An extract from an article in The Lancashire magazine called 'Croston - the Best Bits' by Julie Clegg.
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The annals of Croston began in the 7th century when St Aidan arrived at the riverside settlements and a cross town was founded. In the absence of a church a cross acted as a place of worship.Croston gets its name from 'cross' derived from the Irish and the Scandinavian word 'tun' meaning town; literally cross-town. It is unique as there is no other Croston in the UK. |
| Centuries ago the parish of Croston was far more extensive than it is today. It included Chorley, Hoole, Rufford, Bretherton, Mawdesley, Tarleton, Hesketh Bank, Bispham, Walmer Bridge and Ulnes Walton. The first to separate was Hoole in 1642, Chorley became independent in 1793 and the parish has remained at its present size since 1835. |
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The aristocratic De Traffords, squires of Croston Hall were one of the oldest Roman Catholic families in Lancashire, dating back to the 12th century. The Trafford district of Manchester bears their name , and it is thanks to Sigismund De Trafford's preference for trees to chimney pots that he kept his land and Croston remained a village.
A charter granted by Edward I in 12 83 allowed an annual medieval fair and market to be held on the village green.
Ancient maps depict a castle in this area, believed to have been a wooden one as there is no evidence of a stone structure.
