Chapter 2

Little Acorns

CHAPTER 2

MAWDESLEY FROM THE MAP, l820
Jay Bank Farm with the land from the corner of Sandy Lane to the rear of the house on High Street. Two fields situated on the south side of School Lane. Two fields in School Lane besldes have been sold off. There was a well in front of the farm house. The cottage opposite with its land, stretching down to the BentleyBrook on the south, belonging to the 1692. This eottage was used as house and basket shop. Willows were grown on the land and a cow was kept for milk for home consumption. There was a well and a pump in the yard, also a boiler for boiling willows ready for peeling to make into baskets.
The man at the farm had lost his wife, leaving him with five or six small children. Across at the cottage there was a young servant or housekeeper. The widower would tie one or two of his children to the gate, so that when they were in idistress the young woman came to their rescue. It was thought that the man did this with a purpose, for in the end the widower and the servant girl gotmarried and she had three sons.
Jays still fly between Jay Bank and the Rectory gardens.
Jay Bank This house at the junction of School Lane and High Street with over three acres of land was occupied by a basket-making family. A cow was kept and a pig for supplying the house. The land lying to the south runs to the Bentley Brook, being the boundary between Mawdesley and Bispham.
The house is being extended and renovated, l975. There is a mixture of materials in the structure of the walls. Sandstone, varied bricks and stone from the hill quarry. The rear wall being of loose stone plastered over. The drinkingwater was carried from the well at Dominie House in High Street.
There is a house, Nos. 1 and 2 in School Lane. No. 1 was the work shop forbasket making, with No. 2 as the dwelling house. The upper storey at No.1 was the store room for ma,terials and baskets. Aocess to the store was by a square opening in the floor by a ladder fixed to the wall. Two apprentices were up in the store when a man called selling fish. The fish was carried in a flat basket on the man's head. As the man stood under the square opening talking to the basket maker, the apprentlces picked all the fish from his basket. When the man reached his next calling place, he found the fish gone and returned, searching for them.
There is a pump and well to this house. This house would be built about 1840 like the Rectory. The bricks used in the building of it are like those used in the Rectory, 1840. The bricks are larger than those in use today, also being hand made.

lHigh Street. On the east side is the Rectory field, purchased about 1895 fromHesketh Estates (Rufford). This purchase was made from one of the Ainscough fami!y, who bought it at the estate sale. The churchwardens had made a mistake
in the date of the sale and did not attend. This field and the adjoining field are Glebe land to augment the Rector's living. The Rector (Mr. Thomason) lets the Deld to the cricket club (1897)—as the landlord of the Black Bull had offered them a field. The Rector was a strong temperance man and specified that the football players must be members of the Band of Hope. Prevous to playng on the Rectory field the cricket club had played in the field across the road, behind the Dominie Cottages.

The Dominie. This was comprised of two thatched cottages. The lower part was of stone, to a height of 3/4 feet. The upper part being of small hand-made bricks. The well in the yard was used by lowering a bucket on a rope. Ihe first cottage was lower than the garden. You had to go down a step. The Dominie was rcbuilt in its present form during the 1914-18 War. The tenant of the old Dominie had left her mug for mixing dough outside. When she had gone upstairs at night a man passer-by knocked at her door, and as she put her head out of the window he told her, "There's some rough lads coming—you'd better take your mug in or they'll break it." He handed the mug up to her at the small window, which was too small to admit the mug. Thus she was left holding the mug.
Further along on the left of High ,Street were two pairs of thatched cottages.In later years the roofs were covered by corrugated iron sheets. These were built similar to the Dominie with some stone in the lower part and the upper portion of small hand-made bricks. When the first pair were demolished, the roof timbers appeared to have been used previously, probably in a farm building. There were wooden pegs and slots in these timbers. At the N.E. corner of this first pair of cottages by the roadside therc was a stone from a cheese press measuring approximately 2' 3" in depth and about 2' 6" square on top. Thisstone may have been used for a mounting block. The first of these cottages, like the Dominie, had only the one door in front. There is still a well close to the road, the water to be drawn by rope and bucket.
The second pair of cottages were similar, with stonework at the base and small hand-made bricks. The cottage floor at the North end was below the ground and you went down a step.
It was presumed that one of the first attempts to fly was made from one of these cottages. As was the custom in those days, there was a big barrel at the end of the house for rainwater. Bob thought he would have a try to fly. He got some big rhubarb leaves and then climbed on to the roof. He then jumped and landed right in the barrel of water. A passer-by watching him said to him: "Tha didn't make su mitch on id Bob. Nayow aw fergeet to flapper".

Mawdesley St. Peter's Church and Rectory stand on the right. East side built 1840.

