Jump to content

Rivington: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m fixing "the the"
Line 31: Line 31:
[[File:Proposed-park.png|thumb|220px|Rivington Park Map, 1904]]
[[File:Proposed-park.png|thumb|220px|Rivington Park Map, 1904]]


The village lies below [[Rivington Pike]] and further east is [[Winter Hill (Lancashire)|Winter Hill]], and was a location for the [[2002 Commonwealth Games]]. The two reservoirs today are popular with tourists and were mostly completed by 1857, five years later than Anglezarke Reservoir to the north, formerly a small Chorley Reservoir. Tourism at Rivington commenced in the Victorian times when the area was known as the little lake district.
The village lies below [[Rivington Pike]] and further east is [[Winter Hill (Lancashire)|Winter Hill]], and was a location for the [[2002 Commonwealth Games]]. The two reservoirs today are popular with tourists and were mostly completed by 1857, five years later than Anglezarke Reservoir to the north that originally started as a small reservoir created in 1850 on a small parcel of land sold to [[Chorley]] by Thomas Pilkington, then owner of High Bullough<ref>[David Owen, Historian]</ref> the now large reservoir had been expanded in 1870.<ref>[Rivington, M.D Smith 1989]</ref> Tourism at Rivington commenced in the Victorian times when the area was known as the little lake district. In the Victorian period its popularity grew with the arrival of trains at Horwich and Blackrod.


===Tourism===
===Tourism===

Revision as of 16:46, 19 May 2010

For other uses, see Rivington (disambiguation).
Rivington
The Tower on Rivington Pike
Population144 (2001 Census)
OS grid referenceSD626144
Civil parish
  • Rivington
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townBOLTON
Postcode districtBL6
Dialling code01204
PoliceLancashire
FireLancashire
AmbulanceNorth West
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Lancashire

Rivington is a civil parish of the Borough of Chorley, in Lancashire, England, located within the West Pennine Moors. According to the United Kingdom Census 2001 it had a population of 144.

Rivington today

Rivington is a rural area and is a popular tourist attraction, its preservation is attributed to tourism. The attractions are mostly accessible on foot, a popular place for walkers and families on days out. The area is one of scenic beauty and within its boundaries are Lever Park, Rivington Village, large reservoirs, an area known as the Clough and the Rivington and Blackrod High School.

File:Lowerriv2r.JPG
Looking across Lower Rivington Reservoir.
The Street on the banks of Upper Rivington Reservoir.
A view across Yarrow Reservoir, Anglezarke
File:Proposed-park.png
Rivington Park Map, 1904

The village lies below Rivington Pike and further east is Winter Hill, and was a location for the 2002 Commonwealth Games. The two reservoirs today are popular with tourists and were mostly completed by 1857, five years later than Anglezarke Reservoir to the north that originally started as a small reservoir created in 1850 on a small parcel of land sold to Chorley by Thomas Pilkington, then owner of High Bullough[1] the now large reservoir had been expanded in 1870.[2] Tourism at Rivington commenced in the Victorian times when the area was known as the little lake district. In the Victorian period its popularity grew with the arrival of trains at Horwich and Blackrod.

Tourism

Lever Park within Rivington borough was named after the peer of the realm, Lord Leverhulme. Lever Park came into existence in 1902 as 360 acres (1.46 km2; 0.56 sq mi) of land to be maintained as a park by an agreement between Lord Leverhulme and the Liverpool Corporation for the benefit of the citizens of Bolton and neighbourhood with the ownership and care of the park vested in the Corporation of the City of Liverpool by act of parliament known as the Liverpool Corporation Act 1902. The act did leave some historic buildings vulnerable and the corporation acquired and demolished them.[3]. Lord Leverhulme used his vast wealth and influence in building many of the roads that now exist and was also a strong campaigner until his death in 1925 in the preservation of many of the buildings that Liverpool Corporation were intent on demolishing in the early twentieth century. The Leverhulme legacy has been preserved to present day.

Replica castle

Main articles: Liverpool Castle and Great House Barn

Rivington is a very popular place for visitors who today who take the walks to a replica of Liverpool castle (grid reference SD6286513025) constructed by Lord Leverhulme shortly before his death and is within the lower part of the Lever Park Estate sitting beside the banks of the Lower Rivington reservoir where a nearby a Go Ape adventure area is within a short distance of Great House Barn, an Anglo-Saxon building where snacks and drinks are served.

Rivington Hall & Barns

Main article: Rivington Hall

A major attraction is Georgian fronted Rivington Hall and Anglo-Saxon Barn adjacent associated with the Pilkington family of Rivington and today both owned by the Salmon family, the latter serves snacks in the day and hosts wedding receptions, birthday parties and other special events in the evenings by arrangement. The Hall barn is also a meeting place for Motorbike enthusiasts who meet there on Sundays. The Hall was occupied from medieval times to 1910 by the Pilkington family and their heirs. The Salmon family also operate catering business a short distance away at Great House Barn. Both places are highly popular. The is a collectors fair held every alternate Wednesday at the Hall Barn of around 50 stalls. Booking is by arrangement. There are also regular evening dances held between 8pm and 12.30am.[4]

Bungalow grounds

The popular former Bungalow grounds were a second home of Lord Leverhulme and are at the upper part of Lever Park. Although much of the original grounds have gone the Pigeon Tower and other structures remain as landmarks.

