Preston Journal, February 22, 1745
PRESTON, February 8.
We are inform'd, by Letters from Garstang, St. Michael's, and
other neighbouring Townships, near Pilling-Moss, that (three Miles below Garstang,
and within a Quarter of a Mile of the River Wyer) full half a Mile in Length of the
south-east Part of the said Moss has broke down, occasion'd by several Lakes
or Tarns of Water, which lay higher up upon the Moss, and which by the late heavy
Rains and Snows, have overflow'd their usual Bounds, and by the prodigious Weight
of the Water, the said Moss was forced and carried forwards upon the Land adjoining
to it, whereby upwards of forty Acres of Arable and Pasture Land is entirely
covered with Moss Ten Feet deep, so that the said Land, with several Houses are
render'd useless.
The said Moss was first observ'd to move on Saturday the 26th of
January last, to the great surprize and Terror of the Neighbourhood, and on the Day
following seem'd to stand still; but all the last Week it was observ'd, by several
Hundreds of spectators, to continue moving; which occasion'd a great Allarm in the
neighbourhood, who assembled together in the utmost Consternation, each being
fearful that his Land might undergo the same Fate.
The Losses which the Proprietors of the cover'd Land have
sustain'd cannot at present be ascertain'd; yet this Is possitively asserted, that
several Land Owners and Leasehold Tenants are entirely ruined. Tho' the Reasons
above are assign'd, yet various are the Conjectures of the Curious.
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