Stalk Farm on the left is mentioned in 1692. The tenant being John Stalk. The farms in the Parish taking their names from the tenants named in the records of the Overseers of the Poor and Constables of the parish who collected the rates as such and were appointed yearly. The farmhouse is comprised of stone in the lower part but mainly of the small hand-made bricks. There were two large stone tanks or troughs for rainwater, and a small well in the yard used for the livestock. Drinking water was carried from the well in New Street, about a quarter of a mile away. There was and still is a large cheese press stone in the yard. stone lies in the field at the end of the barn. This stone is similar in size to the one which was in front of the cottage in High Street.
The barn like the house was or is built of the small hand-made bricks, both house and barn having flag-covered rcofs. At the south end of the barn there were stone steps to the granary over the shippon. Garner steps or gurner steps. In the south end of the barn there are two lofts for hay over the stables and more cow stalls. In the central part of the barn there was a rack, high up, containing among other things a ceremonial halberd with decorative tassels. The Hunter family had farmed in Bispham on the Derby estate, so it is likely one of the family had been in attendance on Lord Derby on ceremonial occasIons.
At the bottom of the Hill, on the right by the large ash tree, there is a small well, now overgrown, which was in use up to 1914. It was seldom used except for cattle.
On the corner of High Street and Smithy Lane, there is a house, again built of the small hand-made brick. This was occupied by a shoemaker by the name of Porter.
Gorsle Lane, Gorse Lane, Gorsey Lane. These different names were in use over the years in the same sequence. There were no houses in Gorsey Lane until the late 1890's. The only buildings were on the junction with Back Lane, a small farm.
New Street. In 1820 there were very few houses in New Street. The next two being joined together. These being on the east side with flagged roofs. The first being occupied by the Slater family, stonemasons, who built Mawdesley Church. Next door was smaller, originally thatched but later roofed over with corrugated iron. There was on'y one room with a small buttery downstairs, washing facilities outside by the front and only one door.
Further along on the right was the well, half-way down the hill, which for a long time supplied the nearby houses with drinking water. The well was down four or five steps from the road and was on the right arched over. One person went down the steps to look at the well and came back saying there is nothing in. The water was so clean he could not see any water, and could see the bottom. During the last years of its use, it was covered over and a pump erected. People suspected that dogs and children went to drink at the well. I have laid down at the bottom of the steps and drunk from the well, as did other children.
Close by on the same side with its end to the road was a thatched cclttage, occupied by Great Grandfather and Grandmother. They were basket makers, Born 1788-1797. Onward on the left was the smithy and smithy house.
These were of the usual small hand-made bricks and flagged roofs.

On the west side is Wrest House, being the Joiner and Wheelwright's Shop. The north part being the workshop and the other end the dwelling house, which had a well and pump. The name on all the deeds has been Wrest House. There were several pie,ces of land attached to this property. My grandfather, Wm. Cobham, bought this property and deeds which go back to 1631 and are still in the hands of his descendants. In one of these documents the name of the house is spelt Reest, the local pronunciation of plough wrest. The wrests used to be made of wood by the Joiners and Wheelwrights. There have been different versions of the name "Raised House" etc. I suppose these were made by people unfamiliar with farming or local dialect. The house was in the possession of Thomas Holcroft and his family for many years. There is a footpath through the yard which leado to Bradshaw Lane and is joined by three other paths, one through the yard at Crowsnest Farm, one from opposite the War Memorial and the other from Back Lane near the junction with Gorsey Lane.
On the left of New Street is a stone house which is next to the site of the Smithy House, now demolished. The next cottage is the one by the British Legion Headquarters. The Cottage is descrbed in the will of Thomas Crook in 1658 as the Little School in Mawdesley. £2 per year to be paid annually on Shrove Tuesday to the Schoolmaster, providing he be a Protestant and not otherwise.

Hurst Green Farm. This stands on the corner at junction of Dauby Lane and New Street. The tenant in 1732 was Hugh Ainscough, and later the Finch family. About 1870 the tenant was Thomas Halton, joiner and wheelwright, who also ran the small farm. My mother, a young girl at that time, she was born 1863, describes his grocer's shop sign, reading thus: THOMA SHALTON. She was puzzled by the S running into the name Halton. The shop door was on one occasion taken by horse and trap to Chorley court to prove a debt. The debt being ckalked on the back of the door thus: O pence halfpence and 11 strokes for shillings. A field on the farm produced winning samples of hay exhibited on the Hay Market at Liverpool by Robert Ball. The hay had the largest oount of herbs.

Opposite Hurst Greer Farm are two buildings, the southern end the house and the other end the basket shop. This belonged to the extensive basket works of Thomas and later his son Robert Cobham. The wooden sheds, boilers and store places being behind.
On the left in the bend was a thatched cottage, occupied by the Shoemaker.There is the stone base of a cross on the right under the house window. A man in the 1830's told he could remember there being an upright pillar to the stone. The shoemaker used to draw teeth wth his pliers, making a charge of 6d. Adjoining this house (not on the 1820 map) there is what was named as the Pinfold for penning stray cattle. In Rufford there was a Pinfold in the 1870's. My mother was baby minding for a Cousin in 1871 when she was only eight years old at Bridge End, Hanging Bridge Farm. A neigbour's cattle strayed on to this farm too often so they were turned loose on the highway. The Constable took them to the pinfold and the owners had to pay 3, 8d. each for the five of them; l7./6d. being suite a big sum in those days.

On the right of this road, called "Grab Street" in the old days, there was a small cottage next to Crow Nest Farm. My mother's parents lived in the cottage, which was pulled down in recent years. Their garden was the small triangular piece of land on the opposite side of the road. My grandparents had a well dug in the strip of garden between the house and the road. Mother was sent to the Black Bull for ale for one of the well diggers; she was only a girl at the time, Mrs. Rogerson, the landlady, asked who had sent her She replied, a fellah. Mrs. Rogerson, a Quaker, told her "'Thou should'st say, a man. There is only one fellah—the devil".

