Thomas Charnocke. v. Sir Urian Leigh
My family worked in the Lancashire coal mines and quarries and a great uncle, and namesake, left Lancashire for America on board the R.M.S.. Oceanic in 1901 to work in the coal mines at Frostburg in Maryland. I like to reflect this ancestry in the unofficial coat of arms I designed for my family. The two canaries facing each other on the black chevron are in honour of my grandfather breeding canaries to test for the lethal methane gas in the mines and the pick for his role as coal hewer. On leaving the mines he came to Chorley where he set up in business as a Bird Fancier’s supply stores and Corn Chandlers. He served the people of Chorley as a Councillor, for many years. Because of this ancestry it is of especial interest when visitors to the Long Gallery in Astley Hall regularly pose the question - "where did the money come from?" The Charnocks of Astley Hall had been substantial land owners since the 13 th century and owned many acres of coal bearing land w