Chapter 8 of 28 · 12135 words · ~61 min read

CHAPTER VII

PARISH OF POULTON-LE-FYLDE.

POULTON. The ancient town and port of Poulton occupies the summit of a gentle ascent about one mile removed from the waters of Wyre at Skippool, and three from the Irish Sea at Blackpool. Between 1080 and ’86, Poltun, as it was written in the Norman Survey, contained no more than two carucates of land under tillage, or in an arable condition, so that out of the 900 acres composing the township, only 200 were cultivated by the inhabitants. A considerable proportion of the entire area of the township, however, would be covered with lofty trees, and provide excellent forage ground for large herds of swine, which formed the chief live-stock dealt in by our Anglo-Saxon and early Norman ancestors. Taking this into consideration, the comparatively small amount of soil devoted to agriculture, may not, indeed, indicate so meagre a population about the close of the eleventh century as otherwise it would seem to do, but still the evidence adduced is barely sufficient whereon to base the assumption that the antecedents of Poulton had been less under the destructive influence of the Danes than those of its neighbours. Regarding the locality more retrospectively, and turning back, for a brief space, to the era of the Romans, it must be admitted that nothing has as yet been discovered which could be construed into an intimation that the followers of Agricola, or their descendants, ever had a settlement or encampment on the site. It is true that the churchyard has yielded up many specimens of their ancient coinage, whilst others have been found at no great distance, but the character of the relics is in no way suggestive of a sojournment, like that of the fragmentary domestic utensils and urns of Kirkham; and when it is remembered that the much-used Roman road (Dane’s Pad) leading to the most important harbour of the west coast, passed through the vicinity on its way towards the Warren of Rossall, the explanation of the presence of the coins, as of other antiquities along its line, is obvious. The name of the town and district now under examination is of pure Anglo-Saxon origin, and acquired from its proximity to the pool of the Skipton, or Skippool, the signification of the word being, it is scarcely necessary to add, the enclosure or township of the pool. The date at which habitations first became visible on the soil must remain in a great measure a matter of conjecture, as the annals of history are silent respecting this and most other towns of Amounderness, until the arrival of William the Conqueror, but we may safely infer that it was not long after the advent of the Saxons before a situation so convenient both to the stream of Wyre and the frequented pathway just mentioned, attracted a small colony of settlers. Whatever century gave birth to Poulton, it is certain that from such epoch to 1066, the population would be constituted, almost exclusively, of the class known as “Villani,” perhaps most appropriately interpreted by our term villagers, and that the occupation of these bondsmen of the soil would be the tillage of the land and the superintendence of swine. Their huts were doubtless of very rude and primitive construction, but somewhere within the boundaries of the township there must have been a dwelling of more pretentious exterior, the residence of the Town-Reve, who received the dues and tolls from the “Villani,” on behalf of the large territorial lord, and exercised a general supervision over them. Athelstan appears to have held the lordship of the whole of Amounderness in 936, when he conveyed it to the See of York, and possibly before he ascended the throne it was invested successively in his regal predecessors.

After the Conquest, Poulton passed into the possession of the Norman nobleman, Roger de Poictou, by whom it was granted in 1094, to the priory of St. Mary, at Lancaster. “He gave,” says the charter, “Poltun in Agmundernesia, and whatsoever belonged to it, and the church with one carucate of land, and all other things belonging to it; moreover he gave the tithe of venison and of pawnage[67] in all the woods, and the tithe of his fishery.”[68] This extract proves beyond question the existence of a church at Poulton exactly eight years after the completion of the Domesday record; and further, that it was endowed with one carucate of land, or half the cultivated portion of the township. At the first glance it seems more probable that the sacred edifice was overlooked by the investigators in the course of the survey than that it was erected so shortly afterwards, but a study of other pages of the register betrays such evident care and minuteness on the part of those to whom the work of compilation was entrusted, that it appears impossible for an important building like the church to have escaped their notice. Roger de Poictou was justly celebrated for zeal in the cause of his faith; several monastic institutions owed their establishment to his liberality, and amongst them was St. Mary’s of Lancaster. It will therefore be but a reasonable conclusion to arrive at, that he built and endowed the parish church of Poulton with the intention of presenting it to the Priory of his own founding, in connection with the abbey of Sees in Normandy. During the reign of Richard I. (1189-99), Theobald Walter quitclaimed to the abbot of Sees all his right to the advowson of Poulton and the church of Bispham, owing to a suit instituted against him by that ecclesiastic;[69] and hence it must be inferred that the donation of Roger de Poictou had through some cause reverted to him, being subsequently conferred on Walter in company with other of the confiscated estates of the rebellious baron. The abbot of Cockersand also had some interest in the town about the time the last event took place, and in about 1216 he compounded with the prior of Lancaster for certain tithes held by him in the parish.[70] In 1246 the mediety of the church of Poulton and the chapel of Bispham was granted by the archdeacon of Richmond to the priory of St. Mary, and half a century later John Romanus, archdeacon of Richmond, confirmed the gift, bestowing on it in addition the remaining mediety, to be received when death had removed the present holder. A clause in the document stipulated that immediately the second mediety had been appropriated a vicar should be appointed at a salary of twenty marks (£13 6s. 8d.) per annum.[71] Here again it is clear that some time in the interval between 1199 and 1246 the lands and living of Poulton had once more been forfeited or disposed of by the Lancaster monastery, but in the absence of any records bearing on the subject, the manner and reason of the relinquishment must still continue enveloped in a veil of mystery. From 1246 the vicarage of Poulton remained attached to the Lancaster foundation until the dissolution of alien priories, when it was conveyed to the abbey of Sion, in Middlesex, and retained by that convent up to the time of the Reformation in 1536. Alien priories, it may be explained, were small monastic institutions connected with the abbeys of Normandy, and established on lands which had been granted or bequeathed to the parent houses by William the Conqueror or one of his followers. They were occupied by only a very limited number of brethren and members of the sisterhood. A prior was appointed over each, his chief duty being to collect the rents and other monies due from their estates, etc., and transmit them over to Normandy. Such immense sums were in that way annually exported out of the country, that it was ultimately deemed expedient by the king and his ministers to suppress all priories of this description.

The Banastres were a family long connected with the Fylde through landed property which they held in the neighbourhood; originally they are stated to have come over from Normandy with William the Conqueror, and to have settled at Newton in the Willows. On their frequent journeys to and from Thornton, Singleton, and Staining, the tenants of the priory of St. Mary were in the habit of crossing over the lands of the Banastres, by whom their intrusions were deeply resented, which led to constant feuds between them and the head of the Lancaster monastery. In 1276, as we learn from the “Regist. S. Mariæ de Lanc.,” Sir Adam Banastre with several of his friends and retainers, amongst whom were John Wenne, Richard le Demande (the collector), William de Thorneton, Richard de Brockholes, Geoffrey le Procuratoure (the proctor), and Adam le Reve (the reeve), attacked the prior, Ralph de Truno, and his train of attendants, when on their way to Poulton. They seized and carried off both him and his retinue to Thornton, where, after treating them with great indignity, they chastised and imprisoned them. Edward I., on hearing of the disgraceful outrage, appointed John Travers, William de Tatham, and John de Horneby to investigate the matter and ascertain the cause, if possible; but no paper is now to be found revealing the result of the examination or hinting at the provocation, although a surmise may be hazarded that it was no new quarrel, but simply the old feud, which had at last culminated in a cowardly assault on a defenseless ecclesiastic.