The cottage and Crow Nest Farm would be thatched at first but were afterward roofed with corrugated iron. The cottage was whitewashed. A man used to go about tae village whitewashing outside or inside the cottages. He was called the bug blinder in the 1870's. Crow Nest Farm of two or three small fields was used for poultry and a few cattle—a part-time small holding. A path runs through the yard, linking up with the path from Wrest House to Bradshaw Lane. over the bridge, on the left, is the Brook Farm end of Little Lane which leads three paths, the first straight on to the Town Fields, number two to and through the yard at Back House Farm, which takes its name from two brothers, Chas. and James Backhouse, 1690. The third path continues along the Longshaws to Gale Lane. The first part of the road to the Longshaws was called the Little Lane. By the end of Little Lane is Brook Farm, which has been rebuilt in recent years This was occupied by the Holmes family; two of the sons were blacksmiths who had their smithy just west of the bridge. Mrs. Alice Holmes was reputed to
have a good cure of bustions and whtlows which were prevalent amongst basket makers.
 

HELL

Dates
References to the name Hell begin in the year 1711—W. Monk, Landlord.
1710 - John Christopher (shott 3/4)

It was agreed that no ale be allwed to any workman at the highway for the future. Nine officials signed. 11767
Hell House - 1802.
George Glover, New Hell - 1794
Wm. Rogerson, Hell - 1864
This indentive made 16th. day of November, 1592, in the 34th of Elizabeth between Thomas Nelson of Mawdesley within the County of Lancashire upon the one part and Robert Hesketh of Rufford within the County Esq. upon the other art witnesseth that the said Thomas for an in the Consideration of - (1575) the sum of £5 10s. 0d. of good and lawful money of England, hath given granted, bargained and sold unto the said Robert Hesketh and his heirs all that Messuuage oenement being in Mawdesley aforesaid called or know by ye name of "Hell or Hell Yorde" now or late in the holding of William Arsnape and all so of the fourth part or portion of one other messuage being in Mawdesley aforesaid now or late in the holding of George Stopford or his assigness together with all rents and reversions unto the same or any part or parcel therof. To have and to hold unto him and his heirs for the only use and whoofe of him ye Robt. In witness the parties above said, have hereunto put their hands and seals;
No.
Date 1248

Note:—The word "Yorde" still used' in the local dialect for yard.
 

Meetings of the Overseers of the Poor and Constables of the Parish
Two new officers were appointed each year to collect the rates and to be responsible for the unkeep of the highways.
The meetings were held each year and the business transacted at Hell, 1711. Tlhese meetings were held regularly through the 18th ceniury, the transactions being referred to as being made at Hell. One entry is in 1794 as being at New Hell, which would have meant the house had been rebuilt. The house was referred to in 1802 as Hell House.

Thc !andlord of Hell served as Constable in 1864—Wm. Rogerson.
The name was changed for a time to Hell Hob, with a big poker and a hob for girnmicks.
The name was changed in deference to the owner, the Rector of Eccleston and the Chorley Council to the Black Bull.

December 6—1648
Colonel Pride and his Musqueteers posted themselves at the doors of the House cf Commons with lists in their hands, stoping suspects, and sent 40 of the most dangerous members to a tavern, popularly known as Hell. They left at West. minster onlyu about 53 men of their own. This was the Rump Parliament.

Roundback, the field on the other side of the road, now named Roundbank, was planted with willows. The cottage which adjoins is now used as a shop and garage. The garage is of considerable size and was once a school. There is not much information about the school, but George Howard went to Sunday School there.

Mawdesley Hall. The road in front is called loally the Dam Brow. In thecentral and oldest portion there are initials of the Mawdesley family, RM l625 and RM 1640. The present owners and tenants are the Forrester family. They are restoring the Hall. The restoration of the Hall is very good work by a craftsman, using oak to match the other tirnbers. Panelling being renewed andextended' also the timber on the front of the Hall. The Hall had been neglected too long, and much work and expense has been needed to bring it back to its origlnal state. The Forrester family are to be congratulated on the
results up to the present. The West end being added later of sandstone which couid be of Iocal origin. The East end added more recently with red bricks on the South wall. This end of the Hall could possibly be on an older foundation. On the roadside there are steps up to the Hall. At the head of the steps there is a datestone l653 (Cromwell period).

There is or was a base for a cheese press in the village. This stone has grooves in the form of a circle with a cross joining the outer ring to run the whey from the the cheese into a receiptacle. A large stone from a cheese press is behind the Hall, but the base is probably covered up. Behind the Hall, the Chapel is being restored in black and white.

The Barton family is first mentioned as tenants in 1743, Thos. Barton. Thot Worthington 1775. Peter Barton 1789. Peter Barton 1791. Wm. Barton 1833.

