Page:History of the Fylde of Lancashire (IA historyoffyldeof00portiala).pdf/206

 *paratively small circle of private individuals, whose contributions would probably be in some measure supplemented by minor collections amongst the less opulent agriculturists and peasantry. One person, named Welsh, who resided at Marton, seems to have cherished a bitter antipathy to the levelling of ancient structures in general, and embodied his refusal to assist this particular work in the following rhymes:—

"While here on earth I do abide, I'll keep up walls and pull down pride; To build anew I'll ne'er consent, And make the needy poor lament."

It has usually been affirmed that the side galleries were not erected until several years after the new church had been finished, but the annexed extract from an old document discovered in 1875, shows that authority to build them was obtained in 1751, whilst the church was levelled with the ground; and as the parchment also discloses that a number of seats in these galleries were allotted to certain gentlemen of the parish in the ensuing year, there is ample evidence that the rebuilding of the church and their erection were carried on simultaneously:—"25 June, 1751. On the Certificate and request of Roger Hesketh, Esq., Patron; the Rev. Robert Loxham, Clerk, Vicar; and the Churchwardens of the Parish Church of Poulton; a Faculty was Granted to John Bird, John Birley, and Richard Tennant, all of Poulton, Gentlemen (for the better uniformity of the Parish Church of Poulton, which was then taken down and rebuilding) to take down the Gallery over the Chancel in the East of the said Church, which was then very irregular and incommodious, and to rebuild the same with a convenient staircase, stairs, and passage leading thereto, of their own expense, in the west end thereof to adjoin to the north side of the gallery there then standing, and to be made uniform therewith, and to make satisfaction to the several owners of the seats in the said Gallery for the damage sustained in removing the same and altering, and lessening the seats therein; and to erect a Gallery on each side of the said Church, with convenient staircases leading thereto at the north-east and south-east ends of the said Church, if necessary, according to the form of the said Certificate annexed, and also to remove the Pulpit and reading desk from the place where the