WALTON-LE-DALE
Waleton, xiii cent.; Waleton in le (la) Dale,
usual since a.d. 1300.
The township lies on the south side of the River
Ribble to the south-east of and almost opposite
to the town of Preston; to the west and south it is
bounded by the hundred of Leyland, the River Lostock and the tributary Clayton Brook forming the
division on the latter side for some distance. The
River Darwen flows through the north-eastern part of
the township before falling into the Ribble, the two
waters inclosing the village of Walton-le-Dale in a
long peninsula. Ordinary tides flow a short distance
above the point where the north-western boundary
terminates in the River Ribble. The greater part of
the township does not exceed 100 ft. in elevation
above the ordnance datum; the highest ground
reaches 300 ft. in the southernmost point. The
area is 4,683 acres, and the population in 1901 numbered 11,271 persons, (fn. 1) of whom the larger part were
at Bamber Bridge and Higher Walton. In the
greater part of the township the subsoil consists of the
Bunter pebble beds, but on the eastern side there
are small areas of the Millstone Grit, Lower Coal
Measures and Permian rocks. The soil is a rich
loam.
Two main roads converge at the village and cross
the river by Ribble Bridge, a stone bridge of three
arches built in 1782, 50 yds. above the site of an older
erection; the road from Manchester and Chorley
crosses the River Lostock at Bamber Bridge and passes
through the village of that name and Brownedge;
that from Blackburn passes through Higher Walton.
An inferior road connects with the main road from
Preston to Clitheroe at Samlesbury. The Liverpool,
Blackburn and Accrington line of the Lancashire and
Yorkshire Railway Company passes through the
southern part of the township, with stations at
Lostock Hall and Bamber Bridge; from the latter
place a branch line called the Bamber Bridge and
Preston extension runs through Preston Junction to
Preston, and from it a branch line passes over Walton
Moss to connect with the main line of the London
and North Western Railway Company; a branch of
the Leeds and Liverpool Canal terminates on Walton
Summit, and used to be connected with Preston by
a tram line which passes through the village of
Bamber Bridge.
The land consists principally of meadow and
pasture; there is some arable, and in the lower ground
a considerable amount of market gardening is carried
on; there is a fair amount of woodland scattered
over the township. (fn. 2)
A local board was formed in the year 1877, but
under the provisions of the Act of 1894 the township
is now governed by an urban district council of
twelve members, and for urban purposes is divided
into four wards.
The Working Men's Institute was erected in 1881
at the charge of Mr. Richard Calvert, who also furnished it with books and fittings.
The principal industry is cotton-spinning, carried
on at Flats Mill in the village; there is also a water
corn-mill.
Bamber Bridge is a populous village distant 2
miles south from Walton-le-Dale; it contains three
extensive cotton manufactories. The hamlet of
Brownedge, where there are iron-works, is a mile
north on an eminence. School Lane is another
hamlet. The village of Lostock Hall, formerly
called Cuerden Green, is 2 miles west of Bamber
Bridge. There is a cotton-spinning factory there
also.
Higher Walton, formerly called Moon's Mill, is a
village situated a mile east from Walton-le-Dale
on the Blackburn road. There are two cotton
factories, also yarn and piece dyeing works. Darwen
Bank, standing in its own grounds of 70 acres, occupies
an eminence near the village from which extensive
and beautiful views of the neighbourhood may be
obtained. Prospect Hill, the residence of Mr.
William Gent, occupies a similar position.
Traces of a Roman station of minor importance
were found here in 1855 by men employed in the
repair of the highways during excavation for gravel of
a large mound known as the 'Plump,' and two or
three years later during excavations made in a garden
150 yds. to the south-west of the mound. A variety
of miscellaneous articles were found, including pottery
and coins. It has been suggested that the station was
the Rigodunum of Ptolemy. (fn. 3)
In 1253 the boundaries of Walton against the
township of Brindle, and in 1283 against Cuerdale,
were for the first time properly defined by perambulation.
In answer to their petition pontage for five years
was granted in 1302 to the bailiffs and good men of
'Walton-in-la-Dale' for building and repairing the
bridges of Ribble and Derwent, to be collected from
goods intended 'for sale passing over or under them.'
A similar grant for two years was made to the commonalty of Blackburnshire in 1339 for the repair of
Ribble Bridge. Again in 1400 pontage was granted
for three years, renewed in 1403 for a similar period,
for the repair of Ribble Bridge and for the construction of a stone bridge by the old one which had been
broken by floods and ice. (fn. 4)
A number of Walton people were indicted and
fined in 1323 for having stolen the goods and chattels
of people fleeing from the Scots at Lostock Bridge
about Midsummer the preceding year. (fn. 5)
The following field-names occur—Merstalknoll,
Shuttlingfeld, Wyndebonkfeld, Nelfelt, Edolf Acre,
Brounegge, (fn. 6) Mosvale, Suthale, Priding, Schipingflat,
Alderthlegh and Huddefeld, possibly so called from
one Huttemon, whose son Roger lived temp. Edward I;
and these local features—Closbroke, Evesbroke, Bradleybroke, Holmesnape, Holynsnape, Thingeschawbroc
and Bymbrig, the ridge or 'rigg' of one Bimme, whose
son Roger held lands in the time of Robert Banastre
on the north side of Burnulgate, the road leading to
Brindle, and adjoining the Eves Brook and the oxgang
lands. The name, being eventually applied to the
bridge over the little River Lostock, took the form of
Bamber Bridge, and has now extended to the district
on the north side of the bridge.
The following seneschals of Walton have been
noted:—
Thomas Banastre, ante 1291
Gilbert de Haydock, temp. Edw. I
William de Hesketh, ante 1291
William de Blackburn, 11 Edw. II
Richard de Bradshagh, 13 Edw. II
Gilbert de Southworth, 17 Edw. II
Matthew de Haydock, temp. Edw. II
There are traces of four or five ancient crosses. (fn. 7)
The folk-lore of the district has nothing distinctive. (fn. 8)
Leland writes of this district:—'Within a mile of
Preston I cam over Darwent River, the which at
Penwardine paroche, a celle to Evesham, goith into
Ribil. This Darwent devidith Lelandshire from
Anderness (sic) and a mile above, beyond the place
wher I passid over Darwent, Mr. Langton dwellith
at Walton-on-Darwent and is baron of Newton in
Macrefeld. . . Half a mile beyond Darwent I passid
over the great stone bridge of Rybill having a v great
arches.' (fn. 9)
During the Civil War there were two skirmishes at
Walton, the first on 15 August 1644, when the
Parliamentary forces under Col. Nicholas Shuttleworth took prisoners Lord Ogilvy and Col. Huddleston
of Millom Castle; the second on 15 August 1648,
when Cromwell defeated the Royalist forces under
the Duke of Hamilton and Sir Marmaduke Langdale.
