Issue 31

The
Penwortham
Magazine

Penwortham Roll of Honour Soldier

LEP Raft Race
Hurst Grange Park

Penwortham
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Welcome
Welcome to Issue 31 of The Penwortham Magazine, proudly supported and printed by
Penwortham Priory Academy. Many thanks to all our readers who support our advertisers as
without them we would not be able to produce our magazine each month. Please do contact us
should you like to support us by advertising with us. We also produce the equally popular
Preston and Lostock Hall magazines. To receive a copy delivered to your house each month, or
receive a pdf by email, or sent by post please get in touch, if I have missed anyone lately please
let me know. This month includes Stephen Ward's continuing Life Story, Brian Sladen's Diary
from 1943, Stan Rudman's photos and info about LEP Raft Race, Mrs Hilda Alker's information
about her father who served in WW1 and is named on the Penwortham Roll of Honour. For the
next few months the front cover images will be of paintings of local scenes from the past by
local artist John Matthews, who has kindly allowed us to reproduce them, anyone wanting to
purchase a copy please contact John on 01772 743011. Anyone who has any information they
would like to share, photographs etc, relating to the First World War in Penwortham, Preston or the South
Ribble please get in touch then it can be added to the 'South Ribble Remembrance Archive 1914-1918',
especially about the people who are commemorated on our war memorials.
There has been interest in the historic Penwortham maps in the last issue. They were
drawn by local historian, Alan Crosby, for his book Penwortham in the Past and for
various talks and guided walks around Penwortham. They are taken from original maps in
the Farington collection at Lancashire Archives where they can be seen and used for
research by anyone. Lancashire Archives has a wealth of information about Penwortham
and the people who lived and worked there fantastic resources for tracing family
history or exploring the site of your house. The archives are housed on 8 miles of
shelving in the record office building on Bow Lane in Preston and stored in climatically
controlled strongrooms so that they can not only be used today but will be preserved for
future generations. For further information about your local archive service including
times of opening, how to get a readers' ticket, and searching the online catalogue see:
www.lancashire.gov.uk/archives or email record.office@lancashire.gov.uk
Front Cover Image 'Cinder Pad' c.1960 by John Matthews 01772 743011
A copy of each issue of the magazine has been requested to be deposited at the Lancashire
Records Office, which will save our 'finds' for the future. You can download copies of the
magazine at www.priory.lancs.sch.uk/index.php/penwortham-magazine
Also take a look on Flickr at our Penwortham group of photos. Heather Crook
Regards Heather Crook
Email thepenworthammagazine@gmail.com
121 Broad Oak Lane, Penwortham, PR1 0XA
PLEASE HELP US BY SUPPORTING OUR ADVERTISERS
The Penwortham Magazine accepts no responsibility for any transactions, goods or
services, entered into with or provided by advertisers within these pages.

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Photos from Penwortham Past

Vernons Mill and grounds c, 1980 courtesy of Stan Rudman, of Lostock Hall.

Penwortham Girls Cricket Team 1967. Photo taken by Peter Reed featured in the
Lancashire Evening Post. Sent in courtesy of Tony Billington.

Preston's New Bridge

The steel bridge, built as part of the new Ribble Generating Station No 2 for conveying large
quantities of coal from the dockside to the bunkers is the ninth spanning the river at Preston. The
others are four road bridges, two at Penwortham, one at Brockholes and one at Walton, three railway
bridges, and the Old Tram Bridge. The new bridge, near an old roman ford, will not be in
commission until the end of this year, and not in full commission until the new power station is
completed in 1948. By that time two belt conveyors, each of 150 tons an hour capacity, will be used
to take 12,000 tons of coal weekly from the new wagon tipping plant for the boilers. The bridge
will be part of the equipment inspected by Mr Shinwell, Minister of Fuel and Power, when he opens
on September 12th, the partially completed
power station, which by that time will have
cost 3,000,000. Before it is finished it will
have cost nearly 4,000,000 and will have an
ultimate capacity of 120,000 kilowatts equal
to 160,00 h.p. The opening ceremony at
which Mr Shinwell will start up one set, will
be preceded by a luncheon in the Guild Hall
attended by representatives of power stations
in the North West of the Electricity Supply
Industry generally, the Electricity
Commissioners, the Central Electricity
Board, and the principle contractors engaged
in the work. Lancashire Daily Post
rd
September 3 1946

