
 chapel is very often described as being in a “lonely part” of the township. 
 Such may have been the case at some remote period. At present its situa¬ 
 tion on a rising ground, and its contiguity to the Salwick station of the 
 Preston and Wyre railway, render the term “lonely ” extremely inapplicable. 
 Lund is evidently a very ancient settlement, the chapel and village being 
 situated on the line of the Roman Watling-street, or “Danes’ pad,” as it 
 is termed by the neighbouring inhabitants. In 1840, Clifton-eum-Salwiek 
 and Newton-eum-Scales were constituted a district parish, under the 1st 
 and 2nd Victoria, cap. 106. The living of Lund has since been increased 
 to the annual value of £342., by the addition of the tithes of the latter 
 townships. The nomination of the minister is vested in the dean and 
 canons of Christ church, Oxford. The population of Clifton-with-Salwick, 
 in 1851, was 471 ; the area, according to the ordnance survey, 3,044 
 acres; and the annual rateable value of the property, in 1854, £5487. 
 
 Goosnargh-with-Hewsham. —Mr. Baines says “ the chapelry of Goos- 
 nargb, which contains the townships of Goosnargh, Whittingham, and 
 
 m Canon Raines. Mr. Baines says in 1630. 
 
THE UUNDBED OF AMOUNOERNESS. 
 
 543 
 
 Newsham, each maintaining its own poor, though it appears part of the 
 parish of Kirkham, has nearly lost all traces of any connection with the 
 mother parish, and is generally considered as a distinct parochial district.” 
 According to a parliamentary inquiry, in 1G50, the parochial chapel of 
 Goosnargh, situated ten miles distant from the parish church of Kirkham, 
 depended entirely upon an allowance of £50. per annum from the “ Com¬ 
 mittee of Plundered Ministers,” which it is stated was paid to a “diligent 
 minister” there, named Ingham. The township was so remote from the 
 mother church, that the inhabitants desired their chapelry to be made a 
 distinct and separate parish. Robert de Goosnargh is the earliest known 
 proprietor oflands in this district. He lived previously to the reign of John. 
 There have been since several other holders of land in Goosnargh, amongst 
 others, the Cliftons, of Clifton, now of Lytham. The abbey of Cockersands 
 held two carucates in Newsham or Newsome. In the fifteenth century, 
 Middleton hall was a seat of the Singletons. It was afterwards transferred 
 to the Rigbies. Colonel Rigby, the celebrated partisan of the cause of the 
 parliament in the reign of Charles I., was of “ Middleton in Goosnargh.” n 
 The property has descended to the Rigby Shawes, of Fish wick and Preston. 
 The parochial chapel of Goosnargh, was, in the opinion of Dr. Whitaker, 
 restored in the reign of Henry VIII. A chantry was instituted in 1553, 
 and, according to Mr. Baines, a tradition asserts that a second was shortly 
 afterwards added. Bishop Gastrell says, “Anno 1611, there was an 
 agreement made between the inhabitants of Goosnargh and Whittingham, 
 concerning the share each town should pay towards the repairs of y e church 
 and chancel.” In 1715, the church was repaired. On the lead of the 
 tower is the following inscription : “Gulielnras Bvshell, Rector Ecclesisc de 
 Heysham et hujus Minister, 1715.” The church was enlarged in 1778, and a 
 parsonage house was afterwards erected. In the early portion of the last 
 century, the bishop records that the “ chief of the inhabitants, who are 
 called the 24, pretend sometimes to nominate y e Curate ; but the right is 
 in the vicar.” ° At the present time, the dean and canons of Christ church 
 Oxford, nominate the incumbent. In the Middleton choir, in the north 
 aisle, is an arch for the tomb of the founder, and a curiously carved stone, 
 bearing the initials of a Rigby and three chevronels, the arms of Singleton. 
 Another episcopal chapel, in Goosnargh, dedicated to St. James, called the 
 “ White chapel,” was enlarged in 1617. Its origin is unknown. Bishop 
 Gastrell says : “ White chapel within Goosnargh, al’s Threlfall chapel. 
 Certified that nothing at all belongs to it, and is served now and then only, 
 out of charity at y e request of y e people.” Its value in 1834, was £104. 
 A catholic chapel at Hill was rebuilt about 1802. An independent chapel 
 
 n See chapter 4, page 177. 
 
 o Notitia Cestriensis, vol. 2, page 420. 
 
544 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 was erected at Inglewhite in 1826. Inglewhite lodge has been held by 
 the Sidgreaves family since the earlier portion of the seventeenth century. 
 This family is descended from Robert Sidgreaves, who, as appears from 
 escheats of the period, held lands in Lea, in the 22nd Edward I. A 
 hospital for “decayed gentlemen” was founded at Goosnargh, by Dr. 
 William Bushell, of Preston. In his will, dated 21st May, 1735, he 
 devised, in case his daughter Elizabeth should die under the age of twenty- 
 one years without issue, “ all his real estate whatsoever, except certain lands 
 in Heysham, to William Atherton and Jive others, their heirs and assigns, 
 upon trust, to dispose of the clear yearly rents and profits of the said premises, 
 in maintaining, supporting, and providing for decayed gentlemen and gentle¬ 
 women, or persons of the letter rani: of loth or either sex, inhalitants of the 
 towns or townships of Preston, Euxton, Goosnargh, Wldttingham, Fulwood, 
 and Elston, in the county of Lancaster, Icing Protestants, in a house or 
 hospital to le provided in Goosnargh, where he then resided; and he em¬ 
 powered his said trustees to employ a competent part of the rents and profits 
 of the said premises in erecting a convenient house or hospital, or making 
 additions to the dwelling house of his late father, at their discretion ; and to 
 employ the same for the reception and entertainment of such decayed persons; 
 and to appoint such officers and servants, and make such rules and orders, as 
 to them might seem meet for the good government and encouragement of the 
 said hospital and the persons to le placed the rein, who were to le elected ly 
 the said trustees; provided that no person leing a papist, or any one who 
 should have received any relief out of the rates of the poor of the said respec¬ 
 tive towns or townships, should le capable of receiving any benefit from this 
 his intended charity." An indenture, dated October 31st, 1809, in which 
 Mr. BusheU’s will is recited, declares that the said William Bushell died 
 about the 10th of June, 1735. It further states that his daughter Eliza¬ 
 beth died before she attained her majority, in July, 1745, and that the 
 trustees carried out the injunction of the testator, and converted his dwell¬ 
 ing house into a hospital or asylum. It appears from the eleventh report 
 of the Charity Commissioners, that at the end of the year 1824, the annual 
 rental received from the trust property was £855. 8s. 6d., exclusive of the 
 house at Goosnargh and the adjoining land. Part of the premises in 
 Preston were held under leases for ninty-nine years, by the earl of 
 Derby, which were granted in 1790, at an annual rent of £112. The 
 commissioners state that these leases appear to have been granted upon 
 equitable terms, but owing to the gradual improvement in value, by the 
 extension of the town, and the erection of buildings, etc. upon some oT the 
 sites, this property may be estimated, on the foiling in of the leases in 
 1889, at from £700. to £800. per annum. Should the town continue to 
 
<yt70<}-7zay?6 
 
 '71&2A'. 
 
 TAs Seal it/' AtAruvtd/hsfy Esy 
 
THE HUNDRED OF AMOUNDERNESS. 
 
 54o 
 
 extend at the present ratio till the conclusion of the century, even 
 this calculation will be far beneath the actual increased value. The 
 amount expended under this trust from May, 1822, to May, 1823, was 
 £674. 5s. 2d. The hospital at that period contained thirteen inmates. 
 In 1844-5, a new wing was added to the building, at a cost of about 
 £2,400. At the present time there are thirty inmates. Other property 
 belonging to the trust has since been leased for building purposes, and its 
 value consequently enhanced. The total annual rental already amounts to 
 between £1,500. and £1,600. The founder -was buried at Leyland. The 
 hospital at Goosnargh bears not the slightest resemblance to an ordinary 
 charitable foundation. The buildings and grounds are suggestive of a 
 gentleman’s mansion rather than a “ hospital ” or asylum of any kind. 
 The inmates are treated with courtesy and respectful consideration, calcu¬ 
 lated to render the “ decayed gentlemen and gentlewomen ” as happy in the 
 decline of life as circumstances will permit. The Rev. Canon Raines justly 
 characterises this establishment as “ one of the finest foundations in the 
 county.” It is gratifying to know, that in the lapse of a few years, the 
 revenues of the trust will be still further augmented. It is earnestly to 
 be hoped that a corresponding increase of efficiency will be maintained by 
 the trustees, in the true spirit of enlightened philanthrophy evinced by its 
 generous founder. Bishop Gastrell says: — 
 
 “ In y e lower side of Goosenargh is a School, Founded (about 1673) by one Thomas 
 Threlfall, of Whittingham, who endowed it wth lands valued at about 7 l - per annum, 
 taught in a dwelling-house purchased wth money given by Thomas Waring, of London, 
 for a Free School. Augmented since with 25 l - per annum, given by Henry Colborn, of 
 London, and paid by the Company of Drapers there, who nominate y e Master, together 
 wth ye 24 of y e Chappelry of Goosnargh, on account of Threlfall’s gift.” P 
 
 The bishop likewise records the following charitable bequests :— 
 
 “Given to y e Poor by one Knowles, of Sowerby, in 1686, 50sli. per annum, charged 
 upon Land in Goosnargh; by William Higham, 2()s/t. per annum, to buy books for 
 children taught in White-Chapel; by one John Parkinson, in 1676, Land in Newsham, 
 now worth 41 . per annum to bind out apprentices ; by Christopher Helme, 41 . per annum 
 for poor householders; by Lawrence Parkinson, 2 doses, worth 30s. per annum, and the 
 interest of 70/. to be laid out in Corn called Groats, yearly, for poor householders who 
 receive nothing from the Township; and the Interest of 30/. to ye like poor householders 
 in Loaves, (viz. six penny loaves every Sunday), who come to Church, and for want of 
 such Poor to ye like Poor of Whittiugliam ; 41 . 5s. per annum by Thomas William 
 Waring, (in 1691), upon lands in Whittingham, 41 . of w°h to be given to poor House¬ 
 holders there, and 5s. for a Dinner for the Minister and Churchwardens who distribute 
 it; by Henry Colborn, 5/. per annum to the Poor of Goosenargh-cum-Newsham and 
 Whittingham, p' 1 by the Drapers’ Company.” 
 
 p Notitia Ccstriensis, vol. 2, page 421. The bishop’s annotator, the Rev. Canon Raines, adds that 
 Lawrence Parkinson, in 1719, bequeathed £20. to this school. Another school is mentioned by 
 Bishop Gastrell “in ye Higher side of Gooser.argh, taught in ye White Chapel, endowed (in 1705), 
 first by one William Lancaster, of Goosnargh, wth the interest of 40/., and since augmented by 
 William Higham, of Goosnargh, with the interest of 60/., (by will dated 17th Feb., 1713.) The 
 master is appointed by the Executors of Lancaster and Higham.” 
 
546 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENTIRONS. 
 
 The population of Goosnargh-with-Newsham, in 1851, was 1,453; the 
 area, according to the ordnance survey, 16,726 acres; and the annual 
 rateable value of the property, in 1854, £8,865. 
 
 Whittingham. —The lands in Whittingham were held by Warin de 
 Whittingham, in the reign of John. Mr. Baines says a Richard Whitting- 
 ham, father of two sons and a daughter, was living in the middle of the 
 last century. The estates passed by sale to the Pedders, of Preston. An 
 old hall, called variously Gingle hall, Chingle hall, Shynglehall, and Shin- 
 gleton hall, has long remained in the possession of the Singletons, an 
 ancient Lancashire family. Lower Gingle hall is the property of R. T. 
 Parker, esq., Cuerden. The population of Whittingham, in 1851, num¬ 
 bered 677, with an area of 3,191 acres, and property assessed to the county 
 rate at £4,058. per annum. 
 
 LYTHAM PARISH. 
 
 Lytham is supposed to have formed part of the Saxon parish of Kirkham. 
 It consists of only one township, which comprises, according to the ord¬ 
 nance survey, an area of about five thousand three hundred and nine 
 statute acres. Lidun was taxed with only two carucates of land, at the 
 time of the Domesday survey. In the reign of Richard I., Roger Pitz 
 Roger gave all his land at Lythum together with the church and all things 
 appertaining thereto, to the monks of Durham, for the purpose of founding 
 a Benedictine cell, in honour of St. Mary and St. Cuthbert. Dr. Whitaker 
 concluded that there existed no church prior to this foundation, “ because 
 no appropriation ever took place and no vicarage was ever endowed.” q 
 In the charter, as given by Dugdale, the fact, however, is distinctly 
 stated; “ totam terram meam de Lythum cum ecclcsia ejusdem vilke et 
 cum omnibus ad ipsam ecclesiam pertinentibus.” r It further appears that 
 the land of Lidun was presented by king John, when earl of Moreton, to 
 the aforesaid Roger Fitz Roger, with the view that he might confer the 
 same on the monks of Durham. The Rev. Canon Raines is of opinion 
 that a church existed at Lytham in the thirteenth century, “ although it 
 is not mentioned in the Valor of 1291, probably on the ground of its being 
 conventual and not parochial.” There exists at present in the duchy 
 office, a roll endorsed “ Lethum : Copies of Evidence of the prior of 
 Lethum.” This roll includes two separate records, as well as the founda¬ 
 tion charter referred to. The first is a release by William le Botiller, 
 dated 1268, of the lands of Lythum, the pasture of Kelgmoles, and wrecks 
 upon the sea coast. The deed reserves a right of road to the tenants of 
 Layton. The other document, which bears date 56 Henry III., is a 
 
 q His. Kichmondshire, vol. 2, page 410. 
 r Monast. Angl. vol. 4, p. 282. 
 
THE HUNDRED OF AMOUNDERNESS. 
 
 547 
 
 settlement of the boundary between Lythum and Kelgmoles, and lands in 
 Laton. Mr. Baines, in reference to these documents, says :—■“ The last is 
 probably Laton Ileys, on the northern extremity of the parish, and Kelg- 
 molcs, called Kilgrimol in the foundation charter, is Kellamergh on the 
 east.” This, however, is an error. Kilgrimol is situated near the coast, 
 to the north of Lytham, and adjoins Layton, as may be inferred, from the 
 document itself. This is the spot supposed to have been originally occu¬ 
 pied by the Culdee priesthood, at the time of the first grant of lands on the 
 Kibble, in If asmunderness, to the monks of Kipon. The place is named 
 “ Cross Slack,” on the ordnance map. Kellamergh, may perhaps likewise 
 have been originally a Culdee cell or cemetery. 8 Dr. Kuerden has pre¬ 
 served a claim, without date, of the prior of Durham, to have view of 
 frank pledge in his manor of Lethum, with waif, stray, and infangthef; 
 emendations of the assize of bread and beer ; wrecks of the sea in Lytham ; 
 exemption for himself and tenants in the manor from suit to the county 
 and wapentake, and from fines and amerciaments ; to have soc, sac, and 
 theam, and to be quit of toll, passage, and portage throughout England 
 and its seaports ; and free warren in all his demesne lands in Lethum, and 
 all the royal fish taken there. 1 During severe litigation in the reign of 
 Edward I. the prior of Durham proved that his predecessors had enjoyed 
 without interruption, the privilege of “ taking wreck ” from the time of 
 Kichard I. It was shown likewise, that, by a charter of William the 
 Conqueror, the liberties claimed by the prior had been granted to his 
 predecessors. It was however ordered that the liberty should be seized unto 
 the king’s hands. u In the twenty-third year of his reign, Edward I. 
 granted the wreck, waif, and stray in Lytham, to his brother Edmund, 
 earl of Lancaster. In 1443, Pope Eugenius issued a bull conferring the 
 privileges of perpetual priors upon the occupant and his successors. 
 Previously the priors of Lytham were removeable at the will of their 
 superiors of Durham. In 1554, after the dissolution of the monasteries, 
 the possessions of the prior of Lytham were granted to Sir Thomas Holcroft, 
 whose representative, Sir John Holcroft, disposed of the manor, in 1606, 
 to Sir Cutlibcrt Clifton, of Westby. The latter held the estate in the 
 11th year of the reign of Charles I. v At the present time it forms 
 part of the possessions of John Talbot Clifton, esq. Lytham was returned 
 in 1650, as “Lithcomb, a veiy small parish having only one Town¬ 
 ship.” “ Thomas Clifton, Esq., a Papist delinquent,” is stated to be the 
 patron and impropriator of the whole tithes. The church was rebuilt 
 
 s See chapter 2, page 63. 
 
 t Manuscript quarto, fo. 56, in the Cliethara Library. 
 
 u Placit. de Quo War. 20. Edward I. v Duchy Records, vol. 10, Inq. n. 13. 
 
 2 m 2 
 
548 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 upon the site of the ancient priory in 1770, and dedicated to St. Cuthbert. 
 This church contained four monuments to the memory of members of 
 the Clifton family. The present edifice was erected in consequence of 
 the demand for additional accommodation, resulting from the increased 
 popularity of Lytham, as a fashionable watering place. The first stone 
 was laid in March, 1834. Thomas Clifton, esq., contributed £500. towards 
 the expense. The still greater favour bestowed upon Lytham, by invalids 
 and temporary residents, necessitated further accommodation, and accord¬ 
 ingly, a few years ago, a second church, a very handsome edifice, 
 dedicated to St. John, was erected near the eastern entrance to the village. 
 There is likewise a catholic chapel, built in 1839, and some places of 
 worship for dissenting congregations. Lytham hall is an elegant mansion, 
 rebuilt between the years 1757 and 1764. The Cliftons are now a Pro¬ 
 testant family. The ancient domestic chapel is at present occupied as the 
 servants’ hall. Bishop Gastrell says of Lytham : “no school nor charities.” 
 Before the bishop wrote, however, a free school-house, erected by Richard 
 Salthouse, must have been completed, as in 1702, the Rev. Mr. Threlfall, 
 of Lytham, gave £5. for the use of the schoolmaster. Other donations 
 followed, till in 1732, lands were purchased, which at the time of the 
 Charity Commissioners’ investigation, produced nearly £105. per annum. 
 A second school was established at Heyhouses, in the parish of Lytham, 
 about the year 1780. It appears that Lytham has been a favourite water¬ 
 ing place for upwards of two centuries, although the first large hotel for 
 the accommodation of visitors, was not erected until 1794, it was called 
 the "Wheat Sheaf, and was situated opposite to the present Clifton 
 Arms Hotel. It has since been taken down. Lytham contains five good 
 hotels, together with a large quantity of houses erected for the purpose 
 of providing private accommodation for visitors. A neat and commodious 
 market house has likewise recently been erected. Baths and other con¬ 
 veniences for invalids have been provided. The sanitary condition of the 
 locality and the general accommodation of the public has been further 
 enhanced by the labour of the Improvement Commissioners, appointed 
 under act of parliament. The village is lighted with gas. Lytham is one 
 of the principal life boat stations on the coast of Lancashire. The beach 
 forms an extensive and agreeable promenade, nearly two miles in length. 
 Several spacious and elegant private villas have, within the last few years, 
 been erected in the village and its neighbourhood. w The population of 
 Lytham, in 1851, was 2,698. The property in the parish was assessed in 
 1854, at the annual value of £13,359. 
 
 w See page 502. 
 

 (THE PARISH chubch ) 
 
 
 & 
 
 
THE HUNDllEE OF AMOTODEKNESS. 
 
 549 
 
 BISPHAM PARISH. 
 
 The parish of Bispham, comprising the townships of Bispham-with- 
 Norbreck and Lay ton-with-Warbreck, is situated upon the western coast 
 of Lancashire. It is mentioned in the Domesday survey as containing 
 eight carucates of cultivated land. Prom the name it is believed to have 
 been held in the Saxon period, by the ecclesiastics of York. The church 
 is first mentioned in the reign of Bichard I., when the right to the advow- 
 son of Poulton, with the church of Biscopham, was “ quitclaimed ” to the 
 abbot of Sees, by Theobald Walter. The doorway of the church, a narrow 
 Norman arch, is, in the opinion of Dr. Whitaker, an erection of the period 
 of William Rufus or Henry I. John Romanus, archdeacon of Bichmond, 
 confirmed to St. Martin’s, of Sees, and St. Mary’s, of Lancaster, in 1246, 
 amongst other matters, the “ mediety ” of the church of Poulton and the 
 chapel of Biscopham, and granted, after the demise of the then possessor, 
 the other “ mediety.” By this union the entire advowson rested with the 
 abbey of Sees and the priory of Lancaster. William, abbot of Salop, was 
 likewise a benefactor, about the period of the foundation of the convent of 
 Deulacres. The monks of the latter establishment, in the reign of Heniy 
 VIII. paid annually to the abbot of Salop, £3. 13s. 4d. for lands in Bis¬ 
 copham, and Norbroke. William le Boteler held the manors of Baton, 
 Great Merton, Little Merton, Bispham, and Warebreck, according to the 
 ancient duchy feodary. His son granted the manor of Great Baton, Little 
 Baton, and Bispham, to Henry de Bispham, and Bichard de Carleton, 
 chaplains, in the fifth year the duchy was held by John of Gaunt. After 
 the dissolution of the monasteries, the site of Deulacres was granted in 
 6th Edward A 7 I., to Sir Balph Bagnell, by whom it was conveyed to John 
 Fleetwood, esq., ancestor of Sir Peter Hesketh Fleetwood, hart. The 
 manors of Little Bispham, Great Bispham, and Baton were, according to the 
 duchy records, in the possession of Thomas Fleetwood, in the 13th Elizabeth. 
 The clnu'ch was rebuilt in the seventeenth century. The value of the 
 living in 1834, was £275. There is a school, founded about 1658, “ free 
 to all ye parish.” 
 
 Blackpool is situated in the township of Layton-with-Warbreck. It 
 has been styled the “ Queen of the Lancashire bathing places.” Notwith¬ 
 standing its present extent and importance, a century ago, with the excep¬ 
 tion of “ Fox Holes,” a mansion of the Tildesleys, it consisted merely of 
 a few rude huts. On relatively modern maps, there is no such name as 
 Blackpool. The name is derived from a now extinct tarn or pool, visible 
 on the old map, about half a mile in diameter, which lay behind Fox Hall, 
 or A'auxhall as it is sometimes written. In a pamphlet printed soon after 
 the year 1788, by Henry Moon, of Kirkham, said to be written by Mr. 
 
550 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Hutton, but published anonymously, the water of this pool is described as 
 “ of a chocolate or liver colour, as all water must, which passes through a 
 peaty soil, so that the place might, with as much propriety, bear the name 
 of Liver pool, as Black pool.” Yauxhall is said to have been used as a 
 place of concealment for persecuted priests; and that it was erected with the 
 view to the reception of the Pretender, in 1715, who proposed to land on 
 the coast of Lancashire. The latter is, however, very improbable. The 
 tradition may perhaps have originated from some unfulfilled promise of 
 James II. when in Ireland. * Mr. Baines thinks it was originally built 
 by the Tildesleys as a hunting seat, hence its name. Some portions are yet 
 in existence. It is used as a farm house. The author of the pamphlet 
 before quoted says :— 
 
 “ Though it contained four or five rooms on a floor, it had no pretensions to grandeur, 
 therefore it could not excite suspicion. It was surrounded by a lofty wall, seemingly as 
 a screen against the winds, but really to convert the place into a fortification. The sea 
 was a guard on the west ; the pool, from whence the place derived its name, secured 
 the east; the small rivulet of peaty water, which communicates with the sea, then a 
 swamp, guarded the south, and rendered this little retreat only accessible on the north. 
 It also abounded 'with secret recesses, communications, and hiding places within, to 
 guard it against surprise.” 
 
 Some of the walls, which are built of boulders and brick, are very massive, 
 and j ustify the notion that the builders intended the place as a stronghold 
 as well as a domestic mansion. Some of the “secret recesses” existed at 
 the end of the last century, and were familiarly designated “priests’ 
 holes.” The “domestic chapel,” after being used for some time as a 
 cheese room, was converted into cottages. The arms of the Tildesleys 
 formerly ornamented the gateway, the noble arch of which yet remains. 
 Edward, son of Sir Thomas Tildesley, in anticipation of being appointed 
 one of the knights of the projected order of the royal oak, y caused the 
 words of the intended motto, “Seris Eactura Hepotibus,” to be inscribed 
 above the porch. The crest of the family, a pelican feeding its young, carved 
 in stone, is still preserved in the wall of a barn. Some parties attribute the 
 rise of Blackpool to the priests, who, after remaining in concealment at 
 Eox hall, returned to their friends, and spoke of its magnificent beach and 
 other qualifications as a watering place. Mr. Hutton describes Blackpool, 
 in 1788, in the following terms :— 
 
 “Although about fifty houses grace the sea bank, it does not merit the name of a 
 village, because they are scattered to the extent of a mile. About six of these make a 
 figure, front the sea, with an aspect exactly west, and are appropriated for the reception 
 of company; the others are the dwellings of the inhabitants, which chiefly form the 
 background. In some of these are lodged the inferior class, whose sole motive for 
 visiting this airy region, is health. # * * 
 
 “ DuVing the time of which I have been writing, there could not be another building 
 in Blackpool, that would bear the name of a house. 2 This royal dormitory, therefore, 
 
 x See pages 246 and 249. y See page 207. 
 
 z Mr. Hutton refers to the Jacobite invasion, in 1745, and to Fox Hall, the mansion of the 
 Tildesleys. 
 

 vv?z77-: 
 
 
THE HUNDRED OF AMOUNDERNESS. 
 
 551 
 
 must have stood, the little hall among huts. Nor were the huts numerous, for many are 
 modern, and seem to tell the observer that the place rapidly improves. None of the 
 superior houses, for the reception of company, seem to be more than seven years old. 
 A gentleman, who had regularly visited this abode of pleasure twenty-seven years, 
 assured me, when he first knew the place, the little white cottage at the lane end, now 
 the newshouse, was the only one of public resort; and the spot now the coffee room, was 
 a blacksmith’s shop; it appears, the people who then frequented Blackpool, were chiefly 
 of the lower class.” 
 
 In 1788, Blackpool possessed accommodation for about four hundred 
 visitors. Half a century ago, the Yorkshire house, Banks’s, Simpson’s, 
 Dixon’s, and For skaw’s hotels, were the only establishments of this class. 
 There were but few dwelling-houses between the two latter, and these 
 were of an insignificant character. A gentleman who visited Blackpool 
 at this period, thus further describes it:— 
 
 “Adjoining Forsliaw’s there were two or three houses of a rather genteel appearance, 
 compared with the many small cottages leading thence to the street, formerly, the 
 principal entrance from Preston. There was at this time a promenade with an arbour 
 at the end of it, and beyond it nearer to Dixon’s Hotel stood a cottage then used as a 
 warm bath; but now that promenade as well as the bath house, have long since disap¬ 
 peared ; the embankment having been wasted away by the incursions of the sea, and now 
 forming part of the ground daily covered with the advancing tide. Beyond Dixon’s 
 there was a public road where two four-wheeled vehicles could pass each other. The 
 road has also succumbed to the power of the encroaching waters, as have likewise the 
 banks on the south shore.” a 
 
 The promenade extended originally from Yorkshire house to Dixon’s, 
 (now Rossall’s) hotel. The cliffs in the earlier period of Blackpool’s 
 existence, where they sloped to the beach, were covered with shrubs and 
 grass, in which birds occasionally built their nests. Near the end of the 
 last century, however, the sea committed great damage to the cliffs, and 
 destroyed a considerable portion of the fine straight promenade. So rapid 
 has been the extension of Blackpool, that at the present time, it is calcu¬ 
 lated to accommodate ten thousand visitors. b It contains about twenty 
 excellent hotels, and establishments of every class, built with the view 
 to provide lodgings for visitors; as well as several mansions erected by 
 private gentlemen, as marine residences for their families. There are 
 convenient baths, and an athenaeum, news room, covered market, (opened 
 in 1844,) gas works, etc. South Shore, an extensive suburb, to the south, 
 already contains several excellent hotels and private residences. It will 
 shortly be joined to Blackpool. Indeed at the present time they are 
 generally regarded as one town. Great progress has latterly been made 
 in the drainage of the place, especially since the introduction of the Improve¬ 
 ment Act, and the establishment of the Local Board of Health. About sixty 
 years ago, a subscription was raised by the Rev. Mr. Breakell, and the pro¬ 
 ceeds applied to improving the promenades. A portion of this fund was ex¬ 
 pended in the erection of suitable railing and an ornamental Chinese bridge. 
 
 a Correspondent of the Blackpool Herald. 
 
 b Walsh’s Guide to Blackpool, 1855. 
 
552 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 These, however, have been since destroyed. During the past year a com¬ 
 mittee procured subscriptions, and devoted the proceeds to public improve¬ 
 ments near the beach. The “ bridge of peace ” now occupies the site of the 
 Chinese structure. The promenade has likewise been considerably enlarged 
 and rendered both more ornamental and more convenient for the perambu¬ 
 lation of visitors. A project is on foot for building a large public hall, for 
 assemblies, concerts, etc., during the bathing season. The episcopal church 
 was erected in 1821. It was enlarged in 1832-3. An Independent cha¬ 
 pel was opened in July, 1835. A Wesleyan chapel was erected in 1838, 
 and at the present time a beautiful Catholic church is approaching comple¬ 
 tion, built at the expense of Miss Tempest, a pious and liberal member 
 of that church. The cliffs of Blackpool rise in some places to nearly sixty 
 feet in height, and consequently command an extensive prospect seaward. 
 The beach has suffered severely at various times from the encroachments 
 of the waves. A tradition says that a little to the north of Blackpool, 
 a large tract of land has been entirely swept away, and a public house, 
 erected thereupon, destroyed. The site is pointed out by a huge boulder, 
 still to be seen at low water, and named “ Benny stone.” The tradition 
 says, that travellers passing the hostelry, fastened then horses to hooks 
 fixed in this stone, while they regaled themselves in the interior of mine 
 host’s domicile, on ale sold at a penny a glass. The beach at Blackpool 
 having a rapid descent from the cliffs to low water mark, the tide seldom 
 ebbs so far from the promenade as to give it the appearance of a sandy 
 desert, common to other parts of the coast. Yisitors generally speak of 
 Blackpool, therefore, as possessing a “finer sea” than any other of the 
 Lancashire watering places. The interior of the country is somewhat 
 destitute of variety, and deficient in timber, but the prospect seaward is 
 truly magnificent, when the condition of the atmosphere is such as to 
 bring within the range of vision the hills in the Isle of Man, and the 
 mountains of Cumberland and North Wales. On such an evening it is 
 worth the expense of a journey of one hundred miles, to visit the “Foreland 
 of the Fylde,” that “region of glorious sunsets,” and witness the orb of 
 day, the “material god, and representative of the Unknown,” sink with 
 calm dignity and gorgeous splendour into the heaving bosom of the western 
 main. The coast about Blackpool is likewise famed for the sublime 
 grandeur of its aspect, when the westerly wind chafes the ocean into 
 foam, and throws the salt spray high over the beach and buildings. The 
 enthusiastic lover of Nature, gazing upon the ocean from the rugged cliffs, 
 will feelingly, and with truth, exclaim, in the language of Byron :— 
 
 “ Thou glorious mirror, where the Almighty’s foam. 
 
 Glasses itself in tempests ! in all time. 
 
 Calm or convulsed—in breeze or gale, or storm. 
 

 '/Z.MTL 
 
THE HUNDRED OF AMOUNDERNESS. 
 
 553 
 
 Icing the pole, or in the torrid clime 
 Dark-heaving—boundless, endless and sublime: 
 
 The image of Eternity ; the throne 
 
 Of the Invisible! Even from out thy slime. 
 
 The monsters of the deep are made; each zone 
 
 Obeys thee ; thou goest forth, dread, fathomless, alone ! ” 
 
 PARISH OF POULTON-IN-THE-FYLDE. 
 
 This parish occupies the north west corner of Amounderness. The 
 town of Poulton is situated upon a rising ground, about a mile above the 
 confluence of the Skippon with the 'Wyre. It is supposed to have been 
 originally a Roman military post, for the protection of the “ Portus Setan- 
 tiorum of Ptolemy. c Roger de Poictou gave to the prioiy of Lancaster, 
 which he founded, “ Pulton, in Agmundernesia, and whatsoever belonged 
 to it, with one carucate of land, and all other things belonging to it 
 moreover he gave the tithe of venison and of pawnage in all his woods, 
 and the tithe of his fishery.” A feud of a somewhat singular character, 
 originating in a disputed claim to a right of road, existed for a lengthened 
 period, between the priors of St. Mary’s and the proprietors of the soil in 
 the neighbouring township of Thornton. In the reign of Edward I., 
 Sir Adam Eauastre, John Wenne, William de Thorneton, Richard le 
 Demand, Richard le Brockholes, Geoffrey le Procuratoure, (the proctor,) 
 and Adam le Rive, (the reve) and a number of their followers, attacked 
 Ralph de Truno, the prior of St. Mary’s, at Pulton. The worthy ecclesiastic, 
 together with several of his tenants and servants, were carried to Thorneton, 
 soundly beaten, and afterwards detained as prisoners. From an indenture 
 dated 1330, (4 Edward III.) it appears that after numerous fracas, the 
 matters in dispute were arranged. It was, in consequence, agreed that the 
 tenants and servants of the prior should be allowed two sufficient roads 
 over Sir Adam’s lands ; one from the towns of Pulton and Thorneton, 
 beyond Skcppol, and thence to Singleton park, by a way which led to the 
 ford of Aldewath in the water of Vpe; the other from Pulton and 
 Thorneton to the ford of Bulk, across the same river. The church is 
 dedicated to St. Chad. Mr. Baines says :—“ The endowment of the vicar¬ 
 age cannot be found, probably owing to its great antiquity, for it appears 
 that Poulton was undoubtedly an endowed vicarage in 1291, being valued 
 in the taxation of Pope Nicholas, at £6. 13s. 4d.” The church was 
 rebuilt in 1751. It contains several monuments to the Fleetwoods and 
 others. The patronage of the living belongs to Sir P. Hcsketh Fleetwood, 
 bart. Poulton towards the last century, according to Mr. Hutton, was 
 a “ small town on the decline, consisting of seven sleepy streets.” d It has 
 not very materially advanced since, notwithstanding the formation of the 
 
 c See Chap. 1, page 14 and 30. 
 
 d Description of Blackpool, page 10. 
 
554 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Preston and "Wyre railway, and the general prosperity of the neighbour¬ 
 hood. The population of the township in 1821, was 1011, and in 1851, 
 1120. Some little improvement has latterly taken place. A gas works 
 has been established; hut the streets of the town are not yet lighted. The 
 parish of Poulton comprises the townships of Carleton, Hardkorn-with- 
 Hewton, Harton, Poulton, and Thornton. 
 
 Pieetwood and Rossali are situated in the township of Thornton. 
 The manor was held in the 13th Henry YIII., by Thomas earl of Derby. 
 It is considered however, but in the light of a “manor by reputation.” 
 The pasture of Rossali was granted by King John to the abbey of Deulacres, 
 in Staffordshire, at the instance of the earl of Chester and Lincoln. After 
 some litigation at the suit of Edward I., the abbot was mulcted in a large 
 sum as “ arrearages ” due to the crown. The jury stated that the manor 
 had been held in bailiwick of King John, for seven years, that it was then 
 worth £24. per annum. From the circumstance that a road, through the 
 neighbouring rabbit warren, (on the site of which the new town of Fleet- 
 wood has been erected), bears the name Abbot’s walk, Hr. Baines conjec¬ 
 tures that the grange of Rossali must have been occasionally visited by the 
 abbot of Deulacres. Singleton Thorpe, a village near Rossali, was entirely 
 destroyed, in the year 1555, by an extraordinary irruption of the sea. 
 Hr. Baines suggests that Singleton Thorpe may have been the residence of 
 Thomas Singleton, who resisted the claim of King Edward I., previously 
 referred to. Of late years a considerable quantity of land has been washed 
 away near Rossali point, and a large bank of sand and gravel thrown up nearer 
 Fleetwood. One of the vessels belonging to the Spanish Armada is said 
 to have been stranded for some time on a sand bank in the neighbour¬ 
 hood. 6 George Allen, previously to the Reformation, held Rossali, by 
 a long lease, from his cousin the abbot. Richard Allen, grandson of 
 George, and brother of the celebrated cardinal, left a widow and three 
 daughters, who were ejected in the year 1583, before the expiration 
 of the lease, and deprived of all their goods, substance, and money. 
 Rossali was given to Edmund Fleetwood, whose father had previously, on the 
 dissolution of the monasteries, purchased from Henry YIII. the reversion 
 of the lease. Hrs. Allen and her children endeavoured to recover the pro¬ 
 perty; hut “ the original writings having been carried off when Rossali 
 was plundered, they were compelled not only to desist but to quit the 
 kingdom, in fear of further persecution.” One Anion, a neighbour, 
 seized upon £500. belonging to the children, under pretence that it was 
 intended to he forwarded to Rheims, for the use of the cardinal their uncle. 
 By the marriage of the heiress of Richard Fleetwood with Roger Hesketh, 
 
 e See chapter 3, page 111. 
 

THE HUNDBED OF AMOENDEBNESS. 
 
 555 
 
 of North Meols and Tulketh, in the early portion of the last century, the 
 Rossall property passed to the Hesketh family. Eossall hall was until 
 lately the residence of Sir Peter Hesketh Fleetwood, hart. In 1844, the 
 premises were adapted to the requirements of the Northern Church of 
 England School, a new first-class establishment, founded “ with the object 
 of giving an education to the sons of clergymen and others, similar to 
 that of the great public schools, but without the great cost of Eton 
 or Harrow, and embracing also a more general course of instruction 
 in modern literature and science.” The project succeeded so well, that in 
 1850, the council determined to make Eossall school “a permanent insti¬ 
 tution, by the purchase of the estate and an ample outlay in new buildings, 
 so that full accommodation might be provided for 300 boys.” The estate 
 cost about £8,000. Since that time a chapel has been erected at an expense 
 of £1,800, raised by voluntary contributions. A spacious school room has 
 been built, (said to be one of the noblest halls of its character in the 
 kingdom,) together with class-rooms, large dining hall, dormitories, and 
 rooms for private study, and other offices, etc. A library has been established, 
 containing nearly a thousand volumes, supported by joint contributions 
 from the council and friends. These and other improvements involved an 
 additional outlay of about £10,000. Several Eossall scholars have already 
 distinguished themselves at the universities. There is an exhibition of 
 £10. per annum, in books, tenable for three years, founded by Tatton 
 Egerton, esq., M.P. A fund is at present being raised by the munificence 
 of the carls of Ellesmere, Derby, and Burlington, and other gentlemen, to 
 found others of £50. per annmn. The present head master is the Eev. 
 W. A. Osborne, M.A., of Trinity College, Cambridge. The system of 
 education resembles that followed at Marlborough college, and King’s 
 college, London. About twenty years ago, Fleetwood first sprang into 
 existence. Prior to 183G, the locality was simply a well stocked rabbit 
 warren, and a favourite haunt of the small black headed sea gulls which 
 frequent the coast. A lime kiln and a solitary hut alone proclaimed to 
 the casual sportsman who visited the place, that humanity had not quite 
 deserted it. In 1830, Sir Hesketh Fleetwood, bart., granted to a company 
 formed for the purpose of constructing a railway from Preston to the 
 mouth of the Wyre, the privilege of passing through his estates, free 
 from the payment of the usual purchase money for land so required. 
 An act of parliament was not however procured till 1835. In the following 
 year the town of Fleetwood, so named in honour of the enterprising baronet, 
 commenced its existence. A regular plan of the intended streets, public 
 buildings, etc., was drawn by Mr. Decimus Burton, which in the 
 main has been followed in the construction of the town. As in the 
 
556 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 case of Birkenhead, buildings rose faster than the legitimate demand, 
 and a natural reaction ensued. At the present time, however, Fleet- 
 wood may be fairly said to have cast off its leading strings, and to 
 rely upon its own intrinsic merits, rather than upon fortuitous or 
 adventitious circumstances. Fleetwood was made a port in 1839, when 
 Preston was degraded to the position of a creek under its jurisdiction. In 
 January, 1844, Preston was restored to its original position, and Fleetwood 
 made a creek under it. In 1846, the latter was declared to be a “ subport ” 
 under Preston; and, in January, 1850, it was again invested with the 
 privileges of an independent port. The following figures show the gradual 
 increase of the trade :— 
 
 FOREIGN TRADE. 
 
 1847. 
 
 1848. 
 
 1849. 
 
 Vessels with cargoes Inwards . 
 
 . 6 
 
 15 
 
 36 
 
 Ditto Outwards. 
 
 . 1 
 
 5 
 
 15 
 
 COASTING TRADE. 
 
 Vessels with cargoes Iuwards . 
 
 . 752 
 
 . 873 
 
 1247 
 
 Ditto Outwards. 
 
 . 913 
 
 . 857 
 
 1059 
 
 DUTY PAID ENTRIES. 
 
 Total number . 
 
 . 77 
 
 175 
 
 218 
 
 The following return shows the number and tonnage, by admeasurement, 
 of the vessels belonging to the port of Fleetwood, in 1850 and 1855 :— 
 
 1850. 1855. 
 
 Vessels. Tons. Vessels. Tons. 
 
 Under 50 tons. 7 221 11 402 
 
 Under 100 tons. 1 83 16 1064 
 
 Under 200 tons. 1 113 7 811 
 
 Above 200 tons. 0 0 3 2323 
 
 9 417 37 4600 
 
 This is exclusive of the fine steamers which daily communicate with 
 Belfast. Nor does it include the fishing smacks, which, in 1850, were 
 five in number, and in 1855, eleven. The following table gives a compara¬ 
 tive statement of the exports and imports during the years 1855 and 
 1856 :— 
 
 1855. 1856. INCREASE. 
 
 No. of shipments. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 No. of shipments. Tons. 
 
 No. of shipments. Tons. 
 
 Steamers. 1,326 
 
 245,724 
 
 1,361 269,901 
 
 1,937 107,843 
 
 35 
 
 24,177 
 
 Coasting. 1,934 
 
 107,564 
 
 3 
 
 279 
 
 Foreign . 19 
 
 11,327 
 
 38 18,714 
 
 19 
 
 7,387 
 
 Total... 3,279 
 
 364,615 
 
 3,336 396,458 
 
 57 
 
 31,843 
 
 The trade of Fleetwood would unquestionably expand to infinitely greater 
 proportions, provided suitable docks were formed for the accommodation of 
 large vessels. The railway company possesses the requisite powers under 
 the act of parliament, but the project, though often mooted, and some¬ 
 times apparently in earnest, has not yet been carried out. The harbour is 
 
THE HUNDRED OF AHOUNDERNESS. 557 
 
 unquestionably the easiest of access of any on the Lancashire coast. The 
 channel is well buoyed and otherwise marked. There are two stone light¬ 
 houses on shore at Fleetwood, a beacon at Itossall point, and a “ screw- 
 pile” lighthouse at the “foot of Wyre,” where the channel unites with 
 that of the Lunc. The anchorage ground outside is excellent, and when 
 vessels have once entered they are well protected against every wind. 
 All that is required to develope the capabilities of the port to an almost 
 incalculable extent, is capital and intelligent enterprise, to provide the 
 necessary dock accommodation. Perhaps the present agitation respecting 
 the Liverpool town dues, may direct the attention of the Lancashire mer¬ 
 chants and capitalists to the facilities afforded for legitimate competition 
 by the harbour of the Wyre. The imports at the present time consist 
 chiefly of general Irish produce, iron ore, pig iron, and timber. Some 
 manufacturers have found it to their advantage to import cotton into 
 Fleetwood, notwithstanding the drawback resulting from the absence of 
 good dock accommodation. The first importation of cotton, into Fleet- 
 wood took place on the 18th January, 1846, by the Diogenes, from New 
 Orleans, a vessel of 497 tons registered burthen. In July, 1850, the 
 Isabella landed a cargo of 609 bales. The Isabella brought a second cargo 
 of 400 bales in January, 1851. The fourth arrival was the Cleopatra, 
 with 1,327 bales, on the 10th of April, 1857. On the 21st of the same 
 month, the Favourite entered Fleetwood, with cotton direct from America/ 
 Fleetwood though small is a well built and pretty little town. A church 
 dedicated to St. Peter, was erected by subscription, in 1841. It contains 
 about 450 sittings, of which 150 are free. The living is endowed with the 
 great tithes of Thornton, which amount to about £66. per annum. The 
 incumbent’s salary is augmented by the proceeds of the pew rents, which 
 amount to nearly £200. per annum, when the whole are let. An 
 Independent chapel was opened in May, 1848. The Wesleyan and 
 the Primitive Methodists, as well as the Homan Catholics, likewise 
 possess places of worship. A national school was erected by public 
 subscription, in 1846, as a testimonial to the enterprising lord of 
 the soil, Sir P. Hesketh Fleetwood, bart. It is calculated to afford 
 instruction for about 140 boys and a similar number of girls. A 
 commodious station for the county constabulary has lately been com- 
 
 f The Fleetwood correspondent of the Preston Chronicle, referring to the arrival of the Cleo¬ 
 patra in the Wyre, makes the following pertinent observations : “There is now a greater proba¬ 
 bility of this trade succeeding at Fleetwood than upon the occasion of the first experiment. The 
 gain to the importers of the present cargo upon the item of town dues alone, as charged at Liverpool, 
 is about £23. A similar sum is likewise saved in cartage, as at Fleetwood the cotton is taken direct 
 from the scales alongside of the vessel, and loaded upon the railway trucks. The harbour dues are 
 much less than at Liverpool, and warehousing charges, brokerage, and several other expenses are 
 avoided.” 
 
558 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 pleted. A spacious cemetery has been laid out, at the distance of about a 
 mile from the town. Fleetwood is lighted with gas, and contains public 
 baths of first-class character, together with four good inns or hotels. 
 The principal hotel, the “North Euston,” is a large and handsome edifice, 
 fitted with every accommodation for the highest class of visitors. It is 
 situated near the beach, and commands a magnificent prospect of More- 
 camhe Bay, the mountains of Lancashire, Westmoreland, and Cumberland, 
 and occasionally those of the Isle of Man and North Wales. The 
 “Crown,” also a first-class family hotel, is situated very conveniently 
 for travellers, being nearly opposite the railway station. In September, 
 1847, her Majesty the Queen, honoured Fleetwood with a visit, on her 
 return from Scotland. Great rejoicings took place on the occasion. 6 
 Fleetwood may be said to be, to some extent, a watering place, as well as 
 a seaport. It is much frequented during the summer months by b6th 
 pleasure and health seekers. The township of Thornton, which includes 
 Rossall and Fleetwood, contains an area, according to the ordnance survey, 
 of 6,387 acres. The population, in 1851, amounted to 4,134. The pro¬ 
 perty was assessed to the county rate, in 1854, at £13,762. annual value. 
 
 There are several schemes for public improvements at the present time 
 occupying the attention of some of the principal landowners in the “ Fylde 
 country.” One is the construction of reservoirs, and other necessary 
 works, in the higher lands, of such dimensions, as will furnish an ample 
 supply of pure water to the bathing places upon the coast, and the other 
 towns and villages in the district. The laying of the mains along the 
 lines of railway would doubtless considerably lessen the expense of such 
 an undertaking. Mr. Clifton, of Lytham, is understood to be preparing 
 to open a new road from Lytham over the sand hills to Blackpool. The 
 project, mooted some time ago, for a “coast line” of railway from Preston 
 by Lytham to Blackpool, and even to Fleetwood, has been again revived. 
 If such a scheme were carried into effect, the whole shore of Amounderness 
 in a short time would become fringed with watering places and detached 
 marine residences. At the present time, however, these are but projected 
 undertakings, some of which may not be seriously entertained for some 
 years to come. 
 
 PARISH OF ST. MICHAEL-LE -'WTRE. 
 
 A church existed here at the time of the Domesday survey. Xing John 
 presented the living to a Master Macy. h In a process before the officials 
 of Richmond, in 1326, the place is termed Migchalgh. In 1345, the 
 patronage was in the hands of Henry, carl of Lancaster. The advowson 
 was granted in 1403, to the college of Battlefield, nominally by Henry 
 
 g See page 309. 
 
 h Testade Nevill’. 
 
THE HUXDKED OF AMOUNDEKNESS. 
 
 559 
 
 IV., but really by Roger Yve. Since the reformation, it has passed through 
 various hands, several of whom have been themselves the incumbents. 
 The village and church of St. Michael’s are situated in the township of 
 Upper Rawcliffe with Tarnacre. The church which is believed to be a 
 re-erection of the period immediately succeeding the reformation, has a 
 chapel in connection, formerly the burial place of the Butlers, of Kirkland, 
 and therefore called the Butler chapel. On the outside are the arms of the 
 family, the only memorial remaining. This chapel now bears the following 
 inscription :— 
 
 “ This oratory, known before the Dissolution to have been a Chantry dedicated to 
 St. Catherine, and completely endowed with lands in the neighbouring townships, was 
 repaired by John France, esq., of Rawcliffe Hall, a.d. 1797, being an Appendage to that 
 ancient Manor House.” 
 
 The Rev. AY Hornby, M.A., cousin to the earl of Derby, is the present 
 incumbent. The living is a discharged vicarage, the advowson belonging 
 to Mr. Hornby’s family. A new church was built at Inskip, in 1849. 
 The site and a subscription of £500. were contributed by the earl of Derby. 
 The Rev. AY. Hornby, M.A., vicar of St. Michael’s, presented the endow¬ 
 ment. There are several free schools and other charities in St. Michael’s 
 parish, which includes the following townships :—Upper Rawcliffe with 
 Tarnacre, Out Rawcliffe, Great Eccleston, Elswick, Inskip with Sowerby, 
 and AVoodplumpton. The latter is contiguous to Preston. 
 
 AVoodplumpton is a cliapelry, including the hamlets of AYoodplumpton, 
 Catforth, Eaves and Bartell, which likewise form the manor of AYood¬ 
 plumpton. It was originally held by the barons of Stokeport. It 
 afterwards passed to the De Ardernes, and the AYarrens, of Poynton ; and 
 again by marriage, in 1,777, to Yiscount Bulkeley, whose representatives, 
 the Fleming Leycesters, succeeded to the property. Lord de Tabley is, 
 therefore, the present lord of the manor of AYoodplumpton. It appears to 
 have been formerly divided into File Plump ton, Parva, Grauutefelde 
 Plumpton, and Magna Plumpton. Land and cottages, in the two first 
 divisions, were held in the reign of Edward II., by AYilliam de Clifton. 
 Gilbert de Clifton held lands in Magna, Parva, and File Plumpton, in the 
 reign of Henry VIII. The last division was held as a manor by Thomas 
 de Lathom, in the reign of Richard II. The duchy records likewise attest 
 to the manor of AVoodplumpton being held in the reign of Henry VIII. 
 by John AVarren. This family resided at the ancient manor house, called 
 AYoodplumpton hall. AYoodplumpton chapel, with a low tower, existed 
 in the year 1577. It was rebuilt in 1630, and has undergone many altera¬ 
 tions since. A beam of the roof bears the date, 1639. The carved oak of 
 the comrnunion table is inscribed, “AY. A. 1635.” Several of the pew 
 doors likewise present inscriptions. The oldest is as follows :—“ 1649, 
 
560 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 James Starkie.” An organ was erected in 1849. It was presented by 
 Richard Threlfall, jun., and R. Waterworth, esqrs., of Preston. The 
 handsome stained glass, which now decorates the principal window, is 
 likewise a donation of the latter gentleman. Four other windows have 
 been glazed with coloured glass, and the edifice further ornamented by 
 the old reading desk and pulpit, which were removed from the parish church 
 of Preston, at the time of its last rebuilding. These were presented by Mr. 
 Threlfall. ‘ The north aisle contains a handsome monument, erected to 
 the memory of Henry Foster, R.N., F.R.S., son to the late incumbent, 
 who was drowned in February, 1831, in the river Chagres, in the Gulf of 
 Mexico. The monument is of white marble and represents a British 
 seaman, mourning for the loss of the promising young officer. The Roman 
 catholic chapel at Cottam, was destroyed in the election riots of 1768. k 
 It was afterwards rebuilt. The one near Hollowforth narrowly escaped 
 a similar fate. The date of the erection of the first chapel is not known. 
 SmaU chapels for the Wesleyan Methodists were erected about 1815 
 and 1819. A widow named Alice Nicholson, of Bartel, in 1661, by 
 deed, gave the sum of £100. “for the maintenance of a free school within 
 the manor of Woodplumpton.” A second donation of £10. by the same 
 lady is likewise recorded. In 1676, John Hudson, of Lea, devised to the 
 feoffees of the school, the sum of £20., on condition that the “heirs of the 
 house” in which he resided at the time, should be admitted free of charge, 
 for ever. There are some other charities belonging to Woodplumpton. 
 Previously to 1672, George Nicholson devised £210. to the poor; and 
 Thomas Hoghton left for a similar purpose, the sum of £3. per annum in 
 land. The vicar of St. Michael’s appoints the curate. “The minister of 
 St. Michael’s formerly paid to the minister of the Parochial cliappel of 
 Woodplumpton, £4. per annum, out of the small tithes of the whole 
 parish.” 1 The sum of £50. per annum was allowed by the Committee 
 of Plundered Ministers, but at the time of the inquiry there appears to 
 have been no curate. The ordnance survey gives the area of Wood¬ 
 plumpton at 4,956 acres. The population, in 1851, was 1,574; and the 
 rateable value of the property, in 1854, £8,905. 
 
 GARSTANG PARISH. 
 
 Garstang parish occupies the northern portion of the hundred of Amoun- 
 derness. Garstang is a market town, and has doubtless, enjoyed the 
 privilege appertaining thereunto for a lengthened period, Lelaud, when 
 he passed through it, however, speaks as if he were not quite certain of 
 
 i Mr. Threlfall likewise purchased the pinnacles of the church, and the whole of the obelisk, 
 which, till a few years ago, stood in the market place. These materials have been used in the con¬ 
 struction of a gateway and other fancy erections at his house at Hollowforth. 
 
 k See page 331. 1 Pari. Inq. Lamb. Libr. 
 
THE HTJXDKED OF AHOTJXDEENESS. 
 
 561 
 
 the fact. His words are “ Some saith that Garstone was a market towne.” 
 Towards the end of the,seventeenth century, Bio me speaks more positively 
 on the subject. He says “ Garstrange, or Garstang, seated upon the river 
 Wire, an indifferent good town, and hath a great market for corn, cattle, 
 yarn, and fish, on Thursdays.” m A charter of incorporation had been 
 granted in the fourth year of the reign of Edward II., which conferred 
 the privileges of a market, fair, court of pie-poudre, stallage, tollage, 
 lastage, portage, assize of bread„leather, weights and measures. It likewise 
 directed that the town should be governed by seven capital burgesses, who 
 annually elected a bailiff and other officers. A new charter with additional 
 privileges was obtained in the reigu of Charles II. The municipal 
 corporation commissioners, in their report, speak of the place as “ small, the 
 houses of inferior description; there are no manufactories, nor anything 
 bespeaking prosperity. The trade of the town is said to be on the decrease 
 and its general state declining.” A curious relic of the legal formuke of 
 the Anglo Saxons survived until within a very recent period, in the friburg 
 or constablewick of Garstang, consisting of eleven townships, surrounding 
 the original lordship, to which all except one were subject. Dr. Kuerden 
 says:—■ 
 
 “ These haudled smaller cases betwixt townsmen and neighbours, and, according to 
 the degree of trespass, awarded satisfaction, made agreements respecting pastures, mea¬ 
 dows and corn lands, and reconciled differences among neighbours ; but when greater 
 matters fell out, they were referred to the superior justiciaries appointed over them, and 
 whose jurisdiction extended over a hundred of these Freeburgs.” 
 
 A mound or eminence near the banks of the Wyre, called “ Constable 
 hill ock,” is yet pointed out as the place to which the jury adjourned from 
 the court, in order to proceed with the election of constable, which cere¬ 
 mony was performed in a very peculiar and antiquated fashion. 11 It is 
 not known with certainty when the first parish church was erected. It 
 is mentioned in the reigns of Henry II. and John. St. Helen’s, the parish 
 church of Garstang, is singularly enough, situated at a place called Garstang 
 Church Town, in the township of Kirkland, a mile and a half distant from 
 the market town of Garstang. In 1746, it was much injured by an inun¬ 
 dation of the Wyre. The walls of both the body and chancel were raised 
 and a new roof constructed in 1811. Besides the tower, nave, side aisles, 
 and chancel, there is a small chapel on the south, and on the south east 
 the family vault of the Butlers, of Kirkland. This contains a beautiful 
 monument in marble witli the following inscription : — 
 
 “ In memory of Alexander Butler, of Kirkland Hall and Beaumont Cote, Esq., who 
 died the 6th day of May, 1819, aged 79; descendant from an ancient and honourable 
 bouse; be served liis country in the important offices of high sheriff, constable of Lan¬ 
 
 in Bl it. p. 135. Published in London, 1673. 
 
 n See chapter 3, page 111. 
 
