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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Lancashire => Topic started by: Meaglin on Tuesday 05 July 11 21:13 BST (UK)
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Hello,
Not sure if anyone can help, I am looking for any information / photographs for Bank Houses, Gregsons Bridge, Burscough.
Many thanks in advance
Meaglin
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Gregson's Bridge crosses the Leeds & Liverpool canal about a mile and a half west from Burscough, where Gorse Lane meets Martin Lane.
Heading north up Martin Lane, you reach the Martin Inn on the corner of Merscar Lane. A little further north lies Bank Farm (grid SD 415 129). I'd expect Bank Houses to be associated with this farm.
Unfortunately Google's streetview car turned up Merscar Lane!
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Thank you Andrew.
The houses were off Gorst Lane adjacent to the canal and now have been demolished.
My granddad and great grandparents lived there.
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I always knew 'bank houses' as the terraces further up Gorst Lane near the junction with New Lane. But there could have been others along there - I think there were more cottages at one time to house the boatmen's families and there are two spots I can see on Google earth that might have been cottages at one time. My dad may know more about any old houses up there that were demolished.
Fab site here about a walk along the canal (whole length!) with a photo of Gregsons' Bridge:
http://www.leedsliverpoolcanal.co.uk/photograph.php?gallery=maghull&photo=1603
I'll have a look at my old maps and see if I can spot anything on there too.
I see we've got some shared interests there too!
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Thank you Lal.
The houses were also known as 'the bog', I am just curious as to what they looked like, I will have a look at the library in Ormskirk perhaps they may have photos.
I notice we do share some interests!!
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I've also heard my dad mention 'bog houses' as being round there...
On the 1861 census the Shermans in my tree live at Langley Brook, the next residence is Bog House, the next New Lane - at that time the canal bank houses wouldn't have been there because I believe they went up to house the boatmen's families as they started living 'ashore' later in the 1800s so the kids could go to school etc.
There is a fair dip in the land halfway up Gorst Lane where Langley brook runs through and under the canal, heading for 'Battle holmes' (Batloom on modern OS maps) and the old mere, so I reckon that would have been boggy land hence 'bog houses'.
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I have a Map Directory of South Lancs published by Geographia in the late 1930s. 'Bank Houses' are marked on the north [towing path] side of the Canal, east of the Martin Lane bridge crossing the canal. There are three buildings shown. If you send me a pm with your email details I'll scan and send a copy.
Ainslie
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Lal,
Your may be right with the dip and reference to the bog it makes sense.
Ainslie,
Thank you I will send you a pm with my email address.
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Lancashire County Council's Mario has some aerial shots. I think the 1960s version shows the place best. The "OS First Edition 1:2500" shows which buildings were oldest.
Both this and the current map show drains in the area, which lends credence to the "bog" description.
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Meaglin
e-mail sent.
A
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Meaglin, new to this site and my reply is about your posting for Grahams in Brampton (sorry not Bank Houses). I'm tracing my wife's family who were Grahams from Brampton. Does any of the stuff below crossover with what you find? Really trying to get back a couple of generations earlier and possibly make a connection with George Graham from Brampton, the famous chronometer maker who is buried in Westminster Abbey. Here's some stuff we've found:-
The 1841 Census
Edmond Graham (age 50) and his wife Sarah (45) are living at the Moat Houses in Brampton, Cumberland (now Cumbria), together with 7 children. James, Thomas and Mary are triplets aged 20 (a miracle of survival in 1821), Margaret (15), Edmond (14), William (11) and Frances, a very late arrival aged 1 (mum was 44). We don't know what his occupation was.
The 1851 Census
Young Edmond is now 24 working as a watchmaker in Blackfriars Street, Carlisle and married to Frances (26) who was born in Kesket, Cumberland (known now as Hesket – which is the place we kennel the dog). Carlisle is about 8 miles from Brampton where he was born and they have children Margaret (3), who was born in Scotland - Gretna is only 10 miles up the road) and John (10 months old born in Aspatria about 40 miles from Carlisle- he was not to survive as you don't find him on the 1861 Census). They were obviously travelled.
The 1861 Census
Edmond has now moved to 128 Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland about 80 miles distant, he's packed in watchmaking and is now a carter – moving stuff about with a horse and cart. In 1861 he now has 5 children:- Margaret (13), Alfred E.(8), John W. (6) (He replaced the earlier John who'd have been 10), Elizabeth (5) and Thomas (3). On Census night they were also accommodating a visitor George Haugh who was 25, married and a “Eating House Keeper” born in Cumberland.
Again there'd been a fair bit of moving around 1851-61. Alfred E was born in Cockermouth or Keswick, John W. in Newcastle, Elizabeth and Thomas in Bishop Auckland.
Any help would be welcome,
Keith-clan
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Hello Meaglin. I've just stumbled across your question. I don't know if you are still making enquiries but I used to live on 'The Bog' when I was a small child and would be glad to help you with any information I can remeber.
Hello,
Not sure if anyone can help, I am looking for any information / photographs for Bank Houses, Gregsons Bridge, Burscough.
Many thanks in advance
Meaglin
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Hi. I have just come across your post. I live in the house that once was Bank Houses or 'Bog Houses' as they were known. I have got some old plans that show the position of all the properties that were on the land along with details and names of some of the owners and tenants on deed papers. I have also looked for photos as the bog houses were only demolished in the late 1960's to make way for a bungalow that we have since demolished! If you found any photos or any other info or would like to know of any names on the deeds etc, let me know.
Lee