A Murder of Passion: The Weeton Tragedy

Warning: This post contains details of violence and domestic abuse. Please do not read if this would cause you upset.

On the morning of Saturday 7^th August 1909, 46-year old Henry James Cross was woken for work at 5.30am by his 16-year-old daughter, only to discover his wife of almost 25 years was dead on the floor by the bed. He exclaimed “I have done it this time”, kissed his wife, and set off on the walk into Wesham to give himself up to the police.

Chorley Holidays: The tradition of the Lancashire wakes week

'Waec' is thought to have been an Anglo-Saxon festival, which then became a religious celebration after the country's conversion to Christianity.  A parish would hold a festival on the day of their church’s patron saint, and the congregation would attend a late-night vigil of prayer - a ‘wake.’  As I'm sure you can imagine, any religious significance was soon forgotten and it grew into a lively occasion, with events such as bull baiting and bare-knuckle fighting.

Mary Christopherson: A tale of arson and transportation

Mary Christopherson was born in about 1805 in Cumberland. She had been married to an auctioneer and furniture broker in Carlisle, but widowed for several years. In around 1840-1841, she took over the Angel Inn on English Street in Carlisle. A fire was discovered there on Saturday 12^th March 1842, and upon closer inspection, the police superintendent discovered that the fire had been deliberate.

Rivington Pike Fair

In Victorian Lancashire, the local tradition of celebrating with a fair at Rivington Pike took place not at Easter, but Whitsun. Whitsun is a Christian festival which takes place the seventh Sunday after Easter Sunday. Whit Monday remained a holiday in Britain until 1972, when it was replaced with the Spring Bank Holiday on the last Monday in May.

Adlington celebrates Queen Victoria's Coronation

Queen Victoria's coronation on Saturday June 30 1838 was celebrated all over the country, and Adlington was no different.