Townships: Poulton, Bare and Torrisholme

A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 8. Originally published by Victoria County History, London, 1914.

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'Townships: Poulton, Bare and Torrisholme', in A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 8, ed. William Farrer, J Brownbill( London, 1914), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol8/pp64-69 [accessed 9 November 2024].

'Townships: Poulton, Bare and Torrisholme', in A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 8. Edited by William Farrer, J Brownbill( London, 1914), British History Online, accessed November 9, 2024, https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol8/pp64-69.

"Townships: Poulton, Bare and Torrisholme". A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 8. Ed. William Farrer, J Brownbill(London, 1914), , British History Online. Web. 9 November 2024. https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol8/pp64-69.

In this section

POULTON, BARE AND TORRISHOLME

Poltune, Dom. Bk.; Poulton, 1226; Pulton, 1280.

Bare, Dom. Bk.

Toredholme, Dom. Bk.; Toroldesham, 1200; Thaurrandeshal', 1201; Turoldesholm, 1203; Thoroudesholm, Thoroldesholm, 1212; Thoredesholm, 1233; Thoresholme, 1297.

The total area of this composite township is 1,725½ acres, (fn. 1) of which Poulton in the north-west has 811½ acres, Bare in the northern corner 249 and Torrisholme in the south-east 665. The name of Poulton—to which the distinguishing epithet of 'le Sands' was added—has since the opening of the railway been superseded by Morecambe, (fn. 2) which now applies to the whole township. It was the opinion of antiquaries that the bay was the estuary called Moricambe by Ptolemy, but the old local name appears to have been merely 'the Sands' or 'Kent Sands.' The surface is flat and lies very low, but there is near the eastern boundary a small hill which has a tumulus upon it. Anstable in Torrisholme and Hestham in Poulton are old names. The population in 1901 numbered 11,798 and 12,133 in 1911.

The principal road is that from Skerton west to Morecambe; it has branches north to Bare and south to Heaton and Heysham. A wide road, two miles and a half in length, has been formed along the edge of the bay as a promenade for the visitors to Morecambe. The first railway to the place was opened in 1848; it was then called the NorthWestern, and is now part of the Midland system. (fn. 3) The old company formed a dock with a lighthouse at Morecambe, but this has been abandoned by it for those recently opened at Heysham, to which there is a branch line. Electric traction has been introduced and a new station has been built at Morecambe. The London and North Western Railway Company's line to Morecambe branches from the main line north and has an intermediate station at Bare Lane, in a detached part of Skerton. This line was opened in 1861. There are tramway services worked by Morecambe Corporation and by private companies running along the sea front from Heysham to Bare, and also from Morecambe through Torrisholme to Lancaster.

Rose Cottage, Morecambe

The place became a popular sea-bathing resort about a century ago, and after the opening of the railway in 1848 rapidly advanced, the attractions being, in addition to the open bay, the view of the mountains to the north, Helvellyn, Skiddaw and Coniston Old Man being visible, and the facilities for visiting the Lake district. There are all the usual means of entertainment in the town, which has grown up along the shore—piers with pavilions, (fn. 4) winter gardens, assembly room and ball-room, theatre and golf links. Steamers ply in the summer.

A musical festival extending over several days is held each spring. It was founded in 1893.

The old village of Poulton is near the shore to the north-east of the railway station. It has been greatly altered by modern conditions, but retains the old house now known as Poulton Hall and some 17th-century dwellings. The village of Bare is less changed. Torrisholme consists of a cluster of dwellings lying around a small triangular green, part of which is inclosed. Bare Hall is said to be haunted.

A cottage hospital was built in 1900 as a memorial of Queen Victoria's jubilee. (fn. 5)

At Bare there is a camping ground used through the summer by Territorials artillery. The local company has its head quarters at Sandylands in Heysham.

The old sea-fishing industry is still pursued, and shrimps and mussels are taken.

Two newspapers are published every Wednesday called the Visitor and the Times.

Manors

In 1066 there were three manors in the township—Poulton, Bare and Torrisholme—each rated as two ploughlands and pertaining to Earl Tostig's Halton fee. (fn. 6) After the Conquest the manors were separated and subdivided and were held by different tenures. The assessment was reduced to one plough-land each.

