Chapter 7

Little Acorns

Chapter 7

BISPHAM, 1847—FROM THE TITHE MAP

Travelling from Jay Bank along Malt Kiln Lane (south) we come to Crook Hall Farm on the right, which has been referred to as Chewels, Crook's Brick Farm and The Pools, there being quite a number of pits on the land. The land facing to Daub Lane and Sandy Lane called locally the Clawses are names on the Tithe Map as the Longworth Fields. This land is farmed by the owner of Crook's Farm.

(Crook's Charity—£2 per annum to the poor of Mawdesley and £2 the Schoolmaster of the Little School.)

Bispham Green. The Eagle and Child Inn, which has a farm attached.
There were at this time seven cottages and a smithy around the green. The rents of the Derby property in Bispham were collected at the Eagle and Child. On one occasion the cottagers from around the green were heard quarrelling as to who should pay the rent. The estate was satisfied if one tenant paid a rent.
There was a small farm and buildings in Back Lane, adjoining the Green. In recent years these buildings served as a basket-making shop.
Then, further along Maltkiln Lane, on the right at the corner of Eccles Lane, is Ashton's Farm. The northern end of Ashton's Farm buildings is said to have been a Chapel of Ease, which is of a church or chapel appearance.
The next farm on the right is Roscow's with Dorning's Farm adjoining, which could possibly be the source of Durning's Charity by which Bispham School was built. The difference in the vowel could be local, as turn is pronounced torn and turkey as torkey.
The next farm is Anderton's near Gramshaw Green, which is the spelling given on the map and still used today, not Grimshaw. Why is it that newcomers wish to change the old local names. There is the farm at the end of Hall Lane near Gramshaw Green called Stannanought Farm which was once tenanted by an old Lancashire family of that name. The farm has been re-named Greystones. Then we have the Hillock, which has been re-named Hilldale. These name changes seem to be just snobbery.
Along Robin Lane on the left was Entwhistle's Farm, which is non-existent now, occupied by one of the Knowles family. There were only three cottages on Gramshaw Green at this time. Along Hall Lane, on the North side at the bottom of the slope, was a cottage which is not now in existence. Along Hall Lane and at the end of Eccles. Lane is the farm, Nelson's, later tenanted by the Eccles family, giving their name to the lane. Bispham Hall on the east side of Hall Lane from Baines History of Lancs., 16 Edward 1st. Amicia de Bispham by house service held Bispham 1 and 3d. Andrew de Bispham in the Manor of Croston, 16 Edward 1st.
There was a small area o£ willows, 35 perches on Bispham Hall Farm. These were the only willows in Bispham in 1847.
At the junction of Green Lane and Hall Lane is Carter's Farm; of recent years, Home Farm. In the orchard attached to Home Farm there is a Quakers burial ground. There is no record known of the burials.
On the opposite corner was a farm occupied by Mrs. Anne Hankin. This was later taken down and the materials used to build Clarke's cottages on Rufford Road. At the junction of Rufford Road and Daub Lane is Spencer's Farm. Spencer was a blacksmith. Blackmoor Farm, along Rufford Road, is at the extreme west point of Bispham. This stretch of Rufford Road was always referred to as back o£ Blackmoor.
The Bispham north boundary stretches in a straight line from Sandy Lane to the rear of this farmhouse. Was this land enclosed after one of the enclosure Acts? In Daub Lane there were three cottages, one of which stood in a field on the south side alongside a well. There were two thatched cottageS on the south side of the junction of Daub Lane and Sandy Lane.

South of Bispham Green, Lees Lane on the left leads to Sill's Farm at the entrance to Kester's Old Lane. The name on the map is given as Blackledges. Lees Lane has been referred to as Nelson's Walk. That Lord Nelson had used when visiting the district. He had tried to trace a connection with the Nelsons of the district.

EXTRACTS FROM THE TYTHE REGISTER FOR BISPHAM, 1847

Whole township, 878 acres statute.
Liable for tithe, 868 acres.
Arable land, 439 acres.
Meadow or pasture, 429 acres.
Sites buildings, Quarries water, 10 acres.
Payment in lieu of Easter Offerings to the Rector of Croston, 13s. 4d., due fron the tenants of the Earl of Derby.
There are also paid one shilling per acre for meadow lands.
For every cow - One penny.
For every colt - One penny.
For every calf - One halfpenny.
For bees - One penny.
Gross Rent Charge payable to the Tithe-owners for Bispham in the Parish of Croston—£167 10s. 0d.
viz: To the Rector of Croston ..£20 0s. 0d.
To the Rector of Chorley..... £147 10s. 0d.

