LATHOM
Latune, Dom. Bk.; Lathum, 1200, and generally
to xv. cent.; Lathom, 1223, became the usual
spelling, sometimes as Lathome, about the end of
xv. cent.
This township has an area of 8,694½ (fn. 1) acres, with
an extreme length of nearly six miles. Two brooks,
the Tawd and Eller, flow northward through it to
join the Douglas, which forms part of the boundary.
The portion between the brooks contains Lathom
House, with its large park, situated about the centre
of the township; in the extreme north is Hoscar
Moss, below the 25 ft. level; in the west are Blythe
Hall, and to the south of it, New Park, on the edge
of which it is believed was anciently the lord's abode,
known as Alton or Olton. To the west of Eller
Brook is Wirples Moss, adjoining Hoscar; while in
the south is the hamlet of Westhead, near which is
Cross Hall.
The larger portion of this township consists of
a plateau sloping gradually on its southern side, and
rather more abruptly to its north-eastern boundary.
The country is divided into arable and pasture fields,
with small hamlets and farms scattered at intervals.
To the west it is flat and uninteresting, but to the
east it is undulating, rising to 215 ft. above sea-level,
and pleasantly varied with plantations and farms.
Newburgh is an old and picturesque village on the
east, near the River Douglas, and contains a village
green with a restored cross. To the south the
country becomes singularly unpicturesque, with flat,
bare fields and stunted hedges, with collieries and
their usually unattractive surroundings.
The geological formation of the western part of
the township consists of the upper mottled sandstone
beds of the bunter series of the new red sandstone,
with overlying beds of lower keuper sandstone,
extending for a mile and a half north and south, and
half a mile east and west of Cross Hall, and again
around New Park. The eastern portion of the
township lies wholly upon the middle coal measures
and upon the gannister beds of the lower coal
measures.
The principal roads are those crossing the township
from west to east, in the northern part from Burscough to Newburgh, and in the south from Ormskirk
to Dalton. There are cross roads leading north from
Bickerstaffe and Skelmersdale. The Leeds and Liverpool Canal crosses from Burscough Bridge to Newburgh,
and a branch goes north to join the Douglas. The
Southport and Wigan line of the Lancashire and
Yorkshire Railway runs to the north of the canal,
and has a station about the centre called Hoscar.
The same company's Liverpool and Preston line is
near the western boundary, with a station at Burscough
Bridge. The Ormskirk and St. Helens Railway of the
London and North-Western Company passes through
the southern part of the township.
The soil is loam, the subsoil being sand and clay.
The chief crops are wheat, oats, and potatoes. The
collieries are at Blague Gate.
Lathom adopted the Local Government Act in 1872, (fn. 2)
the local board of eight members becoming an urban
district council of fifteen members in 1894. The
population in 1901 was 4,361.
In Lathom the pedestal of Hob Cross remains,
north of the park. The pedestal of the Newburgh
cross also remains, at the upper end of the green. (fn. 3)
In the seventeenth century there was a Spa at
Lathom. The site is marked by Spa Farm, near the
boundary of the township. The sinking of coal shafts
in the neighbourhood caused its disappearance. It is
mentioned as late as 1807. (fn. 4)
MANORS
At the death of Edward the Confessor
LATHOM with a berewick was held by
Uctred, the assessment area being half a
hide and the value 10s. 8d. beyond the usual rent.
