Chapter 8

Little Acorns

Chapter 8

THE FIELD PATHS IN MAWDESLEY.

Starting from Jay Bank going North along High Street. The first Path is on the right (not sign posted) along the outside of the Church yard wall which takes you to School Lane. This path is very wet at one point at the corner of the Rectory garden by reason of a drain being out of order.
A short distance along High Street on the left there is a path which takes you to Sandy Lane.
Going ahead over the four lane ends along New Street there is a path through the yard of Wrest House, leading to Bradshaw Lane. On the left of this path a branch takes you to Crow Nest Farm and a fork from it emerges by the War Memorial. Further along towards Bradshaw Lane, another path branches off to the right leading to Back Lane, near to Gorse Lane end.
From New Street along Hurst Green past the School and Village Hall by the Bowling Green, the Short Butts path takes you to Smithy Lane.
Along Hall Lane we come to Brook Farm and on the road between the house and buildings there are three paths. The first path at the first corner leads to the Town Field which has several paths connecting.
Proceeding along the road which used to be called Little Lane, there is a path through the yard of Backhouse Farm leading on to the Moss to the path by the Boundary Ditch. At the end cf Little Lane a path (called the Longshaws) goes on to Gales Lane.
On one old map a path is marked from Little Lane behind Mawdesley Hall to the Black Bull. I have never heard of it being used.
At the east end of the Black Bull and yard along the short Bamford Lane, there is a path to the Town Field and on to the Nook. This path has two branches to the left, one connecting with the path from Little Lane at right angles just inside the Town Field. The path from Little Lane divides just inside the Town Field one to the left direct to Cliffes Farm and the other to the North East corner of the Town Field, to the junction of three paths, the one from the Black Bull and one from this point to Cliffes Farm. The path leading from this junction has its outlet at the Nook. From the Nook there used to be a path to one cf the farms in Sid Brook Lane which was little used.
Along Woed Lane we come to the path from Cliffes Farm, connecting with the path which runs along side the Boundary Ditch towards Rufford.
There is a path which runs due west from Cliffes Farm to within a fields breadth of a small wood where it turns right br a thorn bush across a plank over a ditch. This path joins the path alongside the Boundary Ditch by the remains of a house which went by the name cf the Old White House.
A short distance further the path by the Bcundary Ditch crosses the path or cart road from Gales Lane. This path carries on straight to Croston and was much used at one time as Mawdesley and Bisham were part of the Croston Parish, this being tlhe nearest way to Croston Church for people on foot.
The path along the Boundary Ditch continues alongside the ditch for some distance then bends left ending by the Pumping Station at Rufford A girl from Boundary Farm used this path for several years, all the time she attended Ormskirk Grammar School pre 1914.
There is a path from Gales Lane starting from the end of the path over the Longshaws. This path changes from one side of the field fence to the other bringing you by a left turn to the main cart road to Croston near Mcss House Farm. At the end of the Grove Wood in Smithy Lane and cppcisite the watering hole a path on the opocsite side of the road takes ycu along by the side of the stream to Gales Lane, this being a direct route to Croston.
On the left in this corner of Gales Lane a path going west along Reeds Brook takes you to Meadow Lane. This path is joined by another path at the BIackmoor Nook Just west of Blackmoor Hall there is long farm road from
Blackmoor Road which passes over Reeds Brook by a bridge. This was used as a path to join the path on the North side of Reeds Brook.
A few yards further along Blackmocr Road, a path takes you by the single house. There used to be another cottage. This path went on to Reeds Cottage by crossina by a plank over a ditch passlng in front of Reeds Cottage to the Nook. I used this path for years to take basket work to the other house at the Nook.
In front of Blackmoor Hall is a path connecting Blackmoor Road with Sandy Lane. On Rufford Road which until recently was referred to as back of Backmoor. there is a path which leads to Burscough by means of a plank over the River Douglas by the house on the Lathom side called Snipes Hall (demolished).
Along Bluestone Lane a path by the double fronted house on the right hand takes you to Whalley's Lane, now called Tannersmith Lane. The end of this path is nearly opposite a path on the other side of the road. This path from Whalley's Lane runs by Barrat's Farm to Blackburn house Farm. Barrat's Farm had flagged floors upstairs which were for the purpose of keeping cheeses cool in store. This Barrats Farm is not to be confused with Barrat House Farm in Back Lane East.
The lanes in this area have had their names altered. Tannersmith Lane extended from the Robin Hood Inn to Blackburn House Farm. From Blackburn House to Ridley Lane was Hall Green. The first link lane from Bluestone Lane to Tannersmith Lane is Hand Lane from near the Robin Hood. Whalley's, Lane now signposted as Tannersmith had a cottage on the south side marked as Whalley's Cottage. Whalley was one of the Parish Constables and Overseers. On Tannersmith Lane as noted here there is a path on the east side which leads through Knowles Wood to Eccleston. The weavers used this route to get
to the factories in Eccleston.
In the stretch of Hall Green a path on the east slde through Salt Pit Farm takes you to Hest House Farm and Delph on Halfpenny Lane which is in Heskin.
On Ridley Lane in front of Wrennals Farm a path leads south to M'onk's Farn on Back Lane East. From Threapers Green there is a short path to the farm on the sharp corner which is in Wrightington.
Back Lane East. A short distance along this lane there is a path on the east side which leads to Bentley Lane.
Monks Farm. Two paths meet here, the one from Wrennals Farm, Ridley Lane, and the other from this point to Bradshaw Lane through the farm yard there. The path from Wrest House in New Street emerges on to Bradshaw Lane to connect with the one from Monk's Farm.
At the junction cf Back Lane East and Mcody Lane a path across the Tabbas Fields take you to Back Lane near to the old lane called Kester's Old Lane.
Along this old lane a path on the left by the stream takes you to Bentley Lane ending near the junction with Jackson's Lane which is in Wrightington. A branch takes you to the left along this path leading to Moody Lane ending by the bungalow. This path has been little used recently.
There is a path between Back Lane and Kester's Old Lane which passes behind Cedar House Farm. Kester's Old Lane has been a favourite walk for generations, It is named after the old tenants of Sills Farm named Christopher.
This rcad from Back Lane passes by Sills Farm to connect with Lee Lane in Bispham. The bridge over Bentley Brook half way down the road has collapsed since it was used during the war. (The bridge has been replaced by a large pipe).
Footpaths are a heritage of the people and should be retained at all costs as once lost they are difficult to regain.
There are two sides to the coin as regards the footpaths. Users have been known to stray from the paths, crops have been damaged and pilfered. In one case rubbish has been carried and dumped in the fields through which the path passed. Some people do not seem to be able to distinguish between growing corn and hay grass, causing damage and loss to the farmer.
Recently I have seen a path covered by the first furrow of the tractor plough. This means the path is unusable and the farmer cannot complain if people walk on his newly sown corn. In recent years there have been changes in the tenancies and ownership of the farms in the area and there is a tendancy to discourage the use of paths.
People who like to use paths, should be aware there is a path over Harrock Hill from Bentley Lane, passing in front of Gauger's House. This path is in Wrightington.
In the l930's there was a court case at Chorley which declared that this was definitely a public footpath.
Gauger's House had been on sale and a gentleman buyer had turned it down when he found there was the path in front of the house.
A second gentleman bought the house and tried to close the path.
The first gentleman brought the case to court and won the day to keep the path open. Gauger's House was the Home or office of the miller who had the mill on the top of Harrock Hill.
Gauger's House was where the charges and business of the mill were gauged and the accounts of the farmers who brought their grain to be ground, were settled. Some illiterate people called the house Gawgers House.
When the mill was burned down Gauger's House became a gentleman's residence with a big staff of men and indoor servants.
One of the men, we'll call him Bill was escorting one of the women servants down the path from the Mill. ,She kept falling in coming through the wood and Bill kept picking her up. Bill told about this in the kitchen and said he didn't realise why she did this. It was a standing joke among the staff at Gaugers House about Bill and the servant.
The court case about the path would be 30 years after this event and Bill was appearing as a witness, for the side wishing to close the path.
Jim one of his old workmates was witness for the other side to keep the path open Jim saw Bill was appearing for the other side so he told the solicitor about the episode with the servant.
When Bill took the stand in the witness box, the Sollicitor said to him did you know a Miss So and So, from Liverpool.
A big smile came over Bills face, he then shouted out "Hoous towd thee that". He couldn't get out of the witness box fast enough.

