The image above shows just how neatly the burial ground was kept whilst the chapel was open. If you look at the gentleman walking down the path, you can see the two original yew trees next to him.
​
All of the trees, plants and grass are immaculate in the few images available from over the years.
​The last 30 years are where you can really see the difference.
​In 1993, you can still see the two trees, though they seem to be growing bigger.

By 2006, the two yew trees now look like one and have grown out in every direction.

By September 2021, the two trees have fully merged into one and have brambles and ivy growing between the branches. They are damaging the graves and the path.

The maintenance of the graveyard is the legal responsibility of Warrington Borough Council, but as you probably know, they do little more than cut the grass every six weeks or so. Despite bringing this to their attention, they have done nothing different.

Thankfully, Croft Parish Council were willing to listen and to help. They have agreed to pay for a specialist landscaping team to cut back the yew trees to two individual trees at a managable size and also to clear the remaining weeds and overgrowth around the grounds.

​Work is due to begin soon. Thankyou, Croft Parish Council!

Those who have read the sad story of Ellen Yates will know that she was employed as a mill hand in Birkenhead, according to her death certificate.
I had assumed she must have travelled there by horseback, or even walking. Somebody else suggested that she may have had lodgings in Birkenhead, which is also possible.

It is unlikely we will ever know for certain how she travelled to work and how often, but I wanted to look further into it.

I came across an advertisement in a copy of the Leigh Chronicle from 1856 showing train times and prices.

Leigh would probably still have been too far out for her to walk, though she did have family in Leigh at the time.

Culcheth Station wasn’t opened until 1884, after her death, which ruled out her travelling from there. I then found that another local station, Kenyon Junction Station, had been open to the public from 1831.

An estimate of the distance from where she lived (Hop Pole Farm) to Kenyon Junction is about two and a half miles, which she could have easily walked.
The train journey took one hour and forty minutes, meaning a long day for her if this was the method she used.
The Kenyon Junction Station was on the Liverpool to Manchester Line and there were many routes to Birkenhead mills available from Liverpool Crown Street Station.

Listing marks and celebrates a building's special architectural and historic interest, and also brings it under the consideration of the planning system, so that it can be protected for future generations.

The older a building is, and the fewer the surviving examples of its kind, the more likely it is to be listed.

Historic England makes recommendations to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and they make the final decision as to whether a building should be listed or not.
​

• Grade I buildings are of exceptional interest, only 2.5% of listed buildings are Grade I
• Grade II* buildings are particularly important buildings of more than special interest; 5.8% of listed buildings are Grade II*
• Grade II buildings are of special interest; 91.7% of all listed buildings are in this class

As well as listed buildings, there are Local Listings and Local Heritage Assets and Historic Environment Records.

Local listing helps to raise the profile of local heritage by identifying heritage assets that are of greatest importance to local people. 
​
Local heritage assets can range from buildings, designed landscapes, archaeology and elements of the natural environment. 

The Historic Environment Record (HER) is the record of all known designated and non-designated archaeological sites and historic landscapes.It includes sites dating from prehistory through to the military remains of the more recent past.

There are 13 listed buildings in Croft, all of these are Grade II.

There are 7 Historic Monument records in Croft, 3 of these being the sites of the accomodation for the Royal Ordnance Factory at Risley. These are now the Emerald Drive estate, Taylor Business Park and HMP Risley.
The site of HMS Ariel is another listing. The former Croft Unitarian Chapel and its burial ground are both listed.
​The final one is a ditched enclosure at Southworth Hall Farm.

There are 19 local listings in Croft.
​

• The former Croft School
• Milestone opposite Rowe Farm
• Rowe Farm
• Oven Back Farm
• 143 Mustard lane
• Highfield, Kenyon Lane
• Yew Tree House
• Heath House
• Beech Farm
• Plough Inn
• Bradley House (115 Stone Pit Lane)
• Turret Hall
• Kenylo Bridge
• Southworth Hall
• 60/62 New Lane
• 52/54 Smithy Brow
• 18 Dam Lane
• Horseshoe Public House
• 18 Lord Street

DIED FOR HIS COUNTRY.
 
