In the High Court of Justice – Chancery Division.
Manchester District Registry.
Re LORD, deceased.
HINMERS v. TAYLOR.
1902. Letter H. No. 1040.
Glazebury, Culcheth, and Southworth-with-Croft, Lancashire.
 Valuable freehold fully-licensed Hotel, well secured chief and ground rents, excellent country cottages and gardens, and compact and fertile Farms.
PURSUANT to Order made in the above action;
Mr. John Mainwaring (the person appointed by the Judge) will offer for sale by auction, at the Lion Hotel, Warrington, on Wednesday, 22nd November, 1905, at 3 o'clock P.M. prompt, the following lots :-


 In Glazebury.       
Lot 1 .- Seven cottages, Nos. 247, 249, 263, 265, 267, 269 and 271,Warrington Road, with the gardens and appurtenances thereto, producing a gross annual rental of £48 10s. Site, 3,231 square yards or thereabouts.
Lot 2 .- (a) Six cottages, Nos. 234 to 244, even numbers inclusive, Warrington Road, with the gardens and appurtenances thereto, producing a gross annual rental of £36 10s. Site, 2,057 square yards or thereabouts.
(b) The detached dwelling-house, No. 228. Warrington Road, with large garden thereto, producing the gross annual rental of £9 10s. Site, 1,487 square yards or thereabouts.
(c) The pair of semi-detached cottages, Nos. 220 and 222, Warrington Road, with the gardens thereto, producing a gross annual rental of £11 19s. Site, 2,050 square yards or thereabouts.


NOTE - The nine houses comprised in this lot will, in the first instance, be offered as one property, and if not so sold, then in the separate portions above specified
 
 Lots 3, 4, 5, and 6 - The following ground rents reserved upon leases for 999 years, with the freehold reversions to which they are incident :-


Lot 3
Two houses, Nos. 208 and 210 Warrington Road(448 Sq. yds. Rent £2 16s)
One house, No. 206 Warrington Road (224 Sq. yds. Rent £1 8s.)
One house, No. 204 Warrington Road (224 Sq. yds. Rent £1 8s.)
One house, No. 202 Warrington Road (243 Sq. yds. Rent £1 15s. 6d.)
One house, No. 200 Warrington Road (221 Sq. yds. Rent £1 15s. 2d.)
Two houses, Nos. 212 and 214 Warrington Road (451 Sq. yds. Rent £2 16s. 4d.)


Total Rent £11 19s. 0d.
 
Lot 4
Glazebury Branch of the Leigh Co-operative Stores, with cottage and barn adjoining (1538 Sq. yds. Rent £24)
Lot 5
Glazebury Post Office and house adjoining Nos. 176 and 174 Warrington Road (368 Sq. yds. Rent £3 1s. 4d.)
Lot 6
Five houses, Nos. 164 to 172, even numbers inclusive, Warrington Road (828 Sq. yds. Rent £6 18s.)


Lot 7 - The perpetual yearly rent charge of £50 issuing out of a plot of land containing 7A. 0R. 27P. or thereabouts, on the easterly side of Warrington Road, and the northerly side of the London and Northwestern Railway, on which are erected the cotton mill of Messrs. Gill and Hartley, a dwelling-house called
"Brook House," and 44 cottages in and near Warrington Road.
With this rent charge are included the mines and minerals under the said plot of land as excepted and reserved by the Indenture of Feoffment limiting the said rent charge.

Lot 8 - The old established and fully – licensed country Inn called the "Chat Moss Hotel," immediately adjoining Glazebury Railway Station, with the outbuildings, bowling green and land occupied therewith lying on the easterly side of Warrington Road, the total area being 5A, 3R. 37P. or thereabouts.
These premises are let on lease expiring 25th December, 1909, and produce a rental of £81 per annum.

Also the two cottages, Nos. 231 and 233 Warrington Road, with gardens thereto, and another detached garden (now occupied by the tenant of No. 247).
These premises produce the further gross annual rental of £13, and the site, containing 1,752 square yards, forms an important addition to the "Chat Moss Hotel," completing an extensive and valuable frontage to the high road.

Also the perpetual yearly rent charge of £15 receivable in respect of the private road which intersects part of the foregoing premises, and leads from Warrington Road to the "Light Oaks" estate. This rent is secured upon the said "Light Oaks " estate, containing nearly 400 acres.

