Chap. 4.] LOCAL CELEBRITIES. 105 



against applying for help elsewhere. It was one of those places in 

 which the inhabitants, as it were, setting their shoulders to the wheel, 

 were enabled by their own unaided exertions to carry this district on 

 (liu-ing that period. Nor would he do justice in referring to that 

 circumstance did he not make a further remark, and though it related to 

 one who had in the meantime passed away from amongst them, yet, 

 for the good deeds which he had been able to perform, it would be 

 indeed a mark of ignorance on his part did he not advert more in 

 detail to the bountiful manner in which one of those gentlemen 

 engaged in commercial pursuits, acted — he refei-red to the late Mr. 

 Wliittle. He was enabled to do good in a great measure, which he 

 (Mr. Stanley), thought characterized true benevolence." 



Such a tribute fi-om such a man paid to George Whittle, a 

 political opponent of Mr. Stanley, was creditable alike to both gentlemen. 

 "William Marsden. 



Mr. William Marsden at the time of his death in 1882, was the 

 oldest inhabitant in Longridge, indeed he was often called " the 

 Father of Longridge." He came to Longridge about 1832, from 

 Blackburn, as what was then called a " fester "' loom weaver, for 

 Horrocks, Jacson and Co., Preston, and entered into partnership with 

 Mr. Hayhurst, and built the Crumpax Mill in 1 851 . He was a kind and 

 just employer of labour. Mr. Marsden was a man of strong political 

 proclivities, being a " true blue " Conservative. One instance of his 

 zeal for his party may be mentioned, as it was characteristic of the 

 man. During the election of 1868, it was found impossible to get a 

 room sufficiently large for the meeting in support of the Hon. F. A. 

 Stanley and Col. Wilson Patten (now Lord Winmarleigh), so Mr. 

 Marsden emptied a spinning shed which he had at that time, so as to 

 get the requisite accommodation. He was also a staunch Churchman ; 

 and took a warm, _if not very active, part in all matters pertainino- to 

 the welfare of the town in which he had lived for 50 years. He was 

 twice married, and left three sons — Mr. J. N. Marsden, of Preston ; 

 the Eev. W. Marsden, M.A., Vicar of St. Chrysostom's, Manchester ; 

 and the Eev. Thomas Marsden, B.A., Eector of Chigwell. 



^" One who puts out." 



