The History of the Parish of Kirkham, in the County of Lancaster, England

The original parish of Kirkham comprised within its limits the parochial chapelry of Goosnargh, the history of which I published in 1871. The ties however which bound the latter to the former have, for centuries, been so slight that it might well be considered as a distinct parish; and there can be no incorrectness in designating the present volume as " The History of the Parish of Kirkham," although m its pages will be found no record of that outlying and detached district.

To write the history of a parish would be no pleasant task, if indeed it were not an impossible one, without the co-operation or assistance of many who, from the nature of the case, have in their keeping much material which is of great local interest and importance.

By the kindly manner in which all avenues of information have been opened to me, my work in the present instance has been a labour of pleasure.

For the original copy of the "Records of the thirty sworn men" I have to thank William Lancton, esq. To the rev. G. R. Brown, M.A., vicar of Kirkham, as well as to the vicars of the other churches, I am indebted for ready access to the registers and other parochial manuscripts. I have also pleasure in acknowledging my obligations to the various owners of estates in Kirkham who have allowed me to glean from their title-deeds much that is of interest and which could not be found elsewhere.

 

Table of Contents

CHAPTER I
General History 1-27

CHAPTER II
Ecclesiastical History 28-43

CHAPTER III
Ecclesiastical History (continued) 44-67

CHAPTER IV
The Vicars of Kirkham 68-87

CHAPTER V
The Records of the Thirty Sworn Men 88-115

CHAPTER VI
The Churchwardens and the Parish Registers 116- 127

CHAPTER VII
The Monuments and Inscriptions in the Church and Churchyard of Kirkham 128-134

CHAPTER VIII
The Free Grammar School 135-158

CHAPTER IX.
The Public Charities 159-171

CHAPTER X.
Old Halls and Old Families 72-200

CHAPTER XI.
Miscellany 201-208

APPENDIX 209-211

GENERAL INDEX 213-216

INDEX OF NAMES 217-230

 

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The original parish of Kirkham was one of the largest parishes in the county of Lancaster, and consisted of seventeen townships, viz: Frcckleton, Warton. Bryning with Kellamcrgh, Ribby with Wray, Westly with Great and Little Plumpton, Weeton, Medlar and Wesham, Grcenhatgh with Thistleton, Great and Little Singleton, Hambleton, Little Ecclcston and Larbrick, Roseacre Wharles and Trealcs, Clifton and Salwick, Newton and Scales, Kirkham, Goosnargh with Newsham, and Whittingham. The two latter townships form the ancient chapelry of Goosnargh, the history of which has already been written; and it will therefore only be necessary here to state that, with the exception of the church patronage, almost all traces of connexion with the mother parish have long been lost. Hambleton, the most northern township of Kirkham, adjoins the parish of Lancaster, and the river Ribble forms the southern boundary of the parish.