On Sunday week thousands of people assembled in Risley and Croft to witness a military funeral in the graveyard attached to the local Unitarian Chapel. The people had come from many miles around, scores on bicycles and motor cycles, others in motor car, carriages, cabs and wagonettes, to say nothing of hundreds of pedestrians from Glazebury and the surrounding districts.
The fallen soldier - Rifleman Harold Houghton came of a well-known Risley family, Mr. and Mrs. Houghton, the parents, having for a number of years kept the Noggin Inn.
Mr. Houghton, the father, like his father before him, was an ironworker, who used to walk daily some five miles to work at the Vulcan Works, Earlestown.
Mr. Houghton had a family of eight boys and girls.

ENLISTED WITH A BROTHER.
 
After the war broke out, two of the boys, Harold, who was 24 years of age, and Fred, who is 15 years old, and who were both mechanics, determined to do what they could to help their country, so enlisted seven months ago, in the 2nd Battalion of the Rifle Brigade, and in due course, after receiving training, were drafted away to France together, and ultimately fought together in the same trench, in the historic battle of Neuve Chapelle.
All went well with them until a week ago last Thursday, March 18th, when Rifleman Harold was shot in the head and his skull fractured.
His brother assisted in his removal from the trench.
 
SHOT IN THE HEAD IN A BAYONET CHARGE.

He received his hurt when taking part in a bayonet charge levelled at the German advance trenches. After being taken to hospital he was sent to England, arriving in Norwich Military Hospital on Friday night, March 19th. He never complained of pain, and had nothing but praise to utter concerning the hospital arrangements He said that nothing more could be done for him than was actually done. It was apparent, however, that he was dangerously hurt.
Since their sons enlisted Mr. and Mrs. Houghton had removed to Rochdale.
Mrs. Houghton, on hearing of her son's misfortune, went to the hospital at Norwich to visit him, and remained at his bedside until death took
place on Wednesday, March 24th.

WELL-KNOWN LOCAL FOOTBALLER.
 
Rifleman Harold Houghton was an Oddfellow. The members of the lodge to which he belonged held their meetings at the Noggin Inn. He was also a footballer, and played in the Leigh and District Sunday Schools League, and more recently in the Warrington and District League. He was also a popular member of the Risley Institute.
 
The body was removed from Norwich on Thursday, and arrived at the house of his eldest brother. Herbert, at Risley, on Friday. Mr. James Henshaw, a local undertaker, carried out the funeral arrangements.
The gallant Rifleman was buried with military honours.
 
AN IMPRESSIVE FUNERAL.

The military authorities sent a detachment of nine soldiers belonging to the 6th Manchester Regiment, now stationed at the Leigh Camp, acting a guard over the prisoners of war interned there, and also twelve men and two non-commissioned officers of another regiment to make up a firing party. A bugler and a drummer were also in attendance.
 
The funeral cortege, which formed up shortly after three o'clock, reached the burial ground about 4:30, and was headed by the Glazebury Brass Band, who played funeral music en route. Beside the family mourners, the members of the Oddfellows Lodge to which the deceased belonged, and many old friends followed the remains to the grave. The coffin was met at the chapel by the Rev. J. J. Wright, of Atherton. The service in the chapel began with the singing of the hymn " Oh, God, our help in ages past."

PASTOR'S PANEGYRIC.

After reading the Unitarian funeral service - for the deceased and all the members of his family were members of this denomination – the Rev. Wright said that 'courage' and 'comfort' were the two passwords for them that day.
Comrades and relatives, to whom the deceased was most dear, had gathered together to perform the last offices to one they know and loved.

As a boy, Harold Houghton was a prize taker in the Sunday school and a regular attendant at the chapel. When the call came for young men to serve their country he and his brother heard it, and obeyed, and they were fighting together in the same trench when the first notes of a still higher call reached the ears of him whose loss they, that day, deplored.
He had passed from them, but they believed that all was well with him-he had gone to receive the Great Prize, the reward for duty faithfully done.
Those who remained behind prized the honour of having known him; of having been acquainted with one who had made the greatest sacrifice that a man could make for his country.
As he lay dying, he said to his mother "I am not afraid!"
He had done his duty and he had no fear of the hereafter, and be now lived with God.

CLOSING SCENES AT THE GRAVESIDE.
 