In 1299, Poulton was held in trust by Thomas, earl of Lancaster, for the prior of St. Mary; and eight years anterior to that date the abbot of Deulacres, in Staffordshire, drew certain revenues from land in the township, viz., £8 per annum from 16 carucates of land, about 13s. 4d. each year from the sale of meadow land, 10s. from assessed rents, and £5 from the profit of stock, making in all an annual total of £14 3s. 4d. The repeated disputes between Sir Adam Banastre and Adam Conrates, prior of Lancaster, relative to the trespasses of the latter’s tenants and the collection of tithes on the domains of the former were peaceably settled in 1330, by an arrangement, in which Sir Adam pledged himself to allow two good roads across his lands—one from Poulton and Thornton to Skippool and thence across the ford of Aldwath, now called Shard, on to Singleton, the other starting from the same localities and running to the ford of Bulk higher up the river, probably the modern Cartford, or in its vicinity; in addition the knight agreed to make good any damage that the prior or his dependants might suffer over that portion of their journeys.[72] Adam Conrates on his side promised to withdraw all actions for trespass, etc., on the fulfilment of these conditions. In 1354 a person named Robert de Pulton held some small possessions in Poulton, but nothing further than that trifling fact is recorded about him, although it is probable from the orthography of his name that his ancestors were at some time closely and honourably associated with the town from which their distinctive appellation appears to have been derived. During the time of Elizabeth, James Massey, gentleman, of Carleton and Layton, purchased from the governors of the Savoy Hospital, in London, the tolls in the parish of Poulton, together with all the “chauntry and appurtenances” founded in the parish church of Bricksworth, and all messuages, lands, tenements, etc., situated in the town and parish of Poulton; the tolls remained subject to an annual rent of £2, to be paid on St. Michael’s day to the governors and chaplains of the hospital. Later in the same reign James Massey sold to William Leigh, esq., of High Leigh, in Cheshire, half of these tolls and some pasture fields, called “Angell’s Holme,” adjoining the Horse-bridge, where in earlier days, when the waters of Wyre made their way along a brook into the interior of this neighbourhood, boats are said to have been built. The Rigbys, of Layton Hall, subsequently became possessed of a great part of Poulton, and at the present day a large number of houses are leased in their name for the remainder of terms of 999 years; the Heskeths, of Mains, and other leading families in the district were also considerable property owners in the town. On one occasion the ruling powers of Kirkham made an unsuccessful attempt to obtain the tolls arising from the cattle fairs held in Poulton and Singleton, but on what plea such claims were urged the record is silent.

In an entry which occurs in the lists of the Norman Roll, an impost consisting of the ninth of corn, fleeces, and lambs, and created in 9 Edward III., 1336, it is stated that in 1291 the vicarage of Poulton was taxed by Pope Nicholas at 10 marks, or £6 13s. 4d. modern coinage, the prior of Norton taking £2 in garbs or wheat sheaves. Afterwards the vicarage was freed from the payments of tenths on account of the smallness of the living. Dr. Whittaker informs us that the priory of Lancaster was granted by Henry V., in 1422, to the chancellor of England, who in that year instituted a vicar to the living of Poulton, but eight years previously, in the same reign, the priory was granted in trust for the abbess and convent of Sion; from which seemingly contradictory statements it may be gathered that the chancellor was the trustee for the property, and in such capacity alone acted as patron of the church of Poulton. In support of this supposition may be cited the fact that the Lancaster house and its belongings were not received by the convent in Middlesex until 1431, during the sovereignty of Henry VI., when the vicarage was endowed by the abbess, and William de Croukeshagh presented to the living. This pastor, the earliest personally mentioned, was succeeded on his death, in 1442, by Richard Brown, appointed by the same convent. “Among the records,” writes Baines in his history of Lancashire, “in the Augmentation Office is in indenture tripartite in English, bearing the date 11 Henry VIII., 1579, and purporting to be made between the Abbess of Sion on the first part, Thomas Singleton and Henry Singleton on the second part, and William Bretherton, vicar of Poulton, on the third part, by which the tithe-sheaf of Pulton and a tenement are leased to the vicar, that he may better keep and maintain his house in Pulton; the term to continue during the existence of a lease granted to the persons named Singleton by Sion abbey.” At the Reformation the manor and advowson were claimed by the crown, and a few years later became the property of the Fleetwoods. The last royal presentation to the living was made by Edward VI. in 1552, just one year before his death, whilst the first by this family was in 1565, by John Fleetwood, lord of the manor of Penwortham. The Rev. Charles Hesketh, M.A., of North Meols, is now the patron.

The ancient church of Poulton stood on the site now occupied by the existing edifice, and like it, was dedicated to the Saxon St. Chad or Cheadda, bishop of Mercia, and seated at Chester in A.D. 669. The original structure consisted of only a nave and north aisle, the outer walls of which were composed of sandstone, whilst the double roof rested on semicircular arches, extending from the chancel to the font, and supported on four octagonal pillars. These semicircular arches belonged to a very antique style of architecture, and have given rise to the belief that the pillars were at first massive cylinders, being carved into an angular form about the time of Henry VIII. The pulpit had its place towards the south, and at the east end there appears to have been a small gallery. A pipe clay monument _in memoriam_ of the Singletons, of Staining, stood inside the church, but was, intentionally or accidentally, destroyed when the building was pulled down. A rude brass crucifix and a chalice, both of which belonged to the church previous to the Reformation, are still preserved, one being in the possession of a late priest at Breck chapel, and the other in the Catholic chapel at Claughton. The upper halves of the windows, including the east one, were semicircular in form. In 1622 the old chancel was repaired by the Rev. Peter Whyte, the vicar, and a stone, two feet in length and one foot and a half in depth, bearing the name “Peter Whyte,” and the date “1622,” in raised letters about six inches long, was placed over the east window. This piece of masonry now occupies a situation in the south-west corner of the edifice. The churchyard, which is reported to have been usually in a filthy and disgraceful state, was partly surrounded by a moderately wide ditch, on the brink of which three or four fine sycamore trees flourished, but were cut down when sundry alterations and improvements were effected in the ground. In 1751, after the old church had been standing six centuries and a half, it was determined to demolish it, and erect a more commodious building on the site. The tower, however, was retained, as, being of more recent date, it evinced none of those symptoms of decay which had rendered the body of the edifice dangerous to worshippers. An opinion prevails that the tower was built about the time of Charles I., and such a view is upheld by the discovery on the removal of the pulpit in 1836 of a square stone, having on its face the raised letters TB. WG. in the first line, IH. TG. IH. in the second line, and WG. 1638 in the last line. It is supposed that this stone, which is now fixed in the wall at the south-west corner of the church, was carved in commemoration of the erection of the tower, and the raised letters are the initials of the churchwardens then in office, and the date when the work was accomplished. Between this stone and the one previously referred to, there is a stained-glass memorial window to “Robert Buck, born 1805, died 1862, presented by his sister, C. D. Foxton.” Mrs. Catherine Dauntesy Foxton, the lady here indicated, is the representative of the family of Bucks, of Agecroft Hall, Pendlebury, and inherited considerable property in the neighbourhood of Poulton. During the time the new church was in course of building, divine service was performed in the tithe-barn, and the ceremony of baptism at the residences of the parents. The funds required for carrying out the important undertaking were doubtless chiefly supplied through the munificence of a comparatively small circle of private individuals, whose contributions would probably be in some measure supplemented by minor collections amongst the less opulent agriculturists and peasantry. One person, named Welsh, who resided at Marton, seems to have cherished a bitter antipathy to the levelling of ancient structures in general, and embodied his refusal to assist this particular work in the following rhymes:—

“While here on earth I do abide, I’ll keep up walls and pull down pride; To build anew I’ll ne’er consent, And make the needy poor lament.”

