Bottom of Turpin Green Lane

The buildings at the corner of Hough Lane included the original branch of the Midland Bank, which used the previous Post Office building prior to the move further up Hough Lane. Another shop was known as the Cabin or Dolly’s, a favourite sweet shop amongst the young. When the buildings were demolished to make way for the roundabout, the new building became a car showroom, before becoming the present furniture store.

The row of old shops on the east side of Turpin Green Lane, used to house the businesses of Pennine Dry Cleaners, Photo Merit (the previous use being Shoe Repairers and Ladies Hairdressers) while the present Security Dealers premises, was formally William Miller, the tailor before becoming Stan Wilson's motor emporium.

Adjacent to the row of shops stood the Leyland Methodist School, prior to its move to its new site on Canberra Road. When the Leyland Methodist Church in Chapel Brow became too small, a plot of land on Turpin Green was purchased from Mr. John Goulding of Starkie House, on which was built the school and later the church. The foundation stone of the new church was laid on September 18th 1875, by Mr. J.G. McMinnies J.P., the then owner of Farington Mill. The church was built to seat about 700 people at a cost of £3000, and was opened in 1876.

The old church was demolished in May 1982, together with the School in order that the present church could be constructed, opening on Saturday June 18th 1983.

East Street

The road leading off the Roundabout to the east, logically called East Street, used to lead up to the Brook Mill site, later taken over by Leyland Paints, though following their demise, the area is now the Mill Brook Estate.

Leyland's other cinema, the Palace, was run by the Bell family for many years, before converting to Bingo in the early 1960's, as was the trend at the time.

The Warehouse and Bakery for the Leyland & Farington Co - operative Society was built on East Street. There was also stabling for the horses, (most deliveries were done by horse and cart) and garaging for the Society's motor vehicles.

Gas Works

When the Gas Works was demolished in the early sixties to make way for Churchill Way, there not only disappeared the sight but also the smell of an industry. This was built after the Leyland & Farington Gas Company was registered in 1856 and empowered in 1863, the first Gas Works being sited behind the Ship Inn in Towngate.

Even though the Gas Works only just intruded on Hough Lane in a physical sense, its presence through to the end of gas production in September 1956 was hard to ignore. A Fishwicks bus conductor during World War Two always referred to the Gas Works bus stop as " Leyland Perfumery ". The retort house was demolished in May / June 1964.

The oldest buildings of Hough Lane were also levelled, a group of former handloom weavers cottages built around the early eighteenth century, which were situated next to the aptly named Rhubarb field.

Hough Lane

The width of the road and footpaths show how the houses had long gardens, the name of the road comes from the Houghs Tenement which was on the site of the Gables public house.

Whilst the 1844 Map showed only the hand loom weavers cottages at the eastern end of the lane, the later 1893 Map detailed the new terraces from Turpin Green Lane to Dorothy Avenue, with Herbert, Newsome and Quin Streets being built up, the terraces at the heads of the streets on Hough Lane also built. The only other buildings along the lane on both sides, being the Congregational Chapel and the semi detached houses known as Lily Bank and Spring Bank.

North Side

Lower Bank House

This large town house was built in 1892 for one of the village’s new breed of industrialists, before eventually becoming the Dentists surgery it is today.

Terraces (Ruskin Avenue to Herbert Street)

These houses were built at the end of the nineteenth century by the owners of the rubber works for the workers. These have all now become shops with the main shop on the left being a selling-out shop or off-licence under the name of Glovers, eventually becoming the Lion off-licence owned by Matthew Brown brewery. A doctor’s surgery being established in the other terrace houses.

Terraces (Herbert Street to Newsome Street)

These houses were built for James Quin, the rubber man, we believe to the design of David Grant, the architect. Most of these houses had long gardens, which have only finally disappeared in the last thirty years.

While Quin Street can easily be seen to relate to James Quin the rubber worker, it may not be realised that Newsome Street is also named after a pioneer of the local industries. Herbert Street and John Street being named after the sons of James Quin.

United Reformed Church

In 1874, when the Ebenezer Chapel in Towngate became too small for the worshippers, it was decided to build a new church and school. Mr J.G. McMinnies, of Farington Lodge, secured the land in Hough Lane on a 999-year lease, the ground rent being paid by him for the rest of his life.

The plans for the new church and school were prepared by David Grant, architect, of Lily Bank, Hough Lane. The new church was opened on October 12th, 1877, and is built of stone with a lofty roof and a tower 80 feet high. There is accommodation for 480 people, the cost of construction being approximately £6,000.

Iddon Brothers and Quin Street

In 1888, Mr James Iddon, a pioneer of the rubber industry, after two years in the U.S.A. and three years as Chief Engineer to the Leyland Rubber Company, founded the firm of Iddon Brothers in Leyland. The firm, still on its original site in Quin Street, is known worldwide as manufacturers of specialist machinery.

Lily Bank and Spring Bank

These two houses stood on the junction of Hough Lane and Quin Street. The house on the left, Spring Bank, last occupant, Barclays Bank before being demolished and the house on the right, Lily Bank later became the Midland Bank.

These semi-detached houses were built by David Grant, who was also the architect for the Congregational Church. He had his office at the side entrance of Lily Bank, acting also for the Leyland & Farington Building Society. It was later occupied by amongst others, James Iddon, the founder of Iddon Brothers; Charles Elliott, manager of the Leyland Gas Co; Dr Johnson before he built his house on the corner of Hough Lane and Towngate.

Spring Bank was for a number of years the home of Henry Spurrier of Leyland Motors Ltd., and his son who became Sir Henry Spurrier was born there. Both houses were later used as Doctors and Dentists before becoming the banks we used to know.

