Townships: Haighton

A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 7. Originally published by Victoria County History, London, 1912.

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'Townships: Haighton', in A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 7, ed. William Farrer, J Brownbill( London, 1912), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol7/pp124-127 [accessed 10 November 2024].

'Townships: Haighton', in A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 7. Edited by William Farrer, J Brownbill( London, 1912), British History Online, accessed November 10, 2024, https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol7/pp124-127.

"Townships: Haighton". A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 7. Ed. William Farrer, J Brownbill(London, 1912), , British History Online. Web. 10 November 2024. https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol7/pp124-127.

In this section

HAIGHTON

Halctun, Dom. Bk. (fn. 1); Aulton, 1200; Halicton, 1212; Halghton, 1278 and usually; Alghton, 1292; Halghton, Haughton, Haghton, Haighton, 1560– 1600.

This township, a continuation of Broughton eastward, is somewhat more elevated, as most of the surface is above the 200-ft. level. Blundel Brook forms the northern boundary, while Savock Brook, flowing through a little valley, cuts off the southeastern portion, in which is Cow Hill. The area is 1,078 acres, (fn. 2) and in 1901 the population numbered 273.

The principal road is that going through the centre of the township, leading eastward from Broughton through Haighton Green, and then turning south and east again towards Longridge. There was formerly a cross on the green. (fn. 3) To the north of the road are New Chingle Hall and Haighton Hall, while Haighton House lies to the south. There is neither railway nor canal. The township is governed by a parish council.

Manor

The land is almost entirely in pasture.

One plough-land in HAIGHTON was in 1066 included in Earl Tostig's fee of Preston. (fn. 4) After the Conquest it appears to have been included in the royal demesne, (fn. 5) but in 1212 Gillemichael de Haighton held 2 oxgangs of land there in drengage, rendering 2s. yearly. (fn. 6) This appears to have been the whole service due from the township, though the land is only a fourth part of the old assessment, for in 1297 the vill of Haighton was found to pay 2s. yearly to the Earl of Lancaster. (fn. 7) In 1324 a portion was held by John de Bokon, who paid 1s., and the rest by Adam son of William Banastre, who also paid 1s. (fn. 8) In 1346 the whole was held by Thomas Banastre, as half a plough-land, by the rent of 2s. (fn. 9) It descended like Balderston, being held by Richard Balderston in 1445–6 for the twentieth part of a knight's fee, the land being half a plough-land. (fn. 10) Haighton does not seem to have been usually regarded as a separate manor, and in a document of the 16th century is described as 'in Broughton'. (fn. 11)

A family which took a surname from it can be traced for some time (fn. 12); but the land seems to have been very much divided, (fn. 13) the Elstons, (fn. 14) Singletons, (fn. 15) and neighbouring owners, as appears from the inquisitions and other records, having estates therein. (fn. 16) The Hoghtons of Hoghton in Leyland held lands here from the time of Edward I (fn. 17); the estate was once called a manor. (fn. 18) Cockersand Abbey had a little land. (fn. 19) In the 17th century one residence was called the Hall, and its owners, named Wadsworth, recorded a pedigree in 1664. (fn. 20) In consequence of their taking the Jacobite side in 1715 the estate was forfeited. (fn. 21) It was afterwards held by Edward Pedder, Blacklidge of Wheelton and Anderton of Euxton. (fn. 22) Another noteworthy family was that of Gerard (fn. 23); their estate was sold to James Francis Anderton, and is now held by his son Mr. Wilfrid Francis Anderton of Haighton House. (fn. 24)

Wadsworth of Haighton. Gules three fleurs de lis argent.

George Charnley, Richard Whittingham and Lawrence Wilkinson, described as of Haighton, in 1631 compounded for refusing knighthood by payments of £10 each. (fn. 25)

Two or three estates were sequestered by the Commonwealth authorities for delinquency or recusancy, (fn. 26) and some small tenements were registered by 'Papists' in 1717. (fn. 27)

