Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 40584-h.htm or 40584-h.zip: (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/40584/40584-h/40584-h.htm) or (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/40584/40584-h.zip) Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive. See http://archive.org/details/cu31924028040032 LANCASHIRE [Illustration: EMIGRANTS AT LIVERPOOL] LANCASHIRE Brief Historical and Descriptive Notes by LEO H. GRINDON Author of 'The Manchester Flora'; 'Manchester Banks and Bankers'; 'Life, Its Nature, Varieties, and Phenomena'; etc. With Many Illustrations London Seeley and Co., Limited Essex Street, Strand 1892 PREFACE The following Chapters were written for the _Portfolio_ of 1881, in which they appeared month by month. Only a limited space being allowed for them, though liberally enlarged whenever practicable, not one of the many subjects demanding notice could be dealt with at length. While reprinting, a few additional particulars have been introduced; but even with these, in many cases where there should be pages there is only a paragraph. Lancashire is not a county to be disposed of so briefly. The present work makes no pretension to be more than an index to the principal facts of interest which pertain to it, the details, in almost every instance, still awaiting the treatment they so well deserve. If I have succeeded in marking out the foundations for a superstructure to be raised some day by an abler hand, I shall be content. It is for every man to begin something, to the best of his power, that may be useful to his fellow-creatures, though it may not be permitted to him to enjoy the greater pleasure of completing it. Some of the commendations passed upon Lancashire may seem to come of the partiality of a man for his own county. It may be well for me to say that, although a resident in Manchester for forty years, my native place is Bristol. LEO GRINDON. CONTENTS I. LEADING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE COUNTY II. LIVERPOOL III. THE COTTON DISTRICT AND THE MANUFACTURE OF COTTON IV. MANCHESTER V. MISCELLANEOUS INDUSTRIAL OCCUPATIONS VI. PECULIARITIES OF CHARACTER, DIALECT, AND PASTIMES VII. THE INLAND SCENERY SOUTH OF LANCASTER VIII. THE SEASHORE AND THE LAKE DISTRICT IX. THE ANCIENT CASTLES AND MONASTIC BUILDINGS X. THE OLD CHURCHES AND THE OLD HALLS XI. THE OLD HALLS (_continued_) XII. THE NATURAL HISTORY AND THE FOSSILS LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS