Occleshaw House
Occleshaw House, also known by its address as 2 Worden Lane, is a
Description
The 2.5-storey structure is thought to have been built of brick (the exterior is
The structure was granted statutory protection as a
History
The Leyland Historical Society state that Occleshaw House is "reputed to be the earliest house site in Leyland". The name comes from the original
The structure was empty for some time before it was sold as potential office space in 2020. The new owners carried out no obvious work to the structure before it was raided by police on 4 March 2021.[3] The building had been used as a cannabis farm; police took 24 hours to dismantle the farm and recover a significant quantity of the drug.[4] On 21 June 2023 the roof of the structure caught fire. Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service was alerted at 3:43 am and four fire engines and an aerial ladder platform attended, remaining on site into the afternoon with the neighbouring Worden Road and Fox Lane closed to traffic. The fire was extinguished before it could spread to the neighbouring structure. A 40-year old man was arrested on suspicion of setting the fire.[5] Since the fire the roof has been left open to the elements. Leyland Historical Society have been assured by South Ribble Borough Council that they are pursuing the owner to make emergency repairs but as of late July 2023 the roof remained unrepaired.[3]
References
- ^ a b c "2, WORDEN LANE, Non Civil Parish - 1361865". Historic England. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ a b "The Village & The Squire". Leyland Historical Society. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Nooks and Corners". Private Eye. No. 1603. 28 July 2023. p. 22.
- ^ Macpherson, Jon (5 March 2021). "Substantial cannabis farm busted by police in Leyland". LancsLive. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ Calderbank, Matthew (13 June 2023). "Leyland man arrested after Worden Lane fire shuts roads from Tesco to Worden Park and Runshaw College". Lancashire Post. Retrieved 14 August 2023.