Mawdesley
Encyclopedia
Mawdesley is a village and civil parish
of the Borough of Chorley
in Lancashire
, England
. According to the 2001 Census
it had a population of 1,787.
(1272–1308). The suffix 'ley' signifies a field, meadow or clearing, showing the village's rural origins. Records show that a manor
existed in 1250 AD on the site of the present Mawdesley Hall.
Mawdesley Hall, situated at the north end of the village and facing south, was thought to have been erected by William Mawdesley in 1625, but much altered towards the end of the 18th or beginning of the 19th century, the central hall being of the first date and the two wings of the second. The central wing has a door at the east end opening into a lobby, beyond which are the staircase and the door to the hall on the left. The hall is lighted on the south side by a long window of eleven lights. On the lintel of the doorway are the letters "W.M." for William Mawdesley. The same initials with the date 1625 are cut in the stone head of the fireplace. Over the fireplace is a large plaster panel with a shield bearing the Mawdesley arms with helm, crest and mantling, together with the date 1655 and the initials "R.M." for Robert Mawdesley. The different dates and initials would seem to show that the hall was originally erected by William Mawdesley, and that alterations were being made before his death (1659) by his son Robert.
Hill and Mere Brow
, via Rufford
, runs along the southern edge of the village and is known at various points as Meadow Lane, Rufford Road and Hall Lane. The nearest railway station is two miles away at Rufford
and is located on the edge of the two villages.
and his preachers and was located at OS grid reference SD493150. St Peter's CE Church, High Street, Mawdesley with Bispham, was founded in 1839 and is located at OS grid reference SD489143.
s the Red Lion, the Black Bull, the Eagle and Child, the Robin Hood and Mawdsley's Eating House (which went into administration in approx. 2008).
Mawdesley Village Hall is independently run by a group of volunteers called the Mawdesley Village Hall Management Committee, made up from user group representative and elected members. The village hall is for the use of residents both in Mawdesley and the surrounding parishes. The village hall serves the local community by offering a function room to host private parties, children’s parties, weddings, fund raising events and is home to a variety of clubs to incorporate many interests and ages.
Amongst the groups using the village hall are the playgroup, mums and toddlers, Mawdesley Amateur Dramatics, Cubs, Beavers, Scouts, Guides, W.I., drama, Mothers' Union
, youth club, ballroom dancing, line dancing and ballet plus children's dance classes. The facilities are also used for an art class, historical lectures, as well as being the home for a branch of the University of the Third Age.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
of the Borough of Chorley
Chorley (borough)
Chorley is a local government district with borough status in Lancashire, England. It is named after its largest settlement, the town of Chorley.-Creation:...
in Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. According to the 2001 Census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
it had a population of 1,787.
History
The name Mawdesley is thought to have originated in the reign of Edward IEdward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
(1272–1308). The suffix 'ley' signifies a field, meadow or clearing, showing the village's rural origins. Records show that a manor
Manor
-Land tenure:*Manor, an estate in land of the mediaeval era in England*Manorialism, a system of land tenure and organization of the rural economy and society in parts of medieval Europe based on the manor*Manor house, the principal house of a manor...
existed in 1250 AD on the site of the present Mawdesley Hall.
Mawdesley Hall, situated at the north end of the village and facing south, was thought to have been erected by William Mawdesley in 1625, but much altered towards the end of the 18th or beginning of the 19th century, the central hall being of the first date and the two wings of the second. The central wing has a door at the east end opening into a lobby, beyond which are the staircase and the door to the hall on the left. The hall is lighted on the south side by a long window of eleven lights. On the lintel of the doorway are the letters "W.M." for William Mawdesley. The same initials with the date 1625 are cut in the stone head of the fireplace. Over the fireplace is a large plaster panel with a shield bearing the Mawdesley arms with helm, crest and mantling, together with the date 1655 and the initials "R.M." for Robert Mawdesley. The different dates and initials would seem to show that the hall was originally erected by William Mawdesley, and that alterations were being made before his death (1659) by his son Robert.
Transport
The B5246 road that connects ParboldParbold
Parbold is a large commuter village and civil parish in the county of Lancashire, England.-Local government:The 83 hectares of the 'urban settlement' of Parbold has a population of 2,700. This settlement forms part of the larger Parbold ward Parbold is a large commuter village and civil parish in...
Hill and Mere Brow
Mere Brow
Mere Brow is a small village in Lancashire, England, situated between Tarleton and Banks, just off the A565 road. It is 6 miles east of Southport and 10 miles south west of Preston. It is administered by the West Lancashire District Council and the Tarleton parish council...
, via Rufford
Rufford, Lancashire
-Population :-Economy:The village is largely rural with little or no industry. The farmland is grade one agricultural land. In the early 20th century the village was described as "one of the prettiest in South Lancashire" and was a destination for day trips from neighbouring towns...
, runs along the southern edge of the village and is known at various points as Meadow Lane, Rufford Road and Hall Lane. The nearest railway station is two miles away at Rufford
Rufford railway station
Rufford railway station, opened on 2 April 1849, serves the village of Rufford in Lancashire, England. The station is south west of Preston on the Preston-Ormskirk branch service...
and is located on the edge of the two villages.
Religion
St Peter and St Paul's Catholic Church is located at OS grid reference SD508146, Salt Pit Lane, and was founded in 1830. The Wesleyan Methodist church, New Street, was founded before 1893 from religious societies founded by John WesleyJohn Wesley
John Wesley was a Church of England cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield...
and his preachers and was located at OS grid reference SD493150. St Peter's CE Church, High Street, Mawdesley with Bispham, was founded in 1839 and is located at OS grid reference SD489143.
Community
Local landmarks in Mawdesley include Mawdesley Hall, the village hall, Millennium Green Cedar Farm and Hurst Green. The village also comprises a convenience store and public housePublic house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
s the Red Lion, the Black Bull, the Eagle and Child, the Robin Hood and Mawdsley's Eating House (which went into administration in approx. 2008).
Mawdesley Village Hall is independently run by a group of volunteers called the Mawdesley Village Hall Management Committee, made up from user group representative and elected members. The village hall is for the use of residents both in Mawdesley and the surrounding parishes. The village hall serves the local community by offering a function room to host private parties, children’s parties, weddings, fund raising events and is home to a variety of clubs to incorporate many interests and ages.
Amongst the groups using the village hall are the playgroup, mums and toddlers, Mawdesley Amateur Dramatics, Cubs, Beavers, Scouts, Guides, W.I., drama, Mothers' Union
Mothers' Union
Mothers’ Union is an international Christian charity that seeks to support families worldwide. Its members are not all mothers or even all women, as there are many parents, men, widows, singles and grandparents involved in its work...
, youth club, ballroom dancing, line dancing and ballet plus children's dance classes. The facilities are also used for an art class, historical lectures, as well as being the home for a branch of the University of the Third Age.
Geography
Google Maps map of Mawdesley, includes a reference to a place called "Mawdeskey" which does not exist.Notable residents
- Former England and Wales and Lancashire cricketer Jack IddonJack IddonJohn Iddon was an English cricketer who played in five Tests in 1935....
was born in Mawdesley in 1902.
External links
- Mawdesley Community Website Mawdesley-village.org.uk.
- Mawdesley chorley.gov.uk.