In this engagement the Royalists made a stubborn
stand on Ribble Bridge, but were ultimately driven
over Darwen Bridge and up the hill above Walton
Town. Their artillery and transport with the duke's
baggage were taken standing upon Walton Copp.
Charles II also passed over Ribble Bridge in his
march through Lancashire in 1651. (fn. 10)
In 1681 William Pulford, gent., obtained damages
against the commonalty of Blackburnshire for trespass
against the statute of hue and cry after he had been
attacked by two malefactors in the lane leading
between Walton and Bamber Bridge. (fn. 11)
Writing about 1685 Dr. Kuerden thus refers to
the objects of interest on the highway between
Bamber Bridge and Ribble Bridge:—
Passing the Lostoc Water at a fair stone bridge parting Leyland
from Blackburn Hundred you meet with the other road from
Chorley to Preston, and on your left the ancient seat of Walton
of Little Walton, but now belonging to Mr. Ratcliff Ashton
son of Mr. Ashton of Cuerdale. About half a mile further is
another road from Brindle to Preston and shortly after you
come to Walton, and leaving Walton Hall on the left, belonging
to Sir Charles Houghton, you cross the Derwent at a large
bridge which is 20 yds. between the springers, then enter Walton
Cop for half a mile well rampyr'd with stone. On the right is
a great road from Blackburn to Preston. At the end of the Cop
you pass over a stone bridge where the Scotch army was first
routed under Duke Hamilton by Cromwell. (fn. 12)
He describes Ribble Bridge as 'one of the statelyest
stone bridges in the north of England.' It was the
abandonment of the defence of this bridge which
proved fatal to the Jacobite forces in 1715, and led
to the surrender of the Earl of Derwentwater to
Generals Wills and Carpenter.
The Mock Corporation of Walton founded in
1701 was not a Jacobite institution, but a social club
patronized by those of the county gentry who sought
occasions for convivial meetings. The officers included a mayor, deputy mayor, recorder, bailiff,
chaplain, serjeant, physician, and mace-bearer; among
other officers appointed during the early years of the
institution were those of house-groper, jester, poet
laureate, champion, huntsman or master of the hounds,
sword-bearer, in 1708 a slut-kisser, and in 1711 a
custard-eater, besides many others. Four staves
covered with silver bands, on which are inscribed the
names of the corporate officers for each year, and two
silver-headed wands preserved at Cuerden Hall, remain of the once more numerous regalia. The
'moot hall' was held at the Unicorn Inn, near
Darwen Bridge, and among the many notable persons
who served the office of mayor were Thomas Duke
of Norfolk (1709), James Earl of Derwentwater
(1711), and Viscount Molyneux (1740). No records
were kept after 1796. Many years later they were
rescued from destruction at the hands of frequenters
of the 'Unicorn' by Sir Philip Hoghton, bart., who
removed records and regalia to Walton Hall, then
his residence. In 1834 the regalia were removed to
Cuerden Hall, the records remaining in the hands of
Sir Henry de Hoghton, bart. (fn. 13)
Several noteworthy men have been natives of the
township, including Edward Baines, the author of
the history of the county, first issued in 1836. He
was born in 1774, and became a journalist, editing
the Leeds Mercury in 1801. He was M.P. for Leeds
1834–41, and died in 1848. (fn. 14) Roger Baxter, S.J.,
1784–1827, was a missionary in Maryland, and
wrote historical and controversial books. (fn. 15) Thomas
Brindle, D.D., 1791–1871, established Prior Park
College, near Bath. (fn. 16) Joseph Livesey, 1794–1884,
was famous as a temperance advocate; he lived chiefly
in Preston; his Autobiography was published in 1881. (fn. 17)
Alfred Borron Clay, 1831–68, attained distinction
as an historical painter. (fn. 18)
Manor
WALTON, comprising two ploughlands, formed part of King Edward's
demesne of Blackburn Hundred in 1066,
and twenty years later of the demesne of Roger de
Busli and Albert Grelley, who had leased the manor
with the remainder of the hundredal demesne, having
remitted the rent for three years to allow the farmers
to re-stock and restore these lands to cultivation. (fn. 19)
Soon afterwards the manor passed with the hundred
to the Lacys of Pontefract and by Henry de Lacy
(1146–77) was granted with Mellor, Eccleshill,
Little Harwood, Over and Nether Darwen to Robert
Banastre to hold by the service of one knight,
rendering 10s. yearly at Midsummer for ward of
Lancaster Castle, of which sum 4s. was contributed
by this manor. (fn. 20)
The descent of the Banastres and of their successors
the Langtons having been given in the Feudal
Baronage, (fn. 21) it is only necessary to add here a few
additional notes more immediately relating to Walton.
In 1253 Robert Banastre brought proceedings in
the King's Court against Peter de Burnhull for felling
trees in Walton Wood, and in consequence a perambulation was ordered to fix the bounds between Walton
and Brindle. (fn. 22) The abundance of wood in the
northern and eastern parts of the township at this
date indicates the aptness of the name 'weald tún.'
Banastre obtained in 1257 a charter of free warren
here, and in 1278 took action against four of the
principal freeholders who had withdrawn their suit
from Walton Mill, but they denied his title to the
mill. (fn. 23) He married in 1269 Alesia relict of Philip
de Legh of co. Stafford and daughter of Robert de
Grendon of Grendon and Shenstone in the same
county, and by this union acquired some small
interest in that county. (fn. 24)
Many grants of land were made by Robert
Banastre to free tenants in Walton between 1260
and 1291, creating the numerous free tenancies
which distinguish this township. (fn. 25)
After the acquisition of the manor by his marriage
with Alesia Banastre, (fn. 26) John de Langton obtained
in 1301 a grant for a market
on Thursdays at Walton and
a yearly fair on the eve, day
and morrow of St. Luke the
Evangelist (17–19 October).
From the Earl of Lincoln he
obtained remission of the
demand of puture for his
foresters when passing through
Walton, a privilege afterwards
confirmed to John de Langton
in 1318 by Thomas Earl of
Lancaster. (fn. 27) Upon the collection of the subsidy levied
in 1332 Walton was assessed at 46s., of which
sum John de Langton paid nearly a third, whilst
Henry, William and Geoffrey Banastre, John de
Walton, James de Lostock and Adam de Balshagh
each paid 3s., William de Colville, Alexander de
Langley and John del Redding each 2s., representing
the principal freeholders. (fn. 28) In 1342 Robert de
Langton, kt., settled upon his son John the rents
and services of all the free tenants and leaseholders
in the manor, who at this time were required to do
suit to his mill by grinding their grain there, to make
four appearances yearly at the halmotes, to be subject
to the 'birlagh,' and to be 'justisable' as they had
always been before that time. (fn. 29) He died in 1361,
having made a liberal provision for his younger son
Robert, ancestor of the Langtons of Lowe in
Hindley.