The manor of POULTON was held in thegnage by a rent of 10s., increased before 1200 to 15s. (fn. 7) It was the inheritance of Godith wife of Hugh son of Efward, (fn. 8) and their daughter Maud carried it in marriage to Walter de Parles, so that in 1212 it was recorded that Walter held one plough-land in Poulton by the king's charter and paid 15s. yearly. (fn. 9) The Gentyl family succeeded before 1297, when John le Gentyl held the plough-land by the same rent, (fn. 10) and it descended in them for about a century, (fn. 11) when it became divided, probably between co-heirs, into two or three portions. Richard Berborn and Thomas Lamplugh were two of the lords in 1458–9. (fn. 12) In 1483 John Lamplugh held the third part of the manor of the king as duke by knight's service. (fn. 13) The Lamplugh third was sold in 1559 to Sir Hugh Askew (fn. 14) and was afterwards purchased by Croft of Claughton. (fn. 15) The Berborn part descended to Curwen (fn. 16) and Nicholson, (fn. 17) but the Bellinghams of Levens had another share of the manor, (fn. 18) and seem to have acquired the whole, being holders till 1728. (fn. 19) The manor occurs in the records again in 1771, a feoffment being then made by William Atkinson, Margaret his wife, Miles Pennington, Mary his wife, James Wilson and Mary his wife. (fn. 20) The land had become divided among a large number of freeholders. A fourth part of the manor was included in Jane Arthington's settlement on her marriage with Benjamin Jowitt of Leeds in 1831, and was sold in 1844. to Roger Taylor. (fn. 21)

Gentyl. Or on a chief sable two mullets of six points argens pierced gules.

Berborn. Argenton a fesse humetty gules three leopards' faces of the field.

Lamplugr. Or a cross flory sable.

Bellingham. Argent three bugle-horns, sable stringed and garnished or.

Little is said of this part of the township in the records. (fn. 22) The Prior of Conishead held in alms half an oxgang of land there, (fn. 23) and the Prior of Lancaster had a grange. (fn. 24) Thomas Benison was a freeholder in 1600. (fn. 25) Francis Nicholson the younger, previously 'well affected to the Parliament,' took part with the forces raised for the king in 1648, and compounded for his offence by a fine of £133 3s. 4d. (fn. 26)

BARE was included in Count Roger of Poitou's demesne in 1094. (fn. 27) Later it was divided. One moiety or half a plough-land was in 1212 held by Gilbert de Kellet in thegnage, and his ancestor Bernulf son of Orm had granted it to Adam de Yealand at a free rent of 8s. (fn. 28) The other half plough-land was held by Maud de Kellet. (fn. 29) In 1226 this part of the township paid 16s. in all to the king. (fn. 30) Half an oxgang of land was about 1262 granted to Lancaster Priory by Thomas de Coupmanwra. (fn. 31) The manor or a moiety of it was acquired by the Dacres of Halton, (fn. 32) descending with Halton till the 16th century. In 1346 Sir William de Dacre held the moiety of a ploughland in socage, paying 8s. a year. Thomas de Walton and Simon de Bolton held the other half, also paying 8s. (fn. 33) Robert Bindloss of Borwick purchased land in Bare in 1594, the vendors giving a warranty against the heirs of Lord Dacre, (fn. 34) and after his death in the following year this tenement was found to be held of the queen as of her manor of East Greenwich in socage. (fn. 35) Few references to Bare occur in the records. (fn. 36) William Leyburne as a Royalist had his leasehold estate sequestered by the Parliament. (fn. 37) More recently the Lodge family held a large estate there, their house being called the Hall.

Dacre. Gules three escallops argent.

