The Lancashire Gazetteer, Joseph Aston, 1808 - Explanatory notes

This transcription has been carried out as part of a larger project to produce a database of places in Lancashire and Yorkshire. The final product will be a Microsoft Access database with search facilities intended to overcome the difficulties of spelling variations. The aim is to locate each place with an Ordnance Survey grid reference, wherever possible, even if not shown on modern mapping.

Aston's original Lancashire Gazetteer has unnumbered pages, and no attempt has been made during transcription to retain the original pagination of the Gazetteer. Likewise, fonts have not been slavishly copied beyond the use of capitalisation, italics and some font sizes.

In a very few cases, the layout is slightly altered from the original. The information in the Appendix, Addenda and Errata as given by Aston has been integrated into the main body of the text. In addition, the opportunity has been taken to correct what Aston calls 'accidental deviation from exact alphabetical arrangement.'

Incidental artwork (separating bars, for instance) has not been transcribed.

Grateful thanks are expressed to the staff of the Lancashire Local Studies Library, and Lancaster Library for access to Aston's Gazetteer, and the assistance they having willingly offered.

Problems encountered

The spacing of place names has often changed; for example, Presto Lee is now Prestolee. Additionally, some errors have been notice, which may cause difficulty in computer searches of the transcription. There may well be others.

J.M. Turner

October 1998