Inquisition taken on the 9th of February, 1658, before the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Steward, who sat at the last Court Leet.

Presentments:-

1. These sevall psons vidz Willm Grundy, James Longton, John Twistleton, Lawrence Bostocke, Willm. Withington, Roger Woodruffe, James Hodgkinson currier, Willm Bateson and Mr Richard Sumpner have laid their Middings and cast their dungs into the Streete in the new Row to the annoyance of the highway, therefore to remove the same before the tenth day of May next, in paine of evyone of them makinge default vis. viijd.

2. The Supvisors for the highwayes shall cause the highway to bee repaired at the entrance into Ribleton lane, and all a longe in needfull places in the same lane, before the 24th of June next in Paine of xxs.

3. Mr Roger ffarrand of ffishwick shall cutt his underwood and clense his ditch all alonge his lands in Ribleton lane before the 12th day of Aprill next in paine of vjs. viid.

4. Willm Langron Esqr. shall cut his underwood and clense his ditch in needfull places alonge his lands in Ribleton lane before the 12th day of Aprill next in paine of vjs. viijd.

5. John Chorley shall clense his ditch at the Raw Moores, betwixt the Lands of Willm Whalley and George Hodgkinson before the 12th day of Aprill next in paine of vjs. viid.

6. Mr Willm Shawe shall open and clense his water course at the North syde of Dakergate lane before the 12th day of Aprill next in paine of vjs. viijd.

7. Mr James Hodgkinson hath not cut his underwood, nor scowred and clensed his ditch in Ribleton Lane, being prsented by sevall Juryes for divers yeares last past, and that hee shall pform the same prsentmnt before the 12th of Aprill in paine of vjs. viijd.

8. The supvisors fo the highways shall cause the Earth to be taken up and removed wch is slidden down in the highway leading to the Swilbrooks, and shall make the way sufficient for cart and carriage before the 24th day June next in Paine of xxs.

9. Thomas ffoole shall Remove his middinge wch lyeth upon the high way syde, neer unto the ffree School to the annoyance of this same way and such as frequent this Market, and therefore to bee removed before the first day of May next in paine of vjs. viijd. And shall not lay any more their upon paine of xxs.

10. Symon Hynd shall paire the brest of his copp at the end of his Croft, wch incroaches upon and stoppeth the water course adjoininge to the Sykes before the 12th day of Aprill next in paine of vjs. viijd.

11. Mr John Marsh shall scowre and clense his ditch and watercourse betwixt his croft and the litle barn leadinge to the sykes, before the 12th day of Aprill next in paine of vjs. viijd.

12. Henry Atherton shall scowre his ditch and open his platt in Meadow Lane before the 12th day of Aprill next in paine of vjs. viijd.

13. Willm Charnocke shall cut his underwood and clense his ditch all alonge the end of his croft adjoininge to meadow Lane before the 12th day of Aprill in paine of vjs. viijd.

14. Willm Walmesley shall scowre his ditch all alonge his close in Meadow lane before the 12th day of Aprill next in paine of vjs. viijd.

15. Richard Thorpe shall open his platt and scowre his ditch alonge the upp end of his close in Meadow lane before the 12th day of Aprill in paine of vjs. viijd.

16. Mr James Hodgkinson hath not cutt his underwood, and scowred his ditch alonge his close called the longe acre, and Hesketh feild accordinge to the sevall former prsentmts And wee fynd and prsent hee shall scowre and clense the same before the 12th of Aprill upon paine of vjs. viijd.

17. John Thorpe shall cut his underwood and scowre his ditch all alonge the great water course leadinge downe towards rible before the 12th of Aprill next upon paine of vjs. viijd.

18. James Townend shall scowre and clense his ditch in Meadow Lane afore the 12th day of Aprill next in paine of vjs. viijd.

19. Mr. Willm Sudell shall cut his underwood and scowre his ditch on both sides Meadow lane before the 12 day fo Aprill next in paine of vjs. viijd.

20. George Pigot gent and Henry Hilson shall scowre and clense their ditches on both sydes Meadow Lane before the 12th day of Aprill in paine of either of them vjs. viijd.