There is a considerable amount of sandstone used in the building of Mawdesley Hall, tbe Blackbull, the City farmhouse and Gouldings farm barn, and Ambrose House. There was a small quarry at the east end of the Hough, the valley across
the road in front of the Hall. This quarry did not seem large enough to supply the quantity needed for these buildings. The quality of the local sandstone is poor, being very soft.
One of the barns belonging to the Hall has a ramp which runs up to the upper floor. The upper floor being flagged

Black Bull Inn. The original name used from 1576 to 1864 was Hell, and for a time Hell Hob. This Indenture made 16th November in the 3Ith year of Elizabeth between Thomas Nelson of Mawdesley within the County of Lancashire
upon the one part and Robert Hesketh of Rufford within the County Esquire upon the other part, witnesseth that the said Thomas for and in the consideration (1576) the sum of £5 10s. Od. of good and lawful money of England, hath given,
granted, bargained and sold unto the said Robert Hesketh and his heirs all that Messuage or Tenement being and being in Mawdesley aforesaid called or known by ye name of "Hell or Hell Yorde" now or late in the holding of William Arsnape, and also of the fourth part or portion of one other messuage being in Mawdesley aforesaid now or late in the holding of George Stopford or asigne together with all rents and reversions unto the same or any part thereof. To have and to hold, unto him and his heirs for the only use and whoofe of him ye Robert. In witness the parties above said have hereunto put their hands and sea's. The house was originally Bamfort House the home of the Bamford family, this would be previous to the year 1700. the lane on the east side leading towards the Town Field is named Bamford Lane on the 1820 Map.
A copy of thls Indenture is in the Church safe at St. Peter's, Mawdesley, probably obtained by Rev. E. Thomason from Rufford.
Hell was the meeting place of the Overseers of the parish who levied the rates, conducted the relief of the poor and the upkeep of the roads under the Hundred of Leyland.
The name Hell was referred to in the years 1711, 1719, 1721, 1725, 1703, 1764, 1765, 1766, 1767, 1794 (New Hell), 1802, 1864.

December 6th, 1648. Pride's Purge. Colonel Pride andi his musketeers posted at the doors of the House of Commons, stopping suspects, sent forty of the most dangerous members to a tavern, popularly known a Hell (London).
Through Black Bull Yard is Bamford Lane, leading to path along Town field to the Nook. The group of houses was called the City, and still is.
Across on the right there are still the cottages, two which used to be occupied by the Ormerod family, who made felt hats. They were referred to as Hatters, not Ormerod. 1847-1871.
The City farm adjoining is built mainly of redsandstone with accommodation for cattle at the end of the house. There are stone steps up to the upper part, over the cattle. The barn belonging to the farm is across the road facing the house.
There were two cottages between Black Bull and the barn, belonging to City farm. These had had thatched roofs covered with corrugated iron. This was the home of the Christopher family (Kesters). Thom. Christopher played the bass fiddle for the Church music before an organ was obtained. When Tom sang he could make glasses ring with the vibration. He vas presented with the fiddle when the organ was obtained.
At the end of the barn belonging to City farm is a house which was tenanted by the Carter family. Two brothers Carter used to travel in the 1800's to Lincolnshire to wash carrots for the farmers there. They had a big wooden cradle which filled with carrots was rocked when water was poured over them. The cradle or rocker was sent on ahead by rail. On one occasion the brothers following on by train saw the cradle held up in a railway siding. It is said they cried with disappointment. The Lincolnshire farmers soon had their own cradle washers, and the Carter brothers were not needed. Their sister, Old Ann Carter, as she was referred to, sold sweets and tobacco. A customer said to Old Ann, "This bacca's dry". Anne! told him, "Aye un awve only just weet id".
On the left is the house of Gouldings farm, built of the dark-coloured small hand" made bricks and with a flagged roof. The barn and buildings of red sandstone are on the opposite side of the road on the south side.

Towngate and Dark Lane End. Towngate farm house on the corner of the now named Hall Lane and Dark Lane is the older building. The barn, etc., is believed to have been burned and then rebuilt as appears to have happened by the evidence of the more modern brickwork. By the road end of Bluestone Lane was a thatched cottage, since rebuilt. A little further up Bluestone Lane, 20 yards or so on the south side of the cottage was a large blue boulder scored ,t is said by ice bergs in the ice age. The Bluestone gave its name to the road and was a well known sign,post in olden days. The Bluestone was removed during road repairs and taken by the council to a tip. A resident of Bluestone Lane , Mr. H. Rigby persuaded ,the council to bring it back and it now lies in the front garden of his bungalow, which was originally Ash Farm. Mr Rigby's family farmed and resided in Mawdesley for many generations and the fields around the original site of the Blue Stone belonged to the farm. There is mention of this Blue Stone in the Mawdesley curvey of 1820 and I well remember seeing the stone in my school days. Blu£stone farm house is on the left and opposite is the barn. The house and barn are built of the familier small hand made bricks and the barn has stone steps to,the upper part of the barn roost; These steps were for the purpose of carrying sacks of grain (oats 11/2 cwt sacks, wheat 2 cwt sacks) into the granary (obviously it was not practicable to use ladder with such heavy sacks). The steps are of particular interest local because there are so few examples left in the area.