562 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 caster castle, deputy lieutenant and magistrate ; he chose an elegant retirement, as most 
 congenial with his literary and philosophical pursuits. This monument was erected by 
 his successor and heir, Thomas Butler Cole, Esq.” 
 
 The barons of Kendal held the manor of Garstang soon after the conquest. 
 It passed successively to the Lindseys, the de Ghisnes, and the dukes 
 of Lancaster. A portion of the manor, however, was granted to the monks 
 of Cockersand, by William de Lancaster, steward of Henry II. On the 
 dissolution of the monasteries, the crown rated the manor for John 
 Rydmaden. The Honourable W. Spencer, son of Lord Spencer, leased the 
 manor from the crown in the seventeenth century. His descendant and 
 heiress, Elizabeth, daughter of Digby, Lord Gerard, transferred the estates 
 to the family of the dukes of Hamilton, by her marriage with James, earl 
 of Arran, duke of Hamilton and Brandon. Mr. Spencer’s lease expired in 
 1736, when the manor was sold by act of parliament. The purchaser was 
 Sir Edward AYalpole, in whose family it still remains. An action at law, 
 in the 5th year of the reign of John, decided that Garstang had always 
 been a mother and not a filial church. Dr. Whitaker is of opinion, not¬ 
 withstanding this decision, that it was originally a chapel dependent upon 
 the church of St. Michael. Gilbert Fitz-Reinford granted the advowson 
 to the monastery of Cockersand, which grant was confirmed by King John, 
 in 1215. The living was valued at £26. 13s. 4d., in 1291. At the 
 dissolution, the patronage passed to Christopher Anderton, esq. Previously 
 to the year 1755, it was frequently transferred. Since that time it has 
 remained in the family of the present vicar, the Rev. J. Pedder, M.A. 
 There is likewise an episcopal chapel at Garstang, rebuilt on an older 
 foundation, in 1G66. It was again rebuilt in 1769. An Independent 
 chapel was built in 1777, a Roman Catholic chapel in 1784, and a Methodist 
 chapel in 1814. Two acres of land have been purchased in Barnacre-with- 
 Bonds, on which it is proposed to erect a new Catholic chapel, schools, 
 and a residence for pastors. The remainder of the land will be laid out as 
 a cemetery. The first stone of the chapel was laid in June, in the present 
 year. Although situated in Barnaere, it will not be more than a quarter of 
 a mile distant from the Catholic chapel in Garstang. Garstang possesses a 
 free grammar school, and several charities. Bishop Gastrell says, the 
 “ Free Grammar school, was endowed with 100?., given by the family of 
 the Butlers. It is an ancient School, built by y° Inhabitants, the ground 
 upon w ch it stands being given by one of y e Butlers of Kirkland, who are 
 lords of y c Manour. Ho endowment but the Interest of the above named 
 100?.” ° A new school, in connection with the establishment, was erected 
 
 o By an agreement, dated 9tli March, 1C02, the administrators of Walter Rigmaden, of Wedacre, 
 bestowed “ 100 marks, (as a comrfiemoration for theire comodities received of the deceased) too bee 
 the first foundation of a Free schoolc to bee erected in the Parishe Church Yard of Garstang.” 
 
THE HUNDRED OF A.1IOUNDEENESS. 
 
 563 
 
 a few years since. Kirkland hall, the present mansion, is a modern 
 building. Garstang, owing to the peculiar taste of the proprietors of the 
 manor, who stedfastly refused to permit any land to be built upon, has 
 acquired the reputation of being “the only finished town in England.” 
 This restriction, it is said, has been lately somewhat relaxed. The 
 chartered privileges of the town were unaffected by the Corporation Reform 
 Bill. The parish of Garstang extends over an area of upwards of 24,700 
 acres, and includes the following townships: Barnacre-with-Bonds, Bils- 
 borough, Cabus, Catterall, Claughton, Cleveley-with-Eorton, Garstang, 
 Holleth, Kirkland, Nateby, Pilling, Winmarleigli, and Nether Wyersdale. 
 Greenhough castle, which is in Barnacre-with-Bonds, was erected by royal 
 license, in the 5th year of the reign of Henry VII., by Thomas Stanley, 
 earl of Derby. Camden, in the reign of Elizabeth, describes it as follows:— 
 
 “ The Wyr, a little river coming from Wier dale, runs with a swift stream by Green- 
 hough Castle, built by Thomas Stanley, the first Earl of Derby of that family, while he 
 was under apprehension of danger from certain of the nobility of this county who had 
 been outlawed, and whose estates had been given him by Henry the Seventh; for they 
 made several attempts upon him; and many inroads into his grounds; till at last these 
 feuds were extinguished by the temper and prudence of that excellent person.” 
 
 During the civil wars (1643), Robert Plessington was governor, and held 
 the castle for the king. There is no record extant of any siege to which it 
 was ever subjected. Rusheworth, however, says “ there remained (1645) 
 of garrisons belonging to the king unreduced, Lathom House and Green 
 Castle, in Lancashire, besieged by the Lancaster Forces.” At the conclu¬ 
 sion of the war it was dismantled by order of parliament, and little more 
 than twenty years afterwards (1672), Pennant speaks of “the poor remains 
 of Greenhaugh Castle.” The original walls formed a rectangle, about 
 fourteen yards by sixteen, with a square tower at each angle. A circular 
 moat defended the whole. But a single tower now remains, and this is in 
 a very dilapidated condition. In the township of Nateby, is “ Bower’s 
 House,” which in' 1660, was the seat of Richard Green, gent. In the 
 upper story of this building is a room originally prepared as a place of 
 secret worship by the Roman catholics, when the exercise of their religious 
 formulae was interdicted. The floor has been laid with clay, and every 
 precaution taken to prevent sound issuing beyond the apartment. The 
 staircase winds round a hollow square tube of wood, large enough to permit 
 the ascent and descent of a man. This secret passage it is said was used to 
 convey the officiating priest, and the furniture of the altar, etc., into the 
 cellar beneath the house, when the parties were disturbed at their devotions 
 by the intrusion of unwelcome visitors. Leland speaks of a chapel at 
 “ Alhalows at a x miles from Garstang” where the AVyre “goeth into the 
 main se.” There is some difficulty in determining what building ho 
 alluded to. Mr. Baines says :— 
 
 2x2 
 
564 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 “ There is now no village or chapel of All Hallowes, where the Wyre falls into the 
 sea; but a chapel of St. John the Baptist, upon Howartli, is given in the charter of 
 Kobert Fitz Bernard to the knights hospitallers in the reign of king John ; and the ruins 
 of a chapel called St. John’s, in a MS. map of the date 1598, P are still existent near 
 that part of the Wyre in the township of Pilling.” 
 
 This is, however, by no means regarded as a satisfactory solution of the 
 difficulty. Pilling cannot be said to be situated at the mouth of the Wyre, 
 and its distance from Garstang is less than ten miles. Some conjecture that 
 a chapel may have been destroyed near Kossall. q At Cattcrall, there for¬ 
 merly existed an extensive calico printing establishment, the property of 
 the Messrs. Feilden. In 1830, the concern was closed, when, according 
 to ill'. Baines, the population of the neighbourhood diminished about one 
 half. The premises were afterwards converted into a cotton mill. The 
 lands in Claughton, (locally pronounced Cligliton) were soon after the 
 Conquest, possessed by the Clactons and the Banestres. A portion 
 passed to the duke of Lancaster, in the reign of Richard II. John de 
 Brockholes was in possession in the third year of the reign of Henry IY. 
 The late Joseph Brockholes devised the estates to "William Fitzherbert, of 
 Swynnerton Hall, in the county of Stafford, with an injunction to adopt 
 the name and arms of Brockholes. His son Thomas Fitzherbert Brockholes, 
 esq., at present resides at Claughton hall, an elegant and spacious modem 
 mansion, situated in the midst of a richly wooded park, and environed by 
 beautiful scenery. The first stone of a reformatory school for North 
 Lancashire, was laid at Bleasdale, on the 23rd of September, 1856, by 
 Mr. Garnett, of Qucrnmoro Park. 
 
 p Harl. Coll. No. 6159, 
 
 q See page 554. 
 
THE HUNDRED OF BLACKBURN. 
 
 565 
 
 PART III.—THE ENVIRONS. 
 
 CHAPTER III. THE HUNDRED OF BLACKBURN. 
 
 Blackburn Parisli—Townships of Walton, Cuerdale, Samlesbury, Pleasington, Balder- 
 stone, Osbaldeston, SaJesbury.—Ribchester Parish—Ribchester, Dilworth, Dutton, 
 Alston, and Hotliersall.—Chipping Parish—Stonyhurst. 
 
 Blackburn hundred is situated to the south and east of Amounderness. 
 At the time of the Domesday survey, a very considerable portion of the 
 land was either waste or covered with wood. a An ancient document exists, 
 entitled, “Be Statu Blagborneshire,” supposed to be the production of an 
 abbot of Whalley, named John Lindeley, who lived in the fourteenth 
 century. It is stated, in this record, that Christianity was introduced into 
 the district as early as the days of Augustine, and that at the end of the 
 sixth century, the churches of Blackburn, Whalley, Ribchester, and 
 Chipping were erected. b According to this document, “ Blackburn shire,” 
 which then included the parish of Rochdale, was but thinly populated; 
 the inhabitants were wild and untractable, and the country infested with 
 foxes and savage beasts. From these causes the bishop of Litchfield appears 
 to have, to some extent, deputed his authority to the resident rectors or 
 deans. The hundred was granted, after the Conquest, by Roger de 
 Poictou, to Roger do Busli and Albert Greslet. After the defection of 
 the first named, the territory reverted to the crown. It was afterwards 
 conferred by William the Conqueror on Ilbert de Lacy, lord of the honour 
 of Pontefract. In the reign of Edward I., Henry de Lacy, earl of Lincoln, 
 obtained a verdict confirmatory of his right to the possession of the 
 “ wapentake of Blackburne, and to free chace in all his fees in Blacke- 
 burnshire, and to make attachments and distresses by his bailiffs, to try 
 felons, and to have fines and amercements, in all his fees,” etc. The 
 possessions of the Lacies were transferred to the house of Lancaster, in 
 1310, by the marriage of Alicia, daughter and heiress of Henry de Lacy, 
 to Thomas, earl of Lancaster. 
 
 a See chapter 3, page 99. 
 
 b See chapter 2, page 62. 
 
566 
 
 PBESTON AND ITS ENVIKONS. 
 
 The hundred of Blackburn contains the following parishes :—Whalley, 
 Chipping, Mitton, Eibchester and Blackburn. The last named adjoins 
 Preston. Blackburn is a large and flourishing manufacturing town, the 
 chief place or capital of an important district. Consequently, any details 
 with reference to it, come not within the province of the historian of 
 Preston. Some of the townships in the parish of Blackburn, however, 
 are contiguous to Preston, and form a portion of its environs. 
 
 Walton-le-Dale. —It has been previously shown 0 that an ancient 
 British fortress most probably existed at Walton, and that it was after¬ 
 wards adapted by the Homan conquerors to their taste and requirements. 
 The probability of its being the site of the Homan station Coccium has 
 been discussed elsewhere. 11 The same may be observed with respect to the 
 battle of Brunanburh and several other important events that may have 
 transpired in the township or its vicinity. Waletune is described in the 
 Domesday survey as containing two earucates of land held by the king. 
 The manor was granted to Robert Banastre, about the year 1130, by 
 Henry de Lacy. Walton formed a portion of the dower of Alice Banastre, 
 on her marriage with John Langton. In the 12th year of the reign of 
 Edward III., their son Robert Langton was knighted. The particulars of 
 the feud between the Hoghtons of Hoghton and Lea, and the Langtons of 
 Newton and Walton, in the reign of Elizabeth, through which the last 
 named manor was transferred to the Hoghton family, have been previously 
 related. 13 Walton-le-Dale, in conjunction with Curedale, forms a parochial 
 chapclry. Walton church is believed to have been originally erected in 
 the twelth century. It was endowed with two oxgangs of land, equal to 
 about thirty Lancashire acres. Although situated on an eminence, it is 
 described in the earlier records as Law or Low Chapel. It is not impro¬ 
 bable that this term may have been derived from the circumstance of the 
 locality having been previously used as a Saxon burial ground. f Accord¬ 
 ing to the Coucher Booh of Whalley, the chapel of Walton, with all the 
 tithe lands and “ obventions ” belonging to it, was granted, in the year 
 1229, to the abbot and convent of Stanlow, by Adam de Blackburn, at the 
 request of his lord John de Lascy. The grant, however, was subject to a 
 payment of twenty marks per annum to Richard, son of the dean of 
 Whalley, until he should be promoted to a similar or better benifice. 
 Shortly afterwards (1238), however, the advowson was granted by John de 
 Lascy to the abbey, free from any charges. Ralph Langton, of Walton, 
 and baron of Newton, in the 18th year of the reign of Henry VII., 
 bequeathed the sum of twenty marks, “ to make and repair the Lawe 
 
 c See chapter I. 
 e See chapter 3, page 142, 
 
 d See chap. 1, and appendix, 
 f See chapter 2, page 26, 
 
’T/i& Se<zt of f Tewnlcy Tarker £sq1hffj 
 
 ?u> V 
 
 
 JSav. ,y. C./Tersha%v, /n0icm.2?en£ 
 
THE HUNDRED OF BLACKBURN. 
 
 567 
 
 church, if the parishioners would build the same while his son was under 
 age.” The north portion of the chancel belongs to the Asshetons, of Cuer- 
 dale; and the south part to the Hogliton family. The arms of both 
 families are carved in stone. Beneath those of the Hoghtons is the follow¬ 
 ing inscription :—“ The south part of this chancel belongs to Sir Gilbert 
 
 Hoghton, lent, and hart, builded-.” The date is erased. Sir Gilbert 
 
 Hoghton died in the year 1647. In the parliamentary inquiry of 1650, 
 Law is styled a “parochial chapelry, nine miles from the parish church, 
 containing two hundred families.” Complaint was made by the inhabitants 
 that £40. a year had been allowed them for a pastor, by the Committee of 
 Plundered Ministers, out of the sequestered tithes of James Anderton, esq., 
 “a delinquent papist” ; but that with respect to other charges laid upon these 
 tithes for the maintenance of other ministers, the order had done the 
 inhabitants no good. Another complaint was that the sum of £4 per 
 annum usually paid to the minister at Law Chapel by the vicar of Black¬ 
 burn, had been illegally detained during the preceding three years. The 
 township was in consequence Avithout both “minister and maintenance.” 
 The church is dedicated to St. Leonard. The annual value of tire living, 
 in 1834, was returned at £156. The register commences in 1653. The 
 vicar of Blackburn is patron of the living. In 1761, the steeple of Walton 
 church was furnished Avith a peal of six bells, cast by Messrs. Lester and 
 Pack, of London, at a cost of £322. 19s., including the A’alue of the metal 
 contained in the four old bells, which previously formed the peal. Walton 
 bells are famous for the sweetness of their tone. Whether this is attribu¬ 
 table to the skill of the founders, or to the situation of the church, is 
 perhaps difficult to decide; but, from the circumstance that the neighbour¬ 
 ing peal at Penwortliam enjoys a similar reputation, doubtless much of tho 
 proverbial sweetness results from the site. Bishop Gastrell mentions three 
 charities belonging to Walton, one of £10. per annum, bequeathed in 
 1624, by Peter Burscough, yeoman, to be distributed to the poor on Good 
 Friday; a similar bequest, in 1688, by a Mr. Crook, of Abram, of the 
 tenth part of an estate in Alston and Whittingham, of the value of 22s. 
 and 6d. per annum; and a gift of £20. by Catherine, Avife of Richard 
 Park, in 1718, “ witli her husband's consent.” The commissioners’ report, 
 (1819,) mentions another charity bequeathed in 1735, “for the poor of 
 Walton and Brindlc,” by William Gradell. The property is named 
 “Shuttling Field’s Estates,” and consists of a “ farm-house, outbuildings 
 and 24 acres of land, producing annually £50.” The bishop records 
 the following facts Avith reference to the free school:— 
 
 “The School here, (w cl > is free only to the Inhabitants of the Town,) was built by the 
 Inhabitants upon ground Given by Sir Richard Houghton, anno 1672, (the Children 
 being taught in ye Chapel before.) Given to the Master by Peter Burscough, anno 
 
568 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 1614, (1624) 1001., out of the interest of which was raised 301. more during ye vacancy 
 of ye School in ye time of ye Rebellion. By Mr. Andrew Dandy, Citizen of London, 
 1001.; by Thomas Hesketli, of Walton, ‘201.; by Mr. Crook, of Abram, the tenth part 
 of his Estate in Austin [Alston] and Whittingham, Leased for 111. 10s. Od. per annum. 
 No Governours being appointed by ye Benefactours, (except ye heirs of Mr. Crook for 
 wt was given by him), the Inhabitants have named six Trustees, but they keep the right 
 of Nominating ye Master.” 
 
 This school was originally the only one in the township. At the present 
 time instruction is given to from thirty to thirty-five scholars, in the usual 
 branches of a commercial education. The teacher’s salary is derived from 
 the interest of the bequests enumerated, lodged in the hands of Sir Henry 
 Bold Hoghton, hart., amounting to £14. Is. 6d. per annum; £2. yearly 
 from a farm in the parish of Eibchester (Crook’s bequest); and pence paid 
 by the scholars. The national schools were erected in 1835, at a cost of 
 £1000., chiefly derived from subscriptions and a grant from the National 
 Society. The upper school is frequented by upwards of 100 hoys and 
 fifty girls; the infant school by about seventy boys and sixty girls. About 
 forty girls attend the sewing school. Instruction is imparted in the 
 Sunday schools to about 500 children. There are four teachers, whose 
 salaries are paid from funds derived from subscriptions, interest of money 
 realised by a bazaar, and the pence of the children. It is intended in a 
 short time to erect a catholic chapel in the village of Walton, the premises 
 already in use being merely temporary. About thirty years ago, a catholic 
 chapel was erected at Brownedge, in the township of Walton, to which a 
 school is attached. The interior of the chapel is handsomely decorated. 
 There are likewise a methodist and a Unitarian chapel, and places of worship 
 for some other denominations. The township of Walton, which includes 
 Moon’s mill and Bamber-bridge, now possesses a considerable quantity of 
 cotton mills, as well as a pi’int works, established as early as 1760. There are 
 several old mansions and modern genteel residences in AYalton, including 
 Lostock hall, Banister-hall (now a farm house), Walton lodge, the seat 
 of W. Calrow, esq.; Cooper-hill, the residence of Charles Swainson, esq.; 
 and Darwen bank, the seat of Miles Bodgett, esq. It has been stated that 
 the original house at Cooper hill, was designed by General Burgoyne, 
 and that a lightning conductor was put to it by Dr. Franklin. g The old 
 hall at Walton, successively the seat of the Banastres, the Langtons, and the 
 Hoghtons, was pulled down about twenty years ago. Some of the offices 
 yet remaining point out the site. Sir Henry Bold Hoghton, bart., as lord 
 of the manor, is coroner for Walton-le-dale. Joseph Walker, esq., solicitor, 
 Preston, acts as deputy. The township of Walton-le-Dale contains 4,663 
 statute acres of land. The population, in 1851, amounted to 6,855. The 
 
 g Dobson’s pamphlet, History of the Parliamentary Representation of Preston, etc., page 29. 
 
Tbe Se<i*. of Cia^Svainsoi.J: 
 
THE HUNDRED OF BLACKBURN. 
 
 569 
 
 property was rated, in 1854, at the annual value of £18,024. Walton has 
 been the scene of many important historical events. These will be found 
 fully described in the preceding chapters. 
 
 Cuerdale forms a portion of the chapelry of Walton. Geoffrey de 
 Keuerdale held, of the earl of Lancaster, in the reign of Edward III., 
 three carucates of land, in Keuerdale. It passed by marriage to Thomas 
 le Molynex, who was slain at the battle of Bedcote bridge, in the first 
 year of the reign of Bichard II. On the birth of Badcliffe Assheton, in 
 1582, it was transferred to the family of the present proprietor, W. 
 Assheton, esq., of Cuerdale and Downham. Cuerdale hall, formerly a 
 residence of the family, was erected in 1700, but the remains of foundations 
 in the gardens indicate that some more ancient structure preceded the 
 present edifice. Cuerdale has become somewhat celebrated, owing to the 
 discovery of an immense hoard of Saxon, Danish, and other coins, etc., in 
 1840, by some workmen employed in repairing the bank of the river.'* 
 The township of Cuerdale contained, in 1851, no more than eighty inhabi¬ 
 tants. Its area includes 684 statute acres of land, chiefly situated in the 
 valley of the Bibble. The property was assessed to the county rate, in 
 1854, at £985. per annum. 
 
 Samlesbury is an extensive township lying between the Darwen and 
 the Bibble. From its name, a Boman outwork probably existed here, 
 on a vacinal way from the principal station at Walton to Bibchester and 
 Whalley. The manor was held by Gospatric de Samsbury, towards the 
 end of the reign of Henry II. His grandson, Sir William de Samlesbury, 
 having no male issue, the property became vested in the husbands of his 
 three daughters and co-heiresses. Boger de Haunton espoused Margery, 
 but left no representative. Cecily married Sir John D’Ewyas. In the 
 forty-third year of the reign of Henry III., he held one half of the manor 
 of Samlesbiuy. The other moiety became vested in Sir Bobert de Holland, 
 of Hale, on his marriage with Elizabeth, the youngest daughter of Sir 
 William de Samlesbiuy. Bobert de Holland was knighted in the tenth 
 year of the reign of Edward I. The widow of his grandson, Sir Bobert 
 Holland, married the celebrated Edward, the Black Prince, father of 
 Bichard II. Sir Bobert, son of Elizabeth de Samlesbury, founded the 
 priory of Holland. Being a partizan of Thomas, earl of Lancaster, his 
 estates were confiscated on the attainder of that nobleman. After much 
 litigation, however, they were restored. This property passed by marriage 
 to the Lovel family, and was again confiscated during the wars of the 
 roses, by John Lord Lovel, an adherent of the Lancastrian party. A 
 descendant of Cecily de Samlesbury married Sir Gilbert de Southworth. 
 
 h See chapter 2, page 74. 
 
570 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Her moiety of the manor remained in possession of this family till 1677, 
 when it was disposed of by John Southworth, esq., together with the old 
 hall, for little over £2000., to Thomas Braddyll, esq., from whom it 
 descended to the Braddylls, of Conishead priory. An episcopal chapel, 
 dedicated to St. Leonard, was founded by Gospatric de Samlesbury. It 
 was originally a chapel of ease to Law or Walton church, without a 
 cemetery. It appears from the Coucher Boole, however, that two Irish 
 bishops, on a visit to Gospatric, were prevailed upon to consecrate a 
 cemetery, which act was supposed to render the chapel parochial. This 
 transpired during the absence from England of Hugh de Nonant, then 
 bishop of Litchfield, who held the see from 1185 to 1198. Irritated at 
 this interference with his authority, Hugh, on his return, annulled the 
 consecration. The entreaties of Gospatric, however, mollified the anger of 
 the bishop, who, eventually confirmed the sentence. Dr. Kuerden pre¬ 
 serves the following curious letter from the earl o‘f Derby respecting 
 Samlesbury chapel:— 
 
 “ 13 May, 1558. Edw. E. of Derby to al liis lowing trends. As I am credibly 
 enformed the church at Sambury is in ruine & indangering people that resort to lieare 
 God’s worde, I haue thought good to moue my louing frends to help with there charity 
 towards the re-edifying thereof.” 
 
 According to the Parliamentary Inquisition, in 1650, the parochial chapel 
 of Samlesbury was reported as having had anciently a pension of £4. 
 per annum, paid by former vicars of Blackburn, but at that time detained. 
 The inhabitants, amounting to one hundred families, stated that they were 
 desirous Samlesbury should be constituted into a distinct parish. Iiichard 
 Smethurst was minister at the time, and received £40. per annum, from 
 the county committee. The value of the living, in 1834, was £110. 
 per annum. The church, although the ancient burial place of the 
 lords of the soil, contains scarcely a single memorial of note, except 
 the knightly ensign of one of the Southworths, and, an alabaster slab, 
 covering the remains of a William, son of Sir William Anderton, who 
 died about the nineteenth year of the reign of Henry VI. The higher 
 hall, commonly called “ Samlesbury old hall,” situated on the new road 
 from Preston to Blackburn, is a most interesting specimen of the superior 
 kind of domestic architecture of the middle ages. The following observa¬ 
 tions respecting edifices of this class, by Dr. Whitaker, will be read with 
 interest:— 
 
 “ Tlie whole structure has been originally a frame work of wood independent of walls, 
 the principals consisting of deep flat beams of massy oak naturally curved, and of which 
 each pair seems to have been sawed out of the same trunk. These spring from the 
 ground and form a bold Gothic arch overhead; the spars rest upon a wall plate, and 
 that is again sustained by horizontal spars, grooved into the principals, it was then of 
 no importance that such erections consumed great quantities of the finest ship timber, 
 and indeed the appearance of one of these rooms is precisely that of the hull of a great 
 
THE HUNDRED OF BLACKBURN. 
 
 571 
 
 ship, inverted and seen from within. Specimens of this ancient style in perfection are, 
 the old manor house at Samlesbury, and the Lawsing Stedes barn, at Whalley. In the 
 reign of Henry IV. we have a deviation from this primitive mode, there the principals 
 have two springers, one from the ground, another from a rude capital about 8 feet from 
 the ground, but the square of the building is considerably raised, and the arch encroaches 
 less up n the apartment within. The style of architecture in wood evidently kept pace 
 with that in stone, and when in the time of Henry VII. the arch became broader and 
 more depressed in the centre, we have a corresponding change in our ancient timber 
 buildings. Wooden posterns still descended to the ground, but they were now become 
 perpendicular and square and fluted. From the top of these, elegant and ornamental 
 springers received horizontal roof beams, while all was still open to the roof above, and 
 the rafters continued to rest on a wall plate. Thus the idea of a complete frame inde¬ 
 pendently of the walls was still preserved ; but the low basement story of stone may 
 still be observed in some of our most ancient buildings, advanced to the square, though 
 the cross pikes are generally of wood. This precisely describes the Hall of Little Mitton 
 and another noble specimen of somewhat later date, the west wing of Samlesbury Hall, 
 built by Sir Thomas Southworth, in 1532, of which the outer wall, however, is of 
 brick. The wood employed in the construction of this last mansion must have laid 
 prostrate a forest, and while the principal timbers are carved with great elegance, and 
 the compartments of the roof painted with figures of saints, while the outsides of the 
 building are adorned with profile heads of wood cut in bold relief within huge medallions, 
 it is curious to observe, that the inner doors are without lock or panel, and have always 
 opened like modern cottages with a latch and a string. It was moated round and has 
 contained three sides of a quadrangle, the centre one of which containing the great hall, 
 is a noble specimen of most rude and massy woodwork. Though repaired by Sir Thomas 
 Southworth, in 1532, whose name it bears, it is of high antiquity, probably not later 
 than Edward III.” 
 
 Mr. Alfred Rimmer is inclined to doubt whether the hall is quite so ancient 
 as conjectured by Dr. "Whitaker. He says, “ It is somewhat similar in 
 character, and perhaps scarcely' so rude, as one formerly standing at Ilad- 
 cliffo hall, and engraved in Whitaker’s Whaltey, and this was built in the 
 reign of Henry IV.” 1 There is some difficulty in deciphering a portion 
 of an inscription in old English characters, owing to its mutilated con¬ 
 dition. It has generally been interpreted as “ Thomas Southworth, 
 Baroncte.” Mr. Dimmer, however, says:— 
 
 “ As the word which was read Baronete occurs before Thomas Southwortli’s name, 
 and Knight is written very distinctly after, it is not probable that this reading is correct; 
 moreover it is not like Baronet, except in the number of the letters and the initial. As 
 this inscription is later than the room, and as various other parts of the house are of the 
 same age, it might read thus: Anno Domini Mccccc xxx ii, Bono Statu Thomas South- 
 worth, xx. The next panel, which contained the remainder, has been destroyed, and 
 when complete the inscription may have stated that Sir Thomas restored the hall, in 
 1532, to a good condition, which both Baines and Whitaker state to have been the 
 case.” 
 
 The timber of the screen which separates the gallery for musicians from 
 the body of the hall is elaborately carved. The arched fire place is very 
 large, measuring in height six feet nine inches, and fourteen feet nine 
 inches in breadth. It is lighted by a very fine oriel window, in addition 
 to four others of a plainer character. The entire hall is about thirty-five 
 feet in length, by upwards of twenty-six in breadth. The staircase 
 
 j Lancashire and Cheshire Ilis. Soc. Trans, vol. 4, page 35. 
 
572 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 for so noble a mansion is considered narrow and mean. The roof of the 
 entrance hall has an arched fire place in the Tudor style, and a finely 
 carved oak ceiling. It is nearly thirteen feet in height. There is a 
 parlour to the right which still retains its oak ceiling and latticed 
 window. Still further to the right is the ancient domestic chapel. The 
 window is filled with rich tracery, said to have been brought from 
 AVhalley Abbey. It is of the character prevalent during the reign of 
 Henry YII. A room to the left of the entrance hall is in excellent pre¬ 
 servation. Its fire place is ornamented with six gothic panels and two 
 shields. It bears the following inscription: “Thomas Southworth, Knight, 
 1555.” The front which is 105 feet in length, is ornamented by diamond 
 shaped figures in blue brick, and is surmounted by a coved cornice of lath 
 and plaster, common to buildings erected during the reign of Henry VIII. 
 The moat referred to by Dr. Whitaker has since been filled up. The figures 
 of saints on the ceiling of the hall have likewise disappeared, and modern 
 locks have superseded the primitive latches. Mr. Baines complained in 
 1836, that the ancient hall was in “a state of dilapidation and converted 
 into two beer shops.” In 1852, Mr. Bimmer, however, says:— 
 
 “ Samlesbury Hall is in a state of high preservation, and the timber even in the most 
 ancient part, is as sound as it ever was. The walls are perfectly true and the glass in 
 most of the windows is entire. The doors do not even need re-hanging, nor does the 
 brickwork require to be pointed ; and in all probability if the Southworth family existed 
 to the present day, it would still be their family residence ; but at present it presents a 
 sad picture of the mutability of human affairs, and is now occupied as a roadside inn of 
 the meanest description, and a great part of it lies useless. k The entrance hall with its 
 lofty ceiling and mullioned windows, is a bar parlour; and the ancient dining hall which 
 has so often rung with the revelry of the first gentlemen of the county, is quite deserted ; 
 modern partitions divide some of its finest rooms, so as to render it difficult, in many 
 instances, to discover the original plan of the mansion.” 
 
 Samlesbury hall was purchased by John Cooper, esq., of the Oaks, 
 Penwortham, in 1851. The evil complained of by Mr. Baines and 
 Mr. Bimmer was some time ago remedied, and the hall of the Southworths 
 converted into a boarding school for young ladies. The “Lower hall” 
 was sold by Thomas Southworth, esq., to Sir Thomas Walmsley, of 
 Dunkenhalgh, in the reign of James I. It has descended to one of the 
 representatives of the family, H. Petre, esq. Samlesbury has gained 
 some notoriety as the locale of a band of “ Lancashire witches.” The 
 superstition was not confined to the humbler classes of the locality. 
 From the evidence of John Singleton, on the trial of the gang, as recorded 
 by Potts, a writer on witchcraft, it appears that Sir John Southworth was 
 in the habit of observing that a relative named Jane Southworth, was 
 
 k This is scarcely correct. Samlesbury Hall was certainly a road-side inn ; but it was in no way 
 inferior to the general average of such places. Indeed, in some respects it was, at one time, rather 
 superior than otherwise. 
 
Tlfe Ancient Seat of tie Braddjls 
 
 
THE HUNDRED OF BLACKBURN. 
 
 573 
 
 “ a cruel woman and a witch, and he, Sir John, in going between his own 
 house and Preston, did for the most part forbear to pass the house where 
 Jane the said witch did dwell, doubting that she would bewitch him.” 1 
 The commissioners report, made in 1819, mentions the following charities 
 in connection with this township :— 
 
 “ Samlesbury School.—The master teaches 6 poor children, and occupies rent free a 
 dwelling house and land of £8. yearly value, and has £8. from the overseers. 
 
 “1715. Langdale’s Charity.—Dorothy Langdale left £200 for the support of the 
 poor and aged, or for binding out poor apprentices. This legacy, increased by accumu¬ 
 lation of interest to £214. 13s. was laid out in a house, cottage, gardens, and land, pro¬ 
 ducing £25. per annum in rent, which for many years has been applied in aid of the 
 poor’s rates, instead of being disposed of to charitable purposes. 
 
 “ 1613. Richard Hoghton’s Charity.—The rent of 5 acres of land to be divided 
 among 3 townships for their poor, viz: to Preston, £2. I Os.; to Alston, £5.; and to 
 Samlesbury, £2. 10s.” 
 
 Samlesbury formerly possessed extensive alum works." 1 The area of this 
 township, according to the ordnance survey, is 4,379 statute acres. The 
 population, in 1851, was 1,435; and the annual rateable value of the 
 property in 1854, £5,822. 
 
 Pleasington was formerly the property of a family of that name. A 
 deed without date, but supposed from the names of the witnesses to he 
 about the time of Henry III. or Edward I. exists, by which Henry de 
 Plcssyngton gave to John de Stodleigh, and Margery his wife, daughter of 
 Henry de Plcssyngton, a piece of land in Plcssyngton, called Tincfield, 
 together with another piece called Adam’s Assart, to he held at an annual 
 rent of 3s. to the end of Margery’s life. The property became transferred 
 by marriage to the Winkeley family. Kuerdcn preserves a document by 
 which John de Wynkcrdelegh grants to his eldest son John, his manor and 
 demesne in Plessington, to he held “ by the yearly service of one rose, and 
 fealty to the chief lord.” In the 4th year of the reign of Richard II. a 
 Robert de Plessington was chief baron of the exchequer. In 1715, ayounger 
 branch of the family of Plessington, lost his estate for supporting the 
 Stuarts. His portion of the property was sold by the commissioners for 
 £770., to a Mr. Wickers. The manor passed to the Cunliffes, and after¬ 
 wards to the Ainsworth family. A descendant, Edward Ainsworth, who, 
 “ by vulgar debauchery, wasted the patrimony of a long line of respectable 
 ancestors,” conveyed it to the father of the late J. F. Eutler, esq., in 
 1777." The present handsome Roman catholic church, called Pleasington 
 priory, was erected by J. F. Butler, esq., at a cost of £20,000. He died 
 in 1822, leaving the estate to a niece, Miss Julia Butler, who bequeathed 
 it to J. Bowden, esq., of the county of Derby, now J. Butler Bowden, esq., 
 
 1 See chapter 4, page 147. m See chap. 1, p. 41, and chap. 4, p. 152. 
 
 n Letter of Michael Jones, esq., barrister, to J. F. Butler, esq., of Pleasington hall, dated Jan. 
 1814. Mr. Jones says Lawrence Ainsworth was in possession of the property in 1453. 
 
574 
 
 PRESTOX AXD ITS EXVIBOXS. 
 
 its present possessor, who resides at Pleasington Hall. About fifty years 
 ago, the last of the family of the Aynesworths sold Fenniscowles to the 
 late AV. Feilden, esq. "VVoodfold was formerly a residence of the Sudells, 
 and afterwards of Paul Fleetwood, esq., of Preston. Pleasington contains 
 an area of 1701 statute acres. The annual rateable value of the property, 
 in 1854, amounted to £2,930. The population, in 1851, numbered 428. 
 
 Balderstoxe. —This manor passed from the family of that name to the 
 Harringtons and the Pilkingtons, by marriage. Dame Margery Pilkington, 
 in the 12th year of the reign of Henry VII., bequeathed her portion to 
 Sir Thomas Talbot, and his wife Jane, her niece. In the nineteenth year 
 of the reign of Henry VII., Sir James Harrington presented a petition to 
 the king and council, praying that he might be restored to the possession 
 of the estate which had been forfeited in the first year of the reign of that 
 monarch. He describes himself as being “ sorofull and repentant as any 
 creature may be of all that the same your Beseecher have done to the 
 displeasure of your Hignesse, contrarie to his duty of Allegiance.” The 
 prayer of the petition was granted. A portion passed to the Dudley 
 family, and afterwards escheated to the crown, in the first year of the 
 reign of Henry VIII. The manor was sold about the year 1821, by Mr. 
 Cross, to Joseph Feilding, esq., of AVitton. Balderstone chapel is probably 
 an erection anterior to the Deformation. It is mentioned in the year 
 1559. It was without endowment or minister, in 1650, although the 
 township contained eighty families. It was in decay during the reign of 
 James I., but was afterwards restored. The building was enlarged in 
 1755, and 1818. Balderstone contains 1807 statute acres, and a population 
 of 660 persons. The property was rated at £2,301. per annum, in 1854. 
 
 Osbaloestox. —Dr. Leigh supposes the name to have been derived from 
 Osalveden, signifying Oswald’s Town, a Roman villa in the neighbourhood, 
 in the time of Tacitus. This, however, is ridiculed by the more 
 erudite Dr. AVhitaker. Osbaldeston Hall is believed to have been the 
 property and residence of one of the oldest families located in Lancashire. 
 Mr. Baines says it was the property of “ Elfi of Osbaldeston, a Saxon, 
 whose son Hugh was living in the 30 Henry III., from whom descended 
 the family of Osbaldeston; while from his brother AVilliam, who assumed 
 the name of Balderstone, descended a family, which terminated in two 
 coheiresses, in the reign of Henry VI.” The estate remained in the same 
 family till the middle of the eighteenth century, when it passed by sale to 
 the AVarrens, by whose representative, the Lord de Tabley, it is at 
 present held. Osbaldeston and Balderstone are pleasantly situated on the 
 south bank of the Ribble, and include some beautiful rural scenery.® The 
 
 o See page 522. 
 
THE HUNDRED OF BLACKBURN. 
 
 57 5 
 
 township of Osbaldeston was rated, in 1854, at the annual value of £1,126. 
 The population, in 1851, numbered 250. The area, according to the 
 ordnance survey, is 1,084 acres. 
 
 Salesbury or Salisbury, is likewise situated on the southern bank of 
 the Itibble, opposite to Itibchester. The manor was held by Award de 
 Salebury, who granted lands therein to the monks of Stanlow about the 
 time of Edward I. The manor was transferred to the Talbots, by the 
 marriage of Isabella, daughter and co-heiress of Richard Mauliverer, by 
 Sybil, daughter and heiress of Sir Robert de Cliderhow, of Salebury. Ry 
 the marriage of the daughter of John Talbot with Edward Warren, of 
 Poynton, the manor passed to Lord de Tabley. Salesbury hall is now a farm 
 house. It possesses some historical associations; p but is chiefly remarkable 
 on account of a magnificent Roman altar, supposed to have been procured 
 from Itibchester, having been built into one of its walls. This stone has 
 been deposited in St. John’s college, Cambridge, by the late Dr. Whitaker. q 
 Another hall at Salesbury, called Lovely hall, was formerly a jointure of 
 the Talbots. Salesbury green, was, according to Mr. Baines, “ a station 
 for the rebels during the last century.” The chapel was built in 1808. 
 The patronage for the first sixty years is vested in Lord de Tabley. 
 Salesbury contains 1,215 statute acres, and was assessed in 1854, at the 
 annual value of £1,217. The population, in 1851, amounted to 388. 
 RIBCHESTER PARISH. 
 
 The parish of Ribchester is situated to the east of that of Preston, and 
 includes the townships of Ribchester, Dilworth, Dutton, and Alston-with- 
 Hothersall. 
 
 Ribchester, as the name implies, was a Roman castrum on the Ribble. 
 It has been identified with the Rigodunum, of Ptolemy, the Rerigonium, 
 of Richard of Cirencester, the Coccium, of Antoninus, the Bremetum racum, 
 of the Notitia, and the Bremetonacis, of Antoninus. This matter will be 
 found fully discussed in other portions of this work. r From the numerous 
 remains which have been discovered, Ribchester, has evidently been a 
 populous and important place, during the period of the Roman occupation. 
 Leland, in his day, found Ribchester “ a poore thing.” He records, 
 however, that “ it hath beene an Auncient Town. Great Squarid Stones, 
 Youltes, and antique coynes be found ther; and ther is a place wher the 
 People fable that the Jues had a Temple.” He further adds that the 
 “tide floweth and ebbith in Ilihjl most communely more than half way 
 up betwixt Prestun & Ribcestre, and at Ragis of Spring Tydes farther.” 
 Leland has evidently been misinformed on this matter. The backing of 
 
 p See pages 130, 170, and 524. 
 r See chapter 1, and Appendix. 
 
 q See Appendix, 
 
576 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 the fresh water by the tide at the present day, seldom produces any 
 impression above Cuerdale, except in the case of floods ; and there is no 
 reason to believe any change has taken place, in this respect, for some 
 centuries. 8 Camden paid more attention to the Roman remains. He 
 discovered the pedestal of a pillar, built into the fabric of Salesbury hall, 
 on the opposite side of the river, which bore the following inscription :— 
 “DEO MARTI ET VICTORIA DD AVGG ET CC NN.” 
 
 Another altar, dedicated to Apollo, Camden noticed in a neighbouring 
 wall. It was, in 1814, by permission of Lord Bulkeley detached, and 
 presented by Dr. Whitaker to King’s College, Cambridge. This relic 
 is considered one of the most interesting Roman altars found in this 
 kingdom. Though much injured, it yet exhibits the remains of a well 
 executed figure of Apollo, with his lyre, and two priests holding the head 
 of a horned animal, intended for sacrifice. 4 The inscription on this altar, 
 being considerably defaced, has given rise to much learned controversy. u 
 Camden on his second visit, in 1603, discovered another altar, which he 
 describes as the largest and finest he had ever seen. It is dedicated to 
 the “ mother goddesses.” It is nearly unique, only one of a similar 
 character having been discovered. It has been placed in the museum at 
 Stonyhui'st college. Camden mentions likewise a large stone, bearing the 
 representation of a man on horseback, brandishing a spear over a prostrate 
 enemy. This stone bore the following inscription :— 
 
 “HIS. TERRIS. TEGITVR. AEL. MATRONA. QV.VIX. AN. XXVIII. M.II.D. nil. ET. M. 
 IVLIVIS. MAXIMVS. FIL. VIX. AN. VI. M. III. D. XX. ET. CAM. PANIA. DUBBA. MATER. 
 
 VIX. AN. L. IVLIVS. MAXIMVS.AL. SAR. CONIVX. CONIVGI. INCOMPARABILI. 
 
 ET FILIO. PATRI. PIENTIS. SIMO. ET. SOCERAE. TENACISSIMAE. MEMORIAE. P.” 
 
 Another relic, called “ a poor man’s altar,” bears the following inscrip¬ 
 tion :— 
 
 “PACIFE RO MARTI ELEGAVR BA POSVIT. EX. VOTO.” 
 
 Dr. Stukeley visitod Ribchester in 1725. He thus describes it:— 
 
 “ The Rihble is very broad in this place, rapid and sonorous, and what is much to be 
 lamented, runs over innumerable Roman antiquities; for in this long tract of time it 
 lias eaten away a third part of the city. I traced out the old ground plot, and where 
 the wall and ditch went round it; it lav in length east and west along the north side of 
 the river, upon its brink, 800 feet long and 500 feet broad. Originally, I apprehend two 
 streets ran along its breadth. * * By symmetry I find the whole channel of the 
 
 river lies, at present, within the precinct of the old city, the original channel on the 
 other side being filled up with city walls and rubbish, for it bends with a great elbow 
 towards the city.” 
 
 The river has certainly encroached much upon the site of the castrum, 
 though it is doubtful whether to the extent conjectured by Stukeley. 
 Horsley, Leigh, and others, made some additional discoveries. One is a 
 square stone with the figure of a boar sculptured on one side. It hears the 
 
 s See chapter 1, page 52. 
 
 t Camden thought the figure a Cupid. 
 
 u See appendix. 
 
THE HUNDRED OE BLACKBURN. 
 
 577 
 
 following inscription: “leg xx vv fecit.” The most important relics of 
 the ancient city have, however, been brought to light within the last sixty 
 years. In 1796, a slip of earth disclosed a bronze helmet of very superior 
 workmanship. It is ornamented with figures of armed warriors in con¬ 
 flict. In addition to the head piece, there is a beautiful mask attached, 
 representing a finely proportioned human face. Dr. Whitaker says “the 
 crest, which was unfortunately lost, was a sphinx.” From the thinness 
 of the metal and other circumstances, it is believed to have formed part 
 of a statue, and not to have been used as a piece of defensive armour. It 
 is at present deposited along Avith the remainder of the Townley collection, 
 in the British museum. A few other smaller articles were found at the 
 same time as the helmet. In July, 1811, some workmen, while repairing 
 the river’s hank, discovered several fragments of an inscribed stone. When 
 these were adjusted, Dr. Whitaker endeavoured to interpret its meaning. 
 From the imperfect condition of the relic, this is by no means so satisfac¬ 
 tory as might be desired. However, the learned antiquary, after much 
 ingenious dissertation, gives it as folloAvs :— 
 
 “ DEAE MINERVAE 
 
 PRO SALATE IMP M AVREL ANTONINI AVC ET 
 IVLI PIAE MATRIS DN ET CASTR SA'OR ET 
 A T AL CRESCENTIS FA'LVIANI LEG EI\ r S PP PR PR 
 T FLORIDA'S NATALIS LEG PRAEP N ET REGIANE 
 TEMPLVM A SOLO EX RESPONSV RE — 
 
 STITIA'IT ET DEDICAVIT.” 
 
 This Dr. Whitaker extends in the following manner :— 
 
 “ De® Minerv®—Pro salute Imperatoris Marei Aurelii Antonini Augusti et Juli® Pi® 
 matris domini nostri et castrorum suorura, et Valerii Crescentis Fulviani Legati, 
 provinci® prasidis, proprietor, Titus Floridus Natalis legatus praipotenti nurnini et 
 regina® templum a solo ex responsu restituit et deilicavit.” v 
 
 This led to still more important discoveries, Avhich are thus described by 
 Dr. Whitaker:— 
 
 “This” (the stone last referred to) “sufficiently proved the existence of a temple, of 
 which this inscription must have formed the tympanum. Accordingly, in the summer of 
 1813, leave having been obtained to dig in the adjoining gardens, between the river and 
 the church yard, the first appearances, at the depth of about three feet, were a stratum of 
 charcoal, evidently formed by the conflagration of the roof, and nearly in the centre a 
 cavity in the earth had been made, by uniting the ends of the beams at their fall, large 
 enough to contain a man sitting. Beneath this was a confused mass of large amphora, 
 some almost entire it* first, and many beautiful remnants of pater® in the red Samian 
 ware, mingled with which lay several human skeletons, all of the largest size, in every 
 direction. Every appearance about the place indicated that it had been taken by storm, 
 and that the defenders had been buried in the ruins of the roof; but the absence of tiles 
 or slates seemed to prove that the outer covering of the building had been previously 
 stripped by the assailants. Here, too, was found a very curious Roman statera, or steel¬ 
 yard, very exactly graduated, and a singular bodkin of polished stone. 
 
 v “To the goddess Minerva,— for the safety of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus 
 Augustus, and of Julia Pia, the mother of our lord, and of his camp, and of Valerius Crescens 
 Fulvianus, his lieutenant, governor of the province,—the proprietor Titus Floridus Natalis the 
 lieutenant, restored this temple, and dedicated it to the most powerful goddess and queen.” 
 
 2 o 
 
578 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 “ The progress of discovery was now once more suspended, till the sexton, digging a 
 grave where no interment had taken place before, on the left hand of the entrance of 
 the church-yard, found the hase of a column and an anta, or square moulded corner of 
 the naos itself, upright, and in their original situations. Measurements were now 
 accurately made from the place where the inscription was found, which must have been 
 the front of the building, to the base of the column. This gave the entire length, 
 excepting one intercolumniation, for the whole had evidently had a peristyle. The 
 distance of the anta from the column, by the rules of architecture, gave the distance also 
 between column and column; by which data, with the help of a very conspicuous line of 
 mortar, about forty-five feet westward in the churchyard, the site of the west wall was 
 ascertained, a ground plan of the building was laid down, after which, by known pro¬ 
 portions of Doric architecture, a complete elevation was obtained. From remains not 
 originally more promising than these, Palladio has restored, in the most satisfactory and 
 convincing manner, several ancient temples. But every appearance about this work 
 (far unlike those beautiful specimens of ancient art which that great architect had the 
 happiness to retrieve), indicated, at once, provincial barbarism, and a declining age in 
 art. For the column was ill wrought, and the different diameters so varied from each 
 other, as to show that it had never been struck from a centre. w 
 
 “ Let all these circumstances be laid together, and it will scarcely be doubted that 
 this was a temple of Minerva, restored by command of Caracalla ; that the helmeted 
 head of brass was that of the goddess; that the temple had been stormed and burnt in 
 some irruption of the Caledonians, x during the last period of the Roman power in 
 Britain; and that the precious object of worship itself had been carefully deposited in 
 the earth, on the approach of the threatened danger, in a situation from which the 
 depositor never lived to disinter it.” y 
 
 Dr. Whitaker likewise mentions the statue of a lion, found within a few 
 yards of the east wall of the temple, apparently an architectural ornament; 
 together with a fragment of an altar, to the west of the peristyle. In Feb., 
 1833, the upper portion of an altar, the sides of which were decorated 
 with vine leaves, was dug up in the church yard. It bears an inscription 
 in rude but distinct letters, which has been rendered as follows :—“ Pro 
 Salute et Victoria invicti imperatoris Marci Aurelii Severi Antonini Pii et 
 Juliae August® Matris Domini et Castrorum suorum—Sep Re— 1 The 
 Rev. Mr. Allen, of Salesbury, who discovered the altar, observed indications 
 of an ancient conflagration, similar in character to those mentioned by Dr. 
 Whitaker. Near the altar, a fibula, a bulla, a ring of brass, and several 
 coins were found. The Rev. T. B. Hazlewood, incumbent of Ribchester, 
 has preserved the last mentioned altar, as well as a large number of coins, 
 pottery, and other interesting remains. Ribchester has been visited by 
 members of various archaeological associations; and many other interesting 
 relics have, from time to time, been discovered. Amongst others, a small 
 but beautiful gold cup, with handles, was dug up behind the White Bull 
 
 w See chapter 1, page 51. x See chapter 2, page 56. 
 
 y The helmet was discovered in an excavation filled with fine sand. Doubtless the tradition 
 respecting the temple of the Jews, had reference to the structure discovered by Dr. Whitaker. In 
 the middle period of Christianity in England, the only old, or, indeed, different religion to their 
 own, known to the mass of the people, would he the Jewish. 
 
 z “ For the safety and victory of the unvanquished emperor, Marcus Aurelius, Severus Antoninus 
 Pius” (Caracalla) “ the happy Augustus, and of his mother Julia Augusta, and for the safety of his 
 camp.” 
 
THE HUNDRED OF BLACKBURN. 
 
 579 
 
 Inn. A “tunnel” is said to have foi’merly existed under the Red Lion 
 Inn; but this has been destroyed. Three rude pillars, now forming part 
 of the porch of an inn, are reported to have been taken from the river. 
 Gold coins are not common at Itibchester. One, however, was found in 
 Jan., 1837. It was of the reign of Nero, and about the size of a modern 
 sixpence. In the following month, another discovery of some importance 
 took place. Some labourers were employed by Mr. Patchett to form a 
 hot-bed in his garden, when they came upon what has been pronounced to 
 be the remains of a Roman bath. It is described as thirty feet in length 
 and fifteen feet in breadth. The walls, which were three feet in thick¬ 
 ness, remained to the height of four feet. Mr. Whittle says, “ the bottom 
 was regularly paved after the manner of their watling or guethelin streets, 
 and over this was a fine cement, three feet in thickness, a strong coating 
 verily, and upon this was laid tiles or flags, jointed in a masterly style.” 
 From the general description of this relic, it was more probably the 
 flooring of a Roman house, of some pretensions. It was formerly the 
 practice to name this class of remains indiscriminately Roman baths. Mr. 
 Patchett has yet in his possession several of the rude stone pillars, nearly 
 a foot in height, which were taken from the foundation. These, doubtless, 
 supported the tesselated pavement, and formed the hypocaust or flues by 
 which the apartment was warmed. 1 These interesting remains, with a few 
 exceptions, have been used in the construction of ordinary buildings. 
 Some of the flags, which formed the pavement of the Roman hall, have 
 been degraded to a not very dissimilar service, in connection with a neigh¬ 
 bouring pigsty. Some fragments of glass, and a few imperfect coins were 
 found during the excavations. Coins are still often found. A silver 
 denarius of Titus Vespasian, in capital preservation, was picked up about 
 two years ago. A portion of the fosse and vallum which defended the 
 castrum on the west, is still visible. The latter is termed “Anchor-hill.” 
 Roman Ribchester was doubtless destroyed soon after the departure of the 
 legions, by an irruption of the northern barbarians, or by the resident 
 native inhabitants, who resisted the authority of the Britan ni, or Romano- 
 British people, by whom they had previously been held in subjection. 
 Tradition says it was destroyed by an earthquake, and again that it wa3 
 burnt by the Scots. b At the time of the Domesday survey, Ribchester was 
 included in Amounderness, and was one of the villages which belonged to 
 Preston. Edmund de Lacye held the manor in the forty second year of the 
 reign of Henry III. As early as the 27th Edward III., the Motons are 
 styled “lords of Ribchester.” It passed from them to the Hoghtons, of 
 
 a See Celt, Roman, and Saxon, by Thomas Wright, page 190, etc. 
 
 b See Chapter 1, page 50. 
 
 2 0 2 
 
580 
 
 PRE9TQN AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Hoghton Tower. According to the duchy records, Rybchester was vested 
 in Sir Alexander Hoghton, in the fourteenth Henry VII. On the same 
 authority it appears that in the 36th Elizabeth, Sir Richard Sherburne died 
 seized of the manor. It passed Horn the Sherburnes to the Welds, and 
 was disposed of by the celebrated cardinal of that name, about twenty-five 
 years ago, to Joseph Fenton, esq., of Bamford hall, near Rochdale, together 
 with the neighbouring manors of Dutton and Bailey. A church is believed 
 to have existed at Ribchester soon after the Conquest. The Domesday 
 book makes no mention of such an edifice. It is certain one was erected 
 previously to the reign of Henry II. In 1291, the living was valued at 
 £22. The present church has been built at various periods. An elaborately 
 ornamented screen, in the Dutton choir, on the south side of the edifice, is 
 supposed to belong to the age of John or Hemy III. In the 7th year of 
 the reign of Henry IV., a chantry was founded on the north side of the 
 choir, by Sir Richard Hoghton, M.P. There is a tomb in this choir 
 formed from a solid block of stone, bearing three heraldic devices of the 
 Hoghton family. A moiety of the Dutton choir belonged to the Hoghtons, 
 in right of some possessions in Alston. It was sold by the late baronet to 
 Mr. Rothwell, of Lancaster. A portion of the other moiety, formerly the 
 property of the Townleys, was sold in 1729, to John Riley. It is described as 
 the “middle part of Dutton choir, being a seat therein, five feet square, 
 reserving power to pass and repass to other parts of the said choir, not thereby 
 granted.” c The further end of Dutton choir, together with an estate in 
 Bailey, was leased in 1 740, by Richard Townley, esq., of Belfield. It was 
 lately claimed by Mrs. Alston, of Ribchester, in right of William Pye, gent., 
 deceased, a descendant of the Townleys, of Dutton. The ruins of a chapel 
 in Bailey, which is in Mitton parish, were removed in 1830, by the late 
 Joseph Fenton, esq. The chapel of St. John the Baptist, in Bailey, was a 
 chantry, founded by Roger de Cliderhow, rector of Wigan. Roger was a 
 partisan of Thomas, earl of Lancaster. In 1323, he was indicted for high 
 treason, but acquitted. He was charged with having preached, in Wigan 
 church, against the king; with having contended that his congregation 
 were liege subjects of the earl; and with having furnished two horses and 
 four foot soldiers on behalf of his patron. The advowson of Ribchester 
 appears to have been possessed from an early period by the dukes of 
 Lancaster. On the foundation of the see of Chester, in the reign of Henry 
 VIII., the living was conferred upon the bishopric. The bishop is rector 
 of Ribchester, and possesses all the great tithes in the parish, except 
 those of the township of Dutton. According to the Parliamentary Inqui¬ 
 sition, in 1650, the vicar of Ribchester formerly received twenty marks 
 
 c Lane. MSS., vol. 31, page 519. 
 
THE HUNDRED OF BLACKBURN. 
 
