Skip to main content

The Ribchester Workhouse. Another Lying Down Lamb with a Flag

Ribchester Workhouse
and the Preston Civic Crest

In 2024, I spent a quite bit of time looking for examples of Preston's Civic Crest, which is a version of the Coat-of-Arms for the City of Preston, that adorned many places around 'Town'.


Ribchester Workhouse - Preston's Civic Crest, which is a version of the Coat-of-Arms
Preston's Civic Crest at the former Ribchester Workhouse

 

Another Lying Down Lamb with a Flag...


On my travels in July 2024, I approached Longridge from Ribchester.  Always on the lookout for things of interest, I spotted the Preston Civic Crest (Coat of Arms) on the front of a building.  I can't say that I had ever noticed before.  After my delve into the history related to the one on the sign of the former Corporation Arms public house at Longridge, I just assumed that it was also something related to the water works and Longridge reservoirs. 

The former Ribchester Workhouse at Frances Green Farm
The former Ribchester Workhouse at Frances Green Farm



Preston's Civic Crest at the former Ribchester Workhouse
Preston's Civic Crest at the former Ribchester Workhouse


Once I got back home, and sat behind the computer to research things properly, I found that this was not the case.  The building was the only remaining part of what had previously been the Ribchester Workhouse.

The Ribchester township workhouse was located on the Preston Road at Frances (or Francis) Green, two miles to the north-west of Ribchester.  The buildings were adapted in 1856 to include special accommodation for lunatics and imbeciles.

National Library of Scotland Georeferenced Maps, Side by Side viewer, Ordnance Survey Six-inch first edition 1848
Ordnance Survey Six-inch first edition 1848


Following the opening of the new workhouse at Preston in 1868, Ribchester was the only former township workhouse to be retained and continued in its role of accommodating the mentally ill. In 1881, the workhouse had 84 inmates in residence, almost all of whom were categorised as "lunatic".

The workhouse underwent a major redevelopment in 1913, by which time the workhouse had become known as Ribchester Institution.

National Library of Scotland Georeferenced Maps, Side by Side viewer, Ordnance Survey Six-inch 1913 revision
Ordnance Survey Six-inch 1913 revision


In 2001, the hospital was closed and, some time later, the site was redeveloped.


The former Ribchester Workhouse at Frances Green Farm
The former Ribchester Workhouse at Frances Green Farm



When looking for information relating to the stone plaques (foundation stones) on the building, I came across the following information.

Under the LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 1894, the Board of Guardians consist of the Guardians elected by the town and urban districts, and the District Councillors elected in rural districts, and the Board comprises 65 members. The meetings are held on Alternate Tuesdays, in the Union Offices, Lancaster Road. Chairman, Robert Woodhouse; Clerk of Union, T. H. Bentham; Assistant Clerk


-

THIS STONE WAS LAID BY

ROBERT WOODHOUSE Esq J.P.. 

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF GUARDIANS. 

PRESTON UNION 

MAY 29TH 1913.


The stone plaques (foundation stones) on the former Ribchester Workhouse at Frances Green Farm
The stone plaque on the former Ribchester Workhouse


-

THIS STONE WAS LAID BY

HENRY FAZACKERLEY Esq

CHAIRMAN OF THE 

RIBCHESTER BUILDING COMMITTEE

MAY 29 1913.


The stone plaques (foundation stones) on the former Ribchester Workhouse at Frances Green Farm
The stone plaque on the former Ribchester Workhouse



------------------------------------------------------------------


Further reading and sources of information


Proud Preston - Preston's Civic Crest
The Coat-of-Arms of the City of Preston 

https://www.mylancs.uk/2024/07/proud-preston-prestons-civic-crest-coat.html

.

The Workhouse in Preston, Lancashire
A Comprehensive History of the Workhouse by Peter Higginbotham

https://www.workhouses.org.uk/Preston/

.

National Library of Scotland Georeferenced Maps,
Side by Side viewer, Ordnance Survey Six-inch first edition 1848

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=17.0&lat=53.82456&lon=-2.56668&layers=257&right=ESRIWorld

.

