A History of Lancashire

2

H. Colley March, F.S.A., “The Early Neolithic Floor of East Lancashire,” p. 7.

3

Engraved, with other flints, in “History of Rochdale,” p. 4.

4

A complete list, up to date, will be found in Rev. William Harrison’s “Archæological Survey of Lancashire,” which will appear in the next volume of the Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society.

5

H. Swainson Cowper, Esq., F.S.A.

6

Hist. Soc. of Lanc. and Ches., xx. 131.

7

Engraved in “History of Rochdale,” p. 5. See also Archæologia, xxv. 595.

8

See Transactions of Hist. Soc. of Lanc. and Ches., xxx. 81.

9

“Annals,” xii. 31.

10

Tacitus, “Hist.,” book iii., ch. lix.

11

Tacitus, “Vita Agricolæ,” cap. xx.

12

Xiphiline’s abridgment of Dion Cassius. It may be well here to state my general indebtedness to the late W. Thompson Watkin’s “Roman Lancashire”; Liverpool, 1883.

13

E. Sanderson, “Hist. of England,” p. 19.

14

“Roman Lancashire,” W. Thompson Watkin; Liverpool, 1883.

15

There are also traces of two other supposed Roman roads.

16

Lanc. and Ches. Ant. Soc., iii. 262.

17

Whitaker’s “History of Manchester,” 1771.

18

Lanc. and Ches. Ant. Soc., viii. 156.

19

Whitaker as an authority is good where he is describing things which he saw himself, but otherwise many of his theories border upon romance. (Vol. i., p. 49, 1773 edition.)

20

The late Mr. Thompson Watkin maintains that the N at end of the first line should be AV.

21

“Palatine Note–Book,” iii. 67.

22

For full details of these see Watkin’s “Roman Lancashire.”

23

Archæological Journal, xxviii., p. 114, and xxx., p. 153.

24

Watkin’s “Roman Lancashire,” p. 55.

25

Through the influence of the Rev. J. Shortt, Vicar of Hoghton, whose description of the find is here followed.

26

Watkin’s “Roman Lancashire,” p. 133.

27

Mr. Townley. See “Vetusta Monumenta,” iv. 5.

28

Abram’s “History of Blackburn,” p. 159.

29

Lanc. and Ches. Hist. Soc., xxv. 161.

30

Whitaker’s “History of Whalley,” ii. 19.

31

Baines’ “History of Lancashire” (second edition), ii. 24.

32

Lanc. and Ches. Hist. Soc., iii. 3.

33

Hist. Soc. of Lanc. and Ches., iii. 60; also Fishwick’s “History of Kirkham,” Chetham Soc., xcii. 5.

34

Fishwick’s “History of Poulton–le–Fylde,” Chetham Soc., new series, viii. 4; also civ. 2.

35

Watkin’s “Roman Lancashire,” p. 203.

36

“The Palatine Note–book,” iv. 201.

37

Fishwick’s “History of Rochdale,” p. 7; also Lanc. and Ches. Arch. Soc., p. 73 et seq.

38

Ibid., p. 12.

39

Authorities differ as to this locality: one writer places it on the Firth of Forth, another in Worcestershire.

40

Pp. 36, 39.

41

Sanderson’s “History of England,” p. 44.

42

A.D. 923.

43

After the death of Cnut, in 1035, the kingdom was again divided, and Mercia and Northumbria fell to Harold. Harthacnut was (in 1039), however, King of all England.

44

Vol. i., p. 12, 2nd edit.

45

Coucher Book, Duchy Office, No. 78.

46

Originally a tax paid to the Danes, but afterwards appropriated to the King. It was always a very unpopular tax.

47

Plan of this in Fishwick’s “History of Rochdale,” p. 66.

48

“Eccles. Hist.,” lib. iii., cap. 8.

49

Baines’ “Hist. of Lanc.,” ii. 205, 2nd edit.

50

The following account of it is compiled from an article in Archæologia, vol. liii., part iii., by H. Swainson Cowper, Esq., F.S.A.

51

See Lanc. and Ches. Arch. Soc., v. 1 et seq.

52

See Lanc. and Ches. Arch. Soc., v. 227.

53

Saxon Chronicle and the Chronicle of Simon of Durham.

54

Arch. Journal, vi. 74; and “History of Garstang,” Chetham Soc., civ. 5.

55

Fishwick’s “History of St. Michael’s–on–Wyre,” Chetham Soc., xxv. (new series), p. 2.

56

In the original document the names are often very different to the ones now in use, but they have all been identified as referring to the localities above given.