It was within the privileged 3 hides. The woodland approximated to 720 customary acres. The
berewick may have been the half of Martin which
had been incorporated with Lathom, or else Ormskirk;
the wood was probably Burscough. (fn. 5)
The next lord of Lathom whose name is on record
was Siward son of Dunning, who held it in thegnage
about the time of Henry II. Siward made a grant
of one plough-land here to Gospatrick, probably the
lord of Hindley. (fn. 6) Siward's son Henry received from
Albert Grelley the elder a plough-land in Flixton,
with the church of the manor, to hold as a member
of the barony of Manchester. (fn. 7) Henry was succeeded
by his son Robert, who at Michaelmas, 1169, rendered
account of 10 marks due by him to the aid to marry
the king's daughter. (fn. 8) His most notable act was the
foundation of the priory of Burscough in or before
1189. (fn. 9) He took part in the rebellion of his chief,
John, count of Mortain, in 1194, and later in the
year paid an instalment of the fine of 20 marks
incurred therefor. (fn. 10) He seems to have been married
twice; his widow was Amabel daughter of Simon,
who was suing her stepson for dower in 1199.
Knowsley and Anglezark were subsequently assigned
to her. (fn. 11)
Richard son of Robert succeeded. Early in 1201
he had livery of his father's lands, paying for relief of
Lathom five marks and a palfrey at Pentecost and
the same at Michaelmas. (fn. 12) The survey of 1212 shows
that of the three plough-lands which he held de antiquitate in thegnage by a service of 20s., one ploughland, granted to Gospatrick as stated, was then held
by Roger son of Gospatrick, his undertenants being
Richard and John (1 oxgang for 12d.) and William de
Stainford (3 oxgangs for 3s.); one plough-land had
been given to Burscough, and half a plough-land was
held by Richard de Elsintree for 4s. It would thus
appear that only half a plough-land was left in Richard's
own hands; probably the demesne of Lathom. (fn. 13)
Richard de Lathom confirmed his father's gifts to
the canons of Burscough. (fn. 14) His wife's name was Alice;
she survived him, and seems to have married Simon
de Grubehead, who received Childwall, Roby, and
Anglezark as her dower. (fn. 15) Richard died about 1220
and was succeeded by his eldest son Richard, who had
livery of his lands by writ dated 27 January, 1221;
he paid 100s. for his relief. (fn. 16) In 1229 a composition
was made between him and Benedict, prior of Burscough, as to the corn mills of Lathom and Knowsley,
which he held from the canons by a rent of 2s. and
also as to Cross Hall. (fn. 17) He was a benefactor of
Cockersand Abbey. (fn. 18) He died in the summer of 1232,
having no issue by his wife Roesia, whose dower was
claimed in the following autumn. (fn. 19)
He was succeeded by his brother Robert, a man of
note in the affairs of the county. He confirmed the
charter of Burscough and added the land of Adam de
Birkes, which his brother Richard had bequeathed
with his body, as well as two other plats. (fn. 20) By his
marriage with Joan, (fn. 21) sister and coheir of Thomas
son of Robert de Alfreton, he became possessed of a
moiety of her father's estates in Alfreton, Norton, and
Marnham, held of the honour of Tickhill. (fn. 22) She probably died without issue, as these manors did not
remain with the Lathom family. Robert was made a
knight in 1243 in consequence of the king's writ to
enforce knighthood on all who had an estate of fifteen
librates of land. (fn. 23) In 1249 the county and castle of
Lancaster were committed to Sir Robert, during the
king's pleasure. (fn. 24) By this appointment he held the
office of sheriff from Easter, 1249, to Michaelmas,
1254; he held it again from Easter, 1264, to Michaelmas, 1265. (fn. 25) His second wife was Joan, daughter of
Adam de Millom, (fn. 26) by whom he had several children.
From 1277 until his death about 1290, he was engaged
in the wars. (fn. 27)
He was succeeded by his son Nicholas, who was
quickly followed by his brother Robert. (fn. 28) In 1298
Robert de Lathom held the manor by a service of 20s.
and doing suit to the county and wapentake. (fn. 29) In
1304 he obtained a royal charter for markets and fairs
on his manors of Lathom and Roby; also of free
warren. At the former place there was to be a market
every Tuesday, and fair on the eve, feast, and morrow
of St. Barnabas. (fn. 30)
He served in the wars and in public offices. (fn. 31) In
1324 he was among those returned by the sheriff as
holding land of the value of £15 yearly. (fn. 32) His wife's
name was Katherine. (fn. 33) Sir Robert died at the beginning of 1325, (fn. 34) and at the subsequent inquisition (fn. 35)
it was found that he had held the manor of Lathom
as of the honour of West Derby by the service of 20s.
and doing suit to the county every six weeks, and to
the wapentake every three weeks. His heir was his
son, Thomas de Lathom, then aged twenty-four years
or more.
