Townships: Skelmersdale

A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 3. Originally published by Victoria County History, London, 1907.

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'Townships: Skelmersdale', in A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 3, ed. William Farrer, J Brownbill( London, 1907), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol3/pp282-284 [accessed 25 November 2024].

'Townships: Skelmersdale', in A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 3. Edited by William Farrer, J Brownbill( London, 1907), British History Online, accessed November 25, 2024, https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol3/pp282-284.

"Townships: Skelmersdale". A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 3. Ed. William Farrer, J Brownbill(London, 1907), , British History Online. Web. 25 November 2024. https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol3/pp282-284.

In this section

SKELMERSDALE

Schelmeresdele, Dom. Bk.; Skelmersdale, 1202; Scalmardale, 1246; Skelmaresdale, 1300. There are some eccentric spellings (e.g. Kermersdale, 1292), but only one variant requiring notice, viz. Skelmardesdale and the like, occurring 1300 to 1360.

Skelmersdale is a particularly bare, unpleasing district, for the most part occupied by collieries, with huge banks of black refuse at intervals amongst tree-less fields. In the outlying parts of the township crops of potatoes and corn are grown in a soil which appears to be sand and clay mixed. That clay constitutes a large proportion of the sub-soil is evidenced by the numerous brickworks, which do not tend to render the landscape more picturesque. The River Tawd flows northward through the township on its way to the shady Lathom woodlands, quickly exchanging a monotonous landscape for one varied with foliage and pleasant meadows. The geological formation consists almost entirely of the middle coal measures, which, over a very small area on the eastern border of the township, are overlaid by the lower mottled bunter sandstones. Near Sephton's Hall in the east the underlying millstone grit is thrown up by a fault over a very small area.

The township is mostly on high ground, 230 feet being reached in the centre of the village. Its area is 1,940½ acres. (fn. 1) The village of Skelmersdale lies in the western corner; to the north-east is the hamlet called Stormy corner. The White Moss, now reclaimed, anciently formed part of the boundary between this township and Bickerstaffe.

The railway from Ormskirk to St. Helens passes through the village, where there is a station. The main highway leads east to Wigan, and west, dividing into two, to Ormskirk.

A local board of fifteen members governed the township from 1874 (fn. 2) until 1894, when it was replaced by an urban district council of fifteen members. The gas and water works are the property of the council. The population numbered 5,699 in 1901.

MANOR

According to Domesday Book SKELMERSDALE was in 1066 held by Uctred, who also held Dalton and Uplitherland; like these it was assessed as one ploughland, and was worth the normal 32d. beyond the usual rent. (fn. 3) Later it was part of the forest fee, held by the Gernet family. The first of them known to have held it, Vivian Gernet, gave Skelmersdale and other manors to Robert Travers; these were held in 1212 by Henry Travers under Roger Gernet. (fn. 4)

Already, however, there had been a sub-infeudation of the manor in favour of Alan de Windle, for in 1202 Edusa his widow claimed dower in this among other manors, which she released to Alan's son Alan, upon an assignment of her dower here and in other lands. (fn. 5) From the later history it is clear that before 1290 the Holands of Upholland held a mesne manor here.

The superior lordship descended from the Gernets to the Dacres, with the rest of the forest fee. (fn. 6) The Travers mesne manor descended like Whiston, but the exact fate of it is unknown. The Holand inferior mesne manor passed to the Lovels, and after the forfeiture in 1487 was granted to Thomas earl of Derby. (fn. 7) The Windle manor passed, like Windle itself, to the Burnhulls and Gerards in succession; (fn. 8) but in the time of Elizabeth Sir Thomas Gerard sold it to Henry Eccleston of Eccleston. (fn. 9) This family did not retain it more than thirty years; it was purchased by the earl of Derby in 1615, (fn. 10) and descended to Henrietta Maria Lady Ashburnham, (fn. 11) and was sold about 1717 to Thomas Ashhurst of Dalton. (fn. 12) From Henry Ashhurst it was purchased in 1751 by Sir Thomas Bootle, (fn. 13) and has since descended with Lathom, the earl of Lathom being now lord of the manor. His great-grandfather, upon elevation to the peerage, took his title from it as Baron Skelmersdale.

