Chapter 4

MAWDESLEY TEA PARTY, DAY AND SUNDAY SCHOOL SCHOLARS
(1874—The First Tea Party)
When my mother was a little girl, born 1863, she went to the Club Day. This was a procession from the Clyde Arms by the different clubs: The Shepherds, Forresi'ers, Rechabites, Buffaloes. These clubs were each headed by a man on horseback with suibable dress and regalia. They were headed by a flute band and proceeded to the field in front of the Rectory. This would be about 1870. It is not known how long the Club Day was carried on. Rev. M. Twiss and his sister went away on that day; it was saidibecause there were too many babies born afterwards. Population 1901: 969.
The Tea Party proper was first held in 1874. Elower Show, 1884.

From a copy of the Church Magazine
The route of the procession in 1901 was by Blackmoor and Meadow Lane End, Rufford Road, to Bispham Green, and then on to the Rectory.
The CETS Morris Dancers, 16 in number, young men, were in the procession in 1931. Maypole dances on the field by the young children.
Ihe men Morris Dancers went to other villages to dance at their events. At Aughton they danced for seven miles, which ended their away dancing. Their dress (blue, white and gold) was knee breeches, white stockings, tunics, straw hats and a sash around the waist. There is only one of them left, Mr. Hugh Barron, who will be about 90. In 1901 there were five decorated horse-drawn lorries in the procession to carry the young scholars.
In the early l900's there were arches erected at both entrances to the field, decorated with rhododendrons, peonies, luplns and red hawthorn blossom. The Tea Party was held early in June (14th) in those days.
The arrangements for the Tea Party in 1901 are as follows: 1 o'clock Service in Church. Afterwards the procession will be formed outside the Church and proceed to School led by the Banner, where the band and decorated lorries will join in the procession. They will then go as far as the City, turn round to go through the village, via Smithy Lane, Rufford Road to Bispham Green and return to the Rectory (The last time this route was taken. Robert Alty, Blackmoor Hall, banner carrier, was on his deathbed.) 250 Scholars.

In those days, people who had left Mawdesley returned on Tea Party day to meet their relations and friends. These came from as far as Bolton and St. Helers, travelling in horse-drawn wagonettes. On this occasion there were 60 - l00 of these visitors for tea.

The procession arrived at the Rectory where the hymn, "The Church is One Foundation" was sung, and tickets of admission were distributed to the scholars. The rector made a rule that scholars had to have attended Sunday School for three months to be entitled to a ticket.
On reaching the field from the Rectory, the scholars 13 and under were seated on boards outside the tent. This arrangement was still in being for a long time, and scholars brought their own cups, tied in a handkerchief. The older scholars, band, etc were not all able to sit down together at one sitting. The tent was a permanent wooden frame with a canvas cover and was not of a great size. This was discarried about 1920 ancl a marquee hired about 60'x 40' in size. In l902 the route of tle procession was changed - Church' 1.30pm then on to Dark lane, the route the same as in recent years.

The Tea Party lapsed in the War Years (both wars). The floral arches were discarded before 1914. The horsc-drawn lorries were gradually displaced by motor lorries after the war. Messrs. Deuwhursts of Preston provided the Roundabouts, Swings, Shooting Galleries and other stalls for many years, and became well known personally to Mawdesley people. They have heen succeeded by the Cubbin family who have combined with Dewhursts for years.

The Church magazine was restarted in 1898.
Fully 700 people were served with teas in 1898. Girl's friendly Societymeeting in New School , October 15th, 1898, for young unmarried women and girls over 14 years of age. This was the first meeting. The 16 young men Morris Dancers danced at the New Year's Gathering, 1901. They were dressed in blue, white and gold, and danced at their first Tea Party in 1901.


 

1901
There were sports held on the show ground, cycle races, foot races, sack races and three-legged races. There was a band in attendance for dancing on the field,which was a big attraction in those days. Two gingerbread stalls from Ormskirk
were in attendance on the field, under the trees by the top gate. They sold gingerbread donkeys, biscuits, two sorts of treacle toffee. Each stall had a numbered wheel, the customers paying ld. for a number. The winning number being rewarded with a packet of biscuits.

Church Tea Party
Fully 700 people must have been present at tea. There was a balance of £1. 4s. 3d. The Leyland Brass Band was in attendance. There were four decorated lorries. There was also an arch decorated with flowers at the entrance to the field.

August 20th. The Flower Show, 1901.
Harvest Festival
Worshippers had to be turned away at the Even,ing Service as every available plate for sitting and standing was filled.

Girl's Friendly Society
Meeting in School for young unmarried women and girls over 14 years.
October 18th, at 7.30, with the object of forming a branch in the Parish.
]900- New Year's Gathering. 150 sat down to tea.
Tea Party. Six decorated lorries carried the little children. 280-300 children in the procession.
1901 - Population: 1,290.