............................Total.........£167 10s. 0d.

Value in Imperial Bushels
Wheat..................... 7s. 0ld...............159.05045
Barley..................... 3s. 71/2d............28210527 and Decimal Parts.
Oats......................... 2s. 9d............... 406.06060
.
The Earl of Derby's Estate in Bispham would appear to have been overhauled about the period between, 1860 and 1870. The small cottages around Bispham Green, Daub Lane and the farm on the corner of Hall Lane and Green Lane have been demolished.
My father could remember the cottages on Bispham Green. It is to be noted there are no old cottages in Bispham and the farm houses are all in a sound condition. The Derby property was well cared for.
About the year 1903, Farmer's Arms and the Eagle and, Child were re-roofed. Up to this time they had had thatched roofs. Mr. Alf Heaton was a boy attending Bispham School, and from the School window he watched as loads of old thatch were stripped off and carted away.

FROM THE SCHOOL RECORDS

Bispham School
An inscription on the stone above the front entrance is inscribed as follows:

R.D.
DONUM. 1692

This relates to Richard Durning, the founder of the school, who had given £10 for the purchase of a parcel of land and £90 for the erection of the main building including a school yard.
Originally the building was to be erected on twenty rods of land besides the close called Dickon Ground, adjoining Bispham Green. This plan was impossible, and the alternative site was found in the present position.
By Deed Poll, dated September 28th, 1691, Richard Durning appointed that the twelve trustees should raise twelve pounds out of the rents and profits from properties, etc., for distribution, viz:

The relief of indigent persons in Bispham £4
For binding of poor children in Bispham, Parbold, Iawdesley and
Wrightington £5
For repairs of private lanes in Bispham £1
Towards the wages of a preaching Iinister at Douglas Chapel £2

The remainder of the income to be used in repairing and maintaining the school as a Free Grammar School and also for the salary of a Schoolmaster. The latter's appointment rested solely with the Trustees and was subject to renewal at the annual meeting to be held on Wednesday in Easter Week. It is interestingto note that the first master, Thomas Hall, received £7 14s. lld. as his first year's wages.