TORRISHOLME was in 1212 held in serjeanty by John de Torrisholme, who was larderer of the castle of Lancaster. (fn. 38) By 1233 the manor had passed by marriage to the Parles family, (fn. 39) and in 1297 Alan de Paries held one plough-land (except 80 acres) there, rendering 6s. 4d. to the earl, who himself held the 80 acres in demesne. (fn. 40) Robert de Holland purchased it from Alan in 1310. (fn. 41) In 1323 the manor was in the king's hands through Holland's forfeiture; it had paid 8s. free rent. At the same time Walter de Torrisholme and Agnes his wife held 20 acres there by a rent of 6s. 8d (fn. 42) The Parles family tried to regain possession, (fn. 43) and in 1346 John de Parles held the plough-land in socage, rendering 8s. a year. (fn. 44) In spite of this the Hollands continued to be lords of the manor until forfeited by the Duke of Exeter in 1461. (fn. 45) It was perhaps granted to Lord Stanley, for the Earl of Derby held it in 1521, paying the 8s. rent to the king. (fn. 46) A century later it was in the possession of Thomas Covell of Lancaster, (fn. 47) thus descending to John Brockholes. (fn. 48) It occurs again in 1812, (fn. 49) and is now held by Mrs. Lawson and her sister Miss Lodge. (fn. 50) The Prior of Lancaster (fn. 51) and some other holders are named from time to time. (fn. 52)

Poulton Hall

Certain Royalists had their estates sequestered and confiscated by the Parliament in the Civil War time. (fn. 53) Two brothers, Francis and John Gate of Poulton, registered estates as 'Papists' in 1717. (fn. 54)

Poulton Hall is now in the occupation of Mr. William Tilly.

The rents of certain lands in the township and a parcel at Anstable Holme have from time immemorial been divided among the ratepayers of Torrisholme proportionately to their holdings. (fn. 55)

Borough

The borough of MORECAMBE, incorporated by charter in 1902, extends over the whole township. Before that it had been governed by a local board established in 1852. (fn. 56) A school board was formed in 1874. (fn. 57) The council consists of a mayor, six aldermen and eighteen councillors, elected from six wards. (fn. 58) The corporation in 1901 purchased the gasworks established in 1858 and erected electric light works in 1897. Water is supplied by Lancaster Corporation. The cemetery, opened in 1875, is managed by the corporation. An infectious diseases hospital has been built at Bare. The western part of the foreshore is owned by the corporation; the rest—east of the central pier—is held on lease from the duchy. (fn. 59) The corporation owns and works the tramway from Bare to the Heysham boundary. There is no coat of arms, but the corporation uses the device of a three-masted ship in full sail.

The places of worship are all modern. The oldest is Holy Trinity, built for the Church of England in 1745 and rebuilt in 1841. A district was assigned to it in 1860. (fn. 60) The incumbents, appointed by the vicar of Lancaster, are styled rectors, (fn. 61) the tithes of Poulton and half of Bare being held for them by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. (fn. 62) Two other churches—St. Lawrence's, 1878, and St. Barnabas', (fn. 63) 1898—rank as chapels of ease; there are temporary mission churches at Bare (St. Christopher's) and Torrisholme. A school was founded in 1732–45. (fn. 64)

In connexion with the Free Church of England is Emmanuel, 1886–99; one of the bishops of that body is in charge.

The various bodies of Methodists are well represented. The Wesleyans have two churches in Morecambe, one at each end of the town, built in 1875 and 1897, and a third in Torrisholme; the Primitive Methodists have two, and the United Free Church (1876) and Independent Methodists each one.

The Congregationalists have a church built in 1863, (fn. 65) the Baptists one called Zion (1882), the Plymouth Brethren have a meeting-place, as also has the Society of Friends, and the Salvation Army has a barracks.

The Roman Catholic Church of the Seven Dolours of the B. V. Mary was built in 1895.