It has usually been affirmed that the side galleries were not erected until several years after the new church had been finished, but the annexed extract from an old document discovered in 1875, shows that authority to build them was obtained in 1751, whilst the church was levelled with the ground; and as the parchment also discloses that a number of seats in these galleries were allotted to certain gentlemen of the parish in the ensuing year, there is ample evidence that the rebuilding of the church and their erection were carried on simultaneously:—“25 June, 1751. On the Certificate and request of Roger Hesketh, Esq., Patron; the Rev. Robert Loxham, Clerk, Vicar; and the Churchwardens of the Parish Church of Poulton; a Faculty was Granted to John Bird, John Birley, and Richard Tennant, all of Poulton, Gentlemen (for the better uniformity of the Parish Church of Poulton, which was then taken down and rebuilding) to take down the Gallery over the Chancel in the East of the said Church, which was then very irregular and incommodious, and to rebuild the same with a convenient staircase, stairs, and passage leading thereto, of their own expense, in the west end thereof to adjoin to the north side of the gallery there then standing, and to be made uniform therewith, and to make satisfaction to the several owners of the seats in the said Gallery for the damage sustained in removing the same and altering, and lessening the seats therein; and to erect a Gallery on each side of the said Church, with convenient staircases leading thereto at the north-east and south-east ends of the said Church, if necessary, according to the form of the said Certificate annexed, and also to remove the Pulpit and reading desk from the place where the same then lately stood, near to the place where the Churchwardens’ seat was then lately situate, as it would greatly tend to the conformity of the said Church and to the benefit and advantage of the Inhabitants of the said Parish, and also that they might have liberty to sell and dispose of the seats to be contained in the said intended side Galleries, to such persons within the said Parish as should stand most in need thereof, to reimburse themselves the charges and expenses they would be necessarily put to in building the said intended galleries and making the alterations aforesaid.”

The present edifice is of stone, plain but commodious, and comprises a chancel, body, and embattled tower, with buttresses supporting each corner. Formerly a small shed stood on one side of the tower, and was used as a repository for the sculls and other osseous relics of humanity, which were unearthed during the process of making fresh graves; this house was pulled down some years ago, and its numerous treasures returned to the ground at the south-east corner of the yard. The chancel now standing was erected eight years since, mainly through the exertions of the Rev. Thomas Clarke, M.A., the vicar, who died in 1869. On the exterior of the building, over a door at the south-east corner of the body is the inscription:—“Insignia Rici Fleetwood Ari Hujus Eccliæ Patroni Ann Dni 1699”; above which is a circumscribed uneven space formerly occupied by the arms of the Fleetwood family. Within the church the quarterings of the Heskeths and Fleetwoods are hung against the walls in frames. At the west end of the building there is a wooden panel into which the following names have been cut:—

Rich. Dickson. Rich. Willson. John Hull. Rich. Willson. John Woodhouse, churchwardens, 1730.

From the way in which the holders of similar offices are arranged at present it is surmised that these gentlemen respectively represented the townships of

Poulton. Carleton. Hardhorn. Thornton. Marton.

On the south side of the church is a mural tablet to the memory of the Rev. Richard Buck, M.A., of Agecroft Hall, Pendlebury, born 1761, died 1845, also Margaret, his wife, and Margaret, his daughter. Another monument bears the names of Frances Hull, born 1794, died 1847; William Wilson Hull, born 1822, died 1847, in the Queen’s service, at Bathurst, St. Mary’s Island in the river Gambia; Henry Mitchell Hull, M.A., born 1827, died 1853; John Hull, M.D., born 1761, died 1843—“left the eldest of the three children of John Hull, surgeon; an orphan at six years of age, poor, friendless, by the best use of all means of education within his power, by unwearied industry, by constant self-denial, he duly qualified himself for the practice of his profession[73]”; Sarah Hull, died 1842; William Winstanley Hull, M.A., Fellow of Brazenose College, Oxford, and Barrister-at-Law, eldest son of John Hull, M.D., F.L.S., born 1784, died 1873. Here also was the old churchwardens’ pew, removed in 1876, having a brass plate inscribed thus:—“Thomas Whiteside, Jno Wilkinson, Jno Whiteside, Thos. Cornwhite, Jno Hodgson, Churchwardens, 1737”; also the old pew formerly belonging to the Rigbys of Layton Hall, on the door of which are carved the letters “A.R.,” a goats head, and the date “1636,” being the initials and crest of Sir Alexander Rigby, of Layton Hall. Until last year, when they were removed to afford space for more modern seats, the two family pews of the Fleetwoods and Heskeths stood on this side. The pews were walled in laterally and in front by a high ornamental railing of oak, and in the larger of the two traces of a crest were visible on the wall. Near this spot there are many very ancient pews, one of which has the date and initials “17.TW.02” carved upon it, whilst on the floor of the aisle close at hand is the gravestone of “Edward Sherdley, gentleman, dyed 21st September, 1744, aged 71,” and almost adjoining lies another stone, surmounting the remains of Geoffrey Hornby, who died in 1732. On the day of the latter gentleman’s funeral the west side of the market-place was destroyed by fire, and as the procession passed the scarves of the mourners were scorched by sparks driven by a high wind in showers from the conflagration. On the north side of the church is a pew bearing the date ‘1662’; and near to are the old pews of Burn Hall, Little Poulton Hall, Mains Hall, and Todderstaff Hall, above which, fastened to the wall and marking the resting place of several members of his family, are the arms of Thomas Fitzherbert Brockholes, esq., of Claughton, the lord of Little Poulton, etc.

The chancel contains a monument in memory of Bold Fleetwood Hesketh, died 1819, and his nephew, Edward Thomas Hesketh, died 1820; also of Fleetwood Hesketh, of Rossall, who died in 1769, aged 30, and Frances Hesketh, who died in 1809, aged 74, all of whom were interred beneath the Communion. In addition there are two recent tablets, one being to the memory of the late Thomas Clarke, vicar of the parish; and the other in memory of Francis Wm. Conry, only child of F. A. Macfaddin, surgeon, 47th regt. Within the Communion rails are two antique and elaborately carved oak chairs.

In the south gallery are mural tablets inscribed in remembrance of Edward Hornby, died in 1766, and Margaret, his wife; Edward Sherdley, died 1744, and Ellen, his wife; Giles Thornber, J.P., died 1860, and his wife; Geoffrey Hornby, died in 1732, and Susannah, his wife; Richard Harrison, vicar of Poulton, died in 1718, aged 65; and Christopher Albin, curate of Bispham, died in 1753, aged 56, on a pew door opposite to which is a brass plate engraved:—“Introite et orate, cælo supinas si tuleris manus sacra feceris, malaque effugies.[74] Christopher and Margery Albin 1752.”

At one time a sounding board was suspended over the pulpit. An ancient font, formerly belonging to the church and now the property of the vicar, the Rev. William Richardson, M.A., has carved upon its exterior the date 1649, the letters M.H., a cross, and something, in its damaged state difficult to trace but betraying some resemblance to a crown. The successor to this font was removed several years since to make room for a new one presented by the daughter of the Rev. Canon Hull, of Eaglescliffe, in memory of her sister Frances Mary Hull, who died in 1866, aged 20 years.