ARTICLES FROM PENWORTHAM PAST

THE LYRIC CINEMA PENWORTHAM
TH

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LANCASHIRE DAILY POST 14TH MARCH 1931
PENWORTHAM CRICKET CLUB'S PAVILION DESTROYED About five o'clock
on Sunday morning, Mr Bonney, a Penwortham farmer, noticed flames issuing from the
Penwortham Cricket Club's Pavilion at Middleforth Green. He immediately warned some
of the members, but despite their efforts the building was destroyed. Over a score of bats
and a quantity of pads, batting gloves, &c., were consumed. The damage amounts to
about 80. The cause of the outbreak is unknown.
A FIGHT AT PENWORTHAM For fighting together at Pope-lane, Penwortham, on
September 9th, Wm Bamber and John Knowles were bound over to keep the peace by the
Leyland magistrates this morning.
LANCASHIRE DAILY POST 29TH SEPTEMBER 1902
PENWORTHAM DISPLAY The 13th battalion will parade in Queensway,
Penwortham, at 2 15 pm and the inspecting officer is Col. AWW Simpson, the first
commander of the battalion. The march, past a saluting base in Queensway, will be via
Liverpool-road to Howick House. Here, beginning at 3 30pm. There will be displays of
skill at arms, including the handling of weapons, bayonet fighting and unarmed combat,
fieldcraft and battlecraft, and demonstration of a reconnaissance patrol.
LANCASHIRE DAILY POST 11TH MAY 1943
PENWORTHAM MILL NEEDS 100 TONS OF COAL There is little hope of the
Penwortham, near Preston mill of Messrs. Vernon and Co. Ltd, surgical dressings
manufacturers, which closed last night owing to the shortage of coal. A stock of not less
than 100 tons of coal is necessary for the mill to reopen. Today a 'Post' reporter was told
by Mr R Crabtree, a director, that the present stock was only 50 tons. 'I hope it will only
be a day or two before we can amass the required total from deliveries' said Mr Crabtree
'but until I see how the coal is I cannot say when we can reopen. We hope it will be
before next weekend. SUPPLIES TOO SMALL 'The Ministry of Fuel have done their
best for us, but this has not been good enough. We have been getting supplies, but they
have only been small. We were recommended for a spot delivery of coal about a week ago
by the Emergency Committee, in Manchester, and had this been delivered our 500
employees would never have been stopped' said Mr Crabtree. 'A similar spot delivery
prevented our Great Harwood Weaving Shed from closing just before Christmas.'
LANCASHIRE DAILY POST 18TH JANUARY 1947

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ADVERTISERS

Richard Osborne Turner A Penwortham Soldier

named on the Roll of Honour
Mrs Hilda Alker contacted us recently to enquire if her father
was one of the soldiers named on the Penwortham Roll of
Honour recently found in the time capsule in Penwortham
War Memorial. Richard was one of the soldiers named from
Penwortham who served in the First World War. Rifleman
Richard Osborne Turner S/33741 was a wartime volunteer
who joined the Army Pay Corps at Preston on 8th November
1914. He served on a home posting with this unit until May
1917 when he was transferred to the 111th Training Reserve
Battalion and trained as an infantry soldier. Following
training he was sent to France in July 1917 where he joined
the 12th Battalion Rifle Brigade, part of the 20th (Light)
Division, and joined them in the trenches at Ypres
(Passchendaele) taking part in operations near Langemarck.
He then moved down to the Somme Hindenburge Line front
in October 1917, and took over the
trenches close to Cambrai, where he was
wounded and then returned to England.
His wound proved so serious that he was
medically downgraded and discharged,
no longer physically fit due to wounds,
and discharged from the Army on 21st
February 1918, aged 22 years. He was
awarded the British War and Victory
Medals and also the Silver War Badge
(given to soldiers discharged due to
sickness or wounds). Richard was born
rd
on 3 August 1897, his parents were
William (an insurance agent) and Sarah
Jane Turner and his elder brother James
Albert was listed when they lived 3 Penrith Terrace,
Penwortham, noted on his service papers. When Richard was
born he wasn't expected to survive long and was quickly named
Richard Osborne. Osborne was the name of the family doctor.
Richard married Iressa Frankland, they had five children, Joan,
Hilda, Joyce and Tommy, and Maureen, (sadly Tommy died in
rd
infancy). Although Richard's date of birth was 3 August 1897
on his signing up papers (War Dept Form B 248) his age was
recorded as 19 years and 3 months. He would in fact have been
17 years and 3 months ! Description of Richard Osborne
Turner on enlistment was as follows : Height 5 ft 4 ins, Weight
103 lbs, Girth when fully expanded 33 ins, Eyes Hazel, Hair
Dark, Religion Church of England.The address on Richard's
birth certificate was 5 Lyndale Terrace, Penwortham. Richard
and family lived on Blundell Lane, he worked in the Motor
Taxation Dept, County Offices until he retired. His war injury
bothered him all his life. He died aged 65.

The Diary of CB Sladen (1943) cont.

