246 



A HISTORY OF LONGEIDGE. 



[Chap. 11. 



and quite perfect, except that tlie arms of the cross have long ago dis- 

 appeared. Upon the shaft is inscribed : — " HxCxJxWx 1675." 

 The latter two initials no doubt refer to Mr. Justice Warren, who 

 was at that time Lord of the Manor, but the cross itself is at least 

 (says Fishwick) a century and a half older than the inscription. 



As recently as 1819 the chief fair of the year was held on Sunday. 



Silk and cotton manufactiu'e were carried on here by water and 

 hand power, but there are no manufactures carried on now.^ 



The area of Goosnargh is 8,672 statute acres, that of Newsham 

 370 acres, and that of Whittingham 3,190 acres, nearly all of which 

 are under cultivation. 



The population has for some years been decreasing, as the census 

 returns show : — 



Goosnargh-with-Newsham— 1801— 1558; 1811—1562; 1821—1852; 

 1831—1844; 1841—1621; 1851—1453; 1861 — 1307 ; 1871 — 1258 ; 

 1881—1197. 



Whittingham— 1801— 529 ; 1811—529; 1821—661; 1831—710; 

 1841—691; 1851—677; 1861—583; 1871—664; 1881—2158.= 



'At this period 40 or 50 years ago — 

 drinking, dancing, and gambling were 

 carried on to an enormous extent. My 

 mother has often told me how one man 

 ventured his farm— Loudscales — at a 

 game of " put " on an ace, a two, and a 



three. He lost, and exclaimed — 

 Ace, deuce, and tray, 

 Loudscales, go thi way. 

 ^There would be at least 1,000 people 



at the Whittingham Asylum iu 1881. 



