42 A HISTORY OF LONGRIDGE. [Chap. 1. 



In 1 829, the County of Lancaster seems to have been taken with a 

 puritanical fit. An official notice, signed by William Lawn, and Peter 

 Hesketh, two Justices of the Peace, was given to " the Constables, 

 Churchwardens, and Overseers of the Poor " of Alston, that they 

 should strictly and diligently search and apprehend all persons 

 practising " Leaping, Playing at Foot-Ball, Quoits, Bowls, and many 

 other unlawful games ; Hunting, Tippling in the Ale-Houses, 

 Swearing, Cursing, Profaning the Sabbath, and absenting themselves 

 in time of Divine Service from the Church on the Lord's Day." Any 

 persons guilty of such conduct were rendered liable to the penalty of 

 " Three Shillings and Fourpence, for the use of the poor in the 

 Township where such offences are committed, or sit in the Stocks for 

 the space of three hours. "^ 



In 1831, the quota apportioned to the township of Alston was three 

 men to serve in the militia. 



The Preston and Longridge Railway was opened for traffic in ilay, 

 1840. At first it was worked by horses, and as the line is on a steep 

 incline all the way, the horses, after di-awing the trains to Longridge 

 used to ride down in the van on the return journeys. In 1848 the 

 first locomotive was used. The service of trains was as foUows : 

 Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, two trains a day. 



The return fare (third class) was 9d. — less than it is now ! 



The line was originally intended to bo continued thi-ough Eibchester 

 and Hurst Green to Yorkshire, but owing to the determined opposition 

 of some of the then leading landowners in the district, the scheme was 

 abandoned. It was a well-matured scheme, and it is a pity that such 

 a splendid ojiportunity of developing this part of Lancashire should 

 have failed through short-sighted opposition. 



A very useful invention for "curbing the screws" to tighten the 

 metals was made by the late Mr. Wm. Banks. Before his invention 

 the price charged for "curbing" was from 8s. to 4s., whereas Mr. 



'This local legislation is almost on a the discretion of the magistrates " ; "No 



par with certain specimens of New Eng- one shall travel, cook victuals, make 



land Puritanic legislation in force about beds, sweep-house, cut hair, or shave on 



1630. " If any man shall kiss his wife, the Sabbath Day." — Dr. Hessey — 



or wife her husband, on the Lord's Day, " Bampton Lectures." 

 the party in fault shall be pimished at 



