A short history of Ashlands and Newchurch

Samuel Ashworth Lord's head carved in relief above a window frame on the front elevation.

Ashlands was built in 1863 by Samuel Ashworth Lord (1821 - 1871) - a local wollen manufacturer at a reputed cost of £8,000.

It is a Grade II Listed Building built from stone quarried at nearby Burnley.

The Architect was Harry Thorndyke Percival (1833 - 1885).

A date stone (1863) bears the initials SAL and the family motto "Dominus Salus Mea" - the Lord is my Salvation -is engraved on the glass panels of several doors together with the family Coat of Arms.

The interior has an open-well stone staircase with a half-landing and ornamental balusters. The hallway, stairwell and landing all have elaborate moulded plaster frieze, cornice and beams. The drawing room and dining room have foliated pattern moulded plaster friezes, with painted ceiling medallions in the drawing room. The plaster work is said to have be by Italian craftsmen otherwise engaged on decoration of Manchester theatres.

Samuel Ashworth Lord's head is carved in relief above a  window frame on the front elevation.

The building was bought by Richard Ashworth JP (1848-1928) a local felt manufacturer who occupied it from 1890 to 1928. Son of George and Deborah he was known locally as "Dick o' Debs".  Begining work at 9 years old as a clerk in a local mill and later after becoming Chief Clerk he started in business on his own. With a keen passion for sport he built a wooden tennis court at the rear of the building so he could play all year round at a time when only grass courts were available.

An orchid expert, his success was widely known. His orchid house at Ashlands was the mecca of many interested visitors and he carried off many important prizes from his exhibits at shows throughout the country. 

In the 1930's the house was divided into two homes but later brought back together as one dwelling and occupied by local businessmen until the 1980's when it was converted into a residential home for the elderly.

The present owners Anna Mai and Arthur Marriott bought the property in 1993 and re-registered the home to provide full nursing care following sensitive internal structural changes and refurbishment. 

Stained glass window in Ashlands

Henry VII is said to have been approached with a view to providing the residents of Newchurch with a local place at which they could worship,  at this time the nearest being Clitheroe - hence the "new" in Newchurch refers to the church which was established in 1511 during the reign of Henry VIII. It was the first place of worship erected in the Forest of Rossendale and rebuilt in 1825.

Visit www.stnicholasnewchurch.co.uk for a link to the church of St Nicholas, Newchurch.

The village was once abundant with narrow alleyways and quaint old cottages built out of the local gritstone, but nowadays only the area adjacent to the 'Boars Head' reminds us of these bygone times.

Newchurch is built on the hilltops overlooking Waterfoot, and in the mid 19th century a cattle fair was held in the village on the 29th April and another on the 29th July. These fairs attracted many visitors as can be verified by the number of drinking houses that where available. Jessica Lofthouse in her book 'Lancashire Villages' says that in 1870 there was The Blue Bell;  Boars Head,  seven more inns and eight beershops.

In 1701 a grammar school was established through the generosity of Edward Ashworth and John Hoyle, where thirty five children were taught