44 A HISTORY OF LONGRIDGE. [Chap. 1. 



Chester. It was not until 1830 that a quarry, or delph, on any large 

 scale was ox^ened out in Longridge. Peter AValkden in his diary (1729) 

 refers to Jack Singleton o' th' Delph, but Mr. Fleming was the first 

 man who made Longridge free-stone known outside the village itself. 

 Under such men as Fleming, Fletcher, and Spencer the stone trade 

 was largely developed. The quarrying appliances used in those days 

 were, of course, very primitive. 



Messrs. Cooper and TuUis, the eminent contractors, of Preston, be- 

 came in 1856 (having taken Chapel HiU in 1850) the tenants of 

 Silencer's quarry. Stone from their quarries was used for such works 

 as Bolton Parish Church, Preston Station, St. Walburge's Church, 

 and the Preston Free Library, etc. For some years Messrs. Banks 

 Bros, worked one of the quarries. In 1863 Messrs. Waring Bros, 

 commenced working Fleming's quarry, and Nook Fold, which they now 

 occupy. In 1874 Mr. Robert Smith opened the Broom HiU Quarry, part 

 of which had been previously worked by Mr. Kenyon. He was one 

 of the fii'st to use steam cranes and travellers, Messrs. Cooper and 

 TuUis having used them a few months previously. The quarry was, 

 however, soon closed ; it is now worked by Mr. Geo. Banks. AU these 

 quarries are situated on what is called the Tootal Height estate. 



Some very good stone has for a number of years been obtained from 

 the Chapel Hill Quarries, one of which has been worked for a number 

 of j-ears by Mr. John Sharpies, who still works it. A few years ago 

 Messrs. Kay and Pinder, contractors, opened out another quarry in 

 this locality. 



The present state of the Longridge stone trade is not at all good. 

 Only about 100 men are employed altogether in the trade. Ten 

 years ago 400 men were employed. The causes of the bad trade 

 seem to be the keen competition from Yorkshire and Wales, and the 

 prohibitory rates charged by the Railway Co. for carriage. In this 

 matter, and other things, the owners of the Preston and Longridge 

 Railway have displaj'ed a poor conception of their duties as a carrying 

 company. Of course there is no competition, and, like Corporations, 

 Railway Companies have proverbially no conscience. 