Langton. Argent three chevronels gules.
John de Langton, living in 1355, predeceased his
father, leaving a son Ralph, who succeeded his grandfather in 1361, being then of full age. (fn. 30) He had
licences for his oratory at Walton in 1367, 1372
and 1374, and as 'Rauf de Langeton, baroun of
Neweton,' was a witness in the Scrope and Grosvenor
case in 1386. (fn. 31) He had licence for oratories in his
manor-houses at Newton and Walton in 1398, and
died in 1406, leaving issue by his wife Joan daughter
of William Radcliffe of the Tower, who survived
him, a son Henry, then aged forty, upon whom he
had settled lands in Walton in 1391 worth £20 a
year on the occasion of his son's marriage to Agnes
daughter of John de Davenport. (fn. 32) Henry died in
1419, leaving Ralph his eldest son, then twentythree years of age, who probably received knighthood
after the fall of Meaux in 1422, in which year he is
described as knight. (fn. 33) He married Alice, whose
parentage is unknown, and died in 1431, Henry his
son being then but twelve years old. (fn. 34) Henry died
in 1471, his son Richard being of full age and
married before 20 April 1467 to Isabella daughter
of Peter Gerard of Brynn. (fn. 35)
Richard Langton was made a knight by Lord Stanley
in Scotland in 1482 and died in 1500, Ralph his son
being twenty-six years of age and already married
during his father's lifetime to Joan daughter of
Christopher Southworth of Samlesbury, kt. (fn. 36) Ralph
Langton, esq., settled his estates in 1503 and by will
bequeathed 20 marks 'towards the making and repairing of the Low church if the parishioners will
build the same.' He died the same year, leaving
Richard his eldest son, aged nine years, who died in
1511 during his minority, his brother Thomas being
then aged fourteen years. Joan Langton, having
acquired the wardship of her sons, sold it shortly
before her death in 1504 to Edward Stanley, kt., (fn. 37)
afterwards created Lord Mounteagle, who married
Thomas Langton to his base daughter Elizabeth. (fn. 38)
Thomas was made a knight in 1533, had licence with
his second wife Anne, base daughter of Thomas
Talbot, in 1545 for an oratory to be erected in their
manor-house of Walton, and was sheriff in 1556 and
1567. (fn. 39) He died in 1569, Edward his eldest son
and his issue having predeceased him before 1558,
when the family estates were entailed upon Leonard,
then his eldest son and heir. Leonard died before
his father, leaving issue by his wife Anne daughter
of Thomas Leyburn of Cunswick, co. Westmorland,
and relict of William Singleton, an only son, Thomas
Langton, heir to his grandfather in 1569, and
then aged eight years. (fn. 40) Thomas was contracted
in marriage during his minority to Margaret daughter of
Richard Shireburne of Stonyhurst, from whom he was
divorced in 1580 when he married Elizabeth second
daughter of John Savage of Clifton, kt., by whom he
had no issue. Owing to various encumbrances upon
his estates he alienated the manor of Walton in 1597
to Messrs. Sweeting and Hobbes, clothworkers of
London, (fn. 41) but this transference may have been connected with the fatal affray at Lea Hall in 1589 and
the complications which that misfortune brought upon
the last of the line of Langton, barons of Newton. (fn. 42)
After this fatal conflict Langton and some fortyseven other persons were arrested and indicted for
murder before special sessions of the justices summoned
for the purpose, but three jurors only appeared. (fn. 43)
No presentment could therefore be made. After
abortive proceedings extending over more than two
and a half years the Earl of Derby recommended to
Cecil Lord Burghley the petition of those indicted,
praying for their release, and deprecated further proceedings on the ground that some of the defendants
were illiterate and unable to plead, whilst others
'are so great in kindred and affinity and so stored with
friends as, if they should be burnt in the hand, I fear
it will fall out to be a ceaseless and most dangerous
quarrel betwixt the gentlemen that any county of her
Majesty's hath this many years contained.' (fn. 44) It is
probable that Langton made peace with Mr.
Hoghton's widow by the payment of a large sum of
money, raised doubtless by a mortgage of estates
already encumbered, and that this led to the subsequent alienation of the manor. (fn. 45) Thomas Langton
was made K.B. at the Coronation of James I, and
dying at Westminster in 1604 (fn. 46) was succeeded in the
barony of Newton by his kinsman Richard son of
Thomas Fleetwood of Colwick.
Soon after acquiring the manor Messrs. Sweeting
and Hobbes appear to have conveyed it to Richard
Hoghton with other dependent manors in the
hundreds of Blackburn and Leyland, (fn. 47) and in this
family it has descended to the present owner, Sir
James De Hoghton, bart.
Walton Hall was pulled down in 1834. It had
previously undergone alterations which gave it a
modern appearance, being a large structure of brick
and stone with projecting gabled end wings and classic
porch in the centre, in the pediment of which was
the Hoghton coat of arms. (fn. 48)
Court rolls of the manor have been preserved from
1625 to 1766, and rentals, &c., from 1659.
BANISTER HALL, also called Darwen Hall,
lies in the northern part of the township towards
Cuerdale and not far from the northern bank of the
River Darwen. The estate probably represents a
feoffment to a kinsman by one of the early lords of
Walton. Henry Banastre had lands in Cuerdale and
Walton in the early part of the reign of Henry III;
Richard his son occurs in 1246 and 1248 and was
the father of Henry, the elder, and Geoffrey, contemporaries of Robert Banastre, their chief lord. (fn. 49)
Henry had sons, Henry the younger and William,
both contributors to the subsidy levied in 1332, and
Richard, who married Alice daughter of Roger son of
Adam de Preston, and was ancestor of the Banastres
of Preston. (fn. 50)
Henry Banastre frequently occurs as one of the
principal freeholders here from 1318 to 1348, and
was one of the overseers appointed in 1343 to prevent
the taking of salmon in the close season in the waters
of Lune, Wyre, Ribble and Mersey. (fn. 51) By his wife
Matilda he had issue John his successor, who appealed
John son of Henry de Blackburn of Walton in 1340
for the death of Ralph his brother, was pardoned for
taking part in the great riot at Liverpool in 1345 on
condition of serving in Gascony, was appointed one of
the keepers of the peace in
the county in 1350, and was
returned the same year as
one of the freeholders in
Walton. (fn. 52) In 1367 he passed
his estates to feoffees, who
conveyed them in 1372 to
John Banastre, apparently son
of the last-named John. As
John Banastre, esq., he contributed to the poll tax of
1377, and was father of
Richard Banastre of Altham and probably of John
Banastre of Walton, gent., who occurs from 1407 to
1432. (fn. 53) The descent of the family cannot be
traced with certainty during the 15th century, but
about 1460 John Banastre of Derwyne gave puture
to the sheriff in respect of this estate. (fn. 54) According
to Flower's Visitation Lawrence Banastre of Darwen
Hall was the father of George, who contributed to
the subsidy of 1523–4 upon lands here, and by
Jenet daughter of Lawrence Ainsworth of Pleasington, gent., had Lawrence and other sons. (fn. 55)
Banastre. Argent a cross patonce sable.
