A Short History of the Township of Rivington in the County of Lancaster
^|S4ii^^^Si^:liif:;ivills^'; THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES A SHORT HISTORY OF THE TOWNSHIP OF A SHORT HISTORY OF THE TOWNSHIP OF IN THE COUNTY OF LANCASTER WITH SOME ACCOUNT OF THE CI)urcl) anil (grammar ^cl)ool BY WM. FERGUSSON IRVINE PRINTED AT THE BALLANTYNE PRESS, EDINBURGH 1904 57848^ ENGLISH LOCAL •r. •-a uj ^ PA PREFACE intention of this book is not to present the reader THEwith a dry archaeological account of the history of the township. The aim of the writer has been rather to put together a consecutive account of the descent of the Manor and the history of the Church, the old Nonconformist Chapel, and the Grammar School in a popular way, choosing in the main such incidents in the story of Rivington as illus- trate the manners and customs of our forefathers. To some people an account of this kind makes no appeal, but the writer ventures to hope that there are many who, while not attracted by the minutiae of antiquarian research, are sufficiently interested in a general way in the history of their neighbourhood to follow the story with pleasure. The idea of this book originated with Mr. W. H. Lever. When talking over the history of the countryside, Mr. Lever suggested that the scattered facts known about Rivington should be collected into a consecutive story, and this book is the outcome. It is hardly necessary to add how much the writer owes to Mr. Lever for the great interest he has taken in the work as it progressed, and for his constant encouragement and help, especially in giving full access to the Rivington charters and documents, many of which are dated as early as the thirteenth century.
[Show full text]