Inskip-with-Sowerby. In the Domesday volume this township appears as containing three carucates of arable soil. Richard Butler, of Rawcliffe Hall, obtained the manor of Inskip in 1281 as the dowry of his bride Alicia, daughter of William de Carleton. Inskip was held by Cuthbert Clifton, of Clifton, in 1512, from whom it descended to Sir W. Molyneux, of Larbrick and Sefton, who had espoused his sole child and heiress. In 1554-68 it was in the possession of Henry Kighley, and afterwards passed to William Cavendish, earl of Devonshire, on his marriage with the daughter and co-heiress of that gentleman.
The fishery of “Saureby Mere” belonged to William Hoghton in 1519, at which epoch Thomas Rigmayden and the earl of Derby had lands in Sowerby. The Stanleys have for long been lords of Sowerby and continue to hold a court-baron there. In Inskip also a court-baron takes place each year in June.
A church, dedicated to St. Peter, was erected in 1848 at the joint expense of the earl of Derby and the Ven. Archdeacon Hornby, vicar of St. Michael’s-on-Wyre. The living, now a vicarage, is endowed with £100 per annum out of the corn rents. The Rev. A. Sharples, B.A., appointed shortly after the church was built, is the present vicar.
One-fourth of the rentals from certain lands in Goosnargh and Chipping was given by Thomas Knowles in 1686 to the poor of Inskip.
In 1750 John Jolly bequeathed the residue of his estate in trust, for the use of such poor housekeepers of Inskip-with-Sowerby as received no parochial relief.
POPULATION OF INSKIP-WITH-SOWERBY.
| 1801. | 1811. | 1821. | 1831. | 1841. | 1851. | 1861. | 1871. |
| 635 | 647 | 739 | 798 | 735 | 680 | 663 | 593 |
The area of the township in statute acres amounts to 2,888.
