Stories Archives – Anglezarke Dragon

Anglezarke’s Mr Gray

December 30, 2021December 30, 2021 TheDragon

Andrew Gray wrote his will on the 23rd November 1727 in which he styles himself ‘Clerk’ and was of Anglezarke, but who was he, when and where did he come from? The first clue comes from his will which names his wife Dorothy, three daughters Ann (wife of Richard Lowe), Mary and Margaret, and three sons John, Thomas and Bennet. Initially a search of the local church registers shows his daughter Ann married Richard Lowe at St Peter’s Bolton in 1723 but there are no baptism records for his children locally. Widening the search finds the unusually named Bennet baptised

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Articles, Stories

Anglezarke – Wet or Dry?

March 14, 2021March 22, 2021 TheDragon

Most of us would think of reservoirs rather than the Temperance Movement. However, for over a century Anglezarke has indeed been ‘dry’. Although, for a township which never rose above 25 houses, it has seen its fair share of drinking establishments. … MoreAnglezarke – Wet or Dry?

Articles, Stories

The social history of The Yarrow reservoir

March 14, 2021March 22, 2021 TheDragon

Much is written about the engineering of reservoirs, far less is to be found on the social impact on the locals and the ‘temporary residents’. What was life for the people working the reservoirs? … MoreThe social history of The Yarrow reservoir

Stories

Poor Susannah!

March 14, 2021March 14, 2021 TheDragon

There is a beautiful cross in Rivington Chapel yard, bearing only one inscription, “In Memory of Susannah Pilkington who died November 22nd 1887. Aged 22 years. On the head of the cross is a letter ‘S’ entwined in what seem to be tree trunks. Alongside are two other Pilkington graves, but who was Susannah and what happened to her in those twenty two years? … MorePoor Susannah!

Stories

A country farmer and a basket of butter

March 14, 2021March 14, 2021 TheDragon

As newspapers go, this must have been a slow news day ! Why did the Lancaster Gazette run a story about an Anglezarke farmer on a drinking spree who lost a basket of butter in Preston?

Stories

A night in the pub – T’ Folk reawnd eawr place

March 14, 2021March 14, 2021 TheDragon

Bringing to life an old local dialect song, written about neighbours and local big-wigs by investigating eight verses of clues. This story traces the clues left by an anonymous writer nearly 200 years ago.

Stories

Thou shalt walk by Lester Mill!

March 14, 2021March 14, 2021 TheDragon

Even in the 1940’s cyclists were expected to dismount and walk on ‘The Street’(unless you were en-route to Rivington Grammar school. More than a century earlier, a painted sign in Anglezarke instructed you to do the same, but who put it there?