As the coffin was being removed from the chapel to its last resting place, Mr. T. Whittle played the voluntary " For ever with the Lord."
Three volleys were fired over the grave, and the buglers sounded "The Last Post" after which the band played "The Penticost."
Some beautiful floral tributes were placed on the coffin, which was covered with the Union Jack for a pall.
The breastplate bore the simple inscription: "Rifleman Harold Houghton. aged 24; 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade."

Floral tributes were sent by: The Father, Mother and family, the wreath bearing the inscription "He died a hero”, Sister Jane, Jim and Dick, his brother Tom, the Risley Institute Football Club, His fellow workers, A few friends at the Horseshoe, Mr. and Mrs. Collier and family, Herbert and Lizzie, the members of the Risley Institute and the Risley Ladies' Sewing Class and Vulcan Foundry.

Ellen Yates was born on 24th April 1852 in Culcheth, Lancashire. In 1874 she was a dye worker at a factory in Birkenhead and she lived with her brother James and his wife Mary Ann at Hop Pole Farm, Croft.

In January 1870, her parents had died within weeks of one another, her mother from Bronchitis and her father from Insanity and atrophy of the liver.

In 1871, Ellen was a witness at the wedding of her brother James to her friend and cousin Mary Ann Whittle. This wedding was held at Cairo Street Unitarian Chapel and not Croft, possibly because they were cousins. 

We know nothing more about Ellen's life after that apart from the fact that she must have been desperately unhappy. She felt so low that on this day, 8th August in 1874, she decided to take her own life.

Her body wasn't discovered until the next day, Sunday 9th August in a Marl Pit in Croft where she had drowned herself.

An Inquest was held on 13th August and a verdict of 'suicide due to temporary insanity' was given as the cause of death.

​Ellen was buried at Croft Unitarian Chapel in grave C6 with her parents and her younger sister Hannah, who had passed away before Ellen was born.

The gravestone reads 'In the midst of life we are in death'.

I purchased this old photograph recently and assumed it was a view of the Noggin in Risley. However, when i compared the building with what is there today I realised that it couldn't be the same place. 

I know from past research that there have been two Noggins, but I had always assumed that the 'Old' Noggin Inn was long gone and the one we see today is the newer one.

Thanks to the available maps of the district I realised that the one still there is the original 'Noggin Inn'. The 'New Noggin' was across the road on the corner of Cross Lane (Now Cross Lane South).

The photograph is from between 1900 and 1910 (estimated). I went through all of the maps with enough detail through the years to find something that hasn't changed.

If you look to the right of the photo, you can just make out a wooden fingerpost or guide post. This is marked on every map with enough detail and is on the crossroads, to the left of the Old Noggin Inn, if you were stood facing it to take a picture.

I realised that if you were to stand at Cross Lane Farm looking at the New Noggin, the post would be on the right as it is in the photo.
Therefore, I believe the photo is of the New Noggin, which no longer stands. 
​
The below newspaper extract confirms further details on the two Inns.

Valuable Freehold Estate at Risley and Rixton-with-Glazebrook, in the County of Lancaster.

A Valuable FREEHOLD ESTATE, commonly known as the Risley Estate, late the property of Richard Watson Marshall Dewhurt, Esq., deceased, consisting of the manor or reputed manor of Risley, with numerous farms, a licensed inn or public-house, a beerhouse, and several cottages and gardens, comprising in the whole 1,274a. 0r. 25p. statute measure, or thereabouts, nearly all in a ring fence, situate in Risley, in the township of Culcheth, parish of Newchurch, and county of Lancaster, except the part described as lot 9, which, with the exception of one field, is situate in the adjoining township of Rixton-with-Glazebrook.
 
The whole estate will in the first instance be offered in one lot, but if not sold the same will immediately afterwards be put up in the
following or such other lots as may then be determined, namely:-
 
Lot 1. All that Old and Well-accustomed PUBLIC HOUSE, known as the Noggin Inn, with the Farm Building and excellent Farm Land adjoining thereto; together with a Public Weighing Machine, comprising in the whole 17a. 3r. 36p. in the occupation of Mr. John Sankey, as tenant thereof.
The house is situate at the junction of the highways from Warrington and Winwick to Leigh, and with the land is enclosed within a ring defence. The house possesses the only spirit license within a considerable distance.

Lot 2. TWO COTTAGES and GARDENS, with additional land allotted thereto, adjoining the highway from Warrington to Leigh, and near to the Risley schools, in the occupation of Mr. Richard Bate and Catherine Ryley, respectively, containing 30 perches.

