Longton, Lancashire

Longton is a small rural community in the west of the borough of South Ribble, Lancashire about 5 km south west of Preston.

History

Longton is a village of ancient origin. The Parish Church, St. Andrew's was completed in 1887 when the previous chapel of 1772 which stood nearer the main road was demolished. This stood on the site of an earlier chapel, the records of which are lost. Although a document refers to "Eafward Priest of Longton" as early as 1153, and there is evidence of a chapel in Longton just before the reformation in 1517,when William Walton endowed a chantry at the chapel, there is no evidence that it stood on or near the site of the present parish church. No archaeological evidence has ever been found on the current site, and the dedication of the early chapel is unknown. During the middle ages, Longton was known as "a sort of Holy Land" because the monks of Penwortham Priory tended their lands here. It was no doubt the monks who established the first chapel here. Many mediaeval documents survive which are mostly concerning rents paid to the Shireburn Family of Stonyhurst. One mentions a meadow called "Tirolkar" which bears a remarkable resemblance to the "Hallcar" of today.

Churches

Apart from the Anglican Church, there is a Methodist Chapel and a Catholic Church. Non-Conformism: A small, plain Wesleyan Chapel was built in Marsh Lane in 1807 and enlarged in 1833. In 1872 a pleasing new chapel was built in the Early English style. By 1837 the Primitive Methodists had become so numerous that they opened a Chapel in Chapel Lane but as time went on they declined and the Chapel was converted into a pair of houses. Despite the successful application for a licence to build a Congregational Chapel in 1821, it never got built. Catholicism: St Oswald's Catholic Church was established in 1893 and on 16th October 1894 a chapel / school was opened, entirely at the expense of a wealthy Liverpool priest, Canon Lennon. By 1965 the congregation had vastly increased and a new church was build on an adjacent site.

Places of Interest

Longton Brickcroft is a former brickworks which has been transformed into a nature reserve and public open space. It was declared a Local Nature Reserve by South Ribble Borough Council in 1998.[1] The environment has been made extremely attractive, dominated by water which has filled the former clay pits. One of the water areas is available for fishing. The areas surrounding the water have been allowed to develop naturally with trees, shrubbery and wild plants.

The Brickcroft will be of particular interest to birdwatchers and botanists with seating and footpaths making it accessible for most visitors. A purpose built visitor centre contains informative displays on the site's history, local wildlife and the environment. Facilities include toilets with disabled and baby changing provision, car parking and a picnic area.

A small Royal Observer Corps / UKWMO nuclear observation bunker can be found to the north-west of the village on Back Lane. Its position is concealed as it is located on a private field, and as such it is relatively unknown among villagers.

The Dolphin Inn

This pub is known locally as The Flying Fish. It used to be owned and managed by the Holmes family, then ownership was passed to Max Drelincourt.

Richard Holmes, who grew up in this pub, is now married to Ann Holmes (nee Wilkins), mother of Jan Farnworth.