SKELMERSDALE, a chapelry in the parish of
ORMSKIRK, hundred of WEST-DERBY, county palatine
of LANCASTER 4 miles (E. S. E.) from Ormskirk, containing
622 inhabitants. The living is "a perpetual curacy,
in the archdeaconry and diocese of Chester, endowed
with £200 private benefaction, £600 royal
bounty, and £1500 parliamentary grant, and in the
patronage of the Vicar of Ormskirk. The chapel has
lately received an addition of one hundred and forty
sittings, of which seventy are free, the Incorporated
Society for the enlargement of churches and chapels
having granted £90 towards defraying the expense.
There is a small endowment, bequeathed by Evan Swift,
in 1720, for a school. Skelmersdale gives the title of
baron to the family of Bootle-Wilbraham.