THE NEW YEAR'S GATHERING
(February, 1901)

The New Year's Gathering, which was inaugurated three years ago in connection with our Parish Church, seems to have established itself as an anniual function in a marvellous manner. Between two and three hundred sat down to tea, while
quite twice that nunber witnessed the entertainment which followed. The programme was of a very varied character, but every item was well rendered and reflected much credit upon the performers, the audience showing their appreciation of the same by constant and sustained bursts of applause. We do not venture to make any criticisms unon the entertainment, because it was good throughout, but certainly the lion's share of the apolause fell to the Morris dancers (16 in number) who, being most tastefully dressed in blue, white and gold, stepped in wonderful time through the intricate figures of this old-time dance. The only comment called for being that all the applause was well earned, and our friends are to be congratulated upon the success of their efforts.
The following was the programme:—Song: "Good-bye to the Old Year" (the children); Song: "The Gift" (Miss Norris); Recitation: "The Fight for the Armoured Train" (Miss Clayton); Humorous Song: "Stand Up" (Mr. Parkinson);
Dialogue: "Mixed Pickles" (some children); Song: "Napolitaine" (Mr. Greenhalgh); Song: "The Well of St. Keyne" (Miss Iddon); Recitation: "Curing of a
Drunkard" (Miss Halsall); "Morris Dance" (16 young men); Action Song: "The Flag of Gladness" (the children); Song: "Cockles and Mussels" (Miss Norris Recitation: "Hanging a Picture" (Miss Clayton); Song: 'Delaney's Chicken" (M
Parkinson); Hoop Drill (some girls); Song: "Within a Mile of Edinbro' Town" (Miss Iddon); Action Song: "Union is Strength" (,John Mayer and some children Dialogue: "Blundering Barney" (R. Christcpher, W. Southworth, J. Higham
God Save the Queen. Mr. Greenhalgh. who has lately been appointed hea! master of our School, kindly acted as accompanist.
Gur best thanks are due to those who kindly helped in arranging the room a] entertainment, cutting up provisions, brewing tea, providing trays, looking af doors, tickets, etc., etc., and we hope that when the time comes round, their services will be again availahle.

TEA PARTY—JULY, 1901

The annual Tea Party in connection with our Sunday and Day Schools took place on Saturday, June 8th, in glorious weather.
Assembling at the Church for a short Service at one o'clock, the scholars marched to the School, where they were joined by the Leyland Subscription Brass Band, the Mawdesley C.E.T.S. Morris Dancers, and several gaily-decorated carts, which were kindly lent by Mr. Robert Cobham, Mr. Thomas Mawdsley, Mr. H. Weardon, Mr. Stringfellow (Harrock) and Mr. Thomas Taylor, Meadow Lane, for conveying the little ones in the procession. After a short time had been spent in arrangement, the procession went first to the City, then turning round, proceeded, by New Street, Smithy Lane, Blackmoor, Meadow Lane, Ruffcrd Road
Bispham Green to the Rectory, where the hymn "The Church's One Foundation" was sung and tickets of admission to the field were given to the scholars, after which a general move to the field was made, and the important work of getting a good tea began in earnest. The children of 13 years cf age and under had their tea on the grass outside the tent, and were well looked after by the teachers who spared neither time nor trouble in ministering to their wants, but the older scholars and friends had to exercise more patience, as the spacious tent was too small for the demands made upon it for accommodation, but as the afternoon wore on it was seen that the cutters-up and tray-holders had been equal to the occasion, and a good tea had been provided for all.
From the returns made in the Balance Sheet printed below, it is generally believed the attendance at the tea and on the field was the largest on record. There can he no doubt that on this occasion an additional attraction was provided in the Morris Dancers, who looked very smart in their uniforms, and added greatly to the picturesqueness of the procession and the entertainment onlookers both on the road and on the field, their dancing was very good was much admired.
Some impromptu sports were organised for the younger children in the eveningand it was evident from the vigour with which some of these events were contested that this part of the programme afforded no little enjoyment to the younsters.
To the members of the committee, and those who kindly did the work of cutting-up, providing trays, brewing tea, carrying the banner, lending carts, and building the entrance arch, the very best of thanks to young and old are due, because without this band of willing helpers, the record success of 1901 would have been a disastrous failure. They were well tired we know, but in June 1902 we hope they will have sufficiently recovered to help again.
The cutters-up were Mrs. W. Cobham, Mrs. J. Edgar, Mrs. G. Mayor, Mrs. Wignall, Mrs. H. Southworth, and Messrs J. Cobham and T. Christopher; Mrs. Wallbank and Mrs. Jas. Moss made the tea; the entrance arch was erected by Messrs. J. Sharrock, R. Southworth, N. Southworth, Howard Slater, and others.
The tray holders were the Misses Baybutt, the Misses Harrison, Miss Hankin and Miss Westhead, the Misses Iddon, Mrs. Litherland and Miss E. Smith, Mrs. J. Iddon and Miss Mawdesley, Miss Proe and Miss A. Hankin, the Misses Sharrock, Miss J. Southworth and Mrs. Stringfellow, Miss Spiby and Miss Higham, Mrs.
Thomason and Miss Pinder, Miss Taylor and Miss A. Mayor.

