or well.] The cross was a broken shaft until 1887, when it was restored. Probably broken in Puritan times-there were some fierce iconoclasts in Leyland at that period (as I know). Very probably also an old preaching station before the building of the first Leyland Church. LEYLAND CHURCHYARD CROSSES.-Little is known positively about the dates or otherwise of these remarkable monuments. In Beamont's Walks about Warrington the tombs of the hermit friars of S. Augustine in that town are described. The passage is worth reading in this connection, as the monuments are somewhat similar. The Rev. W. S. White has sent me the subjoined notes respecting these stones :— The crosses in the churchyard are all sepulchral and incised upon very rough slabs of stone-brought from Whittle or Wheelton-the rough grit from Whittle, and the smooth flags from Wheelton. [These districts are parts of Leyland, five or six miles off to the east.] There are about twenty-five of these slabs, but some of them have scarcely any marks of their original crosses left on them from wear and rough usage. Others have been cut down so as to bear modern inscriptions. The ten drawings give an idea of the style of all of them. That two of them covered priests there can be no doubt, but others positively did not, in spite of the common tradition to that effect. One certainly looks like an armourer's or blacksmith's memorial, from the mallet and anvil. In reference to the numerous wayside crosses in the Leyland parish, the Rev. W. S. White writes: : It may also be remembered that the abbot of Evesham (from temp. Wm. Rufus) held the rectory of Leyland, and that the church was served from Penwortham until the ordaining of a perpetual vicarage in 1327. The crosses might mark church lands, or those held under Evesham or Penwortham. THE SEVEN STARS CROSS.-The pedestal of this cross is shown on the 1848 map at the meeting of roads threequarters of a mile west from the old parish church (S. Andrew's), Leyland. We may note in passing some curious local names that are suggestive of mediæval times. We find here the Old Purgatory Farm, the New Purgatory Farm, and Paradise Farm.* Dunkirke Hall seems to suggest a chapel on a hill. As to the meaning of "Seven Stars" as an inn sign a series of interesting letters appeared in the Manchester City News in the summer of the year 1898. SANDY LANE CROSS.-The pedestal of this cross is shown in Sandy Lane, half a mile north-east from S. Andrew's Church, Leyland. THE BOW LANE CROSS.-The pedestal of this cross is shown at the meeting of Bow Lane with Moss Lane, five-sixths of a mile north-east from S. Andrew's Church, Leyland. Rev. W. S. White informs me that "when the railing around S. Ambrose Church (at Leyland Station) was being prepared for, the cross or base was dug up in order to put the ground level. It proved to be a stone of very great weight, and at least four times as large as was expected." * In "superstitious Lancashire" some extraordinary customs lingered on into comparatively modern times. "Atticus," in his Notes of the Preston District, describes the ceremonies which took place on the Fast of All Souls, that is, on the last day of October. He says: "Weeton [this is another proof of its antiquity] is likewise associated with the oldest ghost of the Fylde country-the hairy ghost, the Celtic equivalent of the ancient satyr." At Weeton, as in many parts of the Fylde, up to a comparatively recent period, what is termed "Teanlowe Night"-the Fast of All Souls-was observed with considerable earnestness and solemnity. The ceremony observed on Teanlowe Night-the last night in October-consisted of making bonfires on all the neighbouring hills. The people on these occasions, according to Harland and Wilkinson's Lancashire Folk-love, kindled fires "for the avowed object of succouring their friends whose souls were supposed to be detained in purgatory." It need hardly be explained that All Souls' Day" is a festival in the Roman Catholic Church, when prayers are publicly offered up for the release of souls from purgatory. Thus the name "Purgatory" was given to fields and farms in various parts of the county. A field near Poultonle-Fylde may be quoted as another instance. GOLDEN HILL CROSS.-The pedestal of this cross is shown in Golden Hill Lane, three-quarters of a mile north-west by north from S. Andrew's Church. DOLPHIN HILL CROSS.-The pedestal of this cross is on the side of a steep brow at Whittle-le-Woods, two and a half miles east from Leyland Church, and the same distance north from Chorley Church. DAWSON LANE CROSS.-The site of this stone cross is shown in Dawson Lane, about one and a half miles east from Leyland Church. CLAYTON HALL CROSS.-The pedestal of this stone cross is shown two hundred yards east from the ancient hall at Clayton and one and three-quarter miles northeast by east from Leyland Parish Church. BRINDLE. THORPE GREEN CROSS.-The site of this cross is shown at the meeting of Pippin Street with Sandy Lane, one-third of a mile south-west from S. James's Church, Brindle. This church has been rebuilt, but was in existence in the year 1500. In the churchyard is to be seen a slab on which is carved a large cross, which, according to Hewitson, is of great antiquity. HIGH TOWN CROSS.-The site of this stone cross is in Sandy Lane, a quarter of a mile south-east from S. James's Church, Brindle. STONY BANK CROSS.-The pedestal of a stone cross is shown in Stony Bank Lane, one-sixth of a mile northeast from S. James's Church, Brindle. |