Forest Lodge or House, Little Budworth

[Beeonthebay]

Has anybody ever heard of this place?  I'm scrolling through the parish register for Little Budworth in the 1790's and have come across quite a few baptisms or burials for "a base child" with no parents named but a name for the child, from Forest Lodge or Forest House.

Was it a workhouse or some kind of home?

[Maggsie]

Are you from the area?
Maggsie

[Beeonthebay]

No but my great, great, greats were.  I'm just interested in social history. 

[stanmapstone]

You can see Forest House on this map http://maps.nls.uk/view/102341077#zoom=6&lat=4017&lon=7167&layers=BT

Stan

[BumbleB]

Beat me to it, Stan 

[stanmapstone]

It is still there see http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/sidebyside.cfm#zoom=17&lat=53.1935&lon=-2.6217&layers=171&right=BingHyb

Stan

[stanmapstone]

Google Street view https://goo.gl/maps/rHaJX5pahJv

Stan

[Beeonthebay]

Thank you everybody do you think it could have been an orphanage at one time?  Or maybe the lord of the manor was getting all these young maids in the family way? 

You know I've only just noticed looking at the names again, that a few of them have the same surname either Miller or Meller, could this be some kind of foundling place?

[BumbleB]

I wonder if this has anything to do with a bequest by Ralph Kirkham, by his will dated 15 April 1798, of £1,000 to be be paid, and directed that £20 of the yearly interest or proceeds thereof to be laid out in the purchase of linen or woollen cloth, and distributed among the poor of Little Budworth, £10 yearly to be paid for the instruction of poor children, and the residue of the interest to be divided amongst the poor of this township on every Christmas Day.  He also bequeathed £5,000 to charitable uses and £1,000 to the rebuilding of the church.  Or does it have something to do with the Alms Houses?