WEST DERBY HUNDRED 



WIGAN 



which half was paid by the rector.*' Various grants 

 and benefactions have since been added, and the gross 

 income is now about j^300.*' The rector of Wigan 

 is patron. 



The following is a list of the curates and vicars : " 



DALTON 



There is a licensed mission-room. 



There are Wesleyan, Primitive, and United Free 

 Methodist chapels. 



The grammar school was founded in 1668 by 

 Peter or Robert Walthew." 



At Walthew Park, in the north-east part of the 

 township, is situated St. Joseph's College, the semi- 

 nary for the Catholic diocese of Liverpool. After 

 collecting a sufficient sum the foundation was laid in 

 April 1880, and in 1883 the building was open to 

 receive students preparing for the priesthood. The 

 museum contains a rich collection of ancient furniture, 

 china, &c.'* 



Daltone, Dom. Bk. ; Dalton, 12 12. 



Dalton occupies hilly ground south of the River 

 Douglas. The highest point is Ashhurst Beacon, 

 known locally as the ' Beetle,' 569 ft. above sea level. 

 From it the land slopes away gradually on every side. 

 The district is extensively cultivated, fields of corn, 

 potatoes, and other root-crops alternating with 

 pastures. Plantations of trees appear more especially 

 on the north-east under the lee of the hill and away 

 from the assault of westerly sea winds. A few insig- 

 nificant brooks find their way towards the Douglas, 

 which forms the northern boundary of the township 

 and divides the Hundred of West Derby from that 

 of Leyland. The view from the top of the hill near 

 the Beacon is an extensive one, aflbrding a fine 

 panorama of the surrounding country. The prepon- 

 derance of holly trees and hedges on the sheltered 

 side of the district is a noticeable feature. There are 

 many picturesque stone-built houses in the neighbour- 

 hood. The soil appears to be loam and clay, over 

 solid sandstone rock. The area is 2,103^ acres.' 

 The population in 1901 was 422. 



The road from Upholland to Newburgh crosses the 

 township in a north-west direction, ascending and 

 descending ; Ashhurst Hall and the church lie on the 

 western slope of the ridge ; to the north are Hawks- 

 clough and Dalton Lees, and to the south lies Elmer's 

 Green. Prior's Wood is in the north, and Cassicarr 

 Wood on the eastern boundary. 



There is n. colliery. 



The township is governed by a parish council. 



Ashhurst Beacon was erected a century ago, when 

 a French invasion was regarded as imminent. 

 Watchers were stationed day and night to be ready to 

 light the beacon fire, and thus give notice of the 

 enemy's landing. 



At the death of Edward the Confessor, 

 MANOR D ALTON was held by Uctred as one 

 plough-land ; its value was the normal 

 32(/.' On the formation of the Manchester fee 

 Dalton was included in it, and probably about 1150 

 Albert Grelley the elder enfeoffed Orm son of 

 Ailward, of Kirkby Ireleth, of a knight's fee in 

 Dalton, Parbold, and Wrightington, in marriage 

 with his daughter Emma. The heirs of Orm held it 

 in 1 21 2.' Dalton was reputed part of the Manchester 

 fee down to the 17th century.^ 



8' Notitia Cestr, ii, 258. There were 

 two wardens. 



^ Liverpool Dhc, CaL For particu- 

 lars of the grants see Wigan Ch. 744, 



745- 



^* This list is taken, with a few addi- 

 tions from Visitation lists, &c., from that 

 compiled by Canon Bridgeman ; Wigan 

 Ch. 748. It is not continuous until 

 1719. 



^ Perhaps the same as * Lever.' 



^^ In 1639 Richard Whitiield, curate, 

 paid lOJ. to the clerical subsidy ; Misc. 

 (Rec. Soc. Lanes, and Ches.), i, 122. He 

 was in charge when the Act of 1643 was 

 passed. 



"^ He was a member of the classis 

 in 1646; Baines, Lanes, (ed. 1870), i, 

 227. 



^ *A very able minister, a man of 

 honest life and conversation,' but he had 

 not kept the last fast day ; Commoniv, 



Ch, Surv, 61, The name is spelt Bowden 

 on p. 63. 



^8 Paid first-fruits 9 April 1653; 

 Lanes, and Ches. Recs, ii, 414. Probably 

 a Baldwin also. He had recently been in 

 trouble with the authorities, it being 

 alleged that he had taken part with the 

 Earl of Derby in his recent attempt to 

 raise forces for Charles II ; Cat. of Com. 

 for Compounding, iv, 2955 ; v, 3266. He 

 is mentioned in 1658 ; Plund. Mins. 

 Acets. (Rec. Soc. Lanes, and Ches.), ii, 

 214. 



°' Bishop Stratford's Visitation List. 

 He was * conformable ' in 1689; Hist. 

 MSS, Com. Rep. xiv, App. iv, 229. 



'" At this time the church papers at 

 Chest. Dioc. Reg. begin. 



'1 It is possible that a James Miller 

 (inserted between Winstanley and Baldwin 

 by Canon Bridgeman) was assistant curate 

 for a time. 



97 



For Thomas Winstanley see Foster, 

 Alumni Oxon. 



72 He succeeded his cousin, William 

 Bankes, at Winstanley in 1800 j died 

 17 Aug. 1803. 



72a Now vicar of Eccles. 



78 End. Char. Rep. 1899. 



7* Li-uerpool Cath. Ann. 1886. 



^ 2,102, including five of inland water ; 

 Census Rep. of 1901. 



2 V.C.H. Lana. i, 284^. 



8 Lanes. Inq. and Extents (Rec. Soc. 

 Lanes, and Ches.), i, 55. 



■* Ibid. 154. (Dalton probably included 

 with Parbold) and 24.8. For claims by 

 Lord La Warr see Ducatus Lane. (Rec. 

 Com.), i, 264 ; ii, 74. From the Man- 

 chester Ct. Leet Rec. (ed. Earwaker) it 

 appears that constables for Dalton and 

 Parbold were summoned to the court leet 

 down to 1733, though they did not appear j 

 vii, 25. 



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