SCARISBRICK
Skaresbrek, Scharesbrech, 1238; Scharisbrec, 1307;
Scaresbrecke, 1575; Scarisbrick, 1604. There was
a tendency to omit the initial S; e.g. Charisbrec, c.
1240. Locally pronounced Scazebrick.
This township forms the north-western corner of
the parish. It is situated in open country, flat as to
surface, and like most of the wind-swept districts of
the northern part of the hundred but poorly supplied
with trees. Scarisbrick Hall, standing about the centre
of the township, is surrounded by ample grounds fairly
thickly wooded, and by comparison the rest of the
country looks bare and unclothed with foliage, with
the exception of scattered plantations in the fenny
land. The north-eastern part of the township occupies part of the site of Martin Mere, and is consequently of a marshy character liable to flooding; therefore the land is systematically drained and pumping
operations are constantly carried on. The geological
formation consists of the keuper red marl of the
upper red sandstone, except to the south-east of
Scarisbrick Hall, where the upper mottled sandstone
of the bunter series is thrown up by a fault—running
north-east to near Tarlscough. In the north-western
half of the township the strata are obscured by peat
10 to 30 feet in thickness. The northern half of its
surface is less than 25 feet above the Ordnance
datum.
The hamlet of Snape lies in the west; Bescar, a corruption of Birch carr, in the centre; and Drummers
dale, anciently Drumbles dale, in the east. To the
south-west of the park is Gorsuch, formerly Gooseford-syke. The southern half of the township is
properly called Hurleton, now written Harleton. On
the eastern edge is Barrison Green, and on the southern
is Aspinwall, sometimes called Asmoll. The township measures five miles from north-west to south-east;
the total area is 8,397½ acres. (fn. 1) The rich soil reclaimed from waste marsh is very fertile, fine crops of
potatoes, oats, beans, turnips, &c., are successfully
cultivated. The soil is loam, in some places sandy
and peaty. The population in 1901 was 2,140.
The principal road is that from Ormskirk to South-port, passing along the west side of the park and
through Snape. The Leeds and Liverpool Canal
winds through the southern part of the township,
mainly from west to east. At the point where the
Southport road crosses it by the bridge, passengers for
that seaside resort used formerly to alight to take the
coach for the rest of the journey. (fn. 2) The Lancashire
and Yorkshire Company's line crosses Scarisbrick to
the north of the park, having a station at Bescar lane.
Bricks and drain pipes are made.
The township has a parish council.
'Divers scores' of Roman coins were found here
in 1655. (fn. 3)
A considerable number of crosses are known to
have existed in Scarisbrick. One is still standing
within the park wall near the south-west corner; formerly it was a wayside cross, but the park has now
encroached upon the road. (fn. 4) There is a well close by.
MANORS
The name SCARISBRICK does not occur in Domesday Book, the township being
involved in 'Harleton and half of Martin,'
which in 1066 was held by Uctred for half a hide,
or three plough-lands, and was worth 10s. 8d. beyond
the usual rent, being part of the privileged three
hides. (fn. 5)
There is no express mention of these places from
1086 until the time of Richard I. It is probable that
then, as for long past, they were held of the lord of
Lathom in thegnage. (fn. 6) In the reign of Richard I
Simon de Grubhead, who has been named in the
account of Lathom, gave these places to his brother
Gilbert, (fn. 7) who, as Gilbert de Scarisbrick, afterwards
made a grant of land in his manor to Cockersand
Abbey. (fn. 8) Some forty years later Richard son of
Robert de Lathom gave, or confirmed, to Walter de
Scarisbrick, who was son of Gilbert, 'Harleton and
Scarisbrick, which Simon de Grubhead formerly gave
to Gilbert his brother by charter, rendering the
ancient farm, viz. 8 shillings of silver at Martinmas.' (fn. 9)
Simon de Grubhead appears to have had some claims
to the estates of the Lathom family, which, in 1224,
were limited (by fine made with Richard son of
Richard de Lathom) to the manors of Childwall, Roby,
and Anglezark, and were extinguished in 1238 by
Robert de Lathom by a payment of 80 marks. (fn. 10)
Harleton and Scarisbrick were included among the
lands which Roger de Marsey sold in 1230 to Ranulf,
earl of Chester; (fn. 11) but the nature of Marsey's interest
is not clear. It is possible that he was mesne between
the lord of Lathom and the earl of Chester, to whom
Henry III, in 1229, had granted the land between
Ribble and Mersey, including the wapentakes of West
Derby, Salford, and Leyland. (fn. 12) If so this mesne
tenure was removed by the sale of 1230. (fn. 13)
Gilbert de Scarisbrick (fn. 14) was succeeded, probably
before 1238, by his son Walter, who, like his father,
was a benefactor to Cockersand, granting an acre of
his demesne; (fn. 15) he also added
to the endowments of Burscough
by grants in Harleton, Gorsuch,
and Scarisbrick. (fn. 16) According to
the register of Burscough Priory
Walter was twice married, (fn. 17) and
by a certain Edusa he had a son
Richard, sometimes called 'son
of Edusa,' and sometimes 'son
of Walter.' (fn. 18)
Scarisbrick of Scarisbrick. Gules, three mullets in bend between two bendlets engrailed argent.
