Introduction In 1900 Her Majesty's Stationery Office published the very useful Index to Local Acts, consisting of Classified Lists of the Local and Personal and Private Acts from ... 1801 to ... 1899 (both inclusive). The volume relates, of course, to the whole of the United Kingdom. It is felt that those interested in research into all branches of Lancashire history would benefit by the compilation of a classified list of Local and Personal Acts relating to that County alone, prior to 1801. It would be rash perhaps to state that every such Act is included here, but it is thought that completeness has been closely approached. In addition to the Acts patently which relate to Lancashire, some effort has been made to include also Acts which, although principally of a general nature, have sections in which the County is mentioned specifically. Copies of some of these Acts are extremely rare. As a possible help to students, therefore, those which are to be found in the Lancashire Record Office have been marked with an asterisk. Needless to state, additions are continually being made. CLASSIFICATION. A. Bridges. I B. Canals. I C. Drainage. 3 D. Ecclesiastical. 4 E. Education. 6 F. Enclosure. 6 G. Harbours. 9 H. Legal. 10 I. Miscellaneous. 12 J. Personal. 14 K. Roads. 25 L. Theatres. 32 M. Town Improvements. 32 N. Trade. 33 O. Water. 34 Up to 1797. Public Acts are shown in Roman numerals and private in Arabic. From 1798. Public General Acts are shown in Italic Roman, Public Local and Personal in Roman and private in Arabic. So far as the Personal Acts are concerned, the compiler has found it possible to indicate in some cases the townships which are mentioned therein. The spelling and punctuation are those of either original prints of the Acts or of Ruff head's edition of the Statutes at Large. Acts and Ordinances of the Commonwealth, or Interregnum, are given as an Appendix. These were, of course, repealed on the Restoration in 1660. A. BRIDGES. 1. * An Act for building a Bridge over the River Ribble, between the Townships of Preston and Penwortham, near a Place called the Fish-house, in the County Palatine of Lancaster. 24Geo. II., c. xxxvi. (1751). 2. An Act for ... erecting a Bridge over the River Mersey. 26 Geo. II., c. liii. (1753). 3. * An Act for rebuilding the Bridge over the River Ribble, between the Townships of Preston and Penwortham, near a Place called The Fish-house, in the County Palatine of Lancaster. 30 Geo. II., c. Iv. (1757). 4. An Act for building a new Bridge, instead of the present ancient Bridge, commonly called Lancaster Bridge, at a more convenient Place over the River Loyne, near the Town of Lancaster, in the County Palatine of Lancaster. 22 Geo. III., c. Ivii. (1782). B. CANALS. 1. * An Act for making the River Douglas alias Asland, navigable, from the Ribble to Wigan in the County of Lancaster. 6 Geo. I., c. xxviii. (1719). Altered, and Navigation to be purchased by Proprietors of Leeds and Liverpool Canal, by *23 Geo. III., c. xlvii. (1783). 2. An Act for making the Rivers Mersey and Irwell navigable from Liverpoole to Manchester, in the County Palatine of Lancaster. 7 Geo. I., c. xv. (1720). Altered by 34 Geo. III., c. xxvii. (1794). 3. * An Act for making navigable the River or Brook called Worsley Brook, from Worsley Mill, in the Township of Worsley, in the County Palatine of Lancaster, to the River Irwell in the said County. 10 Geo. II., c. ix. (1737). 4. An Act for making navigable the River or Brook called Sankey Brook, and the three several Branches thereof, from the River Mersey below Sankey Bridges, up to Boardman's Stone Bridge on the South Branch, to Gerard's Bridge on the Middle Branch thereof, and to Penny Bridge on the North Branch thereof, all in the County Palatine of Lancaster ; and also for adjusting the Measure of Coal, to be brought down the said River or Brook, and sold within the Town of Liverpool in the said County. 28 Geo. II., c. viii. (1755). Altered and rendered more effectual by 2 Geo. 111., c. Ivi. (1762). 5. An Act to enable the most Noble Francis, Duke of Bridgewater, to make a navigable cut or Canal from a certain Place in the Township of Salford to or near Worsley Mill, and Middlewood, in the Manor of Worsley, and to or near a Place called Hollin Ferry, in the County Palatine of Lancaster. 32 Geo. II., c. 2 (1758). 