INTKODUCTORY. ix. 



He must, however, confess that the chapter on social and political events has 

 caused him most thought and anxiety. For, as is well known in the district 

 — and he has no desire to withhold the fact from his readers— the author has been 

 a strong, active, and is now a strong, passive, political partisan. Jlore than once he 

 thought that this fact would warrant him in omitting any reference to politics. In 

 that case, the history of Longridge would have been far from complete. So, at 

 last, gathering courage from remembering that Mr. Justin McCarthy's " History 

 of Our Own Times " is not only one of the most readable but also one of the most 

 impartial histories of recent years, although the historian himself had taken an 

 active and leading part in many of the political events whose history he describes 

 — he determined to do his best to be as impartial as possible. And I fail to see 

 why a keen, political partisan should be incapable of giving an historical account of 

 what he himself has participated in, especially when we remember that no one is 

 more likely than such an one to be able to know more of the concealed springs 

 which prompted certain movements— springs which would have been completely 

 hidden from any non-politician. 



The task of writing this history has been considerably lightened by the 

 valuable information which I have obtained from the following works:— Baines's 

 "Lancashire," Whittaker's "Wh.alley," Leigh's " Natural History of Lancashire," 

 Watkin's " Koman Lancashire," Hardwick's " Preston," Fishwick's "Goosnargh," 

 Crostou's "History of Samlesbury," Hewitson's "Our (Country Churches and 

 Chapels," Gillow's " Haydock Papers," Canon Parkinson's " Old Church Clock," 

 the Parish Registers of Ribchester Church, the various publications of the 

 Chetham Society and of the Record Society, Harland's " Legends " and "Folk- 

 lore," Longworth's " Longriilge Almanack," " The .Stonyhurst Magazine," the 

 MSS. at the Bntish Museum and at the Record Otfice, E. Kirk's " Papers," 

 Gillow's "Catholic Bibliographical Dictionary," " The Salford Catholic Almanack,' 

 etc., and various pamphlets, and articles in the Preston papers. 



If anything could have added to the pleasure with which I have written this 

 work, it would liave been the great kindness which has been extended to me by 

 almost everyone, irrespective of social position, to whom I have applied for 

 information. To all my sincerest thanks are due. Bnt my warm personal thanks 

 are due to the Rev. Jon. Shortt, B.A., Vicar of Hoghton ; James Pye Whittle, 

 Esq., Lo'.gridge; the Right Hon. Sir tJghtred Kay-Shuttleworth, Bart., M.P. ; 

 the Rev. F. A. Cave-Browne-Cave, M.A., 'Vicar of Longridge ; the Rev. Charles 

 Boardman, D.D., St. I^ilfrid's, Longridge; the Rev. H. Archibald, Longriilge j 

 John Weld, Esq., J. P., Leagram Hall ; James Tullis, Esq., Preston ; Rev. Thos. 

 ■Walton, Alston Lane ; Mr. William Bourne, 'VValtou Fold ; A. Hewitson, Esq. 

 "Preston Chronicle" ; Rev. F. D. Pritt. M.A., Vicar of Grimsargh ; Jas. McKay, 

 Esq., "Preston Herald"; Rev. John Morris, S.J., St. Mary's Hall, Stonyhurst; 

 Mr. John Arkwright, Lune Street, Preston ; Mr. H. Hoole, Preston ; " Joseph 

 Gillow, Esq., Bowdon; Frederick Openshaw, Esq., J.P., Hothersall Hall ; F. J. 

 Hackney, Esq., British Museum ; the Very Rev. Monsignor Gradwell, ClauMiton ■ 