Lawrence Banastre of Darwen Hall married Jane
daughter of Richard Hoghton, kt., and with his son
and heir Richard is named among the out-burgesses at
Preston gild in 1542. (fn. 56) He died in 1558, leaving
Richard his second but eldest surviving son, then aged
seventeen (sic) years. Richard married Isabel daughter
of Piers Farington of Farington, gent., and attended
Preston gild in 1562 as an out-burgess with sons
Thomas, Lawrence, George and Henry. As 'Richard
Bannister, gent., of Darwin Hall alias Bannister in
Walton' he was named as a debtor of £15 in the
will of his uncle Alexander Hoghton, esq., in 1581. (fn. 57)
He died before the date of Preston gild in 1582, at
which five of his sons were present, including
Thomas the eldest, with his sons Richard and George.
Thomas married Alice daughter of Peter Stanley
of Bickerstaffe. In 1590 he joined his brothers
Lawrence and George in the alienation of the estate
to Edward Walmsley, gent., (fn. 58) younger son of Thomas
Walmsley of Showley, esq.,
who died in 1604 seised of
'Darwyn Hall,' otherwise
Banister Hall, which he held
of Thomas Langton, kt., in
socage, leaving Thomas his
son aged nine and a-half
years. (fn. 59) Thomas married
Frances daughter of Edward
Stanley of Moor Hall, by
whom he had an only daughter
Anne, the wife of Radcliffe
Hoghton. She died in 1641
seised of this estate, her uncle
Edward Walmsley being her heir. (fn. 60) In 1649 he
obtained the discharge of the estate from sequestration, he having been in 'the first war'; his fine was
£114. In 1655 he petitioned for the discharge of
other lands in Walton sequestered for the recusancy
of Frances wife of his brother Thomas Walmsley,
she being then recently dead. (fn. 61) He held the hall
and demesne in 1662 under a free rent of 18d. to
the lord of the honor of Clitheroe, (fn. 62) and died in
1673, when his nephew William Winckley of
Billington succeeded to the estate as eldest surviving
son and heir of Thomas Winckley by his wife Rosamond eldest daughter of Edward Walmsley the
elder. He married Isabel daughter of Robert and
sister and co-heir of William Elston of Brockholes.
Upon his death in 1703 he was succeeded by his
eldest surviving son Edward, (fn. 63) who sold the estate
in 1739 to John Atherton
of Preston, who devised it by
will in 1768 to his son John.
Walmsley. Gules on a chief ermine two hurts.
The estate was purchased
about 1800 by William
Assheton of Downham and
Cuerdale, whose great-grandson Mr. Ralph Cockayne
Assheton of Downham is the
present owner.
Assheton of Downham. Argent a mullet pierced sable.
The south front of the old
hall has been rebuilt in brick,
but the original exterior
remains on the north side.
LITTLE WALTON. This estate was probably
created by a feoffment of one of the early lords of
Walton. William de Walton, (fn. 64) living in 1253, was
father of Geoffrey, whose son John had a grant from
William son of Gilbert de Brockholes of lands in
Walton, which the latter held by the feoffment of
Robert Banastre for 5s. 6d. rent. (fn. 65) In 1327 William
son of Geoffrey de Walton was pardoned for the
death of Richard Torbock. John de Walton contributed to the subsidy levied in 1332, (fn. 66) and died about
1348, leaving issue William his heir and Henry,
clerk to Earl Henry of Lancaster and Archdeacon of
Richmond from 1349 to 1359. William de Walton
recovered possession of a third
part of the manor of Huyton
in 1358, was living in 1376,
when he vested his lands in
Walton and Cuerden in
trustees, and left issue Henry
—who contributed to the
poll tax of 1379, had licence
in 1383 for his oratory at
Walton, (fn. 67) and died without
issue—and John, who negotiated a marriage for his son
William in 1396–7 to Emma
daughter of Thomas Bradley
of Chippingdale. (fn. 68) William
the son was still a minor in 1401, and died without
issue, his brother Henry continuing the succession.
He was an out-burgess at Preston gild in 1415,
brought a plea in 1448 against John Bradley of
Chipping, gent., (fn. 69) and had issue James who married,
before 1467, Joan younger daughter of Nicholas
Singleton, and was an out-burgess at Preston gild in
1459. (fn. 70)
Walton. Argent a cheveron gules between three falcons heads erased sable.
Richard eldest son of James Walton married
Elizabeth daughter of James Moresby before 1490
and died in 1519, when William his son and heir
paid relief at the court of Walton for his lands in
Walton and Cuerden. (fn. 71) He died about 1552,
leaving by Joan his wife Thomas, his successor, who
survived his father only a few years, and died about
December 1555, having had issue by Jane his wife
a son William, whose wardship was sold to Thomas
Langton, kt., in January 1556. William Walton
was an out-burgess at the Preston gilds in 1562,
and, with sons Thomas and William, in 1582 and
1602; he was assessed to the subsidy granted in 1599
in respect of his lands here, (fn. 72) and died soon after
1610. Thomas his heir married Priscilla daughter
and heir of John Cottam of Tarnacre, and died
in 1619, leaving William, who was an out-burgess at
the gild of 1622, with sons William, John and
James, and grandsons Thomas and Christopher, sons
of William the younger. (fn. 73) William Walton died
shortly before 1626, when his heir was assessed to
the subsidy granted I Charles I for his lands here.
William Walton was an out-burgess at Preston
gild in 1642, with brother John, son Thomas and
grandson John. He died a few years later. His
son Thomas suffered the sequestration of his estates
for recusancy, but obtained a lease of two-thirds from
the county commissioners in 1653. (fn. 74) He paid hearth
tax in 1666 upon five hearths. Mortgaging his estate
in 1682 to John Leigh of Preston, he failed to
redeem it and was obliged to alienate. (fn. 75) Dr.
Kuerden, as quoted above, notes 'the ancient seat
of Walton of Little Walton, but now belonging to
Mr. Ratcliffe Ashton, son of Mr. Ashton of Cuerdale.' (fn. 76) The estate has since descended in the line
of Assheton of Downham and Cuerdale, like Banister
Hall.
The house at Little Walton, or Bamber Bridge, is
an ancient structure with central porch and gabled
wings, the walls showing traces of a timber framework. On the entrance gate-post is the date 1675.
There were numerous offshoots from this family,
including the Waltons of Marsden Hall, of Midge
Hall in Myerscough, of Preston, and of Little Hoole.