Footnotes

  • 1. It is difficult to distinguish the townships of Haighton, Aighton and Hoghton in mediaeval deeds, but the first is commonly Halghton and the second Aghton.
  • 2. 1,077 acres, inchidmg 2 of inland water; Census Rep. 1901.
  • 3. Lancs, and Ches. Antiq. Soc. xx, 178.
  • 4. V.C.H. Lancs, i, 288a. As will be seen from the text Haighton was in later times regarded as 2 oxgangs of land or else half a plough-land.
  • 5. Farrer, Lancs. Pipe R. 130; '12d. of the increment of Aulton' for the halfyear.
  • 6. Lancs. Inq. and Extents (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), i, 51. Richard de Haighton held the same land by the same service in 1226; ibid, i, 140. He was living in 124.8, but Walter son of Richard de Haighton appears in 1251 and 1261; ibid, i, 176, 183, 228. Robert son of William son of Walter de Haighton was plaintiff in 1334 against Paulin son of William son of Walter and Gilbert son of Walter de Haighton, also against William son of Amry de Haighton: Assize R. 1417, m. 7d.
  • 7. Lancs. Inq. and Extents, i, 289. The Banastre estate may have been derived in part from Robert son of Walter de Haighton, who gave all his wood in Haighton (within certain bounds) to Thomas Banastre of Bretherton; Kuerden MSS. iv, H 5.
  • 8. Dods. MSS. exxxi, fol. 39; John de Bolton held a messuage and 40 acres, and Adam Banastre the whole remainder of the hamlet of Haighton. In 1326 it was found that William son of Ellen de Haighton had held 1 acre (worth 6d. a year) in the vill of Haighton of Adam son and heir of William Banastre, a minor, by 1d. rent; a messuage and 9 acres of Richard de Haighton by 3d. rent; 12 acres of John de Haighton by 2d. rent; and 8 acres of Walter de Haighton by 3d. rent, the annual value of these 29 acres was 8d. each. The heir was William's son Richard, aged twenty-four; Inq. p.m. 19 Edw. II, no. 51. John de Bolton is stated to have received lands in Haighton, with acquittance of multure in the mill, from John de Coppull, the remainder being to Robert son of John de Bolton and his heirs by Joan daughter of Thomas le Waleys; the grant was made in 1318. Afterwards Robert sold to Roger de Elston, living in 1363, and he died without issue by Joan; Memo. R. (L.T.R.) 128, m. xxi. Margaret (then wife of William de Childers) widow of Robert son of John de Bolton claimed dower in 1366; De Banco R. 425, m. 234. The surname Bolton long continued in the township.
  • 9. Surv. of 1346 {Chet. Soc), 50. Sir Thomas Banastre held in 1379; Lancs. Inq. p.m. (Chet. Soc), i, 15.
  • 10. Duchy of Lanc. Knights' Fees, bdle. 2, no. 20. In 1456 Richard Balderston held the manor of Haighton by Goosnargh of the king as of his duchy in socage by a rent of 2s.; its clear value was 4 marks a year; Lancs. Inq. p.m. (Chet. Soo), ii, 63. This is one of the rare instances in which it is called a manor. Portions of the Balderston estate are named later in the possessions of Edmund Dudley (1507), Thomas Raddiffe of Winmarlcigh (1521), Thomas Earl of Derby (1523) and Sir Alexander Osbaldeston (1544); Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. iv, no. 13; v, no. 3, &c.; v, no. 68; viii, no. 1. No particulars of tenure are given for Haighton.
  • 11. The wardens of Broughton Chapel in 1539 demised to William Singleton of Chingle Hall a messuage in Haighton in Broughton at a rent of 10s. 10d.; Towneley MS. HH, no. 1575. This may only mean ' in the chapelry of Broughton.'
  • 12. One branch has been named in preceding notes. John de Haighton occurs in 1244; Lancs. Inq. and Extents, i, 159, 160. Alice daughter of Adam de Blackburn in 1276–8 complained that John de Haighton, Ellen his wife and Katherine, Maud and Joan his daughters had disseised her of her free tenement in the place, and recovered; De Banco R. 17, m. 27; Assize R. 1238, m. 32; 1239, m. 37. In 1292 Katherine daughter of John de Haighton withdrew her claim against John de Haighton; Assize R. 408, m. 69 d. Much of the land of this family appears to have been acquired by Hoghton of Hoghton, as below. Godith de Elston and Roger son of William de Elston agreed with Joan widow of John de Haighton for a lease of their lands to her; Add. MS. 32106, no. 783. John de Haighton gave his daughters Joan, Katherine, Maud and Margery his house of Brunden, lands held by Roger and Paulin, sons of