Aughton
The village of Aughton was called Hacstone (oak-tree farmstead) in the Domesday Book. In Saxon times there were three manors there held by Leofsige, Grimr and Leofketil. By 1086 they were held by Richard, as a tenant of Roger of Mortain (William I's half brother) but William de Warenne also owned property there. Valued together with Aston the villages were worth only eighteen shillings. It was part of the parish of Aston cum Aughton but the parish church is actually at Aston which was a long walk away. I get the feeling that the people of Aughton have always felt a bit pushed out.
The basis of life in Aughton continued along its usual quiet pace tied the fields; the sowing and the harvest. By the 14th Century the manor of Aughton belonged to the West family.
The Poll Tax returns of 1379 lists Aston and Aughton together and shows 179 taxpayers most of whom paid the standard 4d tax. By the late 14th Century it looks as if Aughton was part of a populous parish with prosperous rural trades. In 1556 Lewis and Edward West, sons of William West, who was Lord of the Manor of Aughton were murdered by John and George Darcy, sons of George, Lord Darcy of Aston as part of a long-standing feud. However they escaped punishment as Lewis West's widow accepted compensation (Saxon laws were still being followed).
Although coal had been mined from in small quantities in the 18th Century the exploitation of the coal seams changed the area with pits, railways, spoil heaps and housing. The first school at Aughton was a single room building which opened in 1864. It was replaced by a new Council School across the road in 1910. The old building continued to be used for divine services for some years.
Nowadays the village covers a wide area with the usual housing estates, parks etc. Aston Comprehensive School is actually at Aughton. Aughton is now the northernmost bit of this particular area of housing sprawl.