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BILLINGTON WHERE DID OUR NAME COME FROM? Billington: This parish can trace its history to Saxon times when, in the year AD 798 a battle was fought at Billangahoh- the names Billington and Langho were derived. The Church at Old Langho, which was built of stone taken from the ruins of Whalley Abbey, is of great antiquity, for it is recorded that in 1684 John Slater of Billington contributed to the endowment of Langho Chapel. Today Billington is quite a flourishing community, there are about 30 farms engaged mainly with cattle. From the Old Whalley Road, which runs across a high ridge of land facing Longridge Fells there is an extensive view, not only of the Ribble Valley but some of the higher peaks of the Pennine Range. These flourishing communities are today mainly residential, but trace their history back to Saxon times. Billington is home to St Augustine’s RC High School whose pupils have achieved international fame through their music and songs to benefit the World Wildlife Fund. Musicals first staged at the school are now performed by youngsters worldwide.
DESCENT OF THE MANOR -DE BILYINGTON FAMILY One of the De Lascys, Norman Lord of Clitheroe Honor, granted the fee of Billington to Hugh, Son of Leofwyne, a Saxo; and William, son of Hugh, conveyed his rights in this manor to Ralph, son of Geoffrey De Bilyngton. After Ralph, appears Adam de Bilyngton, who occurs in 1211, and next comes Elias de Bilyngton, who had a son Adam. Adam de Bilyngton, living temp, Henry 111,had a daughter and heiress Avicia, who married first, Geoffrey de Whalley, and secondly, Henry del' Choe, by whom she had sons Richard and Thomas. To Henry del'Cho, Adam de Bilyngton granted land in Billington called the Halgh. Geoffrey de Whalley, first husband of Avicia de Bilyngton, settling on this estate, aquired the surname de Bilyngton. To Geoffrey de Bilyngton, who occurs before 1250, his wife Avicia bore sons, Adam,Roger,Richard, Robert, Ralph, William and Henry. Avicia de Bilyngton is named as in widowhood about AD 1270. Of the younger sons of Geoffrey and Avicia, Roger had a wife Agnes who survived him; Richard, by his wife Cicilia, had a son Geoffrey, who had a son Richard, who had a daughter Mabile, wife of Roger Ingol of Elston; William had six acres in Billington of his mothers gift and Henry had lands in the township conveted by him to Richard Pountchardon. Adam de Bilyngton, son and heir of Geoffrey, had a son Adam. But the father conveyed his estate, being a moiety of Billington vill, to Adam de Hudleston,Knt., AD 1288, and so terminated the record of the family as the manorial owners in the township. A William de Billington of County
Lancashire in 1332 and to one Johannes de Billyngton in the poll tax of County
Yorkshire in 1379. Later references show one Antany
Billington, a yoman
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