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Euxton

By Sarah Ridgway

The village of Euxton sits in the borough of Chorley to the west of the town and is considered one of the safest small towns in Lancashire.

Euxton is separated by a brook that runs east to west to the Yarrow, and the river forms the southern boundary. Euxton means “Farmstead of a man called Aefic ‘’, and the area was historically forests, hills, and rivers. The parish of Euxton also includes a large part of Buckshaw Village. The new development built on a 400-acre site prioritises sustainable living by incorporating green spaces, parks, and cycle lanes into its design. Euxton has a population of just under 10,000, and Buckshaw Village has a population of around 4,000.

During World War Two the area was home to the Ministry of Defence munitions factory and played an integral role in the war effort. At its peak of production up to 35,000 people were employed at the factory. Buckshaw Village now occupies the MOD factory’s land after being acquired by developers and opened in 2006. Worden Old Hall and Buckshaw Hall found in Upper Buckshaw were preserved during its development, as they were listed buildings of historical importance.

Euxton village has a host of public houses, and ghost hunters may be especially interested in paying a visit to the Euxton Mills pub. The historic pub built in the 1760s was named one of “the most haunted pubs in the UK” by TV medium Derek Acorah. The pub landlord reported things being switched off in the cellar, and a grey lady is said to appear with a lamp, while a woman is believed to reside in the ladies’ toilets. A team of ghostbusters from America visited the pub in 1999 for a documentary, and their devices found evidence of paranormal activity including the Grey lady.

HISTORY

The original settlement of Euxton in Pinnock was located near the ford over the river Yarrow. The settlement lay alongside the old Roman road which is now the A49 road. A market charter granted in 1301 by Edward I put Euxton on the map, which was then known as Euxton-burgh which probably suggests AngloSaxon origin. The area had a thriving industrial scene at one time which utilised the waterpower of the nearby river Yarrow.

Many prominent families lived in succession in Euxton, including the barons of Penwortham, the Lacys, Ffaringtons and the Molyneux and Anderton families, the latter two being Lancashire’s oldest Catholic families. The Lord of the Manor was based at Euxton Hall and was first owned by the Molyneux family and later the Anderton family.

Around 1360 Sir William Molyneux became the lord of Euxton Hall after gaining the land through marriage. The Molyneux family later sold the manor

to John Longworth of Liverpool, who later sold it to William Ince Anderton. King Charles II stayed overnight at Euxton Hall in 1651 while on a trip to Worcester. In 1752 the Andertons and the Molyneux family were joined by marriage by the union of William Anderton to Mary who was the daughter of Richard Fifth Viscount Molyneux. The two families merged their Coat of Arms which can still be seen today. The upper floor of the hall was demolished in 1929 due to a fire, and in 1983 the historic property became Euxton Hall Independent Hospital on the remaining lower ground floor.

Buckshaw Hall is another notable building in the area and is one of the best-preserved Tudor Halls in Lancashire. The grade II listed building is an H-plan two-storey timber framed property, thought to date back to the mid-1600s. In the nineteenth century, a detached barn was added and was completely renovated in 1885. The Anderton family were the original owners of the Hall which was later sold to different owners throughout the years. In 1936 the owner Richard Stock sold the estate and surrounding land to the government who built the ROF Chorley on it. During the war the house was used as an office, but by 2002 the hall lay dilapidated, and the Chorley Civic Society started a campaign to get developers to restore it. The building was marked for demolition but was bought at auction in 2018 and is now a residential home.

THE THRIVING INDUSTRY OF YARROW VALLEY

The area of Pinnock was once a hub of an important industry with a vibrant milling scene powered by the river Yarrow. A large amount of early industry utilised the waterpower from the river, and the mills produced bobbin, corn, and paper. The paper factory operated in 1610 along the banks of the Yarrow, just downstream from Riverside Cottage.

Pinnock Spinning Mill opened in 1792 and operated for one hundred years before closing in 1892. The area

is believed to have gotten its name from Thurston Pinnock who leased it from Sir Richard Molyneux. In 1836 a fire started in the mill which at that time was under the ownership of John Harrison & Co of Glead Hill.