Thomas at once entered into public life and the
fulfilment of the duties imposed upon him by his
position in the county. (fn. 36) He had already (1322) been
appointed a commissioner of array for Lancashire
and in 1324 was one of the knights of the shire
attending Parliament; in the following year he was
appointed a conservator of the peace, and shortly
afterwards again nominated a commissioner of array. (fn. 37)
In 1339 he obtained a charter of free warren in his
demesne lands of Lathom and elsewhere. (fn. 38) In 1340
he was a commissioner for the taxation of the ninth
of sheaves, &c. (fn. 39) and was frequently engaged in
levying forces in the county to repulse the inroads of
the Scots in the reign of Edward III. (fn. 40) He was one
of the knight bannerets with the king in the French
expedition of 1344 to 1347, his retinue being a
knight, eight esquires, and twenty-three archers. (fn. 41)
The extent of the county made in 1346 records that
he held the manor of Lathom, (fn. 42) and in the inquest
taken after the death of Henry, duke of Lancaster
(1361), it was found that he held of him a knight's
fee in Knowsley, Tarbock, and Huyton. (fn. 43) There are
but scanty records of his management of his estates. (fn. 44)
He married Eleanor, daughter of Sir John de Ferrars,
knight, by whom he had two sons. By his will (1369)
he desired to be buried in the priory church of Burscough. (fn. 45)
Sir Thomas de Lathom, the younger, succeeded his
father in 1370. He was the Sir Oskell of the Lathom
legend. (fn. 46) He made an enfeoffment of his estates in
1376. (fn. 47) He paid his quota of the aid to make the
duke of Lancaster's son a knight in 1378. (fn. 48) Two years
later he was pardoned certain offences committed within
the forest of West Derby, Joan his wife and Edward
their son being included in the grant. (fn. 49) His wife Joan
was daughter of Hugh Venables of Kinderton; (fn. 50) his
children were Thomas, Edward, Isabel, Margaret, and
Katherine. (fn. 51) He died at the beginning of 1382, having
been lord of Lathom for twelve years. (fn. 52)
His son and heir Thomas had a shorter tenure,
dying about eighteen months afterwards; his heiress
was a daughter Ellen, born two months after his
death. (fn. 53) The widow afterwards married Sir John de
Dalton. (fn. 54) The heiress became a ward to the duke
of Lancaster; she was still living in 1387, but died
before the end of 1390, when the duke ordered John
de Audlem and Richard de Longbarrow to continue
in possession until further orders. (fn. 55)
After her death the Lathom manors reverted to
the younger children of Sir Thomas, and Edward
having died, Sir John Stanley received them in right
of his wife Isabel. (fn. 56)
The manor continued to descend in the Stanley
family (fn. 57) until the sale about 1717. Lathom was
their principal residence until its destruction in the
Civil Wars, after which Knowsley took its place,
though William, the ninth earl of Derby, had some
intention of rebuilding it. (fn. 58)
A very complete survey of the manor is contained
in the compotus rolls of 13–14 Henry VIII, when
the family estates were in the king's hands through
the minority of Edward, the third earl of Derby. (fn. 59)
The most famous event connected with Lathom
is the siege of 1644. In the previous year, Lord
Derby being occupied in the Isle of Man, the
countess was summoned by the Parliamentary governor
of Manchester to subscribe to the propositions of
Parliament, or yield possession of Lathom. She
refused, but offered to dismiss all her armed servants
except such as were needful for the protection of the
household in the disturbed state of the county. This
was allowed, but her people were constantly harried;
and in the following February it was determined to
demand the surrender of the house. The countess
had timely notice and made preparations for a siege.