Footnotes

  • 1. 1,801 acres, including 5 of inland water; Census Rep. 1901. The increase of area is in part due to the addition of a detached portion of Skerton (28 acres) in 1894; Loc. Govt. Bd. Order 31961. This part had a population of twelve in 1901, included in the number given in the text. There are also 129 acres of tidal water and 4,563 acres of foreshore.
  • 2. It has been denounced as 'a bogus local name'; N. and Q. (Ser. 9), v, 314.
  • 3. A second station was built in 1874 and the present one in 1907.
  • 4. The east or central pier was opened in 1869 and afterwards enlarged, the west pier in 1896. The latter was partly destroyed by a storm in 1906.
  • 5. End. Char. Rep.
  • 6. V.C.H. Lancs. i, 288b.
  • 7. Fairer, Lancs. Pipe R. 113, &c.
  • 8. Ibid. 115; Hugh son of Efward and Walter de Paries proffering 40s. and 2 marks for the confirmation of Hugh's charter in 1199–1200. This confirmation, reciting the descent and the gift by Hugh to Walter, is in Cal. Rot. Chart. (Rec. Com.), 27. Walter de Parles contributed 40s. to the tallage in 1201–2; ibid. 151.
  • 9. Lancs. Inq. and Extents, i, 89. Walter occurs again in 1226; ibid. 141. William son of Walter de Parles was a benefactor of Furness; Add. MSS. 33244, fol. 67. William de Parles held the plough-land in 1235; Final Conc. (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), i, 63. The Parles family also had Torrisholme for a time. In Poulton John son of William de Parles in and about 1277 granted common of pasture to Gilbert de Lancaster, between the pool of Bare and the field of Halleberg, and between the sand of Kent and the bounds of Torrisholme, and these grants were confirmed by Alan son of John de Parles; Kuerden MSS. iii, P 8. John le Gentyl in 1303 allowed Gilbert de Walton, Agnes his wife, Simon son of William de Bolton and Emma his wife, and the heirs of Agnes and Emma, to take 80 loads of turf from White Hill in Poulton; ibid.
  • 10. Lancs. Inq. and Extents, i, 295. John le Gentyl was in possession in 1285, when he was called upon to defend his right to a tenement in Poulton claimed by Gilbert de Lancaster; Assize R. 1271, m. 12. This claim occurs again in 1301; ibid. 419, m. 9. John le Gentyl in 1292 claimed the fulfilment of an agreement respecting an oxgang of land in Poulton (1290) against Adam son of William de Barton and Agnes his wife; Assize R. 408, m. 64. In 1290 John le Gentyl was excused from serving as coroner because he was already sub-escheator and verderer; Cal. Close, 1288–96, p. 83.
  • 11. In 1310 William le Gentyl and Philippa his wife made a settlement of the manor, with remainders to William, Thomas, Nicholas and John, sons of William the elder; Final Conc. ii, 8. William held it in 1323 by the rent of 15s.; Lancs. Inq. and Extents, ii, 119. In 1339 (?) Thomas and William le Gentyl gave to Nicholas Frere a field called Hestholme and a rent of 40s. from the manor of Poulton; Levens Hall D. In 1343 Thomas le Gentyl and Katherine his wife obtained possession of the manor; Final Conc. ii, 118. Thomas held as before in 1346; Survey of 1346 (Chet. Soc), 72.
  • 12. Pal. of Lanc. Plea R. 21, m. 43; the Abbess of Syon recovered a tenement in Poulton against Richard son of Thomas son of Margery Berborn (half), and Thomas son of John son of Hugh son of Sir John Lamplugh (half). The Lamplugh pedigree is in Burke, Commoners, iii, 161.
  • 13. Duchy of Lanc. Misc. Bks. cxxx, fol. 30. John Lamplugh died in 1486 holding a third part of the manor of Poulton and the third part of ten messuages, &c., there and other lands in Whittington by knight's service. John, the son and heir, was aged eighteen in 1496. Eleanor Lamplugh, widow, was in possession; Duchy Plead. (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), i, 9. From a pleading a little later (1500) it seems that Eleanor was daughter of Sir Henry Fenwick and widow of Sir Thomas Lamplugh, married to him about 1444; Sir Thomas died about 1475. The Berborns farmed the manor place and demesne lands belonging to Lamplugh; ibid. 12–14. Sir John Lamplugh and Katherine his wife were in possession in 1536; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 11, m. 53.