Terraces (Quin Street to School Lane)

These rows of terraces are all known as Wellington Terrace, were built in the sixtieth year of Queen Victoria's reign namely 1897 as denoted on the two terrace nameplates, the terra cotta design, with Queen Victoria in relief near the junction with School Lane is in particular good condition.

There have been many shops in this terrace, one of the first being the Cash Corner owned by a Mr Parkinson who later sold out to the Leyland and Farington Co-op Society. Other famous occupants included Howarth & Holden - the electricians, Walter Henshaw - insurance brokers, Chisnalls pram shop and Plaistows, the newsagents.

Northcote Street

This street was the main entrance to the Leyland Motors North Works, which was demolished in the late seventies after the factory had been closed, the work being transferred to the Spurrier Works. The former offices of the company were on the left, until they burnt down. In the distance can be seen the Leyland & Birmingham Rubber Company building, part of which was built on the site of the Leyland Workhouse.

Leyland & Farington Co - op Hough Lane Chemists

For many years this was known as the Central Pharmacy run by Mr M.A. Simmons M.P.S. His own product, Nervac, was famous locally and was known as the 15-minute headache cure.

The premises eventually becoming the National Co - operative Chemists were on the corner of Northcote Street and Hough Lane, the shop closing when the chemists were transferred to the new store on Towngate in 1970, eventually moving to the newsagents at the Cross, though this now being closed.

Hough Lane - South Side

Terraces (Turpin Green Lane to Dorothy Avenue)

This terrace is the oldest on Hough Lane, the land being previously owned by the Charnock family passing to the Vicars of Leyland after the lands were confiscated. The most famous resident being Bert Thacker the newsagent.

Before the making of Dorothy Avenue, this was the site of a corrugated iron building occupied by a Mr. Mayor, who was a boot and shoemaker. Previously, this building had been occupied by two gentlemen who had a watch and jewellery business under the name of Kaufman and Rozenberg.

Terraces (Dorothy Avenue to the Post Office)

This area was owned in the early twentieth century by the Gregson family of Heald House, two houses in Alice Avenue actually being almshouses supported by the family. The freeholds of all the properties being in the name of the Scout Movement, the ground rents going to help increase the scouts funds.

The names of Mr Gregson’s daughters being immortalised in the names of Dorothy and Alice avenues. Many shops have been along this stretch including the Hiltons Temperance Bar at the corner of Alice Avenue, Tusons - Mens and Boys Wear and Liveseys Fish & Chips shop.

The Post Office

The main post office finally found a permanent home in May 1929, when the present building was opened by Mr. A.J. Lomax, the Chairman of the Council, replacing the previous building in Chapel Brow.

It was built by the Leyland Construction Company using modern techniques and the best of materials. The Post Office contained all - metal casements and fire proof floors, the counter was of polished mahogany and the building had been designed to take a third storey if and when required.

It has been suggested that the two sets of steps under the windows in front of the building were put there in order that the police could see through the window at night, by torchlight, ensuring that the safe was still locked.

Leyland's first supermarket

Prior to the building of the five shops and the supermarket, the site was owned by Moulds Printers who moved from their previous property in Towngate in the early thirties. When the printers under the new name of Leyland Printing Company moved to the Seven Stars mill, this site together with an adjoining plot of land hidden for many years behind hoardings became the buildings we know today.

The owners of the supermarket, however, have changed over the years from the first namely Victor Value, followed by Tesco, Victor Value again, Kwik Save and now Iceland, all these on the last plot on Hough Lane to be developed due to the poor quality of the land.

Bolans

When this shop moved from Towngate, the shop had already managed to establish the impression that whatever item of hardware, ironmongery, plumbing or building supplies was required, it would be found on a shelf in this building, not many people being disappointed.

The Leyland Motors Canteen

This building constructed with the use of concrete by prisoners of war during the First World War. The main use of the building was the canteen situated in the centre with enough space to accommodate the full workforce at that time. The top floor was originally used as a experimental workshop before the drawing office took over in 1927. Following years of disuse, the three-storey building was finally demolished in 1995.

Hope Terraces

These terraces were built in 1907, with many well-known local businesses being conducted along the rows including Bambers Barbers, Smalleys Butchers, Bidwells Fish Shop and Greengrocers. Whilst Parkinsons The Bakers have seen many changes since Mr Grimshaw Snr. used to put the meat and potato pies (butter pies and barm cakes on a Friday) on a steel plate heated by a one bar electric fire while waiting for the gates to open at lunch time and the thousands of Leyland Motors workers to descend on the shop.

Grundy Terrace

This terrace was previously known as Mindor Terrace after a combination of the names of the daughters of Mr Higham who had a market garden shop on the site. The terrace later received the name it still holds today, after the famous dentist who had the waiting room without the door handle on the inside, once in you could not escape.

The Gables Hotel

On this site was situated Hough's tenement from which Hough Lane gets its name. The Hough family were tenants of the Earl of Derby in the early sixteenth century. William Farington of Worden (1537-1610) bought the tenement from the Earl in 1563. The last Hough was Richard in 1609 when the property passed to John Jackson then Thomas Leyland, who was a member of the Leyland family of Clayton.

The last member of this family to hold the lease was Thurstan Leyland who died in 1731, the house at this time was known as Hough House, but in the nineteenth century Census returns it was referred to as Thurstans Farm, (Thurston Road is said to come from the same source). In 1731, the building became a public house, and then in 1776 a surgeon took up residence, the property finally being brought in the early part of the twentieth century by Dr. Walter Johnson who demolished the old farm. He built an imposing redbrick house on the site, which he called “The Gables”, his brother Sydney Johnson was the architect.

Dr Johnson practised in Leyland for some fifty years and on his death the house was brought by the brewery Greenall Whitley and converted into a public house retaining its name “The Gables”.