On Tuesday, 27 February, 1643–4, the Parliamentary forces took up positions around the house, at
the distance of a mile or more; their leaders were
Colonel Ralph Assheton of Middleton and Colonel
John Moore of Bank Hall, Liverpool, to whom
Colonel Rigby afterwards joined himself, and Ormskirk
was chosen as head quarters. Next morning a formal
demand was made for its surrender. A week was
spent in fruitless negotiations, and the countess having
peremptorily rejected the demand for surrender, the
besiegers began to raise earthworks. They tried a
little further parleying, but this time the countess
responded with a sally of a hundred of her men
(12 March), who, headed by Captain Farmer, a
Scotchman, drove the enemy from their nearer
trenches and secured a few prisoners; a similar
sally was made on the succeeding Sunday. On Tuesday (19 March) the besiegers brought their first gun
into position and next morning opened fire. By the
following week several more cannon were available, and
on 2 April a mortar was brought into use. No perceptible progress being made, the besiegers devoted
themselves to prayer for several days, but on Wednesday 10 April the garrison made another sally, drove
the besiegers from their works and spiked many of
their guns.
This damage being repaired the attack became
more serious, the guns being used more frequently
and sometimes even during the night; the mortar in
particular caused great annoyance. Easter Tuesday
(23 April) was marked by specially vigorous firing,
and such damage was done to the Eagle Tower, in
the centre of the building, that the countess had to
seek another lodging. On the Thursday, Colonel
Rigby, now chief commander, sent a new summons
to surrender, but the answer was a fierce refusal, the
countess declaring that she would set fire to the place
and perish therein, rather than surrender to Rigby.
At four o'clock next morning (26 April) a determined
sally was made in order to capture the mortar, and
to the joy of the garrison this terrifying weapon was
within a short time brought within the defences. The
countess ordered a public thanksgiving. A prisoner
captured at the same time revealed the plans of the
enemy for stopping the supply of water.
For the next month the besiegers did little, hoping
to starve the garrison into surrender; their troops,
however, began to grow mutinous. On 23 May
Colonel Rigby made another demand for surrender,
which was refused as firmly as before; and at night
there was news that Prince Rupert was in Cheshire
on his way to relieve the place. This was too much
for the besiegers, and on the following Monday
(27 May) Colonel Rigby withdrew the last of his
troops; marching off in the direction of Bolton he
encountered the Prince and the earl of Derby, and
was routed with considerable slaughter (28 May).
Next day the earl presented to his countess 'twentytwo of those colours which three days before were
proudly flourished before her house.' (fn. 60)
After this the earl and countess of Derby went to
the Isle of Man, and Lathom House was delivered to
Prince Rupert to fortify and defend. He placed
Captain Rawsthorn in command, with a due store of
provisions and ammunition. The second siege was
not seriously undertaken until the early summer of
1645. The defeat of the king's forces at Rowton,
near Chester (24 September), prevented him from
doing anything to relieve the place; but the garrison
held out until the beginning of December, when they
surrendered on conditions. (fn. 61)
The house was then given up to plunder, and subsequently almost destroyed, two or three little timber
buildings being alone left to mark the site of the
palatial mansion. (fn. 62)
The earl's estates were sequestrated and afterwards
confiscated by the Parliament. Lathom was found to
be one of the manors charged with an annuity of
£600 to the countess of Lincoln and her children by
her first husband, Sir Robert Stanley. (fn. 63) In 1653
Henry Neville and Anthony Samwell contracted to
purchase Lathom, Childwall, and some other manors,
and others bought various lands in Lathom. (fn. 64) Soon
afterwards, however, these manors were again in the
possession of the earl. (fn. 65)
Lathom was sold in or about 1717 by Henrietta
Maria, then countess of Ashburnham, daughter and
heir of William, ninth earl of Derby, the transaction being completed in 1722. The purchaser was
Henry Furnesse, described as 'of the parish of St.