 581 
 
 per annum from the bishop of Chester, together with £6. 13s. 4d., a year 
 from the parish of Stede. It was complained that no allowance had 
 latterly been made, and that the minister, Mr. Christopher Hindley, had 
 been suspended by an order from the provincial Assembly of Divines, 
 but for what cause the presentors were not informed. The commissioners 
 for the sale of bishops’ lands, in 1647, state that there was no minister 
 at Ribchester, that the people “ only heare so often as they can, and 
 pay the minister chiefly out of their own purses. There was one Mr. 
 Harley ” [Hindley] “ minister, but was put out by the Committee of 
 Divines in Lancashire, for his insufficiency, and being scandalory in his 
 life and conversation.” At this period the rectory was held by Eichard 
 Sherburne, esq., of Stonyhurst, the lord of the manor, by lease from the 
 bishop of Chester. A free school was established in 1771. There are 
 likewise some charities which produced, according to the commissioners’ 
 report, in 1819, £53. 16s. per annum. There are remains of several stone 
 crosses, some of them believed to be of the earlier Christian period, in the 
 parish of Itibchester and its neighbourhood. A small cross, with a ball in 
 front, found in Itibchester church yard, some years ago, and transferred to 
 Lovely hall, Salesbury, closely resembles those in Whalley church-yard ; 
 on which account it has been conjectured that it may have been erected to 
 commemorate the preaching of Paulinus. Eemains of crosses are found 
 near the White Lion, Hothersall; at Dutton Lee; at Ward Green, near the 
 Pinfold ; below Written Stone in Dilworth ; at the north-east extremity of 
 the parish ; in Stonygate-lane ; upon Alston hill; and opposite the White 
 Bull, in Eibchester. One in Gallows lane, Dutton, is said to be near the 
 spot where the hangman for the early feudal lords plyed his vocation. 
 The Written Stone, in Dilworth, is a square block, inscribed “Eafe Ratcliffe 
 laid this stone here to lie for ever, a.d. 1607.” Rafe Ratcliffe owned the 
 estate at the period. Amongst the older edifices in Ribchester, are the 
 Court house, in which the manor courts were formerly held; a hall at Knoll 
 Green, formerly the residence of the Cottams; and Buckley hall, erected by 
 the Sherburnes, in 1666. Ward hall has been modernized. The principal 
 trade of Ribchester is weaving and wood turning. The area of the town¬ 
 ship is 2,211 statute acres; its population in 1851, was 1,650; and the 
 annual rateable value of the property in 1854, was £3,087. 
 
 Dutton has passed through various hands. Originally it gave the 
 name to the family of Dutton. In the time of John of Gaunt, William de 
 Dutton granted lands in the township to William Moton and others. In 
 the reign of Edward III., Ralph de Clayton, and Hugh de Cliderhow, 
 and Richard de Caldcotes, held lands in Dutton. The last named is after¬ 
 wards described as Richard de Townley. The manor remained in this 
 
582 
 
 PEESTON AND ITS ENTIEONS. 
 
 family till 1799. It has since passed from the Welds, by purchase, to the 
 Fentons, of Bamford Hall. The abbey of Whalley held Horrobanks, in 
 this township. After the dissolution of the monasteries, it was rated to 
 Bichard Sherborne. Dutton hall is a spacious mansion, built at the latter 
 part of the seventeenth century, it is the joint property of the Bev. Bichard 
 Bainshaw Bothwell, rector of Sefton, and his nephew, Bichard Bainshaw 
 Bothwell, esq., of Sharpies hall, near Bolton. Lower Dutton hall and 
 Huntington hall are objects of interest. The latter is converted into a 
 farmhouse. A hospital was founded in the reign of John. It is described 
 as a “ Hospitale subtus Langrig,” and was dedicated to St. Saviour. It 
 was a preceptory of the Knights Hospitallers, dependent upon the house of 
 Newland, near Wakefield, after the order of St. John of Jerusalem was 
 dissolved. Alan de Singleton granted four acres of land in Dilewrhe, to 
 the hospital. In the reign of Henry III., William, son of Walter de 
 Moton, confirmed a grant of lands previously made by his father. Nicholas 
 Talbot, of the family of Bashall, in 1501, by will, appointed a priest to 
 6ing for twelve months "at Stead, where Fader and lloder are buried.” 
 The manor of Stede, with all its “ rights, members, and appurtenances,” 
 together with other manors, rents, messuages, and lands, belonging to the 
 knights of St. John and the abbeys of Whalley and Cockersand, were 
 granted to Thomas, afterwards Sir Thomas Holt, of Grizzlehurst, for the 
 sum of £1,727. 15s., on the dissolution of the monastic institutions, in the 
 reign of Henry VIII. The lands were held subject to a chief rent of 
 £9.11s. per year, and an annual stipend of forty shillings to the minister 
 of Stede. The ancient chapel, though in a very dilapidated condition, 
 yet remains. It is believed to be one of the oldest entire buildings in the 
 county. The porch exhibits a fine specimen of the Anglo-Norman arch, 
 with slender clustered columns and floriated capitals. Two of the original 
 small lancet windows yet remain. The font is of grit stone, octagonal in 
 form, and bears the arms of the knights of St. John and others, in rude 
 carving. Two slabs, one richly ornamented, are supposed to cover the 
 remains of priests, formerly attached to the church. There is a monu¬ 
 mental stone to Sir Adam de Cliderhow and his wife, who held the manor 
 of Saleshury, in the reign of Edward III. An ancient stone coffin, with a 
 double cross, supposed to have originally contained the body of one of the 
 masters of the hospital, was formerly to he seen on the north side of the 
 altar. The remains of the Boman Catholic bishop of Armorium (Petre), 
 who resided at Showley, and died in 1775, are interred immediately in 
 front of the altar. Externally Stydd chapel appears like a ruin. It is 
 clothed with ivy, and stands in a deserted grave-yard, overgrown with 
 weeds. Some remains of the foundations of the hospital have been 
 
THE HUNDRED OF BLACKBURN. 
 
 583 
 
 discovered in the neighbourhood of the chapel. The living of Stydd has 
 been attached to the vicarage of Ribchester. It is endowed with the tithes 
 of eleven farms within the township of Dutton. Service was formerly 
 performed twice a year, in order to secure the emoluments of the living. 
 The present vicar, Mr. Hazlewood, however, having caused considerable 
 repairs to be made, celebrates divine service in the ancient edifice once per 
 month. In 1650, Stede was returned as a parish church, being a donative 
 from the abbot of Cockersand, then belonging to Mr. Ifolte, of Grizzlehurst. 
 It was stated to be “ worth £6. 13s. 4d., and hitherto paid to the Minister 
 of Ribchester, he being accounted Parson of Stede.” At that time there 
 were only seventeen families within the parish. d A catholic chapel, built 
 in 1795, and alms-houses, together with a residence for the priest, adjoin 
 the Stydd chapel. Dutton possesses a number of charities, amounting to 
 £273. 19s. 9d., the interest of which is annually expended in cloth 
 distributed to poor housekeepers. In 1819, the principal was invested in 
 government securities. Dutton contained 446 inhabitants, in 1851. Its 
 area is 1,898 statute acres. The property was assessed to the county rate, 
 in 1854, at the annual value of £1,597. 
 
 Alston and Hotuersall. —For a lengthened period, the Hothersalls 
 remained lords of the manor. It afterwards passed to the Lettenbys, and 
 from them to the Martins. Hothersall hall was in existence in 1617-18. 
 The present manor house is a later erection. The thriving village of 
 Longridge is situated partly in Alston and partly in Dilworth. The 
 principal proprietors are the earl of Derby, Sir Henry Bold Hoghton, bart., 
 Mr. Nelson, and Mr. Cross. The latter gentleman is lord of the manor. 
 The episcopal chapel at Longridge existed before the Reformation. It is 
 marked upon Saxton’s map, in 1577. According to the Parliamentary 
 Inquisition, in 1650, Longridge had “neither minister nor maintenance,” 
 although the district contained one hundred and forty families, who 
 humbly desired the government to appoint a minister, furnish a com¬ 
 petent endowment, and constitute the district a separate parish. The 
 advowson was purchased by the trustees of the Hulme charity, from Sir 
 H. P. Hoghton, bart. The chapel was re-built about 170 years ago, and 
 again about 1783. The present edifice was erected by subscription in 
 1822-3. The square tower was added in 1841. A parsonage house has 
 likewise been erected, and the living further augmented. A small 
 catholic chapel was erected in Alston, in 1765. A new small, but very 
 beautiful, edifice is at present nearly completed. It is intended to convert 
 the old chapel into a school. There are a few charitable bequests to 
 the poor of these townships. Hothersall-with-Alston is included in 
 
 d Par. Iuq. Lamb. Libr. 
 
584 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Amoundemess hundredin the county rate assessment of 1854. The property 
 is taxed at the annual value of £886. The population, in 1851, amounted 
 to one hundred and fifty-two persons. The area of the two townships is 
 1,038 acres. 
 
 Dilworth:. —The Cottams long resided in this township. A claim 
 without date is preserved by Kuerden, from the men of Ribchester, 
 Dilworth, and Dutton, to he free from fines, amercements, and tolls in all 
 markets and fairs, and from suit and service in the county and wapentake." 
 In the 20th Edward III., the abbot of Cockersand assumed that, by a 
 charter of King John, he was exempted from the payment of rates and 
 taxes in several specified places. Dylleword is mentioned amongst the 
 number. The township of Dilworth lies upon Longridge fell, and includes 
 a portion of the village. There are two charitable bequests to the poor 
 of Dilworth, of the annual value of £13. 19s. At Tootal height, 
 immediately above Longridge village, there are now several quarries of 
 excellent freestone. The cotton manufacture has been latterly introduced, 
 and Longridge has begun to exhibit signs of rapid progress. The Preston 
 water supply is principally drawn from the neighbourhood. The scenery 
 is very beautiful, and the air pure and bracing; consequently Longridge, 
 since the opening of the railway, is much visited by health and pleasure 
 seekers. The population of Dilworth in 1851, was 833. The area is 
 1247 statute acres. The property was rated in 1854, at the annual value 
 of £2664. 
 
 CHIPPING PARISH. 
 
 Chipping, as well as Ribchester, although at the present time in the 
 hundred of Blackburn, is included in the deanery of Amoundemess. 
 Chipping was originally written Chepin, a common Danish term referring 
 to a market. Chipping contains only two townships, Chipping, and 
 Thornley-cum-Wheatley. The Status de Blagborneshire mentions Chepyn 
 as one of the three parishes separated from Whalley, previously to the 
 reign of Edward the Confessor. Richard de Chepyn was lord of the 
 manor soon after the conquest. It passed to the Knolles, and afterwards 
 to the Sherburnes, and the Welds. The earl of Derby is now lord of the 
 manor of Chipping and Thornley. The church of Chyppyng is mentioned 
 in the 25th year of the reign of Henry III. The present edifice dedicated 
 to St. Bartholomew, was partly re-built in 1520, and re-seated in 1706. On 
 the font there is an ancient inscription, which has never yet been satisfac¬ 
 torily interpreted. It is supposed by some to partake of the Runic 
 character. Mr. Baines mentions “ a brown earthenware coffin, half an 
 inch thick, marked with lozenges, and containing bones perfectly white,” 
 found in a lane near the church, about the year 1770. It remained for 
 
 e A similar claim was preferred by the inhabitants of Chipping. 
 
THE HUNDRED OF BLACKBURN. 
 
 585 
 
 some time, but was afterwards destroyed. On tbe east side of the south aisle 
 is a chapel, called Wolf-house Quyre, the property of the earl of Derby. 
 It was originally a place of sepulture belonging to the Sherburne family. 
 Wolf-house, formerly the residence of the proprietors of the manor, was 
 re-built by the Sherburnes in 1601. It has since been taken down and a 
 farm-house erected on the site. Leagrim hall, the seat of the Weld family, 
 is pleasantly situated on a wooded slope, about half a mile from the 
 village. The living of Chipping is a discharged vicarage, in the patronage 
 of the bishop of Chester. It is valued in the Liber Eegis at £36. 13s. 4d. 
 In 1650, the parish was returned as an appropriation of the bishop 
 of Chester, the tithes, then worth £85. 5s. per annum, were under 
 sequestration. Mr. John Kinge, an able divine, had £10. a year paid 
 formerly out of the reserved rent of the bishop, and £50. per annum 
 from the committee of plundered ministers. f Chipping and Thomley 
 possess several charities. Chipping free school was built by Mr. John 
 Brabine, and endowed by him, in his will, dated 9th April, 1683. There 
 is a catholic chapel at Chipping, erected in 1827, and two independent 
 chapels, one built in 1807, and the other in 1816. An old residence of 
 the Ashton family, called Hesketli end, built about 1501, has several 
 curious inscriptions carved on the exterior, commemorating the landing 
 of the Homans, Saxons, and Danes, the Norman conquest, and the protes- 
 tant reformation. These inscriptions Mr. Whittle fancied were Homan, 
 and that the house had been built of inscribed stones from Ribchester. 
 Higher Core and Wood Yate are two old residences of the Parkinsons. 
 Mr. Baines says, “ most of the families resident in this parish, even 
 amongst the labouring classes, have occupied their houses for centuries, 
 content in their obscurity and undisturbed by competition.” Patten hall, in 
 Thornley, received its name from being the residence of the Misses Patten, 
 who sold the house to the earl of Derby. Bradley hall was originally the 
 residence of the Bradleys. They are mentioned as early as Edward I. The 
 estate was purchased in 1666, by Charles, eighth earl of Derby. There 
 are remains of several old crosses in Chipping parish. One may be seen at 
 Wheatley Brook, another at the Town End, and a third in the church¬ 
 yard. There is some cotton manufacture, as well as a little iron founding 
 and machine making in the parish. A large quantity of excellent lime¬ 
 stone is likewise yearly burned. The neighbourhood of Chipping, owing 
 to its being situated at the foot of Parlick pike and the neighbouring fells, is 
 occasionally liable to sudden inundations, from the overflowing of a moun¬ 
 tain streamlet, called Chipping brook, which empties itself into the Loude, 
 a tributary of the Hodder. About six years ago, the entire valley through 
 
 f Pari. Inq. Lamb. Libr. vol. 2. 
 
586 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 which the brook wends its picturesque course, was swept by a torrent of 
 such a magnitude, that damage to the amount of about £4000. resulted. 
 The advent of the flood was not marked by heavy or continued rain. 
 A. water spout, after passing over the Fylde district, struck against the 
 side of the pike, and suddenly discharged an immense volume of water, 
 which rushed from the hill side to the plain with frightful velocity; 
 devastating the grounds, reservoirs, and buildings of two cotton spinning 
 establishments, in the upper portion of the valley, and flooding a part of 
 Chipping, and much of the land below. Many sheep and some cattle 
 were drowned on the hill side, as well as in the plain. The growing crops 
 were much injured, and several buildings and some bridges were either 
 wholly or partly destroyed. Chipping, in 1851, contained 1,134 
 inhabitants, and Thornley-cum-Wheatley 491. The area of Chipping is 
 5,634 statute acres, that of Thornley-cum-Wheatley 3,220. The former 
 township was rated, in 1854, at the annual value of £4,907., and the 
 latter at £2,441. 
 
 STONYHURST COLLEGE. 
 
 The relaxation of the penal laws against the Roman catholics in England, 
 together with the proscriptions of the French revolution, induced the 
 principals of the English college at Liege, to found a seminary for the 
 instruction of priests, etc., in their native country. The manorial residence, 
 of the Sherburnes, in the parish of Mitton, was selected as the location, 
 and in 1794, a long lease, on favourable terms, was obtained from Thomas 
 Weld, esq., father of the distinguished cardinal of that name. The present 
 mansion at Stonyhurst, erected on the site of a still more ancient manorial 
 residence, was commenced by Sir Richard Sherburne. The edifice was 
 unfinished at the time of his death, in 1628. The handsome west front, 
 a large portion of the quadrangular court, and one wing were, however, 
 completed. Sir Nicholas Sherburne added the cupolas of the towers, and 
 directed the laying out of the gardens and grounds. From the contract deed, 
 preserved at Stonyhurst, it appears the expense of building the cupolas 
 amounted to no more than £40. The loss of his only son, Richard Francis, 
 who died at the age of nine years, in 1702, caused Sir Nicholas to abandon 
 his design of completing the princely structure. His only daughter, 
 married to Thomas, duke of Norfolk, died without issue. Elizabeth, sister 
 to Sir Nicholas Sherburne, married William, son and heir of Sir John 
 Weld, of Lulworth castle, in the county of Dorset. The mansion at 
 Stonyhurst was in a very delapidated condition, when leased for educational 
 purposes by the Jesuits. It was not only substantially repaired, but 
 considerably enlarged. In 1832, the first stone of the present handsome 
 church was laid. It is in the Tudor style, or latter period of English archi- 
 
HE HUNDEED OF BLACKBUEX. 
 
 87 
 
 tecture, and was built from designs by Mr. J. J. Scholes. It is dedicated 
 to St. Peter. Shortly after the completion of the church, the observatory was 
 erected. The north side of the quadrangle, which was previously only a 
 temporary construction, has been taken down, and re-built, so as to accord 
 with the architectural character of the rest of the edifice. These improve¬ 
 ments, which have been effected at a cost of from £8,000. to £10,000., 
 are now rapidly approaching completion. About two years ago, a neigh¬ 
 bouring mansion, named Hodder Place, was converted into a kind of prepar¬ 
 atory school, for the education of the junior pupils, previously to their 
 entering the college. It is calculated to provide accommodation for about 
 forty scholars. The number of students in the college itself averages about 
 160. The establishment is well calculated to promote its objects, being 
 delightfully situated in a healthy neighbourhood, and furnished with every 
 accommodation for study. There is a good library, an interesting museum, 
 and a small but valuable collection of pictures. The library contains, 
 amongst other choice and rare works, some beautifully illuminated 
 manuscripts, the prayer book which formerly belonged to Elizabeth of 
 York, queen of Henry VII., the office in honour of the blessed Virgin, 
 used by the unfortunate Mary, of Scotland, mother of James I., together 
 with several ancient missals on vellum, and a manuscript copy of St. 
 John’s gospel, of the seventh century, which was found in the tomb 
 of St. Cuthbert, at Durham. Amongst the w r orks of art are two 
 sculptures in ivory, and a small picture of the Crucifixion, said to 
 be the work of Michael Angelo; a fine picture of “ Christ taken 
 down from the cross,” by one of the Caracci, and an altar piece, the 
 “ Immaculate Conception,” by Murillo. The buildings, play ground, 
 gardens, etc., occupy an area of about ten acres. The principal edifice 
 is thi’ee hundred feet in length. The noble hall of the Sherburnes, 
 sixty feet by thirty, is used as the refectory. Its architectural embel¬ 
 lishments are of a very superior character. A magnificent gallery, used as 
 a recreation hall by the preceptors, ninety feet by twenty, is a part of the 
 older building. The hall of study is a large apartment, seventy-eight feet 
 by twenty feet, fitted up with benches, etc., for upwards of two hundred 
 scholars. The philosophical apparatus room, forty-eight feet by thirty- 
 three feet, is embellished with an elaborate frieze. The dormitory, offices, 
 etc., are upon a corresponding scale. Several of the pupils at Stonyhurst, 
 finish their education at the London university. As the college is not an 
 endowed foundation, the pupils’ fees, furnish the chief if not the entire 
 revenue of this extensive establishment. 
 
588 
 
 ritESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 PART III-THE ENVIRONS. 
 
 CHAPTER IY. THE HUNDRED OF LEYLAND. 
 
 Pcnwortham Parish—Howick, Hutton, Farington, and Longton—Briudle Parish 
 
 Leyland Parish—Euxton, Cuerden, Whittle-le-woods, Clayton-le-woods, Heapy, 
 Wheelton, Hogliton, Withnell—Rufford Parish—Much Hoole Parish—Little Hoole 
 —Tarleton Parish—Croston Parish—Southport. 
 
 Leyland hundred is situated to the south of Amounderness, the river 
 Ribble forming the boundary line between them. With the exception of 
 Chorley, it contains no manufacturing town of importance. Although a 
 large portion of its surface is composed of moss, or bog, the remainder is 
 generally of a fertile character. A considerable quantity of the best land 
 in the hundred, indeed, has been formed by the drainage of Martin mere, 
 and the neighbouring swamps. 
 
 Originally Leyland hundred consisted of six parishes, viz. :—Leyland, 
 Penwortham, Brindle, Croston, Eccleston, and Standish. Hoole, Tarleton, 
 Rufford, Hesketh, and Chorley, which formerly belonged to Croston, 
 have been formed into independent parishes. A similar sub-division of 
 Leyland has taken place during the present year. 
 
 According to the Domesday survey, king Edward the Confessor held 
 Leyland. It was granted by the Conqueror to Roger de Poictou, but 
 reverted again to the crown on the defection of that nobleman. In the 
 reign of Richard I., the wapentake was held by the earl of Morton, after¬ 
 wards king John. In the 13th Henry III., the king confirmed a grant of 
 all lands between the Mersey and the Ribble, to William Ferrers, in right of 
 his wife, daughter of Hu Keuelioc, earl of Chester. Dr. Kuerden describes 
 these lands as “ what William Peuerel formerly had, and forfeited in 
 poysoning Randle, the grandfather to this earl, to whom K. Stephen as 
 well as Henry the first’s Empress had bestowed what was Roger Pictauensis 
 or Will Peuerels, but never fully confirmed to the Earls of Chester, until 
 this said 13 Hen. III.” Kuerden further observes, the wapentake of 
 Leyland “ was parted as I conceiue between Agnes the wife of W. Ferars, 
 and Hauis her sister, the wife of Robert Quincy, earl of Lincon, whose 
 
THE HUNDRED OF LEYLAND. 
 
 589 
 
 daughter Marg’t. was maryed to John Lacy, Constable of Chester, and so 
 he became half lord of the atforesaid Wapentak, which he shortly after 
 granted to one Itobt. de Heppawel and Margy his wife, who afterwards 
 held the same in soccage by the service of one sparrow hawk.” The 
 moiety held by the Ferrers, passed by marriage to the Sherburnes, of 
 Stonyhurst, in the 32nd year of the reign of Edward I. The other moiety 
 returned to the Ferrers family on the marriage of William, son of W r illiam 
 Ferrars, with the daughter of Robert Quincy. His elder brother Robert, 
 last earl of Derby, being attainted, his lands were granted to Edmund, 
 earl of Lancaster. W. Ferrars, however, “ held the free wapentake of 
 Leyland, of Lord Edm. brother to the king.”* After this period the lands 
 became more divided, W. Aghton, knt., W. Fleming, esq., the Grays of 
 Groby, the Stanleys, earls of Derby, and the Rigbies, of Burgh and Layton, 
 appear as holders. Kuerdcn says :—“ I likewise find in the 9 Edward II., 
 Rob. Holand acquired to himself & heirs of his body, from Thomas E., of 
 Lancaster, the manor of Derby, with the wap. of Derby, Salford, Leyland- 
 shire, & Black, to be held of our lord the king by homage & service of 
 40 sh. & 1 Asturc. pro omnibus.” 
 
 I’EN WORTH AH PARISH. 
 
 Penwortham lies contiguous to Preston. The parish contains about 7,451 
 acres of land. Penwortham is mentioned in the Domesday survey as 
 having “ two carucates of land, which produced ten-pence.” This docu¬ 
 ment further states :—“ There is now a castle there ; and there are two 
 carucates in the demesne, six burgesses, three radmans, eight villains, and 
 four neatherds, between all they have four carucates; there is half a 
 fishery, a wood, and aeries of hawks. As in the time of king Edward, it 
 is valued at three pounds.” Much controversy has arisen respecting the 
 precise import of the phrase, “ there is now a castle there.” Some contend 
 that it refers to a structure erected anterior to the Conquest, others to a 
 defensive work constructed by Roger de Poictou. Whatever may have 
 been the meaning of the compilers of the Domesday book, recent discoveries 
 in the “ Castle Hill,” Penwortham, appear to indicate that the locality 
 was originally used by the Romans as a specula or outlook, in connection 
 with the station at Walton, and that it was afterwards fortified by their 
 Anglo Saxon successors. This question will be found fully discussed and 
 illustrated in a previous chapter of this work. h Warm Bussel, the first 
 recorded lord of Penwortham, is supposed to have been a son of Roger de 
 Busli, to whom Roger dc Poictou had granted a moiety of Blackburn. 
 Warm do Bussel married a lady from Evesham, in Worcestershire, and 
 hence his benefactions to the abbey of that place. The following donations 
 
 g Kucrden. 
 
 U See cliap. 3, page 103. 
 
590 
 
 PRESTON AND IT9 ENVIRONS. 
 
 by the Bussel family to the church at Evesham, are recorded in a memo¬ 
 randum entered in the chartulary of the convent, which is believed to be 
 as old as the reign of Henry III. :— 
 
 “ Warm Bussel gave to the church of Evesham, the church of Penwortham, and the 
 church of Leiland, the chapel of Meols, with their appendancies. The same Warm gave 
 the town of Farington with its appurtenances, and Richard Bussel” (his son) “gave to 
 the church of Evesham, sis bovates of land in Longeton ;—the entire church of Leiland 
 which returns two marks, and the chapel of Meols, which returns 3s. Albert ” (brother 
 of Richard) “ gave two bovates in Leiland, and the assart of Blakesawe. Also the afore¬ 
 said Richard gave the fourth part of his fishery.” 
 
 Six daughters of 'Warm Bussel, on their marriages, were portioned out of 
 the lands of their father, which grants were confirmed by his son Richard.* 
 Hugh Bussel, grandson ofWarin, was dispossessed by John, earl of Horton. 
 By a suit at law, Hugh was reinstated. On the accession of John to the 
 throne, Hugh was constrained to pay a fee of twenty marks, for a con¬ 
 firmation of his title, and to acknowledge that he held it to the king by 
 the service of three knights’ fees. k The claim of Hugh Bussel was, how¬ 
 ever, eventually annulled on the non-payment of a fine, and the barony 
 was transferred to Roger de Lascy, on the payment of the fine. 1 Hugh had 
 agreed to pay four hundred marks for its renewal. m Robert Bussell 
 released to Roger de Lascy the barony of Penwortham, in consideration of 
 the payment of a fine of three hundred and ten marks. “ He, however, 
 still retained two bovates and two carucates of land in Longeton and 
 Leyland, and two carucates in Eukeston. ° Hr. W. A. Hulton, says, 
 “ He still, however, retained some interest in Penwortham, notwithstanding 
 his cession to Roger de Lascy, for he subsequently conferred on the monas¬ 
 tery of Evesham, a rent of twelve pence out of his fishery in the Ribble, 
 at Penwortham. He also granted to the priory of Penwortham, a small 
 plot of land in Longton, to build a grange.” Hr. Hulton is of opinion 
 that there can be no doubt that the lands referred to, descended to the 
 Faringtons, of Werden. He quotes the Tenant, due. Lane., taken anno 
 1311, where the grant is referred to. p Roger de Lacy, constable of 
 Chester, granted to the Penwortham priory, nine bovates of land, situated 
 
 i “ A daughter (possibly Sibil) married Hamo Pincerna and had two carucates of land in Hocton 
 and Echilston. The present possessors of Hoghton Tower descend lineally from this marriage.” 
 —W. Adam Hulton : “ Documents relating to the Priory of Penwortham,” etc., published by the 
 Chetham Society. 
 
 k Dugdale’s Baronage, vol. 1, page 593. 1 Mag. Rot. 4, John Rot. 12 a Lane. 
 
 m Rot. Claus. 7, John m G. n Coucher Book in the Duchy office. 
 
 o “Rogerus de Lascy dedit Roberto Bussell ij. bovat. et ij. caruc. terre in Longeton et in Leyland, 
 et servic. ij. caruc. in Eukeston faciendo servic. decime partis unius militis.”—Testa de Nevill.’ 
 
 p “ Rogerus Lacy dedit Roberto Bushell ij. bovat. terre in Longton in Leylond et servic. ij caruc. 
 terre in Ewkeston fac’ decime partis unius feodi militis. Henricus dux Lane. Willus ffarington et 
 Wills de Holand de dicto dace decern partes unius feodi militis in Leylonde et Ewkeston qu. Robertus 
 Bushell guondam tenuit de feodo.” 
 
THE HUNDRED OF LEYLAND. 
 
 591 
 
 in tlie township of Leyland. The Coucher Book, in the Duchy office, 
 records that Ranulph de Blundeville, earl of Chester, and baron of Lan¬ 
 caster, after his claim to the lands between the Kibble and the Mersey 
 had been confirmed by Henry III., held his court at Penwortham castle. q 
 The barony passed by marriage to Thomas, earl of Lancaster, and merged 
 into the duchy possessions. The preceding grants to the abbey were 
 confirmed by Thomas, surnamed the “good duke of Lancaster.” He 
 likewise granted to the monks of the priory, part of the waste land between 
 Martynns, Bothomy, and Brandelegh, called AVhadycthegreues, to be 
 enclosed for their own use/ But little information has been preserved 
 respecting the priory of Penwortham. AVarrin Bussel’s grant to Evesham 
 stipulated that three monks and a chaplain should be provided from the 
 monastery at Evesham, for the performance of divine offices at Penwortham. 
 The chaplain eventually became titular prior. The priory at Penwortham 
 appears to have been dependent upon, or “ obedientary” to, the parent 
 establishment at Evesham. The priors were removable at the will of tho 
 abbot. They held no property of their own. They were not instituted 
 by the bishop of the diocese; but were regarded as temporal holders on 
 behalf of the abbot of Evesham. They had no seal especially their own, 
 but used that of the superior convent, as agents or factors. Penwortham 
 appears to have been regarded with peculiar dislike by the monks, probably 
 on account of its poverty and dependence. To be removed from Evesham to 
 the Lancashire cell, was looked upon in the light of a punishment. Roger 
 Norms, formerly a monk at Canterbury, was imprisoned for criminal acts, 
 but contrived to escape by a sewer. He for some time lived a private life. 
 He was afterwards made abbot of Evesham by royal authority, without 
 election by any college, and contrary to the wish of the convent of that 
 church. He is described as pompous, apparently of great literary attain¬ 
 ments, eloquent, and possessing great powers of speech. But he was a 
 drunkard, a glutton, and criminal in many other matters. He cruelly 
 oppressed the monks, and so diminished their food and clothing, that for 
 some days they lived on bread and water, and on others on “ hard bread, 
 and on beer, differing little from water, without any pittance.” Many 
 of the monks, too, “for want of frocks, hoods, and breeches,” could neither 
 attend the choir, nor chapter, nor perform divine service. s Itoger Norreis 
 appeared determined to prevent any one enjoying the benefice after his 
 
 q See chapter 2, page 111. This circumstance demonstrates cither that the castle remained in 
 existence a little longer than the author had previously supposed, or that some building, on or 
 near the site, retained the title after the defences were destroyed. 
 
 r Cotton MSS. Nero D. fo. 246. 
 
 s Evesham Ch. fo. 167. See Documents relating to priory of Penwortham, edited by William 
 Adam Hulton, esq., and published by the Chetham society. 
 
592 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 demise. It is said that during seven years, he pulled down fixtures, 
 burthened the church with debt to the amount of a thousand marks, and 
 so delapidated the convent, that some of the inmates were not properly 
 sheltered from the rain, and were entirely worn out with hunger. Many 
 complaints were made against him, but he for a long period, contrived to 
 baffle the efforts of the monks to get rid of him. At length, on the visit 
 of Nicholas, bishop of Tusculum, a legate of the Homan see, Norreis was 
 accused, and, by his own confession and the testimony of his brethren, 
 convicted of seven or eight crimes. “And so,” says the Evesham record, “to 
 the joy of all the convent, in the year of our Lord m° cc° xiij., Abbot Eoger 
 was deposed and made ex-abbot, whom may God for ever destroy !” The 
 legate, however, five days afterwards, gave Norreis the priory of Pen- 
 wortham, in order that he might subsist. His continued excesses caused 
 him, in five months, to be deprived of this humble benefice. He afterwards 
 rambled abroad for some time. About five years after his exclusion from 
 Evesham, Pandulphus, the then legate, “ out of pity, and to prevent him 
 from being a wanderer all the days of his life, restored him to the priory 
 of Penwortham.” He remained six years, plundered the monastery of 
 some rents, and “ never expressed a wish to be reconciled to the abbot 
 and convent.” He died, “ oppressed with wretchedness, and was buried 
 at Penwortham.” 4 The following memorandum reveals something of the 
 nature of the tribute demanded by the parent establishment from its 
 dependent:— 
 
 “ The convent of Evesham shall have from the Priorship of Penwortham yearly at the 
 feast of St. Egwin, sixty salmon, namely samlets, or twenty-four larger fish which make 
 up that weight. Besides these, the said Prior shall present two larger salmon to the 
 Abbot, and one to the Prior” [of Evesham]. “ The Prior shall, nevertheless, be 
 allotted one out of that quantity. But Ralph Wylicote, the Prior of Penwortham, in 
 his time assigned a whole salmon to each of the monks. But lately that custom was 
 commuted into a certain sum of money, which the convent received towards the 
 expences of blood letting.” u 
 
 Another memorandum records how some portion of the revenue was dis¬ 
 posed of. The fondness of the worthy fraternity for good salmon doubtless 
 resulted from the numerous fast-days, necessitating the consumption of a 
 large quantity of fish:— 
 
 “ To the celebration of the anniversary of Walter de Walecote, Prior, are assigned all 
 the rents which he acquired at Evesham and Penwortham, that the almoner for the 
 time being may find for the convent, at that anniversary, the best pittance of salmon or 
 some other fish of the best kind that can be procured, together with an allowance of the 
 best wine; and the residue shall, at the almoner’s discretion, be faithfully distributed 
 amongst the poor.” v 
 
 t Mr. W. A. Hulton observes, It is curious how nearly the transmission of Roger Norreis to 
 Penwortham synchronizes with the appearance in Lancashire of Hugo Norreis; the founder of the 
 ancient family at Speke. Roger was an exile at Penworthan, A.D. 1213, and on the 16th October, 
 1199, King John confirmed to Hugh Norreis a carucate of land in Blackrod. And both were 
 recipients of royal favour.”—Doc. Pri. Pen. page xxxiv. 
 
 u Evesh. Ch. fol. 167. v Ibid. 
 
THE HUNDRED OF LEYLAND. 
 
 593 
 
 The travelling expences allowed to the prior, when duty required his 
 presence at Evesham, are recorded with great minuteness :— 
 
 “ Memorandum, that the liostiler for the time being is bound to find the Prior of 
 Penwortham, on his departure from the Abbey to Penwortham, and on his return from 
 Penwortham to the Abbey, hay and provender for his horse, and for the horse which 
 carries his bed, if he travel with a bed, and for the horse of his companion and his 
 squire, if he travel with a companion or squire ; and if he travel with more horses or 
 squires, yet the liostiler ought not to find provender except for the horse of one squire 
 and for the horses above mentioned. And then he must furnish hay and provender for 
 two nights on their journey to Penwortham. On their return he must supply provender 
 for three nights if required. So if his companion should come alone, or with a single 
 attendant, the liostiler must furnish provender for three nights on his arrival, and for 
 two at his departure. Nor ought he to find more hay, provender, or beds, except by 
 special favour. Neither ought he to find in any wise provender for the Prior’s horses 
 which bring the salmon, nor hay nor beds for the servants, except by especial favour.” w 
 
 At the dissolution of the monasteries, the priory, which was dedicated to 
 the Virgin Mary/ was rated (26th Henry VIII.), according to Dugdale, in 
 one place, at £29. 18s. 7d., and in another, at £99. 5s. 3d. Speed gives 
 the amount at £114. 16s. 9d. y The abbot and convent of Evesham, by 
 indenture, dated February 20th, 30 Henry VIII., leased to John Fleet- 
 w r ood, of Little Plumpton, their estates in Penwortham and Leyland. 
 The property and conditions are specified as follows:— 
 
 “ All that ther manor and Lordship of Penwortham within the Countye of Lancastre 
 with ther appurtenaunce and all lauds, tenements, bowses, barnes, stables, buyldings, 
 meadows, mores, courtletes, and the profitts of the same, waiffs, fyshynges, comon of 
 turbarie, with all the appurtenaunce, in the countie of Lancastre. And all other lands 
 and heredytaments possessions of the said convente, as well spirituall as temporall what 
 soever they bee to the said monastre in any wyse belonging. * * All that ther 
 
 parsonage of Penwortham aforesaid, and also the parsonage of Leylonde in the Countie 
 of Lancastre aforesaid, and all manner of tithes, porcons, and pensions, and all Glebelonds, 
 houses and barns, with all ther appurtenaunces. * # Except and always reserved to 
 
 the said Abbott and Convente, and all ther successuors, the advowson of the vicarage of 
 the said church of Laylond ; and also the advowson of the parsonage of Meles, * * 
 
 for the term of four score and nineteen yeres. * * Yelding and paying therfor 
 
 yerly and euery yere # * foure score nynetene pounds fyue shillings and 
 
 threpeuce.” z 
 
 By letters patent, dated 24th Jan., 34 Henry VIII., the king granted the 
 priory and lands in Penwortham to John Fleetwood, “he Itenderinge to 
 the said kinge the yearly rent of ix s ix d .” Lands in Staffordshire were 
 likewise granted to John Fleetwood. The grant was confirmed by letters 
 patent, dated 6th July, 6tli Elizabeth. This document states that the 
 “temporalities of the said priory are holden of the Queen in capite by the 
 seruice of the xith p’te of a knight’s fee.” The following document gives 
 some additional details respecting the Penwortham property :— 
 
 w Evesh. Ch. 
 
 x Beneath the brow, to the left of the present highway from Preston to Liverpool, nearly opposite 
 to the lodge gates, is a spring, called St. Mary’s well, believed by many yet to possess great healing 
 properties, 
 y Notitia Monastica. 
 
 7. Penwortham Documents. 
 
594 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 “ Parcel of the Poss. of the late Monastry, in Evesham, in com. Worcester. 
 
 “ Cell of Penwortham •••••••••••••••••••••••••... “ s ' xd 
 
 ) rated 13 August, tor John r leetwood, at 20 years 
 
 purchase, viij August . xxi 3 iijd 
 
 “ The clere yerely value of the landes aforesaid, xi s vid w^h rated at 
 xxviij yeres purchase amounteth to xvj 1 ij 3 the clere yerely value of the 
 tenthe aforesaid ixs ixd wch rated at xx > e yeres purchase amountythe to 
 
 ixl xvs And so Thole amountythe to. 
 
 “ The money to he pd in hand before the xxvijth Auguste next.” a 
 
 The priory became the residence of the Fleetwood family. b It was sold to 
 John Aspinall, esq., of Standon hall, near Clitheroe, who again disposed of 
 it to James Barton, esq., of Ormskirk. The advowson of the church and 
 other property was purchased from the latter gentleman, about the year 
 1783, by Lawrence Rawstorne, esq., of Hutton and Preston, in which 
 family it still remains. The late Lawrence Rawstorne, esq., son of the 
 purchaser, re-built the mansion, on the site of the priory, in 1832. 
 This family is descended from Captain Edward Rosthorne, one of the 
 defenders of Latham house, in the time of Charles I. The son of Lawrence 
 Rawstorne, esq., the heir to the estate, is a minor. The mansion is at 
 present leased by Mr. Hollins, of Preston. The old building, which was a 
 wooden structure, remained almost entire until the middle of the last 
 century, when the chapel, which formed one side of the square, was taken 
 down and re-built. The three other sides still remained. Mr. Baines 
 gives the following description of the edifice:— 
 
 “ The transformation of a monastery into a mansion, necessarily gave rise to much 
 alteration, but a gallery cloister of tine oak work, with narrow wooden windows, and 
 carved principals and springers of oak, on the south side of the building, served as well 
 to display the little ornament that belonged to these cells, as to convey an idea of their 
 gloomy recesses. A number of portraits of the Fleetwoods and the Rawstornes orna¬ 
 mented the interior of this monastic mansion, the whole appearance of which, with its 
 moated enclosure, carried the mind hack to other times, and presented abundant materials 
 for conjecture and contemplation. Within living memory there were many arches and 
 fallen ruins remaining ; the bridge over the old moat, at Penwortham old hall, led to the 
 priory, which in 1783 is described as an old brown edifice with dark slates upon it.” 
 
 A tradition still lingers in the neighbourhood that a subterranean passage 
 beneath the Ribble formerly existed, by means of which the monks of 
 Penwortham held uninterrupted communication with their brethren at 
 Tulketh! The remains of an arched vault in the garden, to the north of 
 the present building, for some time appeared to countenance the absurdity. 0 
 
 xxvl xvijs 
 
 a Harl. MSS. Cod. 607, fol. 101b. 
 
 b “After the Dissolution, this Cell, and its Chapel, within a Moat, and the Tithes and Lands 
 belonging to it and to Leyland, were sold by Queen Elizabeth to John Fleetwood, of Little 
 Plumpton, Esq., for £3,088 ; and the Monastery was converted into a dwelling-house by the 
 purchaser.”— MS. pen. Rev. John Piccope, quoted by the Rev. Canon Raines, in Not. Ces., p. 387. 
 —The letters patent are dated 14th December, 42nd Elizabeth. The estates by this document were 
 not, however, conveyed to John Fleetwood, but to his second son, Richard, 
 c See page 508. 
 
THE HUNDRED OF LEYLAND. 
 
 595 
 
 John Fleetwood, in 1627, married Ann, daughter of "W. Farington, esq., 
 of Worden. William Farington, of Leyland, who died about the year 
 1672, married a daughter of Edward Fleetwood. His representative, the 
 late J. Howell Farington, was lord of the manor. A court is annually 
 held at Penwortham, at Michaelmas. It is not known with certainty 
 when the original church was erected. It is first mentioned in 1291. It 
 appears to have been claimed aud allowed as early as 1343, that the abbot 
 and convent of Evesham, had, from time immemorial, held it, with all its 
 rights and property, by canonical title ; that all episcopal dues and other 
 burthens, which would have been charged on perpetual vicars, were paid 
 by them. The monks of the monastery, or other merely temporal vicars, 
 who were appointed and removed at the will of the abbot, without insti¬ 
 tution or presentation to the bishop, had the cure of the church as well in 
 spirituals as temporals. On the transfer of the property to the Fleetwoods, 
 the living became a free gift of the patron, the institution of whose nominee 
 by the bishop was unnecessary. d In the year 1650, Penwortham was 
 described as a parish, the tithes of which, valued at £174. were claimed 
 as the inheritance of “ Mr. John Fleetwood of Penwortham Esq.” Hi3 
 demesne land, if titheable, would have produced £3. a year; but no tithes 
 had been paid within the “ memory of man.” The pastor, a Mr. William 
 Seddon, had been “put in by the said Mr. Fleetwood, together with the 
 consent of the rest of the Parish of Penwortham, and his stipend-wages is 
 £60. a year which he receives from Mr. Fleetwood.” e John Fleetwood, 
 in his will, dated 20th March, 1651, enjoins his heir to see that the 
 parish church should at all times be provided with a “ good, able and 
 sufficient preacher,” who should be “ endowed with lerninge and under- 
 standinge, and of a good life and conversacon fittinge for his place and 
 callinge.” He was further instructed to allow the said preacher, the sum 
 of “ forty pounds by the ycare att least in ready money.” f The stipend 
 was augmented by a grant from the dispensers of “ Queen Anne’s Bounty,” 
 in the early part of the present century. It is now freed from the “ bur¬ 
 then of lay authority,” and is subjected to jurisdiction similar to other 
 episcopal establishments. The church is dedicated to St. Mary. The 
 registers commence in 1586. They have been for some time, however, 
 
 d Evesh. Ch. fo. 178, published by Chetham society. e Pari. Inq. Lamb. Libr. vol. 2. 
 
 f “ The terms of this legacy show clearly how miserably dependant the then curate of Penwor¬ 
 tham was upon the patron of the living. Mr. Fleetwood, indeed, appears to have had high notions 
 of his power as patron. He interfered to prevent a Mr. Richardson from preaching at Penwortham. 
 In return, Mr. Richardson, who describes himself as going about from church to church to spread 
 the Word of God, revenged himself by penning a rabid attack against Mr. Fleetwood and patrons 
 in general. His verses are curious and afford a strong confirmation of Mr. Macaulay’s statement 
 of the manner in which the country clergy were treated.” W. Adam Hulton: “ Documents 
 relating to the priory of Penwortham,” etc. Mr. Hulton prints this curious Latin poem. 
 
 2 r 2 
 
596 
 
 PRESTOS' AXD ITS EXVIROXS. 
 
 very imperfect in several places. A few months ago, they were further 
 injured by an accidental fire. The value of the living in 1834, was 
 £106. The oldest portion of the present church is believed to have 
 been built in the fifteenth century. A new gallery was erected, and 
 the upper portion of the body of the church was refronted in 1812. 
 About two years ago, the nave, which was in a very dilapidated con¬ 
 dition, was taken down and re-built, and an organ added. The chancel, 
 with its fine old roof, long covered with plaster, was restored. The arch 
 in the old tower was opened, and the west window exposed to view from 
 the interior of the church. The work was executed from designs by Mr. 
 Paley, of Lancaster. The church-yard was likewise considerably enlarged, 
 on the south side. There are a few tablets to the memory chiefly of mem¬ 
 bers of the Fleetwood family. A window still retains a piece of ancient 
 stained glass, on which is depicted the armorial bearings of the Fleetwoods 
 and the Leighs, with the following inscription : “ Kichard Fleetwood and 
 Margery his wife, 1595.” Margery was the daughter of Thomas Leigh, 
 esq., of Egginton, in Derbyshire. John Horroeks, esq., the enterprising 
 cotton spinner, who represented Preston in parliament, for about two years 
 previously to his death, lies buried beneath an altar tomb, on the east 
 side of the church-yard. In the parish of Penwortham there yet exist 
 fragments of ancient crosses. One is near Penwortham hall, and 
 another in Howick. A third, on the road leading to the church, was 
 removed to its present site from a lane in the neighbourhood. About 
 forty years ago, a piece of boulder pavement was discovered near Penwor¬ 
 tham hall. f It was four feet in breadth, and was traced about one 
 hundred yards. Mr. Baines says :—“ The road surveyor, feeling no sym¬ 
 pathy with the antiquary, destroyed the road, and used the materials to 
 repair the public highways ! conceiving that, probably, to be the shortest 
 way of solving the disputes which had arisen, whether this was a Homan, 
 a Saxon, or a biorman causeway.” There can be little doubt, however, 
 that the road was a Boman vicinal way, communicating from the station 
 at "Walton with the specula at Penwortham. In June, 1836, a very 
 valuable gold coin of Ferdinand and Isabella, was found at the site of the 
 old priory. It is upwards of two inches in diameter, and weighs two 
 ounces and five drachms. On the obverse is the following inscription :— 
 “Femandus et Elizabct. D. G. Reg. et.” The reverse presents armorial 
 bearings and the motto : “ Sub. umbra, alarum, tuarum, pro.” " It was 
 coined towards the close of the fifteenth century. The only ancient resi¬ 
 dence of note besides the time-honored seat of the Fleetwoods and the 
 Rawstornes, in the township of Penwortham, was at Middleford or 
 
 f Mr. Marshall’s residence was formerly named Penwortham lodge. The priory is described 
 by several writers as Penwortham hall. g Whittle’s His. Preston, vol. 2, page 167. 
 
Hev f R,A fUau/storne. In cum^end 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE HUNDRED OF DEYLAND. 
 
 597 
 
 Middleforth, an edifice belonging to the Norris family, which was built 
 in the reign of Henry VIII. A modern mansion, erected on the site, was 
 lately purchased from the executors of the late J. Holland, esq., by Mr. 
 Thomas Pearson, of Preston. Penwortham possesses several modern 
 mansions, of some pretensions, including Hurst grange,—W. A. Hultorn 
 esq.; the Oaks,—Jno. Cooper, esq.; Penwortham hall,—W. Marshall, 
 esq.; Penwortham house,—Joseph Pyke, esq.; Woodfield, — Joseph 
 Walker, esq., etc. The laud to the south of the valley of the Nibble, 
 at Penwortham, has been mapped out, with the view to the erection 
 of villa residences. A free grammar school was founded in the sixth 
 year of the reign of Edward VII., by Christopher Walton, of Little 
 Hoole, who executed au indenture of feoffment, by which he endowed 
 it with lands, then of the yearly value of £2. 13s. 6d. It was 
 further endowed hy his son and heir, John Walton, who granted 
 to the trustees, lands and tenements in Kirkham, Killarmergh, and 
 Preston, and in Longton and Hutton, then of the yearly value of forty 
 shillings, for the foundation and maintenance of a school, where young 
 children should be taught the “ Absay ” (A.B.C.) “ catechism, primer, 
 accidence, pervely,” and others in grammar, without school hire, except 
 cockpencc, to be paid twice a year. The scholars were taught for many 
 years at Longton, first in the chapel, and afterwards in a small cottage. 
 In 1746, the present school at Hutton was erected. In 1825, another 
 school was opened in Cop-lane, Penwortham, and in 1830, a new school 
 house was erected. The trustees have likewise endowed the free-schools 
 in Earington, Longton, and Howick, and by this means have thrown 
 them open to the whole parish. They purpose, also, to immediately open 
 as a school, a small building at the westerly extremity of the village of 
 LongtoD, formerly used as a residence by one of the teachers. The whole 
 of the schools furnish employment for six masters and three mistresses. 
 In consequence of the increased value of some of the property, the annual 
 rental, in 1819, was £635. 15s. ld. h The rental of the trust estates for 
 the year ending December, 1854, was £935. 7s. 7d. There are some 
 charities, by the Fleetwoods and others, producing about £18. per annum, 
 for the poor of Penwortham, Middleforth, and Howick, and for the 
 apprenticeing of Penwortham children. The only dissenting chapel in 
 Penwortham township is a small building near Middleforth green, belonging 
 to the Wesleyans. It was enlarged in 1833. The property in the town- 
 shij) was rated, in 1854, at the annual value of £7,528. Its popula¬ 
 tion in 1851, amounted to 1,487. Its area, according to the ordnance 
 survey, is 2,230 acres. The white building, now disused, though locally 
 
 h Charity Commis. Report, XV. p. 194. 
 
598 
 
 PEESTON AND ITS ENYIEONS. 
 
 known as “Pen wortham factory,” is, nevertheless, in the township of 
 Walton. 
 
 Howick. —This township was one of the original grants to the abbey of 
 Evesham. Simon Hoghwike, in the 16th Edward II., held messuages 
 and land in Hoghwike, Earington, and Pedwortham, in trust for the 
 abbey of Evesham. Thomas Hesketh, of Rufford, appears to have held the 
 manor in the 15th Henry VIII., and John Elettwood, in the 33rd Elizabeth. 
 In the 21st James I., Robert Hesketh appears as lord of the manor.* 
 Much of the land is now freehold. A large portion belongs to the 
 Rawstorne family. The old hall has been converted into a farm-house. 
 Howick House was built by the late W. Rawstorne, esq., and aftenvards 
 transferred to the late Thomas Horris, esq., of Redvales, near Bury. 
 It is at present the property and the residence of his nephew, Thomas 
 Norris, esq. Howick is only a smaU township, its area being 574 acres. 
 The property was rated, in 1854, at the annual value of £1,034. The 
 population, in 1851, was 116. 
 
 Hutton. —Hclias, the son of Roger de Hotim, at a very early period, 
 granted to the abbey at Cockersand three carucates of land in Hotton, in 
 Leylandshire. A large portion of the abbey lands was sold to John Retching, 
 esq., by Henry VIII. Hutton Hall, the residence of the Rev. R. A. 
 Rawstorne, was erected in the seventeenth century. Hutton contains 2124 
 statute acres. The population, in 1851, numbered 500. The annual 
 rateable value of the property in 1854, was £3,473. 
 
 Eaeington. —AVilliam de Earington held in trust, for the abbot and 
 convent of Evesham, one messuage, eight acres of land, and 14s. rent, in 
 Earington and Leyland, in the 10th Edward III. The town of Earing¬ 
 ton had been granted to Evesham by the charter of Warm Bussel. The 
 manor was held by John Eleetwood, in the 33rd Elizabeth. A considerable 
 portion of the township now belongs to the Earingtons of Leyland. 
 Farington Hall is mentioned in the year 1500. An episcopal church was 
 erected in 1839. It is dedicated to St. Paul. It is calculated to accom¬ 
 modate about 500 persons. The living is worth about £130. per annum. 
 There is a small endowment by Mr. Peter Dawson, of London, but the 
 income is derived chiefly from the rents of the pews, and a grant of £80. 
 per annum by the ecclesiastical commissioners. Cotton spinning was 
 introduced a few years ago by Messrs. BashaR and Boardman, in conse¬ 
 quence of which an entirely new village, of considerable extent, has sprung 
 up, a little to the north of the Leyland railway station. Public schools 
 have likewise been erected. The average attendance of scholars exceeds 
 230. Farington, in conjunction with Leyland, promises to become, in a 
 
 i Duchy Records, vol. v., Inquis. m 16. 
 
THE HHNDEED OF LEYLAND. 
 
 599 
 
 few years, a very populous locality. Two large and substantial modern 
 mansions have been erected, by the proprietors of the cotton mill. The 
 township contains 1,8G0 statute acres. Its population, in 1851, amounted 
 to 1,932. Its property was rated, in 1854, at the annual value of £7,923. 
 
 Longton. —Roger de Lacy granted the manor of Longton to Robert, 
 brother to Hugh Russel, the last baron of that name. Richard, the second 
 baron, had previously granted two bovates of land in Longton, to the 
 abbey of Evesham. Robert, son of Richard, son of Sibilla de Longton, 
 granted lands in Longton, to the church of Penwortham, a portion 
 of which were afterwards given by an achronal charter to Richard, 
 Bambel. k Geoffery Bussel, of Leyland, quit claimed, by a similar deed, 
 to John de Farington, son of William de Mel, the homages and services of 
 certain of his free tenants in the town of Longeton, with the reliefs, ward¬ 
 ships, and other honours belonging to the demesne, viz., the homage and 
 service of Alice, wife of Robert Bussel, and the homage and service of 
 Roger, son of Thomas Bussel, which consisted iu the presentation, iu each 
 case, of a pair of white gloves. 1 By a deed without date, Thomas Bushell 
 granted to Henry de Longton, a portion of his land, to be held by fealty 
 and one penny yearly rent. There is a charter in the Duchy office, of the 
 17th Edward II., confirming a previous grant of three acres of land in the 
 field of Turmireaeres, and the field of lteskelde, in the town of Longton, 
 by Robert Bussel, to the priory of Burscough. A family of the name of 
 Howick, held lands in Longton, at an early period. A quarter of the 
 manor was held by Sir William del Lee, in the 46th Edward III. It 
 passed to the Flemings, of Leyland. The whole lordship of Longton 
 was granted to Henry, son of Ralph de Brethirton, by Sir Thomas 
 Fleminge, in the 9th Henry IV. In the 6th Edward IV., a fourth part 
 of the manor was transferred to Willo Fleminge, to hold the same of the 
 chief lord or lords of the fee. Elizabeth Fleming married Thurstan 
 Hall. “The five Lords of the Manor” were, in 1833, represented by 
 Robert Moss, esq. On the 13th of April, in the present year, “at the 
 Court Baron of Sir Thomas Hesketh, Baronet, Joseph Weld, Esquire, 
 John Randolphus de Trafford, Esquire, and Robert Moss, Esquire, Lords 
 of the said Manor,” orders were made upon a number of parties, to cleanse 
 and otherwise improve divers watercourses, under various specified penal¬ 
 ties. The privileges of the lords are, however, relatively very limited. 
 Canon Raines, indeed, says,—“ The Manor appears to have been factitious, 
 and no Manerial privileges are now exercised.” m The episcopal chapel 
 was in existence in 1517. By a will, dated January 7th, 1527-8, William 
 Walton, priest, bequeathed “ to the chapell of Longeton, a Masse boke, a 
 
 k HarL MSS. Cod. 1212, fo. 310. 
 
 1 Ibid. fo. 300 b. 
 
 m Notes toNotitia Cestriensis, page 338. 
 
GOO 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 chalyce, and all other ornaments belongyng and p’tenyng to the celebracon 
 of masse.” Walton further adds :— 
 
 “Also, I geve in my life, and bequethe in this my last will, to Robert Farington, sone 
 of Rich d Farington, ye chauntre which I of late haue purchased, founded, and putt in 
 feoffame’t to certen feolfes. * * The which chauntrie is founded for the chapelle of 
 
 longeton, wt all mess, tenements, burgages, landis, and other th’ app’ten’nce yr unto 
 belongyng, * * p’o’ided alwayes that whyles the said Rob’t doith want lafull age 
 
 to be p’st (that is to wete vj years,) then I will yt Sir John Walton, n occupye and 
 solempuize dyvine s r vice at the forsaid chapelle of longeton. But I will yt he receyve his 
 wages yerely duryng the said vj years, of, and by the hands off Richd Farington 
 aforesaid.” ° 
 
 The testator further directed that the said chantry should be presented 
 to one of his own “blode and kin,” and of his “name, (if ther be any,) 
 ev’ so descendyng lynally, fro’ tyme to tyme.” ’ In 1650, although 
 without incumbent or endowment, the cliapelry was considered to be 
 eligible to be made parochial. The tithes were valued at £80. per year; 
 but they were claimed by the Eleetwoods, of Penwortham. The chapel 
 was re-built in 1770, and a cemetery added in 1816. The patron saint is 
 unknown. The “living was valued in 1834, at £148. The advowson 
 belongs to the Rawstorne family. A methodist chapel was erected in 
 1807, and enlarged in 1833. The primitive methodist chapel was built 
 in 1837. The population of Longton, in 1851, amounted to 1,687. The 
 area of the township, according to the ordnance survey, is 3,153 acres. 
 It was assessed to the county rate, in 1854, at the yearly value of £5,418. 
 PARISH OF BRINDLE. 
 