Henry de Scarisbrick succeeded his father Walter about
1260, and held the manor some
ten years. He and Roger de
Hurleton made an agreement
with the prior of Burscough as to the bounds between
their lands. (fn. 19) He also was a benefactor to Cockersand
Abbey. (fn. 20)
Gilbert, son and heir of Henry, probably a child,
succeeded. He made a grant to the prior of Burscough, and came to a further agreement with him as
to bounds. (fn. 21) He also acquired lands called Quassum
(or Whassum) in Scarisbrick. (fn. 22) In 1312 Gilbert was
returned by the sheriff as holding forty librates of land
of others than the king, and not being a knight. (fn. 23)
He was still living in 1336, when Robert son of
Richard del Cross of Scarisbrick quitclaimed all right
to a plot in Harleton and Scarisbrick 'on the east side
of his field near Quassum'; on it Gilbert had erected
a windmill. (fn. 24)
He was succeeded about 1330 by his son Gilbert,
who before 1320–1 had married Joan daughter of Sir
John de Kirkby. (fn. 25) Gilbert the father and Gilbert the
son agreed not to alienate the manor of Scarisbrick
or any part of the inheritance of Henry son of the
younger Gilbert. (fn. 26) Gilbert Scarisbrick died in September 1359, (fn. 27) and was succeeded by his son Henry,
who married Eleanor a daughter and coheir of William de Cowdray. (fn. 28) In 1361 he entailed his estates
on his heirs male, with remainder to his brother
Gilbert; the entail included his manors of Scarisbrick
and Harleton, with the homage and services of the
free and other tenants, with all the natives, their
chattels and sequel. (fn. 29) In 1386 he went to Ireland in
the king's service, under Sir John de Stanley. (fn. 30)
About ten years later he made agreements as to
bounds with the prior of Burscough, new disputes
having arisen. (fn. 31) His last recorded act was the leasing
of lands called Withinsnape to William the Stringer. (fn. 32)
His son, Sir Henry de Scarisbrick, succeeded before
1405, (fn. 33) when with his mother Joan he was a party to
the agreement for the marriage of his daughter Ellen
to Robert de Halsall. (fn. 34) By his wife Isabel he had
Henry and other sons, and a second daughter Isabel,
who in 1418 married Richard de Bradshagh of
Aughton. (fn. 35) He took part in the French wars of
Henry V, fighting at Agincourt, and being mentioned
in the commissions of array in July, 1419, and May,
1420. (fn. 36) The writ of Diem clausit extremum concerning him was issued about July, 1420, so that he
probably died in France. (fn. 37) His widow Isabel was
living in 1442. (fn. 38)
He was succeeded by his son Henry, who had no
surviving children by his first wife Katherine (who died
before 1440), but by his second, Margery, had daughters
Margaret and Agnes and a son James, born late in his
life. He made several feoffments of his estates. (fn. 39)
He seems to have died in or before 1464, (fn. 40) in which
year his son James was a juror on the inquest taken
after the death of Hugh de Aughton, being described
as 'esquire.' In 1471 a dispute between him and
the lord of Halsall as to the bounds of Renacres in
Halsall and Shurlacres (fn. 41) in Scarisbrick was settled by
arbitration. (fn. 42)
In 1472–3 an arrangement was made between
James Scarisbrick and Sir Thomas Talbot of Bashall
as to the marriage of the former's son and heir,
Gilbert, with the latter's daughter Elizabeth, and in
1488 the 420 marks due to James Scarisbrick were
fully paid. (fn. 43) Of his own marriages it is recorded that
his first wife was Margery, daughter of Sir Robert
Booth of Dunham; (fn. 44) his second wife, who survived
him, was named Elizabeth. He died between September, 1494 (fn. 45) and May, 1496. (fn. 46)
Gilbert, who succeeded, did not long survive his
father, dying on 24 April, 1502. (fn. 47) His will recited a
feoffment of his manors of Scarisbrick and Eggergarth,
and desired his trustees to marry his son and heir,
James, 'to a woman of worshipful blood,' and to apply
the sums received for this marriage towards providing
portions for his daughters Margery and Alice. His
other son, Thomas, was to have £4 a year, and Margaret his wife certain lands in Snape and elsewhere;
to his bastard daughter, Alice, he left 10 marks. (fn. 48)
James Scarisbrick was aged about ten years at his
