St Mark's Church
St. Mark's was endowed by the 1st Earl of Ellesmere as part of his efforts to improve the condition of the district. The church was built on Cross Field, so named because of the Lady's Cross which stood at the junction of Leigh and Walkden Roads - possibly a traveller's cross. Built in Gothic Revival style, the church's architect was George Gilbert Scott, perhaps better known for the Albert Memorial. The foundation stone was laid on the 15th June 1844 by George Granville Francis Egerton, eldest son of the Earl, as part of his coming of age celebrations and it was consecrated on the 2nd July 1846.
The clock that strikes 13
The Ellesmere Chapel commemorates the founder, the first Earl and his Countess - other members of the Ellesmere family are buried in the vault below. The church boasts a fine ring of ten bells which is unusual for a parish church - the usual number is six or eight - and is also home to an unusual clock that strikes 13 at 1 o'clock. The story goes that the Duke of Bridgewater, on an inspection visit, wanted to know why the workmen were late back from their dinner break. On being told they had difficulty hearing the clock strike one because of the noise of the yard, the Duke promptly had the mechanism adjusted so it struck 13. When the yard was cleared, the clock was preserved and later installed in the New Hall Gatehouse and subsquently in St. Mark's church.
Joseph Evans Memorial
While in the church yard look for the pink granite memorial near the path around the church, this is the Joseph Evans Memorial. This commemorates Joseph Evans, a medical herbalist and botanist. Known locally as Dr Evans, people came from miles around to consult him. On his death in 1873 over 1,000 people followed his funeral procession from Boothstown to Worsley. His memorial was erected by public subscription.
