Places   (Help with places, streets and buildings in Wigan.)

David. obviously you missed my last comments.
However, the answer to your question is no.
Their records say that they did but not who they bought them from. what they actually did was purchase a lease held by a farmer and that was called a re-lease ... that was nothing to do with ownership of the actual land which was of coarse owned in perpituity by the poor of Ashton.
The proof of this lies in Lancashire Records Office in Preston in the form of a Tithe Map drawn up by Lord Gerard in 1838 and shows every field in the district and naming the owner,the tenant, the taxable value,and land description. it clearly proves that the land is owned by the poor of Ashton.NOT the charity....and will stand up in a high court as absolute proof. If you still disagree then take a lawyer to Preston and ask for an `Expert` opinion.