244 A HISTORY OF LONGRIDGE. [CHiP. 11. 



years he wrote under the nom de plume of " Cuthbert Oxendale." Mr. 

 Kirk was true to the early traditions and training of his home life. 

 He always took a keen interest in the district in which he was born, 

 and often with pleasxire did he visit the haunts of his youthful days. 

 He died March 24th, 1885, deeply regretted by a wide circle of friends, 

 at the early age of 53, leaving a widow and seven children to mourn 

 his loss. He was a man of fine presence, and of stalwart frame ; was 

 genial and kindly, and deserves to be remembered by the people of the 

 district in which he was born, and which he loved so well. 



RICHAED COOKSON. 



The late Mr. Cookson, the author of the Goosnargh Ramhler, 999 

 Thouffhts, and Goosnargh, Past and Present, was schoolmaster of his 

 native place for forty years. During his life-time, Mr. Cookson was 

 much respected ; and his books had a fair circulation. But we fear 

 his reputation as a writer has suffered much since the publication of 

 his go-called history ; for the style is paltry, the information trite, and 

 the observations generally puerile. He will be most remembered for 

 his eccentric wiU. By this document, aU the good Cookson did — aU 

 the lessons of prudence, sobriety, and thrift which he taught in the 

 school, and in his books, stand a fair chance of being wrecked. The 

 will is now in the Court of Chancery, and its provisions wiU, no doubt, 

 be declared void. Mr. Cookson died a few months ago, at a ripe old 

 age. 



Mr. Peter Whittle, the bookseller and historian of Preston, is 

 another Goosnargh celebrity. 



Near Goosnargh, but in the township of Whittingham, is the large 

 County Lunatic Asylum, pleasantly situated on some gently-sloping 

 ground. Whittingham Asylum (formerly called "Gotfield," and long 

 the residence of the Waring family,) was buUt in 1869 by Cooper and 

 Tullis, contractors, Preston ; and was further enlarged by them in 

 1879. The number of patients at present in the asylum is 1,250. To 

 attend to these sufferers, there is a governor (Dr. WaUis), assisted by 

 a staff of medical men, and several hundred male and female attendants. 

 Everything that can help to alleviate the sufferings of these poor in- 

 mates is to be found at Whittingham : nicely laid-out grounds, a 