57

“There is a priest there having half a carucate of land in frank amoign.”

58

Said to be waste.

59

Other forests are named at Latham, Aughton, Milling, Lydiate, and other places.

60

The hora was not a coin, but an equivalent for about 1s. 6d. or 1s. 8d.

61

In South Lancashire it is believed that six carucates made a hide. A carucate was about 100 acres, but was a variable term.

62

This will serve as a proof that foresta (= a wood or forest) was not necessarily a dense mass of trees, but rather a place where game of every kind abounded.

63

Their individual holdings are 3 hides and half a carucate, 2 carucates, 1½ carucates, 1 carucate and 2 carucates = 3 hides and 7 carucates. Their united holding is put down as 22 carucates, so that a hide in this case equals 5 carucates.

64

Bentham (in Yorkshire), Wennington, Tatham, and Tunstall are described as four manors, where there were three churches.

65

Now Titeup.

66

Authorities differ on the exact area, but probably the above is not far from the figure.

67

Fishwick’s “History of St. Michael’s–on–Wyre,” Chetham Soc., xxv. 3 (new series).

68

Honour of Lancaster granted to him June 30, 1267, and letters patent issued to the tenants of the honour to do their homage and be obedient to him as their lord, February 16, 1268. In 1269 a similar letter was sent to William le Boteler, and in 1270 to Henry de Lacy, Robert de Stockfort, and the Abbot of Furness.

69

Charters of duchy. See 31st Report of the Deputy–Keeper of the Public Records, p. 6.

70

Toll for swine feeding in the woods.

71

A fair in 1255.

72

Carta de Foresta: Record Office.

73

Rossendale Forest adjoins this parish.

74

Plac. de Quo War., Edw. I.: Record Office.

75

Duchy Chancery Rolls, chap. xxv., A 2b.

76

The honour of Lancaster.

77

See Fishwick’s “History of Kirkham,” Chetham Soc., xcii.

78

Royal Letters, Henry III., No. 185.

79

“Letters from Northern Register,” p. 97.

80

See “Popular History of Cumberland,” p. 231.

81

The original rolls are in the Record Office. They have been printed by the Chetham Society, vol. cxii.

82

All the extracts refer to the Lancashire part of the honour, and to the years between 1295 and 1305.

83

Authorities differ on this point, but all agree that money in the thirteenth century was worth many times its present equivalent coin. At the very least, it requires to be multiplied by ten.

87

Treasury Receipts, 21a/3 Record Office; also English Hist. Review, 1890.

88

Lancashire is said to have enjoyed the privilege of a palatinate in the time of Roger de Poictou, but the evidence is not convincing.

89

So described on his tomb in Westminster Abbey.

90

Baines’ “History of Lancashire,” i. 45 (second edition).

91

The records of this court are preserved in the Record Office.

92

In 1850 the revenue account of the duchy shows a very long list of estates in many counties. One half of the whole yearly income was, however, derived from Salford, the largest rent being £285 for land in Pendleton. The Corporation of Salford still pay in lieu of tolls a fixed rent of £5 a year. In 1850 the payments from the duchy to the Queen amounted to £12,000, which in 1893 had increased to £48,000.

93

See Baines’ “History of Lancashire,” i. 57 (second edition).

94

Meyrick’s “Ancient Armour,” i. 137.

95

Report of Deputy–Keeper of Public Records, xxxiii. 21.

96

Stubbs’s “Select Charters,” p. 40.

97

See “The Parliamentary Representation of Lancashire,” by W. J. Pink.

98

See “History of Rochdale,” p. 33.

99

Baines’ “History of Lancashire,” ii. 359 (second edition).

100

Report of Deputy–Keeper of Public Records, xxxii. 354.

101

See detailed account of the plan of this castle in Lanc. and Ches. Hist. Soc., vol. vi., new series.

102

Record Office, Roll of Fines, etc., chap. xxv., A 7, No. 14; also Coucher Book of Furness.

103

Turton Tower, near Bolton, claims to be a very ancient foundation, but as its name never occurs in the ancient charters heretofore discovered, it appears doubtful if it dates back beyond the fifteenth century.

104

Vol. xxxvii.

105

To fettle is an old Lancashire word.

106

Harl. MSS., Cod. 3526. See Harland’s “Ballads and Songs of Lancashire.”

107

“Cottons” is probably a corruption of “coatings.”

108

Market stede Lane, Deansgate, Mylne Gate, Wething Greve, Hanging Ditch, Fenell Street, Smythy Door, and St. Mary’s Gate, are all named in the Court Leet Records 1552–54.

