The Leyland Workhouse

In 1780 the Workhouse was established by the Guardians of the Poor of the Chorley Union, with weaving shops built within the design this was not an easy option for the occupants. 

Surname              First Name          Year of Birth          Birth County           Birth Town     No            Address                           Age    Status      Job Title
Banister                Robert                      1815                  Lancashire              Leyland        19   Bannister House, School Lane  56     Head        Hosepipe Manager
Banister                Mathew                    1832                  Lancashire              Leyland               Barn Fold Cottage                      39     Head        Hosepipe Weaver
Higham                 Ralph                       1804                  Lancashire              Leyland         31  Golden Hill                                  57     Head        Hosepipe Weaver
Smith                    John                         1793                  Lancashire              Liverpool       10  Golden Hill                                  68     Head        Labourer
Spiby                    William                      1834                 Lancashire               Leyland               Bradshaw Street                        27      Head        Hosepipe Weaver

By 1851, the farm was 22 acres, there was a grand child, Isabella Kirby (2) from Burnley, Cuthbert Bannister (56), brother of Isabella from Much Hoole and the lodger, Peter Turner, all living at Bannister House (note that Bannister seems to be a reoccurring theme here).

This Advertisement appearing in the local newspaper 

The 1861 Census

According to the 1861 census the workforce at the Workhouse site identifiable from their occupation who lived in Leyland numbered only five but this of course depends on the information given to the census taker.

By 1839, the Guardians were intent of providing for the poor by renting our the Workhouse as they did many alterations

As can be seen from the 1844 map of Leyland, the Workhouse is on a green field site with no other housing or premises being nearby. The nearest housing being the row of cottages opposite the top of School Lane.

The outline of the workhouse on the map matches the plan in the previous slide so it can be assumed that this is the building where the Smiths set up their business between 1846 and 1851. 

To begin with Industrial Leyland you have to go back to the 13th and 14th century when there were two corn mills in Leyland and Farington on the River Lostock and its tributary Mill Brook. By the 17th century these were followed by the windmill up by old Worden. Various blacksmiths were then being opened around the village, with the workhouse on Wheelton Lane opening in 1780 incorporating a weaving department.

          The bleachers were also moving into Northbrook and later Shruggs, so by the original Ordnance Survey of Leyland in 1844, there is the village around the cross with the weavers cottages on Union Street (Fox Lane) and Bradshaw Street (Spring Gardens).  Other cottages were on Water Street (Towngate) and Tup Row (Heaton Street off Golden Hill Lane).  

          Whilst over by the new railway with its station on Golden Hill and into Farington there was the relatively new Farington Mill with the adjacent housing on Mill Street and Spring Gardens (Stanifield Lane). The  village being lit by the new gas lighting from the gas works behind the Ship on Towngate.

Though by 1834 the need for the workhouse was gone as there was ample work for everyone in the village not like some nearby towns

The Workhouse & 

The Smiths.

John Smith from Liverpool and was born in 1793, became a farmer. He married Isabella Bannister, born in Tarleton or Hoole, depending which census you believe and by 1841 were living at Bannister House on School Lane next to Balshaw's, with William (20) and Helen (1).  

William Smith married Sarah Ann Berry on 8th January 1846, she was born in 1822, her parents from Chorley were Joseph and Mary Berry, Joseph was an overlooker in a Cotton Mill in 1841.

By 1861, John, Isabella, Thomas and Margaret, together with retired school mistress sister were all living at 10 Golden Hill Lane where John was now a labourer in the Hose Pipe factory run by her daughter in law. 

From the 1893 Map, Bannister House can be seen in School Lane. The fields they farmed were across the road, field nos. 772 and 773.

 Next door in the Golden Hill School (Balshaw’s Charity) was Margaret Smith (49), John Smith’s sister from Liverpool,  who was the school mistress at Balshaw's.

Living with Margaret were Thomas (30), Margaret (16) and Ellen (10) all children of her brother John.    

Leyland Historical Society

The Villages of Leyland & Farington in 1844.

The Smiths.

1851 Census
William Smith – Waterproof Manufacturer

1859 Death Certificate
William Smith – Heart failure

1861 Census
Sarah Smith – Hose pipe Manufacturer

1200s                Leyland Corn Mill                    First mention in records
1382                  Farington Corn Mill                 Rebuilt due to complaint
1541                  Farington Corn Mill                 Mill mentioned in Farington papers
1569                  Leyland Windmill                    Mentioned In use in Farington papers
1656                  Wigan Road Blacksmiths        Mentioned in records
1684                 Leyland Windmill                    Last mentioned in use
1780s               Northbrook Bleach Works      Established as Small Crofters
1790                 Fox Lane Weavers Cottages   Built as a Friendly Society
1790s               John Stanning & Sons             Established as Small Crofters
1806                 Bradshaw Street Cottages      Built as a Friendly Society
1810                 Heaton Street Cottages           Financed by local landlord
1819                 Northbrook Bleach Works         Mentioned in Bleachworks survey
1835                 Farington Mill                            Built
1836                 Farington Mill                            Mill in full production
1836                 Townfield House                      House built with looms in basement
1838                 Leyland Railway Station           Line opened from Wigan to Preston
1844                John Stanning & Son                First Lease as Bleachworks
1844                 Water Street Cottages              Shown on first Ordnance Survey Map
1844                 Bow Lane Terrace                    Shown on first Ordnance Survey Map
1845                 Earnshaw Bridge Mill                Built and  run by Pilkington & Berry
1849                 Leyland Gas Works - Towngate Original Gas Works established