The old church books, extracts from which will be given subsequently, contain many entries of sums paid for rushes to strew the pews and aisles, a custom existing here as late as 1813. In the tower is a peal of six bells, with the inscriptions:—

1st Bell.—“Prosperity to all our Benefactors. A. R. 1741. 2nd. ” —“Peace and good Neighbourhood. A. R. 1741. 3rd. ” —“Prosperity to this Parish. A. R. 1741. 4th. ” —“When us you ring We’ll sweetly sing. A. R. 1741. 5th. ” —“Able Rudhall Cast us all. M. T. Gloucester. 1741.”[75]

The 6th bell was recast by G. Mears and Company, of London, in 1865, at the sole expense of the Rev. T. Clarke, and is inscribed:—“T. Clarke, M.A., vicar; W. Gaulter, J. T. Bailey, W. Jolly, J. Whiteside, churchwardens.” The original inscription was—“Robert Fishwick, John Wilkinson, William Cookson, James Hull, John Moore, churchwardens.”

About thirty years since the roof of the church was altered and renewed. Notwithstanding the fact that the churchyard has been in constant use for so many centuries very few emblems of antiquity, beyond occasional coins of the Roman era, have ever been discovered in it, and at present, unlike most burial grounds of great age, no specimens of raised letters are to be seen amongst the numerous gravestones, the oldest of which still legible, intimates the resting place of Richard Elston, and has the date 1719. At a short distance, and assisting to flag a side pathway to the south of the church, is another stone, covering the grave of “Richard Brown, of Great Marton, who died the third day of April, 1723”; but neither this nor the foregoing one have any interest beyond their antiquity. The ancient practice of tolling the Curfew-bell is still continued in the winter evenings from the 29th of September to the 10th of March, whilst a pancake bell is rung at 12 o’clock on each Shrove Tuesday.[76]

VICARS OF POULTON-LE-FYLDE.

IN THE DEANERY OF AMOUNDERNESS AND ARCHDEACONRY OF LANCASTER.

Of the earlier vicars mentioned above, nothing is known until we come to the Rev. Peter Whyte, of whose immediate descendants it is recorded that, after his death, they rapidly drifted into poverty, and that one of them, a granddaughter, regularly attended the fairs of Poulton as the wife of a pedlar or hawker. The Rev. Richard Harrison was cousin to Cuthbert Harrison, the Nonconformist divine who suffered ejection, and belonged to the Bankfield family. Until instituted to Poulton, Richard Harrison was curate at Goosnargh. His son Paul gained some celebrity as a controversial writer on matters of ecclesiastical interest.[78] The Loxhams settled at Dowbridge, near Kirkham, and that estate is still held by the family. The Rev. Thomas Turner purchased the living in 1770, when it was worth no more than £75 per annum, for £200, and held it until his death forty years later. The Rev. C. Hesketh, M.A., brother to the late Sir Peter Hesketh Fleetwood, bart., is rector of North Meols and patron of the living. During a portion of the time when he was vicar of Poulton, the Rev. R. Bowness was curate in charge. The Rev. John Hull, M.A., is honorary canon of Manchester, and was examining chaplain to the Right Rev. Prince Lee, D.D., the first bishop of this diocese, by whom he was appointed to the rectory of Eaglescliffe, near Yarm, one of the most valuable livings in his gift. The Rev. Thomas Clarke, M.A., was originally curate at the Parish Church of Preston, and afterwards became incumbent of Christ Church in the same town, which living he resigned on being presented to the vicarage of Poulton.

Subjoined are a number of extracts selected from the old account books of the churchwardens, and in them will be found much that is both interesting and curious:—

“1764.

“June 4.—To the Ringers, being his Majestie’s Birthday, 3s. 0d.

July 8.—To a Bottle of Wine to a strange Parson, 2s. 0d.: To ditto to a strange Parson, 2s. 0d.

“1765.

“June 6.”—To Mr. Lomas for mending clock, 2s. 2d.

August 18.—To Thomas Parkinson for Rushes, 6s. 8d.: Spent when Rush came, 1s. 7d.

Oct. 20.—To Mr. Loxham for a Prayer, 2d.

Dec. 25.—Spent Receiving Bassoon, 1s. 6d.: To Clark in full for wages, £4 0s. 0d.: To Ringers Last half yʳ Sallary, 18s. 0d.: To Singers in full, 12s. 6d.

“1766.

“Sept. 15.—Rushes for Church, 6s. 8d.: Candles, Beesoms, &c., 12s. 6d.

“1767.

“May 13.—Court fees at Visitation, 7s. 10d.: Churchwardens’ Expenses at Preston, £1 7s. 5d.: Curat’s horse hire to Dᵒ, 2s. 6d.

July 20.—To Reed for Bassoon, 4s. 6d.

Nov. 21.—To Hugh Seed for Flaggin, £6 18s. 8½d.: To Thos. Crook for Church steps, 18s. 4d.: Ale at fixing dᵒ, 1s. 0d.

“1768.

“Sept. 1.—To Mr. Warbrick for Cloth for Surpᶜᵉ, 10½d.: To a Sacrament day, 11s. 6d.

“1769.

“Feb. 1.—To A New Prayer Book, £1 1s. 3d.

” 6.—To Cleaning Candlesticks, 2s. 0d.

Mar. 27.—To Cash wᵗʰ Marton Parson, 5s. 5d. Received By Miss Hesketh’s Burial in the Church, 3s. 4d.

“1770.

“Mar. 13.—To Cash allowed Church Wardens for attending sacramᵉⁿᵗ, 5s. 0d.

“1771.

“May 29.—To Ringers ale, 3s. 0d.

Aug. 18.—Spent when Parson Hull preeched, 4s. 6d.

“1772.

Aug. 14.—To cleaning Windows, 7s.; and lowance of ale 2s. 6d.

“1774.

“July 4.—Spent on Parson Eckleston and another strange Parson, one Red prayrs and the other preached, 3s. 6d.

Dec. 21.—To Expense of a Meeting in sending for boys that had done Mischief at Church, 1s.

“1775.

“May 3.—To 5 Church Wardens attending 7 Sacrament Days, £1 15s. 0d.

May 6.—To Horse Hire for 5 Church Wardens twice to the Visitation, £1 5s.: To Wᵐ Brown for ale for Richᵈ Rossall whilst he was altering Pulpit, and at settling his accᵗ, 3s.

June 30.—Spent on Martin Singers, 10s.

Oct. 4.—Spent on St. Lawrence’s Singers, 18s. 4d.

“1781.

“July 14.—It is agreed this Day among the Parishioners of the several Townships of Poulton that all arrears belonging to the said Parish unto the time of Visitation last past shall be paid and discharged by a Tax regularly laid upon the Parish in general, and that all charges of Organ and Organist for the Parish Church of Poulton shall not be defrayed hereafter by any Tax levied on the Parish in general but by voluntary subscription only. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands the Day and Year above written.

THOMAS TURNER, Vicar of Poulton; EDWᵈ SMITH, JAMES BISBROWN, PAUL HARRISON.

“1782.

“Feb. 6.—Recᵈ for Mr. Brockhole’s Burial in the Church, 3s. 4d.

July 27.—Memorandum: It is agreed at this Vestry Meeting by all the parishioners who have attended here that in future the public ringing days in this parish shall be reduced to two, namely, the King’s Birthday and Christmas Day,—the ringers to be allowed Six Shillings on each day; and further, that the Church Wardens’ Expenses on every Visitation shall on no pretence exceed forty shillings.—JOSEPH HARRISON, WILLIAM DICKSON, JAMES STANDEN, EDW. SMITH, THOS. TWISS, RICH. SINGLETON, THOMPSON NICKSON.

