James Tyldesley 1719-1765 had already tried to sell part of the Holcroft Hall estates in 1760, as noted in an earlier post.
In March and April 1765 an advertisement appeared in the St. James's Chronicle or the British Evening Post announcing that further land would be sold by auction on 1 May 1765:
TO be Sold, by Way of Auction, at theHouse of Mr. Mathias, being the Eagle and ChildInn, at Warrington, in the County of Lancaster, onWednesday the first Day of May, 1765, at Three ofthe Clock in the Afternoon, subject to such Conditionsas shall be then and there produced;The Fee-Simple and Inheritance of and in a Messu-age and Tenement, called by the Name of the HangingBirch Farm, situate and being at Holcroft, in the saidCounty of Lancaster, with several Closes of Land thereuntobelonging, containing upwards of fifty Acres, after eightYards to the Rood or Pole, or thereabouts, and now inthe Possession of Joseph Hunt, as Tenant or Farmerthereof.One other Messuage and Tenement, with its Appur-tenances, situate at Holcroft aforesaid, known by theName of Barrow's Farm, and containing twenty-sevenAcres and an Half of Land, of the like Measure, andnow in the Possession of William Lowton, as Farmerhereof,One other Messuage and Tenement, with its Ad-purtenances, situate at Holcroft aforesaid, known bythe Name of Gellibrand's, containing nineteen Acresof Land, of the like Measure, or thereabouts, and nowin the Possession of William Gellibrand, as Tenantthereof.One other Messuage and Tenement, with its Appur-tenances, situate at Holcroft aforesaid, known by theName of Shaw's, containing twelve Acres of Land, ofthe like Measure, or thereabouts, and now. in the Pos-session of Martha Shaw, as Tenant thereof.Three several Messuages and Tenements, with theirAppurtenances, situate at Holcroft aforesaid, knownby the several Names of.Unsworth's, Rabbit Nest, andWren Nest, and the several Closes of Land thereto be-longing and enjoyed therewith, containing thirty-oneAcres of Land, of the like Measure, and now in thePossession of Francis Broadhurst, as Tenant or Farmerthereof.Several Closes or Fields in Holcroft aforesaid, catlledSudworth's Closes, containing nine Acres and an Halfof Land of the like Measure, and now in the Possessionof John Sudworth, as Tenant thereof.SeveraI Cottages or Dwelling-Houses, with the Crofts,Gardens, or Orchards, thereunto belonging, situate andbeing in Holcroft aforesaid, of the Yearly Value of SixPounds, and now in the several Possessions of ThomasHurst, John Sanderton, and--- Smiler.The Reversion in Fee-Simp!e, after the Death of oneLife, aged Seventy-eight Years, of, and in a Messuageor Dwelling-House and Premises, situate in Holcroft, ofthe yearly Value of Seven Pounds, and now in thePossession of Elizabeth Sculfield, or her Under-tenant.Also the Reversion in Fee-Simple, after the Deathof one Life, aged seventy-eight Years, of and in oneother Messuage or Dwelling-House and Premises,situate in Holcroft aforesaid, of the yearly Value ofNine Pounds, and in the Possession of Mary Mother.Also the Reversion in Fee-Simple, after the Deathof one Life, aged forty-two Years, of and in severalCottages and Dwelling-Houses and Premises, situate inHolcroft aforesaid, of the yearly Value of Five Pounds,and in the Possession of —Caldwell, and others, asUnder-tenants thereof.Also the Reversion in Fee-Simple, after the Deathof three Lives, (one whereof is very old and infirm)of and in a Messuage or Dwelling-House and Premises,situate in Holcroft aforesaid, of the yearly Value ofFive Pounds, and in the Possession of —Sudworth,as Lessee thereof.Also the Reversion in Fee-Simple, after the Deathof three Lives, of and in one other Messuage or Dwelling-House and Tenement, situate in Holcroft aforesaid, calledby the Name of Winstanley's, containing eleven Acresof Land of large Measure, or thereabouts, be the samemore or less, and now in the Possession of Giles Win-stanley, the Lessee thereof.There is a considerable Quantity of very good Water-Meadowing within the above Estates, with near 300fine large Huntingdon Willows, growing on the Banksof the Brook adjoining thereto, and there are upwardsof 1300 fine young Oak Trees, growing within andnear the Wood belonging to the said Premises, exclu-sive of the Hedge-row Timber, which is more thansufficient for the necessary Repairs of the Premises.All the above Estates lie very compactly together,and are capable of being greatly improved, there beinggood Marl in many Parts of the Premises, which maybe got at a small Expence.James Tyldesley, Esq; of Holcroft, will cause thePremises to he shown to any Person minded to viewthem; and for further Particulars apply to him; toMr. Bradley, an Attorney at Leigh; or to Mess. Lloydand Turner, of Warrington.
The outcome of this sale is not known. James Tyldesley remained at Holcroft Hall until his death. He was buried at Leigh on 7 August 1765. His wife, Sarah Tyldesley neé Hayne or Hanne died the following month and was buried at Leigh on 18 September 1765.
Holcroft Hall was itself put up for sale in 1768—leading to disputes within the family, detailed in a later posting.