Bretherton
| Bretherton | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Bretherton Shown within Chorley Borough  Bretherton Location withinLancashire | |
| Population | 669 (2011 Census) |
| OS grid reference | SD475205 |
| Civil parish |
|
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LEYLAND |
| Postcode district | PR26 |
| Dialling code | 01772 |
| Police | Lancashire |
| Fire | Lancashire |
| Ambulance | North West |
| UK Parliament | |
Brethertonis a small village andcivil parishin theBorough of Chorley,Lancashire, England, situated to the south west ofLeylandand east ofTarleton.The population of the civil parish at the2011 censuswas 669.[1]Its name suggests pre-conquestorigins and its early history was closely involved with the manor houseBank Halland the families who lived there. Bretherton remained a rural community and today is largely residential with residents commuting to nearby towns.
History
[edit]Toponymy
[edit]Bretherton derives from either theOld Englishbrothorandtunor Norsebrothirand means "farmstead of the brothers". It was first recorded in documents in 1190.[2]Bretherton has been variously recorded as Bretherton in 1242, Brotherton occurs in 1292, Bertherton in 1292 and Thorp was mentioned in 1212.[3]
Manor
[edit]Bretherton, was part of thePenworthamfee and assessed as two plough-lands. It was given by the Bussels to Richard le Boteler ofAmounderness,who made grants toCockersand Abbeyaround 1200 andLytham Priory.In 1242 the manor was held by six families of Richard Banastre, Walter de Hoole, Richard de Thorp, William de Brexes, Thomas de Gerstan and Simon del Pool who held the land from the Lord of Penwortham. Over time these six parts were consolidated into twomoietiesheld by different branches of the Banastre family, the Banastres of Bank, and that of Sir Thomas Banastre. The Bank moiety remained with the Banastres until 1690 when Christopher Banastre died leaving two daughters. His eldest daughter, Anne, married Thomas Fleetwood who made the first to attempt at drainingMartin Mere.Their daughter, Henrietta Maria, marriedThomas LeghofLyme Parkand subsequently the manor descended to Lord Lilford.[3]This branch of the family built or rebuiltBank Hallin theJacobeanstyle in 1608.[3]
The vanished hamlet of Thorp, held by a family of that name was sold to Sir Thomas Banastre. Sir Thomas's portion was owned by different families until the early 19th century when the Heskeths ofRuffordacquired it. In 1880 the Heskeths sold their portion toLord Lilfordwho owned the other moiety making him solelord of the manor.[3]
Recorded in the 1666Hearth tax,the village had 99 hearths, Bank Hall had twelve, John Sharples had eight and John Cliffe five.[3]
Governance
[edit]Bretherton was a township in the parish ofCrostonin theLeylandhundred.[4]It became part of the ChorleyPoor Law Union,formed in 1837, which took responsibility for the administration and funding of thePoor Lawand built aworkhousein that area.[5] Bretherton became part of Chorley RuralSanitary Districtfrom 1875 to 1894,[6]and part ofChorley Rural Districtfrom 1894 to 1974.[7]Since 1974, it is part of Chorley Borough'sLostockward and has aparish council.[8]
Bretherton is part of theSouth Ribbleparliamentary constituency, which electedSeema Kennedyas Member of Parliament for the Conservative Party at the 2015 General Election.[9]
Geography
[edit]The township covers 2,292 statute acres of flat low-lying land mostly used for agriculture. TheRiver Lostockforms a village boundary and theRiver DouglasandRiver Yarrowjoin before flowing into theRiver Ribbleto the north.[10]The village is situated towards the centre of the township on slightly rising ground and Bank Hall on higher ground to the west whilst the south-west of the township is less than 25 feet above level.[3][11]
Places adjacent to Bretherton | ||||||||||||||||
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Population
[edit]| Population growth in Bretherton from 1881–1961 | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 1881 | 1891 | 1901 | 1911 | 1921 | 1931 | 1951 | 1961 | |||
| Population | 707 | 785 | 809 | 774 | 767 | 797 | 683 | 597 | |||
| Bretherton CP/Tn[12] | |||||||||||
Economy
[edit]The village was almost self-supporting but changes have occurred within living memory; well-paid employment elsewhere and rationalisation of farming caused people to move to local urban centres, such asLeyland,PrestonandChorley.The village is now largely residential, a dormitory village with few residents engaged in agriculture or associated support industries. Many residents access services such as shops, schools, medical services, employment and leisure pursuits outside the village.
Transport
[edit]TheLiverpoolandPrestonturnpikeroad of 1771, now theA59,and a branch of theLeeds and Liverpool Canalcross the west of the township.[10]TheLancashire and Yorkshire Railway'sLiverpool, Ormskirk and Preston Railwayline passes through the north east of Bretherton but the nearest station is atCrostonto the south east.
There are four minor roads in Bretherton village, North Road (B5248), South Road, Pompian Brow and Marl Cop.
Landmarks
[edit]
There are severallisted buildingsin Bretherton including several farmhouses and St John's Church.[13]
The manor house,Bank Hall,a Grade II* Listed Jacobean mansion from 1608 became derelict in 1972. A local group of campaigners theBank Hall Action Group,formed in 1995 to “Save Bank Hall”. It was a contestant on theBBC 'Restoration' seriesin 2003.[14]The building continued to deteriorate but planning permission was granted in 2011 for its restoration and conversion to a visitor centre and housing. Work began on restoring the house in 2017 and was completed in 2021. The visitor centre opened to the public in December 2022. Volunteer work still continues to restore the gardens including its walls and buildings.