Roman bridges & Pigeon Tower

Lever Park was the site of a number of buildings built for Leverhulme including Roynton Cottage (grid reference SD6391514010) (usually called The Bungalow), Japanese garden, Roman bridges and Pigeon Tower. The bungalow was destroyed in an arson attack by suffragette Edith Rigby on 8 July 1913.[5] A second bungalow was built from stone, improving on the old wooden structure. The larger stone bungalow stood for many years and was subject to neglect after Leverhulme's death in 1925.

The last owners was a brewing family called McGee. The building was used as a billet for troops in World War II and was damaged in use. A demolition order by Bolton Council was served on the bungalow shortly after the end of the war and as the country was recovering from war the bungalow was at that time not considered a high priority and it was pulled down in 1946. In its heyday in the 1920s, prior to the death of Lord Leverhulme in 1925 the Bungalow and grounds hosted balls, garden parties and public open days with a big attraction being the zoo at the park: traces of this bungalow and gardens are still visible on the slopes of Rivington Pike. There were proposals to rebuild The Bungalow but these were blocked.

Rivington Pike

Main article: Rivington Pike

Another listed building can be reached by a road from the Rivington Hall Barn, many on reaching the former Bungalow grounds venture further uphill to the heights and splendid panoramic views afforded at Rivington Pike making the famous local landmark Rivington Pike Tower their goal. Winter Hill sits behind Pike and is a high peak on the west Pennines surrounded by vast moorland, the Television mast being a feature that can be seen for miles, the area has a great deal to interest archaeologists.

Rivington Village

Main articles: Rivington Church, Rivington Unitarian Chapel, and Rivington and Blackrod High School

Rivington Village is the old heart of the Rivington Borough and is an historic village that is outside the Lever Park area, peaceful and tranquil and located there is a former Vicarage, now a private residence, a Manse House formerly part of the Rivington Chapel and now a private residence, a row of cottages now combined into one private house, the nearest to the Chapel was once the post office. There are another two further rows of cottages at the nearby Mill Hill with Pilkingtons Farm at the front on Rivington Lane. There is also Rivington Church built prior to 1540 on Saxon foundation, founded 1566 and rebuilt in the 1600s and renovated in the 1800s and Rivington Unitarian Chapel built 1703 with its original box pews and featuring a grand monument to the family of Hugh, 15th Baron Willoughby of Parham both places of worship are still active and services are held every Sunday. The Chapel school house at the rear of Rivington Unitarian Chapel has a Snack bar and very polular with tourists. The former Rivington Grammar school rebuilt 1714 was founded with the Church 1566 and operates today as an infants school. The village extended a little further to the west until 1847 when Liverpool Corporation began the construction of the Rivington Reservoirs.

Adjacent Attractions

On the boundary of Rivington are Anderton and Anglezarke, which share Rivington's rolling countryside and vast moorlands. Anderton has a number of old buildings, many of which are listed status. Anglezarke with its vast moorland is rural with ruins of old farms and many prehistoric sites. The Rivington area has a number of listed buildings.

Demolition

File:Rivi-village-small.jpg
Rivington Village, showing building now gone, c.1900
File:Inset Map Rivington Village 1904.png
Rivington Village Inset Map, showing building now gone, 1904

The first threat to Rivington came with increased needs of water for Liverpool. Chorley Water works Company bought land from Thomas Pilkington to create High Bullough Reservoir in 1850[6], by 1857 reservoirs took over a large area of land to supply Liverpool with water. Three buildings were demolished and foundations submerged for the reservoirs these were Lady Hall at Anderton, Turners House and Farm and the Black a'Moors Inn, also known as the Black Lad public house.

Liverpool Corporation around 1900 attempted to acquire the entire area for use for its water supply and proposed demolition of all buildings including the village. Some buildings were protected and others left vulnerable in an act of parliament that followed known as the Liverpool Corporation Act 1902.[7] This act allowed the corporation to acquire buildings by compulsory purchase between 1902 and 1905 and the buildings seen on the photograph c.1900 being the new Black a'Moors Hotel and New Hall in the village were amongst those demolished.[8]

The needs of the country came first in World War II and Rivington was used as a storage and training post under the Defence of the Realm Act. The larger properties were used for troops, including The Bungalow and Rivington Hall, both properties were damaged and old farms at Anglezarke were used as target practice.[9] and Great House Barn was used for storage of food.[10] The Bungalow was later demolished by Liverpool Corporation in 1946 and Rivington Hall and Barn were saved by the intervention of the Salmon family in 1953. The congregations at both Rivington Church and Chapel rallied to the cause in saving the buildings there.[11]

Liverpool Corporation started to gradually demolish many buildings after 1900 and did not stop until Chorley Borough Council intervened to save the buildings we see today. Chorley Borough Council took Liverpool Corporation to court and won a legal dispute with Liverpool Corporation in 1967 to save the Rivington Pike Tower from demolition by the corporation, locally a landmark case saving a popular landmark. After this other significant buildings were put under the protection of listed building status by Chorley Borough Council.[12],[13][14]

Listed buildings in the Rivington boundary

The most prominent of all buildings by its location is Rivington Pike Tower on the summit of Rivington Pike, Listed building number 184424.[15]