Lot 3. All that PUBLIC BEERHOUSE known as the New Noggin Inn, with the Shop, Bakehouse, Shippon, Piggeries, Garden, Orchard, and Pasture Land adjoining, situate at the junction of the roads
from Warrington to Leigh with that to Winwick, in the occupation of Mr. Hamblet Jackson, and containing in the whole 2a. 2r. 33p.

The simple answer is that I don't know for sure. The earliest detailed map is the one above from 1849, on which they are both present. There is a lovely older map from 1786 which refers to the whole area as 'Noggin Hillock'. Unfortunately, not many buildings are shown.

Harold Houghton was born in 1890 in Croft when his father, Thomas, was 31 and his mother, Mary, was 28. He had four brothers and four sisters.
In 1911 he lived at The Old Noggin Inn, Risley with his parents, his brother and two of his sisters
He worked at the Albion Ironworks in Leigh.
On 2nd September 1914 he joined the 5th Rifle Brigade, A Company, 2nd Battalion
On 24 March 1915 he died of his wounds from the battle of Neuve Chapelle, aged 25.
He was buried at Croft Unitarian Chapel, the grave stone stating
‘He Died for his Country’s Honour’.

When George Daintith was born on 24 February 1892 in Culcheth, his father, Thomas, was 25 and his mother, Mary, was 21. He was christened at Newchurch on 17th April the same year.
His mother Mary passed away in 1906 and his father remarried in 1907. He had seven brothers and two sisters.
In 1911 he lived with his father, stepmother and four of his brothers at The Old Noggin Inn, Risley.

In April 1915, he joined Kitchener’s Army, enlisting in the 1st King’s Liverpool Regiment. After about a year’s training he was sent to the Front and was attached to the 251st Company Royal Engineers. He was killed in action on June 25th, 1916, in the ‘great push’ near Albert.

Captain Hansen, R.E., in expressing his sympathy with his parents said:
‘Your son met his death on the night of June 25th while doing his duty, and I cannot speak too highly of his behaviour on this occasion, and ever since he joined this Company. I cannot say how deeply I felt his loss to my section, as he was one of my best men and could always be depended upon. He was a typical example of a true British Soldier, and died doing his duty to his King and Country and so great a cause. Your son was buried last night, and I have taken steps to have a cross placed upon his grave.’
A memorial service was held at Newchurch Parish Church on Sunday 23rd July 1916.
George is buried in Cambrin Military Cemetery.
Harold Houghton’s parents had a stone erected at Croft Unitarian Chapel in Harold’s grave space saying
'Private. George Daintith. In memory of Harold's comrade of the Liverpool Regiment, killed in France 25/06/1916'.

When William Whittle was born in 1889 in Culcheth, his father, William, was 29 and his mother, Ellen, was 21. He had two brothers.
In 1911 he lived and worked at Oakwood Farm, Risley with his parents and brothers.
He died on 14 June 1918 in France at the age of 29 and is buried at Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille.
He is remembered on the family grave at Croft Unitarian Chapel, the stone stating
​‘Duty Nobly Done’.

Royal Garrison Artillery. Died on 9th July 1920, aged 42.
​Son of Samuel and Mary Yates; husband of Lizzie Hankin Yates, of Longford Cottages, Longford, Warrington.

South Lancashire Regiment, transferred to as Private 584377, Labour Corps.
On 19th December 1918 he was admitted to the Military Hospital, Warrington with influenza and pneumonia. He passed away at 16:50 hours on the 26th November 1918. His history was of being unwell after he was gassed by mustard gas in France four months prior and he had chest trouble ever since.
He was the son of John and was the husband of Bertha, remarried to Andrews, of Little Town, Croft. He had two children, Thomas and Vera.