Stephen's, Coleman Street, London'; (fn. 66) and two
years afterwards he sold it to Thomas Bootle of
Melling in Halsall, and of the Inner Temple. (fn. 67)
Thomas Bootle held various public offices, being a
baron of the Exchequer of Chester (fn. 68) and Chancellor
to Frederick, Prince of Wales. He represented
Liverpool as a Tory in Parliament in 1724 and
1727. (fn. 69) He was knighted in 1746. (fn. 70) Dying unmarried in 1753 he was buried at Melling. (fn. 71) Lathom
and other estates passed to his brother Robert, a
director of the East India Company, born at Maghull
in 1693; who dying in 1758 (fn. 72) was succeeded by his
only daughter Mary. She married in May, 1755, (fn. 73)
Richard Wilbraham, of Rode Hall in Cheshire,
descended of an ancient house, who on his succession
assumed the surname of Bootle pursuant to the will
of Sir Thomas Bootle. (fn. 74) They had a numerous
family, of whom Edward Wilbraham, born in 1771,
was the eldest surviving son. He obtained the royal
licence in 1814 to take the additional surname of
Wilbraham, thus becoming Edward Wilbraham
Bootle Wilbraham. (fn. 75) He was member of Parliament
for various constituencies from 1795 to 1828, and in
the latter year was created Baron Skelmersdale of
Skelmersdale. He died in 1853, his eldest son
Richard having predeceased him in 1844, and was
succeeded by Edward Bootle Wilbraham, Richard's
only son, born in 1837. He had several official
appointments, was a prominent freemason, and held
an honourable position of respect and influence in the
county. In 1880 he was created earl of Lathom;
dying in 1898 he was succeeded by his son, Edward
George, born 26 October, 1864, the present earl of
Lathom and lord of the manor. The house is a fine
building in the Renaissance style with a large park
five miles round; it commands a beautiful view.
Bootle of Melling. Gules, on a chevron engrailed between three comb; argent as many crosses patée fitchée of the field.
Wilbraham of Rode Hall. Argent, three bendlets wavy azure.
Wolmoor (fn. 76) was a small estate or manor in Lathom
which early in the thirteenth century gave a surname
to its owners. These granted part of it to Burscough. (fn. 77) Another small estate called Taldeford, later
Tawdbridge, gave its name to the owners. (fn. 78)
BLYTHE
BLYTHE was held in 1189 by Geoffrey Travers, (fn. 79)
whose son Henry, called 'de Blythe,' by his charter
released to Prior Benedict of Burscough all his claim
to mastfall in Tarlscough, Greetby, and Burscough; (fn. 80)
Henry also gave to the priory a watercourse running
through his Holme to the priory mill of the Bayes. (fn. 81)
John and Robert de Blythe occur among the names of
subscribers to the stipend of a chaplain at Ormskirk
in 1366, (fn. 82) and the latter also in the Poll Tax Roll of
1381. (fn. 83) John de Blythe attested Scarisbrick charters
in 1399 and 1401, and was the father of Roger, who
in 1397 was charged with breaking into the parsonage
house at Crossens. (fn. 84) From him descended Roger
Blythe, whose daughter and heir Margaret by her
marriage with John Blakelache (or Blackledge) conveyed the estate to this family. (fn. 85)
Evan Blackledge (fn. 86) by his will, made in July, 1565,
desired to be buried in Ormskirk church 'on the
north side of an overlay or stone under which Bishop
Blackledge was buried.' (fn. 87) His brother John succeeded
him, and in 1576 made an exchange of lands with
Ralph Langley. (fn. 88) He was followed by Evan Blackledge, apparently his son, who in 1593 made a settlement upon the marriage of his son John with
Margaret, daughter of Henry Walton of Little Hoole. (fn. 89)
Evan died at Lathom on 31 January, 1612–13, seised
of Blythe Hall and other lands, John, his son and heir,
being then aged forty-two years and more. (fn. 90) John
Blackledge contributed to the subsidy of 1628. (fn. 91) He
