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Margery’s Place

Margery’s Place ties together a few old names – it was known as Garnet’s, then Gernest Bullough, evolving to Gernest and Gir Nest, however, on the 1847 Ordnance Survey map it is known as Margery’s Place. 

Absolutely zero physical evidence exists of the dwelling.

It was also at a point called Margery’s Mine, to describe the coal-mining activities that took place at this spot, according to an essay I read in Chorley Library.

Margery’s Place was reputed to be yet another drinking den.

The image below is taken from a waterfall along the Goit by Waterman’s Cottage.

Probably the only photograph in existence of Margery’s Place.

Here’s a zoomed view:

A grainy close-up.

This is a really easy spot to get to – simply head along the Goit from Waterman’s Cottage and after a few hundred yards there is a bridge over the watercourse.  The ruins were here.  There’s nothing at all to see now.

On page 88 of Richard Skelton’s excellent Landings book is a recollection of some old churchwarden’s accounts, which traces some of the name changes.

1787 – Will Latham for W.Burton, “Garnets”, Anglezark.
1854 – I. Bain for John Winstanley, “Gir’ Nest”, Anglezark.

The Ordnance Survey map had the name Margery’s Place rather than Gir’ Nest.

There is precious little on this particular spot – nothing in Rawlinson’s About Rivington, nor MD. Smith’s books on Anglezarke and Rivington.

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