The family of Haydock and their successors, the
Leghs, long held lands here. Thurstan Banastre
gave Bradley in Walton to Henry de Bispham son of
Warine de Walton, who regranted it to William son
of Adam de Praers. Robert Banastre gave land by
Bradley Brook to his clerk Philip of Chester, which
Avice de Raby daughter and heir of John the clerk
of Chester gave to William de Praers shortly before
1298, when Praers gave the whole estate to Matthew
son of Gilbert de Haydock. (fn. 77) The estate descended
like Haydock and Bradley in Burtonwood, and was
held by the Leghs in the 16th century of the Langtons
for 6s. 1d. rent and ½ lb. of cummin. (fn. 78) A John
Legh was assessed to tax in 1666 upon three hearths,
and in 1662 the heirs of Legh paid a puture rent of
1s. to the honor of Clitheroe. (fn. 79)
Haydock. Argent a cross sable, in dexter chief a fleur de lis of the last.
Legh. Gules a cross engrailed argent.
A portion of the estate appears to have passed to
Richard le Serjeant of Walton, about 1400, by his
marriage with Amabel daughter and heir of Hugh
de Haydock. The estate of Law House was in the
possession of the Serjeant family in 1461. (fn. 80) The
name is of frequent occurrence until the middle of
the 17th century. Before 1650 Richard Serjeant
of Middleforth died possessed of Hanshaw Hall
in Walton, which passed to his seven daughters and
co-heirs. In 1662 the heirs of Richard Serjeant paid
14d. puture rent to the honor of Clitheroe for
'Manehouse'—that is, Mosney House. (fn. 81) Leonard
Serjeant, descended from another branch of this
family, died in 1640, leaving several daughters his
co-heirs, of whom Katherine was the wife of Richard
Sharrock. William Sharrock, probably a kinsman of
Richard, suffered forfeiture for recusancy, but petitioned in 1653 for a reversal, alleging that 'God by
His marvellous light has discovered to your petitioner
the deep and erroneous ways of the Popish religion
wherein he was bred.' He had taken the oath of
abjuration, and was a frequenter at church. (fn. 82)
LOSTOCK HALL. An estate which took name
from the River Lostock was in the possession of a
family bearing the name temp. Edward II. It descended to James de Lostock, living 1332 and 1350,
whose daughter Magote, or Margery, may have
brought it in marriage to a Banastre, for John
Banastre was described as of Lostock from 1402 to
1429, William and his sons John and Richard in
1459, John 1469 to 1479, and William in
1504. (fn. 83) In 1548 Richard Banastre conveyed tenements in Walton, Preston and Lea to Thomas Fleetwood, gent., and Barbara his wife. In 1561 Mr.
Fleetwood passed the manor of Lostock in Walton
to feoffees, who reconveyed it in 1574 to William
Fleetwood son of Thomas by his second wife Bridget
Spring. William Fleetwood sold the manor with a
free fishery in Lostock Water to Roger Burscough,
who conveyed it in 1595 to Peter Burscough, gent., (fn. 84)
and he in turn in 1611 passed it to Thomas
Burscough, who died in 1616 seised of Lostock
Hall, holden of Richard Hoghton, bart., by 16s.
rent, leaving issue an only daughter Elizabeth, aged
eighteen months. (fn. 85) In 1662 Andrew Dandie paid
a rent of 12d. to the lord of Clitheroe for his lands
called Lostock, and in 1666 William Dandy paid tax
upon three hearths here. (fn. 86) He died in 1676
described as of Lostock. Andrew Dandy of Lostock
and William his son were out-burgesses at Preston
gild in 1682.
The PEDDER HOUSE estate was the property
of a family of the same name, of whom William
Pedder held his tenement of Richard Langton in
1502 under a free rent of 3s. In 1662 John
Jackson paid a rent of 12d. to the lord of Clitheroe
for Pedder House, and in 1666 was taxed for four
hearths. (fn. 87)
RIDING HOUSE was the home of the family
of that name. John son of John del Ridding occurs
temp. Edward I, John del Riding in 1332 and John
son of Richard del Ridding in 1363. John Riding,
the elder and younger, and William Ryding conveyed
four tenements here to James Mason alias Stopford
and William Stopford in 1582. William Stopford
of Ulnes Walton died in 1617 seised of a tenement in Walton, held of Robert Banaster of Passenham, co. Northants, kt., as feoffee of Gilbert Hoghton,
kt. William Stopford his son was aged twenty-three
years. In 1622 he was an out-burgess at Preston
gild with his two sons. (fn. 88) In 1662 Nicholas Norris
paid 12d. rent to the lord of Clitheroe for Riding
House.
LEMON HOUSE was the seat of an ancient family
who were probably hereditary judges or law men of
the court baron of Walton. Thurstan Banastre gave
land here in the time of John or early Henry III to
Kandelan son of Robert, and it afterwards passed to
Adam son of the Laghmon who occurs in 1246. (fn. 89)
Others of the line are Henry (1278 and 1292), Henry
son of Henry Laghmon or Laweman (1332), Robert
son of Henry (1347), Robert and Ralph sons of
Richard son of Robert (1415–23). Robert Lemon
had Ralph, and in 1504 John Lemon and Robert
his brother occur. James Lemon of Walton, brother
of Edmund of Preston, was father of William, an
alderman at Preston gild in 1622; Henry his son
was an in-burgess in 1642, and William son of Henry
a councillor of the gild in 1662 and alderman in
1682. As William Lemon, gent., (fn. 90) he sold the
Lemon House estate in 1663 to John Woodcock the
elder, descended from the family of Woodcock of
Cuerden Green. His grandson John Woodcock
alienated the estate before 1742. (fn. 91)
Other estates that may be named were Stone
House, owned in 1662 by Thomas Shawe, Knowles
(probably Knowsley) House by Henry Catterall and
Kellet House by Daniel Chaddock. (fn. 92) The Chorley,
Hesketh, Cuerdale (later Osbaldeston) and Garston
families held lands here from the 14th to the 16–17th
centuries. In the 13th and 14th centuries lands in
Balshagh were held by a family bearing that name.
