Lostock Hall, Lancashire, England

Lostock Hall /ˌlɒstɒk ˈhɔːl/ is a suburban village within the South Ribble borough of Lancashire, England. It is located on the south side of the River Ribble, some 3 miles (4.8 km) south of Preston and 2.5 miles (4 km) north of Leyland. It is bordered on its southeastern side by the interchange for the M6, M61 and M65 motorways. At the time of the United Kingdom Census 2001, the central Lostock Hall area had a population of 3,948.[1]

Lostock Hall traces its origins to James de Lostock who in 1212 built Lostock's Hall in the then rural area of Cuerden Green in the township of Walton-le-Dale. A settlement expanded outwards from Lostock's Hall, taking its name from the Hall. The former separate community of Tardy Gate is now for all intents and purposes a part of Lostock Hall - it used to be the farming community linking one part of rural Lancashire to another.[2]

History

Early History

The estate of Lostock's Hall in the rural area of Cuerden Green was built by James de Lostock.[3] The grounds which surrounded Lostock's Hall got renamed as Lostock Hall, after the death of James by his daughter Magote.[2]

In 1662 Andrew Dandy paid a rent of 12d to the lord of Clitheroe for his lands called Lostock, and in 1666 William Dandy paid tax upon three hearths here. He died in 1676. Andrew Dandy and William, his son, were out-burgesses at Preston guild in 1682. To this day, a small section of the River Lostock, is known by locals as "Dandy Brook", in honour of the Dandys.[2]

Lostock's Hall was destroyed by a fire. Some of the main brick work not affected by the fire were reused in 1764, to form structure of a new building on the original site, as part of a regeneration project by William Clayton Esq. William's son, George Clayton inherited the hall following the death of William Clayton. George went on to living in the hall for many years with his wife Dolly, until he died in 1829, at the age of 86. George's second son, William became the new inheritor of the property, until he relocated to the South of England in the late 1840s. The trend of inheriting the hall continued for many years through such owners as Robert Orrell Esq. (cotton spinner and manufacturer, Cuerden Mills) 1847-61; John Bashall Esq. (cotton manufacturer, Lostock Hall), 1861–71 and Robert Jackson 1871-81.[3]

Modern History

The trend of inheriting the hall ceased, when the founders of the a cotton thread works, purchased the property in the early 1880s by Harry Dewhurt; who remained living there until 1918, when he relocated to Cheshire after World War I and gave the Hall and its 6 ½ acres of grounds, to the Preston Royal Infirmary so that it could be used as a continuation hospital. Alteration work began, and by June 1922, the Lostock Hall Continuation Hospital formally opened its doors for women and children, continuing to do so until 1982, when the Lancashire Area Health Authority ceased to exist, and forced the hospital to closed down.[3]

During the final months of the hospital's existence, a group of Trustees had established St. Catherine's Hospice (Lancashire) Limited, in the Lancashire area, and were looking for a building to serve as a hospice base for people in the Preston, Chorley, and South Ribble Boroughs. The lands and building of the Lostock Hall Continuation Hospital were purchased, as this was positioned geographically central to all three Boroughs. The building was renovated, and the first service at the Hospice started in 1984. The first Day Care service took place on 29 April 1985.[3]

Ward Street bombings

Lostock Hall fell victim to bomb attacks during the Second World War. The most serious of these attacks to effect the village was when the Leyland Motors factory in Leyland came under attack by a single bomber on 27 October 1940. Although fire from army gunners drove the bomber from his target, three bombs were dropped in the vicinity. Many terraced homes were destroyed and 27 people died.[4] After the war a dance-hall was built on the site, subsequently used industrially by the Bacup Shoe Factory. After the shoe factory's closure in 1982, Calvary Christian Fellowship bought and developed the building and established a centre of worship and community activity.[5]

Geography

Lostock Hall's main road to the north, Leyland Road leads to the district of Penwortham in the north-west, and onto the City of Preston in the north, this boundary being on the junction between B5254 (Leyland Road) and Flag Lane. To the north-east is the residential estate of Walton Park which leads onto the rural village of Walton-le-Dale, with this boundary being the old railway bridge on Wateringpool Lane (just after the gas works). The main road to the east, Brownedge Road, links it to Bamber Bridge, the boundary between the two is the 'Old Railway Bridge' situated on the B5257 (Brownedge Lane). The roundabout junction of B5254 (Watkin Lane) and A582 (Lostock Lane - eastbound), in the south-east, is the boundary which separates Lostock Hall and Cuerden.[1]

Economy

Industrial mills

Lostock Hall Spinning company now closed was replaced by a housing estate. Tardy Gate Mill on Coote Lane was built in 1908 by the Tardy Gate Manufacturing Company it was bought out and greatly expanded by Thomas Moss & Sons in 1920 and produced calico and linen until its demise in the late 1970s. The mill also owned the local cricket pitch and sponsored the cricket team. There was also a Ladies' hockey team for many years that was originally made up mainly of workers from the weaving sheds and offices. The mill and a moderately large railway repair depot are now gone, with most inhabitants commuting to work, mainly in Preston. Tardy Gate Mill was then bought by Mr & Mrs Todd, and now houses Todds Motorhomes & camping accessory shop, a snooker hall, a printing business, a car repair garage, and many other small businesses.[10]