  • 14. Ibid. 21, m. 25. The sale included the manor of Poulton, with lands in Whittington, Docker and Newton; John Lamplugh and Joan his wife were deforciants.
  • 15. Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 33, m. 34; no manor is mentioned. Gabriel Croft was the purchaser from Henry Ayscowghe or Askew. In 1590 a third part of the manor was held by William and Edward Croft; ibid. bdle. 52, m. 169. In 1597 Christopher Nicholson obtained a rent of 51s. 7½d. from Poulton against William Croft and Jane his wife, who gave a warranty against William's brother Edward; ibid. bdle. 58, m. 304. William Croft died in 1606 holding messuages, &c., in Poulton; the tenure was unknown; Lancs. Inq. p.m. (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), i, 49. Edward Croft died in 1614 holding the same of the king in socage; ibid, ii, 90.
  • 16. In 1509 and later Sir Robert Bellingham complained that Giles Curwen and others were disturbing his possession of lands in the manor of Poulton held in coparcenary; Ducatus Lanc. (Rec. Com.), i, 126, 149. Giles Curwen's wife Agnes was daughter and heir of John Berborn; Cal. Star Chamber Proc. (many refs.).
  • 17. A pedigree recorded in 1613 (Visit. [Chet. Soc.], 28) states that Giles Curwen had a daughter Grace, who married Gilbert Nicholson and had a son Francis, whose son was Humphrey. Another daughter, Elizabeth, was mother of William Camden the herald and antiquary. Gilbert Nicholson occurs in a fine of 1573; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 35, m. 190. It is not clear that the Christopher Nicholson already named (1597) was of this family; he had in 1581 acquired a messuage from Gabriel Croft; ibid. bdle. 43, m. 156. William Nicholson paid £10 on refusing knighthood in 1631; Misc. (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), i, 221. He died in 1636 holding a messuage, &c., in Poulton of the king as duke, and leaving a son and heir Christopher, aged twentyfive; Towneley MS. C 8,13 (Chet. Lib.), 913. Francis Nicholson by his will in 1677 left tenements in Poulton and Torrisholme to his son Humphrey.
  • 18. In 1508 Richard (Robert) Bellingham and Anne his wife made a settlement of the manor of Poulton, with messuages, lands, &c., there and in Flookburgh, Silverdale, Whittington and Docker; Final Conc. iii, 163. Robert Bellingham died in 1540 holding the manor, &c., of the heir of Alan de Paries in socage by rendering a pair of gauntlets yearly; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. viii, no. 20. The heirs were his four daughters— Katherine wife of Richard Assheton, Elizabeth wife of Cuthbert Hutton, Dorothy wife of Anthony Duckett and Thomasina wife of William Thornburgh. For pedigree see Foster, Westmorland Visit. 4, 9; Dods. MSS. cxlix, fol. 103b. Richard Assheton and Katherine his wife made a settlement of their estate in Poulton in 1549; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 13, m. 36. It descended to their daughter Margaret, who married William Davenport of Bramhall; they were in possession in 1582; ibid. bdle.44, m. 35.
  • 19. In a recovery of the manor in 1727 the vouchees were Elizabeth and Dorothy Bellingham; Pal. of Lanc. Plea R. 524. In the following year Sir Thomas Echlin, bart., and Elizabeth his wife (one of the co-heirs), in conjunction with Thomas Thompson and Isabel his wife, made a feoffment of a moiety of the manor; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 302, m. 80.
  • 20. Ibid. bdle. 385, m. 230.
  • 21. Information of Mr. Tilly, town clerk.
  • 22. In 1328 Randle de Dacre of Halton had messuages, &c., in Poulton; Final Conc, ii, 69. Thomas Robinson died in 1633 holding two messuages, &c., of the king as of his duchy of Lancaster. The heir was his son William, aged forty-seven; Towneley MS. C 8,13, p. 997. Thomas Atkinson died in 1640 holding similarly; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. xxx, no. 48. His daughter Alice (then five years old) died two years afterwards, the heir being her uncle Christopher Atkinson, aged thirty-four; ibid, xxix, no. 55.
  • 23. By grant of William de Parles in 1235; Final Conc, i, 63. The prior claimed the whole manor.
  • 24. By grant of John de Parles and of William le Gentyl (1316); Lanc. Ch. (Chet. Soc), ii, 272–3.