PRIVATE F FAULKNER
South Lancashire Regiment
​Died 16th March 1918

SERGEANT CYRIL WHITTLE
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Died 23rd April 1944

PRIVATE JOHN CLARK PICK
Manchester Regiment
Died 31st May 1940

PRIVATE JOSHUE RICHARD CLEWORTH
King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment)
Died 25th November 1918

DRUMMER G LOCKE
Leinster Regiment
Died 8th May 1920

PRIVATE ARTHUR MONKS
Royal Army Service Corps
Died 18th January 1921

GUARDSMAN HUGH ARTHUR WOOD
Welsh Guards
Died 29 August 1921

PRIVATE W B MIDDLETON
Leicestershire Regiment
Died 29th March 1921

SERJEANT JOHN BUCHANAN
Royal Army Medical Corps
Died 27th October 1918

The above image has an estimated date of between 1880 and 1890. I came across the below newspaper article describing the re-building of the hotel in 1886, therefore it must have been after that date.

​The formal opening of the spacious and well appointed bowling green attached to the General Elliot Hotel, which took place last Saturday afternoon, marks an era in the history of the ancient village of Croft.

The old General Elliot Inn has been almost entirely pulled down, and a commodious and well arranged hotel, with all the latest improvements and appliances has taken its place.

No one would certainly be able to recognise the old building in the handsome structure which now occupies its place. At the front there is a pretty porch, set off with pitch pine rails. The entrance door is ornamented with small squares of cathedral stained glass, as also are many of the windows. The bar is conveniently fitted up with ornamental slide windows facing the lobby, and behind the bar is the parlour, beautifully furnished.

All the rooms indeed are being elaborately fitted up; and apparently regardless of expense. On the opposite side of the lobby is a general room, fitted round, as is also the room to the back, behind the bar parlour, with the latest style of spring-cushioned seats of a remarkably comfortable character.

The other portions of the house can be kept private from the rest when necessary, and these include a semi-private room or office, spacious kitchen and scullery, offices, and upstairs a large room for parties of all kinds (where a wedding party from Leigh was feasting last Saturday), and numerous bedrooms, lavatories, &c.

​There are altogether twenty-one rooms in the house, and all are finished in polished pitch pine, but the decoration of the rooms is not yet completed.

Attached to the house is an excellent enclosed coach yard, with admirable stabling for twelve horses. Immediately adjoining is the spacious bowling green which was formally opened on Saturday last. It measures about 48 yards square, and is carefully tended so as to keep it in good condition. Round the green 400 rose trees have been planted, and seats provided, and a suitable bar erected close to the entrance.

From the various windows of the hotel some fine views of the surrounding district are obtained, including the Overton hills in Cheshire, parts of Warrington, the outlying portions of Newton and Ashton, &c.

Although the hotel has been rebuilt and modelled on an elaborate scale, the house still retains its homely character, and parties who wish to spend an enjoyable afternoon in the country can scarcely find a better or more attractive and comfortable place than the General Elliot Inn.

​The enterprising proprietor, Mr. Reginald Owen Jun. also allows visitors the pleasure of a walk through the extensive orchard which is close at hand, and which measures no less than about twelve acres in extent.

If you have already read The Story of Enoch Sankey, you will know that he started having money problems which lead to his bankruptcy in 1912. It seems that he sold the General Elliot in 1894.

SALE OF THE GENERAL ELLIOT -
​We understand that the General Elliot Hotel, Croft, has been sold privately by the owner, Mr. E. W. Sankey, for over £6000 to a Burton-on-Trent Brewery Co.

Finally, by 1911, it was back in more local ownership.

​GENERAL ELLIOT HOTEL
CROFT

THIS WELL KNOWN COUNTRY RESORT HAS
NOW BEEN ACQUIRED BY
GEO SHAW AND CO., LIMITED
OF LEIGH BREWERY, LEIGH.

Who have made Extensive Alterations for the
Convenience of Visitors.
LARGE AND SMALL PICNIC AND PLEASURE
PARTIES can be comfortably accommodated in
SUITABLE DINING ROOMS.

​LUNCHEONS, DINNERS AND TEAS
Served at the Shortest Notice and on Reasonable Terms.
A SPACIOUS AND WELL KEPT BOWLING GREEN
IS ATTACHED TO THE HOUSE.
SMART BILLIARD ROOM WITH EXCELLENT
TABLE.
First Class ALES, STOUTS, WINES & SPIRITS
Cigars and Cigarettes of Well-known Brands.

