Chorley's Inns and Taverns: Longridge

Name: The Derby Arms

Address: Chipping Road, Longridge

Derby Arms (c) Rude Health Creative Commons

The Derby Arms is situated in the ancient Parish of Thornley with Wheatley some nine miles north east of Preston. The area is renowned for the quality of the cattle and the sheep raised on fertile grassland which is skillfully farmed by families who have lived in the valley for generations.

The pub originates from the early eighteenth century though it is likely that there was a building on the site much earlier.

Like many pubs in this part of Lancashire, it was also doubled as a farm until the mid-1950s. It has been run by the Walne family for the past twenty six years. The owner William Walne’s great grandmother worked at the inn from around 1898 until she married local farmer Richard Walne in 1902. The family’s connection is further enhanced as William and his wife Carole have 2 sons, William and John, who are both involved in the business. It is a matter of considerable pride as the Walne family have been in the Bowland area since at least the mid 12th century.

© Copyright Rude Health and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence 2013

Listed landlords at the Derby Arms were John Wrigley (1841), James Greenall (1851), Elizabeth Greenall/Gornall (1860-81), William Corbridge (1883), Peter Hornby (1891), John Gorst (1897-1925), Isabella Gorst (1925-33), John Henry Seed (1934-49), Thomas Hagan (1954), the William Walne & family (1987-) and Joycelyn Rebecca Neve (2021).

1841 Census John Wrigley

1851 Census James Gornall

Morning Advertiser - Tuesday 31 August 1852

Marriage: 6 Feb 1854 St Bartholomew, Chipping, Lancashire

William Gornall - 35, Land Surveyor, Bachelor, Strait Shambles, Preston

Elizabeth Greenall - 37, Inn Keeper, Widow, Thornley with Wheatley

Groom's Father: Thomas Gornall, Gamekeeper

Bride's Father: John Smith, Farmer

Witness: Henry Wardley; Ellen Hunt

Married by Licence by: Joseph Lowe, Curate

Having been left widowed after James Greenall's death in 1854 Elizabeth remarried a William Gornall with whom she had a daughter, Sarah Jane.

Baptism: 12 Jul 1856 St Bartholomew, Chipping, Lancashire

Sarah Jane Gornall - D of William Gornall & Elizabeth

Abode: Derbys Arms, Thornley with Wheatley

Occupation: Innkeeper

Baptised by: E Wilkinson Vicar

Sadly, Elizabeth's second marriage was also to be short-lived and by 1860 she was once again running the farm and Inn on her own until her own death some 20 years later.

Burial: 7 Mar 1860 St Bartholomew, Chipping, Lancashire, England

William Gornall - Age: 41 years

Abode: Derby's Arms, Thornley with Wheatley

Notes: No. 288 Col.3rd for 8th substitute 7th. Corrected March 16th by me EW.

Buried by: E Wilkinson Vicar

Preston Chronicle - Saturday 16 June 1860

1861 Census Elizabeth Gornall

Derby Arms New Homes Place

1871 Census Elizabeth Gornall

Preston Herald - Saturday 04 November 1871

Marriage: 27 Jan 1876 St Bartholomew, Chipping, Lancashire

William Corbridge - Full, Farmer, Bachelor, Carr Side, Thornley

Sarah Jane Gornall - A Minor, Spinster, Derby's Arms, Thornley

Groom's Father: Henry Corbridge, Farmer

Bride's Father: William Gornall, Farmer

Witness: James Corbridge; Alice Eccles

Married by Licence by: Rd. Robinson Vicar

Register: Marriages 1837 - 1881 from the Bishop's Transcripts, Page 154, Entry 308

Craven Herald - Saturday 20 September 1879

1881 Census Elizabeth Gornall

Burial: 21 Oct 1881 St Bartholomew, Chipping, Lancashire

Elizabeth Gornall - Age: 65 years

Abode: Derby Arms, Thornley

Buried by: Rd. Robinson

Register: Burials 1853 - 1881, Page 137, Entry 1091

Following Elizabeth's death the Inn remained in the family for a further few years, run by her daughter and son-in-law Sarah Jane and William Corbridge.

Preston Herald - Saturday 28 April 1883

It appears from the above press cutting that at this stage Matthew Brown's brewery based at Pole Street was brought in to act as trustee and subsequently retain an interest the business although subsequent landlords still worked as both farmers and publicans.