BLUESTONE FARMHOUSE, BLUESTONE LANE, MAWDESLEY
The exterior of the house was built from locally made brick of a red or plu' colour and vary from 21"—26" ithick, irregular in shape with thick mort courses and the bording quite irreguiar. 1571 the thickness of buildingbricks was fixed by statute of not less than 2" and by the end oftthe 17th. century 2-2" was common. Also at this time the window frames were made to
be visible from the outside being flush of projecting slightly beyond the brickwork, mullioned and casement and by 1880 sash windows began1to appear. Glass was only available in, small pieces so that many leaded glazing bars wereused un to 22" thick. In l706 two windows in the rear of the farmhousewere repaired and these are still in their original situation signed by T. PUGH, HIGHMOOR dated l706 with a drawing of a blackbird on each individual pane of glass. From this information it is reasonable to date the building between l571 - 1706 with the original building date to be somewhere before the window tax of 1697
A resldent of Bluestone Lane— Mr. H. Rigby— persuaded the roadmen to bring it back. It lies ln the front garden of the farm named the Ash. This farmhouse has been converted into a bungalow.
Round the corner in Dark Lane were two thatched cottages, standing end on to the road. These have been renovated and modernised, and now named Glencoc. When my mother was a girl (1870 or so) she lived to be 92, she was sent by
her father to one of the cottages at Dark Lane end for some jannock, a kind of bread made of oatmeal, treacle, etc. The man who made this jannock was referred to as Owd Frog Eighter, who gave my mother this message, '`Aw shahnd bi makin anny moour".
My mother as a young girl was sent to enquire about the health of Mrs. Tom Christopher, her aunt, who told her, "I'm double oer". When my mother arrived home she told her parents that her aunt was two double. Another messenger
had to go to enquire.

Bluestone Lane. Opposite the farmhouse on the right is a barn on the opposite slde of the sharp bend as you leave Dark Lane end. The house and barn are built of the familiar small hand-made bricks. The barn has stone steps to the upper part of the barn roost. The stone steps are on the outside of the building. On the right of Bluestone Lane is a path to Salt Pit Lane (Whalley's Lane) which comes out near the Barret's farm on the north side of Whalley's Lane, where there is another path to Blackburn House Farm. Further along on the left was the brick croft which was still in use in the l900's.
There are tilemakers mentioned—John Diver 1849 and John Forsyth, tile manufacturer, 1851. Thos. Welch, brickmaker, 1855. The brick croft was owned and run by a man from Rufford, but was closed before 1914. There was a barn shown on the opposie side of the road, facing the brick croft, which has not been in existence in my time At the junction of Salt Pit Lane (Whalley's Lane) with Bluestone Lane, there were five cottages, some of which were burned down about 1920. On the right was the Ash, which has lately been modernised and altered. Boarded Barn Farm, on the left, has likewise been modernised and altered. Both these farms were built of the .small hand-made bricks with flagged roofing. A small cottage stands on the left between Bearded Barn Farm and the end of the road (1712) to the Nook. From this road end to the Robin Hood Inn, there still stands a cottage which is one of the smallest in the village. Facing this cottage on the other side of the road was a well which was used up to the time mains water was brought.

Robin Hood Inn. This was built similarly of small bricks and flagged roof. Records mention the site of a stone cross, but no one seems to know where it was or anything about it. It is marked on a plan of the field opposite the Inn.

Sid Brook Lane. One cottage on the left behind the Inn which does not now exist. There are two cottages marked on the right which appear to have been made into one. On the left is Sid Brook Farm, built of the familiar bricks, etc.
Further along on the left is another similar farm from which a path leads to the Nook Sid Brook Lane extends to Croston. The boundary between Croston and Mawdesley being at the Folly Bridge, the second stone bridge over the Sid Brook.

Tannersmith Lane. The end of which is between Robin Hood Inn and Tincklers Bridge, the boundary between Mawdesley and Eccleston; this lane runs south Smith's Brow Farm, near the road end, lies on the east side, and the house and buildings have now been modernised and converted into a gent!eman's residence. There are two cottages marked on the 1820 map on the east side. On the right at the junction with Hand Lane there is a farm house, and further along on thc east side there is another small farm house and buildings. Blackburn House Farm lies on the right, west side, facing the junction with Halfpenny Lane an Heskin Old Hall. There is a path by Heskin Old Hall through Knowles Wood leading to Eccleston, much used by Mawdesley Weavers who worked in th Eccleston Mills.

Salt Pit Lane or Whalleys Lane to to the right leading to Bluestane Lane. There is a farm on the right which used to have flagged floors in the upper storey. The flagged floors were to lay the cheeses on to keep them cool as they ripen A site of a cross is marked by this farm Barrat's Farm. The path from Bluestone Lane emerges here, near the path on the other side of the road which leads to Blackburn House. There is a small charity, Margaret Blackburd Charity, which is distributed by the Church to needy persons on New Year's Day. Nearer Bluestone Lane there was a cottage, Whalley's (Whalley was one of the Overseers of the Poor) 1765, which gives the name used by locals to the length of road linking Bluestone Lane with Tannersmith. Salt Pit Farm lies on the east side of the junction of the three roads—Saltpit Lane, Tannersmith andWhalley's Lane, which was referred to in 1765 as Back Lanes. When borings were made in recent years for water between ,Salt Pit Farm and the R.C. Chapel, SS. Peter and Paul, cores of salt were brought to the surface. There is a path by Salt Pit Farm, 1eading to Hest House (Hurst) Farm and quarry, now disused, on Halfpenny Lane in Heskin. At the junction with Ridley Lane (1830) the R.C. Chapel lies on the left with its burial ground. Turning east at the corner is the Priest's House, and nearby a cottage once used as a school.
There is a farm on the left, Threapers Green Farm, 1769. Along the by-road were two thatched cottages. A path led from there to the farm, on the sharp bend which is in Wrightington.
The name Threaper means one who argues. It is amusing the different versions entered in the Church registers. Treepost, Draper's, and Threepost Green and Three Pear's. These entries were made by Rectors who were not of Lancashire origin and did not know the local dialect.
The old Anderton's Mill stands on the corner of Ridley Lane and Bentley Lane; there were two buildings and a house. The outer walls were standing in the early l900's. Bentley Lane is in Wrightington and the west side being in Mawdesley. Just round the corner from Anderton's Mill is Tootle's Farm, the only building along Bentley Lane within the Mawdesley boundary which extends to Bentley Brook. Bentley Brook, which has its source by Harrock Hall, forms the boundary between Mawdesley and Bispham from Bentley Lane to the end of Jay Bank in the west. There is a cross recorded at the end of Jackson's Lane in Wrightington, midway along Bentley Lane. There are four or five crosses marked in or adjacent to Mawdesley, but there is only one site still existing which is remembered. This site is in front of Moss View at the corner of New Street and Hall Lane. In tlhe l830's this stone had an upright pillar still standing. There is a path beginning at a point opposite Jackson's Lane, leading to Kester's Old Lane. From Moody Lane there is a path which joins the path from Bentley Lane to Kester's Old Lane.