21. Mr Edmund Werden shall cut his underwood and clense his ditch all alonge the South syde of his Close to the great Water course wch leadeth downe to Rible before the 12th day of Aprill in paine of vjs. viijd.

22. Richard Thorpe shall cut his underwood and clense his ditch all alonge his close in Meadow lane and scowre his ditch and cut his quickwood at the east end of the Garland, and paire the brest of his Copp all alonge downe to Rible before the 12th of Aprill in paine of vjs. viijd.

23. Edward Taylor shall cut his underwood and paire the Breast of his Copp and scowre his ditch all alonge his close called St Mary acre before the 12th of Aprill in paine of vjs. viijd.

24. Seth Blackhurst, Lawrence Cowper and John Thorpe shall scowre their sevall porcons of the great water course downe to Rible before the 12th of Aprill in paine of vjs. viijd.

25. The Supvizors for the highway shall stake and wynd in needfull places in the Broadgate and keepe the water in its right Course, and shall remove the Earth wch is slidden down into the high way at the bank head and shall make the same way sufficient for cart and carriage before the 24th day of June next in paine of xxs.

26. Mrs Margrett Addison shall stake and wynd for the preservacon of her lands at Bankhead wch slyded down into and Stopped the high way before the 12th of Aprill in paine of vjs. viijd.

27. Mr John Marsh shall stake and wynd for the prservance of his land at Bank head, and shall cut his undrwoods all alonge his Land late Robte Aughtons, and shall set a Stile at the lower end of the lane before the 12th of Aprill in paine of vjs. viijd.

28. Henry Chorley, William Eaves, Mr Seth Balckhurst, Bartholomew Worthington, Rpah Eaves, Mr John Marsh, Mr Edward Werden, Symon Hind, John Place and John Hodgkinson shall remove their Middings lyinge within the ffishergate Barre, and the broadgate before the tenth day of May next in paine ofeach of them vjs. viijd.

29. The now Bayliffs of this Towne shall cause a Stoope to bee set at the end of the towne Style in the Weend leadinge Downe to the Minspitt Well, to prvent horses and catle for goeinge downe to the same. And shall cause the same well to bee repaired and the Stones set in Order before the xxxth day of Aprill next in paine of vjs. viijd.

30. Thomas Goodshawe, Richard Rydinge and James Goodburne widdowe, shall cut their undr. wood and scowre their ditches in North Meadow Lane, before the xijth day of Aprill in paine of evy one of them vjs. viijd.

31. Mr Luke Hodgkinson shall make up his wall & fence betwixt the backe syde of his house, and the backsyde of Thomas Cornell his house before the first day of June next in paine of vjs. viijd.

32. Richard Mosse hath laid his Middings upon the ffreehold of Margaret Walmesley widdowe, wch rotteth her wall, and greatly Annoyeth her contrary to former prsentmt and therefore to bee removed before the 12th day of Aprill next in paine of vjs. viijd.

33. Abell Mosse, Thomas Copeland, Willm Seddon, Ann Hughson widdowe, John Jameson, John Cowbourne, Thomas Birches, Thomas Cumberson, Willm Harrison, John Barwick and John Helme shall remove their Middings wch lye wthin and without the ffryergate Barre before the first day of May next in paine of every of them vjs. viijd.

34. Thomas Birches hath not opened his platt nor scowred his ditch at the west end and South syde of his Meadow at ye March accordinge to the tyme limited and Notice given, and therefore to forfeit and ought to pay his fyne of vjs. viijd. And that hee shall open ye said Platt and Scowre his ditch before the 12th of Aprill in paine of vjs. viijd.

35. The Bailiffs of this Towne shall Stake and wynd in needfull Places below the Bridge betwixed Preston and Ashton, and above the same for ye prservarcal of the Bridge and shall cause the Marsh to be made Open all alonge after the syde of the mill ffleame to prserve the Marsh that it bee not over runne and trodden for want of a sufficient Cart way before the first day of May next in paine of vjs. viijd.