​George Newbrook, better known under his nom de plume of ‘Sammy Buttercup’ was a prolific writer of Lancashire Sketches. His humorous productions appeared in newspapers and literary supplements week by week up to the time of his death.
​Over 130 of his Lancashire Sketches were printed in the Leigh Chronicle, including ‘Grond Dooins at Croft’ and ‘Little Billy’ as well as a series under the title ‘Th’ Jubilee Debatin’ Club’ which also appeared in the Liverpool Weekly Post.
Sammy was in great request for recitations and comic sketches at local parties and social gatherings where his ready wit but quiet and unassuming manner made him invariably a universal favourite.

He sadly died on 20th February 1890. After his burial the Liverpool Daily Post wrote –

Yesterday, the mortal remains of George Newbrook, better known throughout Lancashire, and, indeed, the whole of the United Kingdom, as Sammy Buttercup, were interred in the churchyard of Croft, near Warrington.

Sammy has been ailing for a considerable time, the first symptoms of what has proved to be a fatal illness showing themselves so long ago as September last. He continued to grow weaker, and gradually lost the use of his eyesight, and became unable to read or write. He rallied somewhat towards the end of January, but catching cold early in the present month, he relapsed, and died on the 20th inst.

Sammy was born in Manchester on the 5th March 1835, and had thus almost completed his fifty-fifth year. He is survived by a widow and a grown-up family.

Widely known as Sammy’s writings were, few could claim to have a personal acquaintance with him; indeed, his personality was a mystery to many. A quiet, unassuming man, one would not readily suppose that his was the hand that wrote so many mirth-provoking tales.

In the small cottage at Croft where Sammy spent the latter days of his life, he composed some of the wittiest anecdotes. Brimful of that humour which pleases best of all, because it came naturally and without any apparent effort, Sammy’s favourite couplet

“Grief to our coffin adds a nail, no doubt;
Whilst every grin, so merry, draws one out.”

Expresses in small compass his own genial and lovable disposition. He was a great reader, and thought much on what he read; yet this passion for reading and writing with which he was possessed contributed in no small degree to his untimely death.
He moved in a very lowly sphere of life, and thus it is that his writings will endear him in the memory of that class in particular. He was not lacking in conversational powers, as an hour’s conversation with him would amply testify. His mind was stored with a large amount of general knowledge, from which he could draw to an unlimited extent.

Our Croft correspondent writes: - “A well-known person has been removed by the band of death from amongst the inhabitants of Croft, Mr. George Newbrook, the original “Sammy Buttercup” and Lancashire sketch writer, having died at his residence at Millhouse Brow, Croft, about 20 minutes past 11 o’clock on Thursday morning last, at the age of 54 years. Some months ago he broke a blood vessel, and was confined to his house for a short time, and was attended to by Dr. Sephton, of Culcheth, when he recovered a little, though he has never been in very good health since. He was, however, taken worse a few weeks ago, and gradually became weaker, and died as stated.

He was a man of very quiet disposition, and will be regretted by a large circle of friends amongst whom he visited. His funeral took place at Christ Church, Croft, on Sunday afternoon last, the ceremony being performed by the rector, the Rev. T. P. Kirkman. Several friends from Leigh and Croft were present to witness the funeral ceremony at the church.

Aw'm beawn to tell yo a bit ov a tale abeawt a chap at Croft, that bootiful little sitty ut lics abeawt six mile fro Leighth, 3,022 fro New York, an five fro Warrinton.

Neaw aw may as weel tell yo as heaw Croft's a varry aynshunt place, an th' reeason on't not bein menshund i'th Hist'ry o' Hinglond is bocose thoose ut wrote it didno goo to th' trubble o' payin it a visit to mak enquiries.

Neaw iv yo'll look i' Scriptur yo'll find it sez summat abeawt Moses bein fun i' some bullrushes, but it doesno say eggsactly wheer thoose rushes wur; but, iv aw remember reight, thoose rushes wur asoide o' where th' Booard Skoo is neaw, tho' th' rushes wur taen away mony a year sin to mak porayter hampers on.

Then agean, in another place, yo'll find summat abeawt Jonah swallerin a whale; but that's sich greyt while sin ut thers no trace left i' Croft o' noather Jonah nor t' whale, an th' lond bein plow'd up so mich so as to plant green peighs an carrots, its mich iv they ever find ony trace on't.

In another place yo find it menshund abeawt Jacob's ladder. Neaw thers a greyt mony ladders i' Croft, an they'n getten mixt up so mich ut thers no tellin which wur Jacob's ladder.