Lot 9 - The valuable farm containing about
40A. 3R.14P. with the dwelling-house and farm buildings thereon, occupied by John Peters, as yearly tenant, at the rental of £103 5s. The land lies on both sides of Warrington Road, to which it has important frontages, and can be advantageously developed for building purposes.


In Culcheth and Southworth-with-Croft.

Lot 10 - The three cottages (one used as a shop) in Warrington Road, Culcheth, occupied by Messrs. Capper, Clare, and Ball, and producing a gross annual rental of £20 14s.
The site contains 3,055 square yards or thereabouts.


Lot 11 - The two well-built and convenient dwelling houses, with large gardens, situate in Cinder Lane, Culcheth, known as the "Model Cottages," and occupied by Messrs. Barlow and Gibbons. The gross annual rental is £16, and the land (including a strip on the northerly side of Cinder Lane, forming an osier bed) contains 10,970 square yards or thereabouts.


Lot 12 - The following compact and desirable farms, situate at Culcheth, with the dwelling houses and farm buildings thereon,
let to yearly tenants as under :-

a. Four Lane Ends Farm, occupied by Mr. Benjamin Gibbins.
Area, 25A. 1R. 33P. Rent, £64.
b. Orchard Farm, occupied by Messrs. Daxon.
Area, 41A. 3R. 24P. Rent, £99.
c. Cinder Lane Farm, occupied by Mr. Joseph Gibbins.
Area, 14A. 2R. 20P. Rent, £48.
d. Yew Tree Farm, occupied by Mr. John Wood.
Area, 49A. 1R. 37P. Rent, £103.
e. Cross Lane Farm, occupied by Messrs. Savage.
Area, 50A. 2R. 2P. Rent, £107.
f. Oak Farm, occupied by Mr. William Carr.
Area, 71A. 2R. 28P. Rent, £160 10s.
g. Two Butts Farm, occupied by Mr. Henry E. Southern.
Area, 31A. 0R. 34P. Rent, £66 15s. (This has no dwelling-house.)
h. Springfield Farm (in Southworth-with-Croft), also occupied by Mr. Henry E. Southern.
Area, 27A. 2R. 8P. Rent, £62 5s.


This group of fertile and convenient farms lying practically in a ring fence, and having extensive frontages to good roads, will in the first instance be offered together. If not so sold they will be offered separately, except that Springfield Farm and Two Butts Farm will in any case be treated as one.

Four Lane Ends Farm includes a yearly rent of 8s., payable in respect of land held by the Trustees of Risley Chapel.

Portions of Cross Lane Farm, Orchard Farm, and Two Butts Farm, containing altogether about 54 acres, are subject to a reservation of one-half the net proceeds of working the coal thereunder.

Lot 13 - The following excellent and productive farms, with good dwelling-houses and buildings thereon, situate in Southworth-with-Croft, and let on yearly tenancies as under –
 
i. Eaves Brow Farm, occupied by Mr. William Hunt.
Area, 54A. 1R. 20P. Rent, £105.
j. Oak Tree Farm, occupied by Mr. Lewis Birchall.
Area, 75A. 0R. 9P. Rent, £176.
k. Mount Pleasant Farm, also occupied by Mr. Lewis Birchall.
Area, 18A. 2R. 17P. Rent, £54.

These three farms will first be offered in one group, and if not so sold, Eaves Brow Farm will be offered separately, and Oak Tree and Mount Pleasant Farms together.
 
With Eaves Brow Farm are included three receivable yearly rents of £3 5s., £3 5s., and 4s. 6d.
 
Lot 14 - The two cottages situate in New Lane, Southworth-with-Croft, occupied by Messrs. Lythgoe and Waywell, and producing a gross annual rental of £12. The site contains 2,775 square yards or thereabouts.
 
Lot 15 - The two cottages known as "Moss Cottages”, Southworth - with - Croft, and about 2 acres of land occupied therewith. These are let to Messrs. Miller and Whitefield, and produce a gross annual rental of £14.
 
For further information, application may be made to
Messrs. James Atherton and Son, Surveyors and Land Agents, 13, Mawdsley-street, Bolton, and (as to the farms and cottages) to Mr. Henry E. Southern, Springfield Farm, Croft.
 
