“ There is a tradition that while the workmen were one day amusing themselves at cards, a female unexpectedly presented herself. She asked them to turn up an ace, promising, in case of compliance, that she would build several yards of the steeple ”

“ We find him assigning the forms or benches to his tenants: the names for whose use they are appropriated are all female. From this, and from Sir John Towneley's fixing that the greater part of the seats in Whalley Church should be occupied "first come first served," and his adding, that this would make "the proud wives of Whalley come early to church"—it would seem that seats in our churches were first put up for women. Eighteen forms or benches are mentioned for the occupation in Ashton Church of a hundred wives and widows, who are named, besides their daughters and servant wenches. ”