Pigeon Tower north east corner of Lord Lever Terraced Garden, Lever Bridge in Lord Leverhulme's Terraced Gardens , Loggia c70m west of Pigeon tower in Lord Lever's Terraced Gardens, 2 archways & assoc. retaining walls to 2 stone staircases at north corner of tennis lawn in Lever Terraced Gardens, Mosses Cocker's Farmhouse, Dean Head Lane, Wilcocks Farmhouse, Dean Head Lane, Rivington Church of the Holy Trinity, Horrobin Lane, Mounting Block in school yard c.15 metres west of Rivington School, Horrobin Lane, Fisher House, Rivington Lane, Rivington Castle, Lever Park, Great House Farmhouse & Cottage, Rivington Lane, Rivington Hall, Rivington Lane, Great House Barn, Rivington Lane, Rivington Hall Barn, Rivington Lane, Hamer's Cottage, off Rivington Lane, Bradley's Farmhouse, off Sheep House Lane, Rivington Unitarian Chapel, Sheep House Lane, Bellhouse c.10 metres west of Rivington church of Holy Trinity, Sheep House Lane, Barn c.50 metres east of Bradley's Farmhouse, Wilkinsons & Cottage attached to right, Sheep House Lane, Rivington Lane.[15]

History

Further information: [[:History of Lancashire]]

Toponymy

For a short time Rivington was known as 'Roynton' through a connection to a family of that name connected to the Levers of Bolton, hence the name of the 'Bungalow' is one such form and 'Riventon' is another, although rare. The etymology is said to be from a combination of 'Roving' (a name for Rivington Pike) with '-ton' (a homestead or village) and is first recorded in the 13th century when the Pilkington family owned six bovates of land by that name. A variation of the name Rovington between 1371 and 1521 was Rovyngton.[16]

Although the borough was known as at times as Rivyngton or by some other alias historically the village often previously had a different name and was distinct from the wider area name until 1827. The village name varied slightly but was most commonly known as Rovington, DDX94/100 & DL 30/79/1032 [17],[18][19] through to the land deeds for the School until 1827. The first land deed noted for the school being Acknowledgment: George Pilkington of Rovington, Esq., re lease of schoolhouse and feoffment DDX94/194 18 Jul. 1587.

Descent of the Manor

The descent of the Manor of Rivington commences around 1212 when the Pilkington family owned six Oxganges of land. Over time and with some gaps in records the Rivington Manor became separated in moieties and by the sixteenth century the Pilkingtons of Rivington Hall owned a 5/8 share.

There were legal disputes that relate to the will of Robert Pilkington who died 17 November 1605. The sale agreement for Rivington Hall did however retain New Hall and lands in the village of Rivington to remain in Pilkington ownership whilst Rivington Hall was sold to their in-laws the Breres in association with the Levers of Little Lever. It was the Pilkington 5/8 share of the land at Rivington that was bought by W.H Lever in 1900 and later sold to Liverpool Corporation and it is within the old Pilkington lands that Lever Park was created. The Anderton family also owned a 300 year lease on a significant portion of the Pilkington Manor and estate signed by James Pilkington 17 Jan 1605, the lease had not reverted until 1905 and the descendants had not been made aware of the reversion until decades later.

In this same period the Lathom family of Irlam owned 2/8 and the Shaw family of Rivington, Heath Charnock and Anglezarke owned 1/8. Over the years and to modern day these other portions remained separate. As can be seen from the descent of the Manor many families now living have a vested interest in the Manor and despite a popular myth that originated around the turn of the Twentieth century that W.H Lever had bought all of Rivington Manor the evidence that follows shows otherwise.

Pilkington of Rivington

Family tree of Alice Asshaw
File:Pilkington-picture-1904.JPG
The Pilkington painting

In 1212 the Pilkington family held of King John of England in thanage six oxgangs of land at a rent of 10s.[20] In 1324 Roger de Pilkington held seven-eighths of the manor at a rent of 8s. 9d while Richard de Hulton held the other eighth for 1s. 3d. p.a.[21] This partition appears again in 1445 [22]

The earliest grant of land occurred in 1250: a grant of land from Simon de Rivington to William of Brownhill grants all his land in winterhold[clarification needed]. The earlier tenants lists for Rivington establish who were holders of the lands but does not prove who lived there. It is assumed Alexander de Pilkington would have lived elsewhere. In a tenants list of 1240 we find Alexander de Pilkington, William de Rivington, Richard de Gamelslegh, William de Knoll, John de Broadhurst, Robert de Asshawe. A lay subsidy of 1327 gives us the names of the inhabitants as Robert Pilkington, Adam son of Robert, Alexander son of Hugh, William Bradshaw, John Erlegh, John Gameleslegh and a lay subsidy of 1332 names Robert Pilkington, Adam son of Robert, William Broadhurst, William Gamelslegh, John Erlegh and John son of Mabel. Through this information we can see that the Pilkingtons were in residence after 1327. There is then little detail of the occupancy at Rivington Hall until 1478 when we find Robert Pilkington arranging to build a more spacious house.

There are various families in ownership of the manor of Rivington from the very earliest records to modern day. However one family had the largest portion of the Manor for the longest period, the Pilkington family of Rivington held the majority until the death of Robert Pilkington in 1605. The senior line of the Pilkington family had sided with the losing side at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485 and the family's lands were confiscated. The Rivington estate was not part of the lands confiscated.

The best known of this family is James Pilkington, first Protestant Bishop of Durham, born at Rivington c. 1518 the son of Richard Pilkington of Rivington Hall and Alice Asshawe. The family of Alice Asshawe owned a one eighth share of the manor, later another branch of the family were to acquire the New Hall estate by marriage. On the death of Richard Pilkington in 1551 the estate passed to his son George who continued to live at New Hall in the village of Rivington. It was on the death of George Pikington 1597 that the estate passed to his son Robert.[23] The family are pictured in the Pilkington painting.

In 1600 Robert Pilkington made an agreement to buy up the life leases of the occupants of Rivington Old Hall estates for £4000 [23] and in 1601 risked the estate by using it as surety for a debt of £250 to William Bispham, a Citizen of London. Robert defaulted 25 July 1601 and Rivington and other lands except his manor of Walton-le-Dale were passed by several writs of extent and Liberare Facias to William Bisham to settle this debt[24]

Robert Pilkington died 17 November 1605 at Rivington and made his last will 16 November the same year. In his will he directed his body be buried at the Rivington Church among his ancestors[25] The period of the next few years, after Robert's death were to see much litigation. William Bispham had left his own affairs in bad order and on his death his brother James Bispham had no choice but to sell off his brother's estates.

In the Inquisition Post Mortem of Robert Pilkington 12 March 7th year of James I 1610 upon oath it was stated on 6 July 43rd year of Elizabeth I, 1601 was seized of his demesne of his manor of Rivington or Rovington and of 24 messuages, 4 cottages,300 acres (1.21 km2; 0.47 sq mi) of land, 100 acres (0.40 km2; 0.16 sq mi)of meadow, 40 acres (0.16 km2; 0.06 sq mi)of pasture, 20 acres (0.08 km2; 0.03 sq mi) of wood,500 acres (2.02 km2; 0.78 sq mi) of furze and heath, 200 acres (0.81 km2; 0.31 sq mi) of moor, 500 acres (2.02 km2; 0.78 sq mi) of moss with appurtenances in Rivington or Rovington, Heath Charnock and Walton-le-Dale.

In the will of Robert Pilkington in 1605 he leaves sums of money to a number of parties but he left the Rivington estate and his other lands to Richard Hutton, Sergeant-at-law, his executor, to have the residue of his estate after his debts and legacies are discharged, he also appoints Thomas Tyldesley as second executor, he then leaves his sister Katherine £100, the 25 marks (£16-13-4d in sterling) per year to his brother James, his sister Alice £20, Thomas Warburton £3 6s 8d per year and annexed a schedule of his debts to his will.

The eventual sale of freehold of a large portion of the Rivington Old Hall estate was agreed 30 March 1611. The Old Hall Estate was sold to Robert Lever and Thomas Breres brother of John Breres for £1730. Within this sale agreement a large house called New Hall, alias Ferneley was retained from the sale along with the Barne Flatt, the North Church Hill, South Church Hill, the Riding, the Great Meadow, the Middle Meadow, the Half Acre, the Cow Lane, the Rush Riding, the Ryding lying to the west of the new alehouse, the Mylne Croft, the land to Bullough Moor for the benefit of Katherine Pilkington and her heirs.[26]

Lathom of Irlam

In 1347 Roger de Westleigh of Irlam, Emma his wife, and Adam de Birkhead or Birkenhead of Wigan claimed the fourth part of two messuages in Rivington against Robert de Rivington, Richard his son, and others.[27] Three years earlier Roger son of Roger de Westleigh and Emma his wife had made a settlement of the fifth part of the manor of Rivington in favour of their son Richard[28]

In 1640 after the death of Edmund Lathom the inquisition stated, George the deceased's grandfather held a quarter of Rivington Manor of the Crown and made a settlement in 1570.[29] George Lathom of Huyton and his wife Elizabeth were engaged in suits with Richard Pilkington and others in 1549 and 1550, regarding Moldesfield and land in Rivington. Hyefurth House at Deane Head was part of the Lathom estate and the legal action continues until 1614. Eventually Thomas Lathom son of George Lathom was granted 50 acres (0.20 km2; 0.08 sq mi) in settlement.[30]

In 1683 the 50 acres (0.20 km2; 0.08 sq mi) mentioned as settlement to the Lathoms in 1614 was sold within the following document: Bargain and Sale by Lease and Release: (i) Thomas Lathom of Irelom, esq., associated with Thomas Ashurst of Ashurst, esq., and Ralph Egerton of Turton, gent., to (ii)n John Bradley of Rivington, gent., for £120 to T.L. and 5/- apiece to T.A. and R.E. -- messuages, closes and parcels of land in Rivington 50 acres (0.20 km2; 0.08 sq mi) moiety of waste ground in Rivington belonging to T.L., and moiety of messuages, cottages etc., in Rivington where T.L. has freehold.[31]

Shaw of Rivington, Heath Charnock and Anglezarke

John Shaw was defendant in Rivington cases in 1507, 1528, and 1545[32] relating to the eighth part previously held by the Hultons. Robert Shaw, son and heir of Thomas Shaw made a settlement of the eighth part of the manor of Rivington and other lands in 1606.[33]

At the start of the seventeenth century five eighths remained with the Pilkington family of Rivington.[34] while a quarter of the Rivington Manor was held by the Lathoms of Irlam and the other eighth by the Shaws of Heath Charnock. The division of the manor is illustrated at the enclosure of the manorial waste land in 1536, out of 20 acres (0.08 km2; 0.03 sq mi), Richard Pilkington had 13 acres (0.05 km2; 0.02 sq mi), James Shaw 3 acres (0.01 km2; 0.00 sq mi), and George Lathom 4 acres (0.0162 km2; 0.0063 sq mi).[35]