 Brindle lies to the south of Walton. On every other side it is bounded 
 by the parish of Leyland. It appears from the Yalor of Pope Nicholas, 
 (1291) that no church existed at that period. Dr. Kuerden conjectured 
 that Brindle had originally been a township under Leyland. It was formed 
 into an independent parish anterior to the Reformation. In Henry VIII.’s 
 reign it is entered in the king’s books as “Brindle Rectory—£12. 8s. 
 4d.—£1. 4s. lOd.” Possibly it may have previously formed a part of the 
 parish of Blackburn. It is not improbable that the terms Burnhul, Bam¬ 
 berg and Brownedge may have had a common origin. Brindle is variously 
 written Burnhul, or Bumel, in early documents. In the reign of Edward 
 IT., its designation is Burnehill. It has become gradually further changed 
 from Brinhill, Brandhill, and Brandle, to Brindle. In the Testa de 
 Nevill’, Thomas de Bumul is described as holding three carucates and a 
 
 n The term “ Sir ” is often applied to the clergy in old documents. Shakspere calls the curate 
 “Sir Topas,” in the “Twelfth Night.” Sir Hugh Evans, the Welch curate, in the “Merry Wives 
 of Windsor,” is one of the most characteristic portraits of the great dramatist. In the Iter Lan- 
 castrense is the following couplet : 
 
 “ To cherish learned curates though Sir Jhon 
 Doe preach for foure pounds vnto Haselingaon.” 
 
 Sec page 148, of the present volume, 
 o Lane. MSS. 
 
THE HUNDRED OF LEYLAND. 
 
 601 
 
 half of land, of “ our lord the king in thanage for 35s. and the service 
 of finding one judger.” The superior lord was Grelly, baron of Man¬ 
 chester. In the 22nd Edward I., owing to the death of Peter de 
 Burnhulle, the manor was held in wardship, out of which some litigation 
 arose. In the 26th Edward III., it was transferred to William Gerard, 
 esq., by marriage with Joan, daughter and heiress of Peter de Bryn, of 
 Brynhill. Sir Thomas Gerard was created a baronet in the 9th James I. 
 The manor passed, by exchange, in the middle of the eighteenth century, 
 to the Cavendish family. The earl of Burlington is the present lord of the 
 manor: Dr. Kuerden says :— 
 
 “ Brindle hath a parish church in the midst of the lordship, and adjacent to it a 
 parsonage house, part whereof lately re-edified with a fayr stone building, erected by 
 the worthy and learned parson, Mr. Henry Pygot, likewise Chappelain to the Right 
 Honourable E. of Derby, and Vicar of Ratchdale, P a doubly qualified Peter both for 
 souls and fishes, and a complacent associate to the gentry and all learned persons.” 
 
 The parish church, a small structure, dedicated to St. James, has an 
 elevated site. The date of the original edifice is not known. It is thought 
 that the tower is a part of the ancient building. In 1815, the body of 
 the church was entirely re-built in the “gothic style,” at an expense of 
 £ 1650. The old church had indented semi-circular windows. The chancel 
 had been re-built at some previous period. On the oaken free seats, in the 
 choir, are the dates 1582, and 1634. A large stone coffin lies beneath 
 the eastern gable of the chancel. Nothing further is known of it. In 
 the wall above, however, is a small figure, resembling, somewhat, the 
 impression of a human foot, concerning which, the local antiquaries affect 
 no such ignorance. It is said, by tradition, to have been produced by the 
 heel of a papist’s shoe, who, waxing warm in controversy, declared that if 
 some asseverations advanced by him were not true, he wished his foot might 
 sink into the stone ; upon which “ the reforming stone instantly softened 
 and buried the papistical foot! ” The Rev. Canon Baines thinks it not 
 improbable that there were two chantries to the church; as, in the year 
 1535, sir John Hampton and sir Owen Gerard were priests, and sir 
 Thomas Buckley was rector of Bryndhull. q In the inquisition of 1650, 
 the parish of Brindle is described as having a parsonage house, and some 
 other buildings; four acres of glebe, and five cottages, of the yearly rent 
 of 6s. Sd. The tithes were valued at £75. per annum. The value of the 
 living, in 1834, was £515. The duke of Devonshire still retains the 
 patronage. The grammar school, according to bishop Gastrell, was 
 “ built by y‘‘ towne upon y e Glebe,” and, in his day, was “ free to y e children 
 of all legall Inhabitants, who were bom in y e Parish.” One hundred pounds 
 
 p “ Henry Pygot, B.D., inducted vicar of Rochdale 16G2, died April 10, 1722, aged 94. He was 
 rector of Brindle seventy one years, and vicar of Rochdale fifty nine years and seven months.” 
 E. Baines. q Lane. MSS., vol. IX., p. 46. 
 
602 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 were given as an endowment, in 1623, by Mr. Peter Burscough, of "Walton. 
 This was subsequently increased, by several small donations, to the sum of 
 £177. 12s., before the date of Bishop’s MS. In 1772, the sum amounted 
 to £247. 12s. 6d. According to the commissioners’ report, in 1819, the 
 amount bad reached £336. 8s. 7|d. ; yet, they say : “ Though called a 
 free grammar school, it seems never to have borne that character.” There 
 are two or three other charities belonging to the parish. The ordnance 
 map shows the sites of the remains of a large number of stone crosses, in 
 Brindle parish. There is a very commodious and handsome catholic chapel, 
 near to Brindle lodge. It was erected in 1780. A school, in connection, 
 was built in 1831, by the late Mr. James Knight, of Chelsea, “for the 
 benefit of the Brindle congregation, and as a token of respect for his native 
 place.” A room for service was opened by the methodists, in 1828. 
 Brindle workhouse is said to have been originally erected for a catholic 
 chapel. It was for some time used as a lunatic asylum. In 1816, however, 
 inmates of this class were transferred to Lancaster. There are in the parish 
 a chemical works, a tannery, and a tile manufactory ; together with some 
 hand-loom weaving, but no cotton manufactories. There are excellent 
 quarries for millstones and ashlars. Many attempts have been made to 
 discover coal; but they have hitherto proved unsuccessful, notwithstanding 
 the statement of Kuerden, who says, it is “ beleeued Brindle hath many 
 mines of cole and channel which in some measure appears in the surface of 
 some bancs and at the side of Lostoc water.” There are many springs in the 
 parish. On the ordnance map several “ wells ” are marked. Kuerden 
 records the following particulars respecting the famous St. Helen’s well, 
 situated about a mile and a half south-west of the village of Brindle :— 
 
 “ Over against Swansey House, a little towards the hill, standeth an ancient fabriek, 
 once the manor house of Brindle, where hath been a chappel belonging to the same, and 
 a little above it, a spring of very clear water, rushing straight upward into the midst 
 of a fayry fountain, walled square about in stone and flagged in the bottom, very trans¬ 
 parent to be seen, and a strong stream issuing out of the same. This fountain is called 
 Saint Ellen’s Well, to which place the vulgar neighbouring people of the Red letter do 
 much resort, with pretended devotion, on each year upon St. Ellen's day, where and 
 when out of a foolish ceremony they offer or throw into the well pins which there being 
 left may be seen a long time after by any visitor of that fountain.” 
 
 Kuerden mentions two other old residences. He says, “ In the way from 
 Brindle church to Clayton Green, nere the brook cald Bodbum, standeth 
 a fayr stone building, the inheritance of Mr. Thomas "Walmsley.” r And 
 again; “In the road from Brindle to Chorle standeth a fair new built 
 house with al appurtenances, belonging to my lady Slater, called the Hall 
 of Deanholme, erected not long since by that worthy Knight, sir Henry 
 Slater, deceased.” This edifice, now the property of the earl of Burlington, 
 
 r A descendant of tlie Walinsleys, of Shoigker. 
 
THE HUXDEED OF LEYLAXD. 
 
 603 
 
 has been converted into a farm-house. It is sometimes called the manor 
 house ; but this is merely a modern appellation, the ancient manor house 
 being situated near St. Helen’s well, as recorded above by Kuerden. 
 The area of the township and parish of Brindle is 3,103 acres; the 
 population, in 1851, was 1,310; and the annual rateable value of the 
 property, in 1854, was £5,503. 
 
 PARISH OP LEYLAHD. 
 
 The Domesday survey states that king Edward the confessor held 
 Leyland. He had “ one hide and two carucates of land, a wood two miles 
 long and one broad, and an aerie of hawks.” The same document further 
 records certain privileges enjoyed by the inhabitants of this district:— 
 “The men of this manor and of Salford did not work as was customary 
 for the king at the hall, nor did they reap in August; they only made one 
 hedge in the wood; they were subject to fines for wounding and rape, and 
 had all the other customs of the other superior manors. The whole manor 
 of Leyland, with the hundred, rendered to the king nineteen pounds 
 eighteen shillings and two pence.” Other lands belonging to this manor 
 are described as “twelve carucates of land, which twelve freemen held as 
 twelve manors; in these are six hides and eight carucates; there are woods 
 six miles long, and three and a quarentcn broad.” Other holders are des¬ 
 cribed as follows:—“ Of the land in this manor, Girard holds one hide 
 and a half, Robert three carucates, Randulph two carucates, Roger two 
 carucates, Walter one carucate. There are four radmans, a priest, and 
 fourteen villains, and six bordars, and two neatherds ; between them they 
 have eight carucates, wood three miles long and two broad, and four aeries 
 of hawks. The whole is worth forty shillings—part is waste land.” 
 Doubtless this refers not to the parish of Leyland alone, but to the whole 
 hundred, with the exception of Penwortham, as no other villages or 
 manors are mentioned. The parish of Leyland is situated nearly in 
 the centre of the hundred, and contains within its boundaries about 17,000 
 acres of land. The principal stream is the Lostock, which, rising in 
 Withnell, after a tortuous course, joins the Yarrow, in the parish of Croston. 
 The Darwen forms a portion of the north eastern boundary. One of its 
 tributaries, the Itoddlesworth, or the Moulden water, a picturesque stream, 
 rises to the south of Withnell and Wheelton, and joins the Darwen below 
 Hoghton tower. The manor remained in the Bussel family till the time 
 of King John, when one moiety became vested in Rogir de Lacy. In the 
 14th Henry III., (1230) John de Farington, son of William de Meles, 
 coroder of Leyland church, and grandson of Hugh de Mcolis, who was 
 living at the period of the Conquest, espoused Avica daughter of Robert 
 Bussel, and received the other moiety of the manor. Lacy’s moiety descended 
 
604 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 to John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster; the Faringtons still retaining 
 possession of their portion. After the accession of Henry IV., the duke of 
 Lancaster’s moiety merged into the possessions of the crown. Edmund II. 
 leased it for a short pei'iod to Thomas Holyneux, of Sefton, and afterwards 
 to Thomas Walton, esq., attorney-general of the county palatine of Chester. 
 He is recorded to have still held it in the first year of the reign of Henry 
 VII. The Faringtons still retained their moiety, and shortly afterwards 
 appear to have been possessed of the whole manor. It is on record that 
 William Farington, who died in the 17th Henry VII., held the manor of 
 Leyland by knight’s service. Mr. Baines says it is extremely probable 
 that the moiety belonging to the crown was granted by the king to the 
 Faringtons, a circumstance which he suggests would “in some measure 
 account for the fact that no court is held for the manor of Leyland, w T hich 
 has led to the supposition that it is only a factitious manor.” Abundant 
 documentary evidence, however, demonstrates that the supposition is 
 entirely groundless. The parish of Leyland includes the townships of 
 Leyland, Euxton, Cuerden, Whittle-le-woods, Clayton-le-woods, Heapy, 
 Wheelton, Hoghton, and Withnell. During the present year, it has been 
 subdivided into the following parishes, viz :—Leyland new parish, which 
 includes Euxton and Cuerden, and that portion of the township of Leyland 
 which lies to the east of the Penwortham and Wrightington turnpike road. 
 That portion to the left of the said road will form a separate parish under 
 the church lately built by Mrs. Farington, at Moss-side. Whittle parish 
 is composed of the townships of Whittle-le-woods and Clayton-le-woods. 
 Heapy parish comprises the townships of Heapy and Wheelton. Withnell 
 parish includes Withnell and that portion of Hoghton which lies beyond 
 the Chorley and Finnington turnpike road. Hoghton parish is the 
 remainder of Hoghton township. 
 
 Leyland parish church may have existed before the Conquest. There 
 is no record of it, however, in the Domesday book, hut that document 
 mentions a priest, and it may, therefore, reasonably be inferred, that there 
 existed an edifice for the performance of his functions. It has been conjec¬ 
 tured that some portion of the tower of the present church was erected at 
 the close of the eleventh century. In 1291, it is noted in the Valor of 
 pope Nicholas, as follows : “Eccliade Laylond. £10....£1”. The hodyof 
 the church was re-built in 1816, and somewhat enlarged. It is a plain 
 gothic structure. The old edifice, which was dedicated to St. Andrew, 
 was a very interesting specimen of church architecture. Mr. Baines 
 describes it as “ formed of one arch of gothic ceiling, the height of which 
 was 27 feet, and the area from 60 to 65 feet by 33 to 38 feet. The 
 supporting principals were all of plain oak, and the present roof of the 
 
THE HUNDRED OF LEYLAND. 
 
 605 
 
 chancel resembles that of the ancient pile.” The arch, which separates the 
 nave from the chancel, is supposed to have been built in the reign of 
 Edward II. The following additional particulars respecting the old 
 church, are from the pen of Miss Earington :— s 
 
 “ Tlie Cliurcli had a good waggon roof, painted blue, and dotted over with gilt stars. 
 There was a western gallery, erected for the organ, in the early part of George the 
 Third’s reign ; another and older one along the north wall, and one stretching from 
 north to south across the Chancel arch, which, from its being only wide enough for one 
 row of pews, and from its situation, must, 1 fancy, have been a ‘ rood loft.’ The pulpit 
 and desk were near the middle of the south wall.” 
 
 Miss Earington’s paper was illustrated by numerous drawings. Amongst 
 others were several of the gargoyles, which were “ placed in a curious 
 projecting line, at some distance below the roof.” These carved stones 
 were sold as old materials, and purchased by Miss Earington’s father. 
 One drawing represented what was termed the “Cat Stone.” “ To this 
 relic appends the usual story of the stone being removed by night, (in this 
 case from Whittle to Leyland), and the Devil, in the form of a cat, 
 ‘throttling’ a person who was bold enough to watch.” Miss Earington 
 further observes :—• 
 
 “ The tower and chancel were not touched, but the width of the body of the Church 
 was increased nine feet on each side. When the old walls were pulled down, they were 
 no further interfered with than the flooring of the new Church required; but some 
 alterations in flarington Chapel (which occupies the south-east corner of the Church) a 
 year or two since, t and which necessitated the entire removal of the old foundation, 
 brought to light the fact, that they were partly composed of the fragments of a still 
 earlier Church. The incised slabs drawn out, are of very superior workmanship to those 
 in the Church-yard, and a small headstone, apparently more ancient. There were other 
 portions of stone coffins besides the headpiece I have drawn. * * There seems no 
 reason to doubt the undisturbed portion of the foundations would be equally rich in 
 fragments as this south-east corner. # * The flarington Chapel had a window (and 
 
 not a door as now) at its east end. * * It is dedicated to St. Nicholas. # * In 
 
 1591, William flarington obtained a confirmation of his previous family claims to it, 
 from Bishop Chaderton, who confirms to him and his heirs for ever, a right ‘ to sit, 
 stand, and otherwise repose themselves therein ’ while li\ ing, and after death to occupy 
 ‘ two several vawtes or toumbes, in the upper of the same lying eastward, to bury the 
 deade bodys of the men, and in the lower standing westward, to bury the dead bodys of 
 the women.’ There was a division between the two sexes in the family pew itself, till 
 1816, and at the present time, the men’s free sittings run along the south side of the 
 Church, and the women’s the north. Prior to the alterations, all that part of the 
 Chapel wall not occupied by monuments was covered with hatchments, helmets, tabards, 
 and other relics of the age of heraldic funerals, but they were destroyed with the old 
 Church. # * There are three sedilia and a double piscina under four semi-circular 
 
 arches, and in the opposite wall an ambry, with a small pointed arched door of rude oak, 
 as black as ink, till lately painted over. The roll moulding is the simplest charac¬ 
 teristic ornament of this part of the Church, and the windows are the simplest form of 
 decorative. There are some fragments of old stained glass in the east one. In the 
 window seat of that westward of the chancel door, four folios are chained, vix. : Foxe’s 
 ‘ Martyrs,’ and Jewell’s ‘ Apology,’ in black letter, and ‘ A Preservative against Popery,’ 
 of later date, # * In the outer north wall of the chancel, about three feet above the 
 
 s Paper read before Lan. and Ches. His. Soc. Vol. 7, page 18*. 
 t Miss Farington’s paper was read in January, 1855. 
 
60G 
 
 PBEST0N AND ITS ENVTBON8. 
 
 ground, is a low arch, the purpose of which is not very clear. It is, perhaps, four feet 
 wide, and nearly two high in front, and there are no indications of its ever having 
 contained a recumbent figure.—We had a venerable yew tree in our Church-yard, but 
 it was blown down in the storm of Christmas, 1852.” 
 
 A chantry was founded in Leyland church, by Janies Anderton, esq., of 
 Euxton, in the 15th Henry VIII. The walls of the church are adorned 
 with a number of marble tablets. One, surmounted by a bust, is inscribed 
 to the memory of Sir William Earington, who died in 1781. Another 
 handsome monument, with the figures of two boys and profuse ornamental 
 decoration, records the demise, in 1742, of George Farington, of Worden, 
 esq., and of Margaret, daughter and sole heiress of John Bradshaw, of 
 Pennington, in 1771. A carved wooden tablet is inscribed to the memory 
 of William Farington, of Wearden, esq., and of Elizabeth his wife, the 
 former of whom died in 1714, and the latter in 1703. An inscription 
 testifies that the chapel belonged to William Farington, esq., of Werden, 
 and his heirs, in right of confirmation by the bishop of Chester, in 1591. 
 At the east end of the north gallery are several tablets to the memory of 
 members of the families of Banastre and Parker, of Cuerden. One records 
 the death of Banastre Parker, in 1738, son of Robert Parker, of Extwistle, 
 esq., and of Elizabeth, daughter and co-heir of Christopher Banastre, of 
 Bank, esq., by his wife Anne, daughter and one of the co-heirs of William 
 Clayton, of Liverpool, esq. Another is to the memory of Banastre Parker, 
 of Cuerden, who died in 1788, without issue. A third is to the memory 
 of Thomas Townley Parker, of Cuerden, who died in 1794, at the age of 
 33. He married Susanna, sole heiress of Peter Brooke, of Astley hall, 
 near Chorley. He left one son, Robert Townley Parker, esq., the present 
 possessor of the family estates. One monumental inscription records the 
 demise, in 1776, of Sam. Crooke, of Leyland, well known for his charities, 
 and another stone is inscribed to the memory of a kindred spirit, Dr. 
 William Bushell, the munificent founder of the hospital for decayed 
 gentlemen and gentlewomen, at Goosnargh. Dr. Bushell’s grave is 
 situated at the south-east corner of the church-yard, not far from the small 
 gate leading past the vicarage. It is covered simply by a slab of the 
 commonest description. A suggestion, however, has been made that some 
 more suitable monument should be placed over the resting place of one of the 
 worthiest of the many generous benefactors of Preston and its neighbour¬ 
 hood, which it is to be hoped will not be lost sight of. There is a stone in 
 the church-yard as old as the fourteenth century. It covers the burial 
 place of the old family of the Weardens, of Goldeu hill. On the dissolution 
 of the monasteries, the Fleetwoods, of Penwortham, became patrons of the 
 living. The Rawstornes purchased the great tithes, with the exception 
 of the demesne lands of Worden and some others, the property of the 
 
THE HUNDRED OF LEYLAND. 
 
 607 
 
 Faringtons. The advowson of the vicarage was purchased, in 1748, by 
 the Bev. Thomas Baldwin, whose family has since retained the patronage 
 and furnished the vicars. In 1650, the vicarage, with other buildings, 
 and twelve acres of glebe land, were valued at £6. per annum, and the 
 small tithes at £5. per annum. The impropriate tithes, however, were 
 worth £272. per year, and were claimed by several parties." Mr. William 
 Bothwell, M.A., had been appointed vicar, hut the puritans would pot 
 permit him to officiate. He was dragged violently out of the church, and 
 was persecuted with so much rancour, that he would have died of want, 
 but for the generosity of Mr. Daniel, of Daresbury, in Cheshire. He was 
 reinstated in the vicarage after the Kestoration, and died at Leyland, in 
 1677. T In 1834, the living was valued at £400. per annum. The registers 
 commence in 1538. A neat episcopal chapel was erected and endowed 
 in 1854, at Moss-side, by the liberality of Mrs. Farington. The site was 
 given by the Misses Farington, the owners of the Worden estates. A par¬ 
 sonage house has since been added, and the district lately constituted a 
 separate parish. A temporary catholic chapel was opened in the village 
 of Leyland, in 1846, and a much larger and very commodious one, 
 dedicated to St. Mary, erected in 1854. The Wesleyans have a chapel 
 at Golden hill, built in 1814. The independent chapel, situated in 
 the village, a very neat structure, was opened in 1844. The grammar 
 school of Leyland was founded by Queen Elizabeth, and endowed with 
 £3. 18s. per annum. w Crooke’s school, at Moss-side was founded in 1770. 
 The founder left an annuity of £5. for an organist, and another of £20. as 
 salary for a schoolmaster. Crooke’s other charities are described as 
 “ cottages and lands, of which the income is given to the masters of Euxton, 
 Clayton, and Cuerden schools, the rector of Croston and curate of Leyland, 
 etc., amounting annually to £76. 4s. 11 The commissioners further report 
 as follows :— 
 
 “ 1792. Beatson’s Charities. —£200. to the grammar school of Leyland, and £100. 
 to each of the schools of Moss Side, Euxton, and Clayton. Also £200. to the trustees 
 of the poor-house of Leyland, called Albiston poor-house, [Osbaldeston’s poor-house,] 
 to be invested in the funds, and the dividends to be paid yearly to six poor women, and 
 £ 100. in trust to be invested in the funds, and the dividends to be applied to the purchase 
 of bread for the poor of Euxton. 
 
 u Par. Inq. Lamb. Lib. vol. II. v Walker’s Sufferings of the Clergy, p. 344. 
 
 w Par. Com. Rep. According to the Notilia Cestriensis, the queen endowed the school with 
 £3. 6s. 8d. per annum, “ to wch hath been given since 100/. by Mr. Dandy ; 50/ by James Sherdley; 
 by Mr. Walsh, Curate of Liverpool, 10/. the Interest of wch to be paid to the Master, who is 
 Nominated by Trustees, appointed according to a Decree in Chancery, who keep ye Writings. 1717. 
 The Rev. Thomas Armetriding, Vicar, by Will dated the 18th of February, 1718, proved at Chorley, 
 in 1719, gave £200. for the Master, and £o0. for the Usher; and Margaret, his widow, by Will dated 
 the 15th of November, 1728, gave £50. for the Usher. The Interest of £20. was given lately for an 
 Usher by John Bury, of Lealand.”—Page 381. x Par. Com. Rep. 
 
608 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 “ 1607. Farington's Alms Houses for sis alms people, who receive 16s. 8d. each 
 yearly; Besides 10s. from Osbaldeston’s Charity, the Alms House is entitled to the 
 interest of Armetriding’s bequests, in 1728, of £160., and to Mary Farington’s legacy of 
 £100., in 1811. Annual income, exclusive of the interest of £160.£12. 5s. 2d. 
 
 “ Charities in Land and Money to the Poor, per annum: Osbaldeston, in 1665, left 
 per annum, £117. 5s.; Clayton, in 1754, 10s. For bread ; 1728, Preston left, per 
 annum, £1. 6s., and Oakenshaw, in 1744, 10s.; yielding annually... £119. 11s. Od.” 
 
 An infant school was erected at Moss-side, in 1837, by subscription and 
 a gfrant front the National Society. Worden or Wearden ball, the ancient 
 seat of the Faringtons, is mentioned in 1509. For twenty-five generations 
 this family has continued in Leyland, in uninterrupted succession by male 
 heirs, until the demise of James Nowell Farington, in 1848. Worden ball 
 is now a farm bouse. About the time of the first James, Sir Thomas 
 Farington removed to Sbawe ball, near the village of Leyland. Sir 
 William Farington, in the last century, enlarged the building, and stored 
 it with a fine collection of marbles, frescoes, etc., which be procured in 
 Italy and other places. The mansion was almost entirely re-built by the 
 late J. N. Farington. The name “ Sbawe ball ” was discontinued, and 
 “Worden,” in remembrance of the title of the ancient family seat, trans¬ 
 ferred to the modem edifice. The park has been much enlarged, and the 
 approaches, and entrance lodges entirely re-constructed. The latter are 
 now much nearer the village. The mansion called the “ Old ball,” 
 erected in the time of Elizabeth, formerly the seat of the Cbamock family, 
 now extinct, is still in existence, but has been converted into a farm-house. 
 There are several modem residences in Leyland of some importance, 
 amongst others, Golden hill bouse, erected during the last century, the 
 residence of Mrs. Eccles ; and Wellfield, the residence of John Eccles, esq. 
 A savings bank was established in 1821. In 1834, the deposits amounted 
 to upwards of £20,000. In 1851 they bad increased to the sum of £39,654. 
 17s. 3d. This amount belonged to 924 different individuals. A few years 
 since a large room, called the Union ball, was erected, in which the 
 meetings of the Leyland Agricultural and Horticultural Association, 
 concerts, lectures, etc., are held. A library or mechanics’ institute has 
 lately been established. In 1850, gas was introduced. About a quarter 
 of a mile from the village, there is an extensive bleaching establishment, 
 locally termed “ The Shrugs.” Two customary fairs are held annually 
 in October and March. These fans are proclaimed with some ceremony, 
 by the “mayor,” as the gentleman elected to preside on such occasions, is 
 styled, by courtesy. The township of Leyland contains 3,725 statute acres 
 of land. In 1851, its population was 3,617. The annual rateable value 
 of the property in 1854, was £11,797. 
 
 Euxton. —The township and chapelry of Euxton, or, as it is sometimes 
 written, Euxton-burgh, lies to the south of Leyland, on the line of the 
 
The Seat of M 1 " 5 Tarm^xan 
 
XnE HUNDRED OF LEYLAND. 
 
 609 
 
 great Roman highway. From its name, some outwork has evidently 
 existed, to protect the ford over the Yarrow. A much corroded Roman 
 coin was picked up about twenty-three years ago, together with a “ circular 
 piece of gold, without superscription or any other proof that it had ever 
 passed through the mint.” y The manor passed by marriage from the 
 Holands to Sir William Molyneux. He died in 1372. It remained in 
 his family until its transfer to James Longworth, esq., of Liverpool. 
 Dr. Kuerden says that Euxton '‘hath a fayre chappel” built “by Sir 
 William Molyneux, of Sephton.” The date (1513) is inscribed upon the 
 south wall. Canon Raines suggests that the builder was probably the Sir 
 William Molineux, who distinguished himself at Flodden. Kuerden further 
 observes :— 
 
 “ The corn tytli is worth 55 ls - per an. and is the inheritance of Mr. Anderton, of 
 Clayton. The small tytli is worth 50 shill, and belongs to the vicar of Leyland. In 
 this township their is a water corn miln, cald Pincoc Miln, standing vpon the Eiuer of 
 Yarrow, and adjacent to it a fayr arched stone bridge ouer the said riuer in London 
 post road, parting the parish of Leyland from the parish of Standisli, and below the 
 bridge standeth a paper milne, and a little below that another corn milne cald Hermit¬ 
 riding,” (Armetriding) “ miln. Vpon the banks of this riuer are some quarryes of 
 stone of very hard flags and slate. 
 
 “Nere the aforesaid chappel standeth an antient fabric cald Euxton Hall, the present 
 inheritance of W. Anderton, esq., late Justice of Peace, under K. J ames, but scince at 
 Manchester, amongst other Lancashire Gentlemen.” '• 
 
 James Anderton, of Euxton, in the 15th Henry VIII., founded three 
 chantries, “ to pray for the souls of him and Agnes his wife.” One was 
 at Leyland church, another at the chapel at Euxton, and a third at 
 Eccleston. In 1650, the great tithes, claimed by James Anderton, esq., 
 of Clayton, were estimated at £50. per annum; and the small tithes at 
 £2. 5s. The incumbent was Mr. Seth Bushell, “ a godly pious minister, 
 and conformable to the present government,” a His salary was £40. per 
 year. He was afterwards vicar of Preston. b Mr. Anderton does not 
 appear to have been equally “ conformable,” for the tithes are described as 
 sequestered for the use of the state owing to his “ delinquency.” Bishop 
 Cartwright has the following entry in his diary : “1687. Mr. Walmsley 
 of Leland came to visit me, and he deliv d me a Petition for ye restoring of 
 Euxton Chapel to the Inhab ts , the key whereof was in the hands of — 
 Molineux, who allcdges that it is his, and not theirs, that it has no main¬ 
 tenance, nor any prayers said in it for 20 years last past.” Bishop Gastrell 
 says that the Rev. Thomas Armetriding, left £200. after the death of his 
 wife, for “Augmenting this Chapel, together w th y c Queens Bounty.” 
 Mrs. Armetriding died in 1730. The chapel was re-built in 1724, c and 
 
 y Baines’s His. Ean., vol. 3, p. 454. 7. See page 215. 
 
 a Pari. Inq. Lamb. Lib. b Sec pages 463 and 471 of the present work, 
 
 c Mr. Baines says “about 1710.” Canon Raines corrects this to 1721. 
 
610 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 again in 1816. In 1829, it was enlarged by the “ Incorporated Society 
 for the Building of Churches.” A chancel has since been added. The 
 font, being in the Norman style, is thought to be much older than the chapel 
 built by Sir AVilliam Molyneux. An ancient stone cross, formerly placed 
 inside the chapel, now lies neglected outside the gate. Canon Baines says 
 it is still “ used by the Boman Catholics at their funerals as a station.” 
 The patron saint is unknown. The value of the living, in 1834, was 
 £125. The advowson belongs to the representatives of the Bev. Thomas 
 Armetriding. Adjoining the hall is a catholic chapel, huilt in the last 
 century, by Mr. Anderton. It was restored in 1817-18. Euxton hall 
 was most probably built in the reign of Henry YIII., by James Anderton, 
 esq. It was re-built by William Anderton, esq., in 1739. His grandson, 
 William Ince Anderton, esq., in 1849-50, erected a modern mansion 
 contiguous to the old hall. The Andertons, of Clayton and Euxton, are 
 descended from a second son of Anderton, of Anderton, who married Anne, 
 daughter of Henry Banastre, of Bank. This lady was afterwards united 
 to William Earington, esq., of Farington. Charles II. slept at Euxton hall, 
 on his way to Worcester. A puritan newspaper, called the “ Mercurius 
 Politicus,” of the 16th August, 1650, contains the following characteristic 
 notice of this monarch’s progress through Lancashire:— 
 
 “ August 14tli, 1650. This day Charles Stuart lodged at Euxton-burgh, six miles on 
 this syde of Preston, being Sir Hugh Anderton’s house, who was prisoner at Lancaster, 
 but sett at liberty by the Scotts. This Anderton is a bloody Papist, and one that when 
 Prince Rupert was at Bolton, boasted much of being in blood to the elbows in that cruel 
 massacre. The next night theyr king lodged at Brine, six miles from Warrington, 
 being Sir William Gerard’s house, who is a subtile jesuited Papist. This dissembling 
 Scott, trusts none so well in Lancashire for his liostes as the papists.” 
 
 Another branch of the Andertons resided at Lostock, near Bolton. 
 Francis Anderton was at Preston in 1715. Patten states that he was 
 reported to have said “ lie had lost a good estate for being with the 
 rebels but one day.” d The Bushells formerly resided at “ Spout,” in 
 Euxton. Mr. Baines says “ it does not appear,” whether the founder of 
 Goosnargli hospital was descended from Warm Bussel, the ancient lord of 
 the domain. It is by no means improbable, however, as a portion of the 
 lands retained by the representative of Warin, after the transfer of the 
 barony to Boger de Lascy, was situated in Eukeston. In 1684, two other 
 residences, Armetriding house and Glear or Glide hill, are mentioned. 
 The only mansion now existing in Euxton, besides the seat of the 
 Andertons, is Bunshaw hall, the residence of G. Johnson Wainwright, esq. 
 Euxton possesses a few other charities, besides those previously alluded to, 
 amounting to £14. per annum.' The school, founded in 1758, was re-built, 
 
 d See page 237. 
 
 e Charity Commissioners’ Report. 
 
THE HUNDRED OF LEYLAND. 
 
 Gil 
 
 in 1837, on a new site. The necessary funds were furnished by sub¬ 
 scription, and a grant from the National Society. The catholics have 
 likewise a good school in the township. The population of Euxton, in 
 1851, was 1,631. The area is 2,934 statute acres, and the annual 
 rateable value of the property is £7,826. 
 
 Cuerden was granted to Vivian Molineux, by Eoger de Poictou. His 
 grandson gave the manor of Kardon, as a marriage portion with his sister, 
 who espoused Si ward, son of Anti, son of'Elsi. His son Henry de Kuerden 
 and grandson, Thomas, granted lands to the knights of Jerusalem and the 
 abbey of Kokersand. The manor afterwards passed, by grant, from Eoger 
 do Kuerden to Gilbert Woodcock, the marriage of whose daughter trans¬ 
 ferred it to Eobert Banastre, baron of Newton and lord of Walton. It 
 afterwards passed to the Amilcorns, the Chernocks, the Langtons, and the 
 Fleetwoods, of Caldwick, in the county of Stafford. By marriage it was 
 transferred to the Banastres, of Bank. On the marriage of Elizabeth, 
 daughter and co-heiress of Christopher Banastre, with Captain Eobert 
 Parker, of Extwistle, who died in 1718, it passed to the family of the 
 present proprietor, Eobert Townley Parker, esq. Guerdon hall is a large 
 and elegant mansion, beautifully situated upon the higher ground over¬ 
 looking the valley of the Lostock. The extensive and well wooded park 
 presents some delightfully picturesque specimens of English rural scenery. 
 Astley hall, another mansion belonging to Mr. Parker, is situated on the 
 margin of a streamlet named the Chor, in the parish of Chorley. It was 
 re-built in 1600. It is a large edifice of wood, plaster, and brick, 
 and is well stored with fine examples of antique furniture. Amongst 
 others there is a singular oaken table, called a “ shuffle table ” or a “ shove 
 groat table,” formerly used for a game now obsolete. Astley hall passed 
 to Itiehard Brooke, esq., second son of Sir Peter Brooke, of Mere, in the 
 county of Chester, in the latter part of the seventeenth century, on his 
 marriage with Margaret, daughter and heiress of Eobert Charnock, esq., 
 of Charnock and Astley. In 1787, Thomas Townley Parker, esq., of 
 Cuerden, married Susannah, daughter and heiress of Peter Brooke, esq., 
 whose son Eobert Townley Parker, esq., of Cuerden, Eoyle, and Extwistle, 
 succeeded to the property. Mrs. Parker afterwards married Sir Henry 
 Philip Hoghton, hart., who died in 1835, and was succeeded by his son, 
 the present Sir Henry Bold Hoghton, hart. Lady Hoghton resided at 
 Astley hall at the time of her demise. It is at present the residence of her 
 grandson, Thomas, eldest son and heir of Eobert Townley Parker, esq. 
 Mr. Parker, sen., has on two occasions represented Preston in parliament. 
 Since his retirement from activo political life, a committee has been 
 formed for the purpose of procuring a first-class full length portrait of 
 
 2 q 2 
 
612 
 
 TEESTON AND ITS ENYIEONS. 
 
 him, with the view to its being deposited in some public building 
 in the town. From the estimation in which Mr. Parker is held, 
 as a private gentleman, by men of all shades of politics, and his 
 constant attention to the interests of the town and neighbourhood, this 
 proposition has met with general approval. Dr. Kuerden says,—. 
 “ There is another fayr built hous, but not altogether so modish as the 
 last,” (Cuerden hall) "upon the lower Kuerden Green, commonly called 
 the Crow-trees, being the antient inheritance of Mr. John Woodcoc and 
 his family, for 4 or 500 years.” This building is generally termed Wood¬ 
 cock hall. It is now the property of It. Townley Parker, esq. In 1646, 
 John Woodcock, a Francescan priest, a member of the ancient family 
 referred to, was executed at Lancaster, as a “popish recusant.” Dr. 
 Kuerden speaks of his own ancestral residence, situated below Cuerden 
 hall, on the west side of the London road, in the following terms:— 
 
 “ Another fayr square fabrick, a brick building, adorned about with tall pyne and fir 
 trees, situated pleasantly upon the edge of Kuerden Green, not long since built in a fayr 
 court, and a spacious orchard and garden on the south side thereof, planted by Ri. 
 Kuerden, Dr. of Physic, being an antient inheritance descended upon him, and hath 
 continued in his precedent ancestors from K. Stephen’s Raigne, then given in marriage 
 to the original of that family, Sywardus filius Anti, with a daughter of the son of 
 Vivian Molineux, who held that lordship, 2 car. of land by the service of 4 of a K*s fee. 
 This inheritance hath continued entirely in the Dr’s family to this day, f though tho 
 lordship itself hath been twice or thrice alienated.” 
 
 In 1673, Mr. Andrew Dandy founded a school at Cuerden, and endowed 
 it with a rent charge and interest amounting to £6. per annum. This was 
 afterwards increased by £5. per annum, from Crooke’s charity. 6 It has been 
 further augmented by It. T. Parker, esq., and others. Including some 
 annual donations, the schoolmaster’s salary is upwards of £40. per year. 
 About 60 scholars, on an average, attend the school, which was erected in 
 1690. Cuerden shares in some other charities with the neighbouring town¬ 
 ships. A very pretty episcopal church was erected in 1836, on land given 
 by Kobert Townley Parker, esq., who likewise subscribed £200. towards 
 the building fund. The “Church Building Society” granted a further s um 
 of £200., and the remainder was raised by subscription. It is dedicated 
 to St. Saviour, and will seat about 550 persons. In 1850, an organ was 
 erected by Mr. J. Itoome, of Preston. A parsonage house was built in 
 1847, at a cost of £1200., which was defrayed by subscription and a grant 
 of £600. from the ecclesiastical commissioners. The living is in the 
 patronage of the vicar of Blackburn. The church, indeed, though situated 
 within the Cuerden demesne or park land, is in the township of "Walton- 
 le-dale. It is intended chiefly to accommodate the inhabitants of Cuerden 
 and Bamber-bridge, A school, in connection, has been since erected by 
 
 f The latter portion of the seventeenth century. 
 
 g Char. Com. Kept. 
 
/&> 3 / 7 // / / 
 
 'l<Zt 
 
 yy y 
 
THE HUNDRED OF LEYLAND. 
 
 613 
 
 subscription and a grant of £210. from the National Society. There are 
 three cotton mills in the township. Cuerden contains 807 statute acres of 
 land. The property was assessed to the county rate, in 1854, at the 
 annual value of £2,778. In 1851, the population numbered 521. 
 
 WniTTLE-LE-wooDs. —In the reign of Henry I., part of the manor was 
 granted to Gilbert de Witul. It passed from this family to Richard le 
 Butler. John Butler de Rawclif, dying without male issue, it passed, by 
 marriage, to the Standish and Anderton families. In the reign of Charles 
 II., the representative of the latter disposed of a portion to Mr. William 
 Crooke. The other original moiety, described as half a carucate in Why thall 
 in the wood, was granted by the son of Warin Bussel to Richard Fiton. 
 It passed to the Lees, and afterwards to Sir Richard Hoghton, on the 
 marriage of Sibil, daughter of Sir Henry de Lee. Dr. Kucrden says :— 
 
 “ Nere unto the water of Lostock, is a fayr fabrick of stone cald the New Croke, which 
 was erected by Richard Clayton, Dr. of Divinity and Mr. of St. John’s College, 
 Cambridge, who purchased the estate in Whittle cald the New and Old Croke, where 
 the family of Claytons were planted for some generations. The New Croke descended 
 to Rich. Clayton, esq., who dying without heirs male, it descended by a sister to the 
 Lcicesters, of Toft, in Cheshire, the present owner thereof. And the other house cald 
 the Old Croke, descended in another brother of the family of Clayton, and by Captain 
 Robert Clayton, now of Fulwood, was sold to one Mr. William Croke, who likewise 
 purchased the half lordship of Whittle from James Anderton, of Clayton, esq.” 
 
 The episcopal chapel is a handsome edifice. It was erected in 1829, the 
 parish contributing £500., and the remaining expence being defrayed by 
 the church commissioners. At South-hill is a neat catholic chapel, dedi¬ 
 cated to St. Chad, with a school in connection. The chapel was built in 
 1791, and cnlai’ged in 1812. The Wesleyan chapel was re-built in 1839. 
 Whittle shares with the neighbouring townships in some charities. In 
 1769, a school was founded by Sir F. Standish, hart., and Samuel Crooke, 
 esq. The endowment produces £11. per annum. In 1841, six alms 
 houses, for poor persons belonging to Chorley, were erected in this township 
 by Susannah Brooke. Shaw hill or Shawe hall, a large and eligibly situ¬ 
 ated mansion, passed to Thomas (Ikin) Bright Crosse, esq., on his marriage 
 with Miss Crosse, the heiress to the estate. Whittle contains several 
 extensive millstone quari’ies, a few cotton factories, and a calico printing 
 establishment. It is intersected by the Leeds and Liverpool canal, and the 
 branch of the Lancaster canal which connects the tram way from Preston 
 with the more important water communications. Whittle has evidently 
 been occupied, and its stone quarries woi’kcd, by the Roman people. About 
 twenty years ago, a hoard of coins, said to have amounted to nearly a thousand 
 in number, were found, on the removal of the rock above the Lancaster canal 
 tunnel. Coins have likewise been found at Whittle-springs, one of which, 
 a medal of Philip the eldei’, would seem to imply that the Roman people, 
 
614 
 
 PBE3T0X AND ITS ENVIB0NS. 
 
 to some extent, were acquainted with these now celebrated waters. 11 The 
 chalybeate spring has been long known, but the famed alkaline fountain 
 was not discovered till 1836, during some boring operations, undertaken 
 with the view of ascertaining whether the Lancashire coal field extended 
 beneath the estate. A breakage in the instruments employed caused some 
 delay in the borings, and it was not until 1841, that the obstacle was 
 removed, when the water rose to the surface in great abundance. In the 
 strata penetrated, blue grey rag and grey rock greatly predominate. The 
 total depth is about 265 feet. The neighbourhood of the springs has been 
 converted into beautiful pleasure grounds, and a commodious hotel erected, 
 with baths and other conveniences. The scenery of the district is varied 
 in its character and extremely picturesque. Trom some of the neighbour¬ 
 ing eminences, a large portion of the Lancashire coast is visible. The 
 place is much frequented by invalids and pleasure parties. The alkaline 
 water is highly spoken of, and has been compared to that at Baden Baden. 
 The township of Whittle-le-woods contains 1,354 statute acres. The 
 population, in 1851, amounted to 2,310. The property was rated in 
 1854, at the annual value of £4,894. 
 
 Clayton-le-woods. —One moiety of this township was given by Bichard 
 Bussel, as a marriage portion with his sister, to Bobert de Hickeling, in 
 the county of Nottingham. Their son assumed the name of Clayton. 
 His descendants sold their portion of the manor to the Andertons, of 
 Euxton. About the year 1672, it was transferred by sale, to Caryl, third 
 viscount Molyneux, fi’om whose family it passed to the present owner, 
 Lord Skelmersdale. Bichard Bussel granted the other moiety of Clayton 
 to Bichard Fiton. It passed by marriage to the de Lees, and afterwards 
 formed part of the portion of Sibil de Lee, on her marriage with Sir 
 Bichard Hoghton. Clayton hall, the manorial residence of the Claytons, 
 is now a farm-house. It is a spacious edifice of the age of Elizabeth. A 
 small catholic chapel, dedicated to St. Bede, was erected at Clayton-green 
 in 1823. There is likewise a school in connection with the chapel. A 
 methodist chapel was built in 1830. In 1744, a school was founded by 
 Edward Bootle. The endowment is increased by participation in Beatson 
 and Crooke’s charities, and annual donations from Lord Skelmersdale and 
 B. Townley Parker, esq. The poor are entitled to the proceeds from two 
 closes of land, belonging to Clayton’s charity, and a participation in Filth’s 
 bequests. The population of Clayton-le-woods, in 1851, amounted to 747. 
 The annual rateable value of the property, in 1854, was £2,910. The 
 area of the township, according to the ordnance survey, is 1,430 acres. 
 
 Heapy. —A district formerly called Gunoldsmores, or Cunnolvesmores, 
 
 h See page 50. 
 
THE HUXDEED OF LET LAND. 
 
 615 
 
 included Heapy, Rothelsworth, Stanworth, Ollerton, Whelton, and Witlinil 
 It was granted by Richard Bussel, the second baron of Penwortham, as a 
 marriage portion witli his sister, to “ Alan son of Suen, and sometimes 
 cald Regenaldus, as is memorised in an ancient scrole.” 1 In the reign of 
 John, Randulph, brother to Richard de Ollerton, assumed the name of 
 Heapy, his brother having granted him the manor. In 1299, his descend¬ 
 ant, Robert de Hepea, sold the lordship to Hugh de Standish. It still 
 l'emains in the possession of the younger branch of this family, represented 
 by H. S. Carr Standish, of Duxbury, esq. Dr. Ivuerden says, “ Heapy 
 had an antient Park belonging to it, and a water miln for graine 
 vpon the Bagir brock.” The episcopal chapel was erected by voluntary 
 subscriptions in the year 1752, on the site of an edifice which existed in 
 the previous century. Further subscriptions and a grant from the National 
 Society being obtained, the chapel was enlarged and galleries erected, in 
 1829. The advowson belongs to the vicar of Leyland. The value of the 
 living in 1834, was £111. It is now worth about £150. per annum, 
 arising from the great tithes of Wheelton, land in Coppul, purchased by a 
 grant from Queen Anne’s bounty, and £42. a year, granted by the 
 ecclesiastical commissioners, in 1841. The patron saint is unknown. 
 There are three schools in connection with the chapel. One at Heapy, 
 was built in 1826, another at Wheelton, in 1842, and the third at White 
 Coppice, in 1843. A parsonage house was erected in 1846. In 1851, 
 Heapy contained 495 inhabitants. The area of the township is 1,463 
 statute acres. The annual rateable value of the property, in 1854, was 
 £1,895. 
 
 Wheelton. —A third portion of the ancient lordship of Gunoldsmores, 
 including this township, and its members, Whelcroft, Brinscoles, Stan¬ 
 worth, Monkshal, and Brightfeld, passed to Roger de Stanworth, on his 
 marriage with the second co-heiress of William Alanson, on which occasion, 
 he appears to have assumed the name of Quelton. Whelton-cum-Heapy 
 was afterwards held by the Hoghtons, as a part of their manor of 
 Hoghton. Ivuerden states, that in his day there existed “ good store of 
 slate and flag quarries in this lordship called Whelton Delpli.” There is 
 now' a cotton factory within the township. Brinscall or Brinseough hall 
 was in existence in 1650. Another mansion, called Simpson’s fold, is 
 considered to have been erected about the same period. By Simpson’s 
 bequest, poor housekeepers in Wheelton are entitled to the interest of £30. 
 The population of this township, in 1851, amounted to 1,041. Its area 
 is 1,696 statute acres. The property was rated, in 1854, at the annual 
 value of £3,012. 
 
 i Ivuerden. 
 
616 
 
 PEESTON AND ITS ENYIEONS. 
 
 Hoghton. —In the time of Henry II., Hoghton was held by Adam de 
 Hocton, son of Richard Fitz Hamo, and grandson of Hamo Pincema, who 
 married the daughter of Warm Bussel, first baron of Penwortham, shortly 
 after the Norman conquest. The descendants of this family still retain 
 their ancestral possessions at Hoghton and other places. John of Gaunt, 
 in the 9th Richard II., granted to Sir Richard Hoghton, license to add 
 to his park seven score acres of land. Of Hoghton tower, the ancient seat 
 of the family, Dr. Kuerden gives the following particulars :— 
 
 “ This tower was build in Queen Eliz. raigne by one Tho. Houghton, who translated 
 this manor-house, formerly placed below the hill nere unto the waterside. Betwixt the 
 inward square court and the 2d, was a very tall strong tower or gate house, which 
 in the late and unhappy civil wars was accidentally blown up with powder, with some 
 adjacent buildings, after the surrender thereof, and one Captainc Starlcy with 200 
 soldiers were killed in that blast most wofully. k The outward is defended with two 
 lesser bastions vpon the south-west and north-west comers, besides another placed in the 
 midst betwixt them, now serving for an outward gate house. This stately fabric i* 
 inuironed with a most spacious park, which in former times was so full of tymber that a 
 man passing through it could scarce hauc seen the sun shine at middle of day ; but of 
 later days most of it has been destroyed. It was much replenished with wild beasts, as 
 with boars and bulls of a white and spangled coulor, and red deer in great plenty, the 
 last as yet preserved for game by the lords thereof.” 
 
 King James honoured Hoghton with a visit, on his progress from Scotland 
 to London, in 1617, the particulars of which have already been given. 1 
 Hoghton tower is now fast falling into decay. Portions are occupied by 
 the cultivators of the neighbouring land. This relic of the past, with its 
 many interesting associations, and its magnificent site, naturally attracts, 
 during the summer months, pleasure seekers from the neighbouring towns ■ 
 The principal entrance is to the west, beneath an embattled tower, 
 flanked on each side by a somewhat similar but smaller turret. The 
 entire structure forms a rectangle, divided into two courts. The banquet¬ 
 ing hall is a noble apartment, with mullion and Hansom windows, minstrel 
 gallery, and capacious fire place. It measures ten yards by seventeen, 
 and is paved with small square stones. Here, occasionally, the merry 
 laughter of cheap trip parties, enjoying an extemporised quadrille or 
 country dance, disturbs the slumbering echoes of the old baronial edifice. 
 The domestic chapel, on the north side of the inner court, which was used, 
 for a lengthened period, after the Hoghtons removed to "Walton hall, has 
 had no public service performed in it for about forty years. It is now 
 fast falling into decay. There are some mouldering portraits yet remaining 
 in the “ green room,” one of which is said to represent the original builder 
 of the fortress-mansion, Sir Thomas Hoghton. One of the apartments is 
 termed the “ guinea room,” from its having been decorated with represen¬ 
 tations of that coin. The family arms are likewise represented in the 
 
 k See page 173. 
 
 1 See page 150. 
 

THE HUNDRED OF LEYLAND. 
 
 617 
 
 compartments of the wainscot, with the motto “ Mai Gre le Tort.” The 
 “ king’s bed room,” which is twenty feet square, presents some elaborate 
 carving over the chimney piece. The gallery, ten yards long by eight broad, 
 is relatively in-tolerable preservation, and contains a few specimens of 
 antique furniture. It is approached by a flight of low oaken steps, 
 up which, it is said, the late baronet rode occasionally on a favourite 
 pony. The draw-well is stated to bo forty-two yards in depth. From its 
 position, this would be necessary, especially when the fortress was 
 beleagured. The statue of king William III., which stands in the centre 
 of the inner court, was brought from Walton hall, after the demolition of 
 that mansion, and placed upon its present site. Every thing speaks loudly 
 of past splendour and present decay. And yet the desolation is not 
 sufficiently great to prevent a constantly recuning hope that the edifice 
 may be restored and again rendered habitable. The site is, indeed, a most 
 imposing one, and must have presented even more attractions, when the 
 western side of the pyramidical hill, on which the mansion stands, was 
 covered with forest verdure. From this point, the eye traverses an 
 immense fertile plain, stretching to the Irish sea, and dotted with towns 
 and villages. In the rear of the tower, the Darwen rushes through a richly 
 wooded and secluded gorge, and playfully bounds over the rocky terraces 
 which intersect its path. Within a trifling distance are expansive views 
 and deep shadowy dingles. Here, the majestic wide spreading landscape, 
 with the busy hum of humanity borne over it in subdued cadence, by the 
 unimpeded breeze ; there, the solitary glen, with its emerald sward, and its 
 rippling fountains and feathered choristers making sweet harmony with 
 the mystic tones of cool stray zephyrs, coying with wild flowers and the 
 leaves and tinier branches of overhanging forest trees. Truly, Hogliton 
 is worthy of its historic name and princely reminiscences ! At the foot of 
 the hill there is another residence of some pretensions, named Riley gi’ccn. 
 In the reign of Charles I., the resident family was styled “ Riley of the 
 Green.” The episcopal chapel at Hogliton, situated near the village, was 
 erected, in 1823, by the parliamentary commissioners. The living is in 
 the gift of the vicar of Leyland. In 1790, a methodist chapel was erected 
 at “ Hoghton Bottoms.” The charity commissioners make the following 
 report respecting Hoghton school:— 
 
 “ 1709. School founded by Sir Charles Houghton, of Houghton Tower, hart., for 
 teaching the English, Latin, and Greek tongues, but about twenty years ago, the 
 national system of education was introduced into the school, and sir Henry Hoghton, 
 and Mr. Sudell, voluntarily contribute £25. each annually to its support. About 150 
 boys and girls are taught reading and writing.” 
 
 The population of Hoghton, in 1851, was 1,373. The area, according to 
 the ordnance survey, is 2,232 acres. The rateable value of the property, 
 in 1854, was £4,750. 
 
618 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Withnell includes tlie hamlets of Ollerton and Brinscall. The views on 
 the Roddlesworth streamlet, in this township, are extremely varied and 
 picturesque. The series of reservoirs for the storage of water, in con¬ 
 nection with the Liverpool works, commences at Withnell, and continues 
 to Rivington. These magnificent sheets of water, which give an entirely 
 new feature to the district, have, from their picturesque aspect, acquired 
 the title of the “ South Lancashire lakes.” Roger de Withnil received 
 the township as part of the dower of the third daughter, and co-heiress 
 of William Alanson. m In the 7th Edward I., Henry de Wythenall 
 held his lands of Sir Adam de Houton. In the 11th Edward III., 
 privilege was granted by the king to Sir Richard de Hoghton, of free 
 warren in all his demesne lands in Hoghton and Withinhul, together 
 with five hundred acres of wood and heath to enclose in the said town¬ 
 ships, and permission to make a park. Withnell passed, in the 
 eighteenth century, to Henry Sudell, esq., whose trustees re-sold it 
 to the Messrs. Parke, of Preston, who are now the reputed owners of 
 the manor. The episcopal chapel, dedicated to St. Paul, was erected in 
 1841. The advowson belongs to the vicar of Ley land. The living is 
 worth about £103. per annum. A good parsonage house was built 
 about twelve years ago. Bishop Gastrell says, “Here is a school lately 
 erected, and said to be endowed by Sir Charles Houghton, deceased ; but 
 how endowed ye vicar cannot yet learn. Anno. 1718.” Canon Raines 
 adds that the school was endowed by deed, dated the 30th of June, 1789, 
 with the sum of £400. There are two cotton factories and a paper mill 
 in the township, the property of the Messrs. Parke. The latter was 
 established in 1843. Wesleyan chapels and schools are attached to 
 these establishments. A Wesleyan chapel is now in course of re-erection 
 in Brinscall. The population of Withnell, in 1851, was 1,975. The 
 annual rateable value of the property, in 1854, amounted to £5,010. Its 
 area, according to the ordnance survey, is 3,620 statute acres. 
 
 RUFEORD PARISH. 
 
 Ruffobd was formerly attached to Croston. It was formed into a separate 
 parish in 1793. Richard Bussel, the second baron of Penwortham, granted 
 to Richard Fitun, together with other lands, a moiety of this manor. It 
 passed to Sir William Heskaith, in 1275, on his marriage with Matilda, 
 daughter and co-heiress of Richard Eitton. By the marriage of Sir John 
 Heskayte, knight, grandson of Sir William, with Alice, daughter and only 
 heir of Edmund Fytton, lord of half Ruffourd, he became sole lord of the 
 manor and assumed the arms of Fytton. His descendant, Sir Thomas 
 
 m See page C15. 
 
