Sunday 1st March, 2009
Privilege 1664, Ince
The Hearth Tax returns of 1664 show that the Wigan area was the most prosperous district in historic Lancashire.
In terms of privilege, Ince does not rate very highly in modern day Wigan, but in 1664 it was one of the better areas.
The largest houses in Ince are entered in the tax return thus:
Mr. John Ince – 10 hearths
Mr. Ralph Browne – 9 hearths
Mr. James Gerard – 5 hearths
These houses indicate a prosperous neighbourhood.
52.8% of the 36 houses had more than one hearth and no-one qualified for exemption because of poverty.
This table, taken from “Historic Houses in Lancashire, The Douglas Valley 1300-1770” By Gary Miller (2002), shows the relative prosperity of some of the places within the Wigan district.
| Standish | 56.2% |
| Aspull | 54.7% |
| Upholland | 53.9% |
| Ince in Makerfield | 52.8% |
| Haigh | 52% |
| Shevington | 51.3% |
| Wigan | 48.3% |
| Pemberton | 39.7% |
| Orrell | 40% |
| Winstanley | 26% |
| Worthington | 10% |
It can be seen that Ince is more prosperous than Wigan itself. It also ranks higher than locations such as Haigh, Shevington, Orrell and Winstanley.