ALDCLIFFE
Aldeclif, Dom. Bk.; Aldecliue, 1212; Aldeclyve,
1292; Awcliff (xvi cent.) representing the current
pronunciation.
Occupying rising ground on the east bank of the
Lune, (fn. 1) where the river bed begins to widen into an
estuary, Aldcliffe commands a good view over the river
and the Little Fylde on the west. It has some lowlying marsh land in the north-west. The area is
1,016 acres, of which 27½ are salt marsh. (fn. 2) In 1901
the population numbered eighty-three. The chief
road goes south from Lancaster to Stodday; minor
roads and footpaths lead from it down to the riverside. The London and North Western Railway
Company's branch line from Lancaster to Glasson
Dock runs through the lower ground on the west side,
and the Preston and Lancaster Canal touches the
north-east border. The land is mostly in pasture.
The soil is heavy.
Manor
In 1066 ALDCLIFFE was assessed as
two plough-lands and formed part of the
Halton fee of Earl Tostig. (fn. 3) Afterwards
it was granted to Count Roger of Poiton, who in
1094 gave it in alms to the Abbey of St. Martin of
Sees, (fn. 4) from which time it was held by Lancaster
Priory (fn. 5) and then by Syon Abbey. (fn. 6) After the
Suppression it was retained for a time by the Crown, (fn. 7)
but in March 1557–8 it was sold, together with
Bulk, to Robert Dalton of Thurnham. (fn. 8) After descending like the other Dalton estates, one portion
of it went with Dorothy, the younger daughter and
co-heir of Robert Dalton (who died in 1700), to the
Riddells of Swinburne Castle, Northumberland, (fn. 9) while
the rest, having been devoted to the maintenance of
the Roman Catholic secular clergy, was confiscated
by the government after an inquiry in 1716. (fn. 10)
Dalton. Azure a lion rampant gardant between eight crosslets argent.
Riddell. Argent a fesse between three garbs of rye azure.
One-fifth of the forfeited estate went to the informer, Robert Blackburn, as
freehold. Richard Leigh of
Newton-in-Bowland obtained
a lease from the Crown for
the other four-fifths, (fn. 11) and in
this in 1724 he was succeeded
by his son Benjamin Leigh,
who acquired the other fifth
from Blackburn in 1742, and
bequeathed the whole estate
to Robert Dawson, husband
of his eldest daughter Isabel.
Dying in 1769 Robert Dawson was succeeded by his only
son John, who about 1800
purchased the leasehold fourfifths from the Crown, together with the manor and
all customary liberties, including the right to maintain
a baulk for taking salmon. (fn. 12) John Dawson died in
1804, and his only son Edward, who came of age in
1814, purchased the Riddell portion of the township
in 1820. (fn. 13) He rebuilt the hall in 1817, and in 1820
inclosed 160 acres of the marsh by means of a long
embankment, the merit of his work being recognized
by the gold medal of the Society of Arts. (fn. 14) He
died in 1876 and was succeeded by his son Mr. Edward
Bousfield Dawson, the present lord of the manor
and practically sole landowner. (fn. 15) Mr. Dawson was
appointed Constable of Lancaster Castle in 1908.
No courts have been held for the last century or
more.
Dawson of Aldcliffe. Azure, between three arrows, points downwards, or, a cheveron ermine on a chief argent three daws proper, on a canton gules a mullet of the second.
There were disputes as to the boundary of the
marsh (fn. 16) between the town of Lancaster and the lord
of Aldcliffe, and a delimitation was made in 1610. (fn. 17)
The estate of Robert Serjeant of Aldcliffe was
confiscated and sold by the Parliament in 1652. (fn. 18)
William Walker, Mary Copeland and Henry her son
registered estates as 'Papists' in 1717. (fn. 19)
As above stated, Aldcliffe Hall was a centre for
missionary work in the times of persecution, but this
ceased on its confiscation. (fn. 20) It was the residence,
and apparently the property, (fn. 21) of the sisters (fn. 22) of the
Thomas Dalton who was fatally wounded at Newbury
in 1644. Two of them were living there unmarried
thirty years later, and set up the inscription (fn. 23) :—
CATHOLICÆ
VIRGINES NOS
SVMVS: MVTARE
VEL (sic) TEMPORE
SPERNIMVS +
AÑO + 1674 DMI
The house itself thus became known as the 'Catholic
Virgins.' (fn. 24) The depositions at the inquiry of 1716
showed that they left their interest in the estate to
their nephew Robert Dalton of Thurnham in trust
for the use of priests, of whom Peter Gooden was
the first. He had a little school there for boys who
might afterwards be sent to the seminaries abroad. (fn. 25)