27th ANNUAL BALANCE SHEET, FIELD DAY, JUNE 8th, 1901.

MAWDESLEY TEA PARTY, 1919-1920

The troop of men ,Morris Dancers must have been dishanded by 1906 - 1907 as I never got to see them as I would be about five years old. A troop of girls (28) was raised about 1919 - 1920 and trained by Mr. Dick Christopher. This trocp has been carried on, with new members joining as others grew up. The Morris Dancers lapsed during the War years but was re-organised when the War finished.
The fair prior to 1914 consisted of a large set of hobbyhorses and a smaller set for younger children (bobbyhorses); the charge was ld. for a ride. Ice cream could he got for as little as 1/2d. for a wafer. There were large and small sets of swingboats. The young men would stand up in these and get them to swing above the horizontal untll the attendant applied the safety brake.
There were also coconut stalls and Aunt Sally stalls at three balls for 1d. School children used to be on the lookout for any balls houncing back into the crovid. They used these for playing cricket. The shooting galleries (.22 rifles) were vey popular. Then they had the stand for ringing the bell by striking with the big wooden mallet. The Rector, Mr. Thomason, would come round at twelve o'clock to see the fair closed before Sunday. The fair was busy until the last minute. I have listened to them in bed, the clang of shooting galleries and music of the hobbyhorses. Of recent years the fair has heen closed soon after 10 o'clock Parents with several children find things too expensive. There are a band of ladies who do the preparing of the food and sandwiches, etc., on the morning of the Party, with a man in charge of the tea brewing arrangements.
The teas are provided for the Band, Banner Carriers, Police, Lorry Drivers, Morris Dancers, in addition to the Scholars. The ladies who look after the tables rnake a most effective spread. They bring their own tablecloths and crockery of their best, trifles, jellies and cakes. The tables are decorated with flowers, all tending to give a most pleasing and decorative effect.
Gifts of provisions are also received from supporters in the village, also milk, Bread, cakes, meat, butter, etc., are ordered in advance for the occasion.
Nowadays, a buffet is provided for visitors after the scholars, etc., have finished their tea. The Tea Party has not been run as a profit-making affair, and during the last few years there has been deficit of a few pounds. The young men of the village have run a separate dance on the previous Friday night. The funds raised being for the continuance of the Tea Party.

THE FLOWER SHOW :
There were Sports held on the Show Ground: cycle races (various), foot races, sack races and three-legged races, egg and spoon races. There was a band in attendance for dancing on the field, which was well patronised in those days.
Two stalls from Ormskirk were on the field, selling gingerbread in the shape of donkeys and biscuits. These stalls also sold two varieties of home-made treacle toffee. The stalls had each a numbered wheel for customers to pay Id. for a number. the wheel was spun and the owner of the winning number received a packet of gingerbreafs as a prize.
These stalls were at the top of the field near the gate under the overhanging trees.

Flower show - 1901

The Committee of our local Horticultural Society were unfortunate in the choice of day they made for their 17th Annual Exhibiotion of Fruit, Vegetables, Cut Flowers, Window Plants etc., for although the drought was and had been severe and of long duration, August 17th, 1901, was the wettest exhibition on record.
The show itself was well arranged, and the quality of exhibits was equal to anything the most ambitious could expect under the conditions of climate whoch prevailed, but there was a slight falling off in the number of entries. We sincerely hope that the finances will come out better than is anticipated and that when the season comes round, the exhibition of 1902 will make ample amends for the shortage of its immediate predecessor. The list of prizes is given below;-

