6 A HISTORY OF LONGRIDGE. [Chap. 1. 



The Normans. 



In the Domesday Book Actun (Alston) is stated to have contained 

 one Carucate of land ; while DUworth is not mentioned at all, the land 

 evidently being "waste;" making a total of one Carucate^ for Long- 

 ridge in the eleventh century. " Roger de Poictou," says the Domes- 

 da}' Book, "had" the whole of Amounderness, which, at that time, 

 included Eibchester and Dilworth, places now in the Hundred of 

 Blackburn. Probabl}' this district was covered in those days with 

 large forests, about which Leland makes the following remarks : — 



All Auuderness for ye most part in tyme past hath bin full of wood, and man}' of 

 ye Moores replenished with firre trees, but now such part of Aunderness, as is 

 towards ye Se, is sore destitute of wood. 



In the 20th year of the reign of King Edward III. (1347), the 

 Abbot of Cockersand assumed that, by a charter of King John' (1199- 

 1216) he was exempted from the payment of rates and taxes in certain 

 specified places. Dylleword is mentioned amongst the number. 



Mr. J. E. Green, the historian, in an article which appeared some 

 years ago in Macinillan, points out the significance of these charters, 

 numbers of which were granted by John and Eichard. He considers 

 it was tlie wise and deliberate policy of these kings and their ministers 

 which laid the foundation of English freedom and liberty, and also 

 enabled the people to pursue their business undisturbed by outside 

 interference. 



In 1199 " War' fil' Eob'te de Hodreshall " owned 2 bovates of land 

 " in Hodreshall.""' 



In the same year Eic'us de Hoghton Mil. dedit cuidain capellano qiias^ 

 tras cum pertin' in Dutton, Eibblecester, Chepyn, Gosnargh, Hoder- 

 sale, Aghton, etc' 



Allan de Singleton, son of Eichard, confirmed Deo ct Sancto Sahatori 

 df sub Langriyh et fratribm ibidem Deo servientibm " four acres in Dil- 

 wlire, soil inter Cronekeschahebrok et Withacrebroch, which his father had 

 given him."* 



'A Carucate, carve or plough Land, amercements and tolls in all markets, 



was generally about one hundred acres. and fairs, and from suit and service in 



-It is probable to tliis charter th.it a the county and wapentake, refers, 



claim, without date, preserved Ijy Kuer- 'Gregson's " Fragments." 



den, from the men of Ribchester, Dil- "Whitt. \\Tiall. ii., 462. 

 wortli and i)utti>ii, to lie free from fines, 