1692 - Thomas Hall appointed.
1695 - Resignation of Thomas Hall and the appointment of William Hallywek-
1697 - Resignation of William Hallywell and appointment of Thomas Johnso
1723 - Resignation of Thomas Johnson and appointment of Edward Causey.
1765 - Death of Edward Causey and appointment of Ralph Culshaw as Master of the School.
1785 - Appointment of assistant master. Payment awarded from rent of cottage adjoining school and interest from sale of timber.
Sale of Timber = £136 0s. 0d. approximately.
1785 - Bonds declared in the names of Ralph Culshaw and Rev. Holme. These also contribute!d to the assistant's salary.
Ralph Culshaw became a Trustee of Durnings Charity.
1792 - £20 0s. 0d. allocated by the Trustees for use of Ralph Culshaw towards the benefit and advantage o£ the School. This came because there were no claimants for the apprenticeship scheme.
1805 - Resignation of Ralph Culshaw owing to ill-health, and appointment of his nephew, John Culshaw, to replace him as master.
1818 - John Fletcher paid to the Trustees £178 0s. 0d. derived from the sale . of timber in 1811. £7B 0s. 0d. were used to pay for repairs to the school and other trust properties. The remaining £100 0s. 0d. were lent to the Schoolmasber on his Promissary Note on which Mr. Richard Monk joined as his surety.
1819 - £76 0s. 0d. were spent on repairing the school. The average number of pupils attending the School was 35. The pupils were taught the three "R's"; two of them were taught Latin. There was no charge for this instruction but the pupils had to find their own books and stationery.
Girls were taught by the assistant master on payment of a small sum from the parents.
1822 - Resignation of the Assistant Master. No girls were admitted and none taught from then.
1843 - John Culshaw's retirement; allowed to reside rent free in the cottage adjoining the school for the rest of his life. The T'rustees also approved a gratuity of £50 0s. 0d. per annum for him for the same period.
William Horton appointed as Under Master to act under the super intendence and control of Rev. Twiss of St. Peter's Mawdesley. Rev. Twiss agreed to attend "to see to the conduct of the Master and Scholars, to direct what books were to be made use of and what system of Instruction to be adopted, and to hold a weekly Examination of the Scholars".
The Salary of the Under Master was to be £40 0s. 0d. per annum, and a special allowance was allocated to Rev. Twiss of £25 0s. 0d. per annum.
The upper rooms of the school were to be prepared for the occupation of the Under Master as his residence.
1844 - Death of John Culshaw.
1845 - Resignation of Under Master; his appointment was only temporary. Advertisement of vacancy by the Trustees and also for a Mistress to supervise the new Girls' Department. Salary of the Master was to be £70 0s. 0d. per annum, plus the free use of the cottage adjoining the school for his residence. Mistress appointed at a second meeting to superintend the Girls' Department is Reading, Knitting and Sewing.
John Armstrong appointed as Master and Emma Jane Armstrong as Mistress, the salary of the latter was agreed to be £30 0s. 0d. per annum.
1850 - A suitable residence for the Schoolmaster was deemed necessary.Twent-five perches of land were granted by the Earl of Derby on the land adjoining the coftage. Cost of the building amounted to £592 15s. 8d.
1858 - Resignation of Miss Armstrong as Assistant Mistress.
1859 - Appointment of Miss Inglis as Mistress at the school from January 1st with a salary of £30 per annum.
1865 - Visit to School by Mr. James Bryce, Assistant Commissioner to Schools Inquiry Commissioners. The verdict was that the school was one of the best endowed of the small country grammar schools but one of the least efficient. Some Latin was taught to three boys. The number on roll were 73 boys plus 23 girls.
1868 - Miss Howard was appointed to succeed Miss Inglis. Salary was at the same rate of £30 0s. 0d. per annum.
1872 - Resignation of Miss Howard and appointment of Miss Lambert.
1874 - Resignation of John Armstrong as Master of the School. J. Prescott, Esq., Rev. Twiss and Rev. Master were empowered to engage a new master at a salary of £80 0s. 0d. per annum, with half the pence and half the Government grant. Charge levied of twopence per week for each scholar over ten years. One shilling and sixpence to be charged for each scholar for heating and lighting and this was to be paid at the beginning of the winter session.
1874 - Appointment of Mr. C. N. Richardson as Master of the School. Miss Lambert was notified of the changes at the school.
1876 - Annual grants claimed for the first time if the girls are taught in the upper rooms as a separate department, the building will furnish fairly uitable accommodation, but the combination of boys and girls in one room produces overcrowding, with its consequent evils.
The School had for some time been conducted as a public elementary school and was visited by Mr. J. G. Fitch as Assistant Charity Commissioner to consider establishment of a scheme.
1877 - Draft scheme published, but objections and recommendations made.
1878 - After amendments, the Draft scheme was approved by the Queen.
1883 - Re-organisation of the school— it is by now a mixed school with classes of boys and girls together under the Master, and an Infants class was under the Mistress.
1884 - Montress system operating, particularly in Infant class, teaching full time when necessary.
New monitress appointed and paid nine shillings per week. Assistant Mistress taught 1st and 2nd Standards as well as Infants. The H.M.I. considered that a "Classroom would be of great benefit and shouLd be added" to the existing building.
1385 - H.M.I. considered "a classroom as essential and shouLd be built at
once." The Infant Class is in good order and as successfully taught as can be fairly inspected under the circumstances. Reasons for children's absences from Schcool :-

1. Working in hayfield with Mother.
2. Gathering currants and blackberries.
3 Church confirmation.
4 Parbold Flower Show.
5. Bad weather.
6. Sunday School Treat.