GREENHOUSE OR WINDOW PLANTS
 

One Pot of Fern. - 1. John Cobham, New street; 2. Thomas Welch.
One pot of Liliums. - 1 and 2, H. Spilby.
One Ornamental Plant. - 1. James Mawdesley; 2. H. Spilby.
One Lily. (Amaryllis Vollola) - 1. H. Spilby.
One Geranium. - 1 and 2, J. Cobham, new Street; 3.T. Halliwell, Junior.
Fuchais. - 1. T. Welch.
One Coleus. - 1. H. Spilby; 2 and 3. J. Cobham, New Street.
One Tender Annual. - 1 and 2. J. Cobham.
One Plant (not mentioned in above classes) - T. welch; 2. J. Cobham; 3. T. Halliwell, Jnr.
WINDOW PLANTS ONLY
One Pot Liliums. - 1. Richard Cobham; 2. Robert Iddon.
One Double Fuchsia. - 1. Evan Rutter; 2. James Moss.
One Single Fuchsia. - 2. William Southworth.
One Petunia. - 1. D. Iddon and T. Entwistle; 2 and 3. James Southwworth.
One Hydranger. - 1. Isabella Southworth; 2. Alice Hankin; 3. T. welch.
One Begonia. - 1. Isabella Southworth.
One Coleus. - 1. W. Cobham; 2. T. Barron.
One Double Geranium. - 1. T. Halliwell; 2. Jas. moss; 3. D. Iddon and T. Etwistle.
One Single Geranium. - 1. T. Welch; 2. John cobham (Lane ends); 3. Richard Cobham.
One Geranium(any other variety). - 1. Jas. Mawdley; 2. T. Welch; 3. T. Christopher.
One Pot of Musk. - 1. T. Welch.
One pelargonium. - 1 and 3. D. Iddon and T. Entwistle; 2. W. Southworth.
One Pot of Lobelia. - 1 and2. Jas Southworth.
One Plant (not mentioned in above classes) - 1. D. Iddon and T. entwistle; 2 and 3. Alice Hankin.
CUT FLOWERS.
One Basket of Cut flowers. - 1. Mrs. R. Forsyth; 2. D. Iddon and T. Entwistle.
Six Roses (H.P. distinct prefered). - 1. D. Iddon and T. entwistle; 2. T. welch; 3. R. Cobham.
Six Roses (Teas). grown outside. - T. Welch.
Six Double Dahlias. - 1 and 2. T. Welch.
Sweet Peas (18 Sprays, arranged with their own foilage, shown in vase). - 1. Ellen Cobham;
2 and 3 T. Christopher.
Four Gladiolas. - 1. Robert Iddon; T. Welch; 3. P. Wright.
Collection of Six Hardy Annuals. - 1. robert Iddon; 2. T. Welch; 3. James Southworth.
Six Dahlias (any variety). - T. Welch, Junior.
Six Asters. - 1. Robert Iddon; 2. W. Spiby; 3. T. Welch.
Six French Marigolds. - 1 and 2. T. Welch.
Six Pansies. - 1 and 2. Richard Cobham.
Six Carnations. - 1 and 2. T. Christopher; 3. P. Wright.
Four Stocks, whole roots. - 1. T. Welch; 2. T. Christopher; 3. James Southworth.
Stage of Cut flowers, four varieties (three blooms on each) - 1. H. Spiby; 2. D. Iddon and T. Entwistle.
3. P. Wright.
Basket of Cut flowers, grown outside. - 1. D. Iddon and T. Entwistle.
Six Hollyhock Blooms. - 1 and 3. H. Spiby; 2. J. Cobham, Lane Ends.
Bouquet of Wild Flowers, gathered by children under 14 years of age- 1. Reubn Cobham; 2. Edwin Cobham;
3. Jesse Cobham; 4. T. Edgar; J.R. Barron; 6. Richard Mawdesley.
Bunch of Sweet Peas. grown by children under 14 years of age (special regard to arranging the bunch)
1. Mary Cobham; 2. Alice Cobham; 3. Reuben cobham; 4. Polly Marsden.
Hand Bouquet (all flowers to be grown outside). - 1. D. Iddon and T. Entwistle; Mrs. R. Forsyth.

FRUIT
Plate of Gooseberries (red) - 1 and 3. Mary J. Baybutt;William Westhead.
Plate of Gooseberries (green) - 1. T. Christopher.
Plate of White Currants. - 1, 2 and 3. Mary Jane Baybutt.
Plate of Red Currants. - 1. W. Westhead; 3 (equal 2nd.) M.J. Baybutt.
Plate of Raspberries. - 1. W. Wignall;2. T. Welch.
Dessert Apples. - 1. Rev. F. Thomason; 2. Jas. Mawdesley; 3. Robert Ball.
Kitchen pears. - 1 and 3. T. Haliwell; 3. T. Cobham.
Dessert Pears. - 1. John Soutworth; 2. Jno. Cowley; 3. T. Barron.
Plums. - 1. T. Barron; 2. O. Holmes; 3. William Bridge.
Dish of Damsons. (violet damsons disqualified) - 1. T. Alty; 2. W. Spiby; 3. W. Cobham.

FRUIT AND VEGETABLES
Kitchen Apples. - 1. T. Welch; 2. Robert Cobham; Job Mawdesley.
Six varieties of Apples (three of each). - 1. Robert Iddon; 2. John Cobham, Lane Ends.
3. T. Alty.
Potatoes Long. - 1. Jno Cowlet; 2. Cuthbert Finch; 3. T. Barron.
Potatoes Round. - 1. Richard Sharrock; 2. Robert Iddon; 3. T. Barron.
Six varieties of Potatoes (two of each variety). - 1. Jas Southworth; 2. Robert Ball.
Collection of tray of Vegetables (six varities). - 1. John Cobham, New Street; 2. Jas. Southworth.