William de Elston, and homages and services in the vill of Haighton, at a rent of 12d.; Kuerden MSS. iii, H 2. John son of John de Haighton granted Robert de Whittingham certain lands, the bounds at one point following Brunden to the east; the rent was a pair of gloves or 1d.; ibid. In 1293–4 Katherine and Joan, daughters of John de Haighton, made claims against John son of Robert de Singleton and Alice his wife, and against Master Richard de Hoghton, in respect of tenements in Haighton; De Banco R. 101, m. 100 d.; 104, m. 81 d. In 1332 Richard de Haighton granted some of his land upon Highfield; Kuerden fol. MS. foL 175. Richard made a grant in 1358; ibid. fol. 189. In 1377 Maud and Margaret, daughters of Richard de Haighton and Euphemia his wife, had hereditary lands delivered to them; ibid. fol. 256. Robert Greenacre and others, probably trustees, in 1416 gave a tenement in Haighton to Thomas Haighton and his heirs; ibid. fol. 87. Ughtred Hothersall in 1441–2 became bound to William son and heir of Thomas Haighten for the fulfilment of contracts; ibid. fol. 189. William Haighton was defendant in 1442; Pal. of Lanc Plea R. 4, m. 1. William occurs again in 1459 and 1464; Kuerden fol. MS. fol. 88, 63.
  • 13. A fine respecting 'Haighton' in 1311 may refer to some other place of the name; Final Conc. (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), ii, 8. In 1317–18 John de Brockholes claimed land in Haighton against Richard son of Richard de Fishwick and Cecily his wife; De Banco R. 221, m. 219 d. Eve widow of Henry de Blackburn in 1336 claimed a messuage there against John de Blackburn; ibid. 306, m. 128. Land in Haighton was among the Clitheroe estates in 1342; Final Conc, ii, 114. In 1347 Simon Breton and Joan his wife claimed an acre of land against William del Hall and Robert son of Robert del Moor; the last named seems to have been the owner; Assize R. 1435, m. 16. Isolda widow of William del Hall had lands in 1372; Kuerden fol. MS. fol. 87. John de Cottam of Haighton made a feoffment of his lands in 13895 ibid. fol. 88. A John son of William de Cottam was defendant to a claim by Adam son of Richard de Holmes in 1337; De Banco R. 311, m. 156d. Henry Cottam of Haighton died in 1592 holding a capital messuage, &c., of Richard Hoghton by 6d. rent. George his eon and heir was seventeen years old; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. xvi, no. 49.
  • 14. a In 1329 Roger and Paulin sons of William de Elston claimed a tenement in Haighton against Henry de Herrys and Cecily his wife; Assize R. 427, m. 3 d. (Henry de Hericy had land in Wheatcroft from John de Haighton in 1287; Add. MS. 32106, no. 649.) John son of William son of Robert de Elston in 1345 claimed 40 acres of land against Robert and Adam sons of Ellis de Knoll; De Banco R. 341, m. 226. Roger de Elston already named and Anabel his wife had lands in Haighton, and part of two mills, which were in 1348 settled on Roger son of John de Elston, Ralph and Thomas his brothers, and the heirs of Roger de Elston of Killanshagh; Kuerden fol. MS. fol. 291. Robert de Bolton was a witness. William son of Roger de Elston in 1350 gave his brother Roger land called the Moss and rents from the tenements of William son of Paulin de Elston, Roger son of Ellis de Knoll and Henry son of William Amricson in Haighton; ibid. fol. 111. The feoffees in 1414 granted Margaret widow of John Elston various lands in Haighton, with remainders to Thomas Elston and Nicholas his brother; Harl. MS. 2112, fol. 100/141. In 1429–30 Roger Elston gave lands, formerly Reginald Elston's, to trustees for Ellen daughter of Thomas Haighton; Add. MS. 32107, no. 2991–2. Some of the Elston lands probably went to the Blundells of Preston, for in 1452–3 John Blundell and Agnes widow of Hugh Longton granted land in Haighton to William son of John Blundell; Harl. MS. 2112, fol. 100/141.
