H. S. of L. and C-, Vol. Xlvh. Douglas Chapcl, Parbold
XLVH. VOL. C-, AND L. OF S. H. PARBOLD. CHAPCL, DOUGLAS SOME HISTORICAL NOTES ON THE CHAPEL OF OUR BLESSED LADY, PARBOLD, LANCASHIRE. By William Frederick Price. Read 5th December, 1895. HIS ancient and interesting ecclesiastical T edifice, better known as " Douglas Chapel," was demolished in 1878. It was situated at the foot of Parbokl Hill, in the township of Parbokl, and lay hidden in a picturesque and sequestered valley. Parbokl Hill, with its extensive stone quarries, is a familiar object to travellers on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway between Southport and \Vigan. It is the most prominent feature of a range consisting of Parbokl, Hunters, and Harrock Hills ; and on the opposite side of the valley is another range, comprising Ashurst, Upholland, and Billinge. Parbokl and Ashurst Hills stand like sentinels at the neck of a beautiful and well- timbered valley, which is watered by the River Douglas, 1 a sluggish stream, with high banks, veiled with alder, willows, and poplar. This river 1 A Celtic river-name. The word "dhu," black, appears in five rivers in Wales, three in Scotland, and one in Dorset, which are called Dulas. There are also two in Scotland and one in Lancashire called the Douglas ; and we have the Dcjulas in Radnor, the Dowles in Shropshire, and the Higgles in Lancashire. Rev. I. Taylor, Words ami Places, p. 143. 208 Historical Notes on Douglas Chapel. takes its source among the hills of Rivington, flows through the town of Wigan, 2 past Gathurst, Appley Bridge, Parbold, Ruftbrd, and Tarleton, and joins the Kibble estuary at Hesketh Bank.
[Show full text]