Accrington Web - View Single Post

Retlaw · 17-08-2004, 20:32

Richard Ainsworth
Could have been a Modern Baron Munchausen, for those who don't know of Munchausen he was called known as the World Greatest Liar.

There are more holes in the old Homesteads then a Coulander, for example reads his diatribe about Magpie Hall, sometimes called Hag Pie or Fig Pie Hall.

He starts of by saying he had never heard of it till he met an old resident. He then goes on about it being knocked down to make way for the New Road through Accrington. The New Road was built 1790/92, Ainsworth wrote his rubbish in 1928, thats some old resident all of 126 years between the dates.

he gives the site of where it stood, first he says Lane Ends, then he says the
Alma Inn, they are over 500 yards apart.

Now for some facts
(1) there were no buildings in those area's to be demolished when the road was built
(2) Mag Pie Hall was still at Lane Ends in 1841/51/61/71 & 81 census records.

Remember one thing Ainsworth was a newspaper reporter. They have a maxim why let the truth get in the way of a good story.

Since Ainsworth wrote that book & the articles in the Observer, no one has been able to find his sources or references. Neither the census returns or any parish registers or church records support any of Ainsworths rubbish.

Walter

Richard Ainsworth.

He wrote weekly articles in the Accrington Observer, which then led to the publications of the following books.

History and Associations of Altham and Huncoat
The Old Homesteads of Accrington & District, etc,
The Lingards of Huncoat

Ok, so there are some other sources for local and family historians, but for me it's just the fact that he bothered to record what was going on at a particular moment in time, which is incedibly valuable to those interested in the area. A bit like this forum eh ?
Except what happens to the information within these postings in the long term...mmmm

So the coloured glass is pretty, but hats of to Richard Ainsworth who has told me more about this area.[/QUOTE]

17-08-2004, 20:32	#3
Retlaw I am Banned Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Accrington. Posts: 4,627 Liked: 601 times Rep Power: 0	Re: Richard Ainsworth Richard Ainsworth Could have been a Modern Baron Munchausen, for those who don't know of Munchausen he was called known as the World Greatest Liar. There are more holes in the old Homesteads then a Coulander, for example reads his diatribe about Magpie Hall, sometimes called Hag Pie or Fig Pie Hall. He starts of by saying he had never heard of it till he met an old resident. He then goes on about it being knocked down to make way for the New Road through Accrington. The New Road was built 1790/92, Ainsworth wrote his rubbish in 1928, thats some old resident all of 126 years between the dates. he gives the site of where it stood, first he says Lane Ends, then he says the Alma Inn, they are over 500 yards apart. Now for some facts (1) there were no buildings in those area's to be demolished when the road was built (2) Mag Pie Hall was still at Lane Ends in 1841/51/61/71 & 81 census records. Remember one thing Ainsworth was a newspaper reporter. They have a maxim why let the truth get in the way of a good story. Since Ainsworth wrote that book & the articles in the Observer, no one has been able to find his sources or references. Neither the census returns or any parish registers or church records support any of Ainsworths rubbish. Walter Richard Ainsworth. He wrote weekly articles in the Accrington Observer, which then led to the publications of the following books. History and Associations of Altham and Huncoat The Old Homesteads of Accrington & District, etc, The Lingards of Huncoat Ok, so there are some other sources for local and family historians, but for me it's just the fact that he bothered to record what was going on at a particular moment in time, which is incedibly valuable to those interested in the area. A bit like this forum eh ? Except what happens to the information within these postings in the long term...mmmm So the coloured glass is pretty, but hats of to Richard Ainsworth who has told me more about this area.[/QUOTE]