Woodley was in the possession of John de Blackburn
of Woodley temp. Edward I. It descended through
several generations of the family, and was granted by
William de Blackburn of Mawdesley in 1371 to John
de Blackburn of Garston. (fn. 93) Probably both these
estates passed into the possession of the chief lord
during the 14th or 15th century. The Colevill
family were tenants of the Banastres from an early
period. William son of Avice de Colevill occurs in
1246, John temp. Edward I, William contributed to
the subsidy of 1332, whilst another William was the
father of John, living until about 1428, whose
daughter and co-heir Margaret married first Richard
Maunsell before 1387 and subsequently Thomas de
Estham, from whom descended Arthur son and heir
of Richard Estham, who sold lands called Brodfeld
and Schetylyngfeld to Thomas Langton, kt., in 1536,
and six years later alienated his whole estate in Walton
to Sir Thomas. (fn. 94) In 1666 Francis Eastham and
Henry Serjeant paid tax for five hearths on behalf of
'Mr. Lees,' probably Richard Legh of Lyme. (fn. 95)
The Maynes were long the property of the Faringtons of Worden. The Chorleys of Chorley were the
owners of two messuages known as 'Claughton's' and
as 'Serjeant's' in the 16th and 17th centuries, which
long descended with their other estates. (fn. 96)
Church
The church of ST. LEONARD stands
in a picturesque situation on the crest of
a tongue of high land between the Ribble
and Darwen, three-quarters of a mile to the east of
their junction. The road to Samlesbury passes close
to the building on the north side, from which there
is a fine prospect over the Ribble valley, and on the
south the ground falls less precipitously to the village
of Walton on the old high road between Preston and
Blackburn in the valley of the Darwen. The building consists of a chancel 27 ft. by 18 ft., nave 60 ft.
by 42 ft., with north and south transepts each 28 ft.
by 16 ft., and west tower 13 ft. 3 in. square, all these
measurements being internal. There are also a low
vestry on the north side of the tower and shallow
north and south porches at the west end of the nave.
Only the chancel and tower, however, are ancient, and
they belong to an early 16th-century building, (fn. 97) the
nave of which was pulled down and rebuilt in 1798
in a poor Gothic style, (fn. 98) to which deep transepts were
added in 1816. The building was restored in 1856,
but the nave being in a more or less ruinous condition
at the beginning of the present century it was pulled
down and a new one erected in 1905. Owing to the
graves being close on all sides the new structure had
to be made almost exactly the same on plan as that
which it replaced. (fn. 99)
The chancel is small and low, with a pointed window
of three trefoiled lights and tracery over at the east
end. The walls are built of gritstone in large blocks
and have a moulded plinth, but there are no angle
buttresses, and the work is of a very plain character.
There is a segmental-headed window of three lights,
the centre one cinquefoiled and the others trefoiled,
north and south, and on the south side a priest's door
with pointed head, now built up. The chancel was
restored in 1864, when a new roof was erected, the
floor tiled and new stalls inserted. It belongs jointly to
the Assheton and De Hoghton families, the north side
to the former and the south side to the latter. The
chancel arch is modern.
The nave, being modern, has no antiquarian
interest. The walls externally are of local Hoghton
stone and internally are faced with Runcorn stone,
and the roof, which is of one wide span with hammerbeam principals, is covered with green slates. The
style is that of the 15th century with embattled
parapets to the walls, the transepts having twin gables
facing north and south. There is a gallery at the
west end approached by a stone staircase from the
north porch, and containing the organ and quire.
The tower, like the chancel, is built of gritstone,
and has a moulded plinth and square buttresses
of eight stages at its west angles, with a projecting vice
in the south-east corner. The west door is pointed,
with continuous mouldings to jambs and head, and
above is a three-light four-centred pointed window
with tracery and label. The belfry windows are of
three plain lights with trefoiled tracery above under
a four-centred arch and external label and the walls
finish with an embattled parapet. The north and
south sides are plain below the belfry windows, but
there is a large clock-dial on the south and west. The
tower arch is pointed, of two chamfered orders continuous to the ground.
On the north wall of the chancel is a plaster panel
dated 1634 emblazoned with the arms of Assheton
of Cuerdale (a shield of six quarters), with helm, crest,
mantling and motto and the initials of Ralph Assheton. There is also a brass to Sarah wife of Ralph
Assheton, who died in 1700. On the south side is
a somewhat similar but smaller and undated panel with
the arms of Hoghton, with helm, crest, mantling and
motto. Below is the inscription: 'The south part
of this chancel belongs to Sir Gilbt. Hoghton Knt &
Barnt. Builder.' There is also a brass plate inscribed:
'By the appointment of Sr Charles Hoghton Brt Deceased this Plate of Brass is here affixed to intimate to
all Persons whatsoever that it was his desire nobody
for time to come should be buryed under this Seat or
Pew belonging to the Hoghtons where his remains
are interred. Except the Lady Hoghton his Relict
if she so desire. Anno Dom. 1710.'
There is a separate monument to the said Sir
Charles and his wife Mary, daughter of Viscount
Massarene, who died in 1732, but the most interesting
of the Hoghton memorials is a brass to Cordelia
Hoghton, who died in May 1685, 'a pure virgin
espoused to the man Ct Jesus,' with a long rhyming
inscription. (fn. 100) There are also memorials to Sir Henry
Hoghton, bart. (d. 1795), Major-General Daniel
Hoghton, who died in battle at Albuera in 1811,
Sir Henry Philip Hoghton (d. 1835), Sir Henry
Bold Hoghton (d. 1862), buried at Anglesea near
Gosport, Hants, and Sir Henry de Hoghton (d. 1876),
buried in the Bold Chapel, Farnworth.
The old font is circular and apparently of 17thcentury date, with two bands of 'egg' ornament on
the bowl, and a fluted stem. It has some interesting
masons' marks. All the other fittings are modern.
The ancient peal of four bells was replaced in the
18th century by a ring of six bells, one dated 1760
and four 1761, all by Lester & Pack of London.
The sixth is by Pack & Chapman, 1780, and is
inscribed with the name of the minister and wardens
of the year. (fn. 101)
The plate consists of two chalices, a paten and
flagon of 1790, the paten inscribed 'The gift of
William Assheton, esq., of Cuerdale, to the church in
Walton, Anno Dom. 1790'; and a paten presented
by the parishioners in 1889 to commemorate the
incumbency of the Rev. J. C. Kershaw.
The registers begin in 1653.
The graveyard is principally to the east and south
of the church, and extends down the south slope of
the hill. The oldest dated gravestone is 1628. On
the south side of the church is a pedestal sundial
dated 1788.
Advowson
About the year 1166 Henry de
Lacy, when granting to Henry the
clerk of Blackburn the church of
that place, included in the grant the chapel of
Walton, which belonged to that church. Afterwards,
when John de Lacy, constable of Chester in 1228,
was about to confer upon the monks of Stanlaw the
half of Blackburn Church which belonged to Adam
son of Henry de Blackburn, the latter at the request
of his superior lord resigned to the monks the chapel
of Walton with the glebe, tithes and obventions
pertaining to it, and secured for Richard son of the
Dean of Whalley, who then possessed the chapel, a
promise of preferment in lieu thereof. (fn. 102)
At least as early as the time of Richard I the right
of sepulture belonged to it, with oblations on notable
feast days, and both great and small tithes, as to a
parish church. In 1236 the monks successfully
petitioned for pontifical authority to take away
these liberties and annex them to the mother
church. (fn. 103)
In 1267 it is described as Low Chapel—'Capella
de la Lowe' (fn. 104) —so named by reason of its striking
position on a slight eminence overlooking the wooded
slopes of Ribblesdale.