This 1/8th held by the Shaws was sold in 1656 to John Risley of Risley to raise funds for recovery from the English Civil War. Peter Shaw Jnr bought back the estate in 1663, the same was again sold some time later and again purchased back in 1671 from John Breres, father of the John Breres who died 1667, for £200.[36],[37] Robert Lever and John Breres were involved in a legal dispute in 1684 with Peter Shaw for tithe corn and hay.[38]

Descendants of the 10th Lord Willoughby of Parham

At the beginning of the eighteenth century due to extended legal disputes over rights to lead mines at Anglezarke Peter Shaw of Shaw Place, Heath Charnock and his son Thomas became in debt and in order to recover for these debts sold their estate to Hugh, 12th Lord Willoughby of Parham. On his death in 1712 Hugh, 12th Lord Willoughby left the lands bought from Peter Shaw to his nephew Edward, 13th Lord Willoughby who died 1713. The estate then passed to his son Charles, 14th Lord Willoughby who died in 1715 to pass to his son Hugh, 15th Lord Willoughby on who's death in 1765 half of his estate passed to his sister Elizabeth who had married John Shaw of Stones House Anglezarke, while the other half passed to his sister Helena who married Baxter Roscoe of Anglezarke.[37]

In 1734 a lease was agreed by Hugh Lord Willoughby of large tracts of land that were once owned by Rivington School. The land forms the slope leading to the Pike Tower. The farms Higher Knowle and Lower Knowle in Rivington, Darbyshires and Lathoms tenements in Rivington were a significant part of the Rivington area.[39] This document shows that a lease was agreed for one year for amongst other lands various other messuages belonging to Lord Willoughby in Rivington and on Rivington Moor.

On the death of Hugh Willoughby, 15th Lord Willoughby of Parham in 1765 he died without issue and his heiresses were his sisters Helen Roscoe and Elizabeth Shaw. Some land in Rivington and Anglezarke was disposed of by heiresses, the remaining estate held by Rt. Hon. Elizabeth Shaw is detailed in her will of 1787. The will distributes the Rivington freeholds as follows: Pilkington's 2 roods and 24 perches to George Shaw eldest son, Hammers 21 acres (0.08 km2; 0.03 sq mi) 35 perches to Charles Shaw, Lower Knowle 27 acres (0.11 km2; 0.04 sq mi) 3 roods to John Shaw, Jepsons 31 acres (0.13 km2; 0.05 sq mi) 31 perches to Daniel Shaw including rivulet. Higher Knowle 30 acres (0.12 km2; 0.05 sq mi) 1 rood and Darbyshires 8 acres (0.03 km2; 0.01 sq mi) 1 rood 20 perches to daughter Jane Barker, with half of Higher Knowle estate kept in trust for heirs of Ann Hart Brownlows 14 acres (0.06 km2; 0.02 sq mi) 1 rood daughter Betty Higson, Browns 2 acres (0.01 km2; 0.00 sq mi) 10 perches and Shaw spot in Pilkington's estate 2 roods 24 perches to Joseph Hatton. Only one lease at Rivington is mentioned being for Sales at a size of 10 acres (0.04 km2; 0.02 sq mi) for 99 years the freehold there being held by Robert Andrews.[40] In the mid 1990's the incorporeal rights of the manor of Rivington inherited by descendants of the Shaws were transferred to a local family, the transfer was a sale of rights without land and did not become registered as an overriding interest.

Anderton

In 1605 in the second year of James I dated 17 January, James Pilkington of Rivington, born c. 1575, brother of Roger Pilkington and heir to the estate agreed a 300 year lease of his Manor of Rivington to James Anderton of Lostock. This lease was followed by an indenture on 1 March the same year for the alienation of 300 years of James Pilkington from any claim to his Manor for an amount of 5 marks during his lifetime. The lease ran its course. In the will of Robert Pilkington dated 17 November 1605 he leaves 25 Marks (£16-13-4d in sterling) to James Pilkington his brother on condition James does not block his will.

Breres

The Breres family can be traced back many years and have an entry within The Visitation of 1613,[41] the family were prominent members of the Preston Guild and in 1397 the family appear as master skinners and farriers, later the Breres are recorded as burgesses. In connection with Rivington the brothers Thomas Breres and John Breres are most prominent. There were four brothers, Henry, Thomas, John and Edmund who were sons of Alexander Breres whose wife was Ellyn, daughter of Thomas Gellybrand of Chorley. In 1582 Thomas Breres was Steward of the Guild and in 1602 John Breres was Clerk of the Guild. Their brother Henry became Steward of the Guild in 1622. John Breres was granted Martin Hall in 1612 and one of the window panes dated 1614 bore the heraldry of John Breres and his wife Katherine Shaw, daughter of Thomas Shaw of Heath Charnock. Their brother Henry Breres was Mayor of Preston for 1611, 1618, 1627 and 1637. During the Civil War, Alexander Breres, son of John [42] initially supported Lord Derby and was garrisoned at Lathom House but during the first siege of Lathom House, in March 1644, he switched sides and became part of the Cromwellian army. His name appeared on the Recusant Roll for West Derby Hundred in 1641. Brereses are recorded as being at Martin Hall until 1663. Robert Breres was reckoned to be amongst the gentry of West Derby in 1688. Other members of the Breres family have been recorded as living at several other prestigious addresses, including, Buckshaw Hall, Euxton, Walton Old Hall, Walton, Rivington (Rivyngton) Ould Hall, Owning part of Duxbury manor, near Chorley.

At Rivington a sale of lands to John Breres is mentioned within the Inquisition Post Mortem of Robert Pilkington 1610 in which it is stated that on 29 August 1603 Robert Pilkington had sold to John Breres 3 messuages, 1 cottage, 4 gardens, 4 orchards, 70 acres (0.28 km2; 0.11 sq mi) of land, 30 acres (0.12 km2; 0.05 sq mi) of meadow, 80 acres (0.32 km2; 0.13 sq mi) of pasture, 6 acres (0.02 km2; 0.01 sq mi) of wood, 120 acres (0.49 km2; 0.19 sq mi) of furze and heath and 100 acres (0.40 km2; 0.16 sq mi) of moor with appurtenances in Rivington of which Robert Pilkington was seized on 6 July 1601. Within the sale of 1611 an estate is reserved for Katherine Pilkington and in addition we see that the estate of John Breres at Rivington was purchased in 1603, the remainder was sold on 30 March 1611 to Robert Lever and Thomas Breres brother of John Breres. In 1667, John Breres mentions in his will in 1667 that he had mortgaged his interests in Rivington Ould Hall in 1617 after the death of his Uncle Thomas Breres to James Pilkington of Heaton Rhodes, Gent and William Pilkington of Wigan, Gent, these two men were the relatives of his wife Elizabeth Pilkington. John Breres also mentions his wife Elizabeth and brother William in his will. The Breres family lived at the old Hall the last being William and his wife Martha Gill. William Breres died in 1723 and the estate passed to John their son. This John Breres sold his ownership of the Rivington Old Hall estate in 1729 to John Andrews who had inherited his share from the Levers[43].

Features of the old Hall include date stones placed there by the owners as each addition was made to the property. A date stone of 1694 with the initials WB is located over a doorway at the rear of the house and this is thought to have been placed there by William Breres. A further date stone is located in the courtyard with the initials WMB dated 1700, the date stone is of William and Martha Breres. Over the old stable door was a further date stone of 1713 with the initials WMIB. On the stable door is carved A.I.A. 1732 and this was placed there by John Andrews.

Lever of Little Lever

Robert Lever, the purchaser in 1611 with Thomas Breres died in 1620 and in 1617 had already given his moiety of the Rivington estate to his youngest son Robert who had settled in London. His son Robert never married and his estate passed to a nephew, another Robert, son of his brother James. This Robert Lever had one daughter called Jane who in 1648 had married John Andrews of Little Lever, Bolton.

Andrews

Robert Lever who died in 1688 left the estate to his daughter Jane Andrews and subsequently on his death the estate passed to John Andrews who died without male issue in 1743.

The Andrews crest was the moors head in profile adourned with an earing [44]. The Andrews family owned slaves and displayed a trophy of an Africans Black O Moores Head which gave name to the former Public house once located in the village, demolished in the early twentieth century [44]

In 1729 John Andrews purchased the Breres portion of the estate and in 1732 commenced work on the Pike Tower completing this in 1733, the building was erected as a shelter for hunting parties. As can be seen there were various families in ownership of Rivington. On page 51 of A Short History of Rivington, 1904 a book sponsored by W. H. Lever, the author states that John Andrews in 1729 became sole Lord of the Manor, a statement that is clearly wrong, the statement was repeated in the section about the Pike Tower. John Andrews is most likely to have become sole owner of the Rivington Hall, rather than the Manor.

Wilson, Fletcher and Andrews-Crompton

On the death of John Andrews the estate passed to his daughter Abigail who had married Joseph Wilson of Bolton. Joseph Wilson died in 1765. The estate then passed to another Robert Andrews. It was this Robert Andrews who built the great red brick Georgian house we see today. Robert Andrews died in 1793 and the property passed to his son Robert who died unmarried in 1858, the estate then passed to his brother John who died without issue in 1865. The estate then passed to the sister Hannah Maria Andrews who had married Robert Fletcher of Liverpool. Their daughter Lucy married Woodhouse Crompton in 1834. The Cromptons remained resident until 1910 although they had sold the land in 1900 to W. H. Lever.

It was widely rumoured that W.H. Lever had bought the rights to the Manorial title from the Cromptons within the land purchase, however there is no evidence of the sale of Manorial rights to W.H Lever, neither is there evidence of the sale of manorial rights to Liverpool Corporation. There is extensive evidence of the continued ownership of manorial rights in favour of the descendants of the Pilkingtons, Andrews-Crompton, Bradleys and Shaws.

William Hesketh Lever

In 1900 the Cromptons sold the Rivington Hall estate to W. H. Lever, founder of Lever Brothers, but the Crompton family were resident until 1910.

In 1901 the area of the township is stated as 2,768 acres (11.20 km2; 4.33 sq mi) of which reservoirs and filter beds occupies about 275 acres (1.11 km2; 0.43 sq mi). The sale to W. H Lever in 1900 was for 2,100 acres (8.50 km2; 3.28 sq mi). 360 acres (1.46 km2; 0.56 sq mi) of land was later laid out as a park for the people of Bolton.

Lever Park

Lever Park, as we know it today was named after the peer of the realm, Lord Leverhulme. Lever Park came into existence in 1902 as 360 acres (1.46 km2; 0.56 sq mi) of land to be maintained as a park by an agreement between Lord Leverhulme and the Liverpool Corporation. The Horwich side of Lever Park is now built upon and is known as the Lever Park estate comprising large private properties, the adjacent estate known as Old Lord's is named after Thomas Willoughby, 11th Baron Willoughby of Parham who had married Eleanor, daughter of Hugh Whittle of Horwich and lived at Old Lords, a property that once stood on the Horwich border with Rivington. Its ruins still remains nestled in trees near to the River Douglas behind stone cottages off Green Lane at Old Lords, Horwich. Baron Willoughby was simply known locally as Lord Willoughby. The reservoirs were within the proposed park area but restricted from public access for decades to protect the water supply. Lever Park is located between the village of Rivington and Horwich. The village of Rivington is outside the park borders but attracts tourists from the adjacent Lever Park.

