CHAPTEE I.— GENEEAL HISTOET. 



Philological History— Situation— Roman Roads— Rev. Mr. Just -W. T. Watkin— Dr. 

 Stukeley-The Britons— Rev. J. DaWes— Superstitions— Rev. W. Thornber— 

 Domesday Survey— Taxation in 1199— J. R. Green-Ancient Charters : Allan de 

 Smgleton— R. F. Ulfy— Thomas de Singletone— Adam de Ho^htons— Kuerdeu— 

 Common lands— Rob. de PokeUngtone, Parson of Ribchester— Roliert de Hodersall 

 —Horse stealing, 1357- Theft of tiour, 13j5 John de Knoll— Sir H. de Hoghton— 

 R. de Tovvneley— James Straytburell— Lawrence C'otom— Curious rents- Dr. 

 Boardman on Norse customs— Sir R. de Hoghton— Thomas Houghton -Lords of 

 the Manor— Croston - Social life in XVI. Century—" The Songe of Flodden Field" 

 — "Obstinates" in 1.576— Religious state of countj- - Manor of " Longbridge "- - 

 Muster of Soldiers, 15o8— " Fifteenth," 1583— List of gentlemen, 1588— Taxation 

 1601—" Fifteenth," 1624— Recusants, 1603— Michael Drayton, 1622— River Savock 

 —Leiand— Harrison The battle of Longridge, 1648— Captain Hodgson- Local 

 relics and traditions— The "affair" at Ribchester, 1643— Poverty at Longrido-e, 

 1650— Sad state of Lancashire— Written Stone. 1655— Ralph Radoliffe— Local 

 traditions— r/ic Stoni/kursC Magazine— Hxtracts from registers— List of farmers 

 1673— Charles Hoghton, 1701 -The "affair at Preston," 1715— Non-jurors, 1715— 

 The rising of 1745— Cotton Mill on the Hodder -Testimony of George Eecles— 

 Stonyhurst College — " Menie Saung of a Chijipender," 1698— Longi-idge Guilds— 

 Longridge society, 1760 -Town's meetings- "Lundon Jak"- Salary of Molecatcher, 

 1790— Handloom wages— Doctor's bill, 1796— Poor Mary Throup— Pathetic letters 

 —Illegitimacy, 1826-29- Recent custom—" Papists' " assessments, 1789— Longridge 

 and Ribchester at variance, 1813— The "Select "Vestry," 1820— Longridge in 1800 

 reminiscence of Mrs. Eecles - Serious fire, 1S26—" Brief"- Puritanical fit 1829 — 

 Preston and Longi-idge Kaihvay, 1840— Accident, 1867— State of tr.ade, 18.30-50- 

 Decrease of population The stone trade— Military camp, 1854- Flag erected on 

 Tootal Height, 1856— Murder of Ann Walne, 1862— Cotton lock-out, 1878— The 

 Jubilee celebrations, 1SS7. 



For a very long time the name of the town whose history I am 

 writing had no legal existence. It was a "courtesy-name" given to 

 the two townships of which the town is composed. In 18P8 the 

 Ecclesiastical district of Longi-idge was formed (under Lord Plandford's 

 Act), the chapel-of-ease under Eibchester becoming the Parish Church 

 of Longridge. Again, in 1883, another important step was taken to 

 alter the state of confusion whieh liad prevailed by the formation of a 

 Local Board district, co-terminous with the Ecclesiastical district. 



The origin of the name Longridge has been stated in the introductory 

 chapter. 