  • 25. Misc. (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), i, 230.
  • 26. Royalist Comp. Papers (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), iv, 216. He had a brother Richard, aged seventeen. He had taken the National Covenant before the minister of Caton.
  • 27. –8 Farrer, Lancs. Pipe R. 290.
  • 28. Lancs. Inq. and Extents, i, 90. In 1297 Gilbert de Walton and Agnes his wife, together with Emma sister of Agnes, held half a plough-land in Bare of the Earl of Lancaster and paid 8s. rent; ibid. 295.
  • 29. Ibid. 91. Maud's right was acknowledged in 1206; Final Conc. i, 25. See further in the account of Over Kellet. In 1276 Alice widow of Thomas de Coupmanwra claimed dower in 3½ oxgangs of land in Bare against Robert de Coupmanwra; De Banco R. 14, m. 9d. For the other half oxgang see below.
  • 30. Lancs. Inq. and Extents, i, 141.
  • 31. Lanc. Ch. ii, 270. See the account of Over Kellet.
  • 32. Lancs. Inq. and Extents, i, 293; it was held with Over Kellet, &c., by Lady Joan de Dacre in 1297.
  • 33. Survey of 1346 (Chet. Soc.), 70. Margaret de Dacre died in 1361 holding 40 acres in Bare in Poulton of the Earl of Lancaster by the service of 7s. 6d. yearly; Inq. p.m. 36 Edw. III, pt. i, no. 62. The rent is the proportion for 3¾ oxgangs of land. About 1508 Sir Alexander Standish of Standish held land in Bare of Lord Dacre in socage; Lancs. Inq. p.m. (Chet. Soc), ii, 141. William Standish of Kendal had two messuages, &c., in the vill of Bare in 1521; Pal. of Lanc. Plea R. 132, m. 10. Thomas Goose in 1569 purchased a messuage, &c., from Thomas Standish and Maud his wife; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 31, m. 85.
  • 34. Ibid. bdle. 56, m. 147; the vendors were William Wolfall and Katherine his wife, Brian Newton and Anne his wife. A similar warranty was given in a sale or feoffment by Christopher Carus in 1 597; ibid. bdle. 58, m. 58. Rents amounting to 3s. 2d. were in 1770 paid from Bare to the Bradshaws of Halton.
  • 35. Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. xvii, no. 6, 7.
  • 36. Roger Nicholson purchased a messuage, &c., in 1550; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 14, m. 59. Gilbert Nicholson of Bare (see Poulton above) was a freeholder in 1600; Misc. (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), i, 230.
  • 37. Cal. Com. for Comp. v, 3210. It appears to have been forfeited altogether; Index of Royalists (Index Soc.), 43.
  • 38. Lancs. Inq. and Extents, i, 88. He had in 1200–1 paid half a mark to have undisturbed possession of his tenement and another half a mark in the following year to the scutage; Farrer, op. cit. 132, 152. In 1221 Roger de (West) Derby gave the king £20 for the wardship and marriage of the heir of Nicholas son of John; Excerpta e Rot. Fin. (Rec. Com.), i, 74. Thus it came about that in 1222–6 Maud daughter of Nicholas de Torrisholme was of the king's gift, and Roger the Clerk had her wardship; Lancs. Inq. and Extents, i, 130; Excerpta e Rot. Fin. loc. cit. In the king's gift were also Alice widow of the said Nicholas and Emma another widow ( ? John's); ibid.
  • 39. In 1233 William son of Ralph acknowledged the right of William de Parles and Maud his wife to the manor of Torrisholme, which was to descend to Maud's heirs; Final Conc. i, 58. In 1248–51 the serjeanty of Torrisholme was held by William de Parles and Maud his wife, but 1 oxgang of land had been separated from it and was held in moieties by Roger son of William and William son of Thomas, each to pay 20d. to the lord of the honour; Lancs. Inq. and Extents, i, 182–3. This was no doubt the 80 acres held by the earl in 1297.
  • 40. Ibid. 295. John son of William de Parles resigned all his holding in Torrisholme to Earl Edmund in return for tenements in Lancaster; Great Coucher, i, fol. 79, no. 77. John de Parles in 1286 claimed the services for tenements held by Richard son of Jordan de Poulton and Agnes his wife, Roger son of Hugh de Poulton and Godith his wife, and Juliana widow of Roger de Torrisholme; De Banco R. 63, m. 49. John de Parles granted an acre in his moss at Torrisholme to the brethren of St. Leonard's Hospital in Lancaster, and this was confirmed by his son Alan in 1309; Duchy of Lanc. Anct. D. (P. R. O.), L 682. The bounds touched Witholme (? Whittam), and ingress was obtained by the high road from Torrisholme to Skerton.