36. The Bailiffs of this Towne shall cause the Gripps and Gutters upon the Marsh to be opened as formerly they have beene downe to the Brooke thay ye Marsh may bee kept dry before first day of May in paine of vjs. viijd.

37. The Supervizors for the highwayes shall cause the Cart way in the spitle Mosse to bee amended before the 24th of June in paine of xxs.

38. The Bailiffs of this Towne shall cause the Spring above the syke Trough on the Spitle Mosse to bee opened and the Rubish within the Pinfold to bee removed, and the Pavemt. to bee finished before the first day of June in Paine of xiijs. iiijd.

39. Willm Harrison, John Smith and Willm Patten gent shall Scowre and clense their ditches in Salter lane before the 12th Day of Aprill in paine of evy of them vjs. viijd.

40. Mr Luke Hodgkinson shall Scowre and clense his ditch all alonge the Vicaridge Croft and at the End? of the further Tenter Hey before the j2th day of Aprill in paine of vjs. viijd.

41. Mr Edmund Werden, Mr Richard Kinge and Mr John Marsh shall set Styles at both Ends of the Clarke yard before the 12th day of Aprill in paine of vjs. viijd.

42. These sevall psons shall remove their Middings forth of St. Johns weend before the 15th of May in paine of evy one of them makinge default vjs. viijd. Vizt

Richard Thorpe, Alexandr. Jolly, Willm Sudell gent, Thomas ffoole, Mr James Hodgkinson, Thomas Dewhurst, James Gregson, Mr Luke Hodgkinson, Chrofer Kilshawe, Richard Letmore, John Cottam, Edward Dawson, Willm Cottam, Mr Cole, Mrs Preston, Willm Patton gent, Henry Chorley, Thomas Orde, Edward Rigby Esqr., Mrs Joan Wall, John Rigby, Thomas Birches, Mr Richard Sumpner

43. The Supervisors for the highway shall cause the cawsway, and the foot Cawsey on the North Moor to bee sufficiently repaired and amended before the 24th of June in paine of xiijs. iiijd.

44. That ye foot Cawsey leadinge to the Peele Moore is in great decay soe that people cannot pass to the mkett & ought to bee repaired by this sevall psons, vizt Thomas Key, Roger Charnocke, Thomas Dolphin, George Hodgkinson, Robert Bayley and Evan Birley, and that they shall repair the same before the 20th day of May in paine of each of them vjs. viijd.

45. Willm Loxham hath cast his Sand and Rubbish in the backe lane betweene Margaret Walmesley her barne and the lower Streete into the tenter hey, and also in St. Johns Weend between the house of Edward Dawson and Mr Luke Hodgkinson his kilne. Wee doe find and prte the said Willm Loxham shall cause soe much thereof bee removed as at the Discrecon of Thomas Sumpner gent and Thomas Bickerstaffe, or either of them shalbee thought fitt to such place as they shall appoint beofre the 15th of May in Paine of xls.

46. Mr Roger Asheton shall make upp his ffence on ye back syde of his house in ye ffryergate wch lyeth downe to the annoyance of the Neighbour there, and therefore to bee sufficiently fenced before the first day of May in paine of vjs. viijd.

47. Edward Hindle hath made a Water course at the End of his croft, where non any was now ought to bee, and that hee shall Stopp and cleare up the same, and carry the water alonge his owne channell there, before the 12th day of Aprill in Paine of vjs. viijd.

48. Ellen Taylor widdowe, shall Paire the Brest of her copp, and cut her underwood, all alonge her Close in the lithe Lane betwixt Cockerhole and the Style wch leadeth toward Swilbrooke before the 12th of Aprill in paine of vjs. viijd.

49. Mr Seth Mort hath not erected a Barne upon the Towns Land accordinge to the sevall former prsntmts and that hee shall erect & build the same before the 15th day of August next in paine of xls.

50. Mary Graddell of the Syke hill widdowe suffereth his house upon the Towns Land there to goe to decay, and beinge sevall tymes prsted to repaire the same hath neglected to & pform the same, and therefore that shee shall put the same into sufficient repaire before the 15th of August upon paine of xls.