was succeeded by another Evan, probably his son,
who died in or before 1658, leaving three sons—
John, James, and Thomas. The first of these married
in 1658 Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Jodrell of
Leek, (fn. 92) but died without issue before 1683, and was
succeeded by his brother James, a pewterer of
London. The latter's son Evan, described as 'of the
parish of St. John, Wapping, gentleman, and of
Blythe Hall,' sold the Lathom estate to William Hill
of Burscough in 1698. William Hill, junior, in
1761 conveyed the estate to William Shaw and John
Sephton, probably as trustees. (fn. 93) About 1800 it was
purchased by Thomas Langton, who in 1826 sold it
to Edward Bootle Wilbraham, from whom it has
descended to the present earl of Lathom. (fn. 94)
A family bearing the local name of Ellerbeck
once resided in Lathom; one of them became prior of
Burscough. (fn. 95)
Alton or Olton, later New Park, is mentioned in
1189 in the charter of Burscough Priory. The name
suggests an early place of settlement in the township.
In 1198 it appears to have been a hamlet. (fn. 96) There
was a small ford over Edgeacre (Eller) Brook, lying to
the south of Blythe, which is more than once described
as the ford which leads from Alton to Harleton. (fn. 97) In
course of time, perhaps in the fifteenth century, it had
ceased to be a hamlet, and the lords of Lathom turned
it into a park, called Lady Park, or New Park. (fn. 98) The
earls of Derby occasionally kept house here. (fn. 99) It now
forms part of the Cross Hall property.
CROSS HALL
CROSS HALL may have taken its name from a
cross erected here by the Burscough canons. The
boundaries are detailed in the early charter of Burscough Priory. (fn. 100) A later deed, dated 1229 and
entitled 'charter of the rent of Cross Hall,' grants
an annual rent of 2s. from this land, payable by
Roger and Reginald of the Cross and their successors
on behalf of Richard de Lathom. (fn. 101) The tenants
seem to have been Welshmen; they are called
le Waleys, and were perhaps kinsmen of the Aughton
family. Richard le Waleys was said by the prior of
Burscough to have erected a horse mill within the
latter's 'Land of the Cross; 'but the parties came to
an arrangement by which Richard acknowledged the
prior's title and received the mill as tenant at a rent
of 12d. (fn. 102) Another agreement, made about 1280,
allowed the prior certain rights of way over Richard
le Waleys' land. (fn. 103)
In 1309 Richard le Waleys of the Cross, the
younger, complained that William de Codesbecke,
Robert of the Cross the elder, and Adam his
brother, had disseised him of his free tenement in
Lathom; the estate had been mortgaged to Eustace
de Codesbecke, (fn. 104) deceased, whose debt had not been
paid. (fn. 105) The Cross family retained an interest in the
place to the end of the fourteenth century, the lords
of Lathom being superior to them as tenants of the
prior of Burscough. (fn. 106)
Afterwards it appears to have reverted to the Stanleys
as successors to the Lathoms, and in the accounts
already quoted may be noticed the rent of 3s. paid to
the prior of Burscough. It came into the ownership
of the earls of Derby together with other lands of the
priory. (fn. 107) A junior branch of this family had Cross
Hall on lease from the earl, (fn. 108) and Sir Thomas Stanley
of Bickerstaffe was still holding it in 1653. (fn. 109)
Sir Thomas Stanley's eldest son was ancestor of the
earls of Derby. His second son, Peter, (fn. 110) was father of
Thomas Stanley of Cross Hall, high sheriff in 1718, (fn. 111)
who died in 1733, (fn. 112) and to whose son Charles the
tenth earl of Derby bequeathed Cross Hall. (fn. 113) His male
issue failing it devolved, in virtue of the terms of the
bequest, on the issue of Dr. Thomas Stanley, rector
of Winwick, the present owner being Mr. Edward
James Stanley.
Apparently adjoining the estate of Cross Hall
was a messuage called Cross Place, in Westhead.
This was held until the end of the fourteenth century
by the Cross family, and in the succeeding century
passed to the Woodwards of Shevington. It is now
the property of the trustees of the late Charles Scarisbrick. (fn. 114)
Westhead was apparently occupied by small freeholders from early times. (fn. 115) A grant made by Robert
de Lathom in 1292–3 to Robert, his tailor, probably
refers to land here. (fn. 116)
The lands of several persons in Lathom were confiscated and sold by the Parliament in 1652: John
Wainwright, John Gregson, Richard Moss (a skinner),
George Rigmaiden, and William Speakman. (fn. 117) John
Speakman of Scarisbrick, as a 'Papist,' registered an
estate here and at Ormskirk in 1717; and John
Stock one here and at Newburgh. (fn. 118)
In 1792 the principal contributor to the land tax
was R. Wilbraham Bootle; the others included
T. Stanley of Cross Hall, W. Hill of Blythe Hall,
Mr. Ashton's heirs and W. Johnson's heirs.
An Enclosure Act for Lathom and Skelmersdale was
passed in 1778. (fn. 119)
NEW BURGH
NEW BURGH village is on elevated ground, sloping
to north and east down to the Douglas; on the south
the ground rises gently. The annual cattle fair, held
on 20 June and made free in 1853, has lost much of
its old prestige, but it is still celebrated with a great
ingathering of the country-side for the amusements
provided. The stalls and booths are erected on the
village green, on a little knoll where are some remains
of the ancient cross. 'Fairing cakes,' like Eccles
cakes, are made and sent to friends. The weekly
market has been discontinued. The old schoolhouse,
built in 1714, stands at the west end of the village. (fn. 120)
A court-leet is still held. (fn. 121)
A mock corporation—probably a relic of the
ancient borough—once held its meetings here. The
custom was for the villagers to assemble annually round
the village cross and elect a new mayor. The last
minute book, 1827–32, is extant.
A century ago the best cheese in the country was
made here and at Leigh. There seems also to have
been a small pottery. (fn. 122)
The name indicates that a borough had been
formed. In 1385, Isabel, widow of Thomas de
Lathom, had a rent of 8 marks of the freeholders of
Newburgh as part of her dower right. (fn. 123) The accounts
of the Derby estates during the minority of Edward,
third earl of Derby, show that the ancient
burgage rent was 1s. (fn. 124)
The manor became distinct from Lathom
and has remained with the earls of Derby
to the present time.
The school at Newburgh was founded in
1714 by the Rev. Thomas Crane.
LATHOM CHAPEL
LATHOM CHAPEL is a picturesque
little building of c. 1500, in plan a plain
rectangle 20 ft. wide internally by 61 ft. long.
The east gable and five-light window remain
unaltered, but the north and south walls are
hidden by a coating of modern cement, and
the windows are all modernized, with wooden
mullions and plain four-centred heads. The
west wall is partly hidden by the almshouse
buildings, and is surmounted by an octagonal
bell-turret with embattled cornice and short
octagonal spirelet, capped by a stone ball in
place of its original finial. The internal fittings of
the church are modern, of the style of the early
Gothic revival, with pulpit, reading-desk, and lectern
to the west of a chancel screen with two rows of
plain stalls, and at the west end an organ gallery
carried by iron columns, with a plain octagonal font
beneath it.
