Leyland Historical Society
Though by 1834 the need for the workhouse was gone as there was ample work for everyone in the village not like some nearby towns
The Villages of Leyland & Farington in 1844.
The 1861 Census
According to the 1861 census the workforce at the Workhouse site identifiable from their occupation who lived in Leyland numbered only five but this of course depends on the information given to the census taker.
By 1839, the Guardians were intent of providing for the poor by renting our the Workhouse as they did many alterations
The Smiths.
The Workhouse &
The Smiths.
John Smith from Liverpool and was born in 1793, became a farmer. He married Isabella Bannister, born in Tarleton or Hoole, depending which census you believe and by 1841 were living at Bannister House on School Lane next to Balshaw's, with William (20) and Helen (1).
1851 Census
William Smith – Waterproof Manufacturer
1859 Death Certificate
William Smith – Heart failure
1861 Census
Sarah Smith – Hose pipe Manufacturer
As can be seen from the 1844 map of Leyland, the Workhouse is on a green field site with no other housing or premises being nearby. The nearest housing being the row of cottages opposite the top of School Lane.
The outline of the workhouse on the map matches the plan in the previous slide so it can be assumed that this is the building where the Smiths set up their business between 1846 and 1851.
The Leyland Workhouse
In 1780 the Workhouse was established by the Guardians of the Poor of the Chorley Union, with weaving shops built within the design this was not an easy option for the occupants.
Surname First Name Year of Birth Birth County Birth Town No Address Age Status Job Title
Banister Robert 1815 Lancashire Leyland 19 Bannister House, School Lane 56 Head Hosepipe Manager
Banister Mathew 1832 Lancashire Leyland Barn Fold Cottage 39 Head Hosepipe Weaver
Higham Ralph 1804 Lancashire Leyland 31 Golden Hill 57 Head Hosepipe Weaver
Smith John 1793 Lancashire Liverpool 10 Golden Hill 68 Head Labourer
Spiby William 1834 Lancashire Leyland Bradshaw Street 27 Head Hosepipe Weaver
William Smith married Sarah Ann Berry on 8th January 1846, she was born in 1822, her parents from Chorley were Joseph and Mary Berry, Joseph was an overlooker in a Cotton Mill in 1841.
1200s Leyland Corn Mill First mention in records
1382 Farington Corn Mill Rebuilt due to complaint
1541 Farington Corn Mill Mill mentioned in Farington papers
1569 Leyland Windmill Mentioned In use in Farington papers
1656 Wigan Road Blacksmiths Mentioned in records
1684 Leyland Windmill Last mentioned in use
1780s Northbrook Bleach Works Established as Small Crofters
1790 Fox Lane Weavers Cottages Built as a Friendly Society
1790s John Stanning & Sons Established as Small Crofters
1806 Bradshaw Street Cottages Built as a Friendly Society
1810 Heaton Street Cottages Financed by local landlord
1819 Northbrook Bleach Works Mentioned in Bleachworks survey
1835 Farington Mill Built
1836 Farington Mill Mill in full production
1836 Townfield House House built with looms in basement
1838 Leyland Railway Station Line opened from Wigan to Preston
1844 John Stanning & Son First Lease as Bleachworks
1844 Water Street Cottages Shown on first Ordnance Survey Map
1844 Bow Lane Terrace Shown on first Ordnance Survey Map
1845 Earnshaw Bridge Mill Built and run by Pilkington & Berry
1849 Leyland Gas Works - Towngate Original Gas Works established
By 1861, John, Isabella, Thomas and Margaret, together with retired school mistress sister were all living at 10 Golden Hill Lane where John was now a labourer in the Hose Pipe factory run by her daughter in law.
By 1851, the farm was 22 acres, there was a grand child, Isabella Kirby (2) from Burnley, Cuthbert Bannister (56), brother of Isabella from Much Hoole and the lodger, Peter Turner, all living at Bannister House (note that Bannister seems to be a reoccurring theme here).
From the 1893 Map, Bannister House can be seen in School Lane. The fields they farmed were across the road, field nos. 772 and 773.
Next door in the Golden Hill School (Balshaw’s Charity) was Margaret Smith (49), John Smith’s sister from Liverpool, who was the school mistress at Balshaw's.
Living with Margaret were Thomas (30), Margaret (16) and Ellen (10) all children of her brother John.
To begin with Industrial Leyland you have to go back to the 13th and 14th century when there were two corn mills in Leyland and Farington on the River Lostock and its tributary Mill Brook. By the 17th century these were followed by the windmill up by old Worden. Various blacksmiths were then being opened around the village, with the workhouse on Wheelton Lane opening in 1780 incorporating a weaving department.
The bleachers were also moving into Northbrook and later Shruggs, so by the original Ordnance Survey of Leyland in 1844, there is the village around the cross with the weavers cottages on Union Street (Fox Lane) and Bradshaw Street (Spring Gardens). Other cottages were on Water Street (Towngate) and Tup Row (Heaton Street off Golden Hill Lane).
Whilst over by the new railway with its station on Golden Hill and into Farington there was the relatively new Farington Mill with the adjacent housing on Mill Street and Spring Gardens (Stanifield Lane). The village being lit by the new gas lighting from the gas works behind the Ship on Towngate.
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