near the old hall,
still called Gallows Meadow, was then used as a place of execution.

Sir John Assheton, in the fifth year of Henry VI., became possessed of
the manor on payment of one penny annually. He is generally supposed to
have founded the church about the year 1420. We find him assigning the
forms or benches to his tenants: the names for whose uses they are
appointed are all females. From this it may seem that seats in our
churches were first put up for their convenience. Eighteen forms or
benches are mentioned for the occupation of one hundred wives and
widows, who are named, besides their daughters and servant wenches.
Their husbands had not this privilege, being forced to stand or kneel in
the aisles, as the service required. In the windows there yet remains a
considerable quantity of painted glass, but very much mutilated. Three
or four figures on the north side represent a king, saints, &c. In the
chancel are the coats and effigies of the Asshetons in armour, kneeling.
In one part seems to have been portrayed the invention of the Holy Cross
by St Helen. At whatever period the church was built, the steeple must
either have been erected afterwards, or have undergone a considerable
repair in the time of the last Sir Thomas Assheton; for upon the south
side are the arms of Ashton impaling Stayley. There is a tradition, that
while the workmen were one day amusing themselves at cards, a female
unexpectedly presented herself. She asked them to turn up an ace,
promising, in case of compliance, that she would build several yards of
the steeple; upon which they fortunately turned up the ace of spades.
This tale may owe its origin to the following circumstances:--Upon the
marriage of Sir Thomas Assheton with the daughter of Ralph Stayley, a
considerable accumulation of property was the consequence. This might
induce him to repair the church, and perform sundry other acts of
charity and beneficence. Whilst the work was going on, Lady Elizabeth
Assheton, it is not improbable, surprised the builders at their pastime;
and giving a broad hint that a part of her money was being employed in
the erection, might desire that her arms should be fixed in the steeple,
impaled with those of her husband. The shape of an escutcheon, having a
considerable resemblance to a spade-ace, in all likelihood was the
origin of the fable.

Sir John Assheton, the founder of the church, is the reputed father of
Ralph, whom the following tradit