The chapel forms the north-east angle of a group
of buildings, a row of almshouses adjoining it on the
west, and a vestry and school building on the southeast. It is to be noted that the centre of the east
window is 9 in. to the south of the centre line of the
chapel, the error being probably one of setting-out
only, but there may have been some reason for it,
such as to provide extra space for the niche holding
the statue of the patron saint, which would be set up
on the north side of the window.
A chantry was founded in the new chapel at
Lathom, to which a hospital was attached, by Thomas
second earl of Derby in 1500. (fn. 125) In 1509 it was
formally sanctioned by the bishop of Lichfield, the
chapel to be consecrated by Huan, bishop of Sodor. (fn. 126)
In 1548 the priest, John Moody, was fulfilling his
duties according to the founder's wishes, and as the
chapel was three miles from the parish church of
Ormskirk he had licence to minister sacraments and
sacramentals there for the benefit of the neighbourhood. (fn. 127)
The foundation, so far as concerned the almshouse,
either escaped destruction in 1547–8 or was soon
refounded. In 1614 it was described as a 'small
chapel to Ormskirk,' served by 'a curate with a
small pension.' (fn. 128) The minister has usually been styled
the Almoner. In 1650 the almsmen sent to the
Parliamentary Commissioners a protest against the
confiscation of their endowment, although it was
derived from lands of the earl of Derby. (fn. 129)
In October, 1686, an inquiry was held at Wigan
as to the earl of Derby's right to dismiss the master
or almoner; William Norris, clerk, who had been
frequently absent from duty and otherwise neglectful,
claiming a freehold. The earl's right appears to have
been upheld. (fn. 130)
In 1827 the Charity Commissioners found that
thirteen poor persons by ancient custom received
£3 6s. yearly apiece; six of these pensioners lived in
the almonry. The chapel attached was a domestic
chapel, but was attended by residents in the neighbourhood who had permission to do so. The
minister was nominated by the owner of Lathom
House; the bishop of the diocese had no jurisdiction. (fn. 131)
A settlement of the endowment was made in 1845,
when a rent-charge of £145, issuing from a messuage
called Pennington in Upholland, was granted. There
are thirteen pensioners, each receiving £3 6s. a year;
the chapel clerk has £3, and the chaplain or almoner
the rest. The chapel is used for ordinary services as
well as a domestic chapel. (fn. 132)
The church of St. John the Baptist stands at
Burscough Bridge, but is situated on the Lathom side
of the township boundary. It was begun in 1827
and opened in 1832, the cost being defrayed partly
by a parliamentary grant. (fn. 133) The district chapelry was
constituted in 1847. (fn. 134) St. James's, Lathom, was built
in 1850 by the earl of Derby; a district chapelry
was assigned to it ten years later. (fn. 135) Christ Church,
Newburgh, was built in 1857, and a new parish was
formed in 1871. (fn. 136)
There are Wesleyan chapels at Hoscar Moss and
Moss Lane, but the Independent chapel formerly at
Ashbrow, Newburgh, has disappeared.
Burscough Hall, now belonging to St. John's Roman
Catholic church, is said to have taken its name from
the Burscough family. (fn. 137) The house, in the seventeenth
century the property of the Longs, (fn. 138) recusants, was in
1667 granted to Peter Lathom of Bispham, founder of
the now very important Lathom charity, who early in
1700 leased it for 999 years at a rent of £10 to John
Heyes. (fn. 139) This was in trust for the mission. About this
time Thomas Gorsuch, eldest son of James Gorsuch, of
Scarisbrick, was tenant. It has been used continually
for religious purposes since that time. (fn. 140) The first
priest known to have resided here with any regularity
was James Gorsuch. (fn. 141) In 1759 the chapel in the house
was improved at a cost of £80. The present chapel
and presbytery, near the old hall, were built about
1819 by William Coghlan, son of the publisher, he
himself giving about a third of the total cost, £1,520.
The church has since been altered and improved. (fn. 142)
There is a cemetery attached, consecrated in 1890.