A HISTORY OF LANCASHIRE 



and roundish; and the general appearance is not that of the Lancashire 

 implements. 



A nice specimen, smaller, and better finished, was found, as it seems, 1 

 near Blackpool, in 1881. Its dimensions are 8i in. by 4 in. by 3 in. in 

 depth, and it weighs 5 Ib. It hollows slightly on the surface about the hole, 

 which seems well cut ; while the hammer end seems especially to have been 

 squarely dressed. 



Several good implements preserved in the county museums are of the 

 same type as that from Mellor (see Plate III). At Chipping, which is not far 

 distant to the north, was found one of 9 in. length and 4 in. breadth. Its 

 depth increases from aj in. near the hole to 3^ in. towards the edge. Its 

 weight is 5 Ib. 1 1 oz. The head is broad but not truly flat, and the perfora- 

 tion is rather central. This specimen is in the museum of Preston. In the 

 museum at Bolton there is to be seen another interesting example, found in 

 1897 while ploughing near the church at Blackrod, which is not far from 



Wigan. It measures 8j in. in length, 

 about 3 in breadth, with a depth vary- 

 ing from 2j to a| in. In form it is not 

 symmetrical, having on one side a con- 

 spicuous flattening where the original 

 surface of the stone has been used with- 

 out dressing. The material seems to be 

 a fine local gritstone. In the same 

 museum is a portion of an instrument 

 which seems from its preserved part to 

 have been almost the largest of its kind 

 in the county, measuring "j\ in. from 

 edge to perforation and 4 in. in width. 

 It belongs also to the type of the 

 foregoing, with a depth which increases 

 from 2j in. at the hole to 3^ towards the 

 edge. It was found at Silverdale in North Lancashire in i8/i. 2 



A specimen with non-expanding edge, lojin. long, 4$ in. wide, and 

 2|in. deep, was found in 1903 on the Burnley side of Pendle Forest in 

 Ogden Clough. The perforation divides the length in the proportion of 

 2 : 5 from the hammer end, and measures about i| in. across. The weight 

 of the object is 6 Ib. i o oz., and the material seems to be a fine gritstone, 

 with polished surface. 8 There is a slight smooth longitudinal depression, 

 like a groove, running down towards the edge from the hole, in the middle 

 of one face. This seems to have been worn by use, for the edge also shows 

 signs of greater wear and redressing towards that side. 



Among the axe-hammers of the county are three or four of special 

 interest. That found at Dean, near Bolton, as the photograph reproduced 

 on Plate II. No. 4 suggests, has a broad flange to the head when viewed 

 at the side. It is a nicely shaped implement, 9^ in. long and 3! in. broad, 

 with a depth which gradually increases from 2 in. near the perforation to 

 3! in. at the edge. The head is 2| in. across the surface, and 2| in. over the 



FIG. 9. AXE-HAMMER FROM HEATON CHAPEL 

 (Manchester Museum). I : 3. 



Weld MSS. 



* Information of John Allen, Esq. 



Journ. Brit. Arch. Ante. xxix. p. 304 (No. 2). 