After the fire, the owner used it as an opportunity to refurbish and build additional buildings. In 1852 Peter Priestly who was a cotton spinner from Manchester took over the running of the mill. The Priestly family quickly grew the mill into a successful business, holding the tenure of the mill for the longest period and gaining the most success in the mill’s history. The family lived in a country house in Glead Hill, sadly Peter died around 1861 and his wife’s brother John Dean Manning a textile merchant from Manchester took over the mill. In 1870 Peter’s son also named Peter took ownership of the business at just twenty-one years of age. The evolution of new weaving looms, and competition caused the business to close in 1892. In 1896 the mill re-opened as a weaving mill, and new looms were put in and the mill underwent a modern renovation, but in 1954 the mill closed for the final time; it was demolished in 1983 and took with it the last traces of the thriving mills of Yarrow valley.

EUXTON PARISH CHURCH

Euxton Parish Church dates to the 14th century and is a designated Grade II building. The small parish falls under the Diocese of Blackburn and can seat 191 people. The chapel was initially built for service at Euxton Hall where the Molyneux family lived from the 14th century and began as a small room up some back steps in the Northwest of the building. Around 1513 the church was rebuilt by the local Molyneux family and was originally known as the Burgh Chapel. The church functioned as a Roman Catholic chapel until the late 17th century before transitioning to the Church of England.

ST MARY’S CATHOLIC CHURCH

funded by public subscription. Around 100 individuals donated funding for the new chapel contributing £345. The total cost of the church was £535 leaving a shortage of £200 which remains unclear as to how or who it was covered by. The Anderton family were believed to have covered the cost as they had provided the main support to the Catholic community for generations. During the Catholic persecution times, the family provided the first place at their home in Euxton Hall for worshippers.

The Catholic congregation soon began to outgrow this chapel and the new Diocese wanted to build its own building. Local landowner George Garstang gifted the land for St Marys, and he and Sir William Ince Anderton’s names are honoured on the church foundation stone. Sir William Ince Anderton contributed £1000 towards the construction of the church, which was built in 1864/65. The family continued to be benefactors to Parish right up until the death of their last surviving family member Sir Francis Anderton in 1950.

EUXTON’S IMPRESSIVE WAR CONTRIBUTION

In the mid-1930s the government bought an area of nearly 1,000 acres to build a Royal Ordnance Factory, which became known as ROF Chorley. The construction of the factory began in 1936 and the factory was opened in 1939 by King George VI.

The location is said to have been selected due to cloud cover making it difficult for enemy aircraft to spot. The factory’s purpose was to transfer munition production from the south of the county to the north.

At its peak it employed 35,000 people; many of whom were women aged between 20 and 30. These women were called up to help the war effort by the National Service Act of December 1941.

The Royal Ordnance Factory even had a private railway station called ROF Halt, but the station ceased operation on 27 September 1965. The factory was privatised in the 1980s, and later became part of BAE Systems Global Combat Systems Munitions before closing permanently in 2007. LANCASHIRE’S YOUNGEST VILLAGE: BUCKSHAW VILLAGE

Buckshaw Village is a modern housing development surrounded by green spaces with an estimated population of 4,000 residents. The attractive housing village was built on the land of the former Royal Ordnance Factory and features a mix of attractive detached and terraced houses and flats. The area has low crime rates and fantastic amenities such as parks, community centres and supermarkets; the average property price in 2021 according to Rightmove was £205,657.

The regeneration scheme transformed the space into a sustainable and thriving modern village.

One of the developers Redrow who built the modern village described it as “one of the largest brownfield schemes of its kind throughout Europe.” Over 3,000 homes have been built creating 10,000 jobs. The village includes five primary schools, sports pitches, office and retail space, and a medical centre. The Hub offers state-of-the-art facilities including a cafe, a Splash centre providing swimming lessons for babies and children, a cafe, and an Ofsted-rated “Outstanding” nursery.

The developers aimed to create a sustainable environment and Buckshaw Village incorporates green spaces, cycle paths, walkways, and open spaces. The extensive cycle lanes included in its master plan were awarded the Sustrans National Cycle Network awards for Excellence in 2005. All landscaping undertaken ensured no earth was transported off-site, and any stripped topsoil can be seen in mounds around the village. A sustainable transport strategy was implemented into the village’s design. This included access to public transport with a newly built train station, Buckshaw Park which opened in 2011. The train line provides regular routes to Manchester and Preston making it convenient for commuters. There have been further plans approved this year for the final part of development, with an 80home estate approved to be built.