DRAINAGE MAP and REPORT 1872
Drainage Report and Map of Leigh 1872
The Society has been given a copy of the Drainage Report of the village, plus Map for 1872. It is not the original, so unfortunately some of the detail is lost at the end of pages due to ‘photocopying’ and one page is missing, that which covers part of what was then Forge Row.
This Report and Map is mentioned in Lawrence Biddle and I believe the Parish Council has the original. But this copy is a wonderful addition to the Society’s archive and has a wealth of information about the state of properties in the village at that time, the names of owners and main occupier (head of household), and provides detailed footprints of all the properties included, and a map based on the 1870 Ordnance Survey. It helps locate where residents live, something which is not always clear in the 1871 census. In effect, it covers every home in the centre of the village in 1872.
Some of the detail from it has already been added to our website and is included in the “Walk around Leigh Village” booklet, soon to be published.
Of further interest is the fact that the Report was made and written by Robert Marnock, a name now familiar to us because he designed the Hall Place gardens (see our website).
Robert Marnock writes in his main introduction:
“In any system of underground drainage it cannot be other than a matter of importance be able to refer with ease and certainly not only to the main lines of the system, but especially so to the more complicated details of the necessary junctions and lateral branch drains, for wherever work of this nature is carried out, whether on a large or a small scale it can only be a question of time when sooner or later, change of some kind, either in the way of alteration, additional dwellings, or other improvements render the formation of additional drains, a matter of necessity. Then it will be, that a clear and distinct, descriptive map of the entire drainage scheme will be found of value.
“In the present case, and to meet this necessity, I have prepared a map and descriptive list; and, complicated and somewhat difficult as such as work has been in the main, it will be found correct, and sufficient to enable any one with moderate care, to point out any of the main lines, or branch drains whenever this may be required.
“The series of ground plan sketches representing the several blocks of cottages, and by which it was alone possible to convey any intelligent idea of the details of the drainage scheme. It need hardly be stated that these sketches, though fairly representing the different blocks and single houses throughout the village, are but hand sketches on a sufficiently broad scale to convey a general notion of the branch drains, junctions, eyes, cesspools and the necessary figures of measurement by which the details of the smaller branch drains, may, at any time be discovered.
“For convenience of reference, the block plans of the houses, have been numbered on the accompanying map commencing at the West end of the village and following consecutively along the South side of the village road to the boys’ school. From the boys’ school, along the South side of the village green to the girls’ school. Then to the vicarage on to Kenwood Cottage, Park Cottage, the East Lodge, the three parish cottages, by the Churchyard, the cottages on the North of the high road opposite Crandalls and ending at the last Cottage 88 on the West of the public road leading to the Railway arch.
“An idea of the average depths of the drains may be gathered from the following statement and referring to the general map of the village. The 12 inch main is 8 feet deep at the manhole B, and 6 feet deep at C. The 9 inch drain which passes brought the cottage gardens and ends nears the block 4, 5, 6 is 5 feet deep at the point E, from which it is, continued as a 6 inch drain to these cottages 1 and 2. The drain across the road at F, and that connecting the drainage of the West Lodge are each 4’ 6” deep. Passing along the South side of the green and through the Orchard near the Vicarage, 5 feet deep. In the road between C and the East lodge it is 5’ 6” deep, at the steps near the lodge 5’0” and in the garden of No. 58 10’0” deep.
“The diameters of the various drains will be found indicated on plan (see general plan of Village)”
Robert Marnock
Joyce Field (September 2021)