father's death. Some years later the king claimed his
wardship, on the ground that certain of his lands were
held directly of the crown; on inquiry this was
found to be a mistake. Scarisbrick and Harleton
were held of the earl of Derby as successor to the
Lathom family, (fn. 49) Eggergarth of Butler of Warrington
(the king then having the wardship of the heir),
Snape of Sir Henry Halsall, and other lands of the
prior of Burscough and the lords of Aughton, Griffith,
and Starkie. (fn. 50) Before this was settled James died, (fn. 51)
leaving his younger brother Thomas, then six years of
age, to succeed. His wardship was granted by the
king to William Smith, escheator of the county, (fn. 52) who
sold it to the earl of Derby. The latter availed himself of the opportunity to marry his natural daughter
Elizabeth to his ward. (fn. 53)
In 1529 a disputed boundary in the moss land between Scarisbrick and Halsall was decided by setting
'meres, limits and stakes' by twelve men (six from
each side) in the presence of numerous witnesses. (fn. 54) In
the same year new feoffees of the estates were appointed on the arrangement of a marriage between
Frances (or Dorothy) Booth and James the son and
heir of Thomas Scarisbrick. James was then about
six years of age, and he chose Dorothy, aged four. (fn. 55)
Thomas Scarisbrick did not long survive, his will
being dated 4 October, 1530. (fn. 56)
The son James Scarisbrick's lands were in 1543
valued at £20. (fn. 57) Soon afterwards a complaint was
made against him by Ralph Olgreve of Manchester,
that he had carried off the latter's wife Isabel from
her father's house and was living with her at his own
mansion. (fn. 58) A little later (1547) Thomas Gorsuch and
Margaret his wife complained that he had trespassed
on their lands and made illegal claims. (fn. 59) In 1551 he
purchased from William Bradshagh the manor of
Uplitherland and the third part of the manor of
Aughton, but sold it soon afterwards. He sold the
manor of Eggergarth and various lands to Lawrence
Ireland of Lydiate. (fn. 60)
His son and heir Edward succeeded early in the
reign of Elizabeth. He married Margaret, daughter of
Alexander Barlow of Barlow, and had several children.
He was a justice of the peace, and in religion 'conformable,' though his wife was a recusant, his children were
trained up in Popery and his daughters never came to
church. (fn. 61) He died on 27 April, 1599, (fn. 62) and was
buried in the Scarisbrick chapel ('his own chancel')
in Ormskirk church. By his will, as he had no surviving son, he made Henry son of Thomas Scarisbrick
of Barwick his heir, bequeathing to him his sealing
ring and other heirlooms. (fn. 63) He had previously made
a settlement of his estates, described as the manor of
Scarisbrick, two windmills, a hundred messuages,
3,000 acres of land, &c.; these were to go to the
above named Henry Scarisbrick, who was to marry
Anne daughter of Anthony Parker of Radham in
Yorkshire, with remainder to Henry's younger
brothers, Anthony, Francis, and Thomas; and then
to Edward, son of James Scarisbrick of Downholland. (fn. 64)
The new lord of Scarisbrick was only fifteen years
of age on succeeding. (fn. 65) The wife chosen for him was
a daughter of Anne, sister of Edward Scarisbrick, so
that the two lines were re-united by the marriage. (fn. 66)
He did not long enjoy possession, dying on 17 October, 1608; he was buried in 'his own chapel' at
Ormskirk. His son and heir Edward, the only child of
the marriage, was not born until the following March. (fn. 67)
Edward Scarisbrick, shortly after coming of age,
married Frances daughter of Roger Bradshagh of the
Haigh, by whom he had nine children. He had been
brought up in the Roman Catholic religion, but appears
to have avoided conviction as a recusant; his wife's name
is in the list of 1641. He was at 'the great gathering
of Catholics at Holywell' in 1629, (fn. 68) and, adhering to
the royal side in the Civil War, shared the misfortunes
of the defeated. In 1645 and 1649 his name occurs
among those 'delinquents and Papists in arms' who
had to supply Liverpool with timber and £10,000 as
compensation for its losses during the sieges; and his
estates were sequestrated. (fn. 69) He died in 1652, and
was buried in St. Andrew's, Holborn. (fn. 70)
James Scarisbrick, the heir, was seventeen years of
