Prescot

"PRESCOT, a parish, post and market town, in the hundred of West Derby, county Lancaster, 8 miles E. of Liverpool, 51 S. of Lancaster, and 2 from the Huyton station on the Liverpool and Manchester branch of the London and North-Western railway. This parish, which is very extensive, is situated on the edge of a rich coal field, and is traversed by the road from Liverpool to Manchester and by the Liverpool and Manchester railway, which latter passes about a mile S. of the town. It comprises St. Helen's, Eccleston, Farnworth, Parr, Rainford, Rainhill, Great Sankey, Whiston, Sutton, Windle, Peasley Croft, and seven other townships. The town of Prescot, consisting chiefly of one long straggling street, is a petty sessions town, and received a charter for a market and fair in the 7th year of Edward III. The sessions for the Prescot division of the hundred are held at the new court-house on the first and third Tuesdays in every month, and at the townhall of St. Helen's on the alternate Tuesdays. The town is well built, and is celebrated for its manufacture of watch movements, tools, and coarse earthenware, which are carried on to a great extent. There are also cotton and flax mills, and collieries, potteries, and glass works in the immediate vicinity. The town contains a townhall, commercial bank, savings-bank, union poorhouse, and police station. The Poor-law Union of Prescot embraces 20 chapelries and townships. A court-baron is held six times a year, and a courtleet on the festival of Corpus Christi, when a coroner for the manor and liberty is appointed. Above half the land is in pasture. The impropriate tithes belong to the Provost and Fellows of King's College, Cambridge. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Chester, value £760, in the patronage of King's College, Cambridge. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is an ancient stone structure, with a modern tower and spire 156 feet high, and containing eight bells. In the interior are several monuments by Westmacott and Chantrey. The tower was erected on the site of the old steeple, which was struck by lightning in 1789. In addition to the parish church are the following district churches, viz: St. Thomas's, Eccleston, Christ Church, Eccleston, St. Helen's with Holy Trinity, Parr-Mount, Parr, Farnworth, Rainford, Rainhill, Great Sankey, and Widnes St. Mary, the livings of all which are perpetual curacies, varying in value from £350 to £103. The churches at Rainford, Farnworth, and St. Helen's are ancient. The parochial charities produce about £898 per annum, besides some almshouses. There is an endowed grammar school, also a Roman Catholic school. The Independents, Wesleyans, Unitarians, and Roman Catholics have each a place of worship. There are a floral and horticultural society, and the Prescot Harmonic Society, also a lending library. Among the principal residences are Knowsley and Croxteth Halls. The provost and scholars of King's College, Cambridge, are lords of the manor. The tragedian, John Philip Kemble, was born here in 1757. Market days are Tuesdays and Saturdays. Fairs are held on Ash-Wednesday, 24th and 25th August, 21st October, and 1st November; also fairs every other week for cattle, commencing from Shrove Tuesday to the first Tuesday in May."