51. The Bailiffs of this Towne shall cause the Syke Troughs upon Evanham to bee sufficiently repaired before the first day of May upon paine of vjs. viijd.

52. John Mitton hath made an Enchroachmt. upon the Townes Streete by settinge Rails before his windowes at his house in the ffryergate to bee rented at the Discrecon of the affearers.

53. Margery Johnson widdowe suffereth her middinge to bee in the maket place to the prjudice of such as come to the makett, and therefore to bee removed before the first day of May in paine of vjs. viid.

54. Ann Huson and Ann Ingham widdowes, doe constantly make middinge Steeds at their doores in the Streete to ye great annoyance and shame of the Govenmt of thys Burrogh, and therefore the same Middings to bee removed before the first of May next in paine of vjs. viijd.

55. Geoge Birches hath stopt the Watercourse wch ought to passe from ye back syde of Thomas Werden his house to ye backside of his own house and soe thorow his Entry and for that it appeares before us by the oathes of sevall Witnesses that the water course hath passed that way for ye space of 26 years last past and upwards, hee shall therefore open the same and keepe it open before the 24th of June next in paine of vjs. viijd.

56. Whereas there is a ffence, vizt a hedge and a ditch in Preston which abutteth upon the Meadow lane, betweene the Lands of Evan Wall gent now Maior on the East syde and one Close now in Possion of James Hodgkinson gent (being the inheritance of the heires of Henry Lemon gent deced) upon the west syde; And for as much as divers ancient Men have beene brought before us and beinge Sworne, have sevally given in Evidence how, and in what manner, and by whom the said ffence has beene made and the ditch scowred and clensed for many years last past. Wee doe therefore find and prente the said Mr James Hodgkinson shall cause his underwood to bee cut and the ffence to bee made & the ditch to bee Scowred and clensed all alonge from the owne ends to the othere before the first day of May next upon Paine of vjs. viijd.

57. John Higham hath stopt a Watercourse, wch ought to issue forth of a close called Helme croft alonge directly by Blackburn yate, into his Ditch and soe downe to the Sykes and that hee shall suffer the same to run downe alonge his ditch before the first day of Aprill next on paine of vjs. viijd.

58. That now inhabitant within this Towne shall put downe their catle to the Marsh before sixe of the clocke in the Morninge but shall keepe them till the herdsman bee ready to receive them upon paine of the forfeit for evy offense iijs. iiijd. And if the Pinders shall find any catle upon the Marsh before they goe downe with the rest of the Catle and doe not impound them then the said Pinders to forfeit for evy neglect xijd.

59. That noe pson or psons wch in this Towne shall put any Geese Goose or Goslinge to the Marsh from the 25th day of March untill the 29th day of Septembr upon paine to forfeit for evy one soe offendinge to the use of the towne xxs. and that the Pindr. take care to see this prsentmt executed and beinge all such Geese, as they shall find trespassinge upon the Marsh and impound them their till the owners bee knowne, and have paid their ffyne of xxs. and if the Pindr. bee found neglecting and make default in the due execucon of this prsentmt to forfeit for evy offence iijs. iiijd.

WHERE DO THESE COME FROM???

Upon the oathes of tenn ould men, there is a Comon foote-path and Highway from Ribble Bridge down by Albon Steepe, upon a baulke lyinge betweene the Lande late of John Sudell, feltmaker, now in the possession of Edward Hindle, and the Lande of Lawrence Bostocke, butcher, in a crtaine ffeild called Water Willowe, and from the said Albon Steepe upon the said bawk to the house end of the said Lawrence Bostocke, in Cockerhoale, wch said footpathand Highway was toptby a staffe and bande hedge by the said Edward Hindle appointment, to ye great prjudice of the Inhitants of this Towne. Therefore the said Edward Hindle shall cause the same [to be] pulled down before the twenty fift March next, else to pay xxxxs. And if ever hee or any for him shall hereafter Comitt ye same Trespasse shall forfitt xli. Mr. James Hodgkinson hath not scowred his ditches in Newhall Lane, accoringe to tyme given to him, to the great priudice of that way, and therefore to pay vjs. viijd.