VEGETABLES
Twelve pods of Peas. - 1 and 2. T. Alty; 3. T. Welch.
Ten Pods of Long Beans. - 1. Robert Iddon; 2 . Jas. Southworth; 3. W. Welch.
Ten Pods of Kidney Beans. - 1. and 2. Jas. Southworth.
Twelve Eschalots (giants) - 1 and 2. T. Welch; 3. Job Harrison.
Ten Pods of Scarlet Runner Beans. - Jas. Southworth.
Onions spring sown (white). - 1 and 2. H. Spiby; 3. Richard Cobham.
Old Class Eschalots. - 1 and 3. Jas Southworth; 2. Robert Iddon.
Two Cucumbers (frame). - 1 and 2. T. Welch; 3. H. Spiby.
Six Onions (winter grown) - 1 and 3. John Cobham, New street; 2. H. Spiby.
Six Tomatoes. - 1 and 2 and 3 . Jas. Mawdsley.
Four Carrots. - 1. T. Welch; 2 and 3. Lawrence Ashcroft.
Three White Turnips. - 1. John Cobham, New Street; 2. C. Finch; T. Iddon.
Two Sticks of Celery (white). - 1. T. Welch; 2. J. Cobham, New street; 3. H. Spiby.
Two Vegetable Marrows. - 1 and 2. T. Culshaw.
Two Sticks of Celery (red or pink). - 1 and 2. J. Cobham, New Street; 3. H. Spiby.
Three yellow Turnips. - 1. C. Finch. 2 . t. Barron.
Three Sticks of Rhubarb - 1, 2 and 3. Jas Southworth.
Two Lettuce. - 1 and 2. T. Welch; 3. Jas Southworth.
One Red Cabbage. - 1. T. Cushaw; 2. Mrs. Southworth; 3. H. Spiby.
Three Swede Turnips. - 1. C. Finch; 2. Richard Sharrock.
Two Mangel Wurtzel. - 1 and 2. L. Ashcroft; 3. C. Finch.
One White Cabbage (early). - 1 and 2. C. Finch; 3. H. Spiby.

COTTAGER'S CLASS
Six Potatoes. - 1. T. Iddon; 2 and 3. James Southworth.
One Cabbage (early). - 1 and 2. John Caunce.
Twelve Pods of Peas. - 1 and 2. T. Welch, Junior; 3. T. Iddon.
Three Tunips. - 2 and 3. T. Iddon (Sandy Lane).
Two Sticks of Celery. - 1. T. Christopher; 2. James Southworth; 3. T. Welch, Junior.
Six Onions (spring sown). - 1. Richard Cobham.

BREAD, BUTTER AND EGGS
Best Loaf of Bread. - Bread baked in an oven (proffesionals not allowed to compete).
1 and 2. Mrs. T. Christopher; 3. Mrs. J. Cobham.
Best Pound of Butter. - 1 and 3. Mrs. R. Forsyth; 2. Ann Taylor.
Six Fresh Hen Eggs (white). - 1. Edward Harrison; 2. William Westhead; 3. W. Moss.
Six Fresh Hen Eggs (brown or tinted).—1. E. Harrison; 2, T. Barron; 3, Job Mawdesley.

CORN (The growth of 1901)
Twelve Heads of Oats (white).—1 and 2. John Cowley; 3, Job Harrison.
Twelve Heads of Oats (black).—1 and 3. Richard Sharrock,; 2, Job Harrison.
Twelve Heads of Wheat.—1. Richard Sharrock; 2. Jno. Cowley; 3, Robert Ball.
SPECIAL CLASS
Pot of Lobelias (for members of the Band of Hope under 14 years—Prizes given by Mrs.
Thomason).—1. Annie Christopher; 2, Maggie Cobham; 3, Daisy Iddon.
 

