In 1888 William Lever moved into nearby Thornton Manor. Over the next few years he purchased much of the village and surrounding land and soon set about transforming the village. Many old cottages were demolished and replaced with the half-timbered cottages you see today. He was also responsible for the building of St. George's Church, the smithy, a second school, the village club, and several large houses for members of his family. The village has two churches, All Saints parish church and St. George's United Reform church, and for many years had two schools.

      

All Saints Church, was built in 1867/68 by Joseph Hirst. Its tall steeple which dominates the skyline has, unusually, five clock faces, the fifth being added so that Joseph Hirst could see the time from his bedroom window in Thornton House. The graveyard is the resting place of many local dignitaries including Joseph Hoult, the steamship owner, The Bamford family of Raby Hall, and several members of the Lever family including the late Lord Leverhulme who died in 2000.
Alongside All Saints stand the vicarage and parish hall which were also built by Joseph Hirst between 1866 and 1868. The first vicar, the Rev. John Wesley Aldom M.A. took office when the church was consecrated in 1868, and the vicarage has been the home of the incumbent ever since. The parish hall was originally the village school until it closed in 1953, and the schoolmistress lived in the cottage attached to the school.

PREVIOUS PAGE       NEXT PAGE