“1788.

“June 7.—Cartage of Rush and allowance, 9s. 0d.: Kirkham Singers, 10s. 6d.

“1793.

“Pᵈ for ale for Ringers on 29 May, 6s. 0d. ” ” do ” do on the 4 of June, 6s. 0d. ” ” do ” do on the 25 Octobʳ, 6s. 0d. ” ” do ” do on the 5 Novembʳ, 7s. 6d. ” ” do ” do on the 25 Decembʳ, 6s. 0d. ” ” do ” do on Easter Tuesday, 7s. 6d.[79]

Dec. 8.—To Cash Recᵈ for digging a grave in the Church for Mrs. Buck, 3s. 4d.

Nov. 5.—Spent on Singers, 12s. 0d.: ditto on Ribbons for Girls, 2s. 0d.

“1798.

“Oct. 4.—To Ringers on Nelson’s Victory, 2s. 6d.[80]

“1805.

“June 9.—To Expˢ to Church Town when John Sauter Clerk convicted himself in getting drunk, and Timothy Swarbrick for making him drunk (when they were each fined 5s.), 1s. 6d.

Oct. 2.—To Rush, 14s. 3d.

“1806.

Nov. 9.—To Ringers at Lord Nelson’s victory of Trafalgar on the 21st, 7s. 0d.

N.B.: No money to be given to the Ringers on account of any Victory in future on the Parish account; the Victory of Trafalgar was so Extraordinary that 7s. was allowed to the Ringers on that occasion.

“1811.

“Resolved that in compliance with the request of the inhabitants of Marton one pound shall be allowed for an annual Dinner on Easter Day in future.

“1817.

“Nov. 20.—To Expenses to Churchtown when Wᵐ Hodkinson, Wᵐ Whiteside, and Wᵐ Butcher was convicted for getting drunk—Wᵐ Hodkinson finde, and the other two acquitted upon the promise of future good behaviour, 3s. 0d.”

The following extracts from the parish registers show the numbers of marriages, baptisms, and burials, which took place during the last and first years of the specified centuries:—

1600-1601. 1700-1701. 1800-1801. Marriages 16 15 22 21 13 13 Baptisms 40 74 73 79 63 57 Burials 52 41 56 57 67 48

Anterior to 1674 the old vicarage was a thatched building of two stories, the upper one being open to the roof and supported on crooks, but about that date the vicar, the Rev. Rich. Harrison, made an addition, abutting the west end, and put the original portion in thorough repair. This house, which was surrounded by venerable trees, was taken down in 1835, and the present vicarage erected on the site.

In 1830, a spacious building, capable of holding three hundred persons, was erected in Sheaf Street by voluntary subscription for the purposes of a Sunday School, previous to which a small cottage in the Green had been used as a meeting place for the scholars connected with the church.

About one hundred and fifty years ago the town of Poulton presented a very different appearance to that it wears in our day. The market-place was surrounded by a number of low thatched houses of very humble exteriors, if we except a few private residences, as those of the Walmsleys and Rigbys, which stood out conspicuously from the rest, not only by their superiority in size, but also by the possession of slated or flagged roofs. The house of the Rigbys was built in 1693 by Sir Alexander Rigby, of Layton Hall, who was High-sheriff of the county in 1691-2, and stands at the south end of the square, the family arms and date of erection being still attached to the front wall. The building is now used as a dwelling and retail shop combined, and contains little of moment beyond the ancient oak balustrade and staircase. It is probable that Sir Alexander Rigby built the house with the intention of using it as a town residence for himself and family during the winter months, for we must remember that Poulton contained several persons of note and distinction at that time, and nothing is more natural than that the knight should prefer the cheerful society to be found amongst them to the long solitudes of the Hall during the dull, inclement season of the year, when country roads were almost impassable. After Sir Alexander Rigby had been released from prison, having satisfied the claims of his creditors, he took up his abode permanently in Poulton until his death, Layton Hall and other property having been sold, but whether his remains were laid in the churchyard here, or removed elsewhere, cannot be ascertained.

At the opposite end of the market-place was the Moot Hall, connected with which were shambles and pent-houses, the latter being continued along the fronts of the dwellings in the square. None of the streets could boast a pavement, and as a consequence intercourse between the inhabitants in rainy weather was a matter of considerable inconvenience and difficulty, visiting under such unfavourable circumstances being usually performed by means of stepping stones. Public lamps were unknown in the streets, and any one whose business or pleasure took him abroad after night-fall or dusk, would have to rely on the feeble glimmer of a horn lantern to guide him along the proper track and protect him from floundering in the mud. Looking on this picture of discomfort, it seems pretty certain to us that our Poultonian forefathers at least, could they but enjoy one week of our modern life and improvements, would be the very last to join in the wish, so often enthusiastically, but rather thoughtlessly, expressed, for a revival of the _good_ old times. The market-square still retains its fishstones, cross, whipping post, and stocks; and although the wooden portion of the last has been recently renewed, we are in a position to inform the curious or alarmed reader that it has not been done with the view of re-introducing the obsolete punishment, but merely to preserve a link, be it ever so painful an one, with the past. The cross surmounts a stone pillar placed on a circular base of similar material, formed in steps and tapering towards the column.

Although Poulton was never the scene of any military encounter during the unsettled eras of our history, still there is ample proof that the inhabitants were far from lethargic or indifferent to the course of events during those times. During the reign of Henry VIII., when James IV. of Scotland succumbed to the superiority of the English arms, and yielded up his life on Flodden Field, the yeomanry and husbandmen of this town were well represented; and the cheerful alacrity with which they hastened to join the royal standard under Lord Stanley, in company with others from the Fylde, between here and Preston, is lauded in an ancient ballad, written to celebrate the victory, from which the following lines are extracted:—

“From Ribchester unto Rachdale, From Poulton to Preston with pikes, They with yᵉ Stanley howte forthe went.”

There is no necessity to recapitulate the stirring incidents of the Civil Wars, the bivouacking and plundering in the neighbourhood or the frequent demands for recruits by the royal and parliamentary generals, but it will be sufficiently convincing of the earnestness and loyalty of the inhabitants to state, that most of the local families of influence risked their lives and fortunes in the service of the king, leaving little doubt that those of humbler sphere would be actuated by a like enthusiasm.

About a century ago it was customary amongst the gentry and more wealthy yeomanry to hold their interments at night by the light of lamps or lanterns, and during the passage of the funeral procession through the town, each householder illuminated his windows with burning candles. The last person to be buried with this ceremony was the Rev. Thomas Turner, the vicar, who died in 1810.

Of the domestic habits of Poulton at that period, and rather earlier, it need only be said that they presented little variation from those of other towns or villages similarly situated; removed from the enervating and seductive temptations of a city, and forced, for the most part, to earn their bread under the broad canopy of heaven, it is not surprising to find that the people were a long-lived and vigorous race. Their feastings and merrymakings took place at fair-times, and at such other seasons as were universally set apart in rural districts for rejoicings and festivity, notably harvest gatherings and the first of May, the latter being especially honoured. On that day the causeways were strewn with flowers, and all things suitable for the festival were lavishly provided; wine, ale, and sweetmeats being freely contributed by the gentry and others. The peasantry were clothed in sober suits of hodden grey, the productions of the “disty and wharl” or spinning wheel, without which no household was considered complete, whilst their food was of the plainest kind, consisting mostly of barley and rye bread, with boiled parsnips and peas eaten in the pod, wheaten bread being reserved for the consumption of the more wealthy classes. The present station at the Breck, a name of Danish origin, and signifying an acclivity, stands either on, or in close proximity to, the site of the old ducking-pond, or rather brook, where the scolds of Poulton were wont in former days to have the

“Venom of their spleen”

copiously diluted and cooled by frequent immersions.