THE RALLY
FARINGTON FIELD 7 PM.
Most NL Scouts arrived on time, the Songsters were about 10 mins late, but saved the day by
fetching the mallet, pegs to hold down nets (Obstacle race) sizal and staves for staff ball.
1st NL did not actually win any events but the games were quite enjoyable. There was a salvage
hunt. First to get in as much paper as possible and then as much wood. (Teams of 6 per Troop)
Mr Shaw thought paper ought to be salvaged, but Skip and Mr Newsham (badge sec for
association and one of the judges) decided that there was too much straw and dirt in it to be of any
use, and collected it together and put a match to it while Mr S searched for a salvage sack. He
must have seen the fire, because he soon gave up the search. We ended with a Camp Fire. Skip
had done arranging and handed out song sheets. Mr Shaw asked him to lead the fire, but as he
was providing music on his flute he asked a visiting scouter to take the camp-fire. Several troops
did stunts, some none too original. The fire leader had a good stunt. He called 'I saw a ghost last
night' seven or eight scouts stand in line.
No 1 says 'I saw a ghost last night'
No 2
What did he do ?
No 1
He done this
No 2
(to No 3) I saw a ghost last night
No 3
What did he do
No 2
Then show No 3
Passed to the end of line.
No 1 repeats this with some other action
(passed down the line)
No 1 then makes line lift right leg and hold it off ground (Passed down line)
No 1 I saw a ghost last night
No 2 What did he do
No 1 He done this (No 1 gives a shove and the whole line collapses. Very spectacular !
th
Skip and P Leaver (Akela 4 Pen) Played two tunes in harmony while others tried to sing. After a
remonstrance from the fire leader the singers pulled together and got into form. When singing
'Upidee' they beat the musicians to it. As they started on their own initiative in an awkward key
the flautists could not join in. The camp-fire went very well, and brought the evening to a happy
st
close. (The only grouse was an east wind which sprang up towards the end.) Altogether 1 NL
could say they had more than took part in making the rally a success, and thus preserved their
reputation of being the best troop in the district, even though they won no events.
nd
WED 2 JUNE - Supposed to help Penwortham Vicar move chairs from St Marys to the Vicarage
for Mothers Union Garden Party. Only two of party of 6 turned up (due to instructions badly
passed on by Simmons. Farnell was supposed to by directing operations under instruction from
his mother. Not being told he didn't go.
RD
THURS 3 Moved chairs back. Some Penwortham people were unable to attend troop meeting
at NL through this.

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LEP RAFT RACE CIRCA 1981

As well as working at Vernons Mill I was also the groundsman tending to
the Cricket
Ground, Bowling Greens and Golf Course. One evening a plan was
hatched in the clubhouse bar (on a fag packet) to enter a raft in the above
race. The
'prototype'
was tried on
the factory
lodge and
sunk without
trace. A new
strategy was
required and a
'Technological
Miracle' was
born ! The
new raft was
constructed of
:
1 ladder
12 barrels, 6
each side
Wire netting
4 chairs from
canteen
The 'marvel
of
engineering'
was
conveyed by
tractor and
trailer to
Tram Bridge
for a trial run
on the River
Ribble. After
travelling a
few hundred
yard the raft

hit the river in full flow and panic stations set in as apparently none of the
crew could actually swim ! Somehow the raft managed to reach the
riverbank and a full compliment stepped ashore. The race itself started at
Balderstone and because of the raft's length it was in the same category as
tow Oxford/Cambridge type crafts. The raft may not have won the race
but won first prize for best raft. After the race, it was back to the
Clubhouse for a few drinks and a slap up buffet. Great fun and great days
at Vernon's.
Stan Rudman, as told to Tony Billington.
Photos Birth Marriages and Deaths Theme for LEP Raft Race 1981
L to R Bride Tony Beswick, Baby Ray Miller, Groom Paul Tuson,
Death Peter Llewellyn. All courtesy of Stan Rudman.

