1050-1250

The first written evidence for the existence of Leyland, as is true for many places, comes from that most famous of Tax Surveys, the Domesday Book. At that time it was compiled the county of Lancashire didn't exist and when the recording of the 'land between the Ribble and Mersey' was written down it was bolted on at the end of the section on Cheshire!!!

In the Domesday Book, 'Leyland Hundred' is partly recorded as follows... 'In Lailond 'Hundred'... King Edward held Lailond. There [are] one hide and two carucates of land. Wood two leagues long and one broad and an eyrie of hawks'. The King in question was none other than King Edward the Confessor and the strange references are of Saxon and Norse origin ('Hide is Saxon while 'Carucate' is a Norse unit of measurement of roughly 120acres). •4 After the Norman Conquest, the lands in the North West were handed over to Roger of Poitou. He in turn carved this up as he saw fit. According to the Domesday book there were 4 Radmans (a messenger or mounted escort), a priest, 14 villiens (farmers), 6 bordars (small holding dweller) and 2 Oxherds. In addition, they had between them 8 ploughs and also mentioned are 4 eyries of hawks. The whole lot was worth 50 shillings to the Crown - in contrast to the Barony of Pemwortham which was worth more at 60 shillings.•5

One of the next mentions of Leyland turns up confusingly in the records of Evesham Abbey! In the early 1100's the Church at Leyland is mentioned in reference to grants being paid by the Bussel family, the Barons of Pemwortham. .•5 Warrin Bussell was the first to be made Baron of Pemwortham and he & his wife apparently owned lands in and around Evesham Abbey. She 'gave' the Priory at Penwortham to the Abbey, which would have contained Leyland (and the Parish Church) so hence why this reference turns up so far away. The Abbots of Evesham Abbey would have had the right to appoint the vicar of the church (In 1190 a chap named 'Sweyn' is referred to as chaplain at Leyland) and all the monies received in the form of tithes and such like would have all been property of the Abbey •5.

St Andrews Church, Church Road

1212 saw the estates of Warrin Bussel being tenanted by his son, Robert. Soon after, the estate was divided between the aires apparent in this family line - half went to our friends from Ulnes Walton, the Waltons, while the other half went through a daughter to the ffarington family.

What else is happening...

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