  • 15. b Nicholas son of Gilbert de Singleton in 1384 had lands in Haighton within these bounds: Beginning at Falsnape Cloughhead on the west, following the Moss Dyke east to Christopher de Whittingham's land, then north to Brunden, following this westward to Falsnape Cloughfield and so south to the startingpoint; Duchy of Lanc. Anct. D. L 1061. The same piece of land apparently (in Falsnape Wray) had been given (temp. Henry III) by Richard de Haighton to Richard son of Roger de Broughton; ibid. L 1074. Nicholas son of William Singleton had land here in 1471; Kuerden fol. MS. fol. 396. John son of William Singleton in 1488–9 had land in Haighton, including Stubbings, formerly belonging to Henry Haighton; Towneley MS. DD, no. 1289. John Singleton of Shingle Hall in 1571 granted Thomas Hoghton of Lea an annuity out of a messuage, &c., in Haighton by Fulwood; Add. MS. 32106, no. 804. Jane daughter of John Singleton was in 1587 wife of Christopher Harris, and had land in Haighton and West Stubbings; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 49, m. 267. John Singleton of Shingle Hall was in 1530 said to hold his messuage, &c., in Haighton in socage of Sir Richard Hoghton by a rent of 11d. and a pair of gloves, and a similar return was made after the death of his son William in 1541; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. vi, no. 32; viii, no. 9. Later, however, the tenure was said to be of the queen by knight's service; ibid. xiii, no. 16; xiv, no. 67.
  • 16. Robert Hesketh in 1490 held lands in Haighton of Nicholas Harrington by the rent of a grain of pepper; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. iii, no. 72; v, no. 16. Sir Thomas Ashton had part of the Harrington land in Haighton in 1514; ibid, iv, no. 80. Thomas Bradley in 1556 purchased lands in Haighton and Hothersall from Sir Thomas Hesketh and Alice his wife; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 16, m. 12. John Bradley held in 1597, but the tenure is not stated; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. xvii, no. 28. The tenement descended to Osbaldeston; Lancs. Inq. p.m. (Rec. Soe, Lancs, and Ches.), i, 179. Lawrence Starkie had lands in Haighton as well as in Broughton, and they descended in the same way; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. ix, no. 21. Thomas Dixon in 1597 purchased a messuage, &c., in Haighton and Whittingham from James Anderton of Lostock, who seems to have purchased in 1591 from Gabriel Pennington; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 58, m. 81; 53, m. 136. Christopher Dixon died in 1605 holding his lands (in the townships named) of the king by the hundredth and the thousandth parts of a knight's fee; Lancs. Inq. p.m. (Rec. Soc. Lancs. and Ches.), i, 40. Sir Richard Hoghton in 1606 sold to George Lorimer a messuage, &c., in Haighton; Add. MS. 32106, no. 770. George died in 1638, holding it of 'the lord of Haighton' in socage, and leaving a son John, aged thirty-seven; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. xxx, no. 57. Thomas Preston had lands in Haighton and Warton in 1591; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 53, m. 178. George Preston died in 1602 holding lands in Haighton and Whittingham of the king by the two-hundredth part of a knight's fee; Lancs. Inq. p.m. (Rec. Soc.), i, 103. John Robinson purchased lands from Bolton and from Singleton in 1596–7; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 58, m. 46; 59, m. 97. Edward Robinson died in 1608 holding lands of the king by the three-hundredth part of a knight's fee; Lancs. Inq. p.m. (Rec. Soc), i, 114. John Robinson of Whittle died in 1628 holding land, tenure unstated; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. xxvi, no. 20. John Taylor in 1586 acquired a messuage from Roger Taylor and Ellen his wife; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 48, m. 257. Christopher Taylor died in 1634 holding a messuage, &c., of 'the lord of Haighton,' and leaving as heir his son John, over forty years of age; Towneley MS. C 8, 13 (Chet. Lib.), 1190. Anthony Wall and Margaret his wife had a messuage, &c., in 1596; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 59, m. 181. Anthony died at Preston in 1601 holding three messuages and three-eighths of a windmill in Whittingham and Haighton, also messuages, &c., in Preston. His son and heir William was eight years old; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. xviii, no. 6. William Wall died in 1626 at Whittingham holding the same estate and leaving as heir his son William, aged eight; ibid, xxvi, no. 50. In the following cases the tenure is not stated: Sir Richard Shireburne, Henry Brown, Thomas Beesley and Thomas Clarkson; ibid, xvi, no. 3; xviii, no. 23; xxviii, no. 62; xxx, no. 82.
