The Banastre Rebellion

At an early date Duxbury gave name to a family who owned the estate. In 1288 Adam de DOKESBURY held a moiety of the vill, while in 1358 Nicholas de NORREYS levied a fine upon Henry, the son of Adam de DOKESBURY for messuages and lands there.

Sir Adam BANASTRE held various lands in the Parish of Standish, including Shevington, and in 1315 he led a group of insurgents against Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, and his favourite Sir Robert HOLLAND, who was regarded as an upstart. Generally speaking the cause of the friction lay between the Earl and King Edward II (1307-1327). The Banastre Rebellion was fought by many close neighbours of Sir Adam BANASTRE including Sir Henry de LEA of Park Hall in Charnock Richard, Sir William BRADSHAW of Haigh and Henry de DUXBURY.

Commencing on the 8th October 1315, the supporters of Sir Adam BANASTRE met at Wingates, Westhoughton, and took an oath to live and die together. their first objective was to capture one Adam RADCLIFFE and his brothers but the party sent on this particular mission murdered Sir Henry de BURY in the process which caused a great commotion and attracted the King's Justices to make enquiry.

Not deterred by this murder, BANASTRE's followers assembled again at Charnock Richard on Wednesday 22nd October 1315 and set off for Wigan, calling at Standish Church on the way to pick up additional supporters. The group spent that night in Wigan commandeering food for their use. A raiding party was despatched to Clitheroe where they captured the castle and 40 lances. Meanwhile the main force set off for Liverpool, via Knowsley, where on Saturday 25th October they attacked Liverpool castle but without success.

A series of forays followed at West Derby, Knowsley, Prescot and Warrington. On Monday 27th October, Halton Castle, situated near the River Mersey, was attacked by lighting fires at the gates and a further 50 haketons together with 100 lances and 100 basinets were captures. Flushed with this success, Sir William BRADSHAW went on to the house of Sir William HOLLAND at Haydock and plundered the contents, stealing 100 sheep, 60 oxen and 12 cows as well. Further properties were then forcibly entered at Newton-in-Makerfield and Sankey; and corn, grain and oats were stolen.

By Friday 31st October 1315, Sir Adam's forces had reached Manchester where they claimed that what they were doing was in the King's name. Having gained further followers the army then turned north arriving at Wigan on the 2nd November. During the marches between destinations, rations were provided by looting and plundering.

Tuesday 4th November saw the army in Preston where, with banners flying, they quickly overcame a small force sent to halt them, killing Sir Walter le VAVASOUR in the exchange. However, strong reinforcements arrived some little while later in the shape of the County Sheriff, Sir Edmund de NEVILL of Middleton, near Lancaster, and a large contingent of about 300 men. They were acting for the Earl of Lancaster and after a battle lasting less than one hour Sir Adam BANASTRE's troops were completely overrun and put to flight.

Several of BANASTRE's followers were killed during the battle and others fled abroad to escape punishment. Sir Adam BANASTRE and Sir Henry de LEA managed to avoid pursuers for a week, hiding in woods and moorland, but they were eventually betrayed by Henry de EUFURLONG while staying in his house in Charnock Richard and were subsequently beheaded.

Henry de DUXBURY was imprisoned and forfeited most of his lands because of complicity in the Banastre Rebellion. Following confiscation Hugh de STANDISH, who was apparently the son of Robert de HAYDOCK, Rector of Standish, obtained most of the Duxbury Hall Estate. It appears however that the DUXBURY family were left with a sizeable portion of land because descendants sold their portion of the estate to Ralph STANDISH Lord of the Manor of Standish, in the sixteenth century.