Neaw thers an owd smithy at Croft-bin theer monya hunderd year -- an accordin to th' Hist'ry o' Lankesher, it wur at this smithy wheer Oliver Crummell stopt to get shoon put on his hosses when he wur on his rode to Preston. When th' hosses ud getton their shoon on, he marcht his army to Leighth, an ther wur feet marks ov his cannon wheels uppoth hee rode for mony a year after, but thers no trace left on um neaw.
Oliver Crummell stopt o neet at th' King's Arms, Leighth, an th' next mornin, after he'd blown Whalley Abbey deawn, an Windleshaw Abbey, Sant Helen, he marcht his sowgers to l'reston.

Aw'm gettin off mi tale a bit, but as Croft wur a varry nooated place i' owden toimes, an nob'dy seeums to know mich abeawt it at th' present toime, aw think its just as weel to gie my readers a bit ov a descripshun on't.

It's not a varry largely-populated place, an at th'present toime its mooastly populated wi men, wimmin,an childer. Ov course thers a toothri hosses an keaws,an a toothri pigs an fowl, an loikewoise horn'd ponies an a four-legg'd cock, but aw dunno want to enter into nat’ral hist’ry.

Neaw ther's some varry owd inhabitants at Croft - some on ums bin livin theer ever sin they flit fro some-wheer else, au some's lived theer o ther loif-an its varry seldom ut a deeath taks place theer, becose its sich a healthy little spot.
Yo seen they get th' sea breeze fro th' Isle o' Mon every mornin bi t’ fust train, an th' climate theer doesno vary so mich-thermometers theer never goo deawn aboon 90 degrees below zero i'winter, nor aboon 327 n ‘arf i' summer.

Ther isno a doctor for miles, becose they dunno need ony. Thers noather warkheawses, ragged skoos, infirmaries, nor prisons, an th' inhabitants behave theirsels so weel ut it nobbut needs one poleesmon.

Some foak may happen think ut thers no building at Croft nobbut a toothri farm-heawses ; but lemmi tell yo ut thers a grond brewery theer, wi twelve acres ov a orchard attatch'd to't, wheer they con get moor gooseberries i'th seeason nor what ud mak apple dumpling enuf to feed o Lankesher.

Then thers a Church, a Catholic Chapel, a Unitarian Chapel, a Booard Skoo, a Pooast Offis, a Penny Bank, a Burial Society, Horticultural Society, an a Oldfellas' Lodge, but aw conno understond these Oddfellas at o, becose they're welly o married men.
Th' "Charge of the Light Brigade" took place at Croft. Aw dunno meean thoose " noble six hundred, becose ther wur aboon six theausand o' these, an Paddy Flynn wur chargin un wi a leeted candle an a toastin-fork, an it wur set deawn i' hist'ry as th' " Massacre of the Innocents."

Th' Battle o' Wayterloo wur fowten somewhere between Charley Wild's Farm an th' General Elliot Hotel, an th' Hindyun Mutiny took place in a field belungin to Measter Sankey.

Dick Turnip stopt o neet at Croft when he wur on his rode fro Lunnon to York, an th' Mail Coach fro Liverpool to Jerusalem used to stop three days so as th'passengers could goo o' getherin strawberries.

Ther used to be a deol o' weyvin an fustin-cuttin i'Croft, an th' King o' Shanty onest went theer to be mezzerd for a numbrell an a pair o' breeches.

Aw've just dropt across a bit o' poetry abeawt Croft, ut wur written bi oather Lungfella or Shortfella, somewheer abeawt th' toime o'th fust Revolushun i'Seringapotater, so aw'l just gie yo a copy on't :-

CROFT
Thers a little spot co'd Croft,
O, aw've bin theer varry oft,
Its as nice a little spot as e'er wur seen ;
With its ripplin brooks an rills,
With joy my heart it fills,
An its grond i' summer, when its fields are green.

Thers ponies theer wi horns,
A farmer plagued wi corns,
An a cock ut struts abeawt wi four legs ;
A clock i'th frunt o'th skoo,
Tho' too lazy for to goo,
An a duck they sen ut oft lays gowden eggs.
 
Then thers Polly Ann McGuire,
With a yead as red as foyar,
Thers Paddy Flynn an Jeremy O'Neil ;
An thers little Jonty Roe,
Wi a blister on his toe,
An a greyt big mustard playster on his heel.
 