The family of Ashhurst had lands in 1346 (fn. 14) and frequently occur later. The Huytons of Billinge held land here as early as 1307. (fn. 15) There was also a family surnamed Flathyrale here in the fourteenth century, as various suits show. (fn. 16) The Swift family, numerous in the district to the present time, appear in some pleadings of 1556, when Peter Swift of London claimed lands held by his father John in Skelmersdale, Ormskirk, and Sefton. (fn. 17) The father had married for his first wife Margaret, daughter of Ralph Atherton, (fn. 18) having by her a daughter Joan, who, in virtue of the feoffment made on the marriage, became possessed of the disputed property. This descended to her son John Orrell; on which Peter Swift, as heir male, attempted to oust him, but the case was dismissed. (fn. 19) At the time of the sale of the manor to Henry Eccleston, the windmill was in the occupation of Thomas Sefton, who in the inquisition taken after his death in 1593 is called 'of Skelmersdale.' (fn. 20) There was also a family named Ascroft holding lands here and in other places adjacent. (fn. 21)

The local name occurs in a complaint in 1246 by Avice de Skelmersdale against Peter de Skelmersdale concerning land which she claimed as her inheritance. (fn. 22)

There is but little concerning this township in the various assize rolls, but a complaint by Richard son of Roger de Bury relates to a disturbance there in 1348. (fn. 23) A list of the inhabitants in 1366 has been preserved. (fn. 24)

In 1608 the capital messuage of Richard Moss, (fn. 25) a recusant, of Skelmersdale, was granted on lease by the king to Edward Thurstan and Robert Webb; (fn. 26) Richard Moss was still living in 1628 when, as a convicted recusant, he paid double to the subsidy. (fn. 27) Two families of the name appear on the recusant roll of 1641— Henry Moss and Elizabeth his wife, and Joan wife of Richard Moss. (fn. 28) The hearth-tax list of 1666 shows that Richard Moss, a dyer, lived here, his dwelling having three hearths. (fn. 29) Richard Aspinwall of Albrough, and Edward Moss, as 'Papists,' registered estates here in 1717. (fn. 30)

The commons were enclosed in 1781; a copy of the award and plan are at Preston.

The Commonwealth surveyors in 1650 stated that a chapel had formerly existed in this place, but nothing further seems to be known of it. They recommended that a church should be built here. (fn. 31)

The Anglican church of St. Paul was first built by subscription in 1776, (fn. 32) and enlarged in 1823. A chapelry was constituted in 1858. (fn. 33) The vicar of Ormskirk is patron. The building had to be closed for a time owing to its insecurity caused by mining operations, but has been rebuilt. There is also a licensed mission church.

A school was erected in 1732.

There are Wesleyan Methodist, (fn. 34) Primitive Methodist, and Free Gospel chapels. The Salvation Army has a meeting place. The Congregationalists used two cottages for worship in 1878; in the following year they erected an iron chapel, (fn. 35) replaced in 1905 by a permanent church. The Welsh Presbyterians or Calvinistic Methodists also have a chapel.

The Roman Catholic church of St. Richard was opened in 1865.

Footnotes

  • 1. 1,942, including twelve of inland water; Census, 1901.
  • 2. Lond. Gaz. 3 Feb. 1874.
  • 3. V.C.H. Lancs. i, 284b.
  • 4. Inq. and Extents (Rec. Soc. Lancs. and Ches.), 43, 44.
  • 5. Final Conc. (Rec. Soc. Lancs. and Ches.), i. 38. She received an oxgang held by Ralph, a third of the oxgang held by Levenat, the two making a third part of half the manor; also a third of the meadow called Torkraell, a third part of certain land called Tunstede (town-stead) in Alan's demesne, and a third of the mill. Alan, therefore, had half the manor and demesne land and the mill.
  • 6. The Feodary of 1483 gives the complete account thus: 'Thomas Gerard, knight, holds Skelmersdale of Lord Holand and Lovel, and the said Lord Lovel of John Travers, and he of Lord Dacre, and he of the honour of Lancaster.' The Extent 1323–4 gives Skelmersdale the first place among the manors of this hundred held by William Dacre, adding the name of Robert Travers of Whiston as tenant; Dods. MSS. cxxxi. fol. 33b.
  • 7. Sir Robert de Holand was defendant in a suit referring to a tenement in Skelmersdale in 1354, John de Langton the younger and Isabel his wife being claimants; they did not proceed; Duchy of Lanc. Assize R. 3, m. vij. The inquisition after the death of Sir Thomas Gerard (1416) states that he held the manor of Skelmersdale of Lady Maud Lovel, Lady Holand, in socage and by a rent of 6s. per annum; Lancs. Inq. p.m. [Chet. Soc.], i, 123. The grant to Thomas earl of Derby and his heirs male was made early in 1489 with other confiscated lands; the manor is not distinctly mentioned; it appears to have been considered part of Upholland; Pat. R. 4 Hen. VII. In the case of Cecily Gerard the manor was said to be held of the earl of Derby; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. 18 Hen. VII, iii, n. 95. The tenure is similarly described in later inquisitions; see Lancs. Inq. p.m. [Rec. Soc. Lancs. and Ches.], i, 131. For fines concerning the Gerards, see Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F., bdle. 24, m. 74; also bdle. 26, m. 168, 209.
  • 8. See the account of Windle. In 1276 Peter de Burnhull and Alice his wife, in the latter's right, took action against some of the tenants of Skelmersdale; De Banc. R. 17, m. 53. The right of Alan, son of Peter de Burnhull, was recognized by a fine between him and Robert de Lathom in 1300; Final Conc. i, 189.
  • 9. By fine in 1584 Henry Eccleston secured from Sir Thomas Gerard, Elizabeth his wife, Thomas the son and heir apparent, and Cecily his wife, the manor of Skelmersdale with the appurtenances, and with houses, mill, gardens, and lands, and 20s. rent there. He also purchased other lands in the township, which have descended to the present owner of Scarisbrick; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 45, m. 142, 25; also bdle. 46, m. 220.
  • 10. In July, 1611, Edward Eccleston, with his wife and son, conveyed the manor, with lands in Skelmersdale, Lathom, and Dalton, to Robert Hudson, and four years later (Aug. 1615) Robert Hudson and Jane his wife sold the manor and lands to William, earl of Derby. Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 79, m. 3; bdle. 88, m. 45.
  • 11. It was among the manors of John earl of Anglesey and Henrietta Maria his wife in 1708; Pal. of Lanc. Plea R. 487, m. 4. James earl of Derby was also interested in it; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 260, m. 53.
  • 12. Thomas Ashhurst held it in 1721; Pal. of Lanc. Plea R. 512, m. 8.
  • 13. Ibid. R. 575, m. 9d.
  • 14. Final Conc. ii, 122.
  • 15. Robert de Huyton and Juliana, widow of Richard, son of Robert de Wolfall, had a suit as to the latter's dower; De Banc. R. 163, m. 3; also Final Conc., ii, 42, for an agreement dated 1321. John de Huyton of Skelmersdale was among a number of defendants in a suit brought in 1356 by Margery del Town; Duchy of Lanc. Assize R. 5, m. 20. By fine in 1557 the feoffees of Thomas Huyton restored to him his lands in Skelmersdale, Burscough, and Knowsley, three messuages, &c. and about 340 acres, the succession to be to his heirs male, with remainders to his daughters Margaret and Ellen; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 17, m. 27.
