2 A HISTORY OF LONGRIDGE. [Chap. 1. 



The philological meaning of the words "Alston" and "Dilworth" 

 — the townships of which Longridge is composed — is not so plain as 

 in that of Longridge. 



The various ways of spelling the word Alston are: — Acttm, 1066; 

 Alsden, 1311; Alston, 1469; Howston, 1650. There can, I think, be 

 little doubt that the Saxon way of spelling the word was Athehtone, 

 being so called after King Athelstan, who defeated the Danes and 

 Scots in a great pitched battle that took place in 936-39 on the banks 

 of the Eibble, near Elston. The derivation of Alston may therefore 

 be — Athel; stone, the house of Stone, or castle (Scandinavian " Stein." J 



Alston — A.S. Athel's-ton, the town of Athelstan. 



Dilworth is spelled in a great number of different ways : — Not 

 known— 1066 ; D>jlleword—\\9^ ; Dilwhre— 1210 (?) ; Bileioorthe— 

 1227; Dilioord—\2o4 {?); Bilkivorth— 1291; Bylleworth— 1292 ; Bille- 

 ivorthe—\2>OZ ; Bihworill — 1311 ; Dilworth— \^bQ. The origin of the 

 word appears to be Bil, an idol ;' and A.S. -worth, an enclosure ; the 

 meaning being the enclosure of idols. 



Dr. March gives the origin of the word Dilworth as follows : "From 

 O.H.G. telen, A.S. dilgian, to destroy : 8th cent. DiUi, Thilo," thus 

 makiner the meaning: " the enclosure of destruction." 



The parish of Longridge, as has been said, comprises the townships 

 of Alston and Dilworth. It is estimated to contain 3,215 statute acres 

 (Alston, 1,989 acres; Dilworth, 1,226 acres). For miles around, the 

 town of Longridge is a prominent object in the landscape. Built on 

 the south-western edge of the fell which bears its name, its situation 

 is very picturesque. On the east the range of hills, of which Pendle 

 is most conspicuous ; on the north-west Parlick Pike and Bleasdale 

 Fells shelter the lovely Vale of Chipping and Leagram, through which 

 the Hodder runs its rapid course, and the sluggish Loud winds like a 

 serpeat. On the west is Beacon Pell, aud further still the lofty build- 

 ings of Fleetwood and Blackpool are plainly visible ; the estuary of the 



'The weak point— perhaps fatal— of a letter to the author ; " Dilworth, the 



this derivation is that Dil is British, and idol's enclosure, is fully sanctioned by 



worth Anglo-Saxon. The Very Kev. Dr. Taylor in his ' Names aud Places. ' " 

 Monsignor Gradwell, however, says in 