A native of Poulton thus wrote of the town more than fifty years since, and if the present generation but emulates the virtues of its forefathers as herein stated, there are many places which would form, notwithstanding its protracted inertitia, less agreeable homes than the ancient metropolis of the Fylde:—

“Hail happy place, for health and peace renown’d, Though not with riches, yet contentment crown’d. Riches, the grand promoter of each strife, Content, God’s first-best gift in human life. Here hospitality has fixed her throne, And discord’s jars by name alone are known; The stranger here is always entertain’d With welcome smile and courtesy unfeign’d. Kind to each other, generous and free, Plain, yet liberal friends to charity.”

Sixty years since Poulton contained a manufactory for sacking, sail-cloth, and sheeting, belonging to a Mr. Harrison, who lived in the house now in the occupation of R. Dunderdale, esq., J.P., and had his weaving shed at the rear of those premises. That gentleman employed from thirty to forty hands regularly during the time he conducted the business—a period of about fifteen years. An establishment connected with flax dressing and twine spinning, and employing several hands, was located in the house erected by Sir Alexander Rigby, of Layton; and a currier and leather dresser had his works in Church Street. Of other trades and professions in the town at that date, there were four attorneys, two surgeons, seven butchers, nine bakers and flour dealers, three wine and spirit merchants, two maltsters, ten boot and shoe makers, five linen and woollen drapers, four tailors, three milliners, four grocers, three ironmongers, three joiners, two wheelwrights, two coopers, two painters, three plumbers and glaziers, and two corn-millers. Subsequently Harrison’s residence was used for parochial purposes, and formed the town’s workhouse until the bill of Sir Robert Peel brought about the joint system of pauper relief and management under the name of Unions; and at one time small looms were placed in the old shed behind the workhouse, for the purpose of providing remunerative occupation for some of the inmates. Three fairs are held annually for cattle and cloth, and take place on the 3rd of February, the 13th of April, and the 3rd of November, whilst a general market, but very indifferently, if at all, attended, is appointed to be held each Monday. About the year 1840, when the Preston and Wyre Railway was completed and the Poulton Station erected, a dye-house of some considerable size, and one that had done a large business in the Fylde for many years, was taken down, and shortly afterwards the Royal Oak Hotel built on its site. About the same time the old brook, over which the cuckstool hung in earlier days, and whose waters had long been polluted by discharges from the dye-house, was arched over with brick and earth, and included in the station premises. The Railway Hotel was erected a little anterior to the inn just mentioned. The other hotels of Poulton, situated in the town itself, are ancient, and by their size and number, considering the smallness of the present population, are indicative of the former importance of its market and fairs, and intimate that its position as the centre of a wide district was the means of exciting and maintaining a large amount of commercial activity, such as would necessitate the frequent visits of business agents and others. Several private houses can be pointed out as having been in earlier days places of public entertainment, amongst which may be named one now used as a bakery and bread shop in Queen’s Square, and which formerly bore the name of the Spread Eagle Hotel; in Sheaf Street, also, there existed about half a century ago a small but respectable hotel, called the Wheat Sheaf Inn, with bowling green attached, but like other more pretentious establishments, it has been converted into a dwelling-house, whilst a handsome residence occupies the old bowling green.

The Independents were the first section of the Dissenting community to erect a chapel for their members, which they accomplished in 1808. After being in use twenty or thirty years, this place of worship was closed, and not re-opened until about ten years since. In 1819 a chapel was erected by the Wesleyans in Back Street, and in 1861 the building was enlarged. At the Breck there is a Roman Catholic chapel, which stands back some distance from the road leading to Skippool, and is approached by a long avenue of trees. The chapel is a plain brick building, with three unstained windows on each side; and above the entrance has been placed a square stone inscribed with a verse from the Psalms—“I have loved, O Lord, the beauty of thy House, and the place where thy Glory dwelleth,”—and the date of erection, “A.D. 1813.” Within the edifice the pews are open and arranged in three rows, one running down each side, and a double set occupying the central portion of the body. The solitary gallery at the end opposite the altar is lined with seats, and contains a harmonium, whilst the altar itself is handsomely and suitably decorated. The chapel is dedicated to St. John, and on the east and south sides lies the burial ground, wherein may be seen a stone slab carved by an eccentric character of Poulton, named James Bailey, whose remains are now deposited beneath it. The upper surface of the stone is ornamented with the outlines of two coffins, recording respectively the demises of Margaret Bailey, in 1841, and James Bailey, her father, in 1853. Between the coffins, and severing their upper portions, is a cross, with a few words at the foot, on each side of which are the representations of a scull and cross-bones. Other specimens of the sculptural genius of Bailey are lavishly, if not tastefully, scattered over the remainder of the slab. The residence of the priest is attached to the chapel, and in Breck Road are the elegant Gothic schools connected with it. Until the opening, in 1868, of these schools, which have since been extended by the erection of a wing, a loft over an outbuilding facing the priests’ house, received the Catholic children of the parish for educational purposes.

We now come to speak of Poulton as a port, and in this respect our information, it must be acknowledged, is very scanty; the harbours of Poulton were situated at Skippool and Wardleys, on opposite banks of the Wyre, and it was to the cargoes imported to those places that the custom-house of the town owed its existence. At what date it was first established cannot be discovered, but that it was in being nearly two centuries ago is proved by a paper on “The comparative wages of public servants in the customs,” in which the following occurs:—

“We find that William Jennings, collector of the customs at Poulton, in the Fylde, received in 1708, during the reign of Queen Ann, for his yearly services thirty pounds per annum; and five subordinate officers had seventy-five pounds equally divided amongst them.”

The chief traffic of the port was in timber, imported from the Baltic and America; and flax and tallow, which arrived from Russia. In 1825 Poulton was described by Mr. Baines, in his History of Lancashire, as a creek under Preston, and it is probable that such had been its position for a long time anterior to that date. In 1826 Poulton was made a sub-port under Lancaster, and later, when the town of Fleetwood sprang up at the mouth of the Wyre, the customs were removed from Poulton to that new port.

Subjoined are the number of inhabitants of the township at intervals of ten years from 1801, when the first official census was taken:—

1801 769 1811 926 1821 1,011 1831 1,025 1841 1,128 1851 1,120 1861 1,141 1871 1,161

In 1770, during the reign of George III., an act of parliament was obtained by means of which a court was established in this town “for,” according to the wording of the deed, “the more easy and speedy recovery of small debts within the parishes of Poulton, Lytham, Kirkham, and Bispham, and the townships of Preesall and Stalmine.” A number of gentlemen engaged in commercial pursuits and residing in these several districts were appointed commissioners, any three or more of whom constituted a court of justice, by the name and style of The Court of Requests; they were empowered to hear and determine all such matters of debt as were under forty shillings, further they were authorised and required, “to meet, assemble, and hold the said Court in each of the said Parishes of Poulton and Kirkham, once in every week at least, to wit, on every Monday at Poulton, and on every Thursday at Kirkham, and oftener if there should be occasion, in a Court-house, or some convenient place appointed in each of the said Parishes.” Each commissioner on being elected took the following oath:—

“I ... do swear That I will faithfully, impartially, and honestly, according to the best of my Judgement, hear and determine all such Matters and Causes as shall be brought before me, by virtue of an Act of Parliament, for the more easy and speedy Recovery of small Debts, within the Parishes etc.; without Favour or Affection, Prejudice or Malice, to either Party. So help me God.”

