Re: MOGRIDGE family in England and US

Hello Christopher,
I have a little file on Westhoughton Hall, but before I tell you it's contents I have to say that some months ago I lent it to a local group and it still has not been returned to me, but I will endeavour to retrieve it!
There were some pictures of the building in ruins before it was demolished in the 1950's including some early photo's of the interior of the main living room showing the ornate plasterwork of the walls....Mr Derek Lockett was a talented water colour artist and he painted his interpretation of this photo, he also included his idea of his ancestor Richard Johnson Lockett and his wife sitting by the hearth. There are other pictures of a couple of family portraits.
The hall was used as a farmhouse before it's end and the last people to live there were the Lowe family,(farmers) in the 1873 Rate Valuation list -Daisy Hill Hall, it's local name, (Westhoughton Hall was situated in the area of Daisy Hill)41 acres owned by Col. Wilbraham and occupied by Andrew Lowe.
The industry around Westhoughton in the late 1700's was mainly cotton & silk handloom weaving - the cottages all had there own weaving looms, the skill of these people inspired Mr R J Lockett to build a steam-powered factory....this being one of the very first in the world.
Disastrously, the factory was set on fire by the Luddite rioters in 1812 who saw it as a threat to the handloom weavers in a period of trade depression and privation after 19 years of war with France. The arsonists were tried at Lancaster and four were hanged.
There was also an attempt to fire Mr Lockett's Westhoughton Hall.
I do have before me Mr Derek Locketts artist impression of The Westhoughton Old Factory taken from at old town guide.
I will certainly try to get my file and let you know my findings.
You asked me about Mr Derek Lockett's wife - I am sorry, did not have her name but I know she was related to Oswald Moseley.
Hope you find the above useful.
Regards
Pam