Topography: Lonsdale hundred, north and south, Index to Vol III, Corrigenda.

Natural History. Early Man. Anglo-Saxon Remains. Domesday. The Fuedal Baronage.

The volume contains the histories of the three ancient parishes in Blackburn hundred north of the Ribble (Mitton, Chipping. and Ribchester) and of the eight ancient parishes in Amounderness hundred (Preston, Kirkham, Lytham, Poulton-le-Fylde, Bispham, part of Lancaster, St. Michael-on-Wyre, and Garstang). A very large part of Amoundernesshundred is the level area between the Ribble estuary and Cockerham Sands called the Fylde and one known as 'the wheatfield of Amounderness'. Some of the ancient parishes include places that have become larger, more populous, and better known than the old centres ofpopulation which gave the parishes their names. Poulton-le-Fylde includes Fleetwood, and Bispham is better known to the world as the seaside resort of Blackpool, which also extends into Poulton.

Topography: West Derby hundred (cont., including Liverpool, Wigan), Salford hundred.(part, including Manchester)

Ecclesiastical History. Religious Houses. Political History. Industries. Agriculture. Forestry. Sport. Ancient Earthworks. Schools. Index to vols I and II.

Topography: West Derby hundred (part including Prescot).

Topography: Salford hundred (cont., including Rochdale), Index to vols III, IV and V.

The volume contains histories of the eleven ancient parishes in Leyland hundred (Leyland, Penwortham, Brindle, Croston, Hesketh-with-Becconsall, Tarleton, Rufford, Chorley, Hoole, Eccleston, Standish) and of two of the five ancient parishes in Blackburn hundred (Blackburn parish and Whalley). Some very considerable places in the volume never achieved the status of ancient parish: Darwen was part of Blackburn parish, and Whalley included Accrington, Burnley, Clitheroe, Colne, and Nelson. In the Middle Ages the area was relatively poor, with extensive royal forests used for deer and, later, cattle and sheep farming. From the late 18th century the woollen industry gave way to cotton spinning and weaving in hundreds of factories, and the coalfield was exploited. Despite the growth of industry the area retains much undeveloped countryside, gentry houses in the lush pasture land of the Ribble Valley, and many old farmhouses on the slopes of the Pennine moorlandsand Pendle Hill.