In 1347 John son of Robert de Langton, kt.,
and four other principal parishioners were farming
the 'manor' belonging to the chapel under the
abbey for £40 per annum. (fn. 105)
In 1459 a commission was directed by the Bishop
of Lichfield to the vicar of Prescot to inquire and
report about the alleged pollution of the burial yard
of Low Chapel by violence and the effusion of human
blood. The occasion of the pollution is not stated. (fn. 106)
Four years later William Livesey bequeathed his
body for burial in the cemetery of St. Leonard of
Low, and his best beast for mortuary, directing that
light and other emoluments should be paid to God
and the church of Low on his burial day without
delay or device. (fn. 107)
In 1526 the chief inhabitants of Walton issued a
declaration that neither in their days nor their
ancestors' were 'dede corse presaunts or mortuaryes'
ever paid within the town or parish of the Low to
the monastery of Whalley, as lately demanded by
Abbot Paslew. (fn. 108) The accounts of the abbey for 1536
confirm this by recording one item of profit only
from Low Church—'De stipite sancti Leonardi
6s. 8d.' (fn. 109) In 1537 at the suppression of Whalley
the chapel with the tithes belonging to it was valued
at £27 11s. 2d., and the following year was leased
with the rectory of Blackburn to Richard Breame for
a term of thirty years. In 1547 it passed with the
rectory of Blackburn to Archbishop Cranmer and
descended with it to his successors. (fn. 110)
In 1552 a chalice, vestment, cope and four bells,
one being cracked, were delivered to the curate and
church reeves. (fn. 111) The visitation lists record two
names as serving the chapel in 1548 and three in
1554, but afterwards only one.
In 1559 the Earl of Derby, by direction of the
Privy Council, ordered the arrest of Thomas
Heavanson, the curate, for having publicly said mass,
aided and abetted by more than forty parishioners. (fn. 112)
This was during the time of Thomas French's
ministration as curate, so that possibly the latter
name has been incorrectly recorded. In 1563 as
curate of Low he was one of the signatories to the
Act of Supremacy, and in 1568 was admonished
before the Earl of Derby as to his future conduct. (fn. 113)
It does not then appear how the chapel was served
for about thirty years. In 1592 the curate was
censured for leaving the parishioners destitute of
service because he was absent. In 1601 the chapel
was served by a reader, and no sermon had been
preached there for a twelvemonth. In 1622 there
was a preacher, but he was unlicensed, did not wear
a surplice, come to church on holy days, bow at the
Name of Jesus, or stand up at the creed. (fn. 114)
During the Interregnum Richard Redman, the
minister, received £40 a year from the Committee
for Plundered Ministers. The commissioners of 1650
found 'Law,' a parochial chapel distant 9 miles
from the parish church of Blackburn, with the townships of Walton and part of Cuerdale, containing
over 200 families, annexed to it. The vicars of
Blackburn had formerly paid the minister £4 per
annum, which had been detained for three years,
whilst the order of the committee made in 1647 had
not been made effective, so that there was no maintenance and no minister. The inhabitants petitioned
that it might be made a parish with competent
endowment. The tithe of the chapelry was then
worth £119 and the glebe £52 per annum. (fn. 115) The
proposal to make Walton and Cuerdale a separate
parish was still under discussion in 1658. (fn. 116)
In 1665 the incumbency was vacant; in 1671
there were nine Papists, and proceedings were in process against William Farington of Worden and several
others for non-payment of church lays, which they
subsequently acknowledged. Since the Restoration
the chapels of Low and Samlesbury had been served
by one curate, and in 1683 were said to be well and
constantly served by a curate nominated by the vicar
of Blackburn and licensed by the bishop, all the
offices being performed every other Sunday for the
inhabitants of Walton and Cuerdale at Low Chapel. (fn. 117)
In 1689 the curate was in receipt of about £43 per
annum 'by an extraordinary charity of my lord of
Canterbury' and a maintenance out of the vicarage of
Blackburn. (fn. 118) A report made to the Governors of Queen
Anne's Bounty in 1714 states that the number of
inhabitants in the chapelry lay 'between four and
five thousand souls which daily increase by reason of
the great manufacture of linen cloth in those parts';
there were four or five conventicles of Papists, one of
Presbyterians, and one of Anabaptists. (fn. 119)
About 1720 Bishop Gastrell found that divine
service was performed in the forenoon of one
Sunday and afternoon of the next in summer time;
on alternate Sundays in winter, the curate also
serving Samlesbury Chapel. Sir Henry Hoghton,
bart., elected one warden, the minister and principal
inhabitants the other. (fn. 120) In 1834 the value was
£156; it is now given as £310. (fn. 121) The vicar of
Blackburn is patron. The chapelry was constituted
an ecclesiastical parish in 1837, but has since been
divided.
The following have been curates of Low Chapel:—
|
| to 1228 | Richard son of Geoffrey Dean of Whalley |
| c. 1250 | William, clerk of the Lawe (fn. 122) |
| oc. 1280 | Adam, chaplain, and William, clerk of the Lawe (fn. 123) |
| oc. 1322–30 | John del Lawe, chaplain (fn. 124) |
| oc. 1332 | William, clerk (fn. 125) |
| c. 1341–5 | Hugh de Pocklington (fn. 126) |
| oc. 1359 | Robert de Kirkham(?) (fn. 127) |
| oc. 1439–45 | Edward Farington (fn. 128) |
| oc. 1541–65 | Thomas French (fn. 129) |
| oc. 1592 | William Wall |
| oc. 1601 | Lawrence Waddington |
| oc. 1609 | Peter Makinson (fn. 130) |
| oc. 1622 | —Inskip |
| oc. 1629 | Robert Osbaldeston |
| 1646 | Richard Redman (fn. 131) |
| oc. 1651–3 | William Heald (fn. 132) |
| 1676 | Thomas Abbot, M.A. |
| 1688 | William Colton (fn. 133) |
| 1703 | John Hull (fn. 134) |
| 1721 | William Vaudrey, B.A. (fn. 135) |
| 1763 | John Shorrock, B.A. |
| 1803 | Edmund Stringfellow Radcliffe, B.C.L. (fn. 136) (Brasenose Coll., Oxf.) |
| 1826 | John Clay |
| 1827 | Randal Henry Feilden |
| 1832 | Henry Walter McGrath, M.A. (T.C.D.) (fn. 137) |
| 1838 | Robert Hornby, M.A. (fn. 138) (Downing Coll., Camb.) |
| 1853 | John Brookes |
| 1857 | James Clegg Kershaw, M.A. (fn. 139) (Emmanuel Coll., Camb.) |
| 1889 | Seymour Frederick Harris, B.C.L. (fn. 140) (Worcester Coll., Oxf.) |
| 1908 | Edward John Middlecott Davies |
There was anciently a small chapel or oratory at
the bridge over the Ribble. In 1365 John, called
the hermit of Singleton, had licence to have divine
service in the chapel at the foot of Ribble Bridge,
on the Walton side, for three years. (fn. 141) In 1383
the abbot and convent demised to Ralph de Langton
and Thomas de Clayton, chaplain, for a term of
thirty years the chapel standing on Ribble Bridge with
all oblations and the books, vestments of the altar,
a chalice, images, wax and other belongings, rendering 3s. 4d. yearly and prayers for the abbot and
convent, for Ralph and Joan his wife, their ancestors,
heirs, and children, and all benefactors of the chapel
living and dead. Clayton received licence in 1387
to celebrate in the chapel at the end of Ribble Bridge
'beyond the bank of Ribble,' and in his oratory
within his mansion house at 'Clecton,' probably
Clayton-le-Dale, at the bishop's pleasure.
