Page:History of the Fylde of Lancashire (IA historyoffyldeof00portiala).pdf/227

 Bridge House, Bispham, who married, about 1728, Susannah, the younger daughter of Edward Veale, of Whinney Heys, and co-heiress, with her sister, of the Rev. John Veale, of the same place, her only brother. Another respectable dwelling, but like the few other buildings around, becoming dilapidated through age, bears the initials of Henry Porter, and the date 1723, over the entrance. From sundry documents which have come to light, it seems that Henry Porter was a gentleman of influence and position in the neighbourhood, but beyond that no information can be gained concerning him or his descendants. The tenement he held was purchased by the Brockholes, of Claughton, in 1846. Close by the side of Porter's residence is another of the same model and size, apparently erected by A. Worswick in 1741, but of this person nothing is known. The remainder of the hamlet is made up of a few old thatched cottages.

A free school was established by James Baines, draper, of Poulton, in 1717, shortly before his death; and by his will, dated that year, he bequeathed to Richard Wilson, Richard Whitehead, sen., Richard Johnson, and Richard Thornton, of Hardhorn-with-Newton, yeomen, to Richard Dickson, woollen draper, and Samuel Bird, yeoman, of Poulton, to Robert Salthouse, of Staining, yeoman, and to their heirs "all that Schoolhouse by me lately erected in Hardhorn-in-Newton, and the parcel of land whereon the same is erected, which is enjoyed therewith, and which by me was lately purchased from Thomas Ords, to remain, continue, and be a Free School for ever for the persons and purposes hereinafter mentioned. Item: I give and devise unto the seven said Trustees and their Heirs, all that messuage and tenement, called Puddle House, with the lands enjoyed therewith, about twenty-two acres, to the special end, intent, and purpose, that the rents and profits over ten shillings a year, (allowed for a dinner to the trustees, and their successors, on their meeting about the affairs of this School on the second of February, on which day they shall yearly meet for that purpose), and after all costs for repairs at the said Schoolhouse and ground it stands on be paid, the balance be given to such person as shall yearly and every year be named, chosen, and appointed, by the said seven Trustees, and their successors, or the major part of them, to act as Schoolmaster, to teach and instruct in writing,