age at his father's death, and it was not till the
Restoration that he obtained possession. (fn. 71) He married
Frances, daughter of Robert Blundell of Ince Blundell,
and had numerous children, one being born after his
death in April, 1673. (fn. 72)
His son and heir Edward was ten years of age at
his father's death; and at eighteen entered the Jesuit
novitiate at Watten in Holland, resigning his estates
to his brother Robert. Apparently there was a
further settlement when he came of age in 1685. (fn. 73)
Robert Scarisbrick came of age about 1690 and five
years afterwards married Anne daughter of John
Messenger of Fountains Abbey. Nine sons and four
daughters were born to them. He was a Jacobite in
politics; as early as 1701 he seems to have been suspected by the authorities, (fn. 74) and was perhaps in some
way implicated in the rising of 1715. For this he
was attainted, and on his surrender in 1717 was
committed to Newgate. Next year he was admitted
to bail at Lancaster, and on trial, acquitted, his estates
being restored to him. (fn. 75) He died in March, 1737–8,
and was buried in the Scarisbrick chapel at Ormskirk. (fn. 76)
His widow died in 1744. Of his children James, the
eldest, died before his father; (fn. 77) Edward, the second,
became a Jesuit priest and renounced his right to the
estates, as did Francis and Henry, younger sons. (fn. 78)
Robert Scarisbrick, the third son of Robert, succeeded, but died unmarried in 1738, leaving his
brother William the heir. He married Elizabeth
Ogle of Huyton, and had an only child Elizabeth,
who married John Lawson of Brough (afterwards a
baronet). It is not certain whether or not he took
any part in the rising of 1745, but a local tradition
has it that 'one of the Stuart adherents was concealed
in a farmhouse on Martin mere.' He died in July,
1767; his wife lived till 1797. Joseph, another
brother, succeeded, and held the estates for some
years, dying between 1772 and 1778. The Jesuit
order having been suppressed in 1772 Edward and
Francis Scarisbrick seem to have occupied the hall;
the latter, just before his death in 1789, settled the
estate on his nephew Thomas Eccleston.
The remaining son of Robert Scarisbrick was
named Basil Thomas; in the early part of his life he
is said to have lived at Cadiz, probably as a merchant;
he occurs as 'of Liverpool' in 1742 and 1743. In
1749 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Edward
Dicconson of Wrightington, and had by her a son
Thomas, and two daughters. He succeeded to
Eccleston in 1742, and soon afterwards took the surname of Eccleston. (fn. 79) It was his son Thomas Eccleston
who, after holding Scarisbrick under his uncle Francis
for some years, succeeded him in 1789 as lord of the
manor, having already succeeded his father at
Eccleston. (fn. 80) During this time he had attempted
improvements in the agriculture of the neighbourhood and begun the drainage of Martin mere. (fn. 81) He
added to the family estates the manors of Halsall and
Downholland, but tried to sell Eccleston in 1795; in
1807 he succeeded to the Wrightington estate on the
death of his uncle Edward Dicconson. He resumed
the family name of Scarisbrick instead of Eccleston.
In 1784 he married Eleanora, daughter of Thomas
Clifton, by whom he had several children.
He died at Ormskirk in November, 1809, having
been taken ill during the celebration of the jubilee of
George III. The Scarisbrick and Eccleston estates
then went to his eldest son Thomas, who sold
Eccleston in 1812, and Wrightington to the younger
son Charles. Thomas's only child was a daughter,
who died young, so that on his death in 1833 Charles
succeeded to the whole. He had taken the name of
Dicconson in 1810, but now adopted the family name
of Scarisbrick. He purchased the Bold moiety of the
manor of North Meols in 1843. His great work
was the re-building of the hall,
the two Pugins being in succession the architects; he was
also a collector of pictures.
The Hall is in the same state
at this time. The tower is
particularly graceful and forms
a landmark. At his death in
1860 he was supposed to be
the wealthiest commoner in
Lancashire.
The Marquis de Castéja. Gules, three mullets in bend between two bendlets engrailed argent; in middle chief a cross crosslet or.
