160 A HISTORY OF LONGRIDGE. Chap. 7. 



long remain in tlie district, as the good people of the village will never 

 accept the tempting offer of "Atticus," although highly appreciating 

 at the same time his flattering remarks upon their " one work of art.'" 



Two miles from Eibchester is the Ribchester Workhouse, one of the 

 few smaller poorhouses still existing. The building accommodates a 

 number of poor and harmless imbeciles. Built early in the present 

 century, the sum of £100 was expeuded from Townley's charity, Dil- 

 worth, in its erection, and formerly the sum of £4 10s. was paid yearly 

 out of the poor rates as interest. But for some years this interest has 

 not been handed over. It certainly seems to be a matter which deserves 

 some explanation from the authorities. 



The Workhouse is rather out of date, and has been condemned by 

 the Local Government Board Inspector ; but apparently the country 

 guardians of the poor do not relish the abolition of one of their solitary 

 "happy hunting grounds." Mr. Livesey, the governor, has held that 

 position for a long term of years. 



The Parish Church. 



The Church, dedicated to St. Wilfrid, is a rude, irregular pile. The 

 date of its foundation is uncertain. Dr. Whittaker says the present 

 choir is of the age of John (1199), or the earlier part of Henry III. 

 (1216), so that it was probably built about the beginning of the twelfth 

 century. 



The earliest entry in the Parish Registers is of the date 1590. On 

 the north side of the Church is the Button Choir, founded by Sir 

 Richard Hoghton in 1405. In this chapel is a tombstone bearing date 

 1649. The Hoghton Choir, on the south side, is suj)posed to be of the 

 age of King John or Henry III. The pulpit bears date "C. H., 1636." 

 The sedilia and piscina in the chancel, a solid block of stone, also in 

 the chancel, with the arms of the Hoghtons and other emblazonments 

 on it, are very interesting. 



^It should be stated that the sign of it figures, 



the "Bull" is very comuKui ia the There is a carved figure of a white 



neighbourhood, a fact due to the mano- bull in Longridge, but its artistic merits 



rial rights long possessed by the De are far from equalling those of its rival 



Hoghton family, on whose coat of arms at Kibchester. 