Edward Whiteside and Simon Russell were elected, respectively, clerk and sergeant of this court, and James Standen, of Poulton, in consideration of having advanced money to pay the expenses of obtaining the act and providing suitable accommodation for its administration, had authority given to him and his heirs to appoint a person to be clerk or sergeant as often as either of those offices should become vacant, until the sum so advanced with lawful interest had been repaid; after which the appointments were to be filled up by a majority of votes at a special meeting of the commissioners, not less than eleven being present. For the better regulation of the proceedings it was enacted that a majority, amounting to five, of the commissioners assembled in court should have full power and authority to make, as often as occasion required, such rules and orders for the better management of the court as might seem necessary and conducive to the purposes of the act, provided always such rules or orders did not abridge or alter the scale of fees as at first arranged, and were consistent with equity and the true intent of the act. In the event of anyone neglecting to comply with an order from this court for the payment of money owing an execution was awarded against the body or goods of the debtor, if the former, the sergeant was, by a precept under the hand and seal of the clerk, “empowered and required to take and apprehend, or cause to be taken and apprehended, such party or parties, being within any of the parishes or townships aforesaid, and convey him, her, or them, to some common gaol, or house of correction, within the county palatine of Lancaster, there to remain until he, she, or they, had performed and obeyed such order, decree, or judgment, so as no person should remain in confinement upon any such execution, for any longer space of time than three months.” In the case of goods the sergeant was similarly empowered “to levy by distress and sale of goods, of such party, being within the parishes or townships aforesaid, such sum and sums of money and costs as should be so ordered and decreed.”

One clause of the act stated that if any person or persons affronted, insulted, or abused, all or any of the commissioners, the clerk, or officers of the court, either during the sitting or in going to or returning from the same, or interrupted the proceedings, or obstructed the clerk or sergeant in the lawful execution of their different offices, he, she, or they should be brought before a justice of the peace, who was hereby empowered to inflict on conviction a fine of not more than 40s., and not less than 5s. The jurisdiction of the court did not extend to any debt or rent upon any lease or contract, where the title of any lands, tenements, or hereditaments came in question; nor to any debt arising from any last will or testament, or matrimony, or anything properly belonging to the ecclesiastical courts; nor to any debt from any horse-race, cock-match, wager, or any kind of gaming or play; nor from any forfeiture upon any penal statute or bye-law; nor did it extend to any debt whatsoever whereof there had not been contract, acknowledgment, undertaking, or promise to pay within six years from the date of the summons, although any of the above mentioned debts should not amount to forty shillings. No attorney or solicitor was allowed to appear before the commissioners as attorney or advocate on behalf of either plaintiff or defendant, or to speak on any cause or matter before the court in which he was not himself a party or witness, under a penalty of five pounds for each offence. It was further enacted “that no action or suit for any debt not amounting to the sum of forty shillings, and recoverable by virtue of this act in the said Court of Requests, should be brought against any person or persons, residing or inhabiting within the jurisdiction thereof, in any of the king’s courts at Westminster, or any other court whatsoever, or elsewhere, out of the said Court of Requests, and no suit which had been commenced in the said Court of Requests in pursuance of this act, nor any proceedings therein, should or might be removed to any superior court, but the judgments, decrees, and proceedings of the said court should be final and conclusive to all intents and purposes; provided always, that nothing in this act should extend, or be construed to extend, to prevent any person from suing for small debts in any other court, where such suit might have been instituted before the passing of this act.” The various fees to be paid to the clerk of the court were—for entering every case, 6d.; for issuing every summons, 6d.; for every subpœna, 6d.; for calling every plaintiff or defendant before the court, 3d.; for every hearing or trial, 6d.; for swearing every witness, plaintiff or defendant, 3d.; for every order, judgment or decree, 6d.; for a non-suit, 6d.; for every search in the books, 3d.; for paying money into court, 6d., if by instalments, 6d. in the pound more; for every execution, 6d.; for every warrant of commitment for misconduct in court, 1s. The fees to the sergeant were—for every summons, order, or subpœna, and attending court with the return thereof, 6d.; for calling every plaintiff or defendant before the court, 1d.; for executing every attachment, execution, or warrant, against the body or goods, 1s.; for carrying every plaintiff, defendant, or delinquent to prison, 6d. more for every mile. Although this was purely a lay-court the commissioners possessed and exercised the power of placing the witnesses on oath previous to receiving their evidence. In 1847 the Court of Requests was superseded by a new court, for the recovery of debts not amounting to twenty pounds, which held its first sitting on Monday, the 23rd of April in that year, under the presidency of John Addison, esq., a barrister and the appointed judge, in the room belonging to the Sunday school. This gentleman wore a silk gown, as prescribed to the judges of these courts, and Mr. Elletson, solicitor, the clerk, was also robed. At the first assemblage the Rev. John Hull, M.A., the vicar, and Giles Thornber, esq., J.P., were seated on each side of the judge. The cases for trial or arbitration only numbered seventeen, and were of little interest, so that the initiative sitting of the court was but of short duration. The circuits apportioned to the judges had an average population ranging from 202,713 to 312,220 persons, and the salary paid to each of these officials was £1,200 per annum. In the schedule of fees it was stated that for the recovery of debts not exceeding 20s. the cost should be 3s.; under 40s., 5s.; under £5, 9s.; under £10, £1; under £20, £1 10s.; and in jury cases 5s. would be charged for the jurymen, while the other court charges would be a little increased. The powers of this court, now designated the County Court, have been considerably enlarged since its first establishment; the following gentlemen are the officers at present connected with it:—

Judge William A. Hulton, esq. Registrar Mr. E. J. Patteson. High Bailiff Mr. J. Whiteside.

Little Poulton is the name given to a district and hamlet lying on the east of Poulton township, and in it is situated the ancient manorial residence called Little Poulton Hall, and now used as a farm-house. The original mansion stood on the land immediately at the rear of the existing edifice, which was erected about one hundred and ten or twenty years ago. Until the occupation of the present tenant, Mr. Singleton, the foundations of the old Hall remained in the ground, but the indications afforded by them of its dimensions and appearance were not of any great utility. In 1570 Little Poulton Hall was occupied by George, the son of Bartholomew Hesketh, of Aughton, a grandson of Thomas Hesketh, of Rufford, but only in one of the junior lines. George Hesketh married Dorothy, the daughter of William Westby, of Mowbreck, and had issue one son, William, who inherited the estate and resided at the Hall. William Hesketh was living in 1613, about forty years after the decease of his father, and had two children, William and Wilfrid, by his wife Elizabeth, the daughter of John Allen, of Rossall Hall. William, the eldest son, seems to have removed to Maynes, or Mains, Hall, and settled there during the lifetime of his father; it is probable that his younger brother would remain at Little Poulton Hall, but of this we have no positive proof, and consequently can advance it merely as a conjecture. Little Poulton descended in the Heskeths, of Mains, until about 1750, but the name of that family was changed, after the marriage of William Hesketh, of Mains Hall, (living in 1714), with Mary, the daughter of John Brockholes, of Claughton, by Thomas Hesketh, the eldest son of that union, who inherited the estates of his maternal uncle, and assumed the name of Brockholes. Thomas Hesketh-Brockholes died without offspring, and the property passed, successively, to his younger and only surviving brothers, Joseph and James, both of whom adopted the name and arms of Brockholes, and died childless; but by the will of Joseph, Little Poulton and the other estates descended to William Fitzherbert, the brother of his widow Constantia, the daughter of Bazil Fitzherbert, of Swinnerton. William Fitzherbert also assumed the title of Brockholes, and his descendant is the present proprietor.

