CROSTON, a parish (formerly a market-town)
in the hundred of LEYLAND, county palatine of LANCASTER,
comprising the chapelries of Becconsall with
Hesketh, and Tarleton, and the townships of Bisphanu,
Bretherton, Croston, Mawdesley, and Ulnes-Walton,
and containing 5831 inhabitants, of which number,
1367 are in the township of Croston, 65 miles (W.)
from Chorley. The living comprises a rectory and a
vicarage, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Chester,
rated in the king's books at £31. 11. 10., and in the
patronage of Mrs. Master. The church, dedicated to
St. Michael, stands in a valley upon the margin of the
river Yarrow, and was rebuilt in 1743, at an expense of
£1834, which was defrayed by a brief. In the churchyard
the Rev. James Hiet, in 1660, built a school-house,
and endowed it with £400, producing about £15 a year,
appropriated to the free education of thirty-six poor
children. A school of industry was established by subscription
in 1802, in aid of which Elizabeth Master, in
1809, bequeathed £200; the annual income, amounting
to £ 14, is applied to the instruction of thirty girls.
Croston was anciently one of the most extensive and
valuable benefices in the county: for many ages the
limits of the parish remained unaltered, but, at various
periods since, it has been divided by authority of parliament
into six entire and independent parishes, viz.,
Croston, Hoole separated in 1642, Chorley and Rufford
in 1793, and Tarleton and Hesketh with Becconsall in
1821. The market has fallen into disuse; but there is
a cattle fair on the Monday before Shrove-Tuesday.