109

From 1522 to 1686, and from 1731 to 1846. The whole have been printed by order of the Corporation, and edited by J. P. Earwaker, Esq., F.S.A.

110

Act passed in 1570 requiring persons to wear woollen caps, made in England, on Sundays.

111

Speed’s Plan.

112

Picton’s “Liverpool Municipal Records.”

113

Corporation Records.

114

Beamont’s “Annals of Warrington.”

115

Fishwick’s “History of Rochdale,” p. 44.

116

Fishwick’s “Lancashire in the Time of Elizabeth” (Royal Historical Society, vii. 191).

117

Pleadings (Philip and Mary), Record Office.

118

State Papers, Dom. Ser., cclxiii.

119

Chetham Soc., xlix.

120

Richard Entwysle of Foxholes. (See “History of Rochdale,” p. 408.)

121

Local coal of very inferior quality appears to also have been used. Such entries occur as “four loodes of cole at Hilton delve, 4s.,” but this was probably only the cost of the carriage, as the coal would belong to the Shuttleworths, and be got in the quarry.

122

“Bibliotheca Heraldica,” p. 582.

123

See “History of Rochdale,” p. 352.

124

The author read a paper on “The Lancashire Demoniacs” before the Hist. Soc. of Lanc. and Ches. (vol. xxxv.), in which this subject is more fully gone into.

125

This case does not belong to the seventeenth century, but it is inserted here as bearing upon the subject, and only occurred four years before the century began.

126

“The Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches in the County of Lancaster, with the arraignment and trial of nineteene notorious Witches, etc., etc.; London, 1613.” Reprinted by the Chetham Soc., vol. vi., old series.

127

See Lanc., and Ches. Ant. Soc., x. 215.

128

Some of these tracts are now very scarce.

129

One of these was found near Rochdale a few years ago. (See “History of Rochdale,” p. 535.)

130

Satirical poem, Hopkinson’s MSS., xxxiv. 85.

131

“Nicholas Assheton’s Journal,” Chetham Soc., xiv.

132

Liverpool Municipal Records.

133

The Chetham Society, vols. ii., xlii., and lxvi., contained full details of the Civil War in Lancashire. From this source many of the following particulars are taken.

134

In a tract dated July 5, 1642, entitled “The Beginning of the Civil Warres in England, or Terrible News from the North,” Lord Strange is reported to have approached Manchester with a considerable armed force on July 5, and drawing up at a little distance from the town, demanded that the inhabitants should deliver up their magazines. On their refusal to give them up, he marched against the town, outside of which he was met by “ten small companies set in a faire battalion,” and a skirmish took place, which lasted several hours, and resulted in the withdrawal of the Royalist forces with the loss of twenty–seven men. The tract then states “that this is the beginning of the Civill Warre, being the first stroke that hath been struck, and the first bullet that hath been shot.” There is much reason to doubt the correctness of this reported fight, as no mention of it is made by contemporary authorities.

135

These fortifications consisted of posts and chains, and barricades of mud. They were erected under the superintendence of Lieutenant–Colonel Rosworm, a German engineer, at a cost of £30.

136

A slightly different version of this is given in “Lancashire’s Valley of Achor.”

137

Major Edward Robinson, “A Discourse of the Warr in Lancashire,” Chetham Soc., lxii.

138

“Lancashire’s Valley of Achor.”

139

“A punctuall relation of the passages in Lancashire this week” (February 14, 1642).

140

This is Major Robinson’s statement.

141

Major Robinson says he “discharged that little pece of ordenance they carried with them divers times,” and then walked into the town.

142

“Lancashire’s Valley of Achor.”

143

Edward Bridgeman, late M.P.

144

This castle was afterwards ordered to be dismantled. Its position rendered it difficult to attack, as it stood on an eminence from which the ground sloped rapidly in every direction. It was entered by the large windows on the east side, and the entrance thus gained, the victory was assured.

145

This castle was first taken by Colonel Ashton, in June, 1643, but Sir John Girlington, having got hold of it, reoccupied it.

146

For full details of these two sieges see “Civil War Tracts,” Chetham Soc., ii.

147

Seacome’s “Memoirs of the House of Stanley.”

148

In Salford Chapel, “for poor distressed Bolton,” the very large sum of £140 was collected (“Vicar’s Chronicle”).

149

By way of Blackburn and Colne; at the latter place a slight skirmish took place on June 25. At Kirkham, between May and September, 1644, no accounts of the vestry were kept, because “Prince Rupert’s army” had command of the county, and many of the parishioners had fled. In 1642 the soldiers “pulled asunder the organ pipes in the church.”