BIRDS IN MAWDESLEY

Jay—Still seen flying between the Jay Bank and the Rectory Garden.
Thrush—Throstle.
Blackbird—Oozle.
Mistle Thrush—Shercock.
Water Hen—Coot.
Wagtails—Yellow, Grey and Pied. These are rarely seen now.
Magpie—Pyenut.
Willow Wren—Sweet Will.
Chaffinch—Spink.
Bullfinch—A recent visitor.
Green Linnett—Green lennert.
Brown Linnett—Brayun lennert.
Red Poll—Tilly. Mayuntin lennert.
Goldfinch—Recent visitor.
Yellow Hammer—Writing Sparrow from the scribble markings on the eggs.
Yallo Yower. A 1ittle bit of bread and no cheese,
Meadow Pippet—Tit lurk. A smaller version of the skYlark.
Sky Lark—Lurk.
Tomtits—Blue Tits. Larger and The Lesser.
Coal Tits—of a dark colour
Long Tailed Tits—The cock having a rose-coloured breast.
Reed Warbler—Ck, ff Chaff, Chattering Betty. C'hitch a pa.
Plover—Lapwing, Tewitt.
Partridge—Purtridge.Whitethroat.
Blackcap.
Spotted Treecreeper—Recent visitor
Kingfisher—Not seen' recently; since the Douglas became polluted.
Crane—Lung Neck. Jemmy Crane.
Mallard—Wild ducks, now more common.
Pintai!s—A smaller variety of ducks.
Swallows—Swahlus.
Swifts.
Martins—House murtins. 5and murtins
Dunnock—Hedge ;5parrow.
Wheatear—Not very common.
Barn Owl.
Horned Owl.
Small Owl—Which appeared for a time but now seem to be extiinct.
Kestrel Hawk—Which hovers in the form o£ a cross.
Carrion Crow.
Crow Not as numerous nowadays.
Wood Pigeon—More in numbers locally.
Blue Backs—Simillr to the massel thrush but shows a blue saddle in flight. These bird!s arrive in this country in the autumn in large flocks. Th,ey were shot at one tme to eat.
Doves—Grey, recent vlsitors, now common.
Golden Plover—Very scarce. .
Corn Crake—Bay Cake. Not heard locally since the severe winter of 1930.
Curlew— Flying nanny goat. So-called from the sound made !by its wing feathers when migrating in spring.
Cuckoo—Not as plent,iful as in past years.
Sparrow.
Wren.
Wren—Gold crested.
Starling—Sheppy, shepster; not as large flocks nowadays.
Common Gull—These fly inland to follow the plough.
Blackheaded Gull.
Wild Geese—Flocks pass over, flying between Hesketh Marsh and Wrightington .Fish Pond'. This is gen!erally in winter and regarded as a sign of rough weather.
Sr¶ipe—Not very common.

Wild birds are much scarcer than they were in my school days, pre 1914.
Chemical spraying has been blamed for this, but many of the small birds do not come back here in spring.
Some sorts of birds feed amongst trees and bushes and should not be affected by spraying. The chief amongst these is the willow wren, which is now very rare but was once plentiful locally. For some years the Plover had practically disappeaed but has now increased to the original numbers locally. There have been severe outbreaks of fowl pest in poultry. Could wild birds be affected by a form of this, as the fall off in numbers coincides with the outbreaks fowl pest. Magpies have increased in numbers and have destroyed the nests of the smaller birds eating the eggs and young ones.
It has been very noticeable that birds have built their nests more frequently nearer the houses and in sheds and outbuildings during the last ten years or so to avoid magpies.
There were plctures on television in October, 1976, of the Italians shooting migratory birds which have two routes through the mountan passes. This is a annual event, for the birds make easy targets when flying in dense flocks through narrow passes.
Canned brds can bought in the delicatessen shops in this country havingl been imported from abroad.
In May, 1978, there was a protest by the British Government to the E.E.C. about the slaughter of birds by the French and Italians for human consumption Starlings are said to have been exported abroad from this country.
 

WILD ANIMALS IN MAWDESLEY

Bats—These are few (of the small bats).
Hares There are not many of these.
Rabbits—The number of these ebbs and flows through disease.
Weasels - These only seen occasionally.
Stoats—These also are not very common.
Common Rat—These are better controlled nowadays. Poultry and pigs are housed differently in more permanent buildings, and grain is harvested and kept in silos.
Water Vole—Water Rat. These used to be plentiful along the Reeds Brook.
Field Vole—These are very rare. I once killed one when I put the spade on one, when digging. Thi s one was a rich brown in colour with a short nose and tail, like a giant field mouse.
Field Mice—These are bright in colour with short nose and tail.
Common Mouse—With its long tail and sharp nose, a pest in the house.
Shrews—These small animals which the cat likes to catch and play with but never eats.
The Otter—A full-grown otter was caught by the Holmes family in the brook near Brook Farm in Hall Lane. This was about 1912; we children weretaken down from school to see it. In the 1930's, I saw a young otter in the Bentley Brook near the Back Lane.
Moles—These are fairly common, but at one Sme a local man used to catch them for the skins.
Hedgehog—These are fairly common, occasionally being killed by traffic.
The Fox—The fox seems to be able to travel long distances for its food rabbits, poultry, etc. There ought to be a bounty paid for each fox killed. Poultry keepers have suffered heavy losses from time to time for the fox kills just for the sake of killing. Sometime the fox comes in the daytime. I had a considerable number of Pullets killed in this way. This means loss of both
stock and income. For over forty years I had to see my poultry fastened up each night, seven days per week. This meant going round six acres (20 sheds) in the dark, hail, rain or snow, even when you had been out with your better clothes on. The sheep farmers also have heavy losses of lambs through foxes in the hill.
Tha fox is of no use to either man or beast—you cannot make any use of it except the skin.
In recent years, Red Squirrels have been seen in the village. These used to be seen in Rufford and Croston. Round about 1900 the local hunt from Wrightington Hall came with the hounds, through the village. Squire Dickinson was then resident at Wrightington Hall, and the hunt wast for stags.

