Warrington to Wigan - 12.8 miles - LRO ref DDX194/24

The surveying team, having travelled from London, crossed the border from Cheshire, along London Road, into Lancashire, at the River Mersey, in spring 1685, complete with horses, equipment and personal luggage. Their task began in Warrington at the River Bridge over the “mercey flue”. At a quarter of a mile was the Liverpool to Manchester main road along Market Street and Butter Market Street. There were houses on both sides as far as Sankey Street with the last houses at Kerfoot Street and Longford Street. A great bridge with two arches was crossed 660 yards further along over the stream just south of Warrington College. For the next mile, along Winwick Road, to “haum vill” [Hulme village], only occasional dwellings were encountered along with several branch roads. The one from Hulme led to Prescot via Mill Lane. Heading north on the well populated road, which was the route of the Roman road from Chester to Lancaster, a branch road led to “St. Ellen chap: 5 miles” [St. Helens church]. At three miles was a large house, Winwick Hall, three furlongs on the left and a road on the right to “Laigh” [Leigh] just prior to “Winnick” [Winwick]. Here was a fine church at the double bend in the road. Beyond the village the road opened out to form the Priory. At five miles came Newton [Newton le Willows] with its Hall, water mill, bridge, church, market cross and “ye Red Lyon” inn. Roads to “Goborough [Golborne], Prescote, and Arlscote [Earlestown]” led off this well populated small town situated on an important highway. A long straight stretch went by “Haddock Lodg and park” [Haydock Park] and Ashton in Makerfield church into a good-sized village. “St. Hellen” was three miles away and the straight road north continued after the crossroads to “Laigh” and “Holland”. At Perry Bridge an important road Land Gate Lane led to “ye Brinn the house of Sir William Garrad” when the main highway was called Park Lane. On this stretch at 10 : 0 : 20 was Derbyshire house Farm. The next notable person who lived a mile further along on the same side as Sir William Garrad was Mr. Mullanex near Poolstock Lane At eleven miles a dwelling was occupied by Ralph Kilsho on the right near to Smithy Brook. By the stream was a note saying “Smithey brook being above ye mid of Pemberton” and each of the remaining nine houses in Pemberton had their distance from Warrington noted. At the end of Pemberton was a branch road now Little Lane and Ormskirk Road. “Doglas flu” [River Douglas] was next at almost twelve miles with the comment “Wiggan township begin”. At twelve and a half miles was the first house of Wigan by Caroline Street and 220 yards beyond was “ye Barr” in Wallgate. By the church on the left at the market cross they took their final reading of 12 : 6 : 31 meaning 12 miles 6 furlongs and 31 poles and wrote in large print Wiggan