6. * An Act to enable the most noble Francis Duke of Bridgewater, to make a navigable cut or Canal, from or near Worsley Mill, over the River Irwell, to the Town of Manchester, in the County Palatine of Lancaster, and to or near Longford Bridge, in the Township of Stretford in the said County. 33Geo. II., c. 2(1759). 7. * An Act to enable the most Noble Francis, Duke of Bridgewater, to make a navigable cut or Canal from Longford Bridge, in the Township of Stretford, in the County Palatine of Lancaster, to the River Mersey, at a Place called The Hemp Stones, in the Township of Halton, in the County of Chester. 2 Geo. III., c. 11 (1762). 8. * An Act for making and maintaining a navigable Cut or Canal from Leeds Bridge, in the County of York, to the North Lady's Walk in Liverpoole, in the County Palatine of Lancaster, and from thence to the River Mersey. 10 Geo. III., c. cxiv. (1770). Combined with Douglas Navigation by * 23 Geo. III., c. xlvii. (1783). Line varied by * 30 Geo. III., c. Ixv. (1790), and by * 34 Geo. III., c. xciv. (1794) with additions. 9. * An Act for making and maintaining a Navigable Canal from Manchester to or near Presto-lee Bridge, in the Township of Little Lever, and from thence, by one Branch, to or near the Town of Bolton, and by another Branch to or near the Town of Bury, and to Weddell Brook, in the Parish of Bury, all in the County Palatine of Lancaster. 31 Geo. III., clxviii. (1791). 10. * An Act for making a Navigable Canal from Manchester, to or near Ashton-under-Lyne and Oldham, in the County Palatine of Lancaster. 32 Geo. III., c. Ixxxiv. (1792). See also 33 Geo. III., c. xxi. (1793). 11. * An Act for making and maintaining a Navigable Canal from Kirkby Kendal, in the County of Westmorland, to West Houghton, in the County Palatine of Lancaster ; and also a Navigable Branch from the said intended Canal at or near Berwick, to or near Warton Cragg ; and also another Navigable Branch from, at, or near, Gale Moss, by Chorley, to or near Duxbury, in the said County Palatine of Lancaster. 32 Geo. III., c. ci. (1792). Altered by * 33 Geo. III., c. cvii. (1793). His Majesty, in right of his Duchy of Lancaster, empowered to grant certain land, by * 36 Geo. III., c. xcvii. (1796). Enabled to be completed by * 40 Geo. III., c. Ivii. (1800). 12. * An Act to enable the Company of Proprietors of the Canal Navigation from Manchester to or near Ashton-under-Lyne and Oldham, to extend the said Canal from a place called Clayton Demesne, in the Township of Droylsden, in the Parish of Manchester, aforesaid, to a Place in the Turnpike Road in Heaton Norris, leading between Manchester and Stockport, opposite to the House known by the Sign of The Three Boars Heads ; and from or nearly from a Place called Taylor's Barn, in the Township of Reddish, to Denton, at a Place called Beat Bank, adjoining the Turnpike Road leading between Stockport and Ashton-under-Lyne ; and also from the intended Aqueduct Bridge, at or near a Place called Water-houses, in the Parish of Ashton-under- Lyne aforesaid, to a Place called Stake Leach, at Hollinwood, in the Township of Oldham aforesaid. 33 Geo. III., c. xxi. (1793). Amended and powers enlarged by * 38 Geo. III., c. xxxii. (1798), and by * 40 Geo. III., c. xxiv. (1800). 13. An Act for making and maintaining a Navigable Cut or Canal from a Place called Hammerside Hill, in the Parish of Ulverstone, in the County Palatine of Lancaster, to a Place called Weint End, near the Town of Ulverstone aforesaid. 33 Geo. III., c. cv. (1793). 14. * An Act for making and maintaining a Navigable Canal from and out of the Canal of Sir John Ramsden, Baronet, at or near the Town of Huddersfield, in the West Riding of the County of York, to join and communicate with the Canal Navigation from Manchester to or near Ashton-under-Line and Oldham, at or near the Town of Ashton-under-Line aforesaid, in the County Palatine of Lancaster. 34 Geo. III., c. liii. (1794). Amended by * 39 & 40 Geo. III., c. xxxix (1799). 15. An Act for making and maintaining a Navigable Canal from or nearly from Bury Bridge, in the Parish of Bury, by Haslingden, to or nearly to Church Kirk, all in the County Palatine of Lancaster. 34 Geo. III., c. Ixxvii. (1794). 16. An Act for making and maintaining a Navigable Canal [the Rochdale Canal] from the Calder Navigation, at or near Sowerby Bridge Wharf, in the Parish of Halifax, in the West Riding of the County of York, to join the Canal of His Grace the Duke of Bridgewater, in the Parish of Manchester, in the County Palatine of Lancaster; and also certain Cuts from the said intended Canal. 34 Geo. 111., c.