Bank Hall Barn a Grade II ListedElizabethantithe barnwas restored and converted into housing in 2004.
Carr House,built in 1613 was home to the Stone family and is associated withJeremiah Horrockswho observed thetransit of Venus,it was later used as a doll museum.[3]Bank Mill,a Grade II Listed building, is a brick built and rendered, white paintedwindmillwhich has lost its sails. It was built in 1741 and has been converted to a house.[15][16]
Education
[edit]Bretherton Endowed Primary was founded as a free school by a merchant, James Fletcher in 1653. The present school has around 115 pupils on role.[17]The majority of secondary age pupils in the village attendTarleton High SchoolorBishop Rawstorne CE Academyin Croston.
Religion
[edit]
A record of a chapel is mentioned in a charter of 1344 but nothing else is known. TheAnglicanCommissioners' ChurchofSt. John the Baptistwas consecrated in 1840.[18]It is built in the Early EnglishGothic style.Chapels were built for Wesleyan Methodists in 1824, rebuilt in 1836 and 1883 and for Congregationalists in 1819, rebuilt in 1896.[3][10]
Community and sport
[edit]Bretherton has a cricket club founded in 1925 which enters teams in Palace Shield Cricket Competition and plays at the South Road Ground opposite the Blue Anchor Inn. They currently play in division four of the Moore and Smalley Palace Shield. They are currently 2019 Division 6 Champions.
During winter break prior to the 2023 season Shaun 'Sticky Fingers' Parkinson was stripped of his noticeable persons title along with the captaincy of Bretherton Cricket Club, theft from wallets being cited as the reason. [19]The parish council maintain a recreation ground with children's play area, tennis court, football pitches and bowling green off South Road.[8]
Bank Hall Action Groupformed in 1995 campaigns to save the derelict Bank Hall.[20]
In 2009 Bretherton was awarded theLancashire's Best Kept Village (Small Village Class) Award.[8]The Bretherton Gardens Group, open their gardens as part of theNational Gardens Scheme.[21][22]
Notable people
[edit]George Anthony Legh Keckowned Bank Hall andSir Harcourt Everard ClareClerk to Lancashire County Council, lived in the village.[23]
World Cup alpine ski racer and first British World Cup winner (Kitzbühel Slalom 2022),Dave Ryding,was born in Bretherton.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]Notes
- ^UK Census(2011)."Local Area Report – Bretherton Parish (E04005143)".Nomis.Office for National Statistics.Retrieved26 March2021.
- ^Mills(1998),p.53
- ^abcdefghFarrer, William; Brownbill, J, eds. (1911),"Bretherton",A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 6,British History Online, pp. 102–108,retrieved15 November2010
- ^"Croston Parish Map",A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 6,British History Online,retrieved15 November2010
- ^Workhouse,Workhouses.org, archived fromthe originalon 5 June 2011,retrieved15 November2010
- ^Great Britain Historical GIS Project."Chorley RSD: Relationships and changes".A Vision of Britain through Time.University of Portsmouth.Retrieved10 August2016.
- ^Great Britain Historical GIS Project."Chorley RD: Relationships and changes".A Vision of Britain through Time.University of Portsmouth.Retrieved10 August2016.
- ^abcBretherton Parish Council,Bretherton Parish Council,retrieved1 December2010
- ^and Katherine Fletcher in 2019"Election Results 2010",BBC,retrieved14 February2011
- ^abcLewis, Samuel (1848),"Bretherton",A Topographical Dictionary of England,British History Online, pp. 357–362,retrieved4 June2010
- ^Bretherton Township Boundaries,GenUKI,retrieved15 November2010
- ^Bretherton Ch/CP: Total Population,Vision of Britain,retrieved15 November2010
- ^Bretherton Listed Buildings map,Listed Buildings Online,retrieved30 November2010
- ^"Restoration Series 1 Bretherton",BBC,archived fromthe originalon 13 December 2011,retrieved16 November2010
- ^Bank Mill,Windmill World,retrieved30 November2010
- ^The Old Windmill,Listed Buildings Online,retrieved30 November2010
- ^Bretherton C of E School,Lancashire Grid for Learning, archived fromthe originalon 12 February 2011,retrieved15 November2010
- ^Bretherton Church,Lancashire Churches, archived fromthe originalon 18 May 2010,retrieved15 November2010
- ^Bretherton Cricket Club,Bretherton Cricket Club, archived fromthe originalon 12 February 2004,retrieved1 December2010
- ^Bank Hall Action Group (2002–2010) "Bank Hall Bretherton", bankhall.org.uk
- ^Bretherton Gardens,National Gardens Scheme, archived fromthe originalon 27 September 2011,retrieved13 February2011
- ^Open Gardens – Bretherton,Bretherton Parish Council,retrieved13 February2011
- ^John Howard, "The Bank Hall Timeline""Bank Hall Bretherton Online - Bank Hall Timeline".Archived fromthe originalon 15 May 2011.Retrieved9 September2009.2007
Bibliography
- Mills, A.D. (1998),Dictionary of English Place-Names,Oxford,ISBN0-19-280074-4
External links
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