Dewhursts in

Dewhursts in " Lancashire Halls & Houses"

We know that Lancashire was a "hotbed" of Dewhursts! The above website offers information on Dewhursts in the Districts of Blackburn, Wyre and Ribble as follows from Wm. Alexander Abram's 1877 History of Blackburn:

Beardwood Hall, Blackburn 

"The Dewhurst's were copyholders in Blackburn township. William Dewhurst of Beardwood Green, a first Governor of the Grammar School in 1567, by a copy of Court Roll of Clitheroe, dated May 25th, 26th Eliz. (1583-4), was entitled to a messuage and 34% acres of land in Blackburn. He had a son and heir, John; and a younger son Roger was born in 1568, who had a son Thomas, born in 1608, died in 1625. John Dewhurst, of Blackburn, a copyholder in 1617, by the Decree for the enclosure of Waste Lands in Blackburn was awarded for his 34 acres customary measure 17 acres of waste. He died in July, 1626. He had, I think, sons John; Henry, born in 1600, died 1633 ; and William, a warden of the Church in 1635, died in 1639.  .................."

"Next comes John Dewhurst, of Billinge Carr, Blackburn, who by his wife, who died Dec., 1623, had sons John and James j-the latter died in Oct., 1603. John Dewhurst the father was a juror at the Parliamentary Survey of 1650."  ........

"John Dewhurst, Junior, was a juror also on that Survey. John Dewhurst of Blackburn, freeholder,” is named in 1657. Thomas Dewhurst, of Billinge Carr, buried Janet, his wife, April 24th, 1656. Arthur Dewhurst of Blackburn (a son of William who died in 1636), was buried March 1679. His son Roger died in Oct., 1675. Thomas Dewhurst of Blackburn, had a son John, born in 1675. Richard Dewhurst of Blackburn, son of Thomas, had a son Daniel, born in 1674. James Dewhurst, of Blackburn, yeoman, was buried April 7th, 1763. John Dewhurst of Blackburn, yeoman, died in March, 1765."

Audley Hall, Blackburn

"In 1856 the 317 acres Audley Estate consisted of the following tenancies:- Audley Hall Farm, Audley Higher Barn, Fish Field and Five Acres, Great and Little Maudsley, Long Meadow, New Hey and Little Meadow, Nearer and Further Dam Hey (Cicely Hole), Smalding’s Farm (Beside the Leeds Liverpool Canal), Snape Fields and Higher Walks, Three Lawnds, Town Green, and the occupation road from Grimshaw Park to Smalding’s Cottage. After 1856, some plots of the estate were soId and the residue was laid out and leased for building purposes, increasing its rental value incalculably."

"Sir Thomas Talbot obtained the lease of the Blackburn Rectorial estates after their transfer from Whalley Abbey, and frequently stayed there. In fact records show that in 1550 Sir Thomas Talbot prosecuted an Alice Livesey, after she is said to have instructed Edmond Dewhurst of Livesey to have fired to Sir Thomas Talbots barn at Audley said to be worth £40 by setting fire to the thatch."

Stakes Hall, Blackburn 

Stakes Hall was situated on the south bank of the River Darwen, which was the northern boundary of the Livesey township. After the Astleys the Stakes Hall estate was purchased by the firm of Turner & Co. who built a print works on the site, who in turn sold it in 1843 to Joseph Eccles.

The Astley family were in the 16th & 17th century the chief resident proprietors in Witton, amongst them some who lived at Witton Old Hall. This Astley family were seated at Ewood & Stakes for over 3 centuries and are believed to have descended from the Astley family of Astley at Chorley, however there seems to be no record of how they obtained the estate.

George Astley son of William Astley married Jane Stanley the daughter James Stanley, Knight residing at Cross Hall. They had four sons namely; Thomas, William, Gilbert & Richard (died 25th Feb 1635-36), and three daughters namely; Elizabeth, Rosamund, and Anne. In Georges will dated 24th August 1573. He left his house in Witton to his wife, and the Manor house of Livesey to his son Thomas.

Thomas Astley (died Sept 3rd 1617) elder brother of Dr. Richard Astley married Mary Livesey (died July 1623) daughter of Richard Livesey of Fernehurst in 1574. Thomas & Mary had five sons and one daughter namely; Thomas, William, Randle, Richard, Edward and Millicent who married William Banester, B.A. Randle Astley (died Feb 1640-41) second son of Thomas was a yeoman farmer in Eccleshill, married Margery (died Nov 1618) had three sons Thomas, George Astley of Witton and James Astley of Mellor, together with four daughters namely; Elizabeth, Alice, Margaret, and Millicent.