He never married, (fn. 82) and his
youngest sister Elizabeth, wife
of Edward Clifton, succeeded
to Wrightington; while the
eldest sister, Ann Lady Hunloke, had Scarisbrick and Halsall, and assumed the name of Scarisbrick. She died
in March, 1872, and was succeeded by her daughter,
Eliza Margaret, who had in 1835 married Remy
Léon de Biaudos, Marquis de Castéja. She took the
name of Scarisbrick in 1873. There was no surviving
issue, (fn. 83) and on the marchioness's death (13 November, 1878), her husband (d. 1899) and then his
adopted son, Marie Emmanuel Alva de Biaudos
Scarisbrick, Count de Castéja, under a deed of settlement succeeded to Scarisbrick. The latter was born
in 1849 and married in 1874 Adolphine Gabrielle
Marie de Faret, daughter of the Marquis de Fournès;
a son, Marie André Léon Alvar, was born in
1875. (fn. 84)
HARLETON
HARLETON
(fn. 85) was held of the lords of Scarisbrick
by a family whose surname was derived from it; the
tenure was homage and fealty and the yearly service
of 4s. (fn. 86) The first mention of the place after Domesday
book is a charter of about the year 1190 by which
Robert, son of Ulf de Hurleton, gave to the abbey of
Cockersand 2 acres of his land in Harleton. (fn. 87) He
afterwards granted to Burscough Priory land near
Ayscough in Harleton, in pure alms, for the souls
of King John, his own father and mother, and
others. (fn. 88)
Before 1233 Robert had been succeeded by his son
Roger. (fn. 89) Roger was a benefactor to Burscough,
granting land in the townfield
of Harleton, (fn. 90) also the lands on
the east of Nather dale, 'from
Simon's barn to the Graynet
hake,' and elsewhere in Harleton. (fn. 91) Several of his charters
are preserved at Scarisbrick,
including one to his brother
Richard. (fn. 92) In 1246 he was
summoned to warrant to the
abbot of Cockersand 48 acres,
which the latter held of him by
the charter of Robert his father;
Walter de Scarisbrick was claiming certain land in Naithalargh as inherited from
his father Gilbert. (fn. 93) Roger was himself a benefactor
to Cockersand. (fn. 94) He took part in 1261 in the
agreement as to boundaries made with the prior of
Burscough, and in 1303 Robert, his son and successor,
joined in a further agreement. (fn. 95)
Hurleton of Harleton. Argent, four ermine spots in cross sable.
For several generations the lords of Harleton bore
the name of Robert, so that it is impossible to distinguish them clearly. (fn. 96) In 1365 there occurred a
dispute as to the wardship of Robert, son and heir of
Robert de Hurleton, ten years of age; Henry de
Scarisbrick claimed as the immediate lord of Harleton,
while Sir William de Atherton claimed as representing
the Lathoms; the former established his right. (fn. 97) In
1369 Robert de Hurleton and Margaret his wife
were claiming lands in Harleton from Roger de
Shaw and Margery his wife and their son John. (fn. 98)
William de Hurleton, possibly a younger brother
of the last-mentioned Robert, was holding the manor
in 1381 and granted it to Gilbert de Gorsuch in
marriage with Maud, apparently a daughter and coheiress of Gilbert. (fn. 99) From 1418 there are for some
time no certain evidences by which the descent of the
manor can be traced. (fn. 100) Nicholas de Hurleton occurs
as early as 1433, (fn. 101) and as he seems to have inherited
the Gorsuch estate in Longton, he must have been a
descendant. (fn. 102)
Humphrey Hurleton, son and heir of Robert son
of Nicholas, succeeded his father before 1524. He
was soon afterwards engaged in a dispute as to the
Little Branderth, near Harleton Brook, this being
claimed by Thomas Scarisbrick; the matter was settled
by the arbitration of the prior of Burscough and
others in 1529. (fn. 103) In 1537 he was one of the farmers
of the parsonage of Ormskirk. (fn. 104) He had a son Thomas
who married Elizabeth, daughter of Adam Birkenhead, and seems to have settled in Cheshire. His
eldest son was Richard, (fn. 105) who was succeeded in 1589
by his son John, described as 'of Picton,' near Chester.
A dispute occurred between John Hurleton, as lord of
the manor, and John Shaw of 'the hall of Shaw,' the
latter asserting that he and his ancestors had from
time immemorial had a right of way through the
pasture called Long Furlong, from their house to
Ormskirk. (fn. 106) From this time onward the story of
the Hurletons belongs to Cheshire rather than to
Lancashire. (fn. 107) It is not known when they sold
Harleton to the Scarisbricks. (fn. 108)
Harleton Hall stands on rising ground near a small
stream, and a quarter of a mile north of the road to
Ormskirk. It is a house of the H type, originally
of the fifteenth century, much altered about the
beginning of the seventeenth, the central hall and
parts of the east wing being of the first date, and the
west wing, with the bay window and chimney of the
hall, and the south end of the east wing, of the
second. A considerable part of the east wing has
been re-built in brick in modern times, though probably on the old plan.
Harleton Hall: North Side of Hall
The hall is entered by a door at the north-east
corner, opening into a passage which once formed the
screens, and probably still contains some of the
original wooden construction concealed in the partition which forms part of the east end of the hall.
The passage, once open at both ends, now has a
north doorway only, its south end leading to a staircase which fills up the space between the hall chimney
and the east wing. Externally the north wall of the
hall is much in its original condition, and is a
picturesque piece of timber construction of upright
posts set in a massive wooden sill, which rests on a
dwarf wall of wrought stone twelve inches thick. At
somewhat over half height the uprights are mortised
into a moulded headpiece which has had a row of
carved paterae or some such ornament along it, of
which only the traces of attachment remain. Above
are a shorter row of uprights, reaching to the wall-plate. The spaces between the timbers are filled in
with a yellowish plaster, and have been decorated in
modern times with quatrefoils painted in black to
imitate timber-work, with the usual poor and flimsy
effect. There are no original windows; a modern
four-light window has been inserted in the lower part
of the wall, and smaller ones above to light the bedrooms in the roof. The condition of the external
woodwork is bad in places, it having been much
strained by the weight of the floor inserted at half
height in the seventeenth century. Of the south
wall of the hall only a small piece remains by the
staircase, concealed by plaster and otherwise mutilated.
The interior has suffered by being cut up into two
stories; the ground floor, which is paved with stone,
shows three moulded beams of the seventeenth century
in the ceiling, but has no other features of interest,
the seventeenth-century fireplace being hidden by the
insertion of a modern grate, and the bay-window cut
off by a partition. On going into the bedrooms
above it will be seen that the fifteenth-century roof
remains, though but little of it appears through the
plaster and whitewash. It is a good specimen of its
kind, having king-post trusses with cambered ties and
curved braces below, and quatrefoiled wind-braces
between the purlins. Its easternmost truss has larger
braces than the others, forming a four-centred arch
below the beam designed to frame the gallery over
the screens. The bay-window of the hall is in two
stories, as originally designed, built of brick with
stone mullions and dressings, with a five-light window
on the south and single openings on each side, all
being square-headed with weathered labels of the
usual section above.
Harleton Hall: Ground Plan
The west wing, of two stories, with brick walls only
14 in. thick, is all of the early seventeenth century,
and contains on the ground floor two rooms, now
used as sitting room and kitchen, with modern out-houses built on to the north. The sitting-room has
a good window of seven lights on the south, and a
small projecting two-story bay on the west, one side
of which is formed by a large chimney stack. The
interior is completely modernized, the fireplace being
blocked with a modern grate, the bay partitioned off to
form a cupboard and its windows filled in, and the
long seven-light south window in great part built up.
Externally the original arrangement is clearly to be
seen, and on the accompanying plan the windows are
shown without the modern blocking. They are
exactly similar in character to those of the hall bay
above described. The room now used as a kitchen
has been much altered, and has no ancient features of
interest, but retains in part the chamfered stone plinth
which runs all round the seventeenth-century work.
The upper rooms in this wing contain nothing worthy
of mention.
The east wing, of two stories, has been largely
rebuilt in red brick, but its plan is probably on the
ancient lines, and the west and south walls, though
now refaced, are of timber and plaster construction of
the same date as the hall; the original
roof also remains, though hidden by plaster.
Under the south end of this wing is a
cellar, entered from the passage at the
end of the hall, with seventeenth-century
mullioned windows in its south wall.