Thers a farmer theer wi't gout,
An his woife waynt let him out,
An a widder woman wi a wooden leg,
An then thers Jemmy G .,
Sometoimes he gets on th' spree,
An tho' wealthy oftoimes bacco he will beg.
 
Thers another chap --- Pee Heyes --
He's a boy for heytin peighs,
An little Sammy Yates goos killin pigs ;
Then thers little Jemmy Shaw,
He loikes a bit o' jaw,
An he's varry fond o' doncin Irish jigs.
 
An thers Charley Wild -aw'm sure
He is a perfect cure-
But as good a bit o' comp'ny as yo'il find ;
He could tell yo mony a tale
As ud mak yo'r face turn pale,
An he sez keaws' tails are allus hung behind.
 
Jemmy Johnson keeps a farm,
An he's seven cats i'th barn,
He sez he keeps um theer the rats to scare;
Then thers Roddy wi his gun,
Sometoimes he has some fun --
He one toime kill'd a hedgehog for a hare.

But to mi tale.

Little Billy warks at that smithy " hereinbefore menshund," as th' lawyers sez. He's a varry quiet an daysent soart ov a chap, an aw'm sartin his woife's getten a good husband.

Neaw Billy wauks abeawt two mile to his wark in a mornin an two mile back agean at neet, an he's never missin nobbut when he's absent.

His measter wanted to goo whoam a bit sooner tother day, so he towd Billy to put th' hoss i'th trap, an he went to get a gill o' ale while Billy geet it raddy.

After he'd bin i'th aleheawse abeawt hauve an heawr, he went eawt to see what Billy wur doin, an he fun him stondin theer lookin gradely puzzled.
"Is it raddy yet, Billy ?" th' measter axt.
" Aye, aw think it'll do neaw, " sed Billy.
" But what's this doin here ?" th' measter sed, when he seed th' hoss's collar lyin uppoth floor.
" Why, aw couldno find a place for that," sed Billy, "an aw thowt it ud happen do witheawt."
" But it'll not do witheawt," sed his measter, "look sharp an get it on, becose aw want to be gooin."
" Wheer does it goo!" sed Billy, as he poikt th'collar up an lookt at it.
" Why, it goos on it neck, to be sure," sed his measter, an then he went in for another gill.

Billy pood th' yead gear off th' hoss an tried to put th' collar on, but he kept th' narrow eend up, an for o he kept thrutchin an swattin, an welly shuved th' hoss i'th doytch, he couldno get th' collar o'er it yead.

" Aw'll be heng'd iv aw con understond this," sed Billy to hissel, as he stared fust at th' collar an then th'hoss's vead, "this here's oather gone less or else th'hoss's yead's gone bigger.But it happen doesno goo o'er it yead, " he sed, as a fresh thowt struck him.
Then he took th' hoss eawt o'th trap, an geet booath it hinder legs throo t' collar, an tried to get it on that rode, but it wur no use, for when he geet it up to it tail he couldno get it no furr.

"Its no use tryin, " he sed to hissel, as he clapt th'collar uppoth floor, "thers summat wrang somewheer. Aw darst bet th’ Bank o’ Hinglond, Iv aw had it, ut that hoss wern't mezzer'd for this collar.'

Th' measter coom cawt agean in a bit to see iv trap wur raddy, but it wur just same as it wur afoar.
" Hasn to getten that collar on yet, Billy ?" he sed.
" Nawe, " sed Billy, "an aw'd loike to see th' chap as con put it on.
"Put it on ? Why, it goos on yezzy enuf," sed th' measter, as he geet howd o'th collar and slipt it o'er th' hoss's yead, an Billy stood starein at him loike a thunner-struck grasshopper.
 
Billy couldno gie o’er thinkin abeawt th' hoss's collar. It wur th' topmost thing in his mind o neet, in fact he actily dreamt abeawt it that neet, geet up in his sleep, an wakken'd th' woife wi tryin to shuve th' hondle o'th kettle o'er her yead.
Then ther wur a gradely flare-up, becose th' woife thowt as heaw he wur tryin to murder her, till Billy wakken'd an towd her abeawt th' hoss's collar.

Heawever, things are o reight agean neaw, an Billy ul know heaw to put a collar on i' futur.