Bank Houses, Gregsons Bridge, Burscough

[Meaglin]

Hello,

Not sure if anyone can help, I am looking for any information / photographs for Bank Houses, Gregsons Bridge, Burscough.


Many thanks in advance

Meaglin

[andrewalston]

Gregson's Bridge crosses the Leeds & Liverpool canal about a mile and a half west from Burscough, where Gorse Lane meets Martin Lane.

Heading north up Martin Lane, you reach the Martin Inn on the corner of Merscar Lane. A little further north lies Bank Farm (grid SD 415 129). I'd expect Bank Houses to be associated with this farm.

Unfortunately Google's streetview car turned up Merscar Lane!

[Meaglin]

Thank you Andrew.

The houses were off Gorst Lane adjacent to the canal and now have been demolished.


My granddad and great grandparents lived there.

[Lal]

I always knew 'bank houses' as the terraces further up Gorst Lane near the junction with New Lane. But there could have been others along there - I think there were more cottages at one time to house the boatmen's families and there are two spots I can see on Google earth that might have been cottages at one time. My dad may know more about any old houses up there that were demolished.

Fab site here about a walk along the canal (whole length!) with a photo of Gregsons' Bridge:
http://www.leedsliverpoolcanal.co.uk/photograph.php?gallery=maghull&photo=1603

I'll have a look at my old maps and see if I can spot anything on there too.

I see we've got some shared interests there too!

[Meaglin]

Thank you Lal.

The houses were also known as 'the bog', I am just curious as to what they looked like, I will have a look at the library in Ormskirk perhaps they may have photos.

I notice we do share some interests!!

[Lal]

I've also heard my dad mention 'bog houses' as being round there...

On the 1861 census the Shermans in my tree live at Langley Brook, the next residence is Bog House, the next New Lane - at that time the canal bank houses wouldn't have been there because I believe they went up to house the boatmen's families as they started living 'ashore' later in the 1800s so the kids could go to school etc.

There is a fair dip in the land halfway up Gorst Lane where Langley brook runs through and under the canal, heading for 'Battle holmes' (Batloom on modern OS maps) and the old mere, so I reckon that would have been boggy land hence 'bog houses'.

[ainslie]

I have a Map Directory of South Lancs published by Geographia in the late 1930s.  'Bank Houses' are marked on the north [towing path] side of the Canal, east of the Martin Lane  bridge crossing the canal.  There are three buildings shown.  If you send me a pm with your email details I'll scan and send a copy.

Ainslie

[Meaglin]

Lal,
Your may be right with the dip and reference to the bog it makes sense.

Ainslie,

Thank you I will send you a pm with my email address.

[andrewalston]

Lancashire County Council's Mario has some aerial shots. I think the 1960s version shows the place best. The "OS First Edition 1:2500" shows which buildings were oldest.
Both this and the current map show drains in the area, which lends credence to the "bog" description.