influence on the place is likely to experience any diminution. Indeed it may with reason be anticipated that when passenger traffic is more thoroughly established along the coast line from Preston to Blackpool, the demand for residential accommodation will be still greater than that which supplies abundant occupation to the builders to-day.
The original endowment of Lytham Free School was derived from the following sources:—In 1702, the Rev. James Threlfall, of St. Cuthbert's church, gave £5; and somewhere about the same time, William Elston, who died in 1704, presented £3 3s. 0d., for the use of the parish. Subsequently these sums of money were supplemented by a grant of £10 from John Shepherd, of Mythorp, and the whole invested, the interest being applied to local charitable purposes. The benefaction of John Shepherd was bestowed in trust upon Thomas Shepherd and his heirs, to the intent that the interest should be applied to the "use of such poor children's schooling, as they, with two or three of the most substantial men of the parish, whom they chose to consult, should think fit;"[1] but it is doubtful how it was deposed of until 1720, when the three separate sums mentioned were incorporated, for a motive stated directly, with a collection made in aid of those who had suffered damage from a serious inundation in that year. The inhabitants were unable to agree upon an equable distribution of the collection specified, and decided, by way of settling the affair, to "make a free school,"[2] with it and the other sums. The total capital thus acquired amounted to more than £100. In 1728 £60 was derived from the residue of John Harrison's estate, by the direction of his will. William Gaulter gave to Lytham school in 1745 several securities for money, amounting in all to £99, and three years later bequeathed the residue of his personal estate, except 20s., to the same object, making a total benefaction of £335. The whole of the endowment fund has been invested in land, and the school has always been in the hands of trustees, who have control over the teachers and all matters affecting its interest and government.
Cookson's Charity is the interest of £10 bequeathed by Thomas Cookson at an unknown date before 1776, to purchase books for the poor children of the parish.
