Page:History of the Fylde of Lancashire (IA historyoffyldeof00portiala).pdf/416



-            CURATES AND VICARS OF WARTON. - Date of     |                        | Institution. |                  |   Cause of Vacancy. -++ Before 1773. |Wilfred Burton. | In 1789. |Charles Buck, M.A.     | " 1790.    |James Fox.              |Resignation of C. Buck. " 1823. |James Fox, B.A.        |   "           J. Fox. " 1840. |George Wylie, M.A.     |    "          J. Fox. " 1844. |Thos. Henry Dundas, B.A.|  "           G. Wylie. -++

Warton school was built many years ago at the cost of the township, and in 1810 the sum of £277 was raised by subscription as an endowment. In 1809, William Dobson, of Liverpool, bequeathed £500 to the trustees, and another sum of £500 was also bequeathed by Mrs. Francis Hickson. In 1821 a new school-*house was built.

POPULATION OF WARTON.

1801. 1811.  1821.  1831.  1841.  1851.  1861.  1871. 376    445    468    531    522    473    446    444

The area of the township contains 3,939 statute acres.

The earliest allusion to this township occurs in 1200-1, when Matilda Stockhord and others held two carucates in Briscath Brunn and one carucate in Kelgmersberg. A few years later Robert de Stockhord had the fourth of a knight's fee there. In 1253 Ralph Betham held Brininge, Kelgermsarche, etc.; and during the reign of Edward III. Sir Ralph de Betham possessed the fourth of a knight's fee in the same places, at which time John de Damport also held an eighth of a carucate. In 1311 John Baskerville had 3-1/2 bovates, and Thurstan de Norley 4 bovates, in the hamlet of Kilgremargh.

In 1479 Sir Edward and William Betham had land in Bryning and Kellamergh; and two years afterwards half of the manor was granted by Edward IV. to Thomas Molyneux and his heirs. Thomas Middleton held both Bryning and Kellamergh in 1641. The Birley, Langton, Cross, and Smith families are now the chief landowners in the township.

Bryning Hall and Leyland House are the only places of interest amongst the scattered habitations. The Hall, now a farm-house, was formerly the seat of the Bradkirks, whilst Leyland House,