Page:History of the Fylde of Lancashire (IA historyoffyldeof00portiala).pdf/203

 associated with the town from which their distinctive appellation appears to have been derived. During the time of Elizabeth, James Massey, gentleman, of Carleton and Layton, purchased from the governors of the Savoy Hospital, in London, the tolls in the parish of Poulton, together with all the "chauntry and appurtenances" founded in the parish church of Bricksworth, and all messuages, lands, tenements, etc., situated in the town and parish of Poulton; the tolls remained subject to an annual rent of £2, to be paid on St. Michael's day to the governors and chaplains of the hospital. Later in the same reign James Massey sold to William Leigh, esq., of High Leigh, in Cheshire, half of these tolls and some pasture fields, called "Angell's Holme," adjoining the Horse-bridge, where in earlier days, when the waters of Wyre made their way along a brook into the interior of this neighbourhood, boats are said to have been built. The Rigbys, of Layton Hall, subsequently became possessed of a great part of Poulton, and at the present day a large number of houses are leased in their name for the remainder of terms of 999 years; the Heskeths, of Mains, and other leading families in the district were also considerable property owners in the town. On one occasion the ruling powers of Kirkham made an unsuccessful attempt to obtain the tolls arising from the cattle fairs held in Poulton and Singleton, but on what plea such claims were urged the record is silent.

In an entry which occurs in the lists of the Norman Roll, an impost consisting of the ninth of corn, fleeces, and lambs, and created in 9 Edward III., 1336, it is stated that in 1291 the vicarage of Poulton was taxed by Pope Nicholas at 10 marks, or £6 13s. 4d. modern coinage, the prior of Norton taking £2 in garbs or wheat sheaves. Afterwards the vicarage was freed from the payments of tenths on account of the smallness of the living. Dr. Whittaker informs us that the priory of Lancaster was granted by Henry V., in 1422, to the chancellor of England, who in that year instituted a vicar to the living of Poulton, but eight years previously, in the same reign, the priory was granted in trust for the abbess and convent of Sion; from which seemingly contradictory statements it may be gathered that the chancellor was the trustee for the property, and in such capacity alone acted as patron of the church of Poulton. In support of this supposition