Ridley Lane from R.C. Chanel to Clyde Arms. On the corner opposite the chapel is Wrennall's Farm and on the opposite side (south) were two single cottages, and near the Clyde Arms were two which still exist. The Clyde Arms had its licence transferred to a public house at Leyland. The premises are now being converted and modernised to a private house. One of the houses along Ridley Lane had no deeds relating to thc ownership, it appeared to have been built on land by the roadside. A woman who had lodged there appeared in court to say she had paid rent to the nominal owners to establish their ownership.
There is a path starting across the road from Wrennall's Farm to Monk's Farm in Back Lane East. A path runs from Monk's Farm to Bradshaw Lane, passing through the farm yard on Bradshaw Lane, from which you can proceed to New Street by the path on the other side of the road.
Bradshaw Brow from Clyde Arms to Bradshaw House, now named Ambrose House, which was tenanted by Thos. Ambrose in 1690. There was a roadside well across the road facing Bradshaw House. Going south there were two cottages on the left and two thatched cottages on the right. These thatched cottages on the right were demolished, and a pair of houses replaced them about 1914.
Starting from the R.C. School along Back Lane East, there is Ridley House, built of stone, on the right, then on to Barret House Farm 1691 on the left, with Monk's Farm on the right. At the junction of Back Lane East with Moody Lane there is a path across the Tabbas Fields to Back Lane West. Turning right, we come to Moody Lane, and then left along Back Lane West. About 30 yards :further on the left is the end of Kester's Old Lane, which takes you on to Sill's Farm and Lee Lane in Bispham, once tenanted by the Christopher family (Kester). There was one cottage on the right demolished in the early 1900's. This was very primitive, a ladder straight up against the wall led to the sleeping quarters. The family had killed their pig and stayed up till midnight to havea second helping of the pork.

Back Lane West continues from Gorse Lane to Bispham Green. The boundary being the Bentley Brook. There is a path on the right which connects with the one to New Street.

On the corner of Gorse Lane and Back Lane there is a farm house and buildings, The house was built of a mixture of sandstone and bricks, the barn and buildings of the small hand-made bricks. These buildings and house had flagged roofs. There was a well for drinking water in the small field on the south of Gorsey Lane. The field was referred to as the Banks. Close to these farm buildings are three cottages, the first one being two storeys. The second pair were thatched and went down with a step from the road.
Cedar House Farm, on the left, was tenanted in 1711 by James Finch and continued to be by the Finch family for a long period, giving their name to the farm until recently. There is a path from this farm to Kester's Old Lane. At one time this path passed the house door of the farm.

Back Lane West turns left at the junction with School Lane. Prescott's cottage stands on the right of the road. On the roadside by the garden, there is a well down steps which supplied nearby cottages with water. In School Lane, near the junction with Back Lane, there was a large stone where a few persons had been known to stop and pray. This stone had a hole drilled in it which may have misled people as to its significance. Some years ago an elderly man told me that he and other young men had drilled the hole, intending to blow the stone apart. They had got the powder and fuse from Hunter's Hill Quarry, where they worked. The hole was of insufficient depth and the charge just blew back. The' stone was broken recently when the Road Council moved it to make room for road materials.

Sandy Lane—South to North. On the right was a small cottage tenanted Jane Boardman. She had a pony and cart with which she carted coal from Heskin, selling it at 4d. per cwt. She died in 1876 at the age cf 80.

Close to the end of Sandy Lane are two marlpits, one being in Bispham. There is a path here to the Home Farm, Bispham, and a branch to Crook's Farm, Bispham. This path was used extensively by people walking to Parbold Station and also using the Fish Pond path. The marl from the pits was used for dressing the adjoining fields, which were of a fairly light texture. These were the fields on the west side of Sandy Lane. Further along Sandy Lane there was a small farm house and buildings on the right.

Sandy Lane from this point at the farm wound to the right, there being three more cottages. At this site there was a large trunk of a yew tree which must have been of a tremendous age.

Further along this old route was another marlpit and a cottage which has been pulled down and the marlpit filled in. It should be noted these marlpits have access on the level and should not be confused with pits wlhich hold water. The land on the east side of Sandy Lane is heavy land and higher than the ground on the west side, which is of a much lighter texture.

There is a well in Sandy Lane called Boosies Well, named after Sir Thomas Hesketh's land agent. There is a marlhole behind the Grove in the next field. A path runs through the marlhole at this point to High Street, connecting with the path by the Churchyard to School Lane. These four marlholes are all on the edge of the light soil area of the moor and accessible on the level for horses and carts.

Sandy Lane. The southern half is in Bispham, along with the large piece of land on the west. The land on the east side is in Mawdesley. The land on the west side was owned by the Derby Estate. The boundary running in a straight line to the farm on the north side of Rufford Road. Money was paid by the Preston Office of the Derby Estates in early 1900's for the making up o£ the southern end of Sandy Lane.

This land bordering on Sandy Lane is locally called the Clawsus (Closes). There is a reference to them as Longworth Fields.

Rufford Road used to be referred to as back of Blackmoor. Blackmoor was an open space in the middle 1800's. The cottages were on the outer perimeter of the moor except the farm on the north side of Rufford Road and the farm near Meadow Lane in the fields between Blackmocr Road and Rufford Road. There is no local information as to when the moor was enclosed. To the left of Sandy Lane there is an unadopted road to Rufford Road and a branch to Blackmoor Road. At this branch road there is a wood stretching from one road to the other. Thls wood was cut down during the 1914 - 918 War. There was a row of large beech trees on the south side of the wood. Beech trees are rare in this district and these, with two others in Kester's Old Lane, were of such a size to be of a great age. Those on the edge of the wood were much larger than the rest of the trees in the wood. Beech is not a quick-growing tree.

On the eastern edge of this wood there was a find of'flints, arrow heads, etc., as if this was a workshop in the making of flint weapons. There was a sand quarry ln the wood which was used by the Council for roadmaking. There was the broad arrow marked on the stone gatepost at the entrance to the wood On the map is a dotted line from the north east corner at the Clawsus, bearing siightly north east of the present Sandy Lane to the Grove on Smithy Lane, continuing left to the farm in the fields near Meadow Lane end. I'his line gives the impression that there were no fences along these roads on the moor side.
The moor, as shown on the map, apaears to be cut in two by the Derby Estate boundary. There is only one map reference for the Mawdesley part of the moor apart from those for the fields belonging to the farm in the fields near Meadow Lane end. The boundary of this farm is shown to be right close to the farm house on the east side.
Blackmoor Road to Meadow Lane, from the Grove.
On the right by the brook is a path to Gales Lane. The farmhouse and buildings are on the north side of the road, close to the end of the present Sandy Lane,
In what used to be a stackyard, on the west of the path, there used to be the smallest cottage in the village. It was said the people had to put all their furniture outside when they whitewashed the interior. The brothers who farmned the land took a pride in their stacks in this stackyard. The stacks were a sight to see, all so trim and neat—not a loose straw anywhere, and all so well thatched.
White Door Farm also on the north side ot the road as are all the buildings shown on the map. This farm was named also Walmsley Fold for quite a long time and was the largest area of willows. Close by was a thatched cottage standing behind the present garage. There is an old tale that the tenant had a quarrel with a neighbour who put a charge of powder in his muzzle-loading gun. The barrel of the gun was then filled with pigs blood. The neighbour went at night to the cottage where the tenant sat by the fireside. The gun was pushed through the window and fired at the tenant, who fell from his chair
covered with blood.
There were two more cottages before reaching Blackmoor Hall. These have been demolished in recent years.

Blackmoor Hall. There is a path from Sandy Lane west to the Hall. In front of the stone barn was an arrangement for a pony to turn a shaft set on an upright stand to chop hay or straw for the livestock. The pony was yoked to one end of the shaft and then walked round and round, driving the cutter inside the barn. A short distance past the Hall was a long straight road leading toward the moss over a bridge, over the Reeds Brook. This road was used as a path connecting with the path along Reeds Brook. Further along was another short road to three cottages, of which only one is now standing. A path extended from this road and turned left to the Nook (Blackmoor). The next farm, Home Farm, leading to the Nook where there are four cottages marked but have now ceased to exist. These cottages were replaced by red brick double-fronted houses after being sold in 1888 at the sale of land in Mawdesley by the Heskeths of Rufford. There is a path from the Nook to Meadow Lane.

On the south side of the road is Blackmoor Wood, felled 1914 - 1918, and the road joining with Sandy Lane west.
The length of road leading towards Meadow Lane used to be called the dubs.

A policeman walking along this road in the dark, lost his helmet. Two lads, one each side of the road, with a string stretched across the road at night, whipped his helmet off. The lads are now dead of old age. Just over the bridge at the bend is a farm and buildings. The farmhouse was once a public house or ale house. Between the farm and Meadow Lane was another cottage, set in a piece of land on the right called Stocking's Croft. This cottage has been pulled down and the croft added to the farm before my recollection. It is said to be where my great grandfather lived when he first came to Mawdesley in the 1700's.

Near Meadow Lane End. The farm in the fields between Blackmoor Road and Rufford Road is on the 1820 map, the land being divided into several small crofts.The eastern boundary being very close to the house, separating it from the Moor.The dotted line from the middle of Sandy Lane via the Grove on Blackmoor Road ends at the boundary of this farm. The moor was all open in my father'sday (born 1894). They used to have bonfires there. This is the description handed down.

Proceeding east from Meadow Lane along Rufford Road, which used to be referred to as back of Blackmoor, there is Slate Farm on the right. Behind the farm, Bentley Brook and Reeds Brook join together, passing along a cutting to join the River Douglas.

