Outer Heritage Trail
From Standish Wiki
The Outer Heritage Trail, created by the Standish Community Forum in 1999, is a longer walk covering most of Standish's historical landmarks. The Map of locations is shown below, along with the descriptions of the featured attractions. You can click on a number to jump to the description of the location.
Map of the Trail
Description of the Trail
Hic Bibi Well
(Site only) This was situated to the north of Standish on the boundary between Standish and Coppull. It is said to be where Oliver Cromwell refreshed himself when advancing south after the battle of Preston in 1648. A stone inscribed "Hic Bibi" ("Here I Drink") marks the site.
The bridle road from Standish starts opposite St. Wilfrid's Church by the Lloyds TSB, and the route to the well is followed for 1.5 miles. It follows the route of the original Roman Road which is a short distance to the east. In 1726 a new turnpike road replaced the ancient way which is now the A49, Preston Road.
Langtree Hall
(Site only) Here stood the original medieval Manor House of the Langtree family to the east of Preston Road, along Langtree Lane. Part of its surrounding Moat is still visible, though no evidence of the original hall remains today. It is now the site of a day nursery.
Langtree New Hall
Mistakenly called Old Hall on some maps, it lies further north to the west of Preston Road. It formed part of Thomas Langtree's estate in 1650. It has now been rebuilt and is now a farmhouse.
Quaker Burial Ground
This piece of land was used for burials by Quakers as early as 1682. The first meeting house was erected here in 1717. It was demolished in 1904 and the site is now preserved as a garden. The few remaining gravestones have been formed into a simple monument.
Cat I'th Window
Originally a farmhouse with a fine thatched roof, it was burned down in 1901 and later rebuilt. Tradition says that in the days of the early catholic persecution, a stone cat was placed in the window to indicate that a Catholic mass was to be said at Standish Hall, or that alternatively, it was a dairyman's sign. Three black cats can still be seen today on the wall facing Almond Brook Road.
The Hermitage
The 18th century building was situated within Standish Park close to Standish Hall. The house was provided by the Standish family for catholic priests who served their chapel at Standish Hall. All that remains of the site is a small wooded area.
Standish Water Corn Mill
The remains of the mill can be seen in Elnup Wood, known locally as Mill Dam Wood. Wigan Archaeological Society excavated the site in recent years, unearthing kiln tiles dating back to the 16th century.
Elnup Wood is designated an ancient woodland and the present owners are Wigan and Chorley Groundwork Trust.
Mill Dam Cottage
The miller's house was about 100 yards away from the mill and is in existence today. Known locally as the Gamekeeper's Cottage, it has been completely renovated by the present owners.
Standish Hall
(Site only) This was the most important house in the district. It was the ancestral home of the family, who adopted the name "Standish" from the area in the 12th century. They acquired ownership of the surrounding land shortly after the Norman Conquest and enlarged their estate over the following centuries until it covered 3000 acres. The Standish family resisted the Reformation and remained true to the catholic religion. They were powerful enough to escape conviction for their beliefs, although in 1715 Ralph Standish allied himself to the Jacobites and was sentenced to death and his land confiscated. However he was later pardoned and his lands restored. The Standish estate, including the hall, was auctioned at the Empress Hall in Wigan in March 1921. However, the hall was withdrawn at £4,800. The Tudor wing and chapel were eventually dismantled and re-erected in America and the remainder left in a ruinous state. Part of the site is now a pig farm.
Cricket Club
The present ground in Green Lane was bought in 1923. The club, founded 100 years ago, was formed from an amalgamation of several teams including a Bleachworks XI and St. Wilfrid's XI. The pavilion is a memorial to Dr. Boyd who was a GP in Standish for many years.
Prospect House
Tradition says that a castle once stood on Prospect Hill, but if so, no trace remains. Pospect House has a relief of the Owl and the Rat emblem and the date 1796 on the wall. Under the ownership of John Ainscough, Mayor of Wigan, it was damaged by fire in 1893 and restored in 1910. It was used to house Belgian refugees in 1915, and is currently a home for the elderly.
Strickland House
Formerly known as the "New House", it was in the possession of Catherine Haydock in 1725, the widow of Rev. William Haydock. It lies on Standish Wood Lane, the ancient bridle road between Wigan and Standish. It is still occupied today, and the outside of the building and walled gardens remain unchanged.
Stone Crosses
The bases of 2 stone crosses are situated along Standish Wood Lane and the base of a 3rd cross can be seen in Green Lane opposite Prospect House. These crosses, 7 to 8 hundred years old, were said to indicate that these routes were corpse roads used by funeral processions and the water that lay in the stumps of the Crosses was said to be holy water.
Upperwood Farm
This farm formed part of the Standish estate and was leased by Ralph Standish to James Taylor in 1725. A stone on the barn dated 1845 carries the initials of Charles Standish.
Boar's Head Inn
Originally it may have been a hostel for pilgrims on the way to the abbeys of Whalley, Fountains and Furness. In 1450 the present inn was built, possibly on the orders of the Standish family. Their crest the 'Owl and the Rat' in built into a wall above the window south of the main door. The stone walls are two feet thick, and the tough hewn wooden beams have stood the test of time well. In the early 19th century it became a coaching inn on the turnpike road system providing a resting place for weary travellers and their horses.
Roundmoor Farm
Built on Roundmoor off Wigan Road, it was the scene of a threat against William Standish reported at the Jacobite trials in 1694. William was involved in attempts to restore the Stuarts to the English throne.
Ashfield House
This was built on land called Ashfield in 1755 by Felix Leach, the founder of the Crawford business in Wigan. The house was enlarged in 1872 by John Lancaster, who was an MP for Wigan. Previously used as offices of Standish Urban Council, it is now a hotel and restaurant.
Lodge Gates
Standish Hall was approached via 2 lodges, one at Wigan Road which passed by Prospect Hill, and one at Beech Walks off Almond Brook Road.
Beech Walk was lined with large beech trees which were felled shortly after the hall was sold as they were in very poor condition.
The Old Rectory
(Site only) Standish Rectory previously stood on the site where "The Owls" restaurant now stands. The rectory was partly re-built by Rector Hutton in 1887. In addition to the main house there were stables, staff cottages, gardens, tennis courts and a Lodge which was originally the station.(rector Hutton had liked it and had it demolished, moved and re-built.) Church Walking Day processions used to end at The Rectory with tea on the lawns for the children.
After the death of Rector Hutton in 1937 the rectory and stables were demolished.
- See also: Inner Heritage Trail
The information on this page was last updated on 16th December 2002.
If it is incorrect or out of date, please help us to correct it.
