Taylor’s Cottage
Referring back to Chestnut House and the smaller cottage known as Taylor’s, which was once on the same plot, I found myself intrigued by its proximity to the Black Bull on Liverpool Road. I couldn’t help but wonder if there was any connection to my Taylor relatives, given how close the cottage and adjacent house were to the family’s inn.
Taylor’s Cottage is named on the Lancashire Survey Map dated 1844-1845 – Published 1848.
Looking at maps the plot shows a cottage with garden and a larger neighbouring house and barn. The 1839 Tithe Map also confirms two buildings.
Margorie Searson expands further in her history book on 19th century Longton –
Where Chestnut House now stands was an earlier house, with a barn and garden surrounding it, where a farmer called Edward Taylor lived. A small cottage at the rear was unoccupied in 1851. It is believed that in 1854 the farmhouse was rebuilt and heightened in the process, but that some of the foundations of the original house were retained.
Further digging revealed that in the year 1846 there was a report in the local news of a new mansion being built by John Taylor Druggist. Said mansion was complete and advertised for let three years later in 1849 along with an adjoining 17 acre farm.
New Mansion – Considerable interest was created here on Monday last, on the laying the foundation stone of a new mansion, on the property of Mr. Taylor, chemist and druggist, of Preston. – Preston Chronicle 1846
Edward Taylor – Occupier
Going back to Edward Taylor, who occupied the farmhouse in 1851; research revealed that he was originally from Lower Wyresdale and was the son of Thomas Taylor Blacksmith also of Wyresdale.
Was Edward related to Henry? Well, not as far as I can tell. Edward’s brother, Hugh, married Margaret Martin from Longton, but beyond that, I couldn’t find any other ties to Longton or my Taylor family. By the time of the next census, Edward and his family had moved from Longton to Errel.
On the 1839 tithe, John Taylor druggist is recorded as both owner and occupier of the Chestnut House plot giving an explanation for the name, Taylors Cottage two years later when the map was surveyed.
Could this John be related to Henry Taylor Yeoman? Despite my efforts, I haven’t been able to establish a link between these two Taylor families. John Taylor druggist’s father was also named John, and he worked as a shoemaker. There was indeed a shoemaker by that name residing in the area of Longton at the time Henry was there, but I have yet to confirm any family ties between them.