152 A HISTORY OF LONGRIDGE. [Chap. 7. 



CHAPTER VII.— RIBCHESTEE. 



No "history" written — Leland— I)r. Stukeley— Roman remains —Recent discoveries: 

 Acconnt by the Rev. Jon. Shortt — Philology — Old charters — Lords of the Manor — 

 Rambles by the iJi66/e— Landowners— Manufactures— Crosses — "Old John Raw- 

 cliffe" — Old houses — " Atticus" on the White Bull- - Workhouse : A case for 

 inquiry— Parish Church: l-\)35-1650— Mr. Harley — Particulars of living —Stydd 

 Church : I'^ont — Bishop Petre -Outdoor Service— List of Rectors: Incorrect list by 

 Baines and Whittaker— Correct list -Rev. G. Wollfyt — Rev. W. Ingham — Rev. 

 George Ogden— Rev. John Heber— Rev. John Griffith — Rev. John Atkinson — 

 Rev. B. T. Haslewood — Rev. F. E. Perrin — Rev. F. J. Dicksou — " Aggrieved 

 Parishioners of Ribchester" — The " twenty-four"— Extracts from registers: Burials 

 in 1690— Cost of entertaining ministers — Price of wine, 1770 — Surplice fees — 

 Michaelmas dues — Briefs — Foxes and " Noapes" — Stydd Catholic Church — List 

 of Priests — Canon Rimmer— Rev. Fr. T. Martin — Almshouses— Bailey chapel : 

 VandaUsm — River Ribble : " Unfit for trading" — Census returns— Agricultural 

 statistics. 



Although, strange to say, no history of Eibchester Las yet been 

 written, its antiquities have been fuUy treated by such historians as 

 Baines and Whittaker, and a host of other writers. 



Leland describes Eibchester as being " a poore thing " in his day. 

 But be goes on to say " it hath beene an auncient towne. Great 

 squarid stones, voults, and antique coynes be founde ther ; and ther is 

 a place wher that the people fable that the Jues had a temple." That 

 profound antiquary, Camden, visited Eibchester in Queen Elizabeth's 

 times, and has left an interesting account of his visit to the village. 

 He says that at Salesbury Hall, the seat of the ancient and noble 

 family of the Talbots, he found the pedestal of a pillar with the 

 inscription — " Deo Marti et Yictorire D.D. A.V.G.G et C.C. N.N." 



In 1725 Dr. Stukely made a survey of the ancient city, and gave 

 the following account of what he saw : " The Eibblo is very broad in 

 this place, rapid and sonorous, and, what is much to be lamented, runs 

 over innumerable Eoman antiquities, for in this long tract of time, it has 

 eaten away a third part of the city." Ho estimates that the city 

 occupied a space of 9 to 10 acres within its walls. 



So manj' rich discoveries have been made at Eibchester as to justify 

 Camden's quotation of this " hobbling rhyme of the inhabitants " — 

 It is written upon a wall in Rome 

 Ribchester was as rich as any town in Christendome. 

 The generally accepted Eoman name of Eibchester is Brematomacum. 

 The foUowiug list of the most important remains discovered at 

 Eibchester will give some idea of its original size and importance — 