Particulars, plans, and conditions of sale may be had from
Messrs. Atherton and Son;
from the Auctioneer, Bridge Street, Warrington;
Messrs. Grundy, Kershaw, Samson, and Co. Solicitors,
31, Booth Street, Manchester;
Messrs. Clowes, Hickley, and Steward, Solicitors,
10, King's Bench Walk, Temple, London, E.C.;
Messrs. Miller and Smiths, Solicitors, 3, Salters' Hall Court,
London, E.C.;
or from the Vendor's Solicitors,
Messrs. Gill, Radford, and Co., 79, Fountain-street, Manchester.
 
W. H. S. WATTS, District Registrar.

Below is the only image i have of the Glazebury Co-Op store, which is of very poor quality. The notes that came with it are from the Leigh Friendly Co-Operative Society Limited Jubilee 1857 - 1907 and state

'In October of 1860 another branch shop was opened at Bury-lane (Glazebury), in a small shop at the end of Hurst Hall-lane, owned by Mr. W. Hill.
In February, 1862, the business was transferred to the premises owned by Messrs. Gill and Hartley at the south end of the block of cottages adjoining their mill. The rent paid for this shop was £24 a year, continued at this sum for 42 years, until the society erected the handsome shop on the opposite side of the street in 1902. Over this shop, as at Lowton, a commodious reading room is provided.'

From the notes and the date they were written, I assume the picture is of the lot for sale. It seems that the first branch was near the top of Hurst (Hall) Lane, moving in 1862 across the road near the mill and then finally to the new location in 1902. I assume from the sales list that this was next to the post office, which is marked on the map below, placing some of the house numbers in different places than they are today.
​If anybody can correct me on this, or has any more information, I'd love to hear from you!

​It has long been known that Catholics in Culcheth worshipped at Culcheth Hall prior to St.Lewis' Church being built in Croft in 1827. However, recent material that has resurfaced shows that this closed for worship in 1751 and a new chapel built at a place simply known as 'Dobbsfont' and described as 'in the vicinity of' Culcheth Hall.

​​The book in which these registers are inscribed is a small quarto volume.
It is well bound in parchment, and its covers are ruled on each side towards
the edges. The volume is in a good state of preservation, and is kept in
the archives of the Mission of St. Lewis's, Croft, Warrington.
 
 HISTORY OF CULCHETH CHAPLAINCY

Culcheth, in the parish of Winwick, has been assigned as the site of
many synods of the Anglo-Saxon Church, many charters were dated thence,
and an ancient farmstead, moated round, and called the " Old Abbey,"
points to some ecclesiastical building of remote antiquity. The manor
descended in the family bearing the name until the death of Thomas
Culcheth, of Culcheth Hall, in 1747, when the estate passed to his cousin
Thomas Stanley, of Great Eccleston Hall, in the Fylde, whose mother
was aunt to Thomas Culcheth. Two years later Thomas Stanley died,
and his brother, Fr. Henry Stanley, became heir to the estate. The chapel
in the hall was then closed, and Fr. Stanley opened a small chapel in the
vicinity, at Dobbsfont, which so continued till the opening of the chapel
at Croft in 1827.

Thomas Stanley left an only daughter and heiress,
Meliora, who became the wife of William Dicconson, 4th son of Edward
Dicconson, of Wrightington Hall, Esq., and upon her death, June 29, 1794,
Culcheth passed to John Trafford, of Trafford and Croston, Esq., whose
grandfather John Trafford, of Croston Hall, had married Catherine, sister
to Mrs. Stanley and daughter of Thomas Culcheth, of Culcheth Hall. By
the Traffords the estate was sold to Peter Withington, Esq., and thus
Culcheth, which had ever been in Catholic hands, ceased to be a centre
of Catholicity.

The Culcheths had always remained staunch to the Faith,
and many of them were Jesuits and nuns. They intermarried with the
leading Catholic families of the county, and one of them in the reign of
Henry VIII married a daughter of Sir Thomas Southworth, of Samlesbury
Hall and Southworth Hall, high sheriff of Lancashire in 1541, and sister of
the famous confessor of the faith, Sir John Southworth.

