Samlesbury, Lancashire

Description
Samlesbury, a township-chapelry in Blackburn parish, Lancashire, on the river Ribble, 2 miles ESE of Fulwood railway station, and 3 1/2 E by N of Preston. It contains part of Mellor Brook hamlet, which has a post, money order, and telegraph office under Blackburn, and Roach hamlet. There are paper mills. Acreage, including Roach Bridge, 4304 of land and 75 of water; population, 816. There is a parish council consisting of seven members. Samlesbury Hall, a timbered mansion in the Tudor style, is the property of the Harrison family, was restored in 1530 by Sir T. Southworth; was moated till the formation of the road from Preston to Blackburn; contains a great hall, constructed of massive and elegantly carved oak timbers; and was restored and finely embellished in 1864. The living is a perpetual curacy in the diocese of Manchester; gross value, £300 with residence. Patron, the Vicar of Blackburn. The foundation of the church dates from 1196. The building is in the Gothic style, consisting of chancel, nave, aisles, N and S porches, and bell-turret. It was thoroughly restored in 1885, and contains a chained Bible dated 1608. There is also a font, similar to one in the chapel of Haddon Hall, Derbyshire, both being very old. There are a Roman Catholic chapel and several charities.