Penwortham Tennis

TH

LANCASHIRE DAILY POST JANUARY 15 1938

Electrician

Blackburn Diocese Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

check available for inspection

Glory of the Trees at Hurst Grange

Fascinating Variety
Finding myself with a couple of hours to spare I decided to take a look at Hurst Grange, the
park acquired some years ago by Preston Rural Council at Penwortham. On one occasion I
believe I wrote of some of the trees to be found in the park in their winter garb. Now that I
saw them in summer I found them even more interesting. Near the entrance I espied a number
of whitebeams fruiting freely near to a noble Spanish Chestnut, the nuts of which are, of
course, of an edible variety. Near to the same spot is a variegated sycamore, a most attractive
tree, and easily distinguished by its leaf. There are two of these species in Avenham Park.
Along the drive are a few fern-leaved beeches with a delicacy of foliage, which in its fragility,
makes the tree look for all the world like a giant maidenhair fern. Lining the drive, too, are
birches in several kinds, and, in fact, the slender silver birches are a notable feature on the
estate. Near to where the house stood is a walnut tree, its bark gnarled and twisted and
weathered, so that it can be noted at a glance. Incidently, if you bruise the leaves of a walnut
tree and smell at them there is a definite suggestion in the aroma of cider or apples. At the end
of the sloping lawn are some fine specimens of Californian redwoods side by side with the
romantic deodar, while nearby is a grand weeping ash in perfect shape and form. Some of the
yews, which were so conspicuous on my last visit, have been thinned out, with the result that
those that remain are already appearing to greater advantage. Behind one the deodars is a tulip
tree, of which there are few in these parts. In a short time will be a picture, with its fine,
cream-brown blooms, with the appearance of tulips, and which give the tree its name. The tree
can be readily distinguished by its smooth, glossy leaves, lobed and square at its extremity. I
saw too, a flowering ash, which has a counterpart in Avenham Park, and another in the
Lowther Gardens at Lytham St Annes. There are also a number of foreign oaks and a tree
which has been grafted onto a stock, but its name defied me, as the leaves were too high to
give any help. Perhaps someone may be able to assist me here, and if so, I should be glad to
obtain any information as to its variety.
Lancashire Daily Post 5th July 1940

A MOTHER'S MYSTERIOUS CONDUCT. CHILD LEFT ON DOORSTEP.

Hurst Grange Lodge, Penwortham, was the scene of a somewhat romantic incident on
Wednesday evening. The house stands at the entrance to the grounds attached to Alderman
Forshaw's residence, and enjoying repose from the din of both vehicular and pedestrian traffic,
it was natural that at an advanced hour the occupants, Mr and Mrs Ravenscroft, should be a
little alarmed at hearing the cry of an infant on the doorstep. The night being dark, a lighted
lamp was procured, and on the doormat within the shelter of the porch were found a bundle of
wraps and a brown paper parcel. In the former was found a female child, apparently not more
than a month old, well nourished, and attired in garments which indicated that the mother must
be a lady with means. The accompanying parcel also contained a change of clothing, a
woollen shawl, a bottle of milk, two feeding bottles, a bottle containing gin, and even brushes
with which to cleanse them. There was also enclosed a fine linen handkerchief, in one corner
of which worked in silk the name 'Edith Maud'. This needlework had evidently been recently
done, the handkerchief not having been washed since the words were inscribed. There was
further discovered an envelope containing 5s. in money, and on which a note was written. The
message began: 'Dear Madam, We want you to take care of this child for a few weeks, and you
will receive 5s. per week as long as it remains with you. You must cherish it as your own, and
you will be rewarded'. The police have the matter in hand.
nd
Lancashire Daily Post 2 March, 1900

th

The Lancashire Daily Post, 11 November, 1932.

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Stephen Ward's Life Story

Soon after we moved into the
bungalow, my dad built a concrete
coal bunker. This was just outside the
back porch of our home. But this still
meant that in the winter time, we still
had to go outside to get the coal to
keep the main fire & boiler going in
the back room of the house.
Left: A picture of me, my dad and my
brother Andrew, by the back porch
door of the bungalow. The Coal
bunker was about 4 feet to my right.
This used to mean that we would get
a delivery of coal from the back of a
lorry every fortnight.

Although the above picture was not taken outside our house in Penwortham, it
does show however the type of lorry that used to deliver our coal.

Penwortham Library.
I joined this Library aged 8 and I would visit it at least twice a week. I used to
drive my Mum mad in asking to go to the Library to exchange the books I had
already read for new ones. By the time I was 9, my mum had persuaded the
Library staff to increase my book allowance, so it would extend the time
between visits, plus I was by now visiting the Library on my own after school.
At 10 I was allowed to take out books from the adult section, thus starting my
continuing interest in History of all its various forms. It was here that the love
of books my parents gave me was fostered into what could be described as an
'addiction'. Although it is an addiction that is a good one. Interestingly this
Library was run by Lancashire CC, and when I went into Preston to try to use
the Harris Library. I had to join that one separately as it was run by Preston
County Borough Council.
So from the age of 11 until we moved away from Penwortham, I used to
borrow books from this Library, Kingsfold Library and Harris Library every
week. I asked my dad how many books I used to borrow each week and he felt
is could be between 15 and 20 books per week. Also at 11, I learnt that books
could be ordered from other Libraries, I really used to keep them very busy.
While we were living at Newlands Avenue both by brother and I had a couple of
pets. The first of these was a budgerigar which we called 'Mickey'. His cage
used to be in the dinning kitchen in Newlands Avenue. Having a budgie was
quite interesting, because when we went away on holiday, we used to have to
transport him to our Grandparents in Lytham. The cage was placed between
my brother and me, on the back seat of Dad's car with a sheet over the cage,
so he would be kept calm as we transported him.

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Penwortham

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