'Dalton Parish Church' and 'Dalton Archives'

1st January 2008

The Village of Dalton and St Michael & All Angels Church – A Brief History

The parish of Dalton comprises a ridge of high land with its north east slopes facing the River Douglas. The highest point of the ridge, Ashurst Hill (174m) commands splendid views of the surrounding countryside for many miles. On it stands the prominent landmark of Ashurst Beacon which was erected at the time of the Napoleonic Wars. With its elevated position above the mosses and lowland plain of South West Lancashire to the west, Dalton attracted settlement from earliest times. It is recorded in the Doomsday Book as Daltone and had assumed its present name by 1212. From being a single possession of the thane Uctred in 1086, the land of the parish had passed into family ownership by the time of the Civil War. Ashurst Hall, the seat of the Ashurst family certainly existed in 1649, probably earlier. A dovecote of that date stands by the pond behind the church.
The parish comprises a mosaic of pasture, woodlands, streams, lanes, banks and hedgerows. Many of the fields are irregular in shape, varying in size and mainly hedged. There are signs of woodland clearances which have taken place over the centuries. Many streams and rivulets fall through wooded cloughs to the River Douglas. Natural ponds abound and the adjacent Leeds-Liverpool Canal follows the course of the river. An ancient network of winding lanes, tracks and footpaths cris-crosses the parish.
The story of the church begins in 1870 when Dalton Tithe barn was converted for use as a church. It held 130 worshippers. The present church was constructed a few years later on ground adjacent to the tithe barn which was originally the orchard of Ashurst Hall. The church was built from sandstone taken from the local “Round O” quarry owned by Lord Skelmersdale. It was consecrated on St. Michael and All Angel’s day, 29th September 1877.
Two years later, a new school was built a little further down Higher Lane using materials taken from the old Tithe barn Church. It was opened on 5th May 1879.
The parish boundaries were extended in 1982 to take in the northern part of Skelmersdale New Town. Following a fire in July 1988, the interior of the church was re-ordered and new chancel furniture constructed in limed oak. In 2001 the new owners of Ashurst Hall acquired the field on the north side of the church and converted it for use as a local amenity. This has provided the car park and green space and is used by the many visitors to the church and school. They also donated a twelve metre strip of land to extend the existing graveyard on the north side. Today, the church is s significant landmark in the local area and is known as “The Church on Ashurst Beacon”.
Not exactly a garden, but during the 'Dalton Gardens' day the church is open for tea and biscuits and a chance to sit down.

Church_and_Beacon.jpg	Misty_morning_at_St_Michael_s.jpg	From_the_north.jpg	Summer_Barbecue.jpg
Churchyard.__Autumn.jpg	Easter_Morning.jpg	Old_Interior.jpg	Dalton_Tithe_Barn.jpg
Snowy_church_2006.jpg	Graveyard_extension.jpg	West_elevation_1920s.jpg	Church_to-day.jpg
North_elevation_in_snow.jpg	Church_circa_30_s.jpg	Church_circa_1930.jpg	Dalton_Church_Choir_outing_1923.jpg
Farming_in_Dalton_circa_1929.jpg	The__Old_Vicarage__Higher_Lane_1930.jpg	Coal_Mining_in_Dalton_circa_1926.jpg	Ashton_s_Farm_circa_1920.jpg
View_from_church_tower__looking_west._March_2004.jpg	Bluebells_in_Beacon_Park.jpg	A_Snowy_day_in_Lees_lane.jpg	Higher_Lane_March_2006.jpg
Dalton_Church_Choir_1903.jpg	Steam_Lorry_in_Higher_Lane_circa_1925.jpg	New_Community_Centre_Ashurst_1982.jpg	Hay_Making_-_Long_Heyes_Lane_circa1920.jpg
Hay_Wagon_at_Cross_House_Farm_circa_1923.jpg	Ashurst_Hall_1910.jpg	Dalton_School_circa_1930.jpg	Centenary_Flower_Festival_1977.jpg
Planting_the_Millenium_Oak_Tree_2000.jpg	Jun_09.jpg