Fr. Henry Stanley alias Culcheth, S.J.(Society of Jesus), born Sept. 11, 1688, son of Richard Stanley, of Great Eccleston Hall, in the Fylde, Esq., and his
wife Anne, daughter of Thomas Culcheth, of Culcheth Hall, Esq. He
entered the Society at Watten in 1706, and in 1716-18 was professor of
philosophy at Liege College. About this time he was sent to the mission
in the Oxford district, of which he was superior from February 1728-9 till 1743,
and seems to have been chaplain to the Curzons at Waterperry.

Upon the death of his mother's nephew, Thomas Culcheth, Esq., in Oct. 1747, the Culcheth estates passed to her son Thomas Stanley, who took possession
of the hall, but died within two years and was buried at Winwick, July 21,
1749. Fr. Henry then became heir to the estates, and came to reside
at Culcheth, not at the hall, but at a place called Dobbsfont, where he
established a chapel and priest's house.

In 1751 he had a socius given him in the person of Fr. Henry Smith, and in Nov. of that year he made his will (now at Stonyhurst), leaving his personal estate to the Society.
(Latin SOCIUS meaning to be made an associate/allowed to join, here I assume to the Society of Jesus)
He died Nov. 27, 1753, aged 65, and was buried at Winwick.

​From the list of Culcheth family burials at Winwick –
1753. Nov. 30—Mr. Henry Stanley of Culcheth. Priest.

As mentioned above, the will is mentioned in a list of original manuscripts at Stonyhurst -

STANLEY, Henry (Rev.) of Dobbsfont, Parish of Wynnick, Co. of Lanc.
Sole devisee and executor, Joseph Beaumont of Cowley Hill, parish of Prescot, Co. of Lanc.
16 Nov 1751. Signed and Sealed.

STANLEY, Henry (Rev.) of Culcheth, Parish of Wynnick, Co. of Lanc.
Sole devisee and executor, Henry Smith of Culcheth.
19 Nov 1751. Signed and Sealed.

The Stanley family papers don’t mention Dobbsfont at all, and the only other archives that mention it are copies of the above extract. I can’t find it on any map, though I am still searching the handwritten tithe listings for any clue.

Warrington Archives have nothing relating to it and the only other document I found, at Bolton archives, was again another copy of the above.

​Can anybody help? The search continues.

CROFT WAR MEMORIAL TABLET
 
Separate Effort For Village Institute
 
A meeting convened by the Rector (Rev. H. I. Wadeson) was held in the schoolroom on Friday night last week to consider some appropriate means of perpetuating the memories of the soldiers of Croft who had sacrificed their lives in their duty to home, King and country.

At the outset the Rector announced that the surplus funds of the Soldiers' Comforts Committee (including a donation of two guineas just to hand from Mr. Hodgson, of Hermitage Green) amounted to about £68, and that committee had decided to allocate this sum towards erecting some form of sacred memorial to the fallen heroes of Croft.
 
A proposition to the effect that the sum referred to
be used to establish a village institute was negatived.
 
After a number of those present had expressed their wishes in the matter, it was decided practically unanimously that a suitable tablet sacred to the memory of the fallen soldiers of the parish be erected in the church. The Rector and churchwardens were requested to procure designs and estimates for the completion of the work.
 
With reference to a village institute, the
Rector stated that the idea was by no means a new one. Certainly, the need for such an institution had long been felt, and he was sure all present would be willing to set to work at once to raise funds to begin, in a small way an experimental scheme.
 
It was thereupon decided to arrange an American tea, to take place early in September, and all present were requested to consider
themselves members of the committee to carry out the details of the effort, and to endeavour to make it a huge success. It was also thought that a jumble sale might be held at the same time, and that the kind services proffered by Mr. T. Brogden (of Leigh) as auctioneer be utilised.

CROFT - Funds for the Institute
 
On Saturday last a very successful American Tea was held in the
Schoolroom to provide funds for the proposed Memorial Institute. As each visitor was expected to give an article and to purchase an
article, the stalls soon presented a lively appearance, and good business resulted, the nett amount realised being well over 10 guineas.

The main room was tastefully laid out as a cafe chantant, and the patrons were excellently catered for by Mrs. Owen, Misses Southern and Carr, Mrs. Firth and Mrs A. Taylor. The stallholders were: - Mrs. Cawthorne, Mrs. Ingham, Mrs. J. Taylor, Mrs. Walker, and Miss Bate.