THE HUNDRED OF LEYLAXD. 
 
 619 
 
 G. Hesketh, baronet, holds the unbroken manor, with the exception of one 
 estate belonging to the church. Rufford chapel must have been in exist¬ 
 ence in 1346, as iu that year King Edward III., during his sojourn in 
 Normandy, granted to Sir William Hesketh, a licence to found a chantry 
 in the chapel of St. Wary, of Itufford. n The Testa de Nevill’ records that 
 “Richard Bussel gave to the abbey of Chester, one carueate of land, in 
 Ruehford in alms, which the abbot of Chester holds.” By virtue of this 
 grant, the dean and chapter of Chester enjoy a pension, issuing out of this 
 manor, of £40. per annum. 0 The monastery of St. Werburgh anciently 
 claimed, as a tine out of the manor of Rufford, the yearly payment of 
 eleven shillings. p Whether the licence referred to was granted with one 
 or both of these conditions annexed, is not known. The chantry was 
 dissolved in 1548, restored in 1553, and afterwards suppressed by Queen 
 Elizabeth. According to the parliamentary inquisition, in 1650, Rufford 
 was deemed fit to be formed into a parish distinct from Croston, “in respect 
 that the waters lying between the Town of Rufford and the parish of 
 Croston are for the most part all the Winter time not passable.” The same 
 document further records that “Mr. Woods, well qualified, and conformable 
 to the State and Government, doth officiate the Cure, but hath no other 
 Sailary save the benevolence of his Auditory and the Inhabitants there.” 
 The chapel was re-built in 1734, at a cost of £1,165., by a brief procured 
 by the Hesketh family. When constituted a district parish, in 1793, it was 
 endowed with the great and small tithes of Rufford and the great tithes of 
 TJlnes-AValton. The advowson belongs to Le Gendre Nicholas Starkie, esq., 
 of Huntroyd. The church, which is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, is a 
 plain brick edifice, with a stone cupola. A small gallery and organ were 
 erected in 1829. On the north side of the family pew of the Heskeths, 
 is an ancient slab, bearing a sculptured representation of an armed knight 
 and his lady, with their hands clasped as in prayer. It is in memory of Sir 
 Thomas Hesketh, knight, and his wife. The former died in 1363. In the 
 13th Edward III., William de Ileskayte obtained a charter to hold a 
 market every Eriday at his manor of Rugford. There is now no market, 
 but a fair for cattle, etc., is annually held. There are several charities 
 belonging to the parish, including the following :— 
 
 “ Charities of Baldwin and others, amounting to £34. 10s., in several small sums, for 
 which an interest of £ 1. 14s. 6d. was paid towards the support of a schoolmaster until 
 the year 1818, in consequence of a school having been built by sir T. D. Hesketh, in 
 1816, q which is supported solely at the worthy baronet’s expense, for all the poor children 
 of the parish, on the national system, and books are also furnished for the use of the 
 school. A small payment is made by the children of the farmers. The old school 
 
 n Harl. Bib. 2063, p. 135. 0 Lucas's MSS. p Ormerod’s Cheshire, vol. I, p. 227. 
 
 q The date inscribed on the present school is 1824. 
 
620 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 house, which stood opposite the Hesketh Arms, supported a still more ancient one of 
 Rufford Old Hall.”r 
 
 About ten years ago, two cottages were converted into a girl’s school. 
 A room was first used as a place of worship by the Wesleyans, in 1813. 
 Rufford old hall, the ancient seat of the Heskeths, is believed to have been 
 erected in the fifteenth century. It is pleasantly situated amidst park¬ 
 like scenery. Many of the rooms are pannelled, and profusely ornamented 
 with elegantly carved figures and beautiful foliage. The entrance hall 
 is a magnificent apartment, with a hammer-beamed roof. Though much 
 less in magnitude, this room resembles Westminster hall, in. many respects. 
 Much of the carving is similar in character, and is considered equal if not 
 superior in execution. Rufford hall likewise possesses an important 
 addition in its magnificent screen. The drawing room has an open carved 
 roof, and a curious door which originally led to the minstrel gallery. It 
 is the property of Sir Thomas George Hesketh, bart., and is occasionally 
 occupied by the dowager Lady Hesketh. Rufford new hall is an elegant 
 mansion, erected in 1798, by Sir Thomas Dalrymple Hesketh, bart. 
 Holmes wood house, an ancient structure, has been converted into a 
 farmer’s residence. A handsome modern house, occupied by the rector, 
 is sometimes styled the Parsonage. The surrounding country generally is 
 flat marsh or moss land. Owing to the improvements in the drainage, 
 however, large tracts have been brought into profitable cultivation, and the 
 general health of the district improved. Immense quantities of potatoes 
 are grown upon the reclaimed moss land of this and neighbouring parishes. 
 Rufford, in 1851, contained 861 inhabitants. Its area is 3,120 statute 
 acres. The annual rateable value of the property, in 1854, was £4,734. 
 
 MUCH HOOLE PARISH. 
 
 Hoot.e was separated from Croston, and formed into a distinct parish, 
 in 1642. In the early part of the reign of Henry III., Thomas Banastre 
 held the manor of Great Hoole. It passed to the Heskeths, on the marriage 
 of Thomas Heskaith, in 1387, with Margaret, daughter and heiress of 
 Thomas Banastre. Sir Thomas G. Hesketh, bart., G. A. Legh Keck, 
 esq., the Messrs. Rothwell, and others are the principal landowners. 
 The church, which is dedicated to St. Michael, was erected in the fifteenth 
 century, and was re-edified in 1628. The steeple was built in 1720, and, 
 in 1812, the ceiling was renewed. The chancel was added in 1824. On 
 the north side of the steeple is the following inscription: “ Yt Hora sic 
 Vita.” It has been conjectured that this inscription, together with 
 another, “ Sine sole sileo,” as well as the sun dial and old clock, owe their 
 existence to the celebrated astronomer, Jeremiah Horrocks, who resided in 
 
 r Char. Com. Rept. XV., abstracted by Baines. The word “supported” should, evidently, bo 
 “succeeded.” 
 
THE nUNDHED OF LEYLAND. 
 
 621 
 
 this parish. s The tower, which stands upon four pillars, is curiously 
 ornamented with pinnacles, vases, and arched ornaments. The report of 
 the parliamentary inquisition, in 1650, states that about ten years 
 previously, Hoole had been made a separate parish, by act of parliament. 
 The consent of the rector of Croston had been purchased by Messrs. 
 Thomas and Andrew Stones, for £400., in whom was vested the patron¬ 
 age of the living. It has since passed through various hands. The 
 advowson is at present held by the Rev. F. H. Sewell, vicar of Cockerham, 
 There are two small charities belonging to the parish, besides the school, 
 noticed as follows in the charity commissioners’ report:— 
 
 “School —By indenture, bearing date the 12tli of February, 1774, it appears that 
 this school was endowed with two closes in Much Hoole, called Twelve Acres, and Land 
 called the Mutkell, purchased for £116., raised by subscription, with a view to apply 
 the yearly income to the salary of a schoolmaster. The closes are let for £16. 6s., which 
 is paid to the schoolmaster, who likewise receives a yearly sum of £10. from the rector. 
 For this salary he instructs gratuitously in reading all the poor children of the parish, 
 whose parents choose to send them.” 
 
 From the parliamentary inquisition, in 1650, it appears that a £10. per 
 annum was given by Mr. Stones, the patron of the living, to a school in 
 Much Hoole. Perhaps this is the £10. referred to by the commissioners, as 
 paid by the rector. Bishop Gastrell, has the following curious entries 
 with reference to this trust:— 
 
 “ There is a School here endowed wtk 107. per annum, to be paid by ye Rector, as 
 appears by his certificate of ye value of his Living recorded in the Exchequer anno 1708, 
 and by several witnesses now living, anno 1722; but how or by whom it was settled, 1 
 cannot yet learn. 
 
 “ Certificate of ye same Rectour [Mr. James Whitaker] anno 1725, yt there is no 
 Free School or any other School wth in ye Parish.” 
 
 A methodist chapel was erected near the “ Mess Houses,” in 1824, and a 
 primitive methodist chapel, near the same place, in 1828. Carr house 
 was built in the seventeenth century, by John Stones, esq. This residence is 
 situated in Bretherton, but is subject to the taxation of the parish of Hoole. 
 Mr. Baines mentions a farm-house, in the village of Much Hoole, with 
 some remains of a moat; but he adds that it “is without history.” 
 The township of Much Hoole contains 1,746 statute acres of land. The 
 annual rateable value of the property, in 1854, was £2,661. The popula¬ 
 tion in 1851, amounted to 775. 
 
 Little Hoole, a neighbouring township, is included in the parish of 
 Much Hoole. Roger dc Montcbcgon granted this manor to the priory of 
 Thctford. The late Rico George Fellowes, esq., of Edmonton, in 
 Midddlesex, was lord of the manor and proprietor of the soil. Since his 
 demise, a portion has been sold. The remainder is vested in his widow. 
 The manor-honsc, called Marsh house, is the residence of the rector. A 
 primitive methodist chapel was erected in Little Hoole, near the Raikes- 
 
 s See part I, of the present volume, for a biographical notice of Horrocks. 
 
622 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 brook, in 1854. The population of the township, in 1851, numbered 
 202 individuals. The area includes 1,201 statute acres of land. The 
 annual rateable value of the property, in 1854, was £1,553. 
 
 TARLETON PARISH. 
 
 Tarleton was separated from Croston and made a distinct parish in 
 the year 1821. The island near the “more” of Croxton, the land called 
 Tarlton and Littlehole, with the men and all that pertained to them, were 
 granted by Roger de Montebegon, to the Cluniac priory of Thetford, in 
 the county of Norfolk . t John Malherbe, supposed to be a brother of 
 Roger de Montebegon, about the same time, gave all the holms, or marsh 
 lands, near the “more” of Tarleton, in Lailondeshire, to the abbey of Cocker- 
 sand. u The prior of Thetford quit claimed to the abbot all his right to 
 the said holms, etc. Alexander Eanastre, of Rank, held the manor of 
 Tarleton, in the reign of Richard II. He appears to have succeeded a 
 family named from the township. On the marriage of Thomas Hesketh, 
 with Margaret, daughter and co-heiress of Thomas Eanastre, a portion of 
 Tarleton passed to the Heskeths, of Rufford. The remainder continued in 
 the Banastre family, till the marriage of Anne, daughter of Christopher 
 Banastre, with Thomas Fleetwood, esq. It again passed by marriage to 
 the Leghs, of Lyme. Anthony James Keck, of Straughton grange, in the 
 county of Leicester, was married, in 1765, to Elizabeth, second daughter 
 of Peter Legh, of Lyme. His son Lieut. Colonel George Anthony Legh 
 Keck, and Sir Thomas G. Hesketh, bart., are, at the present time, 
 joint owners of the manor. Tarleton church is dedicated to St. James. 
 Mr. Baines says, “ The Eleetwoods, of Bank hall, joint lords of the manor, 
 erected Tarleton chapel, now church, in 1717, and on the 24th of July, 
 1719, the edifice was consecrated.” The Rev. Canon Raines says:— 
 “ Baines is singularly inexact in his account of this church. * * Bishop 
 Gastrell is wrong in the date 1720, and Ecton in giving St. Mary as the 
 patron saint.” Mr. Baines makes no mention of any chapel previously to 
 the one consecrated in 1719. From the bishop’s MSS., in the Registiy, 
 Chester, it appears, that Thomas Hesketh, esq., and Mrs. H. M. Legh, the 
 joint owners of the manor, the Rev. Henry Leadbetter, rector of Croston, 
 and twenty-three freeholders of Tarleton, in 1718, petitioned Bishop 
 GastreU for a license to erect a new chapel at Tarleton. The petitioners 
 stated that during “ the late unhappy Usurpation an edifice was built by 
 the prevailing Faction, in Tarleton, and used for a pretended place of 
 Worship.” After the Restoration, service was occasionally performed, 
 according to the ritual of the church of England. Having never been 
 
 t Ellis’s Monas, vol. 5, nu. 6, p. 150 
 
 u Ex. Cart, de Ann. 7 et S. Ric. II. n. 1. 
 
THE HUNDRED OF DEYLAND. 
 
 623 
 
 consecrated or endowed, it gradually fell into decay. Tlie lord and lady 
 of the manor gave the site of the old ruined chapel, and the principal 
 land owners agreed to build a new edifice without any expense to the 
 rector. The petitioners likewise subscribed £200. towards the endowment, 
 and hoped to obtain a grant of a similar sum from Queen Anne’s bounty. 
 They agreed that the minister should be nominated by the rector of Croston, 
 for the time beiDg, on the recommendation of the lords of the manor of 
 Tarleton and the principal inhabitants, who should be members of the estab¬ 
 lished church. A squabble afterwards arose, when the chapel was nearly 
 completed. It was alleged that the edifice was not built on the site 
 originally intended, but about one hundred rods from the locality where 
 the presbyterian chapel had stood. The principal subscribers assigned the 
 following as their reasons for changing the site:—On the spot selected, 
 there had previously stood a chapel of great note and antiquity, dedicated, 
 according to tradition, to St. Helen. From the bones which had been dug 
 up, especially in preparing for the foundations of the new building, it 
 appeared to have been parochial. The baptistry near the chapel was still 
 called St. Helen’s well, which had been much resorted to, within then 
 living memory, by the devotees of the period, although the chapel itself 
 had fallen into decay about the beginning of the preceding century. In 
 addition to these considerations, the site was much superior, and more 
 commodious for the inhabitants of Sollorn and Bretherton, who would 
 often make use of the chapel, when prevented by w r ater from attending 
 the parish church. In the year 1548, a chantry in Tarleton chapel was 
 dissolved. In 1650, the parliamentary inquisitors recommended the 
 building of a new church at the end of the lane called the “ Black Gate 
 Lane End, where a church is now building for the inhabitants of Tarlton, 
 Holmes, and Zollom.” They likewise recommended that the church 
 should be made parochial. The number of families in the district was 
 eighty-seven, from which they concluded the congregation would amount to 
 four hundred and thirty-one persons. The living is in the patronage of 
 the rector of Croston. Two charities pertain to Tarleton, besides the 
 following :— 
 
 “ 1650. School. There is a school-room in this parish which bears upon it the date 
 of 1650, and which is repaired out of the funds of the parish. Part of a field near 
 Tarleton bridge, supposed to have been given by a Mr. Johnson, was sold to the Leeds 
 and Liverpool Canal Company for £320., which produces in interest £12. 16s. per 
 annum ; the other part lets for £6. per annum. Besides this field there are four other 
 parcels of land which let for £10., and another source of income is derived from a sum of 
 £50. The whole number of scholars is about 80, of whom 20 are free. Annual income 
 £31. 6s.” v 
 
 A “school of industry and Sunday school,” for girls and the younger 
 
 v Char. Com. Kcp. 
 
624 
 
 TEESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 boys, was built in 1839, by subscription and a grant from the National 
 Society. The land was given by the Rev. S. Master, rector of Croston. 
 The school is supported by annual donations from Sir T. G. Hesketh, bart., 
 G. A. Legh Keck, esq., and the Rev. S. Master, and the pence of the 
 children. A methodist chapel, in Tarleton, was re-built in 1832. 
 A small chapel was erected in 1851. A charter was granted by William 
 III., in 1700, to Thomas Fleetwood, esq., of Bank hall, authorising the 
 holding of an annual fair, upon the site of Martin Mere. Other charters 
 were likewise granted, but their powers have fallen into disuse. Thomas 
 Fleetwood was the first who attempted, on an extensive scale, the drainage 
 of Martin Mere, or the “Martinensian Marsh,” as it is some times styled. w 
 His efforts were not very successful, but since his time large tracts of 
 fertile land have been reclaimed. 1 Upon the strength of the charter 
 alluded to, a convivial party assembles annually at the Barn’s Head Inn. 
 The members of the “corporation,” after electing a “ Lord Mayor” for the 
 ensuing year, regale themselves in the most orthodox manner ; the worthy 
 host catering with a liberality calculated to win “golden opinions” from 
 even more distinguished civic functionaries than those who devote their 
 attention to the municipal business of the “ antient borough of Tarleton.” 
 The parish and township includes Tarleton, Sollom, and Holmes. The 
 total area is 5,534 statute acres. The property was rated, in 1854, at the 
 annual value of £6,844. In 1851, the population amounted to 1,945. 
 CROSTON PARISH. 
 
 The parish of Croston formerly included those of Rufford, Tarleton, 
 Hoole, Chorley, and Hesketh-with-Becconsall. It at present comprises 
 the townships of Croston, Bispham, Bretherton, Mawdesley, and Ulnes- 
 Walton. The parish, which is generally of a low and level character, 
 is watered by the rivers Douglas and Yarrow. King John, in exchange 
 for other lands, in 1201, gave Hugh le Porteur twenty marks in Croxton, 
 and ten marks in the town of Croxton Saraccne. y Three years afterwards, 
 he granted lands which had been Hugh le Porteur’s, together with ten marks 
 of land in Crokeston, which had belonged to William de St. Albans, to 
 G. Luttrell. 1 Roger do Montebcgon gave ten earucates and six bovates 
 of land, in Croston, to his brother, John Malherbe, to be held in knight 
 service.'' 1 At the same period, Aumeric Pincerna held three fees in 
 Crocstun, Bulham, and Filingham. Annabella, one of the three daughters 
 and co-heiresses of Richard Fitton, lord of half the manor of Rufford, 
 “married Edmund Leigh, lord of Crostone, 17th Edward I. He and 
 
 w So called on Mr. Fleetwood’s monument, in Meols church, 
 x See page 507. y Rot. Clianccll, 3 John, m. 7. 
 
 z Rot. Lit. Claus, a “Testa de Nerill.” 
 
THE HUNDRED OF LEYLAND. 
 
 625 
 
 his wife gave their inheritance to Sir William Heskayte, knt., confirmed, 
 by Sir William Leigh, 22nd Edward III., 1343.” a The document quoted 
 further states that “Dame Mawde, d. & co-heir of Richard Fytton,” who 
 married Sir William Heskayte, “had all the lands of the co-heirs of 
 Richard Fytton by gift.” A moiety of the manor was previously vested 
 in Sir John De la Mere. One of his daughters married Sir Thomas 
 Fleming, of Wath, and another, William del Lee. The latter, in the 46th 
 Edward III., held a moiety of the manor of Croston and Maudishlegh. 
 Elizabeth, daughter of John Fleming, married Thomas Heskayte, and 
 Alice, daughter of William Lee, married Thomas Ashton, about the time 
 of Henry VI. Ann, daughter and co-heiress of Richard Ashton, married 
 John Trafford, who died in 1686. His representative, J. Randolphus de 
 TrafFord, esq., is now lord of a moiety of the manor of Croston. The other 
 portion descended to the Hesketh family. Monacha, another daughter 
 and co-heiress of Richard Ashton, married Alexander Hesketh, of Aughton. 
 Thomas Norris, esq., of Red vales, Eury, and afterwards of Ho wick house > 
 purchased the Hesketh moiety from the Rev. Streynsham Master, D.D., 
 rector of Croston, about the year 1825, who had previously acquired it by 
 purchase from Sir Thomas Dalrymple Hesketh, hart. A church at Croston 
 was in existence at the time of the Conquest. It was granted by Roger 
 de Poictou to the monastery of St. Martin, Sees, in Normandy. The 
 patronage was exercised by the priory of St. Mary, at Lancaster. In 
 1291, it was valued at £33. 19s. 9d. A stipend of £3. 19s. 9d., was, in 
 1588, payable to the clerk of Croston, out of the revenues of the duchy of 
 Lancaster. b The rectory was appropriated to the abbey of St. Saviour, of 
 Sion, by the pope, Martin V. In 1420, it was ordained a vicarage by the 
 bishop of Litchfield. The patronage passed from the crown, after the 
 dissolution of the monasteries, to Anthony Browne, of Southweld, Essex. 
 It was afterwards frequently disposed of. It became vested in 1755, in 
 Legh Master, esq., M.P. His son the Rev. Robert Master, D.D., sold 
 the advowson to Le Gendre Nicholas Starkie, esq. In 1821, it was 
 transferred to George Smith, esq., brother to Lord Carington. In 1650, 
 the net value of the living w r as returned at £300. 9s. 3d. per annum. 
 The church comprises nave, aisles, chancel, tower, and two chapels. In 
 the Valor of Pope Nicholas, (1291) the chapels are not mentioned. One 
 of these, a chantry, founded by the Hcskeths and dedicated to St. John 
 the Baptist, is called the Rufford chapel. The other is termed the 
 Becconsall chapel. It was styled a chantry in 1538. In the seventeenth 
 century, it passed to the Banastres, of Bank. Both chapels were 
 purchased from Sir Thomas D. Hesketh, bart., by the rector. The chinch 
 
 a Hesketh pedigree, of Rufford. 
 
 b Birch’s MSS. British Museum. 
 
626 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 was re-built in the sixteenth century. A brief was obtained in 1743, for 
 the re-building of the church. There is a catholic chapel in Croston, and 
 another in Mawdesley. The latter was built in 1830. A new and hand¬ 
 some structure is now in the course of erection at Croston, by the 
 munificence of J. Bandolphus de Trafford, esq. A methodist meeting room 
 was opened in 1828. Croston old hall was built in the seventeenth 
 century. It was taken down at the latter part of the last century, and a 
 new edifice erected. The rectory was built about the same period as the old 
 hall. Bamford house, in Mawdesley, now converted into a public house, 
 was built in the seventeenth century. Black Moor house was erected 
 about the same time. Bispham hall was built in the sixteenth century. 
 Bank hall, Bretherton, long the manorial residence of the Banastres, is 
 mentioned previously to the reign of Edward II. The present edifice, 
 which is of timber and brick, with the date 1608, inscribed over the west 
 door, has undergone a complete restoration. Mawdesley hall, a massive 
 stone building, was long the residence of the family of that name. 
 Heskin new hall, in the adjoining township, was built by this family. 
 A branch of the Nelsons, of Fairhurst, held lands in Mawdesley, in 
 the third year of the reign of Bichard II. Mr. Baines says :— 
 
 “ The celebrated naval hero. Lord Nelson, expressed to Mr. Townsend, the herald, 
 during the search for his pedigree, a strong desire to establish himself as a descendant 
 from a Lancashire family ; but the name of Nelson is of considerable standing in the 
 county of Norfolk, and to that county we are obliged reluctantly to surrender this most 
 distinguished ornament to the British arms.” 
 
 Ulnes-'W’alton is chiefly occupied by yeomen and small landed proprietors. 
 The Faringtons, however, possess a large estate within the township. 
 An old cross is preserved in the garden belonging to a farmer named 
 Gradwell. Tradition says it marks the site of an ancient cell. There are 
 several valuable charities belonging to the parish of Croston. The free 
 school, situated in the church yard, was erected in 1660, by the Bev. 
 James Hyatt, rector, and endowed with rent charges to the amount of 
 £14. This has since been augmented to £21. 9s. per annum. e A school 
 was founded in the township of Bispham, by Bichard Burning, in 1675. 
 The base of an ancient cross, near the centre of the village, indicates the 
 origin of the name of the place. Leland, in the reign of Hemy Till., 
 speaking of Croston, says that it then possessed “a poore or no Market.” 
 The inhabitants are principally occupied in agricultural pursuits. There 
 is, however, a little fancy hand loom weaving done in the parish. A few 
 years ago, a cotton mill was erected not far from the village; but it lias 
 not been in operation for some months past. The following table shows 
 
 c Char. Com. Rep. XA\ 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
'/4c >/ada/<y J^a*zcaA/z&lc/ 
 
 
 %2/?luz&a£bi & 
 
SOUTHPORT. 
 
 627 
 
 the area, population, and annual value of the property, in the townships 
 composing the parish of Croston:— 
 
 Township. 
 
 Acreage, according to 
 the ordnance survey. 
 
 Population in 1851. 
 
 Annual Rateable 
 Value, in 1854. 
 
 Croston . 
 
 2,361 
 
 1,500 
 
 £5,087 
 
 Mawdeslev. 
 
 2,934 
 
 887 
 
 £5,068 
 
 Bispham . 
 
 926 
 
 270 
 
 £1,643 
 
 Bretherton .. 
 
 2,428 
 
 818 
 
 £3,871 
 
 Hines Walton. 
 
 2,105 
 
 556 
 
 £3,602 
 
 Total . 
 
 10,754 
 
 4,031 
 
 £19,271 
 
 SOUTHPORT. 
 
 This fashionable watering place is situated in the parish of North 
 Meols, and in the hundred of "West Derby. It, nevertheless, possesses 
 claims of sufficient importance to preclude its being entirely omitted in 
 a history of the environs of Preston. Mr. Baines says : “ From the 
 Teutonic word Melo, farina, are derived the Saxon terms Hell, Meol, and 
 our meal, which have each been figuratively employed to designate this 
 parish, in consequence of the number of sand hills which it contains.” 
 This is very ingenious; hut it is infinitely more probable that the name 
 of the district is derived from the Ancient British word meol, or moel ; 
 which, according to Owen’s Welsh dictionary, signifies “a heap or pile, a 
 conical hill, its top smooth, or void of rocks and woods.” Southport, like 
 Blackpool, is an entirely modern town. In 1792, the first inn or hotel 
 was built by Mr. Suttou. The locality was known at the period as South 
 Hawes. It is said that an indentation or bay, with water to the depth of 
 seventeen fathoms, formerly existed near to the site of the present town. 
 Previously to the erection of the inn, a few visitors resided at Church- 
 town, about two miles distant, and were driven in rustic vehicles to the 
 South Hawes, for the purpose of bathing. This inn has lately been taken 
 down. It was originally named in derision, “Duke’s Folly.” It proved, 
 however, the nucleus of one of the most prosperous and fashionable 
 watering places on the western coast of England. It is said to have 
 received its present name from a Mr. Barton, surgeon, who, on the occasion 
 of the opening of Mr. Sutton’s hotel, “christened” the place after the 
 fashion adopted at ship launches. Smashing a bottle of wine, and scatter¬ 
 ing the contents around him, he exclaimed,—“ This place shall be called 
 Southport.” In 1809, the village comprised no more than thirty houses, 
 inhabited by about one hundred persons. It gradually, however, continued 
 to progress. The Hesketh Arms Hotel, was built in 1821. The chapel 
 of ease, named Christ Church, was erected in 1820. An independent 
 chapel was built in 1823, to which a school was added two years after- 
 
 2 r 2 
 
628 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 wards. A "Wesleyan methodist chapel was erected in 1824, and a national 
 school in 1825. A marine fund was established in 1825, for the purpose of 
 rewarding fishermen and seamen, who might expose themselves in rescuing 
 the crews of vessels and other persons, whose lives might be endangered 
 on the coast. The Strangers’ Charity was founded in 1806. Its object 
 is to afford assistance to poor sick persons who may be recommended 
 to try the benefit of sea bathing. This institution has met with so much 
 patronage that a large and commodious edifice, for the reception of 
 patients, has lately been erected near the north end of the town. In 
 1836, Southport contained about 340 houses and nearly 800 inhabitants. 
 This large number of private residences, lodging houses, and hotels, met 
 with ample support. Baths, a ball room, a billiard room, a news room, a 
 temporary theatre, and other attractions, were provided for the entertain¬ 
 ment and instruction of visitors. The progress of Southport has since 
 been extremely rapid. In 1851, the population of the township of North 
 Meols had risen to 8,694. In 1854, the property was assessed to the 
 county rate at the annual value of £27,605. On the previous assessment, 
 in 1841, it was valued at £17,426. It is now approachable by railway 
 in every direction. Magnificent private residences have been built, and 
 several first class hotels offer every desirable accommodation. An 
 extensive promenade overlooks the san ds, superior baths have been erected, 
 and a covered market provided. A handsome new and additional episcopal 
 church, some other places of worship, and a very elegant and commodious 
 town hall have likewise been erected. Lord-street, the main thoroughfare, 
 is a truly noble avenue, upwards of a mile in length. The gardens 
 which front the houses on each side give to Southport a more rural 
 character than is possessed by either Lytham or Blackpool, or indeed 
 most other watering places. Southport, like Blackpool, has given birth 
 to a suburb on the south. It is situated in the township of Birkdale, 
 and already possesses a considerable population. A new episcopal church, 
 with a handsome spire, is nearly finished. Many beautiful and elegant 
 villas have been erected here, and land is laid out for others of a 
 similar character. The beach on the Southport coast is low, and the 
 tide retires to a considerable distance, but the sands are very level, and so 
 firm and smooth, that not only pedestrians but vehicles of every 
 description traverse them with the same ease as the public highway. 
 Blackpool has been styled the “ Brighton of the North,” and Southport 
 the “Montpellier of England.” The locality is unquestionably healthy. 
 Many of the native population attain an extreme old age. This is 
 attributed to the general dryness and purity of the atmosphere, arising from 
 the sandy nature of the soil and the slight rainfall. The group of 
 
SOUTHPOKT. 
 
 629 
 
 desolate sand hills, lying to the north, with their barren summits hut 
 partially clothed with hardy star grass, and deep valleys dressed in a 
 garment of rich verdure interwoven with numerous wild dowering plants, 
 is much frequented by the visitors. The comforts and elegancies of 
 civilization are presented in immediate contiguity with a scene almost as 
 wild and uncultivated as though the foot of man had never previously 
 pressed the sod. The lover of solitude and Nature may enjoy himself 
 here to “the top of his bent,” with the comfortable redection that when 
 his appetite for lonely contemplation loses its zest, and that of the 
 corporeal man, stimulated by the health-laden breezes from the sea, begins 
 to rebel, he may, in a few moments, exchange his barren seat on the 
 apex of the desert moel for the couch of the well provided dining room; 
 and when the “crowd, the hum, the shock of men,” jars upon his 
 sensative nerves and more redned sympathies, he can again return, “ to 
 muse o’er dood and fell,” and truly feel and exclaim with the poet, 
 
 “ This is not solitude ; ’tis but to hold 
 Converse with Nature’s charms, and view her stores unroll’d.” 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ROMAN TOPOGRAPHY OF LANCASHIRE. 
 
 631 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 THE ROMAN TOPOGRAPHY OE LANCASHIRE. 
 
 After the first chapter of this work had passed through the press, the 
 author received a courteous communication from John Hodgson Hinde, 
 esq., of Acton house, Felton, near Newcastle, calling his attention to a 
 new reading of the inscription on the celebrated Ribchester altar, dedicated 
 to Apollo. In his introduction to the history of Northumberland, d a proof 
 sheet of which he kindly forwarded, Mr. Hinde expresses his approval 
 of the old route through Manchester and Ribchester, as the tenth iter of 
 Antoninus; but he removes the station Bremetonacis from Overborough 
 to Ribchester. Dr. Bruce, in the Archaeological Journal, (1855), e has the 
 following observations upon this subject:— 
 
 “ To one other altar only will we direct attention. Though not from the region of 
 the Wall, it still belongs to the north of England. It is without doubt the most 
 elaborately carved altar which the Roman residents in Britain have left us. It is now 
 preserved in the quadrangle of St. John’s College. Camden mentions it and tells us it 
 was found in the Roman station of Ribchester. The inscription, winch he informs us 
 * was copied for him,’ he gives as follows-— 
 
 SEO ESAM 
 ROL NASON 
 OS ALVEDN 
 AL. Q. Q. SAR 
 BREVENM 
 BEDIANIS 
 ANTON I 
 VS MEC. VI. 
 
 IC DOMV 
 ELITER. 
 
 “ Never perhaps, was so unmeaning a concatenation of letters submitted to the gaze 
 of a bewildered antiquary. Camden could make nothing of the inscription, but suggests 
 somewhat waggishly that it contained little more than the British names of places 
 adjoining. Horsely grappled with Camden’s corrupted copy, and elicited one portion of 
 the truth. He says, ‘ I believe the fourth line may be Aloe equitum Sarnia [tarum].’ 
 
 “ The altar seems soon after its discovery to have been used as a common building 
 stone in the erection of Salisbury Hall. In 1815, it was disentombed and fell into the 
 hands of Dr. Whitaker, who bequeathed it to St. John’s College. Dr. Whitaker (History 
 of Richmondshire, vol. 2, p. 451) thus expands the inscription: Deo sancto Apollini 
 
 d The Antiquarian society of Newcastle have undertaken the completion of the History of Nor¬ 
 thumberland, left imperfect by the death of the late Rev. John Hodgson. At the request of the 
 society, J. H. Hinde, esq., has undertaken to prepare the introduction, 
 e Vol. 12, p. 225. Paper by the Rev. J. C. Bruce, L.L.P., F. S. A. 
 
632 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Apono ob salutem Domini nostri ala equitum Sarmatarum Breneten. sub Dianio 
 Antonino centurions legionis sextce victricis. The correctness of this reading, in the 
 main, cannot be disputed, but one or two emendations may be suggested. Instead of 
 Apono, which Dr. Whitaker conceives to be an epithet of Apollo, Mapono is probably 
 the true reading. We nowhere else meet with Aponus (indolent) as an epithet of this 
 deity. At Plumpton, in Cumberland, an altar has been found which is inscribed f 
 
 DEO 
 
 MAPONO 
 ET N. AVG 
 
 “ To Mr. Roach Smith I am indebted for the reading now suggested, as well as for the 
 idea that Maponus may be the British name for Apollo as Belatucader is of Mars. It 
 is nothing uncommon to address a god both by his classical and local name. The first 
 letter in the fourth line appears to be n (numerus) rather than a (ala) ; both designations 
 as applied to a troop of cavalry are common. The last letter in the ninth line is worthy 
 of notice. The sculptor seems in the first instance to have made the word domu and 
 then to have altered it to the usual form of domo. 
 
 “ The chief value of the inscription depends upon the fifth line. Mr. Hodgson Hinde, 
 in a paper read before the Society of Antiquaries at Newcastle-upon-tyne, and published 
 in their Transactions, & conjectured (without having seen the altar) that Dr. Whitaker’s 
 reading of Breneten, should be Bremeten. Such, as is shown in the wood cut, appears 
 to be the fact. He further argues that the station at which the Sarmatian cavalry 
 (Ribchester) were located, was the Bremeten racum of the Notitia. He does so on the 
 same principle that High Rochester is conceded to he Bremenium and Risingham 
 Habitancum.” 
 
 This was written previously to the discovery of the Roman station at 
 Walton-le-dale, near Preston. After reading the paper, by the author of 
 the present work, published in the Transactions of the Lancashire and 
 Cheshire Historic Society, h Mr. Hodgson Hinde maintains his previous 
 position in the following terms :— * 
 
 “ On the 10th Iter of Antoninus. The consideration bestowed upon the 10th Iter by Mr. 
 Hodgson was confined to the northern portion of its route, nor indeed up to the period when he 
 wrote his last volume, had any difference of opinion been expressed as to its course from the 
 southern boundary of ancient Northumberland, by Manchester and Ribchester, to Overhorough, 
 near Kirkby Lonsdale. The difficulties were assumed to be confined to the stations north of 
 Overborough. 
 
 “ Manchester occurs in another Iter (the 2nd) as well as in the 10th, and is there designated 
 Maraucium or Manucium, and described as 18 miles distant from Condate, the next station to the 
 south. In the 10th Iter also Condate occurs, and the next station, at the same distance of 18 miles 
 north, is Mancunium. 
 
 “ It is not wonderful, therefore, that Mancunium has been identified by all our elder antiquaries 
 with Mamucium, and the site of each fixed at Manchester. Again, the next station hut one to the 
 north of Mancunium is Bremetonacum, a name so nearly resembling Bremetenracura, in the Notitia, 
 that it is difficult to divest oneself of the idea that the two names are substantially identical and 
 both belong to the same place. Now Bremetenracum of the Notitia is proved by an inscription to 
 be at Ribchester, and a strong presumption is raised that Bremetonacum, of the Itinerary, is also 
 there ; especially as the actual distance from Manchester to Ribchester corresponds, with sufficient 
 accuracy, with the Itinerary distance from Mancunium to Bremetonacum. 
 
 “ The recent investigations of two gentlemen resident at Warrington, Mr. Robson and Mr. Beamont, 
 have fixed the site of Condate at a place called Stockton Heath, on the Cheshire side of the Mersey, 
 
 f “ Lyson’s Cumberland, p. civ.” g “ Archseologia ASliana, vol 4, p. 109.” 
 
 h Vol 8, p 127. In this paper the author entered no further into the discussion of the route than 
 to show that Dr. Robson’s theory was supported by the discovery of a station near Preston, as he 
 had predicted. Dr. Robson professed not to trace the iter beyond Lancaster. The substance of the 
 paper referred to is embodied in the first chapter of this volume. 
 
 i History of Northumberland, p. 22. 
 
ROMAN TOPOGRAPHY OF LANCASHIRE. 
 
 633 
 
 ttt no great distance from the town in which they reside. Further than this, traces of a Roman 
 road have been discovered at intervals nearly in the line of the modern highway which passes 
 through Warrington, by Wigan and Preston, to Lancaster, and the claims of this road to be con¬ 
 sidered the true original of the 10th Iter have been enforced with great ability by Mr. Robson and 
 others. 
 
 “This theory involves the abandonment of the assumption that Mancunium of the 10th Iter is 
 identical with Mamucium of the 2nd, and that Bremetonacum of the Itinerary is the same place as 
 Bremetenracum of the Notitia. It implies also the existence on two nearly parallel lines of road, of 
 two places whose names so nearly resemble each other as Mamucium and Mancunium; and again 
 of two others so similar as Bremetenracum and Bremetonacum. 
 
 “ These may not be sufficient reasons for rejecting Mr. Robson’s views, but they are strong grounds 
 for not admitting them without most careful scrutiny. 
 
 “ It is not enough to show a fair and well-defined Roman road, in order to claim for it a place in 
 the Itinerary of Antoninus. On the contrary, some of the most magnificent specimens of the impe¬ 
 rial highways are unnoticed in that document, and were undoubtedly of later construction. Of this 
 we have a striking instance in the Roman road from Lincoln northwards to the Ilumber. 
 
 “ The oldest roads indeed were probably those which were least distinguished for their magnifi¬ 
 cence; they generally passed through an upland country, where the rivers were crossed with 
 facility, near their sources, and costly bridges were thus avoided. In the long period of Roman 
 domination, subsequent to the reign of Antoninus Pius, there was abundant time to substitute or to 
 add level lines of coast road, where hilly tracts alone previously existed; and during that period it 
 is probable the road by Warrington to Lancaster was laid out, after the resources of the country 
 were developed, and the construction of bridges and other heavy engineering works no longer pre¬ 
 sented an insurmountable obstacle. 
 
 “This opinion is further confirmed by the account furnished by Mr. Robson, of the formation of the 
 road-way, which he represents as constructed of loose stones and gravel, whereas the majority at 
 least of the older roads, wherever they are met with intact, present a paved surface. 
 
 “ On the whole, the balance of probability seems to be in favour of the views of the older antiqua¬ 
 rians, who placed Manchester and Ribchester on the 10th Iter ; but the balance of evidence may yet 
 be reversed, if a line from Lancaster should hereafter be traced northward, agreeing with that Iter in 
 its details, and it should be found impossible to connect Overborough with any corresponding 
 northern route. Under any circumstances, the discoveries of Mr. Robson and other active members 
 of the Historical Society of Lancashire and Cheshire are of great value, and will probably lead to 
 the ultimate solution of this most difficult problem, by directing to it an amount of attention which 
 has hitherto been dormant. 
 
 “ In endeavouring to render intelligible the merits of this controversy, it has been found convenient 
 to reverse the order of the stations as they occur in the Itinerary, commencing at the south end instead 
 of from the north, and thus securing an ascertained starting point. With regard to the inscription 
 by which Ribchester is identified with Bremetenracum, the editor may be permitted to refer to a 
 paper of his own in the Archmologia .Uliana, vol. iv. page 109, and to Dr. Bruce’s remarks on the 
 same inscription in the Journal of the Archaeological Institute, vol. xii. p. 225-7. 
 
 “ As regards the Roman road from Warrington to Lancaster, the reader is referred for further 
 information to a series of most interesting papers in the Transactions of the Historical Society of 
 Lancashire and Cheshire, vol. ii. p. 27, vol. ii. p. 34, vol. viii. p. 127.” 
 
 This view of the situation of Bremetonacis brings the argument exactly 
 back to its original position, as propounded by Camden. Dr. Whitaker, 
 however, was extremely horrified at what he termed “ this delusion” on 
 the part of “ the father of antiquities,” and rejoiced exceedingly at his 
 renunciation of the obnoxious doctrine. After noticing Leland’s uncertainty 
 as to the probable origin of Overborough, he says :— 
 
 “ Even Camden, who had better helps than Leland, was long in uncertainty on the 
 subject; for in his third edition of 1590, we find a continuation of the error with which 
 he set out, that Ribchester was the Brcmetonacse of Antonine; and from the imaginary 
 resemblance of Lac, which runs by Overborougli, that this was the Roman Galacum. 
 # * Hitherto we see that the father of antiquities was in total darkness, which led 
 
634 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 him to fix the site of Coccium far too near Mancunium, and in a place where there 
 were no vestiges of Roman antiquity; while he violently transferred Bremetonacaj to 
 Ribcliester, and, from a mere resemblance of name, which seems to have been the parent 
 of all these errors, Galacum to Overborough. In this delusion, however, Camden did 
 not die; for in the folio of the Britannia (A.D. 1670), this passage is altered for the 
 better.” t 
 
 The alteration for the better, in Dr. Whitaker’s opinion, consisted in the 
 placing of Bremetonacae at Overborough. Soon after the receipt of Mr. 
 Hodgson Hinde’s courteous communication, the author visited Cambridge, 
 and carefully sketched the letters forming the word which has intro¬ 
 duced a new and certainly important item in the list of facts and conjec¬ 
 tures relative to the Roman topography of Lancashire. There can be no 
 doubt that the letters as nearly resemble bremetnn as any others. The 
 b, r, and e, seem pretty certain. As the last perpendicular stroke of the 
 next letter is likewise used for the upright line of the e, and the latter is 
 reversed in its form, of course some difficulty exists in saying positively 
 whether Dr. Whitaker’s or Mr. Hinde’s interpretation is correct. The author 
 would certainly have read it as m, and not as n, had he known nothing of 
 the controversy. The letter has been imperfectly formed by the sculptor, 
 and the surface of the stone has suffered considerable injuiy. The 
 next letter, given as t, is much injured, and is therefore very doubtful. 
 The two last letters are either n. n., or n. m. On the whole there can be 
 little doubt that bremetnn is the more probable reading. 
 
 It is of the utmost importance that the precise amount of value due to 
 this inscription, as evidence of the name of the station near which it was 
 found, should be determined, inasmuch as the interpretation suggested by 
 Mr. Hodgson Hinde doubtless points to the hilly route as the line of the 
 1 Oth iter of Antoninus. This, at the same time, not only repudiates the 
 theory of Dr. Hobson and others, but clashes, to a considerable extent, with 
 the views of both Dr. Whitaker and the historian of Manchester. It is 
 certainly somewhat singular, that Dr. Whitaker, who had possession of 
 this altar for some time, and who was the first to give anything approxi¬ 
 mating to a correct interpretation of the inscription, should have felt no 
 sympathy with Camden’s original opinion. The difference in the readings 
 of Mr. Hodgson Hinde and the historian of IUehmondshire amounts to no 
 more than the change of a single letter. If Dr. Whitaker could for a 
 moment have imagined, from its position in the sentence, or otherwise, 
 that the term applied to the locality where the altar was erected, he would 
 neither have written the sentences above quoted nor the following:— 
 
 “ The word Breneten is to me wholly unintelligible, unless it refer to some subordinate 
 tribe of the Sarmatians, the Sarmatse Brenetenni. As to the peculiarity of placing an 
 Ala of Sarmatian horse under a Roman centurion, it may easily be solved by supposing 
 
 k His. Rick., vol 2, p. 2G5, 
 
ROMAN TOPOGRAPHY OF LANCASHIRE. 
 
 G35 
 
 them to be a new levy of raw soldiers placed under an experienced Roman officer, for 
 the purpose of being disciplined. The Sarmatian horse were the Cossacks of the 
 Roman armies.” 1 
 
 Mr. Hodgson Hindc contends the inscription intimates that the altar 
 was erected by the centurion commanding a wing or troop of the Sarmatian 
 cavalry, stationed at Bremeten; which he, viewing the term, like Sar, for 
 Sarmatarum, to be a contraction, expands to Brcmentenracum, which he 
 considers sufficiently near to Bremctonacis, or Bremetonacm, as it is 
 sometimes written, to identify the station in the Hotitia with that of 
 Antoninus. This is extremely plausible, and, if supported by other con¬ 
 firmatory evidence, would weigh heavily in the argument. But it is 
 equally probable that the word may, as Dr. Whitaker suggests, have 
 reference to a people or tribe, from amongst whom a portion of the soldiers 
 may have been enlisted. This tribe may either have been foreign or 
 native. Indeed, the term Bremctonacis has been considered as a Latin 
 form of a British word, Bremetonax or Brcmetonac, having reference to a 
 tribe of people; the capital or chief location, as is common, being named 
 after the tribe. Eibchester may have been in this district, and therefore 
 a troop of horse belonging to this force might be stationed there, without 
 at all invalidating the probability that the remaining portion of the 
 soldiery might be located at the capital or elsewhere. There is no reason 
 why Lancaster should not equally with Ribchester put forth its claims to 
 the distinction of having been the chief Roman city in the county, or even 
 a more extended territory. Lancaster has been comparatively neglected, 
 while Ribchester has been written into notoriety by several distinguished 
 authors. Yet there is nothing either in the size of the camp or the extent 
 of the remains at Ribchester to demonstrate that it was a superior post to 
 Lancaster. The latter place appears never to have lost its position, but to 
 have remained the chief place under both the Saxon and Herman rulers; 
 consequently its site has been continually subjected to the action of the 
 builder and renovator. Hence the destruction of much of the remains of 
 the Roman city. And yet a careful examination of what has been found 
 on the spot and in the neighbourhood would indicate a much stronger 
 fort and a larger population. There is good reason to believe that Lancaster 
 possessed a stone rampart, a part of which, called the “ Wery wall,” 
 remained till the time of Camden. Ribchester, on the contrary, appears, 
 like Walton, to have been defended only by an earthen vallum. The 
 vaunted temple of Minerva has evidently been, to borrow a phrase of 
 Lcland’s, “ a poore thing.” m The ground at Ribchester, over which the 
 remains extend, is very limited. Ho villas or other indications of a wealthy 
 
 1 His. Rich., vol. 2, p. 462. 
 
 m See page 51. 
 
636 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Roman population have been found in the neighbourhood. At Lancaster, 
 on the contrary, the environs have proved very prolific in remains, including 
 vessels, altars, milliaria, and statues. In the town, Mr. Baines records the 
 finding of altars, tombs, earthenware, coins, a potter’s kiln, tiles, sacrificial 
 cups, etc., together with a “large hewn stone, six feet under the surface, 
 about three tons weight, supposed to have been the corner stone of a 
 Roman temple.” A number of coins of Yespasian and Domitian were 
 found beneath this immense stone. From the depth, situation, character, 
 and quantity of the remains discovered, it is evident that the many partial 
 destructions of the place must, as stated by Mr. Baines, have had the 
 effect of burying beneath the present town, “in one indiscriminate and 
 impenetrable heap, magazines of antiquities !” If Lancaster had been so 
 fortunate as to have possessed a local historian, with the learning and zeal 
 of either of the Whitakers, it would, unquestionably, long since have 
 challenged and received more consideration at the hands of those who have 
 endeavoured to expound the topography of Roman Britain. 
 
 Of course, the explanation of the doubtful term now offered is merely 
 conjectural; but it must not be forgotten that the one which identifies in 
 it the ancient name of Ribchester, is conjectural also. The term may 
 really apply to neither. It is by no means certain that Dr. Whitaker is 
 not substantially correct, and that the true reading is numerus equitu.u 
 Sarmatarum Brehetensiem, or a troop of the Bremetensian Sarmatian 
 cavalry. But the Romans were not in the habit of naming their stations 
 from the people composing the auxiliary troops. Still the suggestion of 
 Mr. Hodgson Hinde is most valuable, and if other important facts and 
 inferences could have been reconciled to it, the identity of Ribchester 
 with the Bremetenracum of the Notitia would perhaps never have been 
 disputed. 
 
 It it be conceded, likewise, that Bremetenracum and Bremetonacis are 
 identical, then the tenth iter must have passed through Ribchester. In 
 this case Camden’s forsaken theory must be again revived and Coccium 
 placed at Bury. Against this, and the confounding of Mamutium with 
 Mancocunium, there are, however, many objections. Dr. Whitaker con¬ 
 sidered Bremetonacis at the required distance from Manchester, when he 
 placed it at Overborough. Mr. Hodgson Hinde considers it to correspond 
 with sufficient accuracy, when he brings it upwards of thirty miles nearer 
 the latter town. The itinerary distance is only thirty-eight Roman, or 
 about thirty-five English, miles; so that Mr. Hodgson Hinde is much 
 nearer than his predecessor. But if the itinerary distances are referred to 
 at all, they must be stated less vaguely. The distance between Man¬ 
 chester and Ribchester, by the Roman way, is less than thirty miles, so 
 
ROMAN TOPOGRAPHY OF LANCASHIRE. 
 
 637 
 
 that no favourable evidence can be extracted from this source. The 
 intermediate station, Coccium, if placed at Bury, will agree with the 
 twenty Homan miles of the iter from Itibchester, as Bremetonacis; but no 
 remains have been found near the place; and, again, it is little more than 
 half the distance from Manchester marked in the itinerary as intervening 
 between Coccium and Mancocunium. Antonine gives eighteen Boman 
 miles as the distance of Condate from Mancocunium; while John Whitaker’s 
 station at Kinderton demands twenty-three. The next station to the 
 north of Bremetonacis is Galacum, at twenty-seven Homan, or less than 
 twenty-live English miles. Overborough, by the Homan route, is, as 
 before stated, upwards of thirty miles. Beyond Overborough, all indica¬ 
 tions of the Homan road cease; still there remain three other stations 
 in the iter to be placed! All attempts to find a Roman highway have 
 hitherto failed; and yet, from the nature of the country, the chance of its 
 preservation was immeasurably greater than that of the lower route, which 
 has been the great thoroughfare from the earliest known period to the 
 present time. 
 
 The whole of the old theory is based upon an assumption by the elder 
 Whitaker, that the tenth iter met the second at Manchester, ran along its 
 line to Condate, and then proceeded in its original direction. And it is 
 made to perform this eccentric freak merely because the station in the 
 second iter, to the east of Condate, is called Mamucium, and in some 
 copies Manutium ; while in the tenth iter appears a station north of Condate, 
 written Mancocunium, but sometimes contracted to Mancunium. Indepen¬ 
 dently of the facts that the distances are unfavourable to the old theoiy 
 and the direct route is whimsically violated, as has been shown at page 31 
 of the present work, so far from being a difficulty, it is, in itself, infinitely 
 more probable that Mancocunium and Mamutium were two distinct places, 
 than that they were, as assumed, merely variations of the same name. 
 Many of the different Homan stations in the country are idcntitcal in name, 
 as many towns and villages are in modern times. Witness Alaunum, Yenta, 
 Durobrivaj, Mediolanum, etc. Many present but slight variation, as 
 Durobrivis, Durolcvum, Durovernum; all neighbouring stations in Kent. 
 Nay, in one of the very itinera under consideration, there is a station 
 Durobrivis, and another DuroCObrivis ! Why therefore is ManCOcunium 
 to be necessarily either Mamutium or Manutium ? n And yet on this slender 
 dogma the old doctrine rested ! Truly, it needed some such important aid 
 as that afforded by the reasonable conjecture of Mr. Hodgson Hinde, to 
 delay its consignment to the cabinet devoted to the preservation of exploded 
 theories. 
 
 n Manchester was written Mame cester till the end of the fifteenth century. 
 
638 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Instead of the itinerary distances supporting the claim of the route 
 through the hills, the very reverse is the fact. The old theory, imperfect 
 as it is, might have been accepted as the most probable interpretation, and 
 the descrepancies attributed to corruptions in the text, previously to the 
 discovery of stations near Warrington and Preston, and of the direct road 
 which entered Lancashire from Cheshire, at the former place. These new 
 facts, however, demand grave consideration. The premises upon which 
 the old structure is erected must be again tested, and their true value 
 assigned in the more complete chain of evidence now existing. 
 
 In favour of the line of the tenth iter passing through Warrington, 
 Preston, Lancaster, Dalton, Muncaster, and Egremont, to Maryport, many 
 facts and inferences may he adduced. In the first place, there is a con¬ 
 tinuous line of road from one end of the iter to the other, and the distances 
 accord with the written figures, not only infinitely nearer than by the old 
 fragmentary route, hut much more so than is usually the case with the 
 most approved of the recognised itinera. In the next place, Maryport, a 
 well known flourishing station, abounding with remains, is situated at the 
 mouth of the Solway, and at the end of the direct line of forts by the wall 
 from the Tyne. It was thus the extreme north-west post of the Romans 
 in Britain, and therefore a locality highly probable as the commencement 
 of an iter. By this direction, in conjunction with the Watling-street, a 
 complete line of communication is obtained diagonally across the island, 
 from Maryport to Pcvensey. It is the natural route, and most practicable 
 for carriages. Its highway was wider than the hill road. Indeed, the 
 latter, as some of the remains attest, was hut about five yards broad; two 
 vehicles could therefore scarcely pass on the crown of the agger with safety. 
 Dr. Whitaker himself describes the road from Ribchester to Overborough, as 
 “one of the most rugged and difficult stages in Britain; and for that reason,” 
 he further observes, “ as I have elsewhere shown, was probably abandoned 
 under the lower empire for the longer but more practicable line through 
 the low country and by Lancaster.” 0 The road through Warrington, 
 Preston, Lancaster, etc., is not only “more practicable” but shorter than 
 either the doctor’s old or new route. It has been shown, on the authority 
 of John Whitaker himself as well as others, that it is most probably the 
 ancient British track. p The coins and other remains at Walton point to 
 the station having been founded by Agricola on the site of a British fortress. 
 This line of highway crossed the rivers by the nearest practicable fords 
 at the head of the tidal water, and no bridges were either required 
 or constructed. Supposing, for the sake of the argument, it he granted 
 the track was not Romanised, (and then hut imperfectly finished,) 
 
 o Ilis. Rich., vol. 2, p. 256. 
 
 p See rages 27 and 35. 
 
HOMAN TOPOGRAPHY OP LANCASHIRE. 
 
 639 
 
 till the reign of Julius Philippus. Even this is rather iu favour than 
 against its being the tenth iter of Antonine. Some necessity must have 
 caused the repairs or re-construction of the road at this period, which, it is 
 assumed, the milliaria inscribed to that emperor indicate. As the itinerary 
 was not compiled or completed till the commencement of the following 
 century, there is every reason to expect such a route recorded. 11 The very 
 existence of mile stones on this highway is, in itself, strong presumptive 
 evidence that it was not only a much frequented but a recorded route. By 
 the new theory the western portion of the second iter likewise accords 
 perfectly with the document. On the old one it does not. A single glance at 
 the map will show that the direct route from York to Chester passes through 
 Warrington. Nay, this line is continued to Segontium, on the coast of 
 Wales, as directly as the nature of the country would permit. Such is 
 the case at the eastern end. The direct course is still preserved from Y r ork 
 to Prsetorium, on the east coast. Thus, there are two great lines which 
 intersect the country and cross each other, at Condate, nearly at right 
 angles; the one running from the coast opposite France, to the north 
 western extremity of England, and the then Homan Britain; the other 
 from the coast of Wales opposite Ireland, in a north-easterly direction 
 through Chester and York, to near Flamborough Head. 
 
 For these reasons, the author feels no inclination to amend that which 
 he has given in the first chapter of this volume as the most probable Homan 
 topography of the district; although he cheerfully acknowledges that the 
 suggestion of Mr. Hodgson Hinde is most valuable and should not be lost 
 sight of, as future discoveries may, and no doubt will, throw further light 
 upon the subject. No permanent settlement of so difficult a question ought 
 to be insisted upon, until every means of investigation and all the resources 
 of logical inference have been fairly exhausted. 
 
 KILLINGSOUGH. 
 
 This name, as suspected (page 64), is of much older date than the tra¬ 
 dition records. It is written Kylaneshalghe, in the “ Inquisition Post 
 Mortem ” of the first duke of Lancaster, in the records of the Tower. The 
 inquisition was taken in the thirty-sixth Edward III. This strengthens 
 the probability that a Culdee cell or Cemetery formerly existed there. 
 
 BATTLE OF THE VINWED OR WINWEYLDE. —(a.d. 655.) 
 
 Mr. Thomas Baines suggests the neighbourhood of Winwick as the 
 probable site of this battle. Others say Winwidfield, near Leeds. r As 
 
 q Julius Philippus reigned between the years 214 and 249, and the date of the itinerary is given 
 by Mr. Wright at “ about the year 320.”— Celt, Roman, and Saxon, page 457. 
 r See page 65. 
 
