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Boyd's various sites |
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sys2635c |
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The Old Millstone Inn - now Dolphin Farm,
Whittle-le-Woods. |
Before cars and railways the only way to get anywhere was to
walk or if you had enough money travel by horse or coach.
Whittle-le-Woods was on the main north south coaching route
between Manchester, Chorley and Preston and so was a busy
commuter route. The main Preston Rd., (A6) between Shaw Hill and
Clayton Green wasn't built until 1825 so coaches would have to
negotiate the steep hill up Dolphin Brow from Waterhouse Green
to the Old Millstone & Cross Keys Inns and then through
Whittle-le-Woods along Chorley Old Road. Coaching inns were a
vital part of our transport infrastructure until the development
of the railways. They provided a resting point for travellers
and horses for food, drink, and rest. The Old Millstone was one
of the more important establishments and through the 18th & 19th
centuries also provided the location for the coroner to hold
inquests on local accidents and deaths.
One of the inquests
is as follows:
Another child burnt to death. A child named
Mary Ann Snape, five years of age, was burnt to death at
Whittle-le-Woods on Monday morning last, from the effects of
injuries received from her clothes having ignited whilst playing
near the fire. She died almost immediately. Mr Myres, coroner,
returned a verdict "Accidentally burnt to death."
Preston
Chronicle 26th Nov 1853. [med14]. |
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The Old Millstine Inn. |
Dolphin Farm formerly The Millstone Inn |
Samuel Stancliffe |
Another accident occured on 20th Sep 1836 when
the stagecoach "North Briton" overturned on the steep bend by
the Old Millstone Inn killing a passenger, William Henry Sayer.
William Sayer is buried in St John’s graveyard. His headstone
reads:
Sacred to the memory of Mr, William Henry Sayer, late
of Camden Lodge, Peckham Surry. And Apothecarie's Hall, London.
Who departed this life on Tuesday the 20th day of September 1836
at ½ past 9 O'clock. P.M. in the 45th Year of his age. His death
was occasioned by severe injuries received from the overturning
of the coach "North Briton" on the evening of that day, in the
road near this Burying Ground.
[Verdanda med 14pt] |
New Hey Farm. |
The Old Millstone appears to have lost its license in 1924.
The old photo of the inn is from 1910 and shows the landlord
Henry Pass and his wife Mary stood outside. The Inn was a
Whittle Springs Brewery property.
Many thanks to Richard &
Linda Langford and the excellent Chorley Inns and Taverns
website. for some of the above information.
http://chorleyinnsandtaverns.blogspot.com |
Eric by the grave of Samuel Stancliffe. |
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