  • 41. Final Conc. ii, 6; a messuage, 7 oxgangs of land, &c., in Torrisholme and Poulton. The king's confirmation was obtained in 1320; Cal. Pat. 1317–21, p. 431. In 1322 the manor was included in a settlement by Robert de Holland and Maud his wife; Final Conc. ii, 193. By this it was to descend to Alan son of Robert, and in default of male issue to Robert and Thomas, brothers of Alan and heirs male. This fine was in 1394 examined at the instance of Sir John de Holland as son and heir of Robert brother of Alan; Pal. of Lanc. Chan. Misc. file 3, bdle. 1.
  • 42. Lancs. Inq. and Extents, ii, 122. For the earl's rental at the same time see ibid. 126. In another account (about 1330) the tenures are given otherwise: Alan de Parles holds in Torrisholme 20 acres which belonged to Robert de Holland by the service of 6s. 8d. yearly; the manor, which was Robert de Holland's (father of the present Robert), came into the king's hands, before which it had rendered 5s. a year and 3s. for cowmale; Dods. MSS. cxxxi, fol. 41b.
  • 43. In 1322, while Sir Robert de Holland was in prison, John son and heir of Alan de Parles petitioned for the restoration of the manor to him, cancelling the fine of 1310. The petitioner had been with Sir Andrew de Harcla, and had taken part in his feats of arms in England and Scotland; Parl. R. i, 400. John de Parles made further efforts in 1329–30; De Banco R. 277, m. 192 d.; 282, m. 203.
  • 44. Survey of 1346 (Chet. Soc.), 66. Robert de Parles in 1369 claimed twothirds of the manor of Torrisholme against Robert de Washington, alleging the following pedigree: William de Parles -s. John -s. Alan (temp. Edw. I) -s. John -s. Robert (plaintiff); De Banco R. 436, m. 92. John Parles (or heir) paid 3s. 4d. to the reeve of Skerton in 1440 on account of his tenement in Torrisholme; Duchy of Lanc. Mins. Accts. bdle. 100, no. 1790.
  • 45. Maud widow of Robert de Holland held the manor till her death in 1423 in socage by a rent of 8s.; Inq. p.m. 23 Edw. III, pt. i, no. 58. This manor went to the younger line of the family, afterwards Dukes of Exeter, as heirs male, and fell to the Crown by forfeiture in 1461; Lancs. Inq. p.m. (Chet. Soc.), ii, 3; G.E.C. Complete Peerage, iii, 298. Sir John Holland died in 1451 holding in demesne the manor of Torrisholme of the king as of his duchy in socage by the service of 8s. a year. Henry Holland Duke of Exeter was next of kin and heir; Lancs. Rec. Inq. p.m. no. 45, 46. In the same year Henry Duke of Exeter confirmed Sir John Holland's grant of the manor to Oliver Southworth for twenty years from 1439 at £8 rent; Towneley MS. HH, no. 433.
  • 46. Derby rental in the possession of Lord Lathom. The rents of free tenants amounted to 13s. 5d., those of the capital tenement and tenants at will to £8 15s. 6d. The profits of turbary were nominally 10s. 2d., but it was stated that the moss was exhausted, no turf being dug therefrom. No courts had been held during the year. In 1587 William Hewitson in right of the Earl of Derby claimed a messuage, &c., in Torrisholme; Ducatus Lanc. iii, 202. The manor is named in the earl's feoffments or settlements of 1583, 1596 and 1600; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdles. 45, m. 94; 59, m. 331; 62, no. 123. It was, however, sold with other estates in 1604 by the representatives of Ferdinando the fifth earl; ibid. bdle. 65, no. 43. Among the purchasers was Thomas Singleton, and he and his wife Mary in the same year conveyed the capital messuage called Torrisholme Hall to Thomas Covell and John Tomlinson; ibid. bdle. 66, no. 14. The rest of the land was probably dispersed at the same time among a number of freeholders.
  • 47. Thomas Covell died 1 Sept. 1639 and was buried in Lancaster Church, where a brass with verse inscription records his career and virtues. He held the manor of Torrisholme and two messuages there of the king as of his manor of Enfield in socage, also messuages in Lancaster and land in Oxcliffe. His will names Dorothy his wife. The heir was John Brockholes son of his daughter Elizabeth, and was fifteen years of age; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. xxx, no. 20. Elizabeth was the second wife of John Brockholes of Claughton; Dugdale, Visit. (Chet. Soc.), 58.
