

A HISTORY OF LANCASHIRE 



were also three large meres Black Otter, White Otter, 

 and Gettern. The fenland has now been reclaimed 

 and converted into fertile fields under a mixed culti- 

 vation corn, root crops, fodder, and hay. There is 

 some pasture land, and occasional osier beds fill up odd 

 corners. The soil is loamy, with clay beneath. The 

 low-lying ground is apt to become flooded after wet 

 weather or in winter-time, and deep ditches are 

 necessary to carry away superfluous water. In summer 

 these ditches are filled with a luxuriant fenland flora, 

 which thus finds shelter in an exposed country. The 

 scanty trees show by their inclination the prevalence 

 of winds from the west laden with salt. The ground 

 rises gently to the east; until on the boundary 95 ft. 

 is reached. The total area of the township is 6,995 

 acres. 1 The population in 1901 was 1,236. 



The principal road is that from Downholland to 

 Scarisbrick and Southport ; there are also cross-roads 

 from Ormskirk to Birkdale. The Liverpool, South- 

 port, and Preston Junction Railway, now taken over 

 by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Company, formed a 

 branch through the township with a station called 

 Halsall, half a mile west of the church, and another at 

 Shirdley Hill. 



The scattered houses of the village stand on the 

 higher ground near the church. To the south-east is 

 the hamlet of Bangors Green ; Four Lane Ends is to 

 the north-east. From near the church an extensive 

 and comprehensive view of the surrounding county is 

 obtained. The northern arm of the Downholland 

 Brook rises in and drains part of the district, running 

 eventually into the River Alt, which is the natural 

 receptacle for all the streams and ditches hereabouts. 

 The Leeds and Liverpool Canal crosses the south- 

 eastern portion of the township, with the usual 

 accompaniment of sett-laid roads and untidy wharfs. 

 Renacres Hall and La Mancha are on the north. 



The township is governed by a parish council. 



The wakes are held the first Sunday in July. 



The hall is to the south-west of the church ; be- 



tween them was a water-mill, taken down about 1 880. 

 North-east of the church are portions of the old rectory 

 house, consisting of a wall 5 5 ft. long, with three 

 doorways and three two-light windows, several traces 

 of cross walls, and a turret at the north-west. Part is 

 of fourteenth-century date.' 



The roads having been diverted, the village green 

 is now within the rectory park. A cross stood there. 1 

 The base of the churchyard cross 4 still remains. Two 

 other crosses North Moor and Morris Lane are 

 marked on the 1848 Ordnance map, but have dis- 

 appeared. 5 



The turf is left uncut, in order to diminish the 

 danger of floods. 



A natural curiosity of the district is the bituminous 

 turf, formerly used for lighting instead of candles. 6 



HALSALLvw held by Chetel in 1066; 

 MANORS its assessment was two plough-lands, and 

 the value 8/. It was in the privileged 

 three hides, and from the manner in which it is 

 named was evidently one of the principal manors of 

 the district. 7 



It was granted to the lord of Warrington for the 

 service of a pound of cummin, and the various in- 

 quisitions and surveys recognize its dependence on 

 Warrington. 8 



Pain de Vilers gave Halsall to Vivian Gernet in 

 marriage with his daughter Emma ; it was to be held 

 by the service of one-tenth of a knight's fee. In 1212 

 Robert de Vilers was the lord of Halsall, and Alan 

 son of Simon held of him. 9 Alan de Halsall, other- 

 wise called 'de Lydiate,' 10 was probably the husband 

 of the heiress of Vivian Gernet, for his wife Alice is 

 joined with him in Halsall charters." 



To Alan his son Simon " succeeded. A charter by 

 Robert de Vilers, his immediate lord, quitclaimed the 

 rent of 1 3/. of silver which Robert and his predecessors 

 had annually received from Simon son of Alan and 

 his predecessors in respect of the vill of Halsall, com- 

 muting the service into a pound of pepper. 1 * 