The entrance to Lever Park is in Horwich and is located at the junction of Scholes Bank and Lever Park Avenue where there are two pillars inscribed with the words: "William Hesketh Lever 1st Viscount Leverhulme. Lever Park the gift of William Hesketh Lever 1st Viscount Leverhulme born at 6 Wood Street, Bolton, September 19, 1851 died at Hampstead, London, May 7, 1925. For the benefit of the citizens of his native town and neighbourhood by act of parliament in 1902 the ownership and care of the park were vested in the Corporation of the City of Liverpool".

The boundaries of Lever Park have had some controversy and confusion over the years. Planning consent was given by Horwich Council for the building of private houses on the land adjacent to Lever Park Avenue, leading to the proposed park area. The old boundary of Lever Park is marked by two memorial pillars, located some distance from today's border on the Horwich side. Locals felt the park was being encroached upon for development. Today the Horwich side of Lever Park is covered with large private houses. In the 1990s luxury houses were built right to the boundary of the park land on the River Douglas at the Horwich side on land once property of the Shaw family. In the 1990s a proposal to charge a fee to use the existing park sparked widespread public opposition and in the same period plans were made to build on a field adjacent to Lever Park Avenue, known as Old Lord's field also the location of a large plague pit. This was met with local opposition and that development was stopped. In 2009 Chorley council gave planning consent for Go Ape! to use the woodland on the banks of the Lower Rivington reservoir and it has also sparked controversy.

On the banks of the Lower Rivington Reservoir is a full-size replica of Liverpool Castle (architect T. H. Mawson) which was built for W. H. Lever.[45]

In 2003 in the Bungalow grounds work began on vegetation after Defra warned of the threat of sudden oak death, a disease from rhododendron bushes, then prominent at Rivington.[46] In 2006 a new threat emerged called Ramorum Blight. This was discovered in 2005 among the rhododendron bushes so it was necessary for more bushes to be destroyed.[47] Clearing the rhododendron in 2007 is explained by P. Broadley in his letter in 2007 in the Bolton News.[48]

Salmon

The Rivington Hall and Barn were amongst buildings used as bases for troops and storage in World War II. After the war Rivington Hall was derelict and was restored by Mr. Salmon who from 1953 until his death held a lease for Rivington Hall Barn. In the period shortly after World War II the local authorities were not able to find funds to maintain large buildings. Without his intervention the Rivington Hall and Barn could have faced demolition as was the fate of many other grand buildings that once existed around Rivington and in its bordering towns.[49]

William John Salmon was born at Cork, Ireland 5 November 1899 and his family moved to Adlington in 1902. He was educated locally and left school age 13 in 1912 and then commenced work as a coal miner, followed by a period employed at the Horwich Loco works and also later working in Doncaster before he openned a Cafe at Adlington. William Salmon married his wife Rhoda in 1950 and by 1953 with a prosperous business he was able to take over the then badly neglected Rivington Hall and Barn which the family renovated back to its former glory. William Salmon was awarded the Rotary Club Paul Harris Fellowship and the Papal star for his work in the community. Since William Salmons death the Salmon family continue to run their business at the Rivington Hall Barn and Great House Barn and through enterprise the buildings are maintained and enjoyed to this day by the public.[50]

Hill summits

Notable peaks.[51]

Name Elevation OS grid reference
Winter Hill † 456 metres (1,496 ft)
SD659149
Counting Hill 433 metres (1,421 ft)
SD671141
Two Lads Hill † 389 metres (1,276 ft)
SD655133
Noon Hill † 380 metres (1,247 ft)
SD647150
Crooked Edge Hill 375 metres (1,230 ft)
SD654134
Rivington Pike 362 metres (1,188 ft)
SD643138
Adam Hill 360 metres (1,181 ft)
SD660126
White Brow 358 metres (1,175 ft)
SD661124
Whimberry Hill 340 metres (1,115 ft)
SD686139
Egg Hillock 328 metres (1,076 ft)
SD684142
Brown Hill 325 metres (1,066 ft)
SD644135
Brown Lowe 325 metres (1,066 ft)
SD669130
Burnt Edge 325 metres (1,066 ft)
SD667125
† Denotes walker's cairn or similar.

