Genealogy Chat

Thanks for the British History tip - I've also been searching the catalogue of parish records at Preston records office and it turns out that they have got some baptisms relating to a Catholic church at Westby on microfilm so I'm going to see whether I can track down any familiar names that way, too.

Check out Lewis (1848) at:
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/source.aspx?pubid=445

"The land at Lytham was sold by the Crown to Sir Thomas Holcroft and eventually in 1606 was bought by Cuthbert Clifton of Westby, a staunch Catholic. Cuthbert was knighted in 1617 and in 1625 built a new manor house on or near to the original priory site."

I think it was common practise to have a private chapel in a manorial home especially in an RC family who were denied during some years the benefits of pursuing 'the true faith' (quote) so services of all kinds could be held in private and as shelter for recusant priests

Thank you, lancashireann - I noticed when I searched the internet it came up with something about a caravan site.

I wonder if there was a chapel in there that was used as a sort of small parish church. From the bits I've found on the British History site, I think the Cliftons had two other properties so maybe they used Lytham Hall as their main home.

"Westby is a large agricultural area accommodating the six hamlets of Westby, Great and Little Plumpton, Ballam, Moss Side, and Peel. It is geographically large, but sparsely populated. It is famous for agriculture, and for Westby Hall, the seat of the Clifton family, Westby has several caravan sites that cater for the needs of those who enjoy the free and easy holidays that caravans can provide. Most are very conveniently located for the short hop into Blackpool."

"She was baptised at Westby Hall, between Kirkham and Lytham" -(quote showing that the hall was used for baptisms)

There is also the village of Westby near Kirkham. The Clifton family owned a great deal of land in the area stretching from the outskirts of Preston through Kirkham and vilages and out through Lytham St Annes to the edges of Blackpool. I think Lytham Hall was one of there main residences.
If I have got it right Westby Hall is now a farm and caravan storage site which I drove past on my way to work for 30 years!

I can probably find more if you want it. I have several local history books as as you may guess i live in the area - quite close to Westby village.

Oh, that's a good thought - thanks. It just occurred to me, there might be something in the Lancs records office too.

Edited to say - it turns out Westby Hall was linked by marriage to the Molyneux family. (Might have guessed that!)

Kate ; try British History Online
Mgtjwl

I don't suppose anyone has come across a Westby (or Wesby) Hall, possibly somewhere in Lancashire? I found the christening record for my 4xgreat grandma Ellen Masco at the Catholic church in Ormskirk in 1768 which named her godfather as William Melling of Wesby Hall - her mother was Susan Melling so I suspect a family link.

I've spotted a Westby Hall near Kirkham in Lancashire which apparently belonged to the Clifton family - would anybody happen to have heard of it or anything about it? I have found some mentions of priests being in residence at Westby but I'm not sure if William would have been a priest, the house owner or even a servant.