  • 48. John Brockholes was in possession in 1681; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 207, m. 88. The hall was in 1720 sold to Joshua Lodge by Henry Whittingham, Mary his wife, John Parkinson and Dorothy his wife; Piccope MSS. (Chet. Lib.), iii, 200, from 1st 3rd R. of Geo. I at Preston.
  • 49. James Lodge then obtained the manor of Torrisholme from John Dobson and his wife; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. Hil. 52 Geo. III, no. 41. James Lodge appointed a gamekeeper for Bare and Torrisholme in 1819. John Lodge of Bare was the owner in 1836; Baines, Lancs. (ed. 1836), iv, 537. The two houses known as Torrisholme Hall are owned by the Yeates trustees and the heirs of Mr. C. J. Clark of Cross Hill.
  • 50. Information of Mr. John G. Lawson, Morecambe.
  • 51. The priory had land for a grange from Nicholas de Torrisholme (c. 1220) and John de Parles (c. 1280); Lanc. Ch. (Chet. Soc), ii, 275–6. The prior in 1376 complained of the waste of his houses there by Edmund Frere; De Banco R. 463, m. 142.
  • 52. John Washington of Torrisholme occurs in a Sizergh deed of 1417. The writ of diem cl. extr. after his death was issued in 1423; Dep. Keeper's Rep. xxxiii, App. 24. In 1468 Robert Oxcliffe as grandson of Henry Jackson sought a tenement in Torrisholme against Miles and William Jackson; Pal. of Lanc. Plea R. 34, m. 37. Robert Singleton of Brockholes died in 1525 holding land of the king as duke in socage; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. vi, no. 64. George Hesketh of Poulton-le-Fylde held land of Edward Earl of Derby in 1571 by 4s. rent; ibid, xiii, no. 15. Robert Hodgson, who died in 1612, held a messuage, &c., of the king as duke in socage by 2½d. rent. Thomas his son and heir was twenty-eight years old in 1620; Lancs. Inq. p.m. (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), ii, 201. John Marshall, 1622, held similarly by 5d. rent; his son and heir Robert was twenty years of age; ibid, iii, 319–20. Gervase Harris died in 1625 holding in Torrisholme, Lancaster and Forton; he had a son and heir Christopher, aged nineteen in 1632; Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. xxv, no. 32. See the account of Leagram and Misc. (Cath. Rec. Soc), v, 156. William son of Thomas Marshall died in 1627 holding of the king. His mother Elizabeth, wife of Francis Chatburne, was living. His heir was a brother John, aged twenty-one in 1631; Towneley MS. C 8, 13 (Chet. Lib.), 859.
  • 53. Miles Atkinson, 'very poor,' was fined £2 for 'delinquency.' He had 3 acres of land; Royalist Comp. Papers (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), i, 116. Thomas Styth assisted the king in 'the first war' and had to pay £3; Cal. Com. for Comp. iii, 1952. William Green of Torrisholme lost his estate altogether; Index of Royalists (Index Soc.), 41.
  • 54. Estcourt and Payne, Engl. Cath. Nonjurors, 145; they were sons of Thomas Gate of Poulton, a recusant in 1680. See also R. N. Billington, St. Peter's, Lanc. 75.
  • 55. An account of the matter will be found in the End. Char. Rep. for Lancaster (1903), p. 101.
  • 56. Lond. Gaz. 25 May 1852. It became an urban district council in 1894 and had nine members.
  • 57. Ibid. 4 Dec. 1874.
  • 58. The wards are named Poulton, Torrisholme, Parks, Harbour, Victoria and Alexandra.
  • 59. Information of Mr. G. Batty.
  • 60. Lond. Gaz. 25 Jan. 1860.
  • 61. Ibid. 7 Aug. 1866.
  • 62. The tithes of the rest of the township (Torrisholme and half of Bare) are owned by Mrs. Lawson and Miss Lodge; information of Mr. Tilly.
  • 63. An iron church was first erected in 1890.
  • 64. End. Char. Rep. for Lancaster; it was founded in connexion with the church under the will of Francis Bowes.
  • 65. It stands in Clark Street, and was one of those erected to commemorate the ejection of Nonconformist ministers in 1662. A wooden building had been used from 1861. Disputes broke out in 1865, but the church was quickly reformed; Nightingale, Lancs. Nonconf. i, 237.
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