150

“A Discourse of the Warr in Lancashire.”

151

Another authority gives 32,000 (Burghall’s “Civil War in Cheshire”).

152

Lieut.–General Cromwell’s letter to the Hon. William Lenthall.

153

Burghall put the killed and wounded at 4,000, and adds that they took 6,000 prisoners!

154

Cal. State Papers, Dom. Ser., 1648–9, p. 219.

155

For full details of this historic incident see “Stanley Papers,” “Civil Warr in Lancashire” (Chetham Society), Seacome’s “Memoirs,” Hughes’ “Boscobel Tracts,” etc.

156

State Papers, Dom. Ser., iv. 240.

157

Heawood’s “Coronation.”

158

Published by Chetham Society, vol. xii., old series.

159

“Autobiography of William Stout”; London, 1851.

160

A few years afterwards he was sent to a school in Westmorland, where he was taught both Latin and Greek.

161

The place where the meal was bolted = sifted.

162

The cotton trade had not yet arisen. These goods were coatings, and made of wool.

163

One solitary book, “A Guide to Heaven from the Word,” is said on doubtful authority to have been printed at Smithy Door, Manchester, in 1664.

164

Kingston’s “True History of the Several Designs and Conspiracies against his Majesty’s Person and Government, as they were carried on from 1688 to 1697.”

165

For full details of this “plot” see the late Mr. Beamont’s introduction to “The Jacobite Trials in Manchester, 1694” (Chetham Soc., xxviii.), and also Dr. Abbadie’s “True History of the Late Conspiracy,” etc.; London, 1696.

166

All well–known Lancashire men, except Sir Rowland Stanley, who lived in Cheshire.

167

Chetham Soc., xxviii.

168

See Lanc. and Ches. Ant. Soc., vol. v.

169

Bright’s “Early English Church History,” p. 111.

170

Lancashire was subsequently included in the Diocese of Lichfield and Coventry until the establishment of the See of Chester, in 1541, the northern portion being in the Archdeaconry of Richmond, in the Diocese of York.

171

Lancaster parish is partly in Lonsdale and partly in Amounderness.

172

Symeon of Durham’s “Life of St. Cuthbert,” Surtees Soc., li. 141.

173

See Lanc. and Ches. Ant. Soc., vol. ix.

174

Aldcliffe Hall is on the south of the river. Of Newton all trace is lost. See “Materials for History of the Church of Lancaster,” Chetham Soc., xxvi., new series.

175

Calendar of Papal Reg., A.D. 1193–1304, and chartulary of the priory.

176

Calendar of French Rolls; 48th Report of Deputy–Keeper of Records.

177

Worthings = manure.

178

“Antiquities of Furness.”

179

Probably granted for a term of years.

180

Printed by the Chetham Society (new series, vols. xiii., xiv., xv.).

181

A compound of “kirk,” the Danish or Scandinavian for church, and the Anglo–Saxon “ham,” a village or a dwelling.

182

Whitaker’s “History of Whalley.”

183

Chetham Society, Coucher Book of Whalley.

184

See Whitaker’s “History of Whalley,” from which this description is taken.

185

Recently forms have been placed in the church.

186

For detailed drawing of Stydd Church see “The History of Stydd Chapel and Preceptory,” by George Latham; London, 1853.

187

Warrington Church Notes.

188

For details of remains of Burscough, see Lanc. and Ches. Hist. Soc., 1889.

189

Dom. Gilbert Dolan, O.S.B. (Lanc. and Ches. Hist. Soc., vols. vii., viii., p. 231).

190

Partly printed by Chetham Society, cvii. and cxiii.

191

Bridge = a kind of thread.

192

Communion–cloths.

193

A glass bottle to hold oil.

194

Created in 1848, and includes all Lancashire, except parts of West Derby which are in Chester Diocese, and the Furness and Cartmel districts, which were added to Carlisle.

195

Near the door of the dining–room is a small hole in the flag floor, somewhat like the impress of a human foot, which tradition says marks the place where George Marsh stamped his foot as he protested to the truth of his faith.

196

State Papers, Dom. Ser., 1547–1565.

197

State Papers, Dom. Ser., addenda xix., p. 525.

198

Ibid., p. 161.

199

Ibid., cxxxviii., p. 18.

200

See “History of Poulton–le–Fylde” (Fishwick), Chetham Society, viii., new series.

201

Chetham Society, xcvi., p. 1.