Page:History of the Fylde of Lancashire (IA historyoffyldeof00portiala).pdf/320

 setting forth that within the manor of Layton and parishes of Poulton and Bispham there was situated an extensive tract of land containing about 2,000 acres, called Layton Hawes, and begging on the part of those concerned, for permission to enclose the whole of the common. The document states "that Fleetwood Hesketh, Esquire, is Lord of the Manor of Layton aforesaid; and Edmund Starkie, Esquire, is Impropriator of the Great Tythes arising within that part of the Township of Marton called Great Marton, within the said Manor of Layton and Parish of Poulton, and of One Moiety of the Great Tythes arising in that part of the Township of Bispham called Great Bispham, within the said Manor and Parish of Bispham; and Thomas Cross, Esquire, and others, his partners, are proprietors of the other Moiety of the Great Tythes arising within Great Bispham aforesaid; and Ashton Werden, Clerk, present Incumbent of the Parish Church of Bispham aforesaid, and his Successors for the time being, of the Great Tythes, arising within the Township of Layton-with-Warbreck, within the said Manor and Parish of Bispham. Also that the said Fleetwood Hesketh, Thomas Clifton, and other Owners and Proprietors of divers ancient Farms, situate within the Manor of Layton, and the towns of Great Marton, Little Marton, Black Pool, and Bispham, have an exclusive Right to turn and depasture their Beasts, Sheep, and other Commovable Cattle, in and upon the said Waste or Common, called Layton Hawes, at all Times of the Year; and the Parties interested are willing and desirous that the said Waste or Common should be inclosed, allotted and divided, and therefore pray that the said Waste or Common called Layton Hawes, lying within the Manor of Layton, may be divided, set out, and allotted by Commissioners, to be appointed for that purpose and their Successors, in such manner, and subject to such rules, orders, regulations, and directions, as may be thought necessary." Leave to carry out the object contained in the prayer was granted to the petitioners, and within a comparatively short time the work of dividing and apportioning the soil accomplished.

The greater part of the township of Layton-with-Warbreck being now absorbed in the borough of Blackpool, to which the ensuing chapter will be devoted, there is little further to notice beyond the ancient seats of the families of Rigby and Veale. Layton Hall was probably the residence of the Butlers, of Layton,