Thomas (died 1623) the eldest son of Thomas and Mary, married Ellen daughter of Thomas Osbaldeston, and had one son and seven daughters namely; Thomas (died 1663), Mary (born 1601), Margaret (baptised May 20th 1611), Elizabeth, Alice (wife of Thomas Snape of Balderston), Helen (wife of John Marsden of Blackburn), Jane (wife of Roger Dewhurst of Livesey), and Ann (wife of John Helme of Ribchester).

Greenhalgh Castle, Greenhalgh - Wyre District

"Greenhalgh Castle was erected by Thomas Stanley, earl of Derby, by license, dated at Lancaster, August 2nd 1490 by which he and his heirs were empowered to wall with stone, lime, and other materials, in his manor called Green Hall in the parish of Garstang, and to embattle, turrellate crenellate, machicolate, or otherwise fortify them, and to hold them for ever with out impediment or obstruction................." 

"Roger Dewhurst of Halliwell, esq., about 1780 made a drawing of the tower as it then appeared; but it has since suffered much from the dilapidations of the tenantry who take portions of the walls for various purposes. A few years ago Lord Derby sold Greenhalgh Castle to Lord Kenlis."

Greenhalgh Castle

Halls & Historic Houses in South Ribble District

Lostock Hall, Lostock Hall: Now known as St Catherines Hospice which is situated on the north side of Lostock Lane, and has the River Lostock running south westerly through the estate. 

In the thirteenth century a James de Lostock was recorded as living at Lostock Hall, this would have been an earlier hall described in 1212 as standing on the banks of the river Lostock. Around 1764 a new hall was erected on the site of the Old Hall by William Clayton Esq. a banker from Preston, whose ancestors continued to own the hall until around 1836. At one time the hall was the residence of Robert Orrel.

In 1861 a John Bashall resided at the hall, followed in 1871 by Robert Jackson. By 1881 Harry Dewhurst of G&R Dewhurst had purchased the hall, the Dewhurst family owned a large cotton mill nearby, Dewhurst Road in Bamber Bridge being testament to where the mill once stood. On his death in 1918 Harry Dewhurst left Lostock Hall together with six and a half acres of land to the Royal Preston Hospital for use as a continuation hospital, which was opened in June 1921 by Lt. Commander H Dewhurst M.P.

 Osbaldeston Hall, Osbaldeston in the Ribble Valley

"For many years the Osbaldeston and Oxendale Estates together with various farms and land, totalling approximately 935 acres were all in the possession of the Dugdale family. On the death of Joseph Dugdale this large estate was eventually sold by auction into separate lots by Messrs H.M.Hodson & Co (Auctioneers) of 14 Clifton Street, Blackpool. The auction took place at the Old Bull Hotel, Blackburn at 2.30pm, Wednesday, 10th March 1926."

"THE SIEGE OF OSBALDESTON HALL, OSBALDESTON ON WEDNESDAY, 17TH"

"..............Ralph Dewhurst he was auctioneer, He did his duty well 
Now count your brass be quick and bid, I don't intend to dwell; 
All that you buy I'll guarantee, There's men here knows it well,
I'm Champion of Proud Preston Town For there I bear the Bell."

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22nd December 1888, Darwen News - CHRISTMAS CHEER

It is pleasing to observe, and may be accepted as a sign of progress, that the display of Christmas cheer at Darwen year by year grows very perceptibly in magnitude, attractiveness and general excellence. Our local tradesmen are much more enterprising than they formerly were, and manifest a great desire to progress with the times. One reason probably is that times are better, and they wish to take advantage of them. The various shopkeepers appear to be well supplied with the commodities in which they deal, and their shops present quite a festive appearance, and are in some instances illuminated. Mr. W. Dewhurst, clothier, of 1, Market-street, has his large window well stocked with articles of clothing, suitable for people of all sizes and of all ranks and conditions in life. The window has also been made to represent a snow scene, and a capital imitation it is. Its get-up has necessitated no little artistic taste, pains and labour.

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Roll of Honour for Blackburn men and women who lost their lives in the Great War 1914-1918

Dewhurst, F.
Dewhurst, George
Dewhurst, Isaac
Dewhurst, J.
Dewhurst, J.
Dewhurst, J. E.
Dewhurst, James
Dewhurst, James
Dewhurst, John
Dewhurst, John
Dewhurst, Lancelot
Dewhurst, R.
Dewhurst, T.
Dewhurst, T.
Dewhurst, T.
Dewhurst, T. H.
Dewhurst, Walter