  • 16. William de Hale claimed possession of certain lands in right of his wife Maud, daughter of a certain Adam de Flathyrale. The latter, it would appear, had issue by a latter wife, Avice or Amice, viz. Mabel, wife of Adam, son of Richard de Haysarm, Avice, &c. to whom he devised the estate when out of his mind, to the injury of Maud; Assize R. 1424, m. 11; De Banc. R. 347, m. 158d., &c.
  • 17. Duchy of Lanc. Deposit. Ph. and M., lxxx, S. 3. The following account of the family is given. John Swift had a son John (d. about 1518), father of the plaintiff and of other sons—Arthur (a clerk aged 54 in 1556, chaplain to Lord Strange and curate or rector of Bidston) and John (aged about 65). They were by a second wife.
  • 18. Probably one of the illegitimate children of Ralph Atherton of Bickerstaffe; see the account of the township.
  • 19. Duchy of Lanc. Decrees, Ph. and M. x, fol. 266. In 1580 John Orrell and William his son and heir sold lands in Skelmersdale and Lathom to Thomas Sefton; three years later they sold others in Skelmersdale, &c. to Henry Eccleston; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 42, m. 17; bdle. 45, m. 101.
  • 20. Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. xvi, n. 34; his lands were held partly of the earl of Derby by a rent of 5s. 5d., and partly of Henry Eccleston by a rent of 12d. He had also lands in Ormskirk, Aughton, &c. His son Thomas died in 1601, leaving a son and heir of the same name, fourteen years of age; ibid. xviii, n. 34. Also Duchy of Lanc. Pleadings, Eliz. cxlv. E. 2. For fines concerning the Sefton holding see Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 25, m. 239; bdle. 48, m. 40.
  • 21. John Ascroft occurs in 1598 (Duchy of Lanc. Pleadings, Eliz. clxxxi, E. 4). Henry Ascroft died 7 Jan. 1600–1; Margaret his daughter and heir was then two years old. The estates were willed to the heirs male in succession :—Henry, son of Sylvester Ascroft, Richard brother of Henry; John, son of James Ascroft of Skelmersdale; Hugh Ascroft of Eccleston (Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. xviii, 8). The inquisition taken after the death of another Henry Ascroft, holding the same lands, may be seen in xxviii, 66 (13 Car. I).
  • 22. Assize R. 404, m. 13d.
  • 23. Exch. Misc. xc, 114. William the Cooper was one of the accused.
  • 24. Exch. Lay Subs. (Rec. Soc. Lancs. and Ches.), 120.
  • 25. Philip and Robert Moss, brothers, occur in a fine concerning land here in 1566; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 28, m. 57. Edward Moss, ibid. m. 89. Hugh Moss, bdle. 37, m. 111.
  • 26. Pat. R. 6 Jas. I, pt. 2.
  • 27. Norris D. (B.M.).
  • 28. Trans. Hist. Soc. (New Ser.), xiv, 234. The lands of Richard Moss, dyer, were confiscated and sold by the Parliament in 1652; under the same Act Peter Travers lost his lands also; Peacock, Index of Royalists, 43, 41.
  • 29. Lay Subs. Lancs. bdle. 250, n. 9.
  • 30. Engl. Cath. Non-jurors, 94, 148. For some particulars of the Mosses of Further House see Payne, Engl. Cath. Rec. 148. Aspinwall's tenement had been 'given to superstitious uses to defraud the next Protestant heir'; Lancs. Forfeited Estates Papers, 2 L.
  • 31. Commonwealth Ch. Surv. (Rec. Soc. Lancs. and Ches.), 94. It is under Ormskirk that M. Gregson makes his complaint that the clergy of the neighbourhood, though their revenues had enormously increased, had treated them as private property, doing nothing more for the people; Fragments (ed. Harland), 240.
  • 32. Consecrated in 1781; Gregson, Fragments.
  • 33. Lond. Gaz. 2 Aug. 1858.
  • 34. For their property see End. Char. Rep. 1899 (Ormskirk).
  • 35. Nightingale, Lancs. Nonconf. iv, 204.
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