640 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Bede distinctly states that “ King Os way concluded the aforesaid war in 
 the country of Loidis,” (Leeds), Winwidfield must certainly he preferred 
 to the Lancashire site. 
 
 THE BATTLE OE BILLAXGAHOH, HEAR. WH ALLEY. (a.d. 798.) 
 
 (See page 66.) 
 
 Since Dr. "Whitaker’s death, a relic of the battle of Billangahoh, has 
 been discovered. Canon Baines says :— s 
 
 “In the year 1836, as Thomas Hubbersty, the farmer at Brock-hall, was removing a 
 large mound of earth in Brock-hall Eases, about five hundred yards from the bank of 
 the Kibble, on the left of the road leading from the house, he discovered a Kist-vaen, 
 formed of rude stones, containing some large human bones and the rusty remains of 
 some spear heads of iron. The whole crumbled to dust on exposure to air. Tradition 
 has uniformly recorded that a battle was fought about Langho, Elker, and Buckfoot, 
 near the Ribble ; and this tumulus was opened within two hundred yards of a ford 
 of the Ribble, (now called Bullasey-ford,) one of the very few points, for miles, by 
 which that river could he crossed. The late Dr. Whitaker repeatedly, but in vain 
 searched for remains of this battle, as he appears to have erroneously concluded that the 
 scene of it was higher up the river, near Hacking Hall, at the junction of the Calder 
 and Ribble.” 
 
 The tumulus at Brockhall is evidently the one described by Dr. Whitaker. 
 His words are :—“ Of this great battle there are no remains, unless a large 
 tumulus near Hacking Hall and in the immediate vicinity of Langho, be 
 supposed to cover the remains of Alric or some other chieftain among the 
 slain.” 4 The site of the tumulus is marked on the ordnance map. It is 
 scarcely three quarters of a mile from Hacking hall, and rather more than 
 a mile from Langho chapel. Ho other tumulus is noticed by the ordnance 
 surveyors, on the south side of the Bibble. Doubtless, similar remains 
 would be disclosed, if the “ lowes ” mentioned at page 68 of this work 
 were removed. Although on the opposite bank of the river, the nearest 
 tumulus is scarcely half a mile from the one at Brockhall. 
 
 THE BATTLE OF BRUKANBURH.— (a.d. 934-7.) 
 
 (See page 74.) 
 
 The author made known, at the dinner on the visit of the Lancashire 
 and Cheshire Historic Society to Preston, in June, 1856, that he had 
 devoted considerable time and labour in the collection of evidence, which he 
 considered would demonstrate that the burying of the immense Anglo- 
 Danish treasure at Cuerdale, had some connection with the great fight at 
 Brunanburh; and that he intended to advance the claim of a neighbouring 
 locality as the long lost site of this celebrated engagement. The bulk of 
 what now appears in the second chapter of the present work, on this 
 subject, was at the time written. This announcement created some interest 
 in the question, and caused further investigation. A paper, by Mr. T. T. 
 
 s Notitia Cestriensis, vol. 2, page 286. 
 
 t His. Whalley, page 34. 
 
BATTLE OF BKUNANBURH. 
 
 641 
 
 ‘Wilkinson, of Burnley, was shortly afterwards read before the Lancashire 
 and Cheshire Historic Society, in which that gentleman supported the 
 author’s general view, and claimed Burnley as the locality. A lecture, 
 which he delivered on the same subject, being reported in the newspapers, 
 gave birth to some discussion. Mr. C. A. Weddle, of Wargrove, near 
 Warrington, in two communications to the “ Preston Chronicle,” objects 
 to a Lancashire site, and prefers Brunton, in Northumberland. u It is 
 necessary not only that the author should notice some of the objections 
 raised, but that additional evidence, procured since the time of the printing 
 of the matter in chapter second, should be added here. Mr. Weddle’s 
 objection to Burnley on the plea that Roman roads do not lead to that 
 locality, is valueless; simply because the reverse is the fact. The great 
 road from Flamborough Head, by York and the Penine Alps, to the 
 Ribble and Wyre, passes over Whalley moor. This line is crossed by two 
 roads from the north to the south; one near Ribchester, and the other 
 near Preston. v Mr. Weddle’s map may not have these marked. The 
 great road from the Wyre through the Penine chain, however, is laid 
 down on the “ six-inch ” ordnance map. It was surveyed by the late Mr 
 Just, of Bury. There are several other connecting causeways likewise 
 given in Dr. Whitaker’s “History of Whalley.” Mr. Weddle objects to 
 the Welsh allies of Anlaf coming from Wales. They certainly may have 
 been only the Cymri of Strathclyde and Cumberland. The probability is, 
 however, as there was a general confederation against the growing power 
 of Athelstan, that both branches of the Celtic population joined in the 
 confederacy. They were included in the vanquished in 926. w It will be 
 seen that the author does not prefer Burnley as the site of the great battle. 1 
 
 u Preston Chronicle, March 2nd, 1857. v See ante, page 638. 
 
 w The Saxon Chronicle says,—“This year fiery lights appeared in the north part of the heavens. 
 And Sihtric perished; and King Athelstan obtained the kingdom of the North-humbrians. And he 
 ruled all the kings who were in this island; first, Howell, king of the West-Welsh, and Constantine, 
 king of the Scots; and Owen, king of the Monmouth people; and Aldrcd, son of Ealdulf, of Bam- 
 borough ; and they confirmed the peace by pledge, and by oaths, at the place which is called Eamot, 
 on the 4th before the Ides of July ; and they renounced all idolatry, and after that submitted to him 
 in peace.” Mr. Wilkinson identifies Eamot with Emmet, near Burnley. 
 
 x See page 82. It is there stated as not improbable that the battle in which Athelstan’s governor, or 
 deputy, Gudrekir, fell, may have been fought in the neighbourhood of Burnley. Gudrekir may 
 have attempted to prevent the junction of the pirates from the Humber with their allies from 
 Ireland and the north. The tradition records that a distinguished chieftain was slain during the 
 heptarchy. At Brunanburh, the poem says there were fee kings and seven earls “ on the battle stead, 
 by swords in slumber laid.” Popular tradition does not generally diminish , but rather exaggerates, 
 circumstances of this character. The number of battles which have taken place in the neighbour¬ 
 hood of Walton have naturally caused great confusion in the traditions. Every event of this 
 character is associated with the Scotch,—as in the Fylde, the Danes are held responsible for all 
 warlike ravages. Indeed, at Brunanburh, a great number of Scots, with their king and prince 
 were engaged. Bruce advanced to the pass of the Ribble and burnt Preston, in the reign of 
 Edward II. Cromwell defeated the Scotch under the duke of Hamilton, in the same neighboui 
 hood, 1648. Charles II. with a Scotch army passed through in the following year. After the battle 
 
642 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 It i3 too far distant from the sea. The same remark applies to Mr. 
 "Weddle’s locality. It is a long march from Brunton to the Solway, 
 especially after such a struggle as that at Brunanburh ! It will require 
 some very strong facts to shake the authority of the old poem in this 
 respect. Even Mr. Weddle-must grant the Homan roads are convenient 
 enough for the pass of the Eibble. The Irish from Dublin, and the rovers 
 from the Humber, have a direct line of road between them. The 
 Cumbrian and the Scots are likewise amply accommodated. The western 
 Welsh, if they formed a part of the confederation, are equally so, by the 
 way of Warrington. This road would exactly meet the requirements of 
 Athelstan. These Homan highways all meet not far from the great "pass 
 of the Ribble,” one of the most important military positions in the district. 
 The treasure is found buried in the neighbourhood of the ford, and to the 
 south is Bamber, Browncdge and some other places to be mentioned 
 hereafter. Additional evidence will yet be given to show that Bamber is 
 most probably a corruption of Brunburh. Mr. Weddle says: “Lan¬ 
 cashire must have belonged to the Saxons, then, at least,” (?) “ and not 
 to the Danes; nor do we ever hear of their losing it. And where are 
 the footprints the Danes have left in their pad?” A reference to pages 
 82 and 85 of this volume, will sufficiently answer the question. Mr. 
 Weddle’s last sentence is a singularly unfortunate one. He will find 
 “Danes’ pad” enough, in all conscience, and that, too, in connection with 
 the ancient “portus” of the Setantian people, which lies in aprovokingly 
 tempting situation, directly opposite to Dublin. The site chosen by Mr. 
 Weddle is open to one serious objection, which he appears to have over¬ 
 looked. Eor what earthly reason did the warriors from Norway and the 
 Baltic sail past the Tyne, the Wear, and the Tees, in order to land in the 
 Humber, if their friends and Anlaf’s hereditary kingdom were near the 
 Scottish border ? Or, if after conquering the south portion of this section 
 of the heptarchy, why did he and all his allies run away to the northern 
 extremity ? Anlaf does not appear to have lacked either skill, courage, or 
 ambition, as his after life proves, as well as his conduct during the 
 campaign under consideration. But place him and his victorious friends 
 at the pass of the Bibble, and he stands prepared to retain his conquest, 
 with every facility for safe retreat for himself and allies, in case of mis¬ 
 fortune. 7 Mr. Weddle appears to feel that he has a weak point in the fact 
 
 of Worcester the Scotch fugitives were pursued through Preston. The Scotch occupied Preston in 
 1715, when the town was taken by general Wills. In 1745, part of the army of Prince Charles 
 Edward Stuart was encamped at Walton, on their march to Derby; and Preston was a temporary 
 resting place on their retreat. Hence the peasantry associate every thing of a warlike character 
 with the Scotch. Even the Roman station was the burial ground of the “Scotch warriors,” 
 ill the recent discovery by the author demonstrated the incorrectness of this very popular belief, 
 y “ Fordun relates, that in the year after the battle of Bruningfield or Branford, in which 
 
BATTLE OF BH.UNANBUBH. 
 
 643 
 
 that the place to which the name Brunton has been given, “ is only a 
 farm, with its accompanying buildings, erected in what in former ages 
 was called the Chollerford field of Wall, since the cessation of border raids.” 
 It unfortunately happens that the district south of the Bubble severely 
 suffered in the devastations committed by the If or man soldiery at the period 
 of the Conquest. Large portions of the country were laid waste ; others 
 were covered with forest. Consequently the Domesday book gives no record, 
 with three or four exceptions, of the townships in the hundred of 
 Blackburn; otherwise the difficulty of showing the Saxon names of the 
 locality now advanced as the scene of the battle of Brunanburh, would be 
 materially lessened. The same observation certainly applies with equal 
 truth to Mr. Weddle’s locality. There is no difficulty in determining the 
 meaning of the term Brunanburh. It is simply a fort, or dune, or hill, or 
 defended homestead, situated in a neighbourhood characterised by springs. 
 Bamberg, written in the maps of last century Bamber green, and now Bamber 
 bridge, is not named as either a townsliip or hamlet in the Norman record. 
 The village is situated in the present township of Walton-le-dale; but 
 it adjoins Brindle, which is both a parish and a township in itself. Here 
 abundant documentary evidence is available to trace the corruption of the 
 name. It is variously written in early deeds, Burnhul, Brinhill, Brand- 
 hill ; and, after becoming Brandle and Bryndhull, ends in its present 
 Brindle. z It is by no means improbable that the land to the south-west of 
 the Darweu, including Brownedge and Bamber Bridge, originally apper¬ 
 tained to the Saxon parish of Brindle. The Darweu is evidently the natural 
 boundary not only between the parish of Blackburn and Brindle, but of the 
 hundreds of Leyland and Blackburn. a The district abounds in springs. 
 Many are marked on the ordnance map as “Wells.” The ordinary 
 directory now records “ two line springs of exceedingly clear water called 
 St. Ellen’s Wells,” about half a mile south-west of the village. Dr. 
 Kuerden, who was born in the neighbourhood, about the year 1620, says :— 
 
 “ Over against Swansey House, a little towards the hill, standeth an antient fabrick, 
 once the manor house of Brindle, where hath been a chappel belonging to the same, and 
 a little above it, a spring of very clear water, rushing straight upward into the midst of 
 a fayr fountain, walled square about in stone and flagged in the bottom, very transparent 
 to be seen, and a strong stream issuing out of the same. The fountain is called 
 St. Ellen’s Well, to which place the vulgar neighbouring people of the Bed letter do 
 much resort, with pretended devotion, on each year upon St. Ellen’s day, where and 
 when out of a foolish ceremony, they offer or throw into the well pins, which there being 
 left may be seen a long time after by any visitor of that fountain.” 
 
 From this the antiquity of the springs cannot be doubtful. Indeed a 
 
 Constantine and Malcolm (then his heir apparent and Prince of Cumberland), with their ally Anal- 
 phus, son of Sitric, King of Northumberland, were defeated by King Athelstan, that monarch 
 possessed himself of Cumberland and Westmoreland.” Lyson’s Cumberland, p. 5. 
 
 7. See ante, page GOO. a See ante, page 138. 
 
 2 s 2 
 
644 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 district could scarcely be found to which the term would better apply. 
 Immediately south of Brindle is Whittle, famous at this day for its 
 alkaline and chalybeate waters. Some springs in the neighbourhood were 
 known to the Romans, as is testified by the inscription on a medal found 
 a few years ago. b Mr. Sibson says Bamberg means “ war town,” a 
 very significant corruption of Brunburh, if a battle were fought there, 
 especially with Burnhull or Brinhill in its immediate neighbourhood. 
 Mr. "Weddle himself has added another, and a most important link in the 
 chain of evidence in favour of the Lancashire locality. After summing up 
 the various names mentioned and their evident corruption and variations, 
 he says :— 
 
 “Two of them in particular, Weardune and Wendune, I have never seen noticed by 
 any modern writer, yet Weardune appears to me the most important name, if Brunan- 
 hurg be excepted, and even this is not moke so. As to Wendune it is evidently a 
 mistake in the transcribing for Werdune, the Anglo-Saxon r being nearly n, with a long 
 bottom stroke on the left.” 
 
 Mr. Weddle finds a Warden Hill, about two miles from the farm house in 
 “ Chollerford field.” This he considers as very conclusive in favour of 
 the latter place being the true Brunanburh. If such be the case, the 
 existence of Wearden, at about a similar distance from Burnhull or Brinhill, c 
 is equally if not more conclusive. The term Weardune, is sometimes 
 written Weondune, which, after the correction of the n, as indicated by 
 Mr. Weddle, is Weordune. The ancient seat of the Faringtons, of Leyland 
 and Farington, is variously written Werden, Worden, and Wearden. It 
 is pronounced by the inhabitants, Wearden at the present day. It was a 
 place of some importance in the time of the Romans. Coins, and a heavy 
 gold signet ring, bearing the letters s r q b, have been found there. d 
 It is situated near the line of the Roman highway ; and if Anlaf’s troops 
 covered the pass of the Ribble near Brunhill or Bamberg, Wearden is 
 precisely the spot were Athelstan’s forces would encamp in front of them. 
 
 These reasons, in conjunction with those advanced in the second chapter 
 of this work, induce the author to prefer the locality, in the present state 
 of the evidence, as the most 'probable site of the “ battle of the Brun.” 
 Mr. Weddle pertinently remarks, that the very “ uncertainty of the where¬ 
 abouts of the battle field” is, to his mind, a reason why it should be 
 looked for “ in some place half forgotten.” The cause of the temporary 
 oblivion, in the case of Bamberg and Burnhull has been explained. 
 
 b See ante, page 50. 
 
 c Mr. Weddle himself says :—“ The variety of names, in my opinion, is caused by the number of 
 meanings that burgh had. It meant a hill, heap, mountain, fortification, castle, tower, city, house, 
 and tomb.” Hull is well known as Saxon for hill, or mound. 
 
 d See ante, page 40. 
 
THE MIN SriT WELL. 
 
 l>45 
 
 THE MIX SPIT WELL. 
 
 (See page 210 and page 445.) 
 
 In July, in the present year, the workmen employed in laying the 
 sewerage pipes at the bottom of Mainsprit-weind, came upon the ancient 
 well described by Dr. Kuerden. It appears to have been enlarged from 
 time to time. The line of cutting passed over three distinct chambers or 
 reservoirs. The most northerly one was little over a yard, and the next 
 scarcely two yards in breadth. The southern chamber was nearly three 
 yards across, measured internally. It was subdivided by pillars, apparently 
 two rows, which supported the roof. The pillars were of a slightly pyra- 
 midical form, and somewhat octagonal, the corners of the square blocks 
 being cut away. There are some other more elaborately wrought stones, 
 which doubtless formed the front of the structure, or opening through 
 which the water was drawn from the last reservoir. The whole was 
 covered with heavy flags. The stones, some of which are veiy large, have 
 been carefully squared and finished in the inside of the structure. No 
 mortar or any cement had been used. The stone is Whittle grit. The 
 roof was about four feet below the present pavement. The whole of the 
 lower land over the Syke brook, now the main sewer, has been considerably 
 raised. The excavators only passed over the western extremity of the 
 well. Its breadth was not ascertained. The foundation of an old wall, 
 which formerly enclosed the neighbouring “skin yard” passed over it. 
 The part within this enclosure appeared to have been covered over with 
 stout timber. It is known that the well was used many years ago by the 
 skinners. Most probably the making of the large “ Folly reservoir,” about 
 forty yards distant, in 1729, reduced the supply from the spring, and the 
 smaller well outside the wall, in Syke lane, opposite the bottom of the weind, 
 was erected as a compensation to the public. The ancient well appears to 
 have been closed about this time, with the exception of the portion used 
 by the skinning and tanning establishments previously referred to. The 
 gas company have destroyed the public well in connection with Messrs. 
 Abbott and Ivellett’s waterworks, hut the present improved water supply 
 had rendered it almost useless. During the excavation, the water flowed 
 in abundance from the ancient spring. In one block of stone a cavity was 
 filled with lead. Probably this originally held the chain which secured 
 an iron ladle or other vessel used in drawing the water by the numerous 
 women who patronised the spring in Dr. Kuerden’s time, and from which 
 circumstance and the frequent passage of the “ milkmaids bringing their 
 daily milk and butter to the town this way from beyond the river Kibble,” 
 the “Minspit-lane” was often called “Pettycoat-alley.” The public of the 
 present day would scarcely relish the daily gossip of the milkmaids and 
 
646 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 the drawers of water in Pettycoat-alley. The character of the lactary fluid 
 would be irretrievably ruined from such communion. 
 
 CORPORATION SEALS. 
 
 (See page 306.) 
 
 It has been suggested that the old seal hearing the effigy of King Edvard 
 I. and the inscription “ s. edw. reg. angl. ad. recogn. debitor.,” may 
 have been made pursuant to the statute 13th Edward I., “ De mercatoribus,” 
 and used by the mayor as the seal to the ancient securities described as 
 “ Statutes Merchant.” This is probably correct. A “Statute Merchant” 
 was a kind of bond or recognizance of record, acknowledged before the 
 clerk of “Statute Merchant” and sealed with the seals of the debtor and 
 the king, upon condition that if the former did not discharge the debt 
 upon the day specified, an execution could be granted against his body, 
 lands, and goods; which the creditor could hold until the liquidation 
 of his claim. 
 
 ELECTION EXPENSES. 
 
 The auditor of the Preston election accounts, Mr. Alderman Thomas 
 Monk, published the official statement in the Preston newspapers, on the 
 11th of June, 1857. From this document it appears that Mr. Grenfell's 
 election cost £598. 11s. 4d., and that of Mr. Cross £763. 19s. lOd. 
 Sir George Strickland’s expenses amounted to £675. 15s. lid. Total 
 £2,038. 7s. Id. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 Chaplain of the Prison.— Mr. Clay resigned the office in June, 1857. 
 See page 441. 
 
 Young Men’s Club. (Omitted at page 453).—This institution was 
 established in the early part of the year 1855. The premises in Fishergate 
 were taken in April in that year, and altered to meet the requirements of 
 the members. The following passage from the prospectus, dated August, 
 1855, will best explain the objects of the society. 
 
 “ The club is designed for the especial benefit of all employed in shops, warehouses, 
 and offices, being a place for their resort, where they may find innocent recreation and 
 relaxation, with every facility for moral and intellectual improvement. The means 
 provided for these purposes are : A news and reading-room supplied with seven daily, 
 one semi-weekly, and seven weekly newspapers, and a selection of periodicals and mag¬ 
 azines ; an evening school with competent master, where book-keeping, arithmetic, 
 grammar, etc., components of a commercial education, may be learned; a corresponding 
 room with pens and ink provided, where members can retire free from interruption to 
 write; an amusement room supplied with chess, draughts, and bagatelle; a room for 
 conversation; a music room furnished with a piano—thus affording every facility for a 
 singing class; a gymnasium, being the only one in the town; and a lavatory and 
 dressing room furnished with all requisites. Facilities are also afforded for lectures; 
 and arrangements are being made for French, Singmg, Drawing, and other classes, 
 and refreshments.” 
 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 647 
 
 This club has scarcely yet received the amount of patronage anticipated 
 by its projectors and friends, or which its praiseworthy objects ought to 
 command. 
 
 Banks. (Page 457.)—Mr. Lawe died suddenly in May last, (1857). 
 The bank will shortly be closed. 
 
 Grammar School. (Page 489.)—In June, 1857, Mr. J. E. Addison 
 was elected a scholar of the University of Dublin. 
 
 Walton-le-dale. —A Unitarian chapel formerly existed here. It was 
 converted into cottages many years ago. The catholic chapel at Brownedge 
 was erected in 1826, in the place of a smaller edifice, built in 1782. A 
 catholic place of worship previously existed at Killingbourne, near 
 Moon’s mill. Killingbourne, is indicative of an ancient Culdee, cell, or 
 cemetery. Mr. Kemble and others regard the term ing as refering to a 
 family, clan, or tribe. They make Killing-hall, the hall of the Cylingas; 
 Birmingham, the ham or residence of the Beormingas,.the descendants or 
 clan of Beorm; and so on, with numerous others. See ante, pages 63 
 and 639. 
 
 Osbaldeston. —An episcopal chapel was erected a few years ago, and a 
 catholic chapel also. The latter is dedicated to St. Marie. 
 
 Kibchester.— At page 579, it is stated that the relic, described as a 
 “ Homan bath,” found at Kibchester, was most probably the flooring of a 
 house. On further inquiry, it appears that both a bath and a house have 
 been discovered near the same spot. In connection with the lormer 
 there were leaden pipes for the conveyance of the water. Mr. Patchett’s 
 house is erected partially from the stone found on or near its site, and 
 which formed the foundation of the Roman residence referred to. 
 

 
 ■ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BIOGRAPHY. 
 
 649 
 
 BIOGRAPHY. 
 
 Ainsworth, Henry—Allen, Cardinal—Ambrose, Rev. Isaac—Arkwright, Sir Richard—Baines, 
 Edward—Barton, Dr. William—Barrow, Thomas—Baxter, Rev. Roger—Clayton, Dr. Robert— 
 Clayton, Sir Richard-Dunn, Rev. J.—Fisher, Henry—Foster, Captain—Gilbertson, William— 
 Gra’dwell, Bishop —Haydock, Rev. Geo. Leo—Helme, William—Horrocks, Rev. Jeremiah— 
 Horroeks, John—Kuerden, Dr. Richard—Preston, John—Preston, Rev. Thomas—Rushton, 
 Rev. Edward—Shepherd, Dr.—Sharrock, Dr.—Southworth, Rev. Richard—Tootel, Rev. Hugh— 
 Weever, Dr. John. 
 
 Ainsworth, Henry. —This eminent Hebrew scholar, and biblical commentator, was 
 born about the year 15C0. He was the second son of Lawrence Ainsworth, of Pleasington. 
 Although a man of extraordinary talent and a voluminous writer, little is known of his 
 life. He finished his education at Cambridge. In the reign of Elizabeth, he left England, 
 and went to Holland. He had adopted the tenets of a puritan sect, named the Brownists, 
 and published a work on the subject of their faith, in 1602. He is highly spoken of as a 
 man of learning and ability ; but appears to have been somewhat irritable in temper, and 
 fond of controversy. According to Dr. Heylin, Ainsworth once maintained a dispute on 
 the foolish question, “ whether the colour of Aaron’s linen ephod was blue or green.” It 
 appears that his works are better known abroad than in England. Mr. W. R. Whatton 
 says : “ It is difficult to select a writer more highly spoken of, or oftener cited by the 
 learned of all countries, than Mr. Ainsworth." Dr. Worthington, Master of Jesus 
 college, Cambridge, in a letter dated the 11th January, 1660, deeply regrets the loss of 
 some of Ainsworth’s MSS. He made some fruitless efforts to recover them. Ainsworth 
 died in 1629. A curious and characteristic story respecting his death is told, on the 
 authority of Neale, who asserts that it was the subject of popular discourse at the time, 
 at Amsterdam. A wealthy Jew merchant had lost a diamond of great value. Ainsworth 
 found it and returned it to the owner, who offered to liberally recompense the poor 
 scholar’s honesty. Ainsworth would accept of nothing in the shape of reward; but he 
 induced the Jew to promise him an opportunity of conferring with some learned rabbis, 
 on the prophecies in the Bible relating to the Messiah. The story says the Jew was 
 unable to fulfil this promise, and from a feeling of vexation or shame, he rid himself of 
 the difficulty by causing poison to be administered to the man to whom he owed a debt of 
 gratitude, but whose singular temper refused any recompense except in a form which 
 proved to be impracticable. 
 
 Allen, Cardinal.— Dr. William Allen, son of John Allen, of Rossall grange, was 
 born in 1532. In his fifteenth year he entered Oriel College, Oxford, where he studied 
 logic and philosophy under the celebrated Morgan Phillips. His great talents were soon 
 recognised. In his twenty-fourth year, he was made principal of Mary Hall, and in the 
 year following, he officiated as proctor. He was made canon of York in 1558. He 
 refused to take the oath and forfeited his fellowship, on the accession of Elizabeth. He 
 entered the Catholic college of Louvaine in 1560. Ilis first work was written there, and 
 excited great attention. It is entitled “ A defence of the Doctrine of Catholics concerning 
 
650 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Purgatory and Prayers for the dead.” He was made soon afterwards tutor to Sir 
 Christopher Blount Allen was zealous in the cause of the Roman Catholic religion. 
 With the view of furthering its restoration in England, he visited his native country, at 
 considerable personal risk. He spent three years in England. He fled to Flanders, in 
 1568; and from thence to Mechlin and Douay. He took his degree of doctor at the last 
 named place, and established an academy for English pupils. The pope granted him a 
 pension. After some further mutation of fortune, he was made canon of Rheims, and 
 under the patronage of the cardinal of Lorraine, opened a seminary in that city. He now 
 became greatly distinguished abroad, and equally detested by the protestant party at home. 
 He published very extreme opinions respecting the obligation of Englishmen to the queen. 
 He denounced her government as impious and unjust, herself a bastard and a usurper, 
 obstinate and impenitent, and recommended her deposition. He is said to have advised 
 Phillip II. of Spain, to invade England. A portion of the armada attempted to effect a 
 landing in the neighbourhood of Rossall. a The fate of the invasion is well known. The 
 king of Spain, notwithstanding, made Allen archbishop of Mechlin. He passed, however, 
 the remainder of his life at Rome. He died in 1594, and was buried with great pomp. It 
 is stated that in the evening of his life he regretted the part he had taken in the invasion of 
 his native country, and this is countenanced by a letter of his, found amongst the Burleigh 
 papers, dated Rome, August 14th, 1593, and addressed to Richard Hopkins, in England. 
 He lived at Rome in great splendour, enjoyed the favour of the pope, and had an 
 extensive reputation for learning and eloquence. 
 
 Ambrose, Isaac. —This celebrated nonconformist minister was born at Ambrose 
 hall, near Garstang, in 1602. He was curate of the parish church of Preston during the 
 commonwealth. He afterwards removed to Garstang, of which place he was for some 
 time minister. Having adopted the principles of the nonconformists, he published 
 several works, chiefly to enforce their views. The literary productions by which he is 
 now principally known are the “ Primo, media, and ultimo,” “Looking unto Jesus,” 
 and the “ Communion of Angels,” the two latter works were afterwards edited by the 
 Rev. John Wesley. During his residence in Garstang, Ambrose erected a kind of 
 hermitage or retreat in Woodacre wood, at which he spent one month in the year, and 
 subjected himself to rigorous religious discipline. He appears to have been a truly pious and 
 amiable man, and enjoyed the esteem of numerous friends. He died at his house in the 
 Church weind, (now St. John-street,) Preston, in 1663-4. He had previously resided for 
 some time in Bolton. During his last sickness, many friends from that town and 
 Garstang visited him. Mr. Whittle says : “ He was holy in his life, happy in his death, 
 and honoured by God and all good men.” Dr. Cole of Preston, who was suspended by 
 the bishop, and afterwards appointed minister of Dedham, in Essex, was a warm friend 
 and admirer of Ambrose. 
 
 Arkwright, Sir Richard. —Richard Arkwright was born at Preston, on the 23rd 
 September, 1732. b He was not only the son of poor parents, but the youngest of thirteen 
 children. His uncle Richard taught him to read, and he gathered some little further 
 instruction at a school during the winter evenings. He was apprenticed to a barber, 
 which business he followed till 1760, when he began to trade in hair. For some time 
 previously he had resided at Bolton. Arkwright travelled about the country for the 
 purpose of purchasing hair, which be prepared and afterwards sold to wig makers. He is 
 said to have invented a successful process for the dyeing of hair; but this statement rests 
 
 a See chapter 3, page 140. 
 
 b Mr. Baines says, “ There are reasons for believing that he was born either in the house now- 
 occupied by Mr. Clare, hosier, or that adjoining, in Lord-street.” This property has since been 
 taken down and re-built. The south end of the Stanley buildings, Lancaster road, occupies the site 
 of Mr. Clare’s shop. 
 
BIOGRAPHY. 
 
 651 
 
 upon very slender authority. Arkwright’s first experiments in mechanics were instituted 
 with the hope of discovering a perpetual motion. This study prepared him, to some 
 extent, for the more practical business of his after life. From about the year 1766, 
 Arkwright appears to have devoted the whole of his energies to the discovery and improve¬ 
 ment of machinery for the spinning of cotton. His various efforts in this direction, his 
 difficulties, and his ultimate success, have already been traced in detail. His claims, as 
 an inventor, have likewise been fully canvassed in a preceding chapter of the present 
 work, c Mr. Whittle relates an amusing anecdote respecting Arkwright and his assistant, 
 Kay, during the time they were employed in fitting up the first spinning machine, in Mr. 
 Smalley’s house, in Stonygate.d He says :—“ The room was very secluded, and behind it 
 was a garden, filled with gooseberry trees. Two aged women, who lived in a thatched 
 cottage hard by, used to say,—‘ That they beard strange noises, of sueh a humming 
 nature, that the devil was tuning his bag-pipes, and that Arkwright and Kay were dancing 
 a reel.’ This caused a great consternation in the small town of Preston at that time, and 
 many were inclined to break open the place, in order to examine if any traces could be 
 found of the devil, who it was supposed carried on his orgies there, with his two favourites, 
 Arkwright and Kay.” Arkwright’s first mill was erected at Nottingham, in 1771. The 
 treatment which Hargreaves, of Church, near Blackburn, had received from his neigh¬ 
 bours, in consequence of his invention, induced Arkwright and his earliest partners to try 
 their fortune amongst strangers, and thus Preston lost the distinction of first introducing 
 to the world the nucleus of that vast system of mechanical production which has, in so 
 short a space of time, effected peaceably the most important social revolution on record. A 
 .second mill was established at Cromford, near Wirksworth, in Derbyshire. He continued 
 to improve his machinery, and notwithstanding the success of a most formidable 
 opposition, which deprived him of his patents, he continued to the last at the head of the 
 manufacturing interest, and died the possessor of a fortune little short of half a million 
 sterling. 6 In 1786, Mr. Arkwright was appointed high sheriff of the county of Derby. He 
 was knighted by George III., after presenting an address of congratulation to the king on 
 the failure of the attempt made on his life by Margaret Nicholson. In the year 1789, Sir 
 Richard Arkwright purchased the manor of Cromford. He had previously, in 1782 
 bought the estate upon which he erected the mansion called “ Willersley Castle.” Sir 
 Richard, notwithstanding the suffering to which he was subjected from a severe asthmatic 
 affection, continued to labour unremittingly at his business till the close of his life. He 
 died at his house in Cromford, “ of a complication of disorders,” on the third of August, 
 1792, in the sixtieth year of his age. The prejudice against him and his inventions had 
 partially passed away. Thousands of persons crowded the rocks and roads in the neigh¬ 
 bourhood of the picturesque village, in order to witness the consignment to their last resting 
 place of the remains of one of the acknowledged extraordinary men of the age. He was 
 buried at Cromford church, where a monument, by Chantrey, is erected to his memory. 
 It is somewhat singular, that every effort which has yet been made, with the view to the 
 erection of a suitable memorial in his native town, has met with little sympathy. Preston 
 owes much, both in reputation and prosperity, to the genius of Arkwright. If it be 
 commendable to erect statues in memory of those whose intellectual labour has been 
 the means of conferring benefit upon society at large, surely Sir Richard Arkwright ought 
 not to be forgotten, either in his native town or in the metropolis of the cotton 
 manufacture. 
 
 c See page 361. 
 
 d This building has been converted into a public-house, and named the “Arkwright’s Arms.” 
 
 e Pen. Cyclop. Some say a million. In the picture gallery of a noble earl, in this county, is a 
 portrait of Arkwright, with the following inscription : “ Shaved for a penny; died worth a million , 
 hurrah for the constitution of England I ” 
 
652 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 I 
 
 Baines, Edward. —The historian of Lancashire was born on the 5th of February, 
 1774, at the village of Waltou-le-dale. His father, Mr. Richard Baines, was the last 
 person prosecuted by the corporation of Preston, for the then heinous offence of trading 
 within the borough without being in possession of the freedom thereof, f Mr. Richard 
 Baines was at that period a grocer. He subsequently became steward to the earl 
 of Derby, and likewise a partner in a cotton-spinning concern at Brindle. His son 
 Edward, when two years of age, went to reside with a maternal uncle, at Hawkshead. 
 He attended the free grammar school, then taught by Edward Christian, afterwards chief 
 justice of Ely, and Downing professor of law, in the university of Cambridge. Baines 
 was a sprightly and clever lad. He was a favourite with the master, who is reported to 
 have prophesied that “ he would either be a great man or be hanged.” The poet Words¬ 
 worth was his school-fellow. He returned to Lancashire when eight years of age, and 
 finished his education at the Preston grammar school. At the age of sixteen, he was 
 apprenticed to Mr. Thomas Walker, printer and stationer, Church-street. At twenty- 
 one, he removed, with the consent of his parents and his master, to Leeds. He was 
 from the first employed at the office of the “ Mercury." In 1801, by the assistance of a 
 few friends, he purchased the good-will, together with the printing materials, etc., of the 
 “Leeds Mercury,” for £1,552. Under his able management it became one of the first 
 provincial papers in the kingdom. Notwithstanding his multifarious duties and the active 
 part he took in local and general politics, Mr. Baines found leisure for literary labour. 
 He published, soon after the close of the war with France, in 1815, a work entitled a 
 “ History of the Wars of the French Revolution,” in two quarto volumes. The addition 
 of two other volumes afterwards expanded the work into a “ History of the Reign of George 
 III.” In the years 1822 and 1823, he wrote “ The History, Directory and Gazetteer of the 
 County of York.” During 1824 and 1825, he published a similar work, in two volumes, 
 octavo, of which his native county formed the subject. This proved the foundation of the 
 largest and most important of his literary labours, the “ History of the County Palatine of 
 Lancaster." The latter work further occupied his attention for six years, notwithstanding 
 the assistance retained for various departments. Like his other works, it was originally 
 published in parts. It was completed in 1836, and met with an extensive sale. The 
 biographical department was contributed by W. R. Whatton, esq., F.S.A., and the chapter 
 on the “ History of the Cotton Manufacture," by his son, Mr. Edward Baines, jun. 
 The work will ever be regarded as a most valuable contribution to local history. In 1834, 
 Mr. Baines was elected a representative in parliament for the borough of Leeds. In 1835, 
 he was returned a second time, and again in 1837. In 1841, in consequence of his 
 impaired health, he declined to re-enter parliament. Mr. Baines died at Leeds on the 
 3rd of August, 1848, aged seventy-four years and six months. His remains were 
 honoured by a public funeral. A monument was erected to his memory, bearing the 
 following inscription:—“To commemorate the Public Services and Private Virtues 
 of Edward Baines, who faithfully, ably, and zealously represented the borough 
 of Leeds in three successive parliaments. As a man, a citizen, and a patriot, he 
 was distinguished by his integrity and perseverance, his benevolence and public spirit, his 
 independence and consistency. This monument is erected by voluntary subscription, that 
 posterity may know and emulate a character loved and honoured by his contemporaries.” 
 Mr. Baines’s sons have done great credit to the training of their parent. The eldest, the 
 Right Hon. Matthew Talbot Baines, who represents Hull in parliament, was for a con¬ 
 siderable period president of the Poor Law Board. He is now chancellor of the duchy of 
 Lancaster, and chairman of the Annual Sessions of the Peace for Lancashire. Mr. 
 Edward Baines, of the Leeds Mercury, is the author of the “ History of the Cotton 
 Manufacture.” Mr. Thomas Baines, long connected with the Liverpool press, has 
 
 f See page 287, 
 
.BIOGKAYHY. 
 
 653 
 
 contributed much to local histoiical literature. His “ Commercial History of Liverpool” 
 is a most valuable work, the result of long and diligent labour. 
 
 Barton, William. —This clever theological scholar was born in Fenkell-street (now 
 Church-street), Preston. He was descended from a respectable family at Barton. He 
 became successively bishop of Rochester and Lincoln, and died in May, 1613. 
 
 Barrow, Thomas. —An artist of no mean pretensions. He was born at Great Eccles- 
 ton, in the Fylde, on the 15th January, 1737. Barrow painted landscapes, animals, and even 
 history ; but he was chiefly employed upon portraits. When about forty years of age, he 
 placed himself under Romney, and remained his pupil forabout twelve months. Mr. Whittle 
 says, that “ during this time he entered himself as a Royal Academician;” and, in virtue 
 of this impression, he describes him as “ Thomas Barrow, R. A.” This, however, is an error. 
 Parties do not enter themselves as Royal Academicians ; but a few fortunate artists are 
 elected to that distinction, on account of their real or supposed superiority over their 
 compeers. The number, too, is limited to forty. Indeed, there were but thirty-six at 
 the period referred to. The first perfect list of forty was completed in 1780, by the 
 addition of the names of Edward Birch, Richard Cosway, Joseph Nollekins, and James 
 Barry. Thomas Barrow would doubtless enter himself as a student at the Royal 
 Academy, and hence, probably, the error referred to. Mr. Whittle, who visited Barrow 
 some four years before his death, and found him in possession of a “ fund of literary 
 anecdote,” and “sentiments refined in the highest sense of the word,” gives the following 
 anecdote of his first professional success ■—“ A gentleman invited him to come down to 
 Yorkshire, in order to clean some paintings he had. Barrow accordingly borrowed £15. 
 of Romney, to prosecute his journey thither. When arrived, and having beautified many 
 elegant pictures, the gentleman intimated to him that he could only afford to give him 
 washing, lodgings, and provisions, for the service he had rendered him. This species of 
 conduct was highly improper on the part of the gentleman. A lady, in the vicinity of 
 York, having heard of this business, and wishing to encourage rising merit, invited him 
 to take a full length portrait of her little son. He took it. The lady invited a party on 
 this occasion; they saw and admired ; they nearly one and all gave him orders for their 
 portraits to be taken. He took apartments in the city of York ; fame blew his trumpet; 
 Barrow amassed £300. in course of twelve months, a part of which he sent to his aged 
 parents at Great Eccleston, and he worked on for more.” He died in the year 1822, aged 
 eighty-four years. He was buried at the parish church of St. Michael-le-Wyre. Mr. 
 Barrow possessed an excellent library of books relating to art, the contents of which 
 were dispersed at his death. There is an easy dignity and careful finish in some of his 
 portraits; but the colour is often rather grey and somewhat opaque. 
 
 Baxter, Roger. —A polemical writer, of considerable ability, was born at Walton- 
 le-dale, in 1793. He received a portion of his education at Preston, and afterwards, in 
 1806, entered the Catholic college at Stonyhurst. He departed for America in 1817, 
 where he became professor of rhetoric and belles lettres. He was afterwards appointed 
 pastor to a Roman Catholic cathedral church at Philadelphia. Previously to his departure 
 from England, he had written several controversial works. He published, at Washington, 
 in 1819, a work entitled “The most important Tenets of the Roman Catholic fairly 
 explained.” He returned to England in 1826, visited Paris, and afterwards became 
 pastor at Enfield, near Blackburn. He preached several controversial sermons about 
 this time, which attracted considerable attention. He returned to Philadelphia, and 
 assisted the Catholic bishop of that place. He again appeared as a champion of Catholicity, 
 and entered into a controversy with an episcopal clergyman. The whole discussion was 
 printed at George Town, under the title of the “Alexandrian Controversy.” He died at 
 Philadelphia, on the 24th May, 1827, at the early age of thirty-four years. His funeral 
 was attended by the bishop and clergy of the Catholic church, and a numerous train of 
 
PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 G54 
 
 his admirers. A memorial stone was placed by his brother in the burial ground attached 
 to St. Wilfrid's, Preston. 
 
 Clayton, Robert, D. D.—A Roman Catholic prelate, born at Fulwood. He was 
 connected with the Claytons, of Adlington ; indeed, according to Mr. Whittle, he was 
 the “24th in descent from William de Clayton, who lost his life in 1441, when Ranulph, 
 earl of Chester, took possession of London.” In 1729, he was made bishop of Kiliala, 
 and translated to Cork in 1735. In 1745, he was promoted to the see of Clogher. He 
 died in February, 1758. He published a large number of works on divinity, was a mem¬ 
 ber of the Royal and Antiquarian societies, and a contributor to the Philosophical Transac¬ 
 tions. He was much respected for probity and learning, and corresponded with Bradley, 
 the Astronomer Royal, and other distinguished persons. He presented the copyright of 
 his voluminous writings to Mr. Bowver. 
 
 Clayton, Sir Richard, Bart., F. S. A.—A member of the family of Clayton, of 
 Fulwood. His uncle, Richard Clayton, lord chief justice of the common pleas in Ireland, 
 by will dated March, 1770, left to him his manor of Worthington and Adlington. He 
 was a magistrate in 1772, and was created a baronet in 1774. He was also constable 
 of Lancaster and recorder of Wigan. He was likewise distinguished as an author. The 
 following are the principal productions of his pen :—“A Critical Inquiry into the Life of 
 Alexander the Great, by the Ancient Historians,” translated from the French of St. 
 Croix;” “ Memoirs of the house of Medici, from the French of Tenhove;” and “The 
 Science of Legislation,” from the Italian of Filangieri.” He died at Nantes, in France, 
 of which place he was consul, in April, 1828. 
 
 Dunn, Rev. Joseph. —Mr. Dunn was a native of Catterick-bridge, near Richmond. 
 He was educated at St. Omer’s, and afterwards at Liege. He came to Preston in 1775. 
 He was actively employed as Catholic pastor for a period of fifty-one years. He was a 
 man of considerable learning, and true practical piety, and commanded the general respect 
 of the inhabitants of every denomination. Although he occasionally wrote on con¬ 
 troversial subjects, his tone was always mild and charitable. He enjoyed an extensive 
 correspondence with many learned and virtuous men, both in England and on the con¬ 
 tinent, and received the special commendation of the pope. Mr. Dunn was not only 
 chiefly instrumental in founding the Catholic chapel of St. Wilfrid, the Fox-street schools, 
 etc., but he was one of the principal originators of the Preston gas company. It is said that 
 he had some interesting correspondence with Sir Walter Scott on this subject. His real 
 name was not Dunn, but Hart. He died on the 19th of November, 1827, in the eighty- 
 second year of his age. A monument was erected to his memory in St. Wilfrid’s chapel. 
 
 Fisher, Henry. —The late well-known publisher, Henry Fisher, of Newgate-street, 
 London, was born in Preston, about the year 1775. He served his apprenticeship with 
 Mr. Sergent, in the shop lately occupied as the Chronicle office, in the Market-place. 
 He was in business in Liverpool, where his printing-office was destroyed by fire, in 1821. 
 He afterw r ards visited Paris, and improved his knowledge of the printing business. His 
 success as a publisher in London is well known. He was elected a member of the 
 common council of the city of London, for Faringdon ward, in 1829. Amongst other 
 important works, Mr. Fisher published Baines’s History of Lancashire, in four volumes, 
 quarto, with numerous illustrations. He died in June, 1837- 
 
 Foster, Captain Henry, R.N , F.R.S.—This distinguished young officer was born 
 at Great Eccleston, in the Fylde, on the 20th August, 1794. He was the son of the Rev. 
 Hugh Foster, of Woodplumpton. He was appointed astronomer, or surveyor, to the 
 north-west expedition, in 1824. On this occasion, he received a marked compliment from 
 Captain Basil Hall. He says, in his journal: “1 take this opportunity of bearing the 
 strongest testimony to the merits of this young officer, to whose assistance and com¬ 
 panionship, in every pursuit connected with nautical science, I stand essentially indebted ; 
 
BIOGRAPHY. 
 
 655 
 
 and it is with real satisfaction, on public as well as on private grounds, that I observe 
 his promotion to the rank of lieutenant, his admission as a member of the Royal Society, 
 in November, 1827, and his appointment as surveyor to the north-west expedition now 
 about to sail.” He received the Copley medal of the Royal Society, in November, 
 1827, and was immediately promoted to the rank of commander. In the following 
 year, he was appointed to conduct a voyage of discovery to the south Atlantic 
 ocean. The principal objects of the expedition were experiments with the pendulum, 
 and the determination of the longitude of various localities visited, by means of the 
 chronometer, observations on magnetic and meteorological phenomena, ocean currents, 
 etc. After fulfilling the whole or the greater portion of the proposed duties, Captain 
 Foster was accidentally drowned, whilst descending the river Chagres to his ship, which 
 lay at its embouchure in the Gulph of Mexico. His body, wrapped in the flag of his native 
 country, was interred on the bank of the river. A monument was erected in Wood- 
 plumpton church, “ by several of his companions and friends, as a memorial of the high 
 esteem they entertained for his character, and of the deep regret they felt for his untimely 
 death.” The fatal accident occurred on the 8th of February, 1831. Captain Foster was 
 in the thirty-fourth year of his age at the time of his demise. A most valuable work, in 
 two volumes, octavo, was afterwards published, under the sanction of the admiralty, 
 entitled, “A Voyage of Discovery to the South Atlantic Ocean, performed in his 
 Majesty’s ship ‘ Chanticleer,’ in 1829, 1830, and 1831, under the command of Captain 
 Henry Foster, R.N., F.R.S.” 
 
 Gilbertson, William. —Mr. Gilbertson was born in 1788, at Market Weighton, 
 Yorkshire. His family removed to Skipton, and afterwards to Burnley. Mr. Gilberston 
 settled in Preston early in life and commenced business as a druggist. For several years 
 he devoted his attention to the study of the geology of the neighbourhood. He discovered 
 an immense number of new species of fossils in the rich limestone beds of the forest of 
 Bolland, and amassed a collection so large and valuable, that the trustees of the British 
 Museum gladly purchased the greater portion for the sum of £350. Mr. Gilbertson was 
 a life member of the British Association for the Advancement of Science ; a member of 
 the Societe Geologique de France; an honorary member of the Yorkshire Philosophical 
 Society ; and corresponding member of the Manchester Natural History Society. Mr. 
 Gilbertson corresponded with some of the most eminent scientific men in various parts of 
 Europe. His name was well known in London, in France and Italy, long before his 
 fellow townsmen suspected that he had contributed anything of importance to geological 
 science. Professor Phillips, in his “ Illustrations of the Geology of Yorkshire,” g several 
 times refers to Mr. Gilbertson in a manner honourable to himself for his generous 
 candour, and highly complimentary to the Preston geologist. He says:—“But my 
 greatest obligation is to Mr. Gilbertson, of Preston, a naturalist of high acquirements, 
 who has for many years explored with exceeding diligence and acumen, a region of 
 mountain limestone remarkably rich in organic remains. The collection which he has 
 amassed from the small district of Bolland, is at this moment unrivalled, and he has done 
 for me without solicitation, what is seldom granted to the most urgent eutreatv ; he has 
 sent me for deliberate examination, at convenient intervals, the whole oe his magnifi¬ 
 cent collection, accompanied by remarks, dictated by long experience and a sound 
 judgment. He had proposed to publish an account of his discoveries, and especially of the 
 Crinoidea, for which no man in Europe had equal materials, and he had made a great 
 number of careful drawings for the purpose; but all these, as well as the specimens, he 
 placed at my disposal—a striking proof of liberal and genuine devotion to scieuce. h * * 
 Mr. Gilbertson’s rich collection is the source from which almost all my drawings and 
 examinations” (of Crinoidea) “have been taken. * * Besides the species noticed in 
 
 g Published in 1836. 
 
 h Introduction, page xvii. 
 
656 
 
 PEESTON AND ITS ENVIEONS. 
 
 the following classification, Mr. Gilbertson possesses others, and is likely to discover more ; 
 his collection is also very rich in varieties and malformations ; and I hope that he may 
 hereafter be induced to give to the world the result of his very diligent study of these 
 beautiful fossils, i * * Gilbertsochrinus. New genus. * * I dedicate the genus to 
 Mr. Gilbertson, whose name will ever be honourably associated with the crinoidea.” k 
 Mr. Gilbertson did publish at Preston, a small “ Catalogue of Fossils, from the mountain 
 limestone of Great Britain, extracted from the works of Messrs. Phillips and Sowerby,” 
 in 1837, but although he continued his researches, no work corresponding to Professor 
 Phillips's suggestion ever appeared. He died at Preston, on the 10th of February, 1845. 
 His brother, Mr. John Gilbertson, surgeon, a gentleman of cultivated mind, was one of the 
 founders of the Institution for the Diffusion of Knowledge. 
 
 Gradwell, Robert, D.D.—This Roman Catholic divine and polemical writer was 
 born at Clifton, in the Fylde, on the 26th of January, 1777. In 1791, he entered Douay 
 college, and was amongst the parties seized by the leaders of the French revolution, in 
 1793. Gradwell returned to Clifton, in the following year, much reduced in health, owing 
 to the privations to which he, in conjunction with his associates, had been subjected to 
 at the castle of Doulens. Gradwell joined his former companions at Crook-hall, near 
 Durham, in 1793. He remained there until the new college of Ushaw was built. He 
 was ordained a priest in 1802. In 1809, he was appointed pastor of Claughton. At this 
 period he held a professorship at the college. In 1817, on the re-opening of the English 
 college at Rome, he was appointed the rector. His talents were of such a character as to 
 secure for him not only distinguished academic honours in Rome, but the favour and 
 respect of the popes Pius VIII. and Leo XII., Cardinal Gonsalvi, and other distinguished 
 personages. On the death of Dr. Poynter, he was appointed to succeed him as coadjutor 
 to Dr. Bramston, Roman Catholic bishop of the London district. He was con¬ 
 secrated bishop of Lydda, and died in London on the 15th of March, 1833, a few months 
 after his arrival. His principal literary works are, “ A Dissertation on the Fable of 
 Papal Anti-Christs,” and a series of papers in the “ Catholicon,” entitled, “A Winter 
 Evening Dialogue between John Hardman and John Cardwell; or, Thoughts on the 
 Rule of Faith.” 
 
 Haydock, George Leo. —This distinguished biblical annotator was born 1774, at Tag- 
 house, near Woodplumpton. His father, George Haydock, was a member of the Society of 
 Fiiends, but his mother, Ann Cottam, was a Roman Catholic, in which religion young 
 Haydock was educated. He received the additional name of Leo at the time of his 
 confirmation at Mowbray, by Matthew Gibson, Vicar Apostolic of the northern district. 
 He had previously been for three or four years the pupil of the Rev. R. Banister, of 
 Mowbraw. In 1788, he entered Douay college. He was one of the companions in afflic¬ 
 tion of Dr. Gradwell, in 1793, when the establishment was suppressed by the leaders of 
 the French revolution. After his return to England, he studied nearly a year under the 
 Rev. W. Coombes, of Old Hall Green, in Herefordshire. In- 1796, he rejoined his 
 companions at Crook Hall, Durham, then superintended by the Rev. Thomas Eyre, 
 afterwards first president of Ushaw college. He was made priest in 1798. His first 
 mission was at Ugthorpe, near Whitby, Yorkshire. He was afterwards transferred to 
 Whitby, and again, in 1830, to Westby, in the Fylde district. Archdeacon Cotton, in 
 a recent work, says :—It appears that about this time he had some difference with his 
 bishop, Dr. Thomas Penswick, on account of money due to him on some charitable trust. 
 The bishop refused to pay, and replied to his repeated applications for a settlement, by the 
 summary process of placing him under an interdict. He then appealed to the bishop’s 
 successor, Dr. Briggs, but without success: and afterwards to the College of Propaganda 
 
 i Page 203. 
 
 k Page 207. 
 
BIOGRAPHY. 
 
 657 
 
 and the Pope ; but he found fresh difficulties thrown in his way, and has complained that 
 his communications to Rome were betrayed to his opponent. After seven years of 
 vexatious proceedings, arising out of that business, he was offered the small and scanty 
 mission of Penrith in Cumberland, which he judged it prudent to accept, and there he 
 passed the remainder of his days. His death took place in 1848. His library was sold by 
 public auction, at Preston, in July, 1851.” 1 Haydock did not close his career at Penrith. 
 Mr. Whittle, who was personally acquainted with him, says, in 1837, that, “in 1831, he 
 retired from the pastoral life, and now resides as a private gentleman at the Tag-house, 
 although in holy orders.” Haydock is chiefly known in consequence of his elaborately 
 annotated Bible. The project was first conceived by his brother Thomas, a schoolmaster 
 and printer of Manchester, in 180G. The Rev. Benjamin Rayment, who afterwards 
 supplied the principal notes for the New Testament, having declined undertaking the 
 annotation of the Bible, George Haydock, then residing at Ugthorpe, accepted the 
 laborious office. Owing to Mr. Thomas Haydock’s leaving Manchester for Ireland, it 
 was supposed that he had relinquished the task, and a Mr. Oswald Syers was induced to 
 announce an edition. The printing of this work commenced in March, 1811. Thomas 
 Haydock, however, returned to Manchester, and, on the 11th of July, 1811, put the 
 first sheet of his brother’s Bible to press. Only fifteen hundred copies were at first 
 printed ; but as the work, which was issued in fortnightly and afterwards in weekly 
 parts, at a shilling each, progressed, subscribers multiplied, and a second edition 
 was issued at Dublin, where Thomas Haydock had a printing establishment. The 
 last sheet was printed in September, 1814. A third edition was issued at Dublin, 
 in 1813, and a fourth, at Manchester, 1814. There had been no Catholic Bible printed 
 in England for thirty years, at the time Thomas Haydock projected his work. The text, 
 published by Dr. Challoner, was chiefly followed by Haydock : all the notes were supplied 
 by himself. When the New Testament was added, the notes were furnished by Mr. 
 Rayment, Mr. Robinson, and others. Ilaydock's laborious diligence proved unproductive 
 in a pecuniary sense. He is said, indeed, to have lost upwards of one hundred pounds 
 by the speculation. Haydock likewise composed a “Paraphrase on the Psalms;" 
 a “ Treatise on the various points of difference between the Roman and the Anglo-Catholic 
 Churches,” etc. “ Haydock’s Bible,” says Archdeacon Cotton, “ has attained consider¬ 
 able reputation, and is executed on a different plan from all which preceded it, forming 
 what we may call a 1 Variorum ’ edition of the Scriptures. * * I have the 
 
 original MS. from which the work was printed, in his own handwriting, in five small but 
 closely printed volumes. His diligence was unwearied; yet he found the greatest difficulty 
 in keeping the press from standing still; so that perhaps he did not always select his notes 
 as judiciously as he would have done if more leisure had been allowed him. In a few 
 instances he introduces allusions to topics and persons of ancient or modern times, not 
 always pertinent to the subject, nor strictly justifiable. For these he was occasionally 
 taken to task by some of his brethren, who seemed more disposed to find fault with his 
 labours than to share and lighten them. * * He does not appear to have possessed 
 
 high scholarship ; but was a pious and warm-hearted man, a most industrious reader, and 
 biblical annotator. It is said that the fly-leaves and margins of almost all his books were 
 covered with notes by his own pen. Certainly this is the case with those few of them 
 which have come into my hands.” Several of Haydock’s works, and especially his own 
 copy of the Bible, are elaborately annotated in the manner referred to. Some are now 
 in the possession of Mr. Alderman Brown, who likewise possesses two volumes of 
 
 1 “ Rhemes anil Downy. An attempt to show what lias been done by Roman Catholics for the 
 Diffusion of the lloly Scriptures in English, by the Rev. Henry Cotton, D.C.L., Archdeacon of 
 Cashel, &e.” 
 