  • 17. a The estate has been mentioned in previous notes. John son of John de Haighton in the time of Edward I made a number of grants and quitclaims to Master Richard de Hoghton; Add. MS. 32106, no. 35, 653, 662, &c. Joan daughter of John de Haighton and Maud her sister released to Master Richard their right in the lands he had acquired from their father; ibid. no. 624. Joan widow of John released her dower right; ibtd.no. 650. Joan, Maud and Margery daughters of John de Haighton afterwards released their claim to Richard son of Richard de Hoghton; ibid. no. 654. Robert son of Warine de Elston and Ellen his wife, daughter of Roger Mustard (about 1280), granted all their lands in Haighton to Master Richard de Hoghton, excepting a rood held of the heirs of Richard le Boteler; ibid. no. 656. In 1315 Richard son of Richard de Hoghton granted land to Paulin de Elston and Christiana his wife at a rent of 13s. 4d. yearly; ibid. no. 714. Sir Richard Hoghton was in 1422 found to hold a messuage and land in Haighton of the king as Duke of Lancaster in socage; Lancs. Inq. p.m. (Chet. Soc), i, 146. Anilla daughter and heir of Robert Singleton (formerly of Chipping) in her widowhood gave her hereditary lands in Haighton to Henry and Ralph sons of Sir Richard Hoghton; Add. MS. 32106, no. 663. John son of William Blundell and cousin and heir of Roger Blundell in 1491–2 granted to William Hoghton the lands in Haighton which had formerly belonged to Alexander Blundell; Dods. MSS. cxlii, fol. 55b. Lands in Haighton are mentioned in later Hoghton inquisitions, &c., but the tenure is not stated. In 1566 Thomas Hoghton purchased lands, &c., in Haighton and Dilworth from John Osbaldeston and Jane his wife; PaL of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 28, m. 186. Richard Hoghton in 1577 purchased a messuage, &c., from Henry Earl of Derby; ibid. bdle. 39, m. 93.
  • 18. b See note 22 below.
  • 19. Adam son of Uctred gave all his lands in Haighton bounded by Moorsyke, Thorny Clough, Savock and Cabber Clough and across the moor to the startingpoint; Cockersand Chartul. i, 228.
  • 20. Dugdale, Visit. (Chet. Soc), 322. The Wadsworths had also the 'manors' of Fulwood and Cadley; Exch. Dep.(Rcc, Soc. Lancs. and Ches.), 90.
  • 21. Gillow and Hewitson, Tyldesley Diary, 62; Lancs, and Ches. Rec. (Rec. Soc. Lancs. and Ches.), i, 171. See also Cal. Exch. Pleas, W 2.
  • 22. Fishwick, Preston, 359.
  • 23. John Gerard died in 1635 holding lands in Warton, Livesey, Whitton, Withnell and Haighton. His messuage in the last-named township was called Rogerson House. The heir was his son Evan, aged forty; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. xxvii, no. 20. An Evan Gerard 'of Brindle,' skinner, was a burgess at the Guild of 1622; Preston Guild R. 89,93.
  • 24. Fishwick, op. dt. 357, where a pedigree is given.
  • 25. Misc. (Rec. Soc. Lancs. and Ches.), i, 222.
  • 26. Richard Charnley died in 1623 holding messuages and lands in Haighton of the heirs of Balderston by the rent of a rose; his heir was his nephew George (son of Lawrence) Charnley, aged twentyfour; Lancs. Inq. p.m. (Rec. Soc), iii, 367. Henry Charnlcy died in 1637 holding a messuage in Haighton, with common of pasture for all cattle, of Gilbert Hoghton, 'as of his manor of Haighton,' in socage. Hugh, his son and heir, was seven years of age; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. xxx, no. 62. Henry son of Hugh Charnley in 1653 desired to be admitted to compound for the two-thirds of his father's estate sequestered 'for recusancy only' in 1643; Hugh had died about 1650; Royalist Comp. Papers (Rec. Soc. Lancs. and Ches.), ii, 20–2. Thomas Beesley of Haighton forfeited his lands for some delinquency, but on the petition of his son John in 1653 the sentence seems to have been reversed; Index of Royalists (Index Soc), 41; Royalist Comp. Papers, i, 171–2. John Hunt was found to have been convicted of recusancy and to have compounded for his estate in 1634; Cal. Com. for Comp. iv, 3144.
  • 27. Evan (son of John) Gerard of Haighton and Brindle, Thomas Rogerson, James Chester, Anne Sudall, Henry Sudall, Roger Livesey, John Bolton (or Bilton), Lawrence Simpson and John Slater; Estcourt and Payne, Engl. Cath. Nonjurors, 105, 137–8.
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