Further along at the top of the rise! were two thatched cottages, end on to the road where the garages now stand. Where the new bungalow now stands, back from the road were three cottages. On the left was the only farm and buildings on the moor, apart from the one near Meadow Lane end. We come next to Primrose Cottage on the right.

The next farn and buildings, well back from the road, are marked on the map. Still on the right side of the road, close by the farm is a cottage which was the home of the founders of the firm of H. and R. Ainscough, who had corn mills at Parbold and Burscough. He travelled from there to Parbold in a trap drawn by a white pony.

A path besides this house leads by a plank over the Douglas to Burscough. Just over the plank was a house, the original Snipe's Hall (Lathom). The Dicky Meadows who lived there introduced the variety of willows to which was given the name of Old Dicks.

Further along, still on the Rufford Road on the right, were two thatched cottages, owned and occupied by the Stopford family. Two brothers left money in their wills to the poor roud Blackmoor. The thatched cottages have been replaced
by two semi-detached houses and mis-named Stopforth Villas.

Smithy Lane from the Grove to the Four Lane Ends. On the left at the end of Gales Lane is a stone house where my grandfather was born (1815). He lived and brought up a family of 12, who were all engaged in basket making At the
corner of Gales Lane were two cottages, recently demolished. One of these contained a rare beam, preserved by Mr. Finch. Old Margery lived in one. I remember being taken there by my sister for my first pair of pants. She took a pair of my father's which had a check pattern for the material. There were quite a few dressmakers and sewers in those days. One dressmaker had a dress ready for a customer who called to try it on. The dressmaker's children were all in the room so the mother said to them, Everilda, Matilda, Jemima and Alice—get out.

In Smithy Lane, on the left, is the Willows, which was once a public house, "The Jolly Farmer". The cellars are still there.

Finch's Lane End, 1590. There is a well-kept Chapel in an upper room where the skull of William Haydock is kept. He was executed for taking part in the Pilgrimage of Grace. One of the Haydock family married one of the Finch's, bringing the skull to Mawdesley.

Mr. Finch put a beam away in his barn, taken from the cottages at the corner of Gales Lane. There are only four of these beams in Lancashire. A double crutch.

At the bend in ,Smithy Lane is the shoemakers cottage with their workshop behind. Tlhe Spiby brothers carried on their business here. They had an apprentice called Tom who didn't stay long with them. He said he couldn't stand sitting.

The Nook—Robin Hood. There were four cottages on the left at the Nook, which leads from Bluestone Lane to Wood Lane and the Moss. On the right at the Nook is farmhouse and buildings. Along Wood Lane on the left is a Wood Lane Farm. Turning left is Boundary Farm on the way to Cliffe's Farm. which stands at the corner of the Town Field which is the largest enclosure or field in the Parish.
On the Moss, approached from Brook Farm in Hall Lane by Little Lane, is Backhouse Farm, which takes its name from the old tenants, the Backhouse brothers.

The Village Centre.
There was little change in the number of houses in the village between the years 1820 to 1890. The Red Lion built about 1855 for my grandfather, William Moss, who brewed beer on the premises, which was general in those days. Ihe Old School (British Legion) was built in 1844. The shop on the same side of the road as the Red Lion, Rose's Shop and Post Office and dwelling house, built 1855-1860. This was burnt down about 1910 and rebuit, and is now converted into houses. Another shop, Abram's, was built around 1870 by the slde of the cottage which used to be called the Little School in Mawdesley. These premise are now converted into three houses.

The two shops, paper and grocers, would be built about this period. The Grocer's shop sold flour and provender as well. There was a pulley at the end of the building to hoist sacks to the upper storey. Hurst Green farm house was
a shop in the 1870's.

My grandmother used to help Mrs. Rose to knead the dough for bread when the shops first started to make and sell bread. People used to bake their own bread. Mrs. Rose said, "I bake for all the, lazy women in Mawdesley". Rose's Shop had a brick building on the other side of the road for salting and curing local bacon and hams. The bricks and mortar of this building became soaked with salt, and the birds picked at the outside walls for the salt, making them look dilapidated.

The houses, one used now as the Hairdressers, and the other end by the Wheelwright, who had his workshop in the yard, were built in the middle 1800's. At the.the four Lane Ends, a shop and corn mill were built about 1870. This mill
ground their own flour, etc., besides grinding grain for local farmers.

The shops had their own bakeries, and baked their own bread and confectionery up to the 1914-18 War. These shops dealt in flour, poultry and animal feeding stuffs. Loaves previous to 1914 were 2d. and 3d. each, according to size.

In those days, elderly women acted as midwives, and one of these helped a baker to take the bread out of the oven. A workman meeting her on the way home in the early hours would greet her, 'Aye thaas bin teckin bread ayut ut th'oven
agen".

In 1888, Squire Hesketh of Rufford sold by auction 980 acres of land and farms in Mawdesley, followed by a further sale in 1898, when some of the Church Glebe was bought. Many of the cottages in the first sale were taken down and replaced by the double-fronted houses built of local red brick, by the purchasers. There were no houses in ,Gorse Lane in the early l89O's, the only one being the little farm on the corner at Back Lane.
The number of double-fronted houses increased from 1890 onwards, a few bungalows were built in Bradshaw Lane, Bluestone Lane, with a few odd ones throughout the village before the last war.