 0 
 
 X 
 
658 
 
 PK.ESTON AXD IIS ENTIEONS. 
 
 miscellaneous extracts, and original pieces, written in Hebrew, Greek, Latin, French, and 
 English. During a cursory inspection, the author noticed some poetical pieces, signed 
 with Haydock’s name; one of which, on “Death,” exhibits no mean power. 
 
 Helme, William, —Mr. Helme was one of the many poor, but gifted individuals, 
 who, by pure force of character, triumph over apparently insurmountable obstacles. He was 
 bora at Warrington, on the 27th of March, 1785, but being brought to Preston while yet 
 an infant, all his self-education and practical knowledge are associated with the latter 
 locality. Although merely a humble warper in Mr. German’s mill, he found leisure for 
 study and self culture. He was in the habit of attending a kind of natural history society 
 held at the Green Man Inn, Lord-street, where he both acquired and communicated 
 much useful information. His taste lay chiefly in botanical and entomological studies, and 
 especially the latter. He was much patronised by a Mr. Tomlinson, surgeon, who resided 
 at Albin-bank, and was frequently the companion of his rambles. He held regular 
 correspondence with some of the first naturalists in the kingdom, and amassed a large and 
 valuable collection of insects, which was purchased by subscription, after his demise, 
 and deposited in the Preston Institution for the Diffusion of Knowledge. He died at his 
 residence, in Pleasant-street, on the 11th of April, 1834. 
 
 Horrocks, Jeremiah. —This celebrated astronomer was born at Toxteth Park, near 
 Liverpool, about the year 1G19. He was placed at Emanuel College, Cambridge, 
 previously to 1633. He early devoted his attention to the study of astronomy, and but 
 for his early death, would in all probability have rivalled Newton. He died on the 3rd 
 January, 1641, (old style) m and can not therefore be said to have perished in the civil 
 wars, as has been supposed. The first blood was not shed until July, in the following 
 year. n A considerable portion of his books and papers, however, appears to have been 
 lost or destroyed in the tumultuous scenes which followed. Others are reported to 
 have perished in the great fire of London, in 1666, after having been used by Sherburne, 
 in the composition of the “Tabulae Britannicae.” There is some confusion in the records 
 respecting the fate of Horrocks and his manuscripts. He appears to have been introduced 
 by Christopher Townley, of Carr, in Lancashire, to three or four other astronomers, 
 two of whom, Crabtree and Gascoygne, like Horrocks, died very young. After referring 
 to the destruction of a portion of his papers, in the fire of London, the writer previously 
 quoted, says, “The rest of Horrocks’s papers were rescued by Dr. John Worthington, 
 afterwards rector of Hackney, from Crabtree’s representatives. A lately published work 
 informs us that ‘Crabtree the friend of Horrocks, is supposed to have perished in the civil 
 wars; the papers of Horrocks himself were burned, after his death, by a marauding 
 party of soldiers.’ We imagine the death of Crabtree is here confounded with that of 
 Gascoygne, and the papers of Horrocks with those of Milbourn.” Gascoygne was slain at 
 Marston Moor, and the papers of Mybourn, who was curate at Brancepeth, near Durham, 
 were destroyed by the Scots, in 1639. Although but 22 years of age at the time of his 
 death, Horrocks produced more valuable and original matter on the science of astronomy, 
 than many long-lived celebrities. He was the first observer of the transit of Venus over 
 the body of the sun. He first suggested the true theory of lunar motion, by supposing an 
 elliptic orbit, with a variation in the eccentricity of the ellipse and an oscillatory motion 
 of the line of apsides. A modern authority says : “ Newton afterwards showed that both 
 suppositions were consequences of the theory of gravitation, and (book iii.. prop. 35. 
 scholium), attributes to Halley a part of what is really due to Horrocks, as explained by 
 Flamsteed. But Horrocks has been more than avenged by the foolish statement of 
 Martin, in his ‘ Biographia Philosophical that Newton made Horrocks’s theory the 
 ‘ groundwork of all his astronomy.’ This palpable misconception was copied by Dr. 
 
 m Pen. Cyclop. Art. Horrocks, Jeremiah. 
 
 n See page 165. 
 
BIOGRAPHY. 
 
 659 
 
 Hutton into his Mathematical Dictionary.” o Horrocks’s account of his observation of 
 the planet Venus, on the 24th November, 1039, entitled ‘ Venus in Sole visa,’ was printed 
 at Danzig, in 1062, in conjunction with the ‘ Mercurius in Sole visus,’ by Hevelius. The 
 Rev. Robert Brickel sums up the further claims of Horrocks to the applause of his country¬ 
 men, in the following terms :—“ He was the first to reduce the sun’s parallax nearly to 
 what it has since been determined; the first to remark a phenomenon proving the extreme 
 smallness of the apparent diameters of the stars; the first who began a course of tidal 
 observations, etc., and the first who devised the beautiful experiment of the circular 
 pendulum for illustrating the action of a central force. Besides these things, he effected 
 a great improvement in different astronomical tables, detected the long inequalities of 
 Jupiter and Saturn, made his remarks about the fixed stars, and had his conjectures about 
 the nature and movement of the comets.” Horrocks's works were published in 1072, by 
 Dr. Wallis. Some copies are entitled “ Opera Posthuma,” and others “ Opuscula 
 Astronomica.” An enlarged biographical notice has lately been announced as in pre¬ 
 paration. Costard speaks of Horrocks as a young clergyman, but a doubt has been 
 expressed whether he ever took orders. Horrocks resided at Hoole, near Preston. A 
 great portion of his observations was made there and he is understood to have officiated 
 as minister to the Parish church. P The present rector, the Rev. R. Brickel, in a com¬ 
 munication to the Preston papers, in June, 1857, respecting the propriety of erecting a 
 suitable memorial to so extraordinary a genius, in the parish of Hoole, says :—“I am 
 proud of my parish, as the place where Horrocks ministered, and am gratified in sup¬ 
 posing that he occupied the same old pulpit in the performance of ‘his higher duties.’ ” 
 There is every probability that a suitable memorial will shortly be raised in honour of 
 one of the most remarkable men of genius to which England has given birth. A towns¬ 
 man, Mr. Moses Holden, astronomer, so highly esteemed Horrocks, that some years ago 
 he devoted the proceeds of one of his lectures to the erection of a marble monument in 
 Toxteth Park, to perpetuate his name. It bears the following inscription, surmounted by 
 a representation of Venus on the sun's disc:— 
 
 VENUS IN SOLE VISA, NOV. 24, 1633. 
 
 In Memory of 
 
 JEREMIAH HORROX, one of the greatest 
 Astronomers this kingdom ever produced. 
 
 Born in Toxteth Park, in 1619. 
 
 Died in 1641. Aged 22. 
 
 His observations were made at Hoole, 
 eight miles from Preston, where he 
 predicted, and was the first person 
 who saw, the transit of Venus 
 over the sun. 
 
 This memorial was erected hy 
 M. Holden, Astronomer. 
 
 1826. 
 
 Horrocks’s name is sometimes written Horrox. In his copy of Lansberg’s “ Tabulae 
 Perpetuse,” preserved by his friend Townley, his name, in his own hand writing, is 
 spelled Horrocks. 
 
 Horrocks, John. —The founder of the commercial prosperity of the town of Preston, 
 was born in the year 1708, at Edgeworth, near Bolton. His father, a member of the 
 Society of Friends, originally resided at Bradshaw hall, in the neighbourhood of Bolton. 
 He leased a stone quarry at Edgeworth, and commenced the manufacture of mill stones. 
 John, and his brother Samuel, both worked in their father’s quarry. The rapid progress 
 
 o Pen. Cyclop. 
 
 p See page 620. 
 
 2 T 2 
 
660 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 of the cotton manufacture, which had already given a new direction to the enterprise and 
 industry of the country, attracted the attention of young Horrocks. He fitted up two or 
 three spinning frames, in a corner of the millstone manufactory, and contrived, by his own 
 labour, to produce saleable yarn. His chief customer at this period was Mr. John Watson, 
 of Preston, then the only manufacturer in the town. Mr. Horrocks soon afterwards trans¬ 
 ferred his energies and enterprise more directly to Preston. A story is related that on 
 one occasion, Mr. Watson and he differed respecting the value or quality of some yarn ; 
 when Horrocks declared that his patron should have no more of his goods; for he would 
 come to Preston and “put out” his yarn to the weavers himself. He had gradually 
 increased his establishment at Edgeworth, and had accumulated some little capital at this 
 period. He rented a small building at the bottom of Turk’s-liead-court, in Jan., 1791. 
 His business, under his judicious management, gradually increased. He afterwards 
 entered into partnership with Mr. George Bolton, of the firm of Shuttleworth, Bolton, 
 Claytons, and Moore, bankers. Horrocks’s sanquine temperament, however, alarmed his 
 colleague, and caused him to withdraw. The late Mr. Richard Newsham, banker, had more 
 confidence, and took Mr. Bolton’s place in the firm. So great was his success on the com¬ 
 pletion of his first factory, that Horrocks set about immediately erecting another, which 
 proved the commencement of the present extensive establishment called the “ Yard 
 works.” It is named the “ Yellow factory,” and is yet standing. The building of this 
 mill was commenced in 1791, the first year of Horrocks’s residence in Preston. Mr. 
 Watson, Mr. Horrocks’s rival, at this time worked the original mill in Moor-lane, and 
 the one called “ Penwortham factory,” in Walton-le-dale. His residence and ware¬ 
 houses were situated at the north end of the present Avenham-street. Other structures 
 were erected by Horrocks in rapid succession, viz., the “Yard factory,” in 1792, 
 which was destroyed by fire, and re-erected in 1796; the old “Moss factory,” in 
 1796; Frenchwood mill, and the new establishment on the “Moss,” in 1797 ; the one 
 near the canal, in 1799, and another at the “ top of the yard,” in the Dale-street establish¬ 
 ment, in 1802. He influenced the establishment of the Heatley-street mill and machine 
 works, and held an interest therein, in conjunction with Messrs. Riley, Paley, and 
 Leighton. The works at Edgeworth were discontinued, so far as the millstone manu¬ 
 facture was concerned, and the premises converted into a cotton mill. There are several 
 different versions of the details of the early career of Horrocks, of a somewhat doubtful 
 character, but the above facts may be relied upon q Mr. Whittle says,—“A small present 
 or rather reward for some personal service to a stranger, enabled the young adventurer to 
 begin business as a cotton manufacturer ; and by indefatigable application he soon 
 increased his stock.” Another writer says,—“ 1 have heard that the fortune of the first 
 Mr. Horrocks thus began : He was a journeyman muslin weaver in 1791 ; and was with 
 thousands thrown out of work, at the commencement of the French war; but he had 
 saved ten pounds from the produce of his previous labour. With this he purchased cotton, 
 and manufactured coloured-bordered handkerchiefs. Not being able to sell the first 
 parcel he manufactured, in the country, he came up to London and had them sold by 
 auction. They left him a handsome profit; so, after making an agreement with the 
 auctioneer to sell as fast as the goods arrived, and to be permitted to draw bills for the 
 amount as fast as they were sold, he returned to the country ; and in the course of two 
 other years, manufactured it is supposed, above one hundred thousand dozens of them.”r 
 When Mr. Horrocks became established at Preston, his brother and other relatives joined 
 him. His brother Samuel Horrocks eventually became a partner. He transferred his 
 interest in the Turk's Head-court works to Mr. Isaac Horrocks. When Mr. Newsham 
 
 q See Mr. Dobson’s pamphlet on the Parliamentary Representation of Preston. 
 
 r Pamphlet by Hamilton in Defence of the co-operating system of trading. 
 
BIOGRAI'IIY. 
 
 G61 
 
 retired, Mr. George Horrocks took his place. Mr. John Horrocks, another relative, was 
 afterwards a partner. This firm was then known as that of Horrocks, Jacson, and Co. 
 Mr. Horrocks’s energy and business habits soon caused him to be selected for public 
 labour. He was induced, in opposition to the Derby interest, to contest the representation 
 of the borough, in 1796. He was unsuccessful, but in 1802, he was elected in conjunction 
 with Lord Stanley, without a contest, s He did not live long to enjoy the senatorial 
 office. He died in London in 1804, at the early age of 30. He was buried at Penwortham. 
 His estate in money and property, accumulated in about fifteen years, was worth £150,000. 
 Mr. Horrocks resided originally in Turk's Head-court. He successively removed to 
 Fishergate, Dale-street, and Golden-square. In 1801, he built his mansion named Penwor¬ 
 tham Lodge; which has since been changed to Penwortham hall, by its present proprietor, 
 W. Marshall, esq. t Mr. Horrocks was buried in the church yard at Penwortham. 
 Mr. Dobson gives the following characteristic anecdote of this eminently practical man :— 
 “On one occasion while M.P., he visited Woolwich, and saw the workmen boring cannon 
 by hand. ‘ You are a bonny set,’ said Mr. Horrocks to one of the heads of a department, 
 
 ‘ to do your work in this way. You should have a machine.’ ‘ Oh! it is impossible 
 to use machinery,’ said the desciple of red tape. ‘ Well, I know whether you can or not, 
 but I’ll see Pitt to-morrow.’ And no doubt he did, for it has been stated that a boring 
 machine was not long after introduced into the government r/orks at Woolwich.” Many 
 other stories are told of his promptness, decision, and generosity. When solicited for a 
 subscription towards the erection of an organ in the parish church, he demanded the 
 probable price of a good instrument. On being told that a sum of £500. would be 
 required, he declared he would pay the amount himself, but stipulated that he should have 
 the packing case. No doubt he had some good use for it, and a man of his character, 
 even when cheerfully giving £500. for a public purpose, would not wish to foolishly throw 
 a pound away.' He was a great friend to the late Mr. Palmer, town clerk, and was mainly 
 instrumental in securing his appointment as coroner. Mr. Palmer attributed his own 
 habitual punctuality in after life to a practical lesson given him by Mr. Horrocks. Palmer 
 was clerk to the Penwortham bridge trustees. A meeting was called at which Mr. Palmer 
 arrived late. “ Have you got a watch, Palmer," said Mr. Horrocks. The clerk 
 answered in the affirmative, upon which his patron demanded the time of the day. “ Half¬ 
 past ten," was the prompt reply. “ The meeting was called for ten, and servants should 
 be ready at the time fixed, whether masters are or not,” said Mr. Horrocks with firmness, 
 but without severity. He added, “ Young man, miss your meals, if you will, miss your 
 rest, and miss your pleasure, but never miss fulfilling an engagement.” It appears Mr. 
 Palmer profited much from this advice. It has been stated that during the fifty-three 
 years he held the office of coroner, he never kept a jury waiting a quarter of an hour, 
 except under special circumstances over which he possessed no control. Mr. Palmer died 
 in December, 1852, in the eightieth year of his age. For the lengthened period of sixty- 
 four years, he never missed attending the assizes at Lancaster. His last was his 127th 
 visit. The late Mr. Alderman Miller, who was previously a small manufacturer at Bolton, 
 entered Mr. Horrocks’s Preston establishment in 1802, and shortly afterwards became a 
 partner. His eldest son is now the sole proprietor of the extensive manufactories per¬ 
 taining to the nominal firm of “ Horrockses, Miller, and Co.,” and which at the present 
 time employ upwards of 3,000 hands, u The erection of a statue, to the memory of John 
 Horrocks, was contemplated a few years ago. The site fixed upon was about the centre 
 of the land proposed to be devoted to the erection of villa residences at Penwortham. 
 Nothing, however, has yet resulted. 
 
 Kuerden", Richard, M.D.—A physician, and scholar born about the year 1620, at 
 Cuerden, near Preston. He was a lineal descendant of “ an antient Family of H. I. or 
 
 s Sac pagf 333. 
 
 t See page 596. 
 
 u See page 425. 
 
662 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 King Stephen date.” He received his early education under Mr. Sherburn, at Leyland. 
 In 1638, he was admitted a commoner of St. Mary Hall, Oxford. On the breaking out of 
 the civil war, he removed to Cambridge. He commenced, in 1642, bachelor of arts, in 
 Emanuel College. He remained till the surrender of Oxford to the King, in 1646, when 
 he returned to St. Mary Hall, Oxford. He was incorporated and shortly afterwards elected 
 vice-principal of his college. He remained for seven years, tutor to the principal scholars. 
 He had generally about thirty pupils. Kuerden remained a staunch royalist, and had, in 
 common with many others of the halls of Oxford, to support himself by his own means. 
 He was nominated to the office of proctor of the university, but not feeling disposed to 
 submit to the then government, he declined it, and commenced the study of physic. In 
 1652, he was appointed replicant in the act of that year, to all inceptors of physic. This 
 office qualified him for the degree of doctor of physic. He paid the fees and was duly 
 registered, but something in the oaths displeased him, and he preferred the loss of 
 seniority in the university, to compliance. On the appearance of Charles II. in England, 
 Kuerden took the, to him, more agreeable oath. This occurred on the 9th September, 
 1661. He was created doctor of physic on the 26th March, and received his testimonial 
 under the public seal. The defeat of Charles at Worcester, however, completely changed 
 the state of affairs. He left Oxford, and settled at Preston, where he devoted him¬ 
 self to literary pursuits, and the practice of medicine. Kuerden, in conjunction with 
 Mr. Christopher Townley, of Carr hall, contemplated the publication of a complete 
 history of Lancashire. They stipulated that ‘ ‘ if either party dyed before impressure, the 
 survyvor should have the other's Manuscripts to himself.” These manuscripts were very 
 numerous. Mr. Townley had been engaged about forty years amongst the records in 
 the possession of the nobility and gentry of the county, and had transcribed in twenty folio 
 volumes more than three hundred thousand abstracts. Kuerden carefully perused and 
 abstracted the necessary portions from the Domesday book in the Tally Office, the records 
 in the Tower of London, at Westminster, in the Rolls chapel, the Duchy office, the Pells, 
 etc., as well as those in the Chancery court and Common Pleas, and other minor 
 repositories in the county. Mr. Townley died in August, 1674, when the whole MSS. 
 became the property of Kuerden. He issued proposals for publication, in 1688. The 
 work was to be entitled Brigantia Lancastriensis Restaurata: or a History of the 
 Honorable Dukedom or County Palatine of Lancaster.” It was to be published in five 
 volumes. Kuerden intimated that it was “ composed and laid ready for the press." It 
 remained, however, unpublished at the doctor's death. Mr. Baines gives the following 
 particulars respecting the manuscripts:—“The magnificent structure announced in the 
 prospectus was never raised : the architects seem to have been overwhelmed by the vast 
 mass of material which they had collected; and this circumstance operated as powerfully 
 as Sir William Dugdale's Warwickshire, to prevent the execution of their plans, v AH 
 that was done towards the History of Lancashire by Dr. Kuerden and his coadjutor, 
 beyond the collection of abstracts, was an outline of the preface, an unfinished history of 
 Roman Britain, and a small portion of the history of the parish of Leyland, which is also 
 incomplete. * * Of Dr. Kuerden’s MS. collections, eight volumes are preserved in 
 the Heralds' College in London, two are in the Chetham library at Manchester, and one 
 is among the Harleian MSS. in the British Museum, the bulk of each relating to the 
 county of Lancaster,] but mostly interspersed with extraneous matter. Dr. Kuerden was 
 addicted to the study of judicial astrology, and, besides the calculations which appear in 
 his various MSS., he had prepared for the press a translation from a Latin treatise on 
 
 v It has been stated that the excellence of Sir "William Dugdale’s History of Warwickshire, 
 caused Kuerden to delay the publication of his own work, from a consciousness of its great inferiority 
 as a county history. 
 
BIOGRAPHY. 
 
 663 
 
 that subject. To the title page of this work, formally arranged, he has appended his 
 initials,"’ and the whole is found in the Harleian MSS., which contain the attempted 
 history of Leyland, and in several parts of which he has written his name at length.” x 
 Kuerden received the patronage of Sir William Dugdale, who, during one of his visits, 
 examined the Roman roads over Preston and Fulwood moors, and pronounced his opinion 
 upon the remains, y Kuerden acted as deputy and marshall to Sir William during a 
 visitation for the purpose of disclaiming, at Lancaster, the pretentions of all persons to 
 coats of arms, who were unable to satisfactorily support their title to the armorial bearings 
 assumed. 
 
 Preston, John. —This celebrated divine was born in Bishopgate, near the old vicar¬ 
 age, in Preston. He received his early education at the grammar school in his native 
 town. He was chaplain to King James I., a preacher at Lincoln's Inn, and afterwards 
 prebendary of Lincoln. A work on the “ Divine Attributes” gained him many friends 
 amongst the nonconformists. He was chaplain to Charles I., and, in 1625, he was master 
 of Emanuel college, Cambridge. He published another work, which was re-printed in 
 1836, entitled “ The Golden Sceptre held forth to the Humble.” 
 
 Preston, Thomas. —Thomas Preston was born at Preston, on the 13th August, 
 1530. He was a fellow of King’s college, Cambridge. He wrote a dramatic piece entitled 
 “Cambyses, King of Persia,” z ridiculed by Shakspere in act second, scene fourth, of the 
 first part of the historical play. King Henry the Fourth. Falstaff prepares to enact the 
 king, and so train the prince to meet his father. He says Give me a cup of sack to 
 make mine eyes look red, that it may be thought I have wept; for I must speak in 
 passion, and I will do it in King Cambyses' vein.” When Queen Elizabeth visited 
 Cambridge, in 1564, she was so captivated with a “ pretty young man of the name of 
 Preston, from a town in Lancashire, whose graceful performance in a public disputation, 
 and in the Latin play of Dido, had particularly caught her fancy,” that she conferred 
 upon him the title of “ her scholar,” and granted him an annuity of £20. Preston had 
 likewise the degree of Doctor of Laws conferred upon him. His epitaph, at Oxford, 
 describes him as “Tho : de Prestona, de Prestoniensis, Lane.” 
 
 Rushton, Edward. —A jesuit priest and a member of an old family resident at 
 Great Eccleston, in the Fylde. He was born at Preston, in 1625. Some polemical tracts 
 and a work entitled “De Schismate Anglicano,” written by him, and published at Liege, 
 created considerable sensation during the reign of Charles 1. 
 
 Shepherd, Richard, M.D.—Little is known respecting this public benefactor. He 
 was born at Kendal. He practised as a physician in Preston, and died on the 28th Nov., 
 1761. He bequeathed his valuable library, and funds for its support and extension, to the 
 mayor and aldermen of Preston, for the time being, for the use of the town.a He resided 
 in Friargate, near the present King’s Head Inn. He is said to have been of a charitable 
 and kind disposition. He cultivated a herb named “Angelica,” from which he prepared 
 a kind of candy, which he distributed to the poor. The only memorial of him is a 
 portrait in the library bearing his name, b 
 
 Sharrock, Dr. Gregory W., was born at Preston, on the 30th of March, 1742. He 
 received the rudiments of his education at the grammar school, and afterwards “ dedicated 
 
 w “Ouronomachia, or the Astrologer’s Game, first contrived for the refreshment of such as study 
 these arts and Especially of Astrology, now set forth and brought to light p. Gulielm. Falconem 
 of Cambridg. Printed at London, Thomas iEstam and Hen. Midlton at the charg of Will. Jones. 
 1571. And now translated into English by R. K. M.D.” 
 x His. Lane. vol. 3, page 465. y See page 48. 
 
 z It is styled a “ Lamentable Tragedy ” by Thomas Preston. It was published in 1570. 
 a See page 448. b See page 255. 
 
664 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 himself to religion,” at the age of 16, in St. Gregory’s convent, Douay. The Catholic 
 bishop Walmsley thought so highly of his qualities that he petitioned the pope to appoint 
 him his coadjutor. He was consecrated at Wardour, as bishop of Telmessus, in 1781. 
 On the death of Bishop Walmsley, he was appointed his successor. He died at Bath, on 
 the 17th October, 1809. He wrote several tracts, which were published in eight parts. 
 
 Southworth, Rev. Richard. —A member of the old Samlesbury family. He was 
 born in 1743, and was removed to Preston when young. He entered Douay, in 1756. He 
 was appointed successively vice president of the college, professor of poetry, rhetoric, 
 philosophy, and divinity. He occupied the chair of divinity from 1792, to the time he left 
 the college, in 1786. He was shortly afterwards made pastor of the Catholic congregation 
 at Brockhamton. He died in November. 1817. Mr. Whittle says,—“ He should have 
 succeeded the Rev. and honourable Dr. James Talbot, in the Episcopacy ; but this was 
 overruled by some means best known to those who had to do with it, in the year 1790.” 
 Another member of this family, the Rev. T. Southworth, was educated at Preston and 
 Douay. He was for a long period president of the Catholic seminary at Sedgley-park. 
 
 Tootel, Rev. Hugh. —A Catholic divine, and theological writer, who assumed the 
 name of Charles Dodd, was born at Durton, near Preston, in 1672. He studied first 
 under his uncle at Fernyhalgh, and in 1688, was sent to Douay. After passing through 
 a course of philosophy and divinity, at the seminary of St. Gregory, at Paris, he returned 
 to Douay, and continued his studies till 1698, about which time he was appointed priest at 
 Fernyhalgh. In 1718, he was again at Douay, busily employed in the collection of 
 materials for his great work on Church History. It was published in three separate 
 volumes, in 1737, 1739, and 1742. He had been appointed priest at Harvington, in 
 Worcester, in 1726, having for about four years been the assistant to his predecessor. 
 Several gentlemen contributed towards the expense of the publication of his Church 
 History, including the duke of Norfolk, and Sir Robert Throckmorton, bart. Tootel or 
 Dodd was a voluminous theological writer. It is said he wrote no less than sixty-four 
 works of this character. He died at Harvington, in 1742. 
 
 Weever, John. —Mr. Whittle says that the learned author of “Ancient Funerall 
 Monuments,” was born at Preston, and not at Lancaster, as some writers have asserted. 
 His parents were poor, but his uncle gave him a good early education, and afterwards 
 sent him to Cambridge. When he left college, he fixed his residence at Clerkenwell. He 
 died in 1632, aged 56. His great work, which was dedicated to King Charles II., was the 
 result of much research and personal investigation. Weever complains in his preface, of the 
 impediments thrown in his way by illiterate officiousness. He says : “ I have been taken 
 up in divers churches, by the churchwardens of the parish, and not suffered to write the 
 epitaphs, or take views of the monuments, as I much desired; for I wanted a commission, 
 which would have greatly encouraged me, for Henry VIII. did grant license to John 
 Leland, in order that he might effectually prosecute his antiquarian researches.” A 
 monument, with a long poetical inscription, was erected to his memory, in St. James’s 
 church, Clerkenwell, London, by John Skillicome, of Preston, his executor. The Skilli- 
 cornes were an old and influential family in Presion. Richaru Skillicome was mayor in 
 the time of Richard II. 
 
CHRONOLOGY. 
 
 665 
 
 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 
 
 B. C. 
 
 55 Caesar’s first invasion of Britain. A. M. 3049. a 
 54 Caesar's second invasion of Britain. 
 
 A. D. 
 
 43 The Romans under Plautius invaded Britain. 
 
 50 Do. under Ostorius Scapula do. 
 
 59 Do. under Suetonius Paulinus do. 
 
 79 Do. under Agricola do. 
 
 The Roman station at Walton founded on the site of the ancient British fortress. 
 
 85 Agricola’s fleet first sails round Britain. 
 
 410 Britain ceases to acknowledge the Roman dominion. 
 
 448 Total extinction of the Roman power in Britain. 
 
 449-50 Hengist and Horsa landed in Britain. 
 
 547 Ida and a body of Angles conquer the present Northumberland and part of 
 Scotland, lie founded the kingdom of Bernicia. 
 
 559 /Ella, son of Ida, conquered Yorkshire, and perhaps part of Lancashire. He 
 founded the kingdom of Deira, which when joined to Bernicia, became the 
 kingdom of Northumbria. 
 
 596 Augustine arrived in Britain. 
 
 C27 Paulinus made bishop of Northumbria. 
 
 King Edwin baptized. 
 
 633 Edwin slain. 
 
 642 Battle of Maserfeld. (Winwick) Death of Oswald. Victory of Penda, the pagan 
 Mercian king. 
 
 655 Battle of Winweyde (Winwidfield, near Leeds) Death of Penda. 
 
 705 Grant of lands on the Ribble to the monastery at Ripon. 
 
 787 First invasion of the Danes. 
 
 798 Battle of Billangalioh (Langlio, near Whalley). 
 
 871 King Alfred began to reign. 
 
 870 Northumbria divided amongst the Danes by Halfdenc. 
 
 878 Alfred retired to Atlielingay. The Danes masters of England. 
 
 Alfred defeated the Danish king Godrun, at Eddington, and divided with him the 
 kingdom. 
 
 901 Death of Alfred the Great. 
 
 910-11 Battle of Wodensfield. 
 
 921 Edward the elder subdued the Cumbrian Britons. 
 
 923 Manchester fortified by Edward the elder. 
 
 926 Death of Sigtryg, Danish king of Northumbria. Expulsion of Anlaf his son. 
 
 930 Athelstan grants Amounderness to the church of York. 
 
 934-7 Battle of Brunanburh. 
 
 940 Death of Athelstan. 
 
 a Aspin’s Universal Chronology. 
 
666 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 941 The Northumbrians chose Anlaf for king. 
 
 942 Death of Anlaf. 
 
 944 Edmund conquered Northumbria. 
 
 943 The Northumbrians again revolted, and chose Eric for king. 
 
 954 Edward ravaged the country, and re-subjected it to the Saxon authority. 
 
 991 Danegelt first imposed. 
 
 993 Sweyn, king of Denmark, conquered Northumbria. 
 
 1002 Massacre of the Danes. 
 
 1004 Sweyn pillaged various parts of England. 
 
 1014 Death of Sweyn. 
 
 1017 Canute king of all England. 
 
 1041 Edmund the Confessor began to reign. 
 
 1066 The Norman Conquest. 
 
 1086 f Domesday survey made. 
 
 1087 William Rufus ascended the throne. 
 
 1100 Henry I. succeeded to the crown. The Preston Custumale probably granted in 
 his reign. 
 
 1124 Evanus and his monks arrived in England. They were located at Tulketh during 
 the erection of Furness abbey. 
 
 1135 Stephen began to reign. 
 
 1140 (About) First recorded mention of Lancashire by its present name. 
 
 1154 Henry II. ascended the throne. 
 
 1164 (About) Preston granted a Municipal charter. 
 
 1189 Richard I. ascended the throne. He conferred the earldom of Lancaster on his 
 brother John. 
 
 1199 King John’s reign commenced. Municipal charter granted. 
 
 1216 Henry III. began to reign. 
 
 1220 Walter de Preston slain in a feud. 
 
 1221 The Friary at Preston founded. 
 
 1227 Municipal charter granted. 
 
 1252 Second ditto. 
 
 1264 Preston probably first represented in Parliament. 
 
 1266 Edmund Crouchback created earl of Lancaster. 
 
 1272 Edward I. ascended the throne. 
 
 1291 Hospital at Maudlands, first recorded notice of. 
 
 1295 First recorded parliamentary election. 
 
 1306 King Edward I. at Preston. 
 
 1307 Edward II. began to reign. Adam de Banistre was slain by the followers of 
 
 the earl of Lancaster, in a fight in the valley of the Ribble, during this reign. 
 
 1322 Thomas, earl of Lancaster, beheaded. 
 
 1323 Preston burnt by Bruce. 
 
 1327 Edward III. ascended the throne. 
 
 1323 Municipal charter granted. 
 
 1329 First recorded celebration of the Guild Merchant at Preston. 
 
 1333 Battle of Halidown Hill. Edward recruited at Preston. 
 
 1343 Preston the wealthiest of the Lancashire boroughs. 
 
 1377 Richard II. succeeded to the throne. 
 
 1379 Municipal charter granted, and Guild Merchant held. 
 
 1399 Henry IV. proclaimed king. In his reign, Walton bridge was re-built. 
 
 1401 Municipal charter granted. 
 
 1413 Henry V. began to reign. 
 
 1414 Municipal charter granted. 
 
 1415 Guild Merchant held. 
 
 1422 Henry VI. ascended the throne. 
 
 1425 Municipal charter granted. 
 
 1455 Commencement of the “ Wars of the Roses. - ’ 
 
 1459 Guild Merchant. 
 
CHRONOLOGY. 
 
 667 
 
 1461 Edward IV. proclaimed King. 
 
 1465 Henry VI. captured at Clitheroe. 
 
 1474 Introduction of the art of Printing into England. 
 
 1482 Edward V. began to reign. 
 
 1483 Richard III. ascended the throne. 
 
 1485 Henry VII. proclaimed King. 
 
 1485 Great plague called sweating sickness. 
 
 1487 Lambert Simnel landed at the “ Pile of Foudray.” 
 
 1495 Sir William Stanley executed. Henry VII. visited Lathom and Knowsley. 
 1501 Guild Merchant. 
 
 1509 Henry VIII. began to reign. 
 
 1513 Battle of Flodden. Euxton chapel re-built. 
 
 1520 Chipping parish church re-built. 
 
 1532 Samlesbury old hall repaired by Thomas Southworth. 
 
 1536 Act for the suppression of the lesser monasteries. 
 
 1537 The “ Pilgrimage ot Grace.” The abbot of Whalley hanged. 
 
 1543 Guild Merchant. 
 
 1544 Decay of Preston and other Lancashire towns. 
 
 1547 Edward VI. ascended the throne. 
 
 1548 Rufl’ord chantry dissolved. 
 
 1553 Penwortliam parish free grammar school founded. It is commonly called Hutton 
 school. 
 
 1553 Mary began to reign. A chantry founded at Goosnargli church. Rufford chantry 
 restored. 
 
 1555 Village near Rossall destroyed by the sea. 
 
 1557 Municipal charter granted. 
 
 1558 Elizabeth ascended the throne. Elizabeth fouuded Leyland grammar school. 
 1562 Great plague. Guild Merchant. 
 
 1566 Municipal charter granted. 
 
 1569 General apprehension of all the beggars in the kingdom. 
 
 1581 (About) Preston parish church re-built. 
 
 1582 Guild Merchant. 
 
 1586 Kirkham parish church probably re-built. 
 
 1588 Meeting at Preston respecting the threatened invasion by the Spanish armada. 
 
 Expected landing in Morecambe bay. Samlesbury church in a delapidated 
 condition. 
 
 1589 Feud. Hogliton, of Lea, killed. The manor of Walton-le-dale granted to the 
 
 family as compensation. 
 
 1602 Guild Merchant. Garstang free school founded. 
 
 1603 James I. succeeded to the English crown. Shortly afterwards, a great plague 
 
 desolated the country. Camden visited Ribcliester a second time. 
 
 1605 Gunpowder plot. Small Catholic chapel opened in Friargate,—the first since 
 the Reformation. 
 
 1611 Institution of the honor and title of baronet. 
 
 1612 Lancashire witches hanged. 
 
 1615 First discovery of steam power by Dc Caus. 
 
 1617 King James visited Preston and Hoghton Tower. White-chapel, Goosnargli, 
 
 enlarged. 
 
 1618 “ Book of Sports” published. 
 
 1622 Guild Merchant. 
 
 1625 Charles I. ascends the throne. 
 
 1628 Hoole church re-edified. 
 
 1630 Woodplumpton church rc-built. 
 
 1631 Calicoes first imported into England. 
 
 1633 Second batch of Lancashire witches tried. 
 
 1642 Guild Merchant. Commencement of the civil war. Great meeting on Preston 
 moor. Fracas at Manchester. Threatened attack upon Preston. Siege of 
 Manchester. Defeat of the royalists at Cliowbent and Hinfield moor. Parlia- 
 
668 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 mentary reverse at Hindley, near Wigan. Meeting of royalists at Preston. 
 Hoole parish separated from Crostou. 
 
 1643 Ruse at Salesbury. First siege of Preston, Feb. 9. The Mayor killed, and 
 
 the town captured by Major General Seaton for the parhament. Siege of Lan¬ 
 caster. Lancaster taken. Hogbton Tower blown up. Lord Derby failed to 
 take Bolton. He threatened Manchester. Failed before Bolton a second time. 
 Second siege of Lancaster. Preston surprised by the carl of Derby, and the 
 defences destroyed, on the 21st March. Surrender of Blackburn to the earl 
 of Derby. Colonel Ashton surprised Wigan, but afterwards abandoned it. 
 Defeat of the earl of Derby between Whalley and Ribchcster. Ashton re-took 
 Wigan, demolished the defences, and drove the earl of Derby out of the 
 county. Ashton captured Liverpool. Warrington surrendered to the parlia¬ 
 mentary forces. The royalists defeated in Furness by Col. Alex. Rigby. 
 The castles of Hornby and Thurland surrendered to the parliament. Fairfax 
 defeated on Adwalton moor. Lord Byron succeeded in Cheshire. Siege of 
 Nantwich. Defeat of Byron, and triumph of the parliamentary generals. 
 
 1644 First siege of Latborn House. Bolton captured by Prince Rupert and the earl of 
 
 Derby. Liverpool captured by Rupert. Battle of Marston moor. Prince 
 Rupert at Preston. Imprisonment of the mayor and bailiffs. Shuttleworth 
 defeated the royalists at Whalley. Sir John Meldrum re-took Liverpool, 
 after defeating the king’s partisans at Ormskirk. Great suffering. 
 
 1645 Battles of Naseby and of Rowton Heath, near Chester. Capture of Latborn House. 
 
 1646 General surrender of the royalists. 
 
 1647 Charles I. a prisoner. 
 
 1648 Threatened invasion of the Scotch to restore the king. Meetings at Preston, 
 
 etc. Col. Lilbume defeated Sir Richard Tempest. Great battle at Ribbleton 
 moor, Preston, and Walton: Cromwell defeated Langdale and the duke of 
 Hamilton. 
 
 1649 Charles I. beheaded. Charles II. proclaimed at Preston. Battle of Dunbar. 
 
 Charles and the Scotch entered England, and passed tlirough Preston. Lord 
 Derby landed at the Wyre, from the Isle of Man. Meeting at Preston. 
 Lilhurne pursued the royalists to near Ribble bridge. Battle of AVigan-lane, 
 and death of Sir Thomas Tildesley. Charles II. defeated at Worcester. 
 The earl of Derby beheaded at Bolton. GreenOugh and Clitheroe castles 
 dismantled. 
 
 1650 The Corporation purchased the “fee farm rent” from the crown. Tarleton 
 
 school built. 
 
 1653 Cromwell made Lord Protector. 
 
 1658 Oliver Cromwell died. 
 
 1660 Charles II. proclaimed King. 
 
 1661 Right of voting in the parliamentary elections at Preston declared to he in the 
 
 “ Inhabitants at large.” “ In burgesses,” nevertheless, only voted. Test 
 and Corporation Act passed. Woodplumpton school endowed, 
 
 1662 Act of Uniformity passed. Guild Merchant. 
 
 1666 Garstang episcopal chapel re-built. 
 
 1672 Feudal tenures abolished. 
 
 1673 Municipal charter granted. Goosnargli school founded. Cucrden school founded. 
 1675 A school founded at Bispham, in the parish of Crostou. 
 
 1678 A weaving machine invented by M. De Gennes. Failed in practice. 
 
 1682 Guild Merchant. 
 
 1683 Chipping school endowed. 
 
 1684 Judge Jeffreys at Preston. Municipal charter granted. 
 
 1685 James II. succeeded to the throne. 
 
 1688 The Revolution. William III. proclaimed king. 
 
 1690 Preston first lighted with oil lamps. Cuerdeu school built. 
 
 1694 The Lancashire plot disclosed. Trial of Jacobites at Manchester. 
 
 1698 Captain 8 a vary patented a steam engine for pumping. 
 
 1701 Queen Anne ascended the throne. 
 
 1702 Guild Merchant. Blue coat school established. 
 
CHKONOLOGY. 
 
 669 
 
 1705 Savary and Newcombe patented a pumping engine. 
 
 1707 Cadley school built. 
 
 1709 Hoghton school founded. 
 
 1714 George I. proclaimed king. 
 
 1715 Jacobite rebellion. Siege of Preston. Capture of the rebels by Wills and 
 
 Carpenter. Battle of Sherriff moor. 
 
 1716 Grimsargh chapel built. 
 
 1717 Beighton improves Savary and Newcombe’s engine. 
 
 1718 Unitarian chapel. Church-street, built. Euxton Catholic chapel restored. 
 
 1719 Tarleton chapel built on the site of an ancient edifice. 
 
 1720 Douglas navigation act obtained. Hoole church steeple built. 
 
 1722 Guild Merchant. 
 
 1723 St. George’s chapel built. 
 
 1724 First fire engine introduced to Preston. Euxton chapel re-built. 
 
 1725 Dr. Stukcley visited Ribchcstcr. 
 
 1727 George II. began to reign. 
 
 1729 “ Folly ” waterworks commenced. 
 
 1734 Rufford chapel re-built. 
 
 1737 Scroop, duke of Bridgewater’s first act obtained for navigation purposes. Not 
 
 carried into effect. 
 
 1738 Fly shuttle invented. Wyatt’s first patent for spinning with rollers. 
 
 17-12 Guild merchant. 
 
 1743 Croston church re-built. 
 
 1744 Clayton-le-woods school founded. 
 
 1745 Jacobite rebellion. Prince Charles Edward Stuart marched through Preston to 
 
 Derby, November 27th. Returned December 12th. First Pi'cston newspaper 
 published. Bushell’s hospital, at Goosnargh, founded. 
 
 1746 Battle of Culloden. Garstang church Hooded. The Penworthara free school at 
 
 Hutton first erected. 
 
 1748 Wyatt’s second patent for spinning with rollers. Friends’ meeting house built; 
 re-erected in 1847-8. 
 
 1751 Poulton church re-built. 
 
 1752 Heapy chapel built on the site of a previous edifice. 
 
 1753 No stage coach left Liverpool. 
 
 1755 Penwortham bridge opened. Balderston chapel enlarged. 
 
 1756 Packhorses travel from Liverpool to Preston and Lancaster. No coaches on this 
 road. The “ Flying coach ” from Warrington to London commenced running. 
 Penwortham bridge fell. 
 
 1757 Penwortham bridge re-erected. 
 
 1758 Francis, duke of Bridgewater’s first canal act obtained. Euxton school founded. 
 
 1760 George III. ascended the throne. 
 
 1761 Dr. Shepherd’s library bequeathed to the town. St. Mary’s Catholic chapel, on 
 Friargate brow, erected. 
 
 1762 Guild Merchant. 
 
 1765 Alston Catholic chapel built. 
 
 1767 Hargreaves's spinning jenny invented. Highs, of Leigh, said to have invented 
 
 a spinning machine. 
 
 1768 The “ great election.” Cottam chapel destroyed. Universal suffrage first intro¬ 
 
 duced. Edgworth received the gold medal of the Society of arts, for models 
 of a railway. 
 
 1769 Arkwright’s first patent for spinning machinery. Watt’s first patent “for lessening 
 
 the consumption of steam and fuel.” Garstang episcopal chapel re-built. 
 
 1770 Body of Parish church rc-built. Lytliam Parish church built on the site of the 
 
 priory. Longton chapel re-built. Crookc’s school. Moss-side, Levland, founded. 
 
 1771 Arkwright’s second mill built at Cromford. Ribchcstcr Free school established. 
 
 1774 A stage coach commenced running between Manchester and Liverpool, and 
 
 between Liverpool and Preston. 
 
 1775 Arkwright’s second patent. Watt’s second patent. 
 
670 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 1776 Bridgewater canal from Manchester to Liverpool opened. Old bank opened. 
 
 1777 First cotton mill built at Preston. Garstang Independent cliapel built. 
 
 1778 A Methodist chapel built in Back lane. Goosnargh church enlarged. 
 
 1779 Riots at Blackburn, etc., owing to the introduction of machinery. Crompton’s 
 
 mule jenny completed. 
 
 1780 Town Hall fell. Briudle Catholic chapel built. 
 
 1781 Arkwright’s first trial; infringement of his patent; nonsuited. Watt’s third 
 
 patent. 
 
 1782 Guild Merchant. Watt’s fourth patent. Douglas navigation opened. Small 
 
 Catholic chapel at Brownedge built. Since superseded by a larger edifice. 
 
 1783 Leeming-street Baptist chapel erected. Longridge chapel re-built a second time. 
 
 1784 Watt’s fifth patent. First mail-coach despatched from London to Liverpool. 
 
 Garstang Catholic chapel built. 
 
 1785 Arkwright’s second trial. His patent invalidated. Power-looms first patented 
 
 by Dr. Cartwright. Cylinder-printing established at Mosney, near Preston. 
 Bolton and Watt’s engine first employed in a cotton-mill. 
 
 1788 'Workhouse built on the moor. Blackpool contained only about fifty houses. 
 
 1789 Withnell school endowed. The first steam-engine erected for a cotton-mill in 
 
 Lancashire. French Revolution commenced. House of Correction, Church- 
 street, opened. 
 
 1790 Arkwright first introduced the steam-engine in his mill, at Nottingham. 
 
 1791 South-hill Catholic chapel. Whittle, built. 
 
 1792 Kelly’s self-acting mule introduced. First inn built at Southport. 
 
 1793 Kinloek’s first power-loom set up. King of France beheaded. St. Wilfrid’s 
 
 Catholic chapel opened. Rufford parish separated from Croston. 
 
 1794 First hotel erected at Lytharn. Stonyhurst College founded. 
 
 1796 Royal Preston volunteers embodied. Roman bronze helmet found at Ribchester. 
 1798 Lancaster canal opened. Irish rebellion broke out. Subscriptions raised for 
 government to carry on war with France. Preston volunteer corps formed. 
 
 1800 Grand Junction canal opened, with the exception of the Blisworth tunnel, 
 
 finished in 1805. 
 
 1801 Peace of Amiens. 
 
 1802 Guild Merchant. Tram-road bridge over the Ribhle erected. Trevethick’s first 
 
 patent for a locomotive engine. Theatre Royal built. Catholic chapel at 
 Hill, Goosnargh, re-built. 
 
 1803 Prince William Frederick of Gloucester visited Preston, and reviewed the 
 
 volunteer corps. Revisited Preston in the following year. Horrocks’s power- 
 loom first patented. 
 
 1805 Battle of Trafalgar. 
 
 1806 Ribble Navigation Act obtained. The “ Strangers’ Charity,” Southport, 
 
 founded. 
 
 1807 Bonaparte’s Berlin decree. Chipping Independent chapel built. Longton 
 
 Methodist chapel erected. 
 
 1808 Preston volunteers join the militia. Independent chapel, Grimshaw-street, built. 
 
 Salesbury chapel built. 
 
 1S09 Dispensary established. Old chapel at Willows, near Kirkham, built. South- 
 port contained only about thirty houses. 
 
 1811 Severe distress,—subscriptions for the poor. Blenkensop introduced a locomo¬ 
 
 tive on a colliery railway, near Leeds. Garstang church partially re-built. 
 Remains of a Roman temple at Ribchester first discovered. Penwortham 
 church partially restored. 
 
 1812 Bell’s first steam-boat on the Clyde. Catholic chapel at South-lull, Whittle, 
 _ enlarged- 
 
 1813 ( RiotsXat Middleton, West Hoghton, etc., on introduction of machinery. 
 
 \ProgJhmation of peace. 
 
 1814 George Stephenson introduced a locomotive at Killingworth colliery. Tower of 
 
 Parish church re-built. Trinity church erected. Vauxhall-road chapel built. 
 National school, Aveuham-lane, erected. St. Wilfrid’s (Roman Catholic) 
 school, Fox-street, built. Fulwood moor enclosed. Garstang Methodist chapel 
 built. Wesleyan chapel, Golden-hill, Leyland, built. 
 
CHEONOLOGY. 
 
 671 
 
 1815 Battle of Waterloo. Improvement Commissioners Act for Preston obtained. 
 
 Body of Brindle church re-built. 
 
 1816 Preston first lighted with gas. Deficient harvest,—great distress. Chipping 
 
 second Independent chapel built. Body of Leyland church re-built. Euxton 
 chapel again re-built. 
 
 1817 Chancel of Parish church re-built. 
 
 1818 Strike of hand-loom weavers at Preston. Balderstone chapel again enlarged. 
 
 1820 George IV. ascended'ttleTTirone. Duke of Bridgewater’s canal from Leigh to 
 
 Wigan opened. Christ church, Southport, built. 
 
 1821 Spin ners’ str ike, at Pr eston . Blackpool Episcopal church built. Leyland 
 
 Savings bank established. Tarleton parish separated from Croston. 
 
 1822 Guild Merchant. St. Peter’s church erected. Kirkham Parish church re-built. 
 
 1823 Seventy-two coaches ran in and out of Preston every Wednesday. St. Paul’s 
 
 church erected. Clayton-green Catholic chapel built. Southport Independent 
 chapel built. 
 
 1824 Corn Exchange erected. Brockholes bridge built. Rufford new school built. 
 
 Chancel added to Hoole church. Hoole Methodist chapel built. 
 
 1825 Sharp, Roberts, and Co’s, first patent for self-acting mule. Application to 
 
 parliament for act to make Liverpool and Manchester railway. Countess of 
 Huntingdon’s chapel, Pole-street, erected. Lund chapel re-built. Eree school 
 opened at Cop-lane, Pemvortham. Southport National school built. 
 
 1826 Serious riots in Lancashire ; some looms destroyed. Ribble and Wyre made 
 
 ports under Lancaster. Independent chapel, Inglewhite, built. Catholic 
 chapel, Brownedge, re-built. Heapy school built. 
 
 1827 Catholic chapel built at Chipping. 
 
 1828 Municipal charter granted. Mechanics’ Institution opened. St. John’s girls’ 
 
 school, Vauxhall-road, built. Trinity school, Trinity- place, built about this 
 time. Hoole Primitive Methodist chapel built. Croston Methodist meeting 
 room opened. 
 
 1829 Great distress; soup kitchen established. First steamer on the Ribble. Court 
 
 house erected. St. Peter’s school, Fylde-road, built. St. Paul’s school, Pole- 
 street, built. Euxton chapel enlarged. Whittle chapel erected. Heapy 
 chapel enlarged. 
 
 1830 William IV. ascended the throne. Sharp, Roberts, and Co’s, second patent. 
 
 Liverpool and Manchester railway opened. Eighty-one coaches, in one day, 
 ran iu and out of Preston. New school built at Cop-lane, Penwortham. 
 Mawdesley Catholic chapel built. Blue-coat school re-built. Methodist 
 chapel, Clayton-le-woods, built. 
 
 1831 Protestant Wesleyan Methodist chapel, Chadwick’s Orchard, erected. Brindle 
 
 Catholic school built. 
 
 1832 Reform Bill passed. Lock-up built in Avenliam-strect. Preston Water company 
 
 established. St. Paul’s school, Carlisle-street, built. Stony hurst church 
 built. Tarleton Methodist chapel built. 
 
 1833 House of Recovery built. First stone of St. Ignatius Catholic chapel laid. 
 
 Christ church school. Bow-lane, built. Methodist chapel, Penwortham, 
 enlarged. 
 
 1834 Moor Park enclosed. 
 
 1835 Corporation Reform Bill passed. Blackpool Independent chapel opened. Walton 
 
 National school built. 
 
 1836 Spinners’ strike. The first stones of Christ church and St. Mary’s church laid. 
 
 The town of Fleetwood commenced. Bamber-bridge church built. Whittle 
 alkaline spring discovered. 
 
 1837 Queen Victoria ascended the throne. Grand junction railway opened. Poor- 
 
 law Amendment Act introduced. New Ribble company formed. First stone 
 of St. Thomas’s church laid. St. James’s church built as a Dissenters’ cliapel. 
 Primitive Episcopalian chapel built. St. Mary’s first school built. Longton 
 Primitive Methodist chapel built. Infant school, Moss-side, Leyland, built. 
 Euxton school re-built on a new site. 
 
672 
 
 PRESTOS' AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 1838 A steam vessel first crossed the Atlantic. Manchester and Bolton railway 
 
 opened. North Union railway opened. First stone of St. Austin’s Catholic 
 chapel laid. Wesley chapel. North-road, built. Blackpool Wesleyan chapel 
 opened. 
 
 1839 Preston made a port under Wyre. St. Peter’s school. Brook-street, built. 
 
 Fleetwood made an independent port. Farington church built. Whittle 
 Wesleyan chapel re-built. Tarleton “School of Industry” built. 
 
 1810 Lancaster, Longridge, and the Wyre railways opened. St. Thomas’s school, 
 
 Lancaster-road, built. St. Ignatius’s school for girls, St. I gnat ins-square 
 (Roman Catholic), built. Wesleyan school. Croft-street, built. 
 
 1811 Railway completed to Manchester from Preston. Lytliam dock constructed. 
 
 Withnell chapel built. New Grammar school. Cross-street, erected. St. 
 Austin’s school (Roman Catholic) built. Fleetwood church erected. Long¬ 
 ridge chapel tower built. 
 
 1812 Serious disturbances. Rioters shot in Lune-street. Guild Merchant. Savings 
 
 bank, Lune-street, erected. Whcclton school built. 
 
 1843 Preston again made an independent port, with Fleetwood under it. White 
 Coppice school built. 
 
 1814 First stone of Literary and Philosophical Institution, and Winckley Club, laid. 
 
 St. George’s chapel restored. New Jerusalem chapel, Avenham-road, opened. 
 Commercial schools, Knowsley-street, erected. St. Ignatius’s school, Upper 
 Walker-street (Roman Catholic), built. Blackpool covered market opened. 
 Rossall college founded. Independent chapel, Leyland, built. 
 
 1S45 Bonded warehouses erected at Preston. Scotch Baptist chapel, Meadow-street, 
 built. Kirkham Parish church spu e erected. Catholic church of the Holy 
 Cross, Kirkham, opened. 
 
 1846 Blackburn railway opened. Ribble branch opened. Lythain and Blackpool 
 branch railways opened. Avcnham-walk extended, 1845-6. Trade depressed. 
 Failure of potatoe crop. Foundation stone of Institution, Avenhain, laid. 
 All Saints’ church erected. St. Mary’s second school built. Trinity school. 
 Snow-hill, built about this time. First importation of cotton into Fleetwood. 
 Fleetwood testimonial schools erected. 
 
 1817 The Queen visited Fleetwood and Preston. Friends’ school built. 
 
 1848 Overseers’ offices, erected. German’s schools, Elizabeth-street, erected. St. 
 
 James’s school, Knowsley-street, built. Ragged schools built. Fulwood 
 barracks completed. Fleetwood Independent chapel opened. Talbot schools, 
 Maudlauds, built. 
 
 1849 Railway from Preston to Liverpool opened,—(East Lancashire.) 
 
 1850 Public Health Act introduced into Preston. First stone of St. Walburge’s 
 
 Catholic church laid. Fleetwood again made an independent port. 
 
 1851 Baths and Wash-houses opened. A small Methodist chapel at Tarleton built. 
 
 1852 Queen Victoria lunched at Preston,—and again in 1853. Statue to Sir Robert 
 
 Peel erected. Fire-brigade buildings erected. 
 
 1853 The great strike of factory hands commenced. Obelisk removed from Market¬ 
 
 place. Zoar chapel (Baptist), Regent-street, built. All Saints’ school built. 
 
 1854 Militia stores building erected. Moss-side Episcopal chapel Leyland, built. 
 
 New Catholic chapel, Leyland, built. Little lloole Primitive Methodist 
 chapel built. 
 
 1855 Southport junction with East Lancashire railway opened. Cemetery, Ribbleton, 
 
 opened. Nave of Penwortham church re-built. Old buildings. Market-place, 
 pulled down. Roman station discovered at Walton. 
 
 1856 Temperance Hall built. Preston Banking Company’s new offices erected. First 
 
 stone of a Reformatory school laid at Bleasdale. 
 
 1857 Magistrates’ Court and Lock-up built. Lancaster Banking Company’s new 
 
 offices erected. Baptist chapel, Fishergate, erected. Christ church school, 
 Wellficld-road, built. Blackpool Catholic church opened. Birkdale church 
 built. First stone laid of a Catholic chapel at Barnacre, near Garstang. 
 Alston new Catholic chapel built. Leyland parish sub-divided. Brinseall 
 Wesleyan chapel built. Croston new Catholic chapel built. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 673 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 A. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Aborigines.1. 511 
 
 Act of Uniformity.206 
 
 Actors, first female .155 
 
 Ad Alaunam (Overborough)..34, etc., 637 
 
 Adwalton moor, battle of.177 
 
 Agricola. 1, 4, 27, 34, 511 
 
 Aidan, Bishop.63 
 
 Ainsworth, Henry.649 
 
 Alfred the Great . 68, 513 
 
 Allen, Cardinal. 554, 649 
 
 All Saints’ church.478 
 
 All Saints’ schools.493 
 
 Alston . 521, 583 
 
 Alms-houses. 211,212 
 
 Ambrose, Rev. 1. 474, 650 
 
 Alum mines, Samlesbury.... 41, 152 
 
 Amounderness. 73, 98, 527 
 
 Anecdotes of Scotch rebels, etc., 239, 
 248, 253. 
 
