Page:History of the Fylde of Lancashire (IA historyoffyldeof00portiala).pdf/321

 previous to the opening of the seventeenth century, when it was sold to Edward Rigby, of Burgh; at least that gentleman was the first of the Rigbys whose ''Inq. post mortem'' disclosed that he held possessions in Layton. The Hall remained in the ownership and tenancy of the Rigbys until the lifetime of Sir Alexander Rigby, who married Alice, the daughter of Thomas Clifton, of Lytham, and died about 1700. The original edifice, which was taken down and a farm-house erected on the site about one century ago, was a massive gabled building. At the bottom of the main staircase was a gate, or grating, of iron, the whole of the interior of the Hall being fitted with oak panels, etc., in a very antique style.

Whinney Heys was held by the Veales from the time of Francis Veale, living in 1570, until the death of John Veale, about two hundred years later, when it passed to Edward Fleetwood, of Rossall Hall, who had married the sister and heiress of John Veale. The Hall of Whinney Heys was embosomed in trees and presented nothing of special moment to the eye, being simply a large rough-cast country building of an early type. It was partially taken down many years since and converted to farming uses.

"The village affords," says Mr. Thornber, "an example of covetousness seldom equalled. John Bailey, better known by the name of the Layton miser, resided in a cottage near the market-house. His habits were most frugal, enduring hunger and privation to hoard up his beloved pelf. Once, during every summer, his store was exposed to the beams of the sun, to undergo purification, and he might be seen, on that occasion, with a loaded gun, seated in the midst of his treasure, guarding it with the eyes of Argus, from the passing intruder. Notwithstanding all this vigilance, upwards of £700 was stolen from his hoard; and this ignorant old man journeyed to some distance to consult the wise man in order to regain it; his manœuvre to avoid the income-tax also failed, for although he converted his landed property into guineas, concealing them in his house, and then pleaded that he possessed no income, but a capital only, the law compelled him to pay his due proportion. In the midst of his savings, death smote