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Broughton

The river Sow rises near to Broughton. Today Broughton has only two buildings, St. Peter’s Church and Broughton Hall.

St. Peters Church.

St. Peters Church was consecrated in 1633 and was the private chapel of the Broughton family. The building of the church was started in 1630 by Thomas Broughton on the site of an earlier (medieval) church. Evidence of the earlier church can be seen in stonework in the east window and around the entrance porch.

Inside the church can be seen original 17 th century box pews, an unusual stoup-like font and a fine collection of monuments, cartouches and brasses. The windows in the church are outstanding.

Broughton Hall. (No images available presently)

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Broughton Hall is a splendid black and white Elizabethan Mansion. There has been a building here before Elizabethan times and was the home of the Delves Broughtons from the 13 th. Century until it was sold at the end of the 1 st World War. In 1952 it was given to the Franciscan Missionaries of St. Joseph. It is now owned by John Cauldwell who is restoring it.

Broughton Hall and the Civil War.

Broughton Hall was the scene of an unfortunate incident during the Civil War. As some Parliamentarians were passing a young boy is said to have opened a window and shouted his support for the King. This enraged the Parliamentarians and one of them shot the boy with a musket. Mortally wounded he crawled from the window and it took him 2 days to die. It is said that the floorboards are still stained red from his blood. The ghost of the boy is said to roam Broughton Hall and he is nicknamed ‘Red Socks’ because of the red socks he wears. He has been seen by several people who have mistaken him for a real person.

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