There was a bran-tub for the juveniles and good business was done, the whole contents of the tub being speedily cleared. The Misses
Cicely Taylor, Lilian Sankey, Marion Taylor and Isabella Hankinson took charge of this department. The hoop-la stall provided endless
amusement, and at times the business here was fast and furious. Mr. Gramme, Mr. Cawthorne, Mr. Abbey, Mr. Hankinson and other members of the committee took turns in running this show and the nett profit, £7 11s, was considered highly creditable.

Later in the evening the main room was cleared for dancing and
there was a crowded attendance. Mr. Hurdus and Mr. Henshaw were at the piano. Altogether it is estimated that the effort will bring
in over £30 to the Institute Fund.

Temporary premises for the Institute have already been taken and a small beginning will be made on the opening of these premises on September 13th.

CROFT - Memorial Institute
 
A committee meeting was held in the temporary premises on Tuesday night. Mr. J. Hankinson presided. The Chairman alluded to the tragic death of the Secretary of the Institute, Mr. Jos. Banks, which occurred at the Warrington Infirmary on Saturday last, as the result of an accident sustained earlier that day.
A vote of condolence was passed to his widow and family, and the members requested that a wreath be sent and placed on the coffin as a token of sympathy and esteem for their late colleague. It was decided to take in hand at once arrangements for promoting a concert or entertainment, the proceeds to be given to Mrs. Banks as some recognition of the services which her late husband rendered in promoting the Institute.

Offers of help in the way of talent from the neighbouring towns and district will be gladly appreciated, and all those who desire to help
in this respect are requested to communicate with the Hon. Secretaries, Mr. H. B. Firth, Orford House, Croft; and Mr. G. Berry, Oaklands Farm, Croft.
It may be found convenient to arrange the date of the concert for
Friday, 7th, or Saturday, 8th November.

A number of new members were enrolled, and the committee had to take into consideration the advisability of enlarging the present premises, or, alternatively, the purchase and erection of one of the Government huts now on sale.

CROFT - Memorial Institute

The temporary premises opened some few months ago having been found too small and ill-adapted for an institute, the committee decided to purchase an army hut, to be erected on some convenient and central site in the village.

The Rev. H. I. Wadeson and Messrs. Cawthorne and Abbey were deputed to attend a sale of huts at Heaton Park, Manchester, some little time ago, and they were fortunate in securing a hut 70 feet by 20 feet, the purchase price being £110.

Arrangements are being made for transporting the building to Croft, and it is hoped to have it re-erected and ready for occupation well before Christmas.
It is proposed to install a full-size billiard table, and this additional attraction will no doubt encourage greater membership and become a regular source of revenue.

CROFT – New Memorial Institute
Handsome Building Opened By The Bishop Of Warrington
 
Saturday was a red letter day in the annals of Croft. The new institute buildings were formerly opened by the Bishop of Warrington.
The main structure consists of a re-erected Army hut, 70ft. long by 20ft. broad. To the main hall an additional room 20ft. by 16ft. has been added to serve as a refreshment room, kitchen, etc. The main hall will eventually be divided by movable partitions into billiard room, reading room, and a recreation or games room, etc.

The Bishop said it gave him great pleasure to be present on this auspicious occasion. It was highly appropriate that the memorial
should take the form of a village institute, and a singular coincidence that the present building had sheltered during their training many of the soldiers belonging to the regiment with which he had had the honour of being associated.
The Bishop was heartily thanked on the proposition of Mr. John Hankinson (chairman of the Institute Committee), seconded by Mr. F. Grammar. Mr. Joshua Ball proposed "Success to the Institute," and Mr. H. J. Bouchier supported. Mr. Cawthorne replied.

Votes of thanks were passed to the Rector for his untiring efforts on behalf of the institute and to the ladies of the Catering Committee
who had contributed so much to the success of the gathering that day.
After tea an impromptu concert took place in the schoolroom.
The donations promised, along with the proceeds of a tea, dance, etc., amounted to £200.

