100 A HISTORY OF LONGRIDGE. [Chap. 4. 



William Buck. 



"On Saturday, Aug. lltli, 1827, the death of William Buck, Esq., 

 aged 42, took place at Alston Lodge, Longridge. Mr. Buck was a 

 gentleman much esteemed by the inhabitants of the village of Long- 

 ridge and its vicinity, on account of his exertions in regulating the 

 affairs of the poor ; and in rendering every possible assistance to all 

 the industrious and deserving cottagers throughout the district in 

 which he resided. His early death is consequently a subject of deep 

 regret to all the neighbourhood." — " Preston Chronicle," Aug. 18th, 

 1827. 



Mr. W. Buck was born in 1 785, and was a son of the Eev. Charles 

 Buck, M.A., Vicar of Goosnargh and Lund. Mr. Buck filled many 

 public offices in Longridge, being Chapel Warden, and Chairman for 

 many years of the " Select Vestry " of Alston. Mr. Buck married Miss 

 Quartley, daughter of the Vicar of Eibchester. He built Alston Lodge, 

 where he resided until his untimely death. He was a connection of 

 the well-known lawyers, Messrs. Buck and Dickson, Preston. 



As is recorded in Chapter I., the Preston and Longridge Railway 

 was opened on May 1st, 1840. It was built for the purpose of de- 

 veloiiing the stone trade in Longridge. So some account of the 

 pioneers in this trade will be necessar}' to complete the history of 

 Longridge. The first quarry of an}' size in Longridge belonged to, 

 and was worked by, Thomas Fleming, whose name survives to-day in 

 "Fleming's Quarry," worked bj' Messrs. Waring at present. 



Thomas Fleming. 

 On Sunday, May 26th, 1861, died Mr. Thos. Fleming, who may 

 be fitly termed " The Father of Quarry Masters." I have gathered 

 many particulars of Mr. Fleming's life from men who knew him very 

 well ; but such an able sketch of his Ufa was written by the late Mr. 

 J. Halsall at the time, that I am sure I cannot do better than largely 

 cj^uote therefrom. " Mr. Fleming," says Mr. HalsaU, " was more than 

 forty years ago (1821) rather extensively engaged in supplying from 

 his quarry those large blocks of freestone for such public works or 

 buildings as were then in course of erection or formation. About this 

 period, or, at all events, soon after, he had the good fortune to become 