A story has been preserved how Edward Kelley
(1555–95) the alchemist, a friend of Dr. John
Dee, held converse with the corpse of a poor man
which he and Paul Waring, his companion in such
deeds of darkness, had disinterred a few hours after
burial in Low churchyard, and from whom by
incantations they elicited information as to passages
in the life and the manner and time of death of a
young nobleman, then in ward of the relater of the
story. (fn. 142)
In 1689 Walton Hall was licensed as a meetingplace for Presbyterians under the ministration of
Thomas Key. (fn. 143) A Presbyterian chapel existed here
at the close of the 17th century; in 1719 Sir Henry
Hoghton erected a new chapel, described in a return
of Dissenting chapels made in 1772 as then Congregationalist, where the congregations of Preston and
Walton met alternately. Soon afterwards the society
became Unitarian, and early in the 19th century
ceased to use the chapel, which was turned into
cottages and attached to the endowment of the
Unitarian chapel, Preston. The building stands
in the rear of the main street of Walton village;
the burial-ground attached has long been obliterated. (fn. 144)
In 1784, and again in 1790, during his last
journey in this part of England, Wesley paid brief
visits to Walton in connexion with members of the
society who worshipped at the chapel in Little
Walton, afterwards called Bamber Bridge. A Wesleyan
school-chapel was opened in Walton-le-Dale in 1868
in a building converted out of cottages. It was
replaced by a new building in 1882. (fn. 145)
The ecclesiastical parish of All Saints, Higher
Walton, was formed in 1865 out of the parish of
St. Leonard, Walton-le-Dale. (fn. 146) The church, standing on an eminence overlooking the village, upon a
site given by Mr. Miles Rodgett, was erected in
1861–2 from the designs of Mr. E. G. Paley; a
tower, containing seven bells, and spire were added
in 1871. (fn. 147) In the church are several stained-glass
windows erected to the memory of members of the
Rodgett family. The registers date from the year
1862. The living is a vicarage in the gift of the
Bishop of Manchester and vicar of Blackburn alternately.
There is at Higher Walton a Wesleyan chapel,
built in 1869–70 to replace the preaching room
opened as early as 1813. (fn. 148)
The ecclesiastical parish of St. Saviour, Bamber
Bridge, was formed in 1842 as a district chapelry out
of the ancient parish of Blackburn, (fn. 149) and was further
enlarged in 1869 by the transfer of Cuerden township from the parish of Leyland for all ecclesiastical
purposes. (fn. 150) The church was erected in 1836 upon
land given by the late Robert Townley Parker, and
was enlarged in 1882. The registers date from
1837. The living is a vicarage in the gift of the
vicar of Blackburn. St. Saviour's Institute, erected
in 1903, contains reading and recreation rooms.
The ecclesiastical parish of St. Aidan was formed in
1897 from the parishes of St. Leonard, Walton-leDale, and St. Saviour, Bamber Bridge. The church
was erected in 1895; the living is a vicarage in the
gift of the Bishop of Manchester. The mission
church of St. James, Lostock Hall, was built in 1891
as a chapel of ease to St. Saviour's.
A Methodist Society has existed at Bamber Bridge
since 1763. Soon after that date services were held
in the house of Mr. William Livesey, and about 1784
in the old hall at Little Walton, as this village was
then called. In 1821 the Wesleyan chapel was
built, in which services were held until the erection
of the present Wesleyan Methodist chapel in 1877. (fn. 151)
There is also a Wesleyan Methodist chapel at Lostock
Hall, built in 1875.
The English Benedictines are known to have had
missions in Walton and the adjacent Cuerden from
the end of the 17th century. (fn. 152) These were partly
broken up by a government seizure in 1718, but a
priest is found at Little Mossna in Walton in 1724.
The seat of the mission became finally settled at
Brownedge, Bamber Bridge, about 1770 (fn. 153) and a
chapel seems to have been built in 1780, succeeded
by the present St. Mary's in 1826. (fn. 154) A schoolchapel of Our Lady and St. Patrick was opened at
Walton in 1855–7, and the present church was built
in 1880. There is a cemetery. (fn. 155) The chapel of
St. Paulinus, Lostock Hall, was opened in 1892, and
became an independent mission in 1902. The
Benedictines still serve Brownedge and these offshoots. There is a convent of Sisters of Charity of
St. Paul.
School
Before 1672 the children of Walton
were taught in the chapel of Low, but
in that year Sir Richard Hoghton gave
land on which a school was erected, free only to the
inhabitants of the town. Peter Burscough had given
£100 in 1624, the interest to be applied to the
master's salary. During a vacancy of the mastership
in the time of the Civil War this sum was augmented
to £130. Other benefactors were Mr. Andrew
Dandy, citizen of London, £100; Thomas Hesketh
of Walton, £20. The school in School Lane, near
Bamber Bridge, stands on a site taken in exchange for
the old premises in 1870, and is conducted as a
public elementary school. (fn. 156)
Charities
Peter Burscough of Walton, yeoman, gave by will in 1624 £10 per
annum, which is now paid out of the
tithes of the township of Cuerden by the impropriators, for the relief of the poor of Walton. This
charity, with which is now included another of £2,
founded by Thomas Crook of Abram in 1688, is
distributed to the aged poor on Good Friday, and is
therefore called the Good Friday Dole. The number
relieved averages seventy-two, and each receives 3s.
The Shuttlingfields estate was devised by William
Gradell in 1735, apparently for the use of the poor
of Walton and Brindle, subject to certain life interests.
The estate was sold in 1868, and out of the proceeds
£1,300 consols were purchased as the share of
Walton, of which the interest is applied yearly for the
relief of certain pensioners chosen by the trustees, and
at present numbering about twenty-six persons. The
Red Lion trust was founded in 1874 to ensure to
children in the parish thorough instruction in the
Catechism, liturgy and principles of the Church of
England. (fn. 157)