CROFT- War Memorial

“Today,” writes Mr. Silas Clough, “the memorial at Croft Church will be dedicated to the fallen boys and those who returned from the late war. It will take place at 3.30p.m. The tablet, with 20 names upon it, is for the fallen, whilst the font cover in oak and the stone-base (the font itself being cleaned) is for thankfulness of the boys who returned home. I myself have received from kind friends in Warrington, Cheshire, Newton, Leigh, Salford, Croft, Culcheth and Kenyon, £73 13s. in cash; whilst Mr. W. P. Rylands gave me the weight and best wire cord, 14ft. long, for the working of the oak font cover. I should like to thank everyone through the paper for their great kindness. The Bishop of Warrington will preach.”

CROFT VILLAGE MEMORIAL HALL
STONE-LAYING
ALTHOUGH building work on the site of the new Croft Village Memorial Hall is still in its early stages, an important ceremony was held there on Monday, when local people assembled to see Mr. Joseph E. Birchall officiate at the official laying of the foundation stone.

The ceremony took place during a small service conducted by the Rector of Croft (Canon H. A. C. Hughes), and among those at the event was the Roman Catholic Dean (the Very Rev. T. McGarvey) of St. Lewis', Croft.
The introduction at the stone laying was by Coun. T. Birchall, chairman of the Village Memorial Hall Committee.
He pointed out that Mr. Joseph E. Birchall was truly representative of the people of Croft, as he was born in the village 81 years ago, and had taken an active interest in village affairs.
Coun. Birchall said Mr. Birchall had been a parish council member
and chairman, was a trustee of Croft Burial Society and a trustee
of the Naylor Trust.

Mr. Birchall then stepped forward to perform the stone laying ceremony. He thanked everyone for the honour they had done him by asking him to lay the foundation stone. He said he had been associated with the Croft Memorial Institute which the new hall would replace, since its early days, and was one of the last surviving members of the first committee.
​
He said: "The Memorial Institute has served our village well for 40 years and I trust this new building will give equally good service for many years to come.
"As president of the Croft Memorial Institute I have great pleasure in laying this foundation stone of the Croft Village Memorial Hall."

Croft's New £12,500 Hall
'a credit to village'

ALTHOUGH the new Croft Village Memorial Hall has not yet been completed, it was described this week as a credit to the village, the architect and the builder.
This was stated by Coun. P. T. F. Birchall, chairman of the hall committee, when he showed a reporter around the premises.

Since workmen of Harry Fairclough Ltd. Building and Civil Engineering contractors of Warrington, moved on to the site on 1st March, after demolishing the old Memorial Institute, good progress has been made.
Added Coun. Birchall "More important is the fact that care has been taken with the work.”

The accommodation at the hall, which on completion will have
cost in the region of £12,500, consists of a large hall,
which has been designed in such a way that one end of it can be
screened off to enable meetings to be held.

At the other end of the hall, is the stage. There is a spacious kitchen, and off the main entrance hall are the cloakroom and toilet facilities.
Heating will be by an oil-fired system, and a small boiler house adjoins the kitchen.

The entrance to the site has been cleared, and is not only impressive, but has been designed with road safety in mind. Cars will enter along one side of the hall, proceed along the drive to the car park at the rear and then when leaving will pass along the other side of the building.

Coun. Birchall said the colour scheme has been chosen along
with the curtaining, and the large hall is to have a maple floor.
The financial arrangements for paying for the project are made, the committee having received confirmation of the Government grant for half the cost.
The Parish Council is responsible for a further quarter of the
cost and the villagers – the organisations, etc. for the remaining quarter.

It is hoped that the opening ceremony will be held in October as the project is ahead of schedule.
Coun. Birchall paid tribute to the excellent co-operation of
everyone concerned, the builders and workmen, the committee
members, local organisations and Canon H. A. C. Hughes and all
those associated with the scheme in any way.

The hall will be used by local organisations and would probably
be let if available, for private functions.
The idea was not to make a big profit on the hall, but just to
raise sufficient to pay the expenses and keep the premises in
good repair, said Coun. Birchall.

A MEMORIAL plaque has been unveiled at Croft Village Memorial Hall to honour 20 soldiers who lived in the village before losing their lives in the First World War.
The money for the first hall to be built on this site was raised by the returning soldiers and the residents of Croft. It was initially a tin hut which was replaced by the present brick building in 1965.
 
Croft farmer Alan Sharpe led the campaign for the plaque but sadly died earlier this year.
 
His son, Philip placed a wreath of poppies on Alan's behalf during a ceremony attended by dignitaries, the British Legion, residents and the Memorial Hall committee.