The family of Shaw were an early off-shoot of the Scarisbricks. Simon del Shaw
was a son of Walter de Scarisbrick by
Edusa de Hurleton, and had a son Gilbert and a daughter Quenilda. (fn. 109) His
brother Robert had a son William. (fn. 110)
In 1449 Henry Scarisbrick complained
that Isabel, widow of James del Shaw,
had taken away Hugh son and heir of
James, whose marriage belonged to him. (fn. 111)
Hugh Shaw of Scarisbrick, Maud his wife,
and James his son and heir, occur in
1477. (fn. 112) James Shagh was assessed to the
subsidy in 1525 upon lands worth £5; (fn. 113)
and occurs in 1539 with his son William. (fn. 114) In
1563 Thomas Shawe was assessed to a subsidy in respect of lands here, and John Shaw in 1599. (fn. 115) John
Shaw of Scarisbrick, gent., and Thomas, his son and
heir-apparent, occur in 1618. (fn. 116) John Shaw, gent., contributed to the hearth tax in 1666; (fn. 117) his will was
proved in 1692. (fn. 118)
GORSUCH
GORSUCH was given by Walter de Scarisbrick to
his younger son Adam, who took the local surname;
subsequently the land was given to Burscough Priory
to be held of Adam in free alms. (fn. 119) The prior regranted it to Adam at a rent of 12d. with other lands
in Scarisbrick, a yearly pound of cummin to be paid. (fn. 120)
Adam was succeeded by Walter de Gorsuch, probably
his son, as is indicated by a grant to Nicholas son of
Simon de Renacres. (fn. 121)
In May, 1292, an agreement was sealed for the
marriage of Robert son of Walter de Gorsuch with
Agnes granddaughter of William Brid of Donnington;
Robert, though a minor, had been enfeoffed of lands
by the prior of Burscough, his father binding the
feoffees to find food and raiment for Robert and Agnes,
any surplus to be kept for them and delivered with
the lands on their coming of age. (fn. 122) Robert seems
to have died without issue, (fn. 123) and his brother John
succeeded, marrying in 1299 Cecily daughter of
Richard de Culcheth. (fn. 124) John de Gorsuch granted
(about 1320) to Gilbert his son lands in the
townfields of Scarisbrick on the north of land near
the cross, held of William son of Richard de Scarisbrick. (fn. 125)
The family acquired lands in North Meols, Lathom,
and Huyton, about this time. Gilbert de Gorsuch succeeded about 1347; (fn. 126) he is described as 'son of Adam
son of Walter.' Gilbert had no son, and settled estates
in Longton upon his younger daughter Maud, wife of
William de Hurleton; the latter also had no son, and
Gorsuch and other lands went to Richard de Sutton,
who had married the elder daughter Joan. (fn. 127) In 1390
Gilbert de Gorsuch had made a settlement or testament providing for the succession to a portion of his
lands; (fn. 128) and other deeds preserved by Kuerden show
that the main portion was settled on Richard de
Sutton and Joan his wife, with the remainder to
William de Hurleton and Maud his wife. (fn. 129)
For more than a century the Suttons (fn. 130) remained
in possession, and then the estate returned to the
Gorsuch family, for in 1515 a marriage was arranged
between Margaret daughter of Roger Sutton (son
of John, the son of Gilbert) and Thomas son and
heir of William Gorsuch. (fn. 131) Gilbert Sutton died on
20 April, 1518, and the inquisition taken after his
death shows a considerable estate, the heir being
his infant great-granddaughter, already espoused to
Thomas Gorsuch. (fn. 132) Thomas Gorsuch was succeeded
about 1560 (fn. 133) by his son James, who in 1577
secured from Edward Scarisbrick a right of way
from Gorsuch to Carr Cross in Snape, to Snape
Green, thence to Wood moss, near Long Wyke, to
Baldmony Hooks in North Meols, with right to carry
hay, &c., in carts or on horseback. (fn. 134)
The family, which then ranked among 'gentry of
the better sort,' (fn. 135) adhered to the Roman Catholic faith,
and in 1590 John, son and heir of James Gorsuch, was
'a recusant and indicted thereof.' (fn. 136) Probably John died
before his father, for it was another son, Edward,
who succeeded to the estates. (fn. 137) The latter, as a convicted recusant, paid double to the subsidy of 1628, (fn. 138)
and dying in 1641 (fn. 139) was succeeded by his son James,
who was then thirty-one years of age. (fn. 140) Under the
third Confiscation Act, 1652, the land and estates of
James Gorsuch 'a Papist delinquent,' was declared
forfeit and ordered to be sold. (fn. 141) In October, 1653,
he petitioned for restitution; but in November two-thirds of his lands were sold to George Pigott and
William Smith. (fn. 142)
A pedigree of the Gorsuch family was entered in
the visitation of Lancashire by Sir William Dugdale
in 1665, and is headed by a trick of an interesting
canting coat shewing three sprigs of gorse between
two chevronels. A contemporary note states that
these arms are on an old seal of Queen Elizabeth's
time in the possession of the family; and James
Gorsuch, no doubt, put the seal forward as evidence
for the traditional coat-armour of his house. It is
noteworthy, however, that no tinctures are shewn
in the tricked shield; and the heralds do not
appear to have allowed these arms to the family.
James Gorsuch appears, however, to have regained
part, if not the whole, of his estates. He married
Anne Harrington of Huyton, and was succeeded
by his grandson James, the son of his second son
Edward by Mary Eccleston. (fn. 143) The younger James,
born in 1656, was buried at Ormskirk on 21 December, 1752. (fn. 144) His surviving son John obtained the
Eccleston estate in virtue of a settlement made by
Father Thomas Eccleston, S.J., as being a descendant
of Mary Eccleston, and took the name of Eccleston;
he died without issue in 1742, when this estate went
to Basil Thomas Scarisbrick, whose son succeeded to
Scarisbrick also.
