Living Legends
West Lancashire is where towns and villages
with Viking names provide a platform for historic attractions,
modern mysteries and enchanting local legends.
Town tales and village life
A sense of history is tangible throughout West
Lancashire. The wayside cross at Scarisbrick was erected in
medieval times as part of two lines of wayside access which led
from Scarisbrick Park. One line lead to Burscough priory and the
other led to the market town of Ormskirk. The parish church at
Great Altcar is one of the last authentic timber-framed buildings
in the country and was built by the Earl of Sefton in 1879. A
pedestal font and stoup in the grounds provides evidence of earlier
churches on the site. Parbold boasts a historic windmill built in
1794 and a canal-side location at the foot of Parbold Hill.
Newburgh is renowned for its village green and annual fair.
Schooners laden with goods would sail the Ribble and Douglas from
the market gardening town of Tarleton, where links to the Leeds and
Liverpool Canal once brought scenes 'like a fleet of His Majesty's
Ships'. Hesketh Bank and North Meols both owe their names to
the Vikings, the former understood to be the site of an ancient
race track and the latter related to the Scandinavian word for sand
dune.
Today a New Town, Skelmersdale is a former
mining community which was mentioned in the Doomsday book of 1086,
played host to the Romans and inivigorated by the Industrial
Revolution. One theory suggests its name derives from the Old
Scandinavian phrase meaning either "the valley of a man named
Skjalmar or Skjaldmarr". Ormskirk's historic market followed the grant of
a royal market charter to the monks of Burscough Priory by Edward I
in 1286 and continues to attract visitors. Like much of West
Lancashire, the town retains its historic charm, with cobbled
streets and ancient landmarks. Ormskirk’s Clock Tower, built in
1876 is a Grade II listed building and with its Victorian “gothic”
style is nationally recognized as being of special architectural
and historic value. Ormskirk Parish Church, one of only three in the
country with both a steeple (14th century) and a spire
(16th century).The church’s origins are in the
12th century and the north wall of the chancel dates
from this period. A small carved stone panel depicting two men on
the exterior east wall is probably Anglo-Saxon. As with most major
parish churches there are a number of significant burials, one
being James (seventh Earl of Stanley) who was beheaded during the
Civil War.
George Lyon, “The Up Holland Highwayman”, “The
King of Robbers” is said to be buried at St Thomas The Martyr
Parish Church in Up Holland. Using Up Holland as his base, Lyon’s
career spanned thirty years before he was finally executed in
Lancaster in 1815 and brought back for burial. The then landlord of
The Old Dog, which still stands on the steep Alma Hill street,
reportedly brought his body back to the village for
burial.
For futher information on our villages
visit towns and villages in West Lancashire
Rufford Old Hall 
The hall is reputedly home to the lady in
grey - one of three ghosts said to prowl the medieval National
Trust property on the outskirts of RUFFORD village. Elizabeth
Hesketh, who fell ill while her husband was at war many years ago,
refuses to leave while she waits in vain for his return. But
tourists are tempted back each year by the great hall - suggested
site of a performance by Shakespeare - and a collection of 16th and
17th century oak furniture, arms, armour and tapestries. The
Hesketh family's 400-year residency at Rufford is evidenced by
numerous portraits while, outside, Rufford's late-Victorian styled
grounds feature topiary, an orchard and a woodland walk.
The National Trust’s Rufford Old
Hall
200 Liverpool Road, Rufford, L40 1SG
> Tel: 01704 821254
> Web: www.nationaltrust.org.uk
(external link)
Scarisbrick Hall
Scarisbrick’s 100ft tower attracts visitors
from miles around. If you're lucky, the hall might be running
guided tours. Occupied today by the scholars of Kingswood College
independent school, the hall was home to the Scarisbrick family
until 1948. It is one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival
architecture in the country and was designed by Flemish artist
Edward Pugin and is believed to have inspired his later work at the
Houses of Parliament. Other famous features include stained glass
windows and 27 portraits of British kings and queens.
West Lancashire has a wealth of historic and
listed buildings, in addition to those already mentioned, that have
contributed to our rich and varied history. For more information
visit
Listed buildings and historical interest.
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