References

Notes
  1. ^ [David Owen, Historian]
  2. ^ [Rivington, M.D Smith 1989]
  3. ^ Liverpool Corporation Act 1902 ISBN 0105466891
  4. ^ [rivingtonhallbarn.co.uk Rivington Hall]
  5. ^ Hesketh (1966); pp. 72-77
  6. ^ [Paul Lacey, Local Historian]
  7. ^ Liverpool Corporation Act 1902
  8. ^ Rivington, M.D Smith, 1989
  9. ^ Defence of the Realm Act
  10. ^ [Wartime memories of David Owen – Local Historian]
  11. ^ [David Owen, Local Historian]
  12. ^ Paul Lacey, Local Hisorian]
  13. ^ David Owen, Local Hisorian]
  14. ^ [Winter Hill Scrapbook, Dave Lane 2010]
  15. ^ a b Chorley Borough Council Listed Buildings
  16. ^ National archive documents naming Rovyngton
  17. ^ DDX94/100
  18. ^ [1] Court rolls DL 30/79/1032
  19. ^ DX 725 16 Mar. 1661/2 Final Concord: for £1600: George Francklyn & Robert Child, gents. v William Roberts, esq. & Sarah his wife
  20. ^ http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=53050&strquery=rivington#n8 Lancs. Inq. and Extents (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), i, 67
  21. ^ http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=53050&strquery=rivington#n9 A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 5 (1911), pp. 286-294 Fn 9
  22. ^ http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=53050&strquery=rivington#n11 A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 5 (1911), pp. 286-294; fn 11.
  23. ^ a b Pilkington, John (1912) History of the Pilkington Family 1066 to 1600; p. 247 B. No. 73
  24. ^ Pilkington, John (1912) History of the Pilkington Family 1066 to 1600; p. 249 B. No. 76
  25. ^ Pilkington, John (1912) History of the Pilkington Family 1066 to 1600; p. 250 B. No. 76
  26. ^ Pilkington, John (1912) History of the Pilkington Family 1066 to 1600; p. 255 B. No. 78
  27. ^ http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=53050&strquery=rivington#n16 A History of the County of Lancaster; Volume 5 (1911), pp. 286-294. fn 16.
  28. ^ http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=53050&strquery=rivington#n16 A History of the County of Lancaster; Volume 5 (1911), pp. 286-294, fn 16
  29. ^ http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=53050&strquery=rivington#n14 A History of the County of Lancaster; Volume 5 (1911), pp. 286-294. fn 14
  30. ^ <http://www.archive.org/stream/shorthistoryofto00irvi#page/32/mode/2up%7CIrvine, W. F. (1904) A Short History of the Township of Rivington; p. 32>
  31. ^ http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=055-ddx121&cid=5-13&kw=lathom%20rivington#5-13 DDX 121/21 16 & 17 May 1683
  32. ^ http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=53050&strquery=rivington#n18 A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 5 (1911), pp. 286-294 Fn 18.
  33. ^ http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=53050&strquery=rivington#n15 A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 5 (1911), pp. 286-294 Fn 15.
  34. ^ http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=53050&strquery=rivington#n10 A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 5 (1911), pp. 286-294 Fn 10.
  35. ^ <http://www.archive.org/stream/shorthistoryofto00irvi#page/28/mode/2up%7CA short history of the township of Rivington, Irvine,1904, pg28>
  36. ^ http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=055-dp&cid=130-1-2&kw=lathom%20rivington#130-1-2 Sale of 1/8th share of the manor of Rivington DP 458/1/2 31 Jan & 1 Feb 1671/2
  37. ^ a b A History of a Lancashire Family, 1940, pg 133-134
  38. ^ http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=017-edcall&cid=5-106#5-106 EDC 1684 13
  39. ^ http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=055-dp&cid=130-1-6&kw=lathom%20rivington#130-1-6 DP 458/1/6 3 Mar 1734/5
  40. ^ Shaw, R. Cunliffe (1940) The Records of a Lancashire Family. The Guardian Press, p. 283 Will of Elizabeth Shaw 1787
  41. ^ The Visitation of the County of Lancashire 1613
  42. ^ National Archive Rivington QDD/49/F29 1 August 1650
  43. ^ http://www.archive.org/stream/shorthistoryofto00irvi#page/50/mode/2up
  44. ^ a b http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=dx6gXAU-bc0C&pg=PA150&lpg=PA150&dq=samuel+oldknow+rivington&source=bl&ots=P7pzUV2cv0&sig=WmBeL2cpQ-HVggsmb5ZFUJ42OqI&hl=en&ei=fErWS6KYOo3w0gSNwaTYDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CBIQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=samuel%20oldknow%20rivington&f=false
  45. ^ Pevsner, N. (1969) Lancashire; 2. Penguin Books, p. 209
  46. ^ Bolton News Report - Sudden Oak Death
  47. ^ Bolton News Report - Ramorum Blight
  48. ^ Bolton News Letter Page
  49. ^ David Owen - local historian and former Rivington resident.
  50. ^ Rivington, Lancashire, 1989 - M.D Smith ISBN 0 9508772 8 X
  51. ^ Book: Kenneth Fields. Lancashire Country Walks (2): Five Short Circular Walks From Anglezarke and White Coppice, Unpriced, available from Rivington Lower Barn; p. 17
Bibliography
  • Hampson, Thomas (1893) History of Rivington. Wigan and Horwich: Roger & Rennick; 'Chronicle' Office
  • Hesketh, Phoebe (1966) My Aunt Edith. London: Peter Davies (biography of Edith Rigby)
  • Hesketh, Phoebe (1972) Rivington: the story of a village. London: Peter Davies
  • Hesketh, Phoebe (1990) Rivington: village of the mountain ash. Preston: Carnegie
  • Potter, Louisa (1879) Lancashire Memories. London: Macmillan
  • Rawlinson, John (1969) About Rivington. Chorley: Nelson Brothers
  • Smith, Malcolm David (1984), Leverhulme's Rivington: the story of the Rivington "Bungalow", Wyre Publishing, ISBN 0-9526187-3-7. Chorley: Nelson Bros. ISBN 0950877212

Further reading

  • Birtill, George (1966) The Enchanted Hills. Chorley: Guardian Press
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rivington&oldid=363032773"