History of the Fife Pitcairns

LIFE OF JAMES PELHAM PITCAIRN. 279
this tradition the tithes were granted to the Duke by his
Royal master, Henry VIII. Some time subsequently a
cock-fight took place in Westminster, when Sir J. Anderton
is said to have produced the first duck-wing cock that was
ever fought at a main, with the vaunting challenge —
" There is the jewel of England !
For a hundred in hand,
And a hundred in land,
I'll fight him against any cock in England ! "
The Duke of Suffolk, on finding that Anderton was able
to make good his bet, produced another cock, and bet
the tithes of Eccles parish as his share of the wager.
Anderton won the battle, and thus became possessed of
the tithes, and the story adds that he afterward sold them
to Sir John Heathcote of Longton, Staffordshire. So much
currency has this story obtained that duck-winged cocks
are called "Anderton Jewels" in Lancashire to this day.
The whole story, however, appears a fabrication (Baines's
'Lancashire,' vol. iii. p. 118).
In 1861, when Canon Pitcairn was appointed to Eccles,
it was a delightfully old-fashioned place, before it had been
destroyed and spoilt by the builder, and trams rushing
everywhere. Thatched cottages in the village, a very old
vicarage, with plenty of ground round it, with fine old
trees, an ancient church, and very kind and pleasant
neighbours, combined to make it an ideal living.
In 1870 a new vicarage was built, far better in every
way than the old one (which was in a very tumble-down
condition), and a thoroughly good house, but to us children,
not our old home.
There were wonderful cellars in the old place, with
groined arches. There was a tradition of an underground
passage connecting the vicarage with the church.
The house was supposed to be haunted, and the writer
can remember, when, as a child, and sent upstairs in
the dark to fetch something, being so thankful to get
back safely into the lighted drawing-room again.