 Anglo-Saxons.56, 92 
 
 Anlaf, Danish king. 74,513,641 
 
 Antoninus, Itinerary of, 13, 24, 29, 34, 
 37, 631. 
 
 Apprenticing poor children .. 275, 276 
 
 Arbitration Act.422 
 
 Arkwright, Sir Richard .. .. 371,650 
 
 Arkwright's inventions .. .. 361, etc. 
 
 Arkwright’s “ Case ”. 370, etc. 
 
 Armada, Spanish, off the Lancashire 
 
 coast. 141, 554, 650 
 
 Armorica . 11,261 
 
 Arthur, king .59 
 
 Ashton. 508, 530 
 
 Ashton, Col., of Middleton 163, etc., 183 
 Assize of bread, wine, etc.271 
 
 Page. 
 
 Assizes, proposal for holding, at 
 
 Preston .203 
 
 Assembly of divines, Lancashire .. 203 
 
 Assheton’s, Nicholas, journal .. ..151 
 
 Athelstan, king. 73, 513, 533, 641 
 
 Augustine’s mission .62 
 
 Austin’s, St., chapel (Catholic) .. . 480 
 
 Austin’s, St., schools .494 
 
 Avenham chapel .34 
 
 Avenham walk. 308, 435 
 
 B. 
 
 Bailiffs . 266,314 
 
 Baines, Edward .652 
 
 Balderstone. 521, 574 
 
 Bamber-bridge (Bamberg), 28, 81, 568 
 
 612, 643. 
 
 Banistre, Adam de, rebellion and 
 
 death of.125 
 
 Banks. 456, 647 
 
 Baptist chapels. 482, 484 
 
 Baptist schools.495 
 
 Baronetcy first instituted.146 
 
 Barones comitatus.102 
 
 Barracks, Fulwood.537 
 
 Barricades .224 
 
 Barrow, Thomas.653 
 
 Barton, Dr.653 
 
 Barton township .532 
 
 Bath, Spa .509 
 
 Baths and Wash-houses .. 309, 310, 442 
 Battles, sieges, etc, at or near Pres¬ 
 ton, 119, 124, 164, 170, 173, 183, 219, 
 243. 
 
 Baxter, Rev. R . 653 
 
G74 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Beads, ancient. 7 
 
 Belgae . 1 
 
 Belisama. 13, 36, etc. 
 
 Berkshire bread scale.412 
 
 Berlin decree .387 
 
 Bernicia. 59, etc. 
 
 Billangahoh, battle of.640 
 
 Bispham parish.549 
 
 Bispham, township, in Croston parish 626 
 
 Blackburn hundred . 99, 565 
 
 Blackburn, surrender of...174 
 
 Blackpool .549 
 
 Bleaching .376 
 
 Blue-coat school .489 
 
 Board of health .310 
 
 Boilton spa.536 
 
 Bollingbroke’s rebellion .128 
 
 Bolton, sieges of . 173, 174, 179 
 
 Book of Sports. 158, 161 
 
 Borough court.499 
 
 Boyer’s map of Preston .225 
 
 Booke of orders, corporation.272 
 
 Boundaries of Preston township .. .. 212 
 Bradshaw, John, president at the trial 
 
 of Charles 1.199 
 
 Bremetonacis (Lancaster).. 37, etc., 632 
 
 Bretherton.626 
 
 Bretons, the law of the.261 
 
 Bridges. 128, 209, 249, 458 
 
 Brigantes.1, 511 
 
 Brick-kilns, Roman .44 
 
 Brindle. 600, 643 
 
 British remains, ancient. 5, 38 
 
 British names of localities,etc., ancient 10 
 
 British roads, ancient.27,35 
 
 British towns, ancient.35, 37 
 
 Brockholes.535 
 
 Broughton .531 
 
 Bruce. 122, 123, 124 
 
 Brunanburh, battle near .. 74, 77, 640 
 
 Bucks’ south prospect of Preston 227, 428 
 
 Building clubs.498 
 
 Bull Inn, the, in 1745 . 247 
 
 Burgoyne, General.256 
 
 Burial statistics.485 
 
 Bushell, Dr. 544, 610 
 
 Bussel, Warinus .102 
 
 Byron, Lord, defeated at Nantwich.. 178 
 C. 
 
 Cadley .538 
 
 Tage. 
 
 Caesar, Julius . 4 
 
 Calicoes . 307 
 
 Cameron, Jenny. 248 
 
 Camp at Fulwood.256 
 
 Canals . 381, etc. 
 
 Capital and labour, legislative inter¬ 
 ference with . 355, 402, etc. 
 
 Capua, Preston, the Lancashire .. .. 222 
 
 Caracute, measure of land . 98 
 
 Carpenter, General.222 
 
 Castle-hill, Penwortham .. 48, 102, 591 
 
 Castles, Saxon and Norman.102 
 
 Catholic schools.494 
 
 Cartwright’s invention (power loom).. 373 
 
 Catholic emancipation . 341 
 
 Catholic chapels, Preston.478 
 
 Celtae . 1, 95 
 
 Cemetery . 310, 484 
 
 Chapels, Dissenters’ . 482 
 
 Charles I., execution of . 199 
 
 Charles II. at Preston . 200 
 
 Charta, Magna .322 
 
 Charters, Preston, 113, 123, 258, 267, 
 
 269, 283. 
 
 Charities, Preston . 496 
 
 Chartist agitation . 310, 417 
 
 Chester, Ranulp, earl of . 112 
 
 Chipping . 527, 584 
 
 Chowbent, battle at . 168 
 
 Christianity, introduction of .. .. 11, 62 
 
 Christ church . 476 
 
 Christ church schools.491 
 
 Churches and chapels, Preston .. .. 461 
 
 Cimbri . 1 
 
 Civil wars . 119, 160, etc., 516 
 
 Clarke’s, Peter, journal of siege of 
 
 Preston in 1715.220 
 
 Clayton-le-woods . 614 
 
 Clayton, Dr. 613, 654 
 
 Clayton, Sir Richard . 654 
 
 Clifton-with-Salwick.542 
 
 Clifton, Sir W. de, quarrel with abbot 
 
 of Vale Royal.127 
 
 Clitheroe castle, destruction of .. .. 199 
 
 Coalition . 335, 339 
 
 Coaches . 382, 385, 389, 587 
 
 Coast of Lancashire . 502 
 
 Coccium (Walton-le-dale,) 13, 37, etc., 
 
 50, 264, 512, 636. 
 
 Cocker-hole . 33, 210 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Cockersand, abbey of. 113,134 
 
 Cockpits, and cock-fighting .. 277,380 
 
 Coffins, ancient. 584, 601 
 
 Columba, St. .63 
 
 Colunium, or Calanea, (Colne) .. 13, etc. 
 Combinations .. 365, 367, 370, 409, 412 
 
 Commerce . 351, 397, 556 
 
 Commercial school, Knowsley-street 490 
 
 Commission of array .163 
 
 Commonwealth. • 200 
 
 Condate.31, etc., 632 
 
 Constable-hillock. Ill, 561 
 
 Constitution in danger.255 
 
 Coroners.327 
 
 Corn Exchange.438 
 
 Corn mills, (querns) .43 
 
 Corporations, mock . 250, 624 
 
 Corporate property, Preston, 278, 306,312 
 
 Corporation regalia .304 
 
 Corporation pews in Parish Church .. 281 
 
 Corporation wine.303 
 
 Corporation reform act . .. 303, 313 
 
 Corporate officers, list of .. 302, 314 
 
 Cotton manufacture . 360,423 
 
 Cottam. 330, 539 
 
 Councillors’ black gowns .. .. 273 
 
 County court . .. 499 
 
 County magistrates’ court . 499 
 
 County offices (law) .... .. 498 
 
 Counties, origin of.67 
 
 County constabulary bill.307 
 
 County town, Preston proposed 127, 203 
 
 Court-house.441 
 
 Crompton’s inventions .372 
 
 Cromwell, Oliver 178, 180, 182, 210, 224 
 
 Cromwell, Milton's sonnet to.516 
 
 Cross, the market. ... 433 
 
 Croston paiish.624 
 
 Cuckstools.260 
 
 Cuerdale. 34, 74, 569 
 
 Cuerden.611 
 
 Cumbrian Britons .. 59, 72, 90, 93, 641 
 
 Custumale, Preston. 113, 258 
 
 Cuthbert, St.504 
 
 D. 
 
 Dalton, (Galacum) . 35 
 
 Danes’ Pad . 5, 7, 23 
 
 Danish ships . 22 
 
 675 
 
 Page. 
 
 Danish invasions .. 70, 513 
 
 Danish names of places . 85 
 
 Danes, massacre of.88 
 
 Deaf and dumb school.493 
 
 Decay of Preston, etc.138 
 
 Dee, Dr.148 
 
 Deira, kingdom of.58 
 
 Demonology at Walton .. .. 149,515 
 
 Derby, Ferrers, Earl of .112 
 
 Derby, Earl of, 168, etc., 199, landing 
 
 at Wyre . 200, 203 
 
 Derby, Countess of. 174, 178 
 
 Derwentwater, Earl of.218 
 
 Dilworth.584 
 
 Dispensary.444 
 
 Dissenters’ chapels ..482 
 
 Dissenters’ schools.495 
 
 Domesday survey.98,528 
 
 Domestic cleanliness . 106, 143 
 
 Dormer, Brigadier.228 
 
 Douglas, battles near.60 
 
 Drinking customs.154 
 
 Druids, the. 4, 7 
 
 Dunbar, battle of .200 
 
 Dunn, Rev. J.654 
 
 Dutton .581 
 
 E. 
 
 Early closing movement .286 
 
 Easter feasting, municipal .. .272 
 
 Eata, Culdee abbot.63 
 
 Educational statistics. 486 
 
 Edward the Elder.72 
 
 Edward I. at Preston.122 
 
 Edward I., writ “ quo warrento ” . .122 
 
 Edward III. at Preston .126 
 
 Egremont, (Galava) .35 
 
 Elections, expenses of 327, 335, 337, 339, 
 
 345, 348, 646. 
 
 Elections, tampering with.326 
 
 Election, great.330 
 
 Elections, Preston, list of..349 
 
 Elston . 83, 533 
 
 England, first king of . 67 
 
 Engines, steam, invention of . 376 
 
 Environs of Preston . . u .. .. 500 
 
 Euxton . 608 
 
 Evesham abbey . 590 
 
 Execution of Stuart partisans.. 235, 247 
 Extinct animals, remains of .. 9 
 
 2 v 2 
 
676 
 
 PRESTOS AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Exchequer, black book of.112 
 
 Eyre’s, Mr., house.227 
 
 F. 
 
 Fairs and markets (see Charters) 
 
 Factories . 213, 366, 425 
 
 Factory statistics.423 
 
 Farington.598 
 
 Fees, corporate officials.275 
 
 Fee farm ' .266 
 
 Fee farm rent of Preston purchased 278 
 
 Fernyhalgh.532 
 
 Ferry, Ribble.211 
 
 Feudal tenure.101, 207 
 
 Feud at Lea .142 
 
 Fire engines and fire brigade .. 313,443 
 
 Fisheries .113, 123, 129 
 
 Fisher, Henry.654 
 
 Fishwick .213, 535 
 
 Fish-stones.434 
 
 Flax trade. 354, etc. 
 
 Fleetwood.556 
 
 Flemish settlers in England.354 
 
 Flodden field, battle of.135 
 
 Fly shuttle.361 
 
 Folkmote.266 
 
 Fools and foolerie.154 
 
 Forrester, Lord .225 
 
 Fords, Ribble. 38, 46, 53, 211 
 
 Foreigners, municipal regulations 
 
 respecting . 274, 284 
 
 Forster, Gen., at Preston, in 1715 .. 218 
 
 Foster, Captain. 560, 654 
 
 Franklin, Benjamin, at Preston .. 256 
 
 Franchise at parliamentary elections 282 
 
 322, 327, 328, 332, 343. 
 
 Freedom of the borough.282 
 
 Freemen . 289, 302 
 
 Freckleton.507 
 
 Friars Minor, College of .. .. 115,211 
 
 Friendly societies.497 
 
 Friends’ meeting house.482 
 
 Friends’ school .495 
 
 Fulwood . 268, 536 
 
 Furness, battle in.176 
 
 Furness, monks of, at Tulketh .. .. 117 
 
 Fylde waterworks.558 
 
 G. 
 
 Gallows-hill.235 
 
 Garstang parish.. .. ~ .560 
 
 Page. 
 
 Gas company . 313, 444 
 
 Gaunt, John of.126 
 
 George 1.218 
 
 George's, St., chapel. 213, 474 
 
 German’s school .491 
 
 Gilbertson, William .655 
 
 Goosnargh-with-Newsham .542 
 
 Grammar school 212, 273, 280, 309, 487, 
 647. 
 
 Gradwell, Dr.656 
 
 Great election.330 
 
 Greenough castle . 199, 563 
 
 Grimsargh.534 
 
 Guild mayors .314 
 
 Guilds merchant 68,113,126,257, etc., 
 280, 282, 288. 
 
 Gunpowder plot.146 
 
 Gunoldsmores or Cunnolvesmores .. 614 
 
 H. 
 
 Haighton .533 
 
 Halberds, municipal .265 
 
 Hamilton’s, Duke of, invasion of 
 
 England. 183, 186 
 
 Ilanse towns .257 
 
 Hargreaves's inventions .364 
 
 Haydock, Rev. Geo. Leo.656 
 
 Heapy .615 
 
 Helme, William .658 
 
 Henry VI. capture of, at Clitheroe .. 130 
 
 Henry VII. visit to Lathom, &c.. .. 133 
 do. writs, “ quo warrento” .. 134 
 
 High church party in 1715.219 
 
 Highways . 47, 383,388 
 
 Highs’s inventions.363 
 
 Hindley, battle at.169 
 
 Hinfield moor, battle of.168 
 
 Historic reverie.510 
 
 Historic society’s visit to Preston .. 103 
 
 Hodgson, Captain, at the battle of 
 
 Preston, 1648. 192 
 
 Hoghton, township .616 
 
 Hoghton, Sir Gilbert.166, etc. 
 
 Hoghton, Mr., of Lea, killed.142 
 
 Hoghton tower, king James’s visit 
 
 150; traditions of .159 
 
 Hoghton tower, siege and destruction 
 
 of.173 
 
 Holme, the.211 
 
 Honour of Lancaster .. .. 101, 112, 121 
 
 Hoole parish.620 
 
INDEX. 
 
 G77 
 
 Page. 
 
 Hope-street school (Catholic) .. ..495 
 
 Hornby castle, siege of.170 
 
 Horrocks's power loom .374 
 
 Horrocks, Jeremiah. 620, 658 
 
 Horrocks, John . 333, 366, 659 
 
 Horse bank. „ .502 
 
 Hospital, St., Mary Magdalen’s .. .116 
 
 Hospital, goosnargh . 544 
 
 Houses in Elizabeth's reign.143 
 
 House of correction .. . 211, 394, 646 
 
 House of recovery.444 
 
 Howick.598 
 
 Hundreds, origin of . 67 
 
 Hunt’s medal .343 
 
 Hutton.598 
 
 Hyde, measure of land .98 
 
 I. 
 
 Ignatius, St,, church, (Catholic).. .479 
 
 Ignatius, St., schools.494 
 
 Improvement act, Preston .313 
 
 Independent chapels.483 
 
 Ingol do.530 
 
 Institution for the diffusion of know¬ 
 ledge .449 
 
 John, King, at Preston .114 
 
 John's, St., schools .491 
 
 Iter Lancastrense, a poem .148 
 
 Ituna. 14, etc. 
 
 J. 
 
 Jacobite rebellion, 1715 .. .. 219,517 
 
 Jacobite rebellion, 1745 .. .. 241,517 
 
 Jacobite letter, supposed, found at 
 
 Walton .253 
 
 Jacobite club at Walton.250 
 
 Jacobite plot, Lancashire.215 
 
 James I. at Hoghton, Preston, etc.. . 150 
 515, 533. 
 
 James II. at Chester.213 
 
 James’s, St., church.477 
 
 James’s, St., school .493 
 
 Jeffreys, Judge. 214, 283 
 
 Jenny, spinning .364 
 
 K. 
 
 Kate’s pad . 6 
 
 Kay’s fly shuttle .361 
 
 Kay’s flax spinning machinery .. .. 377 
 
 Kelley, Edward, magician .149 
 
 Killingsough. 64, 196, 639 
 
 Kilgrimol . 63,547 
 
 King’s evil.214 
 
 Page. 
 
 Kinlock’s power loom .373 
 
 Kirkham parish.539 
 
 Knights of the royal oak .206 
 
 Knighthood conferred on Lancashire 
 
 gentry. . 146, 160 
 
 Kuerden, Dr. 612, 661 
 
 L. 
 
 Labour and wages, legislative inter¬ 
 ference with .. .. 355, 400, etc., 422 
 
 Labour and capital.414 
 
 Ladies, Preston, beauty of the 222, 247, 
 248. 
 
 Lacy, Gilbert de. 100,102 
 
 Lancaster, county of, first mentioned 
 in history 97, made a palatinate ..126 
 Lancashire, Norman conquest of.. .. 100 
 Lancaster, Thomas earl of, executed 124 
 
 Lancashire plot.215 
 
 Lancaster, sieges of.173 
 
 Lancaster canal.386 
 
 Langho, battle at.68 
 
 Langdale, Sir Marmaduke.. 182,183, 186 
 Languages spoken in England .. 96, 121 
 Lang’s map of Preston in 1774, 33,46,429 
 Lathom house .. .. 134, 175, 178, 182 
 
 Law library.453 
 
 Law offices .. 498 
 
 Lea . 508, 530 
 
 Leland's description of Preston and 
 neighbourhood, in the reign of 
 
 Henry VIII. 138, 529 
 
 Leyland hundred . 99, 588 
 
 Leyland parish. 603 
 
 Lichfield, diocese of .58 
 
 Lieutenancy of Lancashire .136 
 
 Lilburne's victory over Sir R. Tempest 183 
 Lilburnes’s victory at Ribble bridge, 
 
 and Wigan lane.201 
 
 Linen manufacture .. 354, 360, etc., 424 
 
 Literary and Philosophical Institution451 
 Liverpool, sieges and battles at, 176, 180, 
 181. 
 
 Loaton common, battle at . 168 
 
 Lock-up. 313, 442, 
 
 Longovicus . 13, etc 
 
 Longridge . 583 
 
 Longridge fell, prospect from . 525 
 
 Longton.599 
 
 Loving cup, Queen Anne’s .305 
 
 Lund chapel . 542 
 
 Lytham. 63, 136, 396, 503, 564 
 
678 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 M. Page- 
 
 Mace, corporation . 271, 304 
 
 Mackintosh, Brigadier . 224 
 
 Mid-spit-well . 210, 645 
 
 Magistrates' court. 313, 442 
 
 Mamucium, (Manchester).. 31, etc., 632 
 Manchester massacre . 339 
 
 Manchester, military operations at 165, 
 168, 177,244. 
 
 Mancocunium, (Wigan).. 31,33, etc., 632 
 Manners and customs, Lancashire .. 143 
 
 Manor house, Preston.46 
 
 Map of Preston.429 
 
 Market, covered.. .. 307, 308, 309,310 
 
 Market place.209, 247, 432 
 
 Marston moor, battle of.180 
 
 Marsh, the.303 
 
 Martian statutes .261 
 
 Martyrs, Lancashire .139 
 
 Martin mere.507, 624 
 
 Mary's, St., church .477 
 
 Mary’s, St., schools .493 
 
 Mary's, St., chapel, (Catholic) .. .. 478 
 Maryport, (Glanoventa) 35, 37, etc., 638 
 
 Masques.155 
 
 Maudlands .48, 116, 172 
 
 Mayors.266, 314 
 
 Mayors, salary of .307 
 
 Mayors and bailiffs of Preston im¬ 
 prisoned in Skipton castle .. 180, 277 
 
 Mawdesley.626 
 
 Mechanical inventions, influence of .. 377 
 
 Mechanics’ Institution.449 
 
 Mediolanum.31, etc., 637 
 
 Members of parliament for Preston, 
 
 list of.349 
 
 Meols. 506, 627 
 
 Merchant adventures, society of.. .. 353 
 Merse officer's journal of the siege of 
 
 Preston,in 1715 .221 
 
 Methodist chapels.483 
 
 Michael's, St., parish.558 
 
 Military levies.139 
 
 Militia stores.441 
 
 Miracle plays.156 
 
 Mitre Inn, Preston, in 1715.231 
 
 Monasteries. 115, 136 
 
 Moor, Preston . 268,303 
 
 Moor-park.436 
 
 Morals, public.379 
 
 Moralities (plays) ..156 
 
 Page. 
 
 Moricambe /Estuarium .. 13, 36, etc. 
 
 Mormons . 484 
 
 Morris dances and May-games .. .. 157 
 Morte, Adam, mayor.. 169, 171, 276, 432 
 
 Mote hills . Ill, 561 
 
 Much Hoole parish .620 
 
 Mule-jenny.372 
 
 Muncaster (Alione) .35,638 
 
 Municipal government.257 
 
 Municipalities, Saxon and Roman .. 262 
 
 Municipalities, Norman.263 
 
 Municipal property in Preston, value 
 
 of. 278,306 
 
 Municipal Reform Act.302 
 
 Myerscough. 151,538 
 
 Myres’s maps of Preston.431 
 
 Mysteries (plays) . 155 
 
 N. 
 
 Nairn, Major, etc., execution of. .. 236 
 
 Naseby, battle of .182 
 
 Naze point.506 
 
 Nelson, Lord, Lancashire relatives of, 626 
 
 New Jerusalem church .484 
 
 Ninias, Welsh missionary.63 
 
 Nomination boroughs.327 
 
 Non-jurors, laws against . 241 
 
 Norman conquest of Lancashire .. .. 100 
 
 Norman castles.103 
 
 Norreis, Roger, profligate prior of 
 
 Penwortham.591 
 
 Northumbria.58, etc., 98 
 
 Notitia Imperii. .. 25 
 
 O. 
 
 Oaks, ancient . 521 
 
 Obelisk.434 
 
 Oglevie, Mr., wounded in 1715 .. .. 228 
 
 Old Dog Lad .538 
 
 Orchard. 429, 436 
 
 Ormskirk, Sir Jno. Mildurm’s vic¬ 
 tory, near.181 
 
 Osbaldestone . 522, 574, 647 
 
 Oswald, King, death of .65 
 
 Overseers’ offices . 443 
 
 Oxen, extinct . 9, 45 
 
 P. 
 
 Pack-horses . 382 
 
 Palmer, R.661 
 
 Parish church . 63, 99, 127, 
 
 134, 212, 223, 461. 
 
INDEX, 
 
 679 
 
 \ 
 
 Page. 
 
 Parliaments. 122, 323, etc. 
 
 Parliamentary representation.. 282, 321, 
 
 do. list of members.319 
 
 Parliament, long .1C2 
 
 Parliaments, duration of .. .. 327, 328 
 
 Past and Present, the.381 
 
 Patten-house. 46, 223, 430 
 
 Patten’s, Rev. Mr., description of 
 
 siege of Preston, in 1715 .219 
 
 Paulinus.62 
 
 Paul's, St., church.476 
 
 Paul’s, St., schools.492 
 
 Peace rejoicings.312 
 
 Peggy, Long Preston.249 
 
 Pendle witches. 147, 150 
 
 Pennystone.552 
 
 Penwortham.... 48, 100, 102, 508, 589 
 
 Peploe, Rev. Samuel.220, 534 
 
 Peter's, St., church.475 
 
 Peter’s, St., schools .... .... 492 
 
 Peterloo, Hunt at Manchester . .. 339 
 
 Phoenicians. 2, 17 
 
 Pilling moss. 6 
 
 Piets and Scots.55, 65 
 
 Pilgrimage of grace.137 
 
 Pie-poudre, court of. 272, 561 
 
 Plagues .. .. 126, 134, 139, 146, 199, 355 
 
 Plate, corporation.305 
 
 Pleasington.573 
 
 Plots. 140, 146, 215 
 
 Poictou, Roger de. 99, 102 
 
 Police-station . 313, 442 
 
 Poor-laws and the poor, 274,'281, 217, 
 414.—See Labour. 
 
 Population of Preston 213, 428, 430 
 
 Population of England and Wales, 99, 213 
 Porches in the front of houses in 
 Preston, voted a nuisance 273 
 
 Portmote .259 
 
 Port of Preston .308, 391, etc. 
 
 Porter’s, Robert, map . . 38,225 
 
 Post office . 307 
 
 Poulton parish. 553 
 
 Power-loom inventions 373 
 
 Power-looms, number of 375 
 
 Press, the . 453 
 
 Preston, rise of.69 
 
 Preston in the 17th century .. 208, 426 
 
 Preston in the 18th century . 248, 426 
 
 Preston in the 19th century . . 430 
 
 Preston quays.396 
 
 I’age. 
 
 Preston, Walter de, slain . 114 
 
 Preston, John . 663 
 
 Preston, Thomas, comedian.663 
 
 Preston parish and township.530 
 
 Preston, situation of . 500 
 
 Pretender’s standard .232 
 
 Primitive episcopalian chapel.483 
 
 Primitive methodist chapel.483 
 
 Printing, calico . 376 
 
 Priory, Penwortham . 136, 591 
 
 Priory, Lytham . 547 
 
 Privateering .. ...384 
 
 Prize money . 384 
 
 Property, value of, in Lancashire .. 102 
 Property, value of, in Preston, etc., 127, 
 204, 268. 
 
 Provident societies.496 
 
 Ptolemy’s geography of Lancashire.. 13 
 Public-houses, municipal regulations 274 
 
 Punch-bowl, corporation . ..305 
 
 Puritans.161 
 
 Q. 
 
 Quaker’s letter on siege of Preston, 
 
 in 1715 . 239 
 
 Querns (hand corn mills).42 
 
 R. 
 
 Races of men in Lancashire.93 
 
 Radcliffe and Ross’ power-loom .. . 374 
 
 Ragged schools.495 
 
 Railways.389 
 
 Railway stations .447 
 
 Ray’s, Mr. James, of Whitehaven, 
 account of rebels' visit to Preston 
 
 in 1745 . 243 
 
 Rebellion, great .163 
 
 Rebellion in 1715 219 
 
 Rebellion in 1745 .. ..... 241 
 
 Reclaimed land in the Ribble valley 399 
 
 Recorders of Preston.317 
 
 Recreation, honest (book of sports).. 157 
 
 Red-scar.519 
 
 Reformatory school, north Lancashire 564 
 
 Reformation, the .136 
 
 Reform Act. 343 
 
 Refractory bailiffs, aldermen, aud 
 
 councillors .280 
 
 Remains of Cromwell’s victory over 
 the Duke of Hamilton at Preston., 196 
 Remains of siege of Preston, in 1715.. 228 
 
680 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Relics of 1745 .248 
 
 Restoration of Charles II.204 
 
 Restrictions upon trade .. .. 285, 287 
 Retreat of Prince Charles Edward 
 Stuart through Preston, in 1745 .. 248 
 
 Reves, Saxon .266 
 
 Ribble .13, 38, etc., 500 
 
 Ribble, improvements in navigation 
 
 of. . .. 307, 308, 391, etc. 
 
 Ribble bridge, military operations at, 181, 
 183, 194, 201, 223, 242. 
 
 Ribbleton moor, battle at.183 
 
 Ribbleton .535 
 
 Ribchester(Rigodunum) 13, etc., 50, 500, 
 523, 575, 631, 647. 
 
 Richard of Cirencester’s description 
 
 of Britain.14 
 
 Ditto itinera.15, 24 
 
 Rigby, Alexander. 163, 177, 179 
 
 Rigodunum (Ribchester) .. 13, etc., 50 
 
 Riots, chartist.417 
 
 Riots, machinery .365, 373, etc. 
 
 Riots,election,etc.,331, 334, etc., 344,345 
 Ripon monastery (grant of lands on 
 
 the Ribble) .63, 69 
 
 Rivers in Amounderness.528 
 
 Roads. 47, 211 
 
 Roberts’s double mule.372 
 
 Rogues, vagabonds, etc., laws and 
 
 orders against. 274, 281 
 
 Rollers, spinning by .362 
 
 Roman invasion . 4 
 
 Roman posts, (CursusPublicus).. .. 30 
 
 Roman remains 6, 12, 23, 33, 38, 48, 50, 
 110, 118, 524, 539, 576, 609, 613. 
 Roman roads 21, 28, 36, 45, 48, 524, 596, 
 540, 641. 
 
 Roman ships.22 
 
 Roman station, discovery of, atWalton 27 
 Roman topography of Lancashire 36, 49, 
 52, 631. 
 
 Roman population of England .. .. 95 
 
 Roman speculae. 509, 520 
 
 Roman catholic chapels.478 
 
 Roman catholic schools .494 
 
 Rossall . 141,554 
 
 Roses, wars of the.129 
 
 Royal burghs in Lancashire.268 
 
 Rufford.618 
 
 Rupert, Prince. 179, 182 
 
 Russian war.312 
 
 Page. 
 
 Rushton, Rev. Edward . 663 
 
 S. 
 
 Sabbath regulations, municipal .. .. 274 
 
 Salesbury .575 
 
 Salesbury, military ruse at .170 
 
 Salmon, Ribble .. 129, 509, 519, 592 
 
 Salwick.542 
 
 Samian ware .44 
 
 Samlesbury.569 
 
 Samlesbury witches .147 
 
 Saxon, etc., superstitions.62, 92 
 
 Saxon pound .100 
 
 Saxon remains.103 
 
 Schools.486 
 
 Scotch, confusion of traditions res¬ 
 pecting invasions by the.. 39, 249, 461 
 Seals, corporation, etc. 120, 269, 306,646 
 
 Seed’s patent presser.377 
 
 Self-denying ordnance.182 
 
 Sequestration of estates .. 177,180,182, 
 203, 240. 
 
 Sessions.499 
 
 Setantiorum Portus .. 13, 36, etc., 350, 
 
 507, 642. 
 
 Seteia iEstuarium. 13, 36, etc. 
 
 Shakeshaft’s map of Preston.430 
 
 Shambles .208 
 
 Sharrock, Dr.663 
 
 Shepherd, Dr. 252, 255, 448, 663 
 
 Ship building on the Ribble.399 
 
 Shires, origin of .67 
 
 Sieges, battles, etc., at or near Preston 119 
 124, 164, 170, 173, 183, 219, 243. 
 
 Shuttleworth, Mr.163, etc. 
 
 Simnel’s landing at the Pyle of Foudra 132 
 Sistuntii, Setantii, or Segantii .. 3, 511 
 
 Slave trade.385 
 
 Slaves, feudal .401 
 
 Society of Arts.451 
 
 Southport . 627 
 
 Southworth, Rev. R.664 
 
 Speculse Roman.48 
 
 Spinning machinery.361, etc. 
 
 Sports, Lancashire .. . 155 
 
 Squares.210 
 
 Standish, Roman remains found at .. 33 
 
 Stanley, Lord, at Bosworth.132 
 
 Stanley, Sir William, execution of .. 133 
 Stanley, Sir Edward, at Flodden .. 135 
 Statistics of trade and commerce 375, 423 
 Statue of Sir Robert Peel.433 
 
INDEX. 
 
 68 1 
 
 Page. 
 
 Star chamber, branch at Preston .. 1G1 
 
 Steam power .376 
 
 Steam vessels . 388, 390 
 
 Steamers on the Ribble .. .. 396, 398 
 
 Stephen, King, at Preston .112 
 
 Stephenson’s-terrace.435 
 
 Stonygate .34, 210 
 
 Stonyhurst college.586 
 
 Strange, Lord. 163, etc. 
 
 Streets .209 
 
 Strikes and lock-outs .. .. 400, 414, 418 
 
 Stuarts, infatuation of the.205 
 
 Stuart, Prince Charles Edward, at 
 
 Preston .241 
 
 Stydd church . 524, 582 
 
 Submarine forest. 398, 505 
 
 Suffrage.. .. 282, 322, 327, 328, 332, 343 
 
 Sufferings of the people .. 180, 181, 198, 
 387, 390, 416, 419. 
 
 Subterranean passage at Penwortham, 
 
 supposed . 508, 594 
 
 Swine, municipal regulations respect¬ 
 ing .280 
 
 T. 
 
 Talbot schools, (Catholic).494 
 
 Tallies, election.340 
 
 Tarleton parish.622 
 
 Temperance hall .447 
 
 Test and Corporation Act.205 
 
 Teutons. 1 , 57 
 
 Theatre Royal. 447 
 
 Thomas’s, St., church.477 
 
 Thomas’s, St., schools.493 
 
 Thornhaugh, Col., death of.191 
 
 Threlfall, Edmund, death of, at Goos- 
 
 nargh.215 
 
 Thurland castle, siege of.176 
 
 Tildesley, Sir Thomas, 163, etc., 200, 
 202, 539. 
 
 Tithings, origin of.67 
 
 Token, Preston.207 
 
 Tootell, Rev. Hugh .664 
 
 Tosti, Earl.98 
 
 Town-hall . 208,270,311,347 
 
 Townley, Col. Francis.243 
 
 Trade and commerce. 351, 423 
 
 Trade, Roman, Saxon, and Norman.. 352 
 
 Transit, means of.381 
 
 Trinity church. 475 
 
 Trinity schools. 493 
 
 Tulketh. 49, 117, 509 
 
 Page. 
 
 Tumuli, Saxon. 66, 640 
 
 Turner, Sir. James, at the battle of 
 Preston .193 
 
 U. 
 
 Unitarian chapel .482 
 
 y. 
 
 Vagabonds and mendicants .. 403, etc. 
 
 Value of land .102 
 
 Value of household furniture, etc. .. 207 
 
 Vaux-hall-road chapel.483 
 
 Vaux-hall, Blackpool.214 
 
 Veratiuum . 13, etc. 
 
 Vicars of Preston.473 
 
 Vicarage.210 
 
 Victoria, Queen, at Fleetwood and 
 
 Preston . 309, 310 
 
 Victoria, Queen, marriage of.307 
 
 Volantii.3, 511 
 
 Volunteers, Preston .. .. 256, 287, 386 
 
 W. 
 
 Wages, (see labour) . 
 
 Walburge’s, St., church (Catholic) 117, 
 
 480. 
 
 Walburge’s, St., schools.494 
 
 Wallace, Sir William.122 
 
 Walters, Theobald.. 102, 112, 114, 528 
 Walton-le-dale, (Coccium) .. 13, etc., 33, 
 510, 566, 647. 
 
 Wapentake court . 267, 499 
 
 Warrington, sieges and battles at 176, 186 
 
 Waterspout, destructive.586 
 
 Waterworks, Preston.. 213, 313, 445, 645 
 Waterworks, Fylde, projected .. .. 558 
 Watling-street .... 21, 32, 47, 99, 537 
 
 W T att’s steam-engine.376 
 
 Weever, Dr. 149, 664 
 
 Wells, public . 280, 281, 446 
 
 Werdon. 008, 644 
 
 Wesleyan chapels.483 
 
 Wesleyan schools. 495 
 
 Whalley, battles near .. .. 66 , 175, 640 
 
 Whalley, abbot of, executed.137 
 
 Wheelton.015 
 
 Whittingham . 540 
 
 Whittle springs. 50, 014 
 
 Whittle-le-woods.013 
 
 William III.215 
 
 Wills, General.222 
 
 Wigan, sieges and battles at or near, 59, 
 174, 189, 201. 
 
t? f? (S £ p? t? 
 
 G82 
 
 PRESTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Wilfrid, Bishop.G3, 69 
 
 Wilfrid, St., chapel (Catholic) .. .. 479 
 
 Wilfrid, St., schools .494 
 
 Winckley club.453 
 
 inckley-square .434 
 
 inwick, battle of.. 65, 189, 639 
 
 itches, Lancashire .. .. 143, 222, 248 
 
 itchcraft. 146, 150 
 
 ithnell.618 
 
 ittenagemot, Saxon.68 
 
 Wodnesfield, battle of.72, 77 
 
 Woollen manufacture.. 281, 354, 3G7, 423 
 
 
 Page. 
 
 Woodplumpton. 
 
 .559 
 
 Woods, General. 
 
 . .. 223, 238 
 
 Worcester, battle of .. . 
 
 .202 
 
 Workhouse. 
 
 . .. 212, 281 
 
 Wyatt’s inventions. 
 
 .362 
 
 Y. 
 
 York, ecclesiastics of, grant of lands 
 to, near Ribble in Hacmunderness 84 
 Young Men’s Club.646 
 
 Z. 
 
 Zoar chapel 
 
 482 
 
LIST OF SUBSCRIBEES. 
 
 Ashworth, Henry, The Oaks, Bolton. 
 Ascroft, Robert, Preston. 
 
 Armstrong, Councillor Francis, Preston. 
 Atkinson, James, ,, 
 
 Armstrong, Councillor Henry, „ 
 Ashfield, Charles Joseph, „ 
 
 Armstead, James, „ 
 
 Abraham, John, „ 
 
 Ambler, W. R., 
 
 Adamson, J., ,, 
 
 Anderton, David, „ 
 
 Anderton, Peter, Coppul, near Staudish. 
 Alexander, John, Preston. 
 
 Ascroft, William, „ 
 
 Ainsworth, William ,, 
 
 Arrowsmith, Robert „ 
 
 Allen, Anthony, Ashton. 
 
 Ashworth, R., Walton-le-dale. 
 
 Anderton, Robert, Lostock. 
 
 Aitken, W., Ashton-under-Lyne. 
 Armstrong, Rev. A. T., Ashton-upon- 
 Ribble. 
 
 Ainsworth, William, Fleetwood. 
 
 Blackburne, J. Ireland, Hale, Warrington. 
 Brown, Alderman, F.R.C.S., Preston. 
 Busliell, Joseph, Myerscough. 
 
 Boardman, William, Farington house. 
 Bowdon, John Butler, Pleasington hall, 
 Blackburn. 
 
 Banks, William, Preston. 
 
 Burnett, Thomas, Hutton. 
 
 Blackburn, R. H., Preston. 
 
 Billington, Councillor Leonard, Preston. 
 Burlington, the Right Hon. the Earl of, 
 Holker hall, Milnthorpe. 
 
 Basliall, William, Farington lodge. 
 Brandreth, John Moss, Preston. 
 Backhouse, Mrs., Preston. 
 
 Baldwin, Mrs., Ockbrook, Derby. 
 
 Bamber, S. I., Douglas, Isle of Man. 
 Bairstow, John, Preston. 
 
 Brown, Luke, Kirkham. 
 
 Barrett, John, Blackpool. 
 
 Barker, Thomas, Preston. 
 
 Booth, William, Manchester. 
 
 Booth, John, Green Bank Morton, Man¬ 
 chester. 
 
 Bolton, James, Preston. 
 
 Boimy, John, ,, 
 
 Bramwell, John, „ 
 
 Banks, Thomas, „ 
 
 Booth & Co’s., H., Book Society, Preston. 
 Birdsworth, William, Lytham. 
 Bickersteth, Robert, Liverpool. 
 
 Bevan, R., Freckleton house, Wigan. 
 Broughton, H.H., M.D., etc., Preston. 
 Birkett, Charles, Clayton villa, Fulwood. 
 Booth, Councillor, J. B., Preston. 
 
 Bibby, Walter, ,, 
 
 Bilsborough, Robert, „ 
 
 Blackhurst, William, „ 
 
 Burnet, Robert, „ 
 
 Birley, Thomas Langton, Kirkham. 
 Blackhurst, James, Liverpool. 
 Bannerman, Charles, Preston. 
 
 Burrow, James, jun., ,, 
 
 Breakell, Councillor Thomas, Preston 
 Brooks, F., 
 
 Bannister, Duke, ,, 
 
 Bell, Jas Alexander, „ 
 
 Brown, Matthew, „ 
 
 Bamber, John, „ 
 
 Begg, William, ,, 
 
 Brown, R., „ 
 
 Birley, Edmund, Clifton hall. 
 
 Blackhurst, John, Preston. 
 
 Birchall, Thomas, Ribbletou hall. 
 
 Briggs, J., Preston. 
 
 Bickersteth, Edmund, Liverpool. 
 
 Crosse, Thomas Bright, Shaw hill, Chorlev. 
 Cook, Miss Eliza, London. 
 
 Carr, Councillor James, Preston. 
 
 Clark, Thos. Rev., M.A., „ 
 
 Clark, Thomas, ,, 
 
 Cope, J. G., B.A., „ 
 
 Catterall, William, „ 
 
G84 
 
 list of subscribers.— Continued. 
 
 Crookall, Charles, Canada. 
 
 Clarkson, Joseph, Ribcliester. 
 
 Coward, W., Preston. 
 
 Coward, R., „ 
 
 Croft, John, „ 
 
 Clegg, John, London. 
 
 Clough, Councillor Thomas, Blackburn. 
 Cowell, John, Preston. 
 
 Capstick, John, „ 
 
 Coulthart, John Ross, F.S.A., Mayor of 
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 Clarke, Thomas, Preston. 
 
 Crook, James, „ 
 
 Clemmey, Arthur „ 
 
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 Clare, Charles St., Preston. 
 
 Cross, Richard Assheton, M.P., London. 
 Cartwright, Samuel, Preston. 
 
 Croft, William, Burnley. 
 
 Dobson, W., Preston. 
 
 Dewhurst, Jolin „ 
 
 Dixon, Thomas, „ 
 
 Dodd, Thomas, „ 
 
 Daynes, Samuel, Norwich. 
 
 Durham, W., Blackburn. 
 
 Duckett, Thomas, Preston. 
 
 Dixon, Robert, „ 
 
 Dewhurst, John, „ 
 
 Dawson, Pudsey, Hornby Castle, Lancaster. 
 Dixon, B., Preston. 
 
 Douglas, William, Preston. 
 
 Drennan, W., „ 
 
 Duxbury, John, „ 
 
 Davies, B. G., Merther Tydvil, Wales. 
 Dodd, Henry, Fleetwood. 
 
 Eastham, Councillor Thomas, Walton-le- 
 dale. 
 
 Eastham, Councillor George, Preston. 
 Eckersley, Peter, „ 
 
 Eccleston, John, „ 
 
 Embley, Robert, „ 
 
 Eglin, Richard, Penwortham. 
 
 Eastham, George, Preston. 
 
 Eccles, John, Wellfield, Leyland. 
 Eddleston, Thomas, Preston. 
 
 Farington, Mrs., Worden Hall, Leyland. 
 Farnworth, Henry, Preston. 
 
 Fish wick, Crane, Scorton, near Garstang. 
 Fare, Daniel, Poulton-le-Fylde. 
 
 Fort, William, Preston. 
 
 Farrington, Isaac, ,, 
 
 France, Robert, ,, 
 
 Feilden, John, Mollington Hall, Chester. 
 Fisher, William, Preston. 
 
 Foster, Edward, „ 
 
 Feilden, Joseph, Witton Park, Blackburn. 
 Fair, James, Warton Lodge, Lytham. 
 Foster, George, Fleetwood. 
 
 Fox, William, Lancaster. 
 
 Friends’ Book Society, Preston. 
 
 Grenfell, Charles Pascoe, M.P., Taplow 
 Court, Windsor. (Two copies.) 
 
 Green, Joseph, Preston. 
 
 Garth, John, „ 
 
 Grundy, Thomas, ,, 
 
 Grindrod, John, Blackpool. 
 
 Greenwood, Joseph, Rochdale. 
 
 Goodwin, -. Bolton. 
 
 Greaves, J. J., Preston 
 Grayston, H., ,, 
 
 Grime, R, „ 
 
 Grosvenor, W. H., London. 
 
 Grenside, Rev. W. B., Melling vicarage, 
 Lancaster. 
 
 Gillct, John, Manor house, Fulwood. 
 Glover, Isaac, Preston. 
 
 Gilbertson, J. B., ,, 
 
 Gardner, Robert, „ 
 
 Gillett, Thomas, „ 
 
 Guthrie, John, Bradford. 
 
 Graham, John, Goosnargh Hospital. 
 Gardner, Richard Cardwell, Newsham 
 house, Liverpool. 
 
 Hornby, Edmund, Dalton Hall, West¬ 
 moreland. 
 
 Heywood, James, London. 
 
 Hoghton, Sir H. Bold, Bart., Torquay. 
 Devonshire. 
 
 Hornby, Rev. James J., Winwick Hall, 
 Warrington. 
 
 Hull, Rev. John, Vicarage, Poulton. 
 Hebdon, Rev. Geoffrey, Preston Patrick, 
 Westmoreland. 
 
 Hansbrow, Capt., Lancaster Castle. 
 Horrocks, John, Preston. 
 
 Hornby, Mrs., Lytham. 
 
 Harrison, Mrs., Old Hall, Samlesbury. 
 Hunt, Councillor Robert, Longton. 
 Hollins, Edward, Penwortham Priory. 
 Howarth, Thomas, Preston. 
 
 Horrocks, Mrs. S., Preston. 
 
 Holland, W., „ 
 
 Hobson, John, „ 
 
 Heatlicoate, H. „ 
 
 Heathcoate, Miss A., „ 
 
 Hankinson, John, „ 
 
 Harrison, William, Blackburn. 
 
 Hesketh, Sir Thomas George, Bart., 
 Rufford hall, Ormskirk. 
 
 Hunter, J. L., Wigan. 
 
 Hinde, John Hodgson, Acton house, 
 N orthumberland. 
 
list of subscribers.— Continued. 
 
 685 
 
 Hargreaves, John, Blackburn. 
 
 Howartli, John, Preston. 
 
 Hogg, John „ 
 
 Halsall, John, „ 
 
 Hayhurst, John, ,, 
 
 Harrison, John, Fulwood. 
 
 Hulton, W. A., Hurst Grange, Pen- 
 wortham. 
 
 Hayes, Thomas, Liverpool. 
 
 Hammerton, Thomas, Preston. 
 
 Harrison, Miss., „ 
 
 Harrison, John, ,, 
 
 Hale, G. C., Knowsley, Prescot. 
 Harrison, Edward, Preston. 
 
 Hornby, Richard, „ 
 
 Heywood, Sir Benjamin, Bart., Claremont, 
 Manchester. 
 
 Harrison, James, Valentine House, 
 Cottam. 
 
 Inman, R., Preston. 
 
 Institution for the Diffusion of Knowledge. 
 Ivers, James, Preston. 
 
 Isherwood, Councillor Joseph, Preston. 
 Institution, Literary and Philosophical, 
 Preston. 
 
 Jacson, Charles Roger, Barton Lodge, 
 Preston. (Two copies.) 
 
 Jacson, John, Oakhurst, Hindley, Wigan. 
 Jackson, Mr., Preston. 
 
 Jesper, Joseph, „ 
 
 Johnson, John, ,, 
 
 Jones, T. L., „ 
 
 Jones, J. E., ,, 
 
 Kershaw, Rev, J. C., Walton-le-Dale. 
 Kirby, William, Preston. 
 
 Kitton, Rev. J., Hutton. 
 
 Knowles, Jolin, Lytbam. 
 
 Lyon, John, Preston. 
 
 Lambert, Mr., Catterall, near Garstang. 
 Lowndes, E. C., Preston. (Two copies.) 
 Lund, James, Chipping. 
 
 Leigh, Ralph, Preston. (Two copies.) 
 Luff, Thomas, Liverpool. 
 
 Lee, Henry, Preston. 
 
 Lyon, Thomas, Appleton Hall, Warrington. 
 Langton, William, Manchester. 
 
 Livesey, Joseph, Preston. 
 
 Livesey, R. N., Lytham. 
 
 Livesey, Robert, Preston. 
 
 Liddell, William, ,, 
 
 Longwortli, John „ 
 
 Lawe, Robert, the Larches, Ashton. 
 Ladyman, Thomas, Preston. 
 
 Lancashire and Cheshire Historic Society. 
 Lawson. R., Preston. 
 
 Lancaster, W., Preston. 
 
 Manchester, the Right Rev. the Lord 
 Bishop of 
 
 Myres, Councillor J. J., Preston. 
 
 Monk, Alderman Thomas, Preston. 
 Marginson, James, Fleetwood. 
 
 Morrell, John, Beach Villa, Ley land. 
 Marshall, William, Penwortliam Hall. 
 Marshall, George, Preston. 
 
 Mould, George, London. (Two copies.) 
 Melling, E. U., Ashton. 
 
 Milburn, Thomas, Preston. 
 
 Moss, Thomas, „ 
 
 Martang, F., „ 
 
 Mulby, Thomas, „ 
 
 Myres, Councillor Miles, Preston. 
 
 Mason, W., London. 
 
 Meek, Brothers, Preston. 
 
 Noble, M., London. 
 
 Newsham, Richard, Preston. 
 
 Naylor, P., „ 
 
 Norris, Dr., „ 
 
 Newsham, Mrs. James, Preston. 
 
 Oldfield, R. A., Sierra Leone. 
 
 Ord, Thomas, Preston. 
 
 Oddie, Thomas, „ 
 
 Omerod, George, D.C.L., F.R.S., Sedbury 
 Park, Chepstow. 
 
 Osborne, Rev. G. Y., Fleetwood. 
 
 Oliverson, Richard, Preston. 
 
 Oxendale, Thomas, „ 
 
 Osborne, Rev. W. A., Rossall, Fleetwood. 
 
 Pedder, Alderman Edward, Ashton Park. 
 Patten, Col. J. Wilson, M. P., Bank Hall, 
 Warrington. 
 
 Pedder, Mrs., Leamington. 
 
 Pedder, Rev. John, Churchtown, Gars¬ 
 tang. 
 
 Parker, Robert Townley, Cuerden Hall. 
 (Three copies.) 
 
 Parker, Thomas Townley, Astley hall, 
 Chorley. 
 
 Pedder, Councillor H. N., W r hinfield, 
 Ashton. 
 
 Peet, Henry, Carlisle. 
 
 Paley, Councillor William, Preston. 
 
 Pye, George, Preston. 
 
 Parker, James, Liverpool. 
 
 Pollard, Mrs., Chorley, 
 
 Phillips. Thomas, Preston. 
 
 Park, J. H., 
 
 Pertoke, F., „ 
 
 Plant, W. H., 
 
 Tickup, L. P., Broad Green, Liverpool. 
 Tedder, Alderman Richard, Preston. 
 
686 
 
 list of subscribers.— Continued. 
 
 Procter, William, Preston. 
 
 Preston, Rev George, Wlialley. 
 
 Parr, Rev. Henry, Vicarage, Taunton. 
 Park, Thomas, Preston. 
 
 Parker, Councillor James, Preston. 
 Preston, William, Liverpool. 
 
 Parry, William, Preston. 
 
 Parker, George, „ 
 
 Priest, William, ,, 
 
 Pilkington, W. O., the Willows, Ashton. 
 Park, Philip, Preston. 
 
 Powell, Thomas, „ 
 
 Pedder, Capt. Thomas, 7th Hussars. 
 Pedder, Capt. Charles Denison, 39th Regt. 
 Price, Rev. T., Aberdare, South Wales. 
 
 Roberts, R. W., London. 
 
 Rossall, John, Blackpool. 
 
 Richards, R. E., Kirkham. 
 
 Riley, Richard, Preston. 
 
 Rodgett, R. B., Walton-le-dale. 
 
 Roscoe, Miss, Preston. 
 
 Richson, R., „ 
 
 Roebank, Jonathan, Preston. 
 
 Reay, James, Liverpool. 
 
 Rawstorne, Rev. R. A., Hutton Hall. 
 Rawcliffe, John, Broughton. 
 
 Raw, Councillor John, Preston. 
 
 Rigby, John, Preston. 
 
 Robinson, Richard, „ 
 
 Rodgett, William, Woodplumpton. 
 Robinson, Mrs,, Preston. 
 
 Roberts, W. J., Cross Mount, Aughton, 
 Ormskirk. 
 
 Rawes, S., Preston. 
 
 Rogerson, John, Preston. 
 
 Rishton, J. G. M., London. 
 
 Richardson, John, Kendal. 
 
 Rock, Brothers, and Payne, London. 
 
 Roe, James, London. 
 
 Roylance, Councillor Oliver, Blackburn. 
 Richmond, Frederick, Manchester. 
 
 Spencer, Lawrence, Mayor of Preston. 
 Swainson, W. B., Cooper hill, Walton- 
 le-dale. 
 
 Smith, Councillor George, Beech Grove, 
 Moor Park, Preston. 
 
 Swainson, Charles, Cooper hill, Walton- 
 le-dale. 
 
 Shilleto, Rev. Wm., Bleasdale Parsonage. 
 Smith, Rev. H. R., Preston. 
 
 Salts, Robert, „ 
 
 Summersgill, Robert, ,, 
 
 Stanley, Henry, „ 
 
 Sharrock, J. ,, 
 
 Shorage, George, ,, 
 
 Schofield, John, Bradford. 
 
 Street, Benjamin, Workswortli. 
 
 Sudell, John, Finland, Russia. 
 
 Simpson, Rev. Samuel, Isle of Man. 
 Singleton, Thomas, Preston. 
 
 Swarbrick, George, ,, 
 
 Sparrow, Councillor John, Blackburn. 
 Sykes, James, Breck House, Poulton-le- 
 Fylde. 
 
 Shawe, Alderman William, Preston. 
 Smith, William, ,, 
 
 South worth. John, „ 
 
 Smith, Councillor Samuel, Charnley house, 
 Fulwood. 
 
 Smith, Thomas, Ashton. 
 
 Sharpies, George, Preston. 
 
 Stout, George, ,, 
 
 Stanley, Daniel, „ 
 
 Settle, S. I., Whittle Springs. 
 
 Seward, Charles, Preston. 
 
 Swarbrick, Thomas. 
 
 Stanley, the Right Hon. Lord, M.P., 
 London. 
 
 Strickland, Sir George, Bart., Newton 
 House, near Malton. 
 
 Simpson, Isaac, Preston. 
 
 Swarbrick, Rev. Edward, Preston. 
 Sergenson, Thomas, Longridge. 
 
 I Syms, William, Chorley. 
 
 Smith Robert, Longridge. 
 
 Tabley, the Right Hon. Lord de, Tabley 
 House, Cheshire. 
 
 Threlfall, W., Preston. 
 
 Threlfall, Councillor Richard, Preston. 
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 Threlfall, Thomas, jun., Preston. 
 
 Turner, John, Preston. 
 
 Taylor, E. 
 
 Toulmin, George, Bolton. 
 
 Tait, Miss, Lytham. 
 
 Troughton, T. M., Walton Hall. 
 
 Teale, Councillor George, Preston. 
 
 Tipping, Thomas, Preston. 
 
 Taylor, John, Preston. 
 
 Taylor, W., ,, 
 
 Thompson, Mrs., Kirkham. 
 
 Tuson, Miss, Preston. 
 
 Thornley, Jeremiah, Preston. 
 
 Thompson, R. T., Preston. 
 
 Valliant, Thomas, Freston. 
 
 Vernon, Rev. William, Cambridge. 
 
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 Wilcocksou, Isaac, Preston. (Two copies.) 
 Watson, Councillor William, Preston. 
 Warbreck, Miss, Fleetwood. 
 
 Wilson, Miss, Lytham. 
 
 Wilson, Edward, Broughton. 
 
 Walmsley, John, Hoghton. 
 
list of subscribers.— Continued. 
 
 687 
 
 Watson, Councillor John, Durham. 
 Walmsley, Alderman Thomas, Preston. 
 War die, W„ 
 
 Waddington, J., ,, 
 
 Whitehead, John, ,, 
 
 Winstanley, S. A., ,, 
 
 Worthington, John, ,, 
 
 Wilkinson, J. T., F.R.A.S., Burnley. 
 Whittaker, Robert, Walton-le-dalo. 
 Wallaey, R., Penwortham Priory. 
 Wilkins, W., Longton. 
 
 Winstanley, John, Preston. 
 
 Walker, John, ,, 
 
 Woods, Councillor Joseph, Preston. 
 Walker, Thomas, „ 
 
 White, Thomas, ,, 
 
 Whitehead, John, „ 
 
 Williamson, J. B., „ 
 
 Watson, Richard, Preston. 
 Walker, H., „ 
 
 Winder, James, ,, 
 
 Wilding, George, ,, 
 
 Watson, R, G., „ 
 
 Whittaker, John. „ 
 
 Wood, Richard, „ 
 
 Woodhead, Thomas, Bradford. 
 Wilding, George, Ribbleton. 
 'Worthington, Richard, London. 
 Worthington, William, Blackpool. 
 Waugh, Edwin, Manchester. 
 
 Young, Murdo, London. 
 
 Y r ates, Councillor R., Preston. 
 Yates, James, „ 
 
 Yates, Thomas, „ 
 
 N I s. 
 
 WORTHINGTON AND CO., PRINTERS, TOWN nALL CORNER, PRESTON.