THE HOUSES IN MAWDESLEY BUILT IN MlD-1800's

The mill and shop at Four Lane Ends were built by John Southworth. In the early days of his business, he had to hire his father's horse and lorry to deliver corn and provender. He got an order for a pack of flour (240 lb.). His father farmed on Blackmoor Road. To save time and the cost of hiring the horse and lorry, he carried the pack of flour on his,back to Anderton's Mill, from the Four Lane Ends.
Another shop, grocer's, was built by Wm. Abram next to the Little School Cottage. This shop was continued until 1910, when the family emigrated to Australia.
Wm. Rose built his shop and warehouse next to the Red Lion. He had a salt house across the road where the Post Offlce and shop now stand. This was used for salting and curing pigs bought locally. This building was affected by the salt, the brickwork flaking off and the sparrows picking at the mortar for the salt. This shop was burned down about 1910. The shop had just been filled the day before with a big stock. The Old School (British Legion) served as a shop and Post Office while the shop was being rebuilt.
One man used to go home from Bobby Cotham's for his baggin in the afternoon, and on the first day got the racing results at the Rost Office (Rose's shop). When he got back to work, he bet one of his workmates, Bert, on the race. 'The telegraph was installed about 1910, and the evening post only arrived at 6 o'clock.) Bert lost his shilling on the race and his father was angry because he had lost 1/-.
The effect of the salt ,causing the bricks to flake off and attracting the sparrows is noticeable on the building attached to Southworth's Mill. Pigs were also cured and salted here.
Another place where the effects of salt is visible is the North East corner of Barrett House Farm in Back Lane East. Farmers salted their own pigs for the family use. The three shops each had their own bakehouse on the premises and a full-time baker.
Rose's shop was the first to make their own supply of bread. My grandmother helped Mrs. Alice Rose to knead the dough by hand in big mugs. Mrs. Rose once exclaimed "I bake for all the lazy women in Mawdesley". It was usual at that time for housewives to do all their own baking.
In those day there were no midwives. One elderly woman who acted as such also assisted in the bakehouse, taking the bread out. A man going to work the early morning on meeting her would greet her with "Aye thah's been teckin bread ayut ut th' oon agen".
The Rcd Lion Inn was built about mid -1850 by my maternal grandfather, William Moss. My Grandfather, along with other landlords, brewed their own beer those days.
Three of the first houses, double-fronted red brick, two-storied, were built about 1883. These were Rose Villa in Smithy Lane, No. 26 in New Street, and Robin Hood Cottage in Bluestone Lane for the foreman at the Brickcroft in Bluestone Lane.
The sales of the Rufford Estate in 1888 and 1895 of approximately 1,000 acres with the cottages standing thereon started a change. Many of the cottages were taken down and replaced by the double-fronted, two-storied red brick houses. There were no houses in Gorse Lane up to this time.
Rufford Estate property must have been ready for an overhaul.
A few bungalows were built in Bradshaw Lane and Bluestone Lane before 1939, followed by general building after the war.
The provisions at the shops were received in bulk. Butter in barrels, sugar in large sacks, treacle in barrels. Barm, yeast in small sacks.
At one time the customer had to take their own container for treacle, jam, etc.
Tea alsa arrived at the shop in plywood chests.
The shopkeeper had to do all his own weighing and packaging.

In the years previous to the 1914-18 War there were only two cars in the village for a Dr. Duckworth and Mr. James Bridge from the four lane ends. There was one motor-cycle to be seen in the village, ridden by a travelling tailor, Wm.
Battye, from Wigan. The three grocers shops in the village had horse-drawn vans to go their rounds in the village and neighbourhood. The other doctor in the village, Dr. Wickham, of Rufford, did his rounds on a bicycle, dressed in a Norfolk suit. One of these grocers did not go round the Hillock (Hilldale) when the quarry men were unable to work because of frost and snow. The delph men would have no wages that week. There was a little man called 'Sand' Tommy, who came from Ormskirk with a pony and cart, selling sand at so much per bucket. The sand was to spread on the flagged house floors. Little Tommy, who was only about five feet in height, required three policemen to lock him up when he got drunk.
The fishermen from Banks used to pass through Mawdesley on their way to Wigan. These were smart turnouts, the long carts, high in front, sloping down to the back. The horses, light-legged ones, brisk walkers and trotters. Three of these carts used to go along to Wigan together.
A man from Eccleston came with a van selling paraffin, and also carried dry goods, brushes, buckets, and other ironmongery. Two greengrocrs from Burscough came and sold their goods in the village on their way back from Wigen market on Fridays. 'Friday 'Annie, an old woman from Ormskirk, came round with a basket selling reels of cotton, pins and needles, tape, buttons, and the like. She also carried a few weekly papers. She was known' as 'Friday' Annie as she made her round on a Friday, walking from Rufford Station. Some times the Banks fishermen would come round the village with mackerel, flukes, herrings, cockles and mussels.
I can remember seeing as a small boy, a man, old Tommy Hickison, selling shoe blacking which was mixed with water. The customer had to provide his own tin. Old Tommy pushed his pram from the row of houses, just past the Travellers Rest in Euxton. Old Tommy's clothes shone from head to foot with the blacking. He was said to have been a soldier, being tall and erect and wearing a peaked cap.