A family of the name of Barban preceded the Heskeths at the manor house, and Gyles Curwen, a descendant of the Curwens, of Workington, in Cumberland, espoused, about 1550, the daughter and co-heiress of—Barban, of Little Poulton Hall, having issue—Thomas, Elizabeth, Grace, and Winefrid. Thomas Curwen died unmarried; Elizabeth became the wife of—Camden, by whom she had William Camden, Clarenceux king-at-arms; Winefrid married and settled in London; and Grace espoused Gilbert Nicholson, of Poulton, by whom she had issue—Francis, Grace, and Giles. Francis Nicholson had six children—Humphrey, Grace, Bridget, Thomas, Isabell, and Dorothy. Grace Nicholson married Thomas Braithwaite, of Beaumont, and was the mother of nine children in 1613, the eldest, Geoffrey, being fifteen years of age.[81]

On the south side of the Hall is a wood, covering about two acres of land, and freshly planted within the last half century. Until recent years, numerous decaying tree stocks were turned up out of the soil, and their size plainly evidenced the massive nature of the timber formerly growing there. There is a rookery in the modern wood, and it is surmised that there was one also amongst the branches of the ancient trees, and that a large quantity of bullets discovered in a field on its outskirts record the periodical onslaughts on the unfortunate rooks in days when marksmen were not so unerring as long practice and improved firearms have rendered them now. In the hamlet of Little Poulton there are, in addition to the Hall, three antique houses of considerable pretensions, which were erected and occupied by persons of good social standing. One of them, on the opposite side of the road, and a little removed from the old mansion, was built by a gentleman named Fayle, and on an oaken beam over a doorway, now bricked up, in an extensive barn, is the inscription, EF: IF: 1675, the initials of the erector and his wife, with the date when the edifice was completed. This E. Fayle was probably a relative, perhaps grandfather, of Edward Fayle, of the Holmes, Thornton, and afterwards of Bridge House, Bispham, who married, about 1728, Susannah, the younger daughter of Edward Veale, of Whinney Heys, and co-heiress, with her sister, of the Rev. John Veale, of the same place, her only brother. Another respectable dwelling, but like the few other buildings around, becoming dilapidated through age, bears the initials of Henry Porter, and the date 1723, over the entrance. From sundry documents which have come to light, it seems that Henry Porter was a gentleman of influence and position in the neighbourhood, but beyond that no information can be gained concerning him or his descendants. The tenement he held was purchased by the Brockholes, of Claughton, in 1846. Close by the side of Porter’s residence is another of the same model and size, apparently erected by A. Worswick in 1741, but of this person nothing is known. The remainder of the hamlet is made up of a few old thatched cottages.

A free school was established by James Baines, draper, of Poulton, in 1717, shortly before his death; and by his will, dated that year, he bequeathed to Richard Wilson, Richard Whitehead, sen., Richard Johnson, and Richard Thornton, of Hardhorn-with-Newton, yeomen, to Richard Dickson, woollen draper, and Samuel Bird, yeoman, of Poulton, to Robert Salthouse, of Staining, yeoman, and to their heirs “all that Schoolhouse by me lately erected in Hardhorn-in-Newton, and the parcel of land whereon the same is erected, which is enjoyed therewith, and which by me was lately purchased from Thomas Ords, to remain, continue, and be a Free School for ever for the persons and purposes hereinafter mentioned. Item: I give and devise unto the seven said Trustees and their Heirs, all that messuage and tenement, called Puddle House, with the lands enjoyed therewith, about twenty-two acres, to the special end, intent, and purpose, that the rents and profits over ten shillings a year, (allowed for a dinner to the trustees, and their successors, on their meeting about the affairs of this School on the second of February, on which day they shall yearly meet for that purpose), and after all costs for repairs at the said Schoolhouse and ground it stands on be paid, the balance be given to such person as shall yearly and every year be named, chosen, and appointed, by the said seven Trustees, and their successors, or the major part of them, to act as Schoolmaster, to teach and instruct in writing, reading, and other school learning, according to the best of his capacity, all such children of the inhabitants of the townships of Poulton and Hardhorn-in-Newton as shall be sent to the said School, and behave themselves with care and good manners, without any other payment or reward, except what the said children or their parents shall voluntarily give.” The testament then proceeds to direct that when any two of the seven trustees died, the five surviving should at the cost of the estate appoint two other of the “most able, discreet, and sufficient inhabitants in Poulton and Hardhorn within three months,” and that such a practice should be observed as occasion required “to the end that the said charity may continue for ever according to the true intent and meaning of this Will.” The Trustees were invested with power to dismiss any schoolmaster and appoint a successor, regarding whom there was the following clause:—“All Schoolmasters on appointment shall give bond with one or more sureties for good conduct, and be at duty from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., except from the 1st November to 1st February, in which quarter alone shall they attend on all school days from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.; the afternoons of Thursday and Saturday to be holiday.”

The schoolhouse is a whitewashed building, a single story high, and has four windows in front, with one at each end. It stands in the township of Hardhorn-with-Newton, about half a mile from the town of Poulton, and has the annexed inscription fixed on the wall facing the main road:—“This Charity School was Founded and Endowed by Mr. James Baines, of Poolton, who died the 9th January, 1717. Rebuilt 1818.” The lands bequeathed by Mr. Baines have been exchanged for others of greater value across the river Wyre. The attendance at present is small.

Mr. Baines also left £800 to six trustees to be laid out in land, half the annual income or interest from which he directed to be devoted to the “maintenance, use, and best advantage of the poorest sort of inhabitants of the township of Poulton, which receive no relief by the Poor-rate,” and “for putting out poor children of the said township apprentices yearly though their parents receive relief by the Poor-rate.” The other moiety he directed to be devoted to similar purposes in the townships of Marton, Hardhorn-with-Newton, Carleton, and Thornton.

Jenkinson’s Gift or Charity consists of the rents of a small cottage with garden behind, and two detached crofts at Forton, in Cockerham parish, and amounts to about £5 10s. per annum, which is expended in the purchase of books for the scholars of Baines’s school.

Nicholas Nickson, of Compley, in Poulton, by will dated the 12th of April, 1720, charged his estate with the payment, after the decease of his widow, Alice Nickson, of £100 to the churchwardens and overseers of Poulton, in trust, to invest the sum and give half the interest to the vicar for the time being, distributing the remainder amongst the poor house-keepers of the township not in receipt of parish relief. Until the bequest was paid, the heirs of Nickson, after the death of the widow, were ordered to disburse five per cent. interest on the money each year. In 1754 the trustees of this charity released the estate from all charges in consideration of £100, the legacy, paid to them; and on the 18th of July, 1783, Joseph Harrison and the four other churchwardens of Poulton, together with William Brown and Paul Harrison, the overseers, purchased from James Standen, for £120, a close in Poulton, called Durham’s Croft, to hold the same in trust and divide the rents into twelve parts, whereof five were to be given to the vicar, five to indigent inhabitants not receiving relief, and two in aid of the poor’s rates.

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