My Lancashire - My accounts of the local area

Thomas Blackburn and Sons When I am out and about, there aren't many things I don't survey with regard to trying to understand their historical context.  One of the things I am always looking for are old place signs.  I am keen to identify where they have originated and I'm particularly happy if I can trace them back to Preston.  It's not uncommon that I do. Many around Lancashire were made at Thomas Blackburn and Sons.  I have spotted them in lots of places, but the most recent one was in Langho.  If you have ever spotted them before, then you will probably recognise the design.  The casting that makes the pillar normally has the name on. A Road sign in Langho from a Foundry in Preston A Road sign in Langho from a Foundry in Preston A Road sign in Langho from Thomas Blackburn and Sons Foundry in Preston  ~ I haven't been able to find a great deal of information but, looking at 'Grace's Guide To British Industrial History', it appears that the Company ...

Walton Lodge, The Seat of William Calrow Esquire in 1846 Walton Lodge was large property and estate that was once situated at the top of what we now know as Chruch Brow, in Walton le Dale, which leads onto Cuerdale Lane. In some cases, it was referred to as Cuerdale Lodge. The property was originally created by Mr. Richard Calrow. It is said that the mansion of the Calrows at Walton Lodge was built partially of the bricks brought from the demolished Mosney works. An Illustration of Walton Lodge   CALROW OF WALTON LODGE Richard Calrow of Adlington, Co. Chester, was father of Richard Calrow of Bury, Co. Lancaster, who purchased the Walton Lodge estate in this township. The son, Richard Calrow, Esq., of Walton Lodge, had sons, William ; and Thomas Calrow, Esq., of Woodhill, near Bury. He died, aged 71, in 1830, and was buried at Walton Church. The Mosney firm of calico printers extended their works, and for some years prosecuted a flourishing business, and bore a high reputa...

Preston Industrial Institution for the Employment and Education of the Blind Preston Industrial Institution for the Employment and Education of the Blind A History of Preston in Amounderness BY H. W. CLEMESHA, M.A. (Henry Wordsworth Clemesha) The most considerable benefaction that the town has yet received was obtained under the Will of Edmund Robert Harris , a local solicitor, and a son of the Revd. Robert Harris, headmaster of the Grammar School from 1788 to 1835 and incumbent of St. George's from 1797 to 1862. Edmund Robert Harris, a local solicitor from Preston Owing to the courtesy of Messrs. W. Banks & Co., of Preston, who were the solicitors to the trustees, I am able to give the following figures, which though not furnishing a complete list of his benefactions, show how largely Preston has benefited under Mr. Harris's Will: Preston Industrial Institution for the employment and education of the blind £500 Foundation of scholarships at the Preston Grammar School £3,00...

The Most Blitzed Village in the Preston District I recently visited the Old Church of All Saints in Becconsall, which is now in West Lancashire, but used to be in the Preston Rural District.  I had gone there to take some photographs to upload to the Historic England Missing Pieces Project on their website.  The building is listed on the National Heritage List for England (NHLE).  The Old Church in Becconsall is listed on the National Heritage List for England   Whilst the church was on my list, the main reason for visiting the Old Church was to have a look at the gravestones. A trip like this would normally be to perhaps look at the graves of specific people with historical interest.  However, on this occasion, it was to examine the condition of the gravestones in the north west corner of the graveyard and explore their history.   Bomb damage to a number of the gravestones at the church Bomb damage to a number of the gravestones at the church Whilst r...

Who will restore these plaques? This is an article taken from a local newspaper.  It shows Mr Bill Crossley, a technician in Preston Polytechnic's building department, pictured with one of the stone plaques from the old Town Hall, which were stored at the former "Junior Tech" in Corporation Street for 20 years. Who will restore these plaques? SEVERAL finely sculpted stone plaques which, when first revealed to the people of Preston 116 years ago evoked unprecedented excitement and admiration, now lie forlorn at a Preston college. My story (May 3) of the opening of Preston's magnificent Victorian Gothic Town Hall in 1867, its virtual destruction by fire in 1947, and its final disappearance in 1962, brought a telephone call from Mr Bill Crossley, a technician in the building department of Preston Polytechnic. In my story I'd mentioned the fine stonework on the richly ornamented exterior of the Town Hall, including & series of plaques illustrating the industries ...