1888 - Steps taken by Managers towards building a good classroom.
1887 - New classroom on ground floor to relieve overcrowding and thereby to enable better results to be obtained from Infants class.
1888 -Death of Chairman and Correspondent has caused matters of re-construction of school to be at a standstill.
Rev. Martin Twiss.
1889 - Work begun on new classroom and completion by October of this year.
1892 - Departure and resignation of Mr. C. N. Richardson. Appointment of Mr. John Harrison as Master and Mrs. Julie Isabel Harrison as new Mistress. A temporary Mistress was appointed until November, when the new Master and Mistress commenced duties.
1894 - New cloakroom considered necessary. The staff includes: Mr. Harrison, Cer,tificated; Mrs. Harrison, Certificated
teacher, Miss Ellen Wigans, 4th Year Pupil Teacher.
Beginning of Night School Work.
1895 - Miss E. Wigan (Mrs. Taylor) becaime a qualified teacher, having passed : successfully the Queen's Scholarship Examination.
New Cloakroom and Classroom built during August holidays.
1897 - Technical Instruction Classes in Domestic Science and music began.Sick Nursing and Ambulance at ls. 0d. per student, charge to be returned if 80% of lectures attended. Night School work included Arithmetic written on slates then into notebooks when available.
Miss Wigan and Miss Fish, new on the staff of school.
Celebration of Queen's (Victoria) Diamond Jubilee. From the school the procession was led by Parbold Rechabite Brass Band; then followed the Managers, the Trustees, Staff, Parents, children, and two gaily. decorated wagonettes containing little children. Entertainments included: Tea, Punch and Judy, Sports, and at the end bronze medals and bars were presented to each child by the Governors as a memento.
School closed from October 27th until January 10th, 1898, owing to Scarlet Fever epidemic.
1898 - Commercial Arithmetic Course - fee per student ls. 0d., to be returned on 50% attendance School Magazine is an admirable institution. H M. Inspector.
New School Library begun.
Visit of Assistant Charity Commissioner to review charities in this district - meeting at Croston Girls' School.
1899 - New Prize Scheme to be adopted for scholars, viz. for ability, tidiness, punctuality, etc.
Retirement of Miss Wigan owing to her forthcoming marriage; wedding breakfast held on School premises; presentation from Staff and Scholars. Mr. Wigan, one of School Governors, provided tea and enter-tainments for the Scholars in honour of his daughter's wedding.
Magic lantern lecture at the ,School, showing lives and cuskoms of
natives in India and China. Contribution of £1 14s. 0d. from scholars towards Parbold and District fund to aid Boer War Soldiers and Sailors.
1900 - Horticulture very important part of School curriculum.
Closing of School owing to measles epidemic—this lasted seven weeks.
Miss Welch appointed as Assistant Mistress, but unable to COntinNe
her duties after C,hristmas Holidays.
1901 - Misis Porter appointed but never took up duty, so Miss Woolridge appointed.
Bronze medal won in an open essay competition on "Geography, History, and Resources of Canada" written by Alice Finch.
Resignation of Miss Woolridge and appointment of Miss Earp.
Extra lessons on Cottage Gardening.
1902 - Closure of School owing to Mumps epidemic for a fortnight. School closed for one week to celebrate the Coronation of Edward VII.
1903 - Miss Earp recognised as a Certificated Teacher from August 1st, but payment dated from October 1st.
School as a Polling Booth for Parliamentary Election.
1904 - Ventilation improved in Classroom (unper) after H.M. Inspector's visit.
School closed during whooping cough epidemic.
Contribution of £35 0s 0d. from Lancashire County Council re heating, lighting and cleaning of School House for use as a Public Elementary School.
1906 - Use of School as a Polling Station for Parliamentary Election—Chorley Division.
Miss Petford became a Pupil Teacher at the School until entry into Manchester University.
1907 - School closed from January 25th until February 22nd owing to Scarlet Fever epidemic.
Miss E. I. Harrison commenced duty as a pupil teacher.
Fire discovered at the School. Upper and lower rooms full of smoke. Fire extinguished but School closed for one week while floor repaired.
1909 Publishing of details of work done in Bispham School in "Preston Guardian".
Mr. J. Harrison, Head teacher, Mrs. Harrison, Certificated; Miss Earp, Certificated Teacher; Miss E Harrison, Pupil Teacher. Miss M. Cotham, Student Teacher, accepted as Student at Liverpool.

Resignation of Miss Harrison as Headmistress, 1955.
Mr. Dennis Pritchard, Headmaster 1955. Resigned 1964. Died 1996.
Mr. Millward appointed, 1964.

1801 - The first General Enclosure Act passed.
1836 - The second General Enclosure Act passed.
1845 - The third Genjeral Enclosure Act passed.