THURNHAM. 22t

In the township is also the large village of GLASSON, situated at the mouth of the Lune, about. five miles S.W. from Lanpaster. Here is a large dock, 550 feet long, ani a canal basin covering ab0ut 12 acres. This dock was the first in the kingdom with tidal gate3, in which vessels could float whilst discharging cargoes. It was constructed about 1795. The canal, which was finished in 1825, is 2~ miles long, and communicates with the Lancaster Can3l, nea.r Galgate. First vessel admitted into Glasson branch, Dece.mber 20th, 1825. First vessel tfirough Glasson branch to Preston, the " Sprightly," May 16th, 1826. First vessel, Glasson to Kendal, the " Seaforth," 60 tons burthen with salt, August 13th, 1827. In 1882, a branch line of the L. & N.-W. Ry. was opened, which runs into Lancaster Street Station, thus connecting Glasson with that town. The name Glasson signifies a situation adjoining green marshy land. ·There is a quantity of peat soil and mossy land, alluvium and stiff clay. The township of Thurnham was formerly, for ecclesiastical purposes, partly in the parish of Cockerham and partly in Lancal?ter, but in 1840 the ecclesiastical parish of Glasson was formed, embrac- . ing the township of Thurnham, part of , and the southern part of the township of Ashton-with-Stodday. Christ Church, a neat stone building, was erected in 1840, and the living endowed with money lodged with the Ecclesiastical Com­ missioners, and the Diocesan Society. Th~ communion plate was the gift of James Clarke, Esq., The Laund. The present value of the living is £200. It is held by the Rev. Charles Edward Golland, M.A. (Oxon.). Population of the ecclesiastical parish, 720.

The School is endowed with an income of about £10 per annum. It has accommodation for 124, and an average attendance of 93. Mr. Thomas Lomax. master. Many of the inhabitants of Glasson Dock are employed at the works of Messrs. Nicholson & Sons (established 1840) ship builders and repairers, engineers, boiler makers, &c. Their graving dock measures 197 feet long, 182 feet on blocks, with a width at entrance of 35 feet. Average number of hands employed, 70. The