Newspapers. These were carried from Rufford Station — on bikes by my brothers and sisters. The papers were the Lancashire Evening Post, Ormskirk Advertiser, and the Liverpool Weekly Post, on Saturdays. The Ormskirk and I,iverpool papers had the largest circulation. The Liverpool paper was distributed all round the village on Saturdays.
An occasional visitor was the one-man band, with an accordion, drum sticks fastened to his elbows to beat the drum on his back, he had attachments to his feet to beat the cymbals fixed to a frame over his head.
The Shire Horse breeders used to parade their stallions in the spring through the village. The horses were groomcd to look their best, manes and tails tied and trimmed. Messrs. Shaw's, and Lawrence Ashcroft of Bispham kept these horses (Hugh Aschcroft of Bispham).
Squire Dickenson of Wrightington Hall hunted deer occasionally through the village with his hounds and horses before 1900.
At Christmas and New Year, trap shooting was held at several public houses. The starlings and sparrows were caught previously for the purpose. At one public house, pigeons were used, one pigeon had survived quite a few shoots. The priest had come along to have a shoot, so the landlord, to take a rise out of him, put this particular pigeon in the trap. The priest fired and killed the pigeon. The landlord, astounded, blasphemed "Thaas kilt id".
At a sparrow shoot at another public house, the gamekeeper took his turn to shoot. For a joke, a chaffinch (spink) was put in the trap, and the gamekeeper missed. The chaffinch has a bouncy up and down flight, unlike that of the sparrow, which has a level flight. The gamekeeper did some loud and fast talking.
Trout used to come up the Bentley Brook in Spring. I have caught quite a fev over the years by tickling. Another way of catching them was by putting a dam across the brook at each end of a pool. Two men with buckets would then bale out the water, leaving the fish stranded. The trout were of various sizes, a twelve-inch one being considered a big one. There were snigs and some othet small fishes, bull heads (shot heads), loyches (whiskers) in the brook. In October and November I have seen larger trout in the brook which had come up to spawn. These were up to 30 inches in length and very thin when I saw them The spawn was salmon-coloured and placed in shallow water between the pools. About 1930 the treatment at the oscar Moss sewerage works was changed, chemicals being used instead of lime. The fish in the streams disappeared completely after that time. The local builder had been slaking lime by the brook near the Four Lane Ends when his lime pit burst its banks and overflowed into the brook. The eels and small fish were killed for a stretch of the brook. I have not seen any fish in the,brooks for a long time.
The River Douglas, through which the fish pass, is terribly polluted. The old. people told of salmon being caught there. A big salmon was caught in the Yarrow at Croston about 1940. Boys used to fish for roach in the pits about the village. These fish, were called showlers because they swam in shoals. One day I was Iying on the grass by one of these pits and got a good view of a shoal. The big ones in front and graduated to the smallest ones at the back.
About 1912 I went with a farmer into the hayfield. There had been a heavy thunder storm during the night and the pit had overflowed. As we went down the field I said to the farmer, "Look a snake". I had never seen an eel so big. It was 7 inches round and 11 pounds in weight. the farmer a tall man could just hold it clear of the floor with his arm outstretched. The eel was held against a hay cock which was in a reeun or gutter. it was an ash-coloured one
Once, when I was fishing for roach, an elderly man came along with two nice rods, to fish. He baited with worms and cast in. After a while he pulled in one rod and then the other. He had caught a big black water newt (ask) on each of his lines. The newts were a good six inches in length and black in colour with orange on the underside. Swearing, he took out his pocket knife and cut their heads off. The bodies were walking about three hours later. One man said newts migrated; they had been seen crossing a road in mass. I have not heard of any newts being caught or seen any in recent years. Another story was that rats acted similarly, and one man had seen them in Sid Brook Lane. He fled across the fields.
Night lines balted with worms were used to catch eels in brooks and pits. Another effort was bobbing in a flooded stream. A worm was threaded on a piece of wool attached to a rod. The worm was dropped into the water. The eels teeth, pointing backward, were entangled in the wool and allowed enough time for them to be pulled out of the water and drop into an open umbrella. On one occasion the lads had pulled an eel out of the water but it dropped back before it reached the umbrella. The priest was passing in time to hear them swear.
Another method of catching eels is with an eel spear. These can have three or four prongs, serrated to hold the eel. These are used in water with a sandy or muddy bottom. I had not seen one of these spears since I was a child. My father had one. About three or four years ago, I saw a new one strapped on a car travelling towards Rufford.
When I was a boy, about 1912, we used to go to the stretch of the brook between the Douglas and where Bentley Brook and Reeds Brook meet. We caught small fiukes (flat fish), which would dive into the sandy bottom, thus giving themselves away by the disturbed sand in the water. The fish were too small to eat, only about five inches in length.