National Library of Scotland Georeferenced Maps,
Side by Side viewer, Ordnance Survey Six-inch 1913 revision

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=17.0&lat=53.82454&lon=-2.56738&layers=6&right=ESRIWorld

.

Historic England Research Records
Ribchester Workhouse

https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=1435999&resourceID=19191

.

History & Directory of Westmorland, 1851 (MANNEX)
...and the Hundreds of Amounderness and Lonsdale in Lancashire

https://specialcollections.le.ac.uk/digital/collection/p16445coll4/id/282545/rec/1

.

The Original Facebook Post on Preston History

https://www.facebook.com/groups/prestonhistory/permalink/495077979775249/

.

Labels:
Location: Asturian Gate, Frances Green Farm, Preston PR3 3XQ, UK

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Crosby Blitz Beach - Remains from the city of Liverpool before World War II

Crosby Blitz Beach How did I get here?   In January 2023, I discovered the remains of an old building on the banks of the River Ribble in Penwortham.  I was intrigued.  It wasn't until December 2023 that I discovered what it was.  A member of the Preston Past and Present Facebook group posted some pictures with the description, "Preston Town Hall 1862-1947 R.I.P. built by George Gilbert Scott."  I found it fascinating, so I went back for another look in early 2024.  You can read about it here: The Remains of Preston's Third Town Hall - https://www.mylancs.uk/2024/02/the-remains-of-prestons-third-town-hall.html More recently, I was watching YouTube videos, and went on a journey through some recommendations (thanks to the YouTube algorithms).  On this particular evening, I started with a video about building developments around Liverpool City Centre.  It was created by a gentleman called Aidan, who goes by the handle of  AidanEyewitn...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Hidden Viaduct of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway

The Hidden Viaduct of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway The Old Railway Line On a personal level, I am familiar with the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, or at least the disused sections around Preston and South Ribble.  I used to cross a section near Bamber Bridge on may way to school in the mid nineteen-seventies, and I am sure that there were still a few goods trains pulling loads of oil tankers crossing Brownedge Road (Brownedge Lane) that occasionally stopped us if I'd gone to school on the 113 bus.  Passenger services had long since stopped and when the goods trains had also ceased, the rail company ('British Rail') quite quickly removed the infrastructure.  This was definitely the rails and sleepers, but perhaps not the ballast straight away.  From that point forward, it became the playground of a few of the local children, myself included. Brownedge Level Crossing, Bamber Bridge around 1905 At that point, we often would have adventures in the remains of T...
2 comments
Read more

Abandoned Houses in Ulnes Walton near Leyland in Lancashire - Low House

Abandoned Houses in Ulnes Walton near Leyland in Lancashire - Low House Strictly speaking, I suppose the word in the title should be 'Buildings' as opposed to 'Houses', however, the main place of interest is 'Low House'.  From a historical point of view, that location seems to have been in existence for an number of centuries.  At this stage, it seems unlikely that the abandoned buildings represent the original property.  Web searches are not revealing any great detail at this point. The journey starts when I began watching urban and historical exploration videos on YouTube.  In the past, I had always been interested in exploring, and finding out more information about the places I had visited.  Watching the videos opened up a number of opportunities to find out about new places.  On this occasion, it was more about the tools and methods of finding 'stuff', as opposed to somebody suggesting a location on a video. I had learned about some old maps hosted ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Proud Preston - Preston's Civic Crest. The Coat-of-Arms of the City of Preston.

Proud Preston Well, actually... The letters "P.P." are taken to mean "Princeps Pacis" - The Prince of Peace. I stumbled across an article entitled, "Proud Preston's lamb: The sign is everywhere if you look hard enough" a couple of years ago.  It went on to say, "You know about the symbol of our proud city, but have you noticed just how many there are?" I've always been one for a challenge. I found all the ones that the article had pointed out, and a good few more.  However, I am sure that I have probably missed a lot as well. Proud Preston | Searching for Preston's  Coats-of-Arms Proud Preston | "Princeps Pacis" - The Prince of Peace The lamb on the city shield is a biblical image of Jesus Christ, and the same image that represented seventh century bishop St Wilfrid, the city's patron saint. The " PP " on the city shield stands for " Princeps Pacis " (Prince of Peace), another title for Christ invokin...
Post a Comment
Read more