282AD
A hoard of 120 coins were buried in the medieval townfields. These have been seconded by the Harris Museum in Preston

1086
Entry in Domesday Book. Leyland gives it's name to the Leyland Hundred. This area extended from Preston in the North to Wigan in the South and from Rivington in the East to Hundred End in the West. What a descriptive name. The fact that it was entered in the Domesday Book tells us that it was eligible to be taxed. Nothing changes

1100
The Parish Church appears with other lands in grants to Evesham Abbey. This is the first definite record of a church on this site.

1190
Sweyn is referred to as chaplain of Leyland. That sounds very Norse to me.

1230
Robert Bussel granted half of the Manor to his Son-in-Law, John de Farinton. Thus began a great estate.

1300
The income of the church is estimated at £10 yearly

1360
A chantry dedicated to St Nicholas, the Patron Saint of Pawnbrokers was established. Living could not have been easy in these days.

1498
Henry Farington was appointed Squire of the King's Body'.

1501
Henry Farington inherited the estates on the death of his father

1524
A second chantry was founded by Sir Henry Farington. This was appointed especially for the Priest to pray for his and his mother's souls among others. The funds for this were eventually to be used for the establishment of the Leyland Free Grammar School

1534
Act of Supremacy. This made the King the Head of the Church.

1539
The Dissolution of the Monastries where Catholic property could be seized.

1549
Sir Henry named William (1537-1610), his son by a second marriage as heir to the remainder of his estates. The rightful heir should have been Robert from his first marriage. Robert may have been disinherited because of his Catholic leanings. These could have led to the confiscation of the properties by the Crown. William was the first Head of the Family to have his residence at Worden Hall (Today in the grounds of the ROF Factory and inaccesible to the public.

1591
William Farington had his family's rights to the chapel confirmed. 'To sit, stand and otherwise repose themselves therein', and to a burial crypt beneath the chapel. Men buried to the East and women to the West. He maybe wanted to ensure his Rest in Peace.

1610
William Farington - The Royalist (1583-1658)succeded to the Worden Estates.

1636
William the Royalist appointed High sheriff of Lancashire.

1642-1646
The Civil War. The Faringtons played major roles on the Royalist side and as a consequence of their defeat suffered loss accordingly. In 1642 William was with the King in York. Meanwhile his properties were seized as was much of his personal property by parliamentary soldiers.

1648
William was arrested and heavily fined. All this left his finances in great difficulties.