At a very early period land called Aspinwall was
given by an ancestor of the lords of Scarisbrick to the
church of Ormskirk. The gift was confirmed early in
the thirteenth century by Richard, son of Gilbert de
Scarisbrick, who describes it as lying within Harleton. (fn. 145)
The place gave a surname to the tenant. (fn. 146)
The inquisition after the death of George Aspinwall, 4 December, 1559, shows that he held a
messuage and small parcels of land in Harleton and
Scarisbrick of Richard Hurleton, Edward Scarisbrick,
and others; his daughter and heir was Jane Aspinwall,
then one year of age. (fn. 147) Later (1562 to 1579) occurs
William Aspinwall, who in the last-mentioned year
made a grant or transfer of lands to James Gorsuch. (fn. 148)
Directly afterwards William Moorcroft released certain
lands to William Aspinwall, and others to Humphrey
Aspinwall; the latter were in 1581 conveyed by
Humphrey and his wife Ellen to Roger Sankey. (fn. 149)
A charter by Thomas, son of William de Cowdray,
made at Aspinwall in 1354, shows that he held lands
there and elsewhere in Scarisbrick. (fn. 150)
Snape has some notice under Halsall. It was held
by the Scarisbricks of the Halsalls, as the inquisitions show, (fn. 151) and parochially its position was uncertain.
It is now, however, reckoned as a hamlet of Scarisbrick
and within the parish of Ormskirk. It gave its name
to a local family of whom there are some traces. (fn. 152)
Two plots of land in Harleton given by Walter de
Scarisbrick to Burscough Priory became known as
Moorcroft, and gave a name to the family which held
it of the canons. (fn. 153)
John de Moorcroft's lands, or part of them, were
the subject of a dispute in 1292; he died seised of
them, and his son Robert held them for ten years or
more, when they were claimed from Robert's son
Hugh by his sisters Beatrice (wife of William Fraward)
and Margery (wife of Richard le Ditcher), and by
Agnes, daughter of the Roger just named. The claim,
however, failed. (fn. 154) The Hugh de Moorcroft successful
in 1292 may be the Hudde father of Richard who
married Margery and had by her a son Richard,
enfeoffed of lands in 1327. (fn. 155) William Moorcroft,
yeoman, who died in 1608, held a messuage and land
in Harleton and Scarisbrick of the earl of Derby, as of
his manor of Burscough, by 4d. rent; also lands in
Aughton. His son Humphrey, who had married
Agnes Holland, was his heir, and living at Harleton. (fn. 156)
William Moorcroft, as a 'Papist,' in 1717 registered a
small estate here. (fn. 157) The family appears to have spread
to the adjoining townships. (fn. 158)
Shurlacres was adopted as surname by a local
family. (fn. 159)
In 1717 a number of 'Papists' registered estates
here, including John Barton, Thomas Blundell, John
Bullen, Edward Cooke, William Culcheth, Robert
Draper, John and James Worthington, and Peter
Wright. (fn. 160)
The land-tax return of 1794 shows that Thomas
Eccleston paid about a third of the levy here; the
remainder was in small sums.
A school-chapel at Scarisbrick was founded in 1648,
when Henry Harrison alias Hill and Thomas Hill his
son and heir-apparent gave the Great Hey at Barclay
Hey to the inhabitants for a chapel or school. A
building was erected and was used as a chapel in 1650,
when Mr. Gawin Barkley, 'an able, orthodox, and
godly preaching minister,' was there, with a salary of
£50 paid from Royalists' sequestrated estates. (fn. 161)
The Anglican church of St. Mark was built in 1848
and consecrated in 1853; the vicar of Ormskirk is
patron. A district chapelry was formed for it in
1869. (fn. 162)
About 1840 Richard Sephton, a member of Ormskirk Congregational Church, gathered a Sunday school,
for which in 1843 a small school-chapel was provided
at Drummersdale. (fn. 163)
Roman Catholic worship was suppressed for but a
short time at Scarisbrick, as the presence of Jesuit missionaries can be traced from the early years of the
seventeenth century. Several of them were members
of the Scarisbrick family, and a room in the hall was
used as a chapel until 1812. An old tithe barn was
then utilized (St. Mary's), and was enlarged in 1840;
it was, however, a great contrast to the squire's splendid mansion, and a new chapel, St. Elizabeth's, was
built on the old site by the marquis de Castéja and
opened in 1889; the marchioness's remains were
brought from Wingerworth to a new vault here in
1890. (fn. 164)