Footpaths in Bispham.
There is a footpath from Daub Lane - Jay Bank which runs south and is joined by another from Crook Farm. This path cuts across the field and across a plank into a field belonging to the Eagle and Child turning right and across another plank into a field belonging to the Home Farm. This path joins Green Lane by the Home farmhouse. This path was much used by people walking to and from Parbold Station. The next part of the route was along Hall Lane and taking the path which starts on the west side of Stannanought Farm and passes by the fish pond at Fairhurst Hall, coming out at the bottom of Conmon Lane in Parbold. Midway along this path, a path from Gramshaw Green joins it in a plantation. A path (in Parbold) runs from Gramshaw Green to Fairhurst Hall gates, used, by people en route to Parbold Station.
Another path runs from Bispham Green to Lees Lane. This path runs alongside the brook in a field belonging to Sills Farm. Just south of Sill's Farm there is Short Lane from which a path runs inside the fence to Bispham School. This path is joined by another one which comes from Maltkiln Lane. This runs on the south side of the Nursery Lane.
There is a path across the field in front of Anderton's Farm which brings you out on to Chorley Road.
Another path from the middle of Eccles Lane emerges through the yard of Roscovs Farm.
There is a path (in Wrightington